Caught Inside

by Mandi Greenwood

  Nobody answered him. He plonked his chin down on his hand and made eyes at Cate. 'Any bikkies in the pantry, snookie bum?'

  She was busy scribbling in her notebook, looking from Lucan's screen to her page and back again as she wrote. 'Go see for yourself,' she murmured absently.

  'Okey dokey.' He pushed his chair back and went to raid the pantry, emerging with a packet of chocolate teddy bear biscuits. Tearing it open, he scoffed a couple before putting the rest of them in the middle of the table.

  Lucan took a biscuit and nibbled it while writing.

  Archie stood there looking around the table. 'Nice weather we're having,' he said. The other three were too immersed in what they were doing to pay any attention to him. He sighed again. 'Am I the only one here who gives not a toss?' he asked. Nobody answered. 'Yes, apparently, I am.'

  He grabbed a handful of teddy bears and wandered away into the lounge to stare blankly at Mr Costa's giant plasma telly. It was always on, he'd noticed, even when nobody was watching it. Right now there was some horrible home-shopping show playing, so he found the remote and flicked around until he found a re-run of a Simpsons episode. Better. He collapsed on the couch, planted both feet on the coffee table and watched as he munched his biscuits.

  Ten minutes later, Cate came to find him. 'This is not studying,' she remarked, tucking her glossy hair behind her ears.

  'Beg to differ,' Archie replied. 'I'm studying the art of Matt Groening.'

  'Since when was that a VCE subject?'

  'Since just now,' he grinned. 'And speaking of studying, would you care to answer my question?'

  'Which question was that?' She perched at the other end of the couch and leaned against the arm.

  'Why are we doing English Lit homework during the holidays?'

  'To pass, of course.' She held out her hand. 'Gimme the remote.'

  'Say please.'

  'Please.'

  He handed it over and she flicked around, ending up back at the Simpsons again.

  'Meh.' Archie shrugged. 'We'll pass easily. Lucan's got it under control. He'll tell us what to say and when to say it. You know he doesn't mind.'

  Cate couldn't dispute that. Truth was Lucan didn't mind one bit.

  'To be honest, I don't know why I'm bothering at all,' Archie admitted. He looked at the telly without seeing it. 'I mean, do I want to go to uni? No, I do not.'

  Cate felt the same way. 'Me too,' she said. 'Only, don't tell mum and dad. They'll kill me if I don't go.'

  'Go and do what though?' He frowned. 'For real? What do you want to do?'

  She flapped her hands around. 'I don't know! Anything!'

  'Because Felix went?'

  'No, not just that.' Cate got irritated and tossed the remote onto the cushions beside her.

  Archie gave her a penetrating stare, his eyes narrowed. 'You're not Felix. You're you.'

  'You're as bad as Ais!' Cate huffed. 'That's exactly what she said.'

  'Seriously, Cate.' His feet dropped to the rug and he sat up straight. 'Life's too short. Don't waste it. Just tell your parents you're not going.' He had a sudden inspiration and threw his hands in the air. 'I know! You can help me set up my DJ business. We can be partners.'

  'If I told my dad I was going to be a DJ, he'd disown me!'

  'Nah nah nah!' Archie shook his finger at her. 'Keep your facts straight. I'll be the DJ. You'll be the assistant.'

  'A DJ's assistant!' 'She snorted. 'Well that's even worse!'

  Archie beamed at her. 'Yeah, but the most beautiful DJ's assistant in the world.'

  That did it. He got through. The look she gave him melted his heart. 'Aw, Arch! That's so sweet.'

  'That's me. Sweet.'

  'Look,' she told him spreading her hands. 'I don't know about the DJ thing, but maybe you're right. Maybe I do need to do some thinking.'

  'That's my girl.'

  She gave him a wary look. 'I'm not your girl.'

  'Figure of speech.'

  'Only,' she said fixing him with a stern look. 'You've got to promise to stand by me when the poo hits the fan … and it will hit the fan.'

  He looked solemn and held up one hand. 'I promise to stand beside you through any and all flying faeces,' he chanted.

  She cracked up. 'Okay. I'm shit-scared … pardon the pun … but I'll stand up to my dad.'

  'Pinkie promise?' He held up his hand with his little finger extended and she gripped it.

  'That's the finger that got stuck in the swing at your Uncle Harry's, isn't it?' she asked.

