She explored the massive shopping centres with their electronic gadgets and quirky conveniences. And she even discovered a place called Sanrio Puroland, where she was able to indulge her Hello Kitty obsession without judgement.
It wasn’t until she saw a Doraemon figurine in a shop near her hotel that she remembered Gabe and wondered how he was doing. She’d forgotten he’d been here a couple of years before. She debated whether to buy him a souvenir, but figured it might be a while before she saw him again if he ended up enjoying his time in the States.
Lizzie spent the three weeks after that catching the bullet train across the country, down to Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima. She even caught an overnight cruise to Kyushu, where she stayed in a hot springs town called Beppu.
She didn’t talk to many people (mostly because she didn’t speak Japanese), but she really enjoyed not having to answer to anyone, and she loved feeling like she didn’t technically exist back in Australia.
She arrived home in the middle of February, feeling refreshed and ready to face the world. School felt like a lifetime ago now. Lizzie couldn’t believe she didn’t have to go back. She was glad now that she had chosen to study music and not something more practical in her dad’s eyes, or even according to her original plans. As Mr Jenkins had said, it might not pay the best, but it was important to do something you were passionate about. Music just felt right to her. And she knew it wasn’t because of a certain singer that she’d decided on this path.
Her taxi pulled up out the front of her house at two in the afternoon. Lizzie had told her dad not to bother skipping work to meet her, because they would have plenty of time to catch up later. He had reluctantly agreed, but only on the promise that she would call if any problems arose.
She paid the driver, and went to get her suitcases out of the boot.
‘Here, let me help you with those.’
Lizzie gasped.
‘Brandon! What are you doing here? How did you even know where I lived?’
‘I got Jason to ask Taylor. I hope that was alright.’
‘Of course it was alright. But what’s going on?’ Lizzie felt all disoriented. It didn’t help that she hadn’t slept properly in almost twenty-four hours due to a long stopover in Singapore.
‘Can we go inside and talk?’
‘Um, OK.’
Brandon insisted on taking both suitcases up the stairs. Lizzie followed him and admired the view of him from the back. He had on cut-off khaki pants and a loose grey singlet that revealed his tanned, muscled arms.
He put the bags down in the living room and turned to look at her. ‘How was your trip?’ he asked as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
‘Great. But seriously, what are you doing here? Couldn’t you lose your job being in a student’s house?’
‘I have something to show you.’
‘What?’
He pulled a folded piece of paper from his back pocket and opened it up, handing it to her.
She scanned it, not understanding at first what she was looking at.
‘It’s a recording contract!’ he said excitedly.
Lizzie finally clicked.
‘You’ve been signed by a label?’
‘Yes! We can quit our day jobs and work in music full time!’
Lizzie grabbed Brandon’s arms enthusiastically. ‘That’s awesome! You’re going to be famous!’
He laughed. ‘I don’t really care about that bit. But what I do care about is not having to follow school rules anymore.’ He then checked for her reaction.
Lizzie belatedly realised what he was getting at. Her heart started thumping.
Time stood still. Brandon towered over her, their height difference never more obvious than at this moment. She held her breath. From this point on, everything would change.
They’d never made eye contact this close before, but Brandon fixed his gaze on her, a trace of a smile playing on his lips, almost daring her to look away.
She didn’t. She stood her ground and kept looking at him in a silent game of Chicken. Who would crack first?
He took one more step towards her, their bodies now gently brushing against each other. Lizzie stifled a gasp, the electricity buzzing between them feeling like it should be a visible storm of lightning sparks. They were now entering the point of no return.
Brandon smelled like citrus and the ocean… like summer. And she couldn’t take it anymore. Damn the consequences if there was some obscure rule about not becoming involved with a teacher who had quit to pursue a music career. She physically couldn’t restrain herself anymore.
She reached up and pulled his face towards hers.
Brandon didn’t need any further encouragement. He pressed his lips to hers in the softest, most delicious kiss she had ever tasted. She had to actually stop herself from sighing out loud at the perfection of the moment.
She never wanted it to end. And Brandon seemed to feel the same. He gently walked her backwards over to the couch and pushed her down onto her back. He kneeled over the top of her and looked down at her, smiling.
‘I know I should be worried or remorseful, or something, but I can’t. I’m too happy.’
Lizzie grinned back.
‘Me too.’
‘Do we have the place to ourselves?’
‘For another four hours.’
‘Perfect.’
He leaned over her and gently planted kisses all over her face, gradually working his way down her neck and to her chest.
