Free Friends Forever! by Grace Dent Page A

Harbinger Hall.”
    â€œHarbinger Hall!” I cry. “MTV hired nearly the whole hotel for a weekend last year when they were staging the Big Beach Booty Quake!”
    â€œThat’s it,” says Fleur, her lip wobbling. “Oh my God! I’m so sorry! I just e-mailed my resume to Miss Scrumble, the personnel lady, on the off chance. I didn’t expect her to call me!”
    Claude and I stare at Fleur, utterly aghast.
    â€œWhen do you go?” I ask, feeling my life beginning to trickle down the drain.
    â€œNext Tuesday,” Fleur says. “Until late August.”
    â€œNooooooo!” I moan.
    We all sit in silence again. This has to be the worst day of my life.
    â€œWell,” sighs Claude eventually. “I know this sounds like a peculiar thing to say after all that’s happened but . . . I’ll really miss you, Fleur. I can’t believe you’re going.”
    â€œOh, don’t, Claude!” says Fleur. “I thought the LBD was finished. I’d never have applied otherwise! And Paddy was on my back 24/7 about getting a job. He’s never stopped nagging!”
    â€œI know how that feels,” whispers Claude sadly. “Mum’s giving me a hard time too. She just can’t get a job in this town that pays like her old one. I need to find work extra quick. Things are getting a bit desperate.”
    Claude stares into the distance. She looks really worried.
    â€œWhat happens if things don’t get better?” asks Fleur.
    Claude looks at us both, then bites her lip. “Well, let’s not think about that now,” she says. “I just have to start earning soon.”
    We all sit rather dumbfounded for about ten minutes. A candy wrapper tumbles mournfully around the beer garden as I unravel a thread on the hem of my funeral skirt. This is officially the end of the world.
    â€œRight,” announces Fleur, after an eternity of woe. “I’ve got it. And don’t either of you dare say no!”
    We’ve known Fleur far too long to ever agree to that.
    â€œCome with me to Destiny Bay,” Fleur tells us firmly. “Both of you. Come with me? Please, just say yes?”
    â€œOh, Fleur, I can’t,” I begin, thinking of Mum and the whole Nan business and of Seth and all my Post-it note chores. I can’t just leave.
    Claude just looks stunned.
    â€œCome to Destiny Bay!” repeats Fleur, grabbing our hands. “Let’s call Miss Scrumble at Harbinger Hall and ask if there are other jobs!”
    â€œI can’t see how I can—” Claude begins.
    â€œAha! Don’t even say it!” Fleur shrieks, putting her hand to Claude’s mouth. “Not a word, unless it’s yes! Say that the LBD will spend the summer together at Destiny Bay! Just say it!”
    Claude and I stare back at Fleur with eyes as wide as saucers.
    We couldn’t do that, could we?
    Or could we?

four days later
    â€œDaaaaaaa-aaaaad!” yells Fleur so loudly her next-door neighbors’ back teeth rattle. “How do we make a conference call?”
    â€œWhat?” shouts Paddy Swan from his bedroom next door. “What now?”
    â€œConnnnnnnnnnn-ference call!” yells Fleur again. “What do we do? Come and show us!”
    Paddy Swan sticks his head around the door to his office, raising one sardonic eyebrow at the LBD sitting perched around his computer, making full use of his “mission control” facilities.
    â€œWell, just press the ‘conference’ button, then dial, you blithering imbeciles!” scoffs Paddy. “Where have you three been going every morning for the last five years? Blackwell School or Burger King?”
    â€œGnnnngnn, Fleur!” groans Claude. “I told you it was that button!”
    â€œHmmph, you say that now,” tuts Fleur as Paddy appears wearing a sharp, navy blue bespoke suit, clutching a handful of neckties.
    â€œLadies,” he announces