  'Yes!' he said, delighted. 'You have a good memory.'

  'For important things.' She wrapped her little finger around his. 'Okay, I promise. Hey, who knew you could be such an influence on me?'

  'The universe is full of such mysteries,' he intoned and decided to move closer. 'Care to make out with me.'

  'Er, no.'

  'Okay. Just checking.'

  The Zesty Chook

  Neve loved Seamere. She soon discovered favourite spots and one of these was the surf beach. She especially liked to go there as early as she could in the morning.

  Sometimes the sea was calm and still. Other times the surf was huge with enormous waves crashing against the shore. Either way, it was breathtaking. She couldn't know, but Michael Sheldon had felt exactly the same, one hundred years before as he stood on the cliffs and watched the ocean. Neve was home. She just didn't know it yet.

  She was already starting to develop a routine. Immediately after returning from her shift at the pub at two in the morning, she would sleep until eight and then walk to Seamere village. She'd buy herself a muffin and a hot drink at a nice little place called the Melba café and then she'd go down to the beach and sit on the sand, enjoying her breakfast while she watched the view.

  There were often surfers out there, beyond the breakers, riding the enormous waves. She admired them. It made her wish that one day she could try it for herself. She liked the idea of being out there and forgetting everything else, disappearing fearlessly into massive tubes of rolling water and emerging out the other side only to turn and do it again.

  One grey stormy morning, a surfer came out of the water near her. He was tall and lean; his long board tucked easily under one arm as he walked gracefully up the beach. Stopping a few metres away from where she was sitting, he wedged the board upright in the sand and unzipped his wetsuit, peeling it down to his waist, seemingly impervious to the cold. Neve covertly watched him. How could she not? He was quite beautiful. His face was solemn but tranquil and his auburn hair brightened the cloudy morning.

  As he looked around their eyes met. Neve blushed furiously but she was powerless to turn away and when he smiled, she automatically smiled back feeling well out of her depth. The moment strung out for an eternity but was over in seconds. He pulled his board from the sand and walked away up the beach and out of her sight.

  Aisley scanned the Zesty Chook menu for the third time and then pulled a face at Freya sitting opposite. 'Who picked this place?' she hissed.

  'Archie,' Freya said. She folded her arms on the table and leaned in confidentially. 'Since he's next in line for a birthday, I guess it's only fair.'

  'His birthday's not for ages!'

  Freya shrugged. 'It's still next in line.'

  Aisley put the menu down and gave a heart-rending sigh. 'Oh well,' she said. 'Everything's spicy. There's no point me ordering.' She pulled the bread basket towards her and picked up a roll. 'I suppose I'll just make do with bread and water.'

  'Oh, don't be so tragic,' Freya scolded. 'You can share my dip platter. It won't be spicy, just yumalicious.'

  The waiter arrived and took everyone's orders. Aisley ordered a Coke and sat back to people-watch while Chandra and Archie argued over which platter to share. Chandra wanted the Szechuan Chicken while Archie had his heart set on the Wasabi Wings.

  'You could always have half and half,' the waiter suggested much to the delight of both boys.

  'Told you this place rocks,' Archie
said thumping Chandra happily on the arm.

  The waiter grinned. 'We always aim to please at the Zesty Chook.'

  Aisley couldn't take her eyes off a girl standing near the take-away counter. She was thin with long blonde hair, and very pretty. While she waited for her order, the girl gazed out the front window of the restaurant and fiddled with the strap of a canvas bag that was slung across her shoulder.

  Aisley nudged Cate sitting next to her. 'Do you know who she is?' She nodded at the blonde girl. 'She looks familiar.'

  Cate narrowed her eyes and stared. 'No idea,' she said eventually. 'You're right, though. She does look familiar somehow but I've no clue where from. Would you say she's about our age?'

  Aisley nodded. 'I guess. But she's not from our school.'

  Lucan was sitting on the far side of Cate and he joined the conversation. 'We're a tourist town,' he said. 'I predict she's a tourist.'

  'In winter?' Freya joined in as well. 'Doubt it.'

  Lucan shrugged. 'So she's a backpacker then. Backpackers aren't seasonal.'

  'She could be visiting a relative,' Cate guessed. 'Maybe her grandma lives here.'

  'Whose grandma lives where?' Stewart wanted to know.