Lizzie couldn’t handle it any longer. She pulled his shirt over his head and admired his smooth chest for a second. Then she jumped up and dragged him to the bedroom.
Brandon didn’t argue.
CHAPTER 26
Six months later…
Lizzie had just finished a Digital Music Composition class and had decided to duck over to the Queen Street Mall for a little retail therapy before going home.
She was loving her course, particularly the digital stuff. She’d even shown her tutor some of the tracks she’d developed the previous year and received high praise. Lizzie dreamt of the day where people danced to her music in clubs, or even at a big festival. That was her ultimate goal.
It was quite a warm day for winter, and she enjoyed the walk across the Victoria Bridge.
She got to the top of the mall and decided her first stop would be Ally. She went in and picked up a couple of tops to try on. As she made her way down to the change rooms, she spotted a familiar head in front of her.
‘Taylor!’
Taylor spun around. ‘Lizzie! I haven’t seen you in ages!’
‘I know! How are you?’
‘Good! You?’
‘Yeah, not too bad. I just finished uni for the day, so I thought I’d do a bit of shopping. What’s new?’
‘Lots. Come and talk while we try our stuff on.’ Taylor pointed to two change rooms next to each other. ‘We’ll use those.’
Lizzie hung her tops on a hook and put her purse on the floor.
‘So, I guess since we last spoke, I got a new job,’ Taylor said through the wall.
‘Great! Doing what?’
‘I’m one of the girls on the door at The Den. Can you believe it?’
Lizzie laughed. ‘Do you work with the woman who looks like Pam from True Blood?’
‘Yes! Her name’s Stacey, but she does look like Pam! She’s actually really nice.’
‘I always thought you would do well with your art.’
‘Maybe one day,’ she said vaguely. ‘I paint at home sometimes, but I’m not sure I’m good enough.’
‘You are totally good enough! But anyway, how’s your love life?’
‘Oh God, don’t ask.’
‘That bad?’
‘Well, no. But not good.’
‘How come?’ Lizzie stepped out of the change room and looked at her top in the central mirror on the far wall.
Taylor came out too. ‘Well for a start, the guy I love is currently working at an En
glish school in Laos.’
Lizzie stared at her. ‘Do you mean Nick?’
‘Yes,’ she sighed.
‘And did you just say you loved him?’
‘Uh-huh.’
‘So what’s the deal?’
‘I don’t know. He said he didn’t want to be tied down, so he thinks we should leave things open, at least for this year. And then when he comes back at Christmas, we’ll re-evaluate. I just hope he doesn’t want to go back over.’
‘You don’t want to go with him?’
‘He won’t let me!’
Lizzie laughed. ‘What do you mean, he won’t let you?’
‘He said I’d be too distracting.’ She pouted.
‘Wow. OK. That’s a bit harsh. You haven’t thought about looking for someone else?’
‘Not really. You see so many douchebags when you work on the door of a club. Nick is a good guy. I think I’ll just wait for him for now.’
‘I admire your dedication.’
‘Anyway, tell me what’s going on with you! Last I heard you were going to Japan for a month, and then coming back to do uni. Are you still at McDonald’s?’
‘Yep. Although I’m looking into applying for a job in the uni’s admin building. I’d like to get out of fast food if I can.’
‘And come on, spill the beans. Love life?’
Lizzie blushed.
Taylor squealed. ‘Please tell me you’re with Brandon!’
Lizzie gave her a tiny nod.
‘Agh! That’s awesome! I’m so glad it worked out for you guys in the end.’
‘We’re not really broadcasting it to anyone from school, just in case they want to look into it. But now that Orion’s Head have been signed to a label, the boys could all quit their jobs.’
‘I know. I saw Jason a couple of months ago. It’s funny, but he didn’t tell me about you and Brandon.’
‘I think he realised how much trouble he caused last year, and wanted to stay out of it this time. So you’re not tempted to try again with Jason?’
‘Er, no. He’s too crazy for me. I could never figure him out.’
‘He’s actually pretty simple to understand. He just has this huge insecurity complex when it comes to Brandon, and he plays up to get the attention.’
‘Well Nick is a million times more mature than him, so I’m happy to let Jason do his thing with someone else.’
‘Do you still talk to anyone from school?’
‘You mean like the girls? Last I heard, Zoe was back from the States and devastated after Gabe broke up with her for being too clingy. I haven’t spoken to her directly. Cara told me, and she said that Zoe was going on about all these girls flocking around Gabe because of his Aussie accent.’
Lizzie smiled. ‘Well I hope he’s having a good time.’ She stepped back into the change room and took off her shirt.
