Cecelia Ahern - Where Rainbows End

From Rosie

To Alex

Subject September

I won’t be over till September, only a few days before the semester starts, because I have got so many things to sort out you wouldn’t believe!

The debs are at the end of August – will you come over for them? Everyone would love to see you, and I need someone to go with! We will have so much fun and we can annoy all our teachers, just like old times … Let me know.

From Alex

To Rosie

Subject Re: Debs

Of course I’ll come home for our debs. I wouldn’t miss it for the world!

From Rosie

To Alex

Subject Where r u???

I’m at the internet café at the airport. Me & Dad have been here for hours. I tried your house phone and mobile. Don’t know where else to call. Hope everything’s ok.

From Alex

To Rosie

Subject Sorry!

Rosie, I am so sorry. This whole day has been an absolute nightmare. There was a foul-up with the flight. I don’t no what happened, but my name wasn’t in the system when I went to collect my ticket. I’ve been here all day trying to get another flight. They’re all booked because of people flying home from holidays and students returning home, etc. I’m on standby, but so far there’s been nothing. I’m just hanging around the airport waiting for a flight. This is a nightmare.

From Rosie

To Alex

Subject Flight tomorrow

Dad’s talking to the lady at Aer Lingus ticket desk. She says there’s a flight that leaves Boston tomorrow at 10.10 a.m. It takes five hours to get here so that will make it 3 p. m., then we’re five hours ahead, which will make it 8 p.m. We could collect you from airport and go straight to ball? Or maybe you’d prefer to go to my house first? You can’t wear your tux on the plane because you’ll get all crumpled. What do you think?

From Alex

To Rosie

Subject Flight

Rosie, bad news. That flight is fully booked.

From Rosie

To Alex

Subject Flight

Shit. Think, think, think. What can I do? It seems that we can get you here every other bloody day except tomorrow. Somebody up there really doesn’t want you to get on that plane. Maybe it’s a sign?

From Alex

To Rosie

Subject My fault

It’s my fault, I should have double-checked with the airline yesterday – they always say you should reconfirm your flights but whoever does? I no I’ve messed up your night but please go to the debs anyway. You still have the whole day to find someone else to go with you. Take loads of photos for me, and enjoy yourself. Sorry, Rosie.

From Rosie

To Alex

Subject Re: My fault

It’s not your fault. I’m disappointed but let’s be realistic, it’s not the end of the world. I’m gonna be in Boston in a little over a month and we’ll be seeing each other EVERY DAY! Make sure you get your money back for that flight, the eejits. We’ll have a brilliant time. I better go searching for a man now …

From Alex

To Rosie

Subject Manhunt

Any luck finding a man?

From Rosie

To Alex

Subject Man found

What a stupid question!! Of course I found a man. I’m insulted you even needed to ask …

From Alex

To Rosie

Subject Mystery man

Then who is it?

From Rosie

To Alex

Subject Secret man

That would be absolutely none of your business.

From Alex

To Rosie

Subject Invisible man

HA! You didn’t find a date!! I knew it!

From Rosie

To Alex

Subject Big strong man

Yes I did.

From Alex

To Rosie

Subject No man

No you didn’t.

From Rosie

To Alex

Subject Yes, man!

Yes I did.

From Alex

To Rosie

Subject What man?

THEN WHO IS IT?

From Rosie

To Alex

Subject Almost a man

Brian.

From Alex

To Rosie

Subject Brian?

BRIAN? BRIAN THE WHINE?

From Rosie

To Alex

Subject Re: Brian?

Maybe …

From Alex

To Rosie

Subject HA HA!

Ha ha ha ha ha ha, you’re going to the debs with Brian the Whine?! Talk about scraping the barrel! Brian who lifted your skirt when you were six, in front of everyone in the school yard, to reveal your knickers? The Brian you were stuck sitting beside for all of second class, who ate fish sandwiches every day for lunch and picked his nose while you ate your sandwiches? The Brian who followed us home from school everyday singing ‘Rosie and Alex up a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G?’ and made you cry and ignore me for a week? The Brian who spilled his beer all down your new top at my going-away party? The Brian you absolutely can’t stand and was the one person you actually hated all throughout school? And now you’re going to the last school dance ever, with Brian ?

From Rosie

To Alex

Subject No, the other Brian

Yes, Alex, that Brian. Now may I ask that you please stop emailing me as my darling mother is currently tying knots in my head trying to make me look half decent? She has also been reading your emails and wants you to know that Brian the Whine won’t be lifting up my skirt tonight.

From Alex

To Rosie

Subject Re: Brian

Well, it won’t be for lack of trying. Have fun! May I suggest that you wear your beer goggles tonight?

From Rosie

To Alex

Subject Re: Beer goggles

The beer goggles will be well and truly on! Brian was the only person I could get last minute, thanks to you. All I have to do is stand in with him for the photos so that Mum and Dad can have lovely memories of their daughter going to the debs all dressed up with a man in a tuxedo. The tables seat ten so I won’t even have to talk to him at dinner. You’re enjoying this, aren’t you, Alex?

From Alex

To Rosie

Subject Re: Re: Beer goggles

Not really. I’d love to be there instead. Don’t do anything that I wouldn’t do …

From Rosie

To Alex

Subject Re: Re: Re: Beer goggles

Well, that doesn’t rule out much. Hair’s done now, have to get the rest of me ready. I’ll let you know how it went tomorrow.

From Alex

To Rosie

Subject Debs

How were the debs last night? No doubt you’re nursing a hangover. I’ll wait to hear from you tomorrow but I’ll wait no longer! I want to know everything !

From Alex

To Rosie

Subject Debs

Did you get my last email? I keep calling and there’s no answer. What’s up? I hope you’re busy preparing for the big move over to me! Email me soon, please.

Steph: Rosie, stop avoiding Alex and tell him how the debs went. Alex is even emailing me wondering what happened, and I’m certainly not going to tell him! The poor guy missed out and all he wants to know is who did what, where and when.

Rosie: Well, I certainly won’t be telling him who did who.

Steph: Ha ha.

Rosie: It’s not funny.

Steph: I think it’s hilarious. Come on, it’s been three weeks now!

Rosie: Are you sure it’s three weeks?

Steph: Yeah, why?

Rosie: Holy shit.

Rosie has logged off.

From Alex

To Rosie

Subject Hello??

Rosie, are you there? Are you having problems with your email? Please reply. You should be getting on a plane soon to come over here – you’ll miss the start of term.

From Alex

To Rosie

Subject Please, Rosie?

Are you mad at me? I’m sorry I couldn’t go to the debs ball, but I thought you understood. Things with whiny Briany can’t have gone that badly, can they? What have you been doing all month? This is ridiculous. Why doesn’t anyone answer the phone at your house when I call?

Answer me,

Alex

Dear Alice,

Hi, it’s Alex here. I’m just writing to see if Rosie’s OK. I haven’t heard from her and I was getting a bit worried, to tell you the truth. It’s unusual for me to not hear from her in so long. Every time I call the house it just goes on to answering machine. Are you getting my messages? Maybe you’ve all gone away? Please let me no what’s happening, and tell Rosie to call.