Elle just shrugged. “Yeah, cool, whatever. It was probably something I should have done months ago.” She smiled. “Oh, I didn’t tell you the best part, did I? Or did you see what Clara wrote?” I shook my head. “Well, have a look yourself. Basically she liked it—and commented to tell everyone she was going to be more honest too. Starting with admitting to what she’d done on my old account. The full thing!” Elle had filled me in on what went down. “She really went there, Hol?! It was a real apology. And then said she was pulling out of the challenge too—and instead she’s going to be supporting me in whatever I do next. Which is, y’know.” Elle shrugged again, but she had a massive smile. “Kind of cool I guess.”

“Nice.” I could tell how much that meant to her. “And any word from Dove?” Elle hadn’t just messaged her to call her out—she’d asked to meet to talk it out. It was a big move, but Elle said she’d rather face up to it than pretend it was all okay.

“Still waiting. But…I’d like to hear her out. Is that weird? I mean, we’re not going to be friends anytime soon, but if anyone should know that things online aren’t always what they seem, it should probably be me.”

Well, or me—I’d always thought Elle’s life was perfect too, until I got to see behind the scenes.

“And youuuu.” She prodded me. “Get you, finishing all your lists?”

“Well, almost.” I winced. “Can we agree that even without the mistletoe kiss”—I did a fake sick noise—“you do the surprise for our mums anyway?”

“Well, that was one—”

“Flight BV197 is now boarding. Could all passengers report to the gate.”

Elle got cut off. We both knew what that announcement meant. This was it.

“I’m going to miss you.” I gave her another hug—as someone who hated physical contact, I was surprising myself. “Which makes no sense, as I’ve only just met you, but I will.”

She wasn’t letting me go either. “You too.”

If the Holly of two months ago could see this—me hugging @OneElleOfATime in an airport in the States, after switching all my plans super last minute—I would have assumed it was a weird Christmas cheese dream.

“And you’re going to be okay waiting for Nick?” He was coming to pick her up after rehearsal.

Elle grinned. “You know it.” She dropped her head on my shoulder. “And sister-in-law has a nice ring to it.” She’d made me tell her everything just before she took off. Although it turned out Nick had beaten me to it. Guess those two really were back on track.

I shook her off, but I was laughing. “And so does friend-in-law.”

Elle smiled—her big, perfect smile. “Watch this space.”