‘And how’s Cara?’
‘She’s alright. She’s studying Musical Theatre at your uni actually. I’m surprised you haven’t run into her.’
Lizzie shivered. ‘I haven’t, thankfully. She did my head in with all that over-the-top crap at school.’
‘I think she has an alcohol problem. She comes to The Den all the time and gets so smashed she can barely walk out on her own at the end of the night. And she leaves with the most hideous looking guys! One time, she went home with a guy who looked about fifty and had two missing front teeth!’
‘Ah well. I can’t say I feel sorry for her.’
Taylor flung open Lizzie’s curtain, just as she was pulling the next top over her head.
‘Oh, and I almost forgot to tell you! Heather is pregnant!’
Lizzie’s eyes widened. ‘Really?’
‘Yes! A one night stand. He ditched her afterwards and doesn’t want anything to do with the baby when it’s born.’
‘She’s keeping it?’
‘Apparently. I didn’t know this, but her family is super religious and they won’t let her get an abortion.’
‘Wow. Have you seen her?’
‘Nope. I don’t want to either. Nick pointed out how horrible all those girls were. Except you,’ she added softly.
‘It’s OK. It was just school.’
‘I know. But I could have been nicer to you.’
‘You can make up for it in the future.’
‘We should totally go out for coffee sometime. Is your mobile still the same?’
‘Yep.’
‘Cool.’ She closed the curtain again. Lizzie decided she didn’t need to check the second top in the central mirror because she could feel it was too tight. She put her own clothes back on and hung the others on a rack outside the change room.
Taylor followed her out.
She gave Lizzie a hug. ‘I have to go, but I’ll definitely call you.’
‘Great.’
Lizzie watched her leave. She didn’t mind either way.
Her phone beeped with a text.
Where are you?
In the Queen St Mall. You?
Meet me in 10 at Eagle St Pier.
OK. See you soon!
Lizzie wondered what was going on. She walked down through the mall and further along Queen Street before turning right and crossing over to the pier.
She thought about her life over the past few months. Things were going pretty well. Orion’s Head were currently recording a new album and planning to tour next year. Brandon had invited Lizzie along, but she hadn’t decided whether she wanted to go yet. She’d still have work and uni, and she didn’t want to slack off just because her boyfriend was probably going to be a proper rock star soon.
Besides, she wasn’t sure if she could handle putting up with Jason’s constant dirty jokes. He hadn’t let up, even though Brandon had threatened him several times with violence.
Thankfully he had moved out of the apartment he shared with Brandon, so Lizzie didn’t have to see him very often. He still visited sometimes when Lizzie was there, and they’d managed to have a few civilised conversations, but she didn’t think they’d ever be best friends.
Her dad was really happy. He’d brought his new girlfriend home to meet Lizzie, and Lizzie got along with her immediately. Her name was Karen, and while she would certainly never replace Lizzie’s mother, Lizzie was happy to have her in their lives.
And as for her relationship with Brandon, well that was more perfect than she could have possibly imagined.
Lizzie got to the top of the stairs near where she ran into Brandon on her birthday last year.
After a moment, she saw him. He was down the bottom, leaning against the railing and smiling at her.
As she approached, he met her halfway. He wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug and then kissed her softly. She still couldn’t believe this man was her boyfriend.
‘What’s going on?’ she demanded playfully.
‘I want to ask you something.’
‘What kind of something?’
He held out a small box. She was reminded of the diamond earrings Gabe gave her. She never wore them out of respect to Brandon, but she did keep them safe in a drawer in her bedroom. She didn’t think Brandon was a diamond earrings type of guy, but you never knew.
She slowly opened the box… and saw a key.
She looked at him quizzically.
‘Lizzie White, will you move in with me?’
Lizzie laughed.
‘Yes! I would love to move in with you!’
Brandon scooped her up for another hug, lifting her off her feet. He kissed her three times in quick succession and then gazed down at her.
‘Have I told you today how much I love you?’
‘Yes. I think it was five times just this morning.’
‘Good. Add another one to the list.’
They wandered off together along the pier, Brandon’s arm around her waist.
Lizzie couldn’t wait for the next chapter of their lives to begin.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kirsty McManus was born in Sydn
ey, Australia and moved to Queensland when she was fourteen. When she was twenty-five, she lived in Japan for a year with her partner Kesh and worked as an English teacher. She also spent a year in Canada and then settled back down on the Sunshine Coast in 2008. She now writes part time while designing websites and looking after her two little boys.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 25
CHAPTER 26
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