Free Sunrise in Bali - Across the Pond Trilogy (Book 1) by L.A. Shorter

doesn't mind
people going over there because tomorrow's another chilled day on the
island, so no early morning traveling or anything like that.” She
sounded hopeful, trying to inject some excitement into the idea.
“What do you think....shall we go as well?”

    “ Ummm,
I don't know Sarah...I didn't really enjoy the last time we all went
out together. Who else is going then? I assume Mark, Todd, and Henry
are dead certs?”

    “ Yep,
all the boys are going, I don't know about Andrew, he's back in his
room, but I reckon he'll be up for it. Oh, and Emily wants to go
again...”

    Jenny
felt a wave of jealousy. “Yeah, I'm sure she wants to go again, had
fun the last time.” She couldn't prevent the bitterness in her
voice.

    “ Come
on babe, it'll be fun...better than last time, I promise. You can't
come here and not try a beach party, can you?”

    Jenny
could sense that Sarah was still interested in trying it on with
Mark, despite what had happened a couple of nights ago. “Oh
fine...but let's make sure Andrew goes as well.” Andrew had become
like an older brother to the two of them, especially Jenny, and she
felt much more comfortable when he was around.

    “ Sure,
I'll bet he wants to go anyway, but if not we'll persuade him.”

    A
few minutes later Jenny and Sarah emerged from Andrews hut, Sarah
with a beaming smile on her face. “Great...I'll go find out what
time we're leaving from the guys and then we can get ready.” She
bolted off towards the bar down the beach where Todd, Mark and Henry
were laughing and joking around over a few drinks. Jenny watched from
the front of her hut as Sarah relayed the news. Todd, always a 'the
more the merrier' type of guy, gave her a high five, while Mark
smiled and downed his drink. Jenny sensed this wasn't the result he
wanted, although Sarah seemed oblivious to it. Henry, meanwhile,
smiled quietly, passing his gaze towards Jenny in the distance. They
locked eyes for a couple of moments before he turned back to the
action.

    Sarah
came bouncing back down the beach towards Jenny a minute later, two
colorful cocktails in hand. “Just to warm us up while we get
ready!” she said, passing Jenny a drink. Over the next 45 minutes
they got showered, put on the best outfits they had stuffed in their
travel bags, and listened to Rihanna over Jenny's phone. When they
emerged the sun was beginning to set on the other side of the island,
casting a warm orange glow on the skyline. They stepped out and onto
the top of the beach, noticing that the boys were still busily joking
away as they approached. The table was littered with empty beer
bottles and shot glasses, and Todd, in particular, already seemed a
bit tipsy.

    “ Girls,
might I say that you are looking scrumptious this evening,” he
offered in his cockney accent.

    Mark,
slightly lubricated by alcohol, voiced his agreement, giving Sarah a
kiss on the cheek as he did. The show of affection, while clearly
eased by beer, was well received. “OK guys, i've got a taxi waiting
just down there on the water to take us over,” he said. “We're
just waiting for Em and then we'll be off.”

    After
a couple more minutes Emily appeared, looking annoyingly pretty. Her
tan had been building over the last few days and her blonde hair was
beginning to get even brighter under the sun. Jenny could easily see
why Henry might find her more attractive than herself.

    “ Right
team....lets get back on it!” announced Mark to the group, before
leading them off down the beach towards the water taxi. Within
moments it was speeding around the side of the island, steering its
course towards the backpacking mecca of Gili Trawangan. As they
approached, the sun was on its last legs, dipping down below the
island and silhouetting the palm trees and beach bars against the
darkening sky. The noise became immediately apparent the closer they
got: the sound of dance music and drunken chatter echoing through the
air. Bright multi-colored lights exploded