  'We're checking out the girl over there,' said Aisley gesturing towards the counter. 'Do you know her?'

  Aisley was taken aback by the sudden rapt expression on Stewart's face when he saw who she was talking about. 'I don't know her,' he said. 'But I wish I did. I saw her on the beach this morning.'

  'Is that right?' Chandra grinned mischievously. 'What's her name then?'

  'I dunno. I didn't talk to her.'

  'Why? Was she there with another guy?'

  'No!' Stewart answered a bit quickly and Chandra laughed.

  'You're hooked,' he said.

  'Nuh uh!'

  'You should go and talk to her now,' Freya suggested. 'Before it's too late.'

  At that very second the girl collected her take-away, pushed open the door of the Zesty Chook and disappeared into the night.

  Freya shrugged. 'Too late.'

  Everybody took Chandra up on his offer to crash at his after the restaurant. His parents were away for a few days so they'd have the house to themselves.

  'They left strict instructions for him not to trash the place,' Aisley told Cate and Freya as they left the Zesty Chook. 'Let's see if he can keep his promise.'

  The fun began long before they even reached the house.

  Archie had the inspired idea of walking along the surf beach, rather than along the main road. Mistake. He and Cate pushed and shoved at one another, mucking about, until Archie tripped and fell backwards into a breaking wave.

  'Argh!' He sprinted up the sand and away from the freezing water. 'It's freakin' cold!'

  'Duh!' Aisley rolled her eyes. 'It's winter, you macadamia!'

  'My testicles just shrivelled to the size of Tic Tac's!' His teeth chattered madly.

  That made Cate laugh so hard she sat down and she couldn't get up again without Freya's help.

  It didn't help when Archie fell over again two minutes later and being wet he got completely plastered in sand. Now it was Stewart's turn to almost die from laughter. 'You look like a schnitzel,' he gasped, holding his aching stomach.

  Aisley grinned at Chandra. They hadn't seen Stewart this happy since Willa.

  'Next time,' said Lucan. 'I suggest we take the main road.'

  When they eventually made it to the house, Chandra couldn't find his door-key. He patted his pockets and looked alarmed while everyone abused him. 'It's no use,' he said. 'I've lost it.'

  'Aw come on, man!' Archie moved from foot to foot, shivering violently. 'I'm dying of hypothermia here! And I'm chewing on half the damn beach!' He poked his tongue out. 'Ugh, where's the garden tap? I need to gargle.'

  Chandra held his hands wide. 'And how are those things my fault?' he cried. 'Did I ask you to act like a dick?'

  'She tripped me!' Archie stabbed a finger at Cate who just pulled a face.

  'Rubbish,' she said. 'You fell.'

  'Crap! I … errk.' He stopped talking to crunch sand between his teeth.

  Chandra scratched his head. 'We'll just have to find another way in, is all. Can't be that hard.'

  'Why?' Aisley asked drily. 'Do you have a mystical portal?'

  'No,' Chandra said. 'But I do have a brilliant idea.' He led the way around the side of the house to the back garden and pointed at the cat-flap in the back door. 'You're small, Freya,' he told her. 'You'll fit through there easy.'

  'The cat flap?' she asked dubiously.

  'Pippin's cat-flap.'

  'Does it make a difference whose flap it is?' Lucan wondered.

  'Well, he's a fat cat,' Chandra explained. 'It's a big flap. Go on, Freya. Give it a go.'

  Archie took up the chant. 'Fre…ya! Fre…ya! Fre…ya!'

  'Alright, alright!' Against her obvious misgivings, Freya succumbed to group pressure and gave it a go. Another mistake. She managed to get her head and one arm through before getting hopelessly stuck.

  'Get me out!' she screeched. Archie, Chandra and Stewart were all in hysterics on the back lawn by then, and even Lucan was not being as supportive as usual.

  'We should probably help her,' he chuckled.

  Aisley and Cate took hold of Freya and tugged at her until she popped out of the cat-flap. She shook a fist at Chandra.

  'This was your brilliant idea!' she cried, her Irish very strong. 'Stop laughing or I'll … '

  'Hey guess what!' He pulled his keys from his back pocket. 'Well, look at that! They were here all the time.'

  Freya glared at him ominously

  Once inside, Chandra and Stewart, who were still hungry, ate enough toast to feed a small country while Archie headed straight for the shower. He emerged ten minutes later wearing Aasha's panda onesie and joined the other boys in front of Chandra's Xbox on the lounge room floor.

  Cate pulled Aisley and Freya aside. 'Got to tell you a secret,' she said. 'It's important.' She took Aisley's hand and patted it. 'I texted mum and told her I'm staying over at yours tonight.'

  'Cate!' Aisley moaned. 'What!'

  'Ais, please!' she clutched both of Aisley's hands.

  'But you're not there,' said Freya. 'What if she calls?'

  'She won't.' Cate was adamant. 'You know she won't. Ais, if she thinks I'm at your place she won't give it a second thought.'

  Aisley gave Cate a despairing look.

  'What else am I going to do?' Cate begged. 'Everyone else gets to stay here. Everyone else gets to have fun. Why do I have to miss out? I'm seventeen! My dad thinks I'm seven. It drives me insane!'

  'Alright,' Aisley muttered, and Cate's smile broke through like a ray of sunshine. Aisley frowned. 'You owe me one though.'

  'Thank you dar-leenk!' Cate threw her arms around her, smacking a huge kiss on her cheek.

  'Yeah, yeah.' After Cate released her Aisley flopped on the couch. A moment later Stewart joined her and he'd no sooner sat down than Pippin the cat jumped onto his lap, turned two circles and laid down.

  'Chan's right,' Stewart grumbled. He scratched Pippin under the chin. 'You are fat and bloody heavy too!'

  Aisley watched him, wishing she could think of something funny to say to keep him laughing like he had on the beach and when Freya was stuck in the cat-flap. It was good to see him happy again.

  'Did that girl we saw at the restaurant look familiar to you?' she asked him.

  'Not really.'

  Aisley decided to push the envelope a little. 'But she was pretty, wasn't she?'

  Stewart didn't answer right away and then he beamed at her, his grey eyes shining. 'No shit, Sherlock,' he said mildly. 'She was freakin' beautiful!'

  Later, Stewart fell asleep on the couch with Pippin still on him. Aisley found a throw rug and tucked him in, feeling very motherly as she did so.

  Freya and Cate, both yawning, decided to sleep in Aasha's room. Archie tossed aside his Xbox controller and watched as Cate left
the lounge. His expression was hard to read, but Aisley suspected he was longing to follow her … either that or he was constipated.

  'What's going on with your face?' she asked.

  His brows drew together. 'This is my contemplative face.'

  'Oh. Right. Yes, of course. Sorry.'

  'Like hell,' he muttered.

  Chandra and Lucan were trying to get a fire going in the open fireplace and Chandra stopped, log in hand, to look at Archie. 'Just follow her,' he said.

  'And do what?' Archie spread his hands.

  'I dunno. Seduce her.'

  'She'll punch me out.'

  They all nodded. It was the most likely scenario.

  Cariad Lili Bay Beach

  'Sheesh, I wish he'd just make a move on her already,' Aisley said as they rounded the corner and headed up the Loch Hill road.

  Chandra smiled. 'Archie's been making moves on Cate since we were in kinder!'

  'He's too subtle then. He needs to be more … I dunno, straightforward.'

  'Like what? What should he say?'

  It was a cold day and Aisley folded her arms about herself as she thought about it. 'He should tell her he wants to be more than friends,' she said. 'He should tell her she's beautiful and he can't stop thinking about her.'

  'And you reckon he hasn't already tried that?' Chandra spread his hands. 'She's hard work, is Cate.'

  'She's really not!' Aisley smacked him lightly on the arm. 'You guys! You can be so … so … basic sometimes.'

  Chandra wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to a stop, burying his face in her hair. 'Am I too basic for you?' he asked.

  'No. No, you're not.' She was getting goose-bumps because he was breathing in her ear.

  'What should Archie say to Cate to win her heart?'

  'He should tell her he loves her, straight out.' Aisley closed her eyes as Chandra's lips moved down her throat. All of a sudden the day didn't seem quite so cold. 'Is it getting warmer?'

  'I dunno about the weather,' he muttered. 'But I certainly am …'

  The abrupt sound of footsteps on the gravel behind them made them jump in alarm. There on the road was the girl they'd seen in the Zesty Chook the night before, and in a blinding revelation, Aisley realised why she looked familiar.