‘I’d rather not. I’ve had a big twenty-four hours.’
‘It’s going to be awesome. I don’t want you to miss out.’
‘Don’t you really mean you don’t want to find your own intoxicated way home across town by yourself?’
‘Shut up! I want you to come with me. And you know it’s dangerous on the streets at night by yourself. You’d be my safety blanket.’
‘As long as we don’t stay out late.’ I wouldn’t have been able to sleep if I’d let her go on her own.
So it seemed I was still her keeper when it suited her. She mustn’t have been able to find a replacement hair holder for when she puked.
Just after dusk, Janet and I caught the train across town. She rambled on the whole way.
‘Have you been drinking already?’
‘What’s a cooler or two before a party? What time did your mum said she’d pick us up?’
‘At ten.’ In around four hours. I was already counting down the minutes.
‘That’s way too early.’
‘Remember we leave for camp tomorrow.’
‘Pft.’ Janet rolled her eyes then led the way from the train station.
We walked through two blocks of high-fenced, gigantic homes with manicured gardens, on the way to Janet’s friends. I followed her up the sandstone stairs, past the pink flamingo fountain and the huge Victorian stone columns. Waiting at the solid double doors, security ticked us off the guest list, letting us push through the heavy doors ourselves.
I reminded my klutzy hands not to break anything. Vases and ornaments lined the entrance. The home opened out to oversized rooms with white shiny furniture. From the ceiling a mirror ball twinkled light around the room.
The music was so loud I had to shout right into Janet’s ear. ‘I can’t believe they are letting a bunch of teenagers have a party here.’
‘Pretty cool, hey?’
‘Or stupid. I don’t know anyone here. How do you know these people?’
‘Oh, parties. You know.’
I didn’t know. I had obviously missed those parties.
Waitresses offered trays of food while bartenders mixed colourful cocktails and poured beers. I grabbed a spring roll and canapé from the tray that passed. Janet took no food but headed straight for the bar.
She turned and yelled into my ear. ‘What would you like?’
‘Apple juice please.’ I wasn’t game to try the slushies. I was sure they contained an extra punch.
I followed. It wasn’t somewhere I wanted to be left standing alone. Janet said hello to everyone we passed. Many returned the greeting and knew her by name.
She sculled her first cocktail and went back for another. The glass was empty in no time.
‘Just wait here a minute. Super hottie over at ten o’clock.’ She winked. ‘Watch me weave my magic.’
‘Hottie?’ I repeated as she strutted towards the boy via the bar for another drink.
My cheeks grew warm as she launched herself at him. Her arm reached around his neck as she leant against his body. I pulled my gaze from her and turned to watch the rest of the room.
‘Hey babe, you here on your own?’ A greasy skinned, overly scented boy yelled into my ear.
‘Ah no, I’m here with a friend.’
‘You must be a pretty sly thief because you stole my heart from way over there.’ He pointed to the other side of the room.
‘That’s a really lame pick-up line.’ I smiled.
I turned back to Janet, but she’d disappeared. A shudder rippled down my spine as Mr Pick-Up-Line moved further into my personal space bubble.
‘I’ve got to find my friend. Excuse me.’ Try jumping in the lake.
I wandered around checking every hallway and room until I was sure Janet wasn’t downstairs anywhere. I mounted the stairs one at a time. I didn’t want to hunt her down or walk in on other couples. But then, I didn’t want to leave it too long and walk in on her in a compromising situation again.
Thankfully, Janet was alone and leaning against the wall in the top level hallway.
‘Whatsup?’ she asked.
I took a quick look at my watch. Nearly three hours ’til Mum would arrive.
‘Are you okay? Come back downstairs with me.’
‘No’s okay, Al’s getting s’more drinks.’
‘Come on Janet, you’re drunk. You don’t really want to stay up here.’
‘Yes I do.’
‘My favourite song is on. Come and dance with me.’
‘Yeah?’ she listened for a moment. ‘I like this song too.’
Linking my arm through hers, I led her downstairs to the makeshift dance floor in the lounge room. Soon others joined us, and before the end of the song the area was so crowded we were bumping into each other. Another song started.
‘I love this song!’ I hoped enthusiasm would keep her with me.
‘I think I need ’nother drink.’ Janet nodded and kept dancing.
Bottles of water decorated the room, stacked in a pyramid in the corner. I grabbed one and pushed it into her hands. ‘Here.’
She drank half the bottle then dropped it, spilling water over the carpet. ‘Now where’s my drink? And where’d that hot boy go? I need to go pee.’
We stood in the line for so long to use the toilet that we sat down against the wall. Finally, Janet rushed in to use the facilities. I used the time to send Mum a text message, asking her to come earlier than planned.
‘Have you fallen asleep in there?’ I knocked on the door.
‘Was just fixing up m’hair,’ she said as she pushed the door open.
‘You need some food.’ I led her to a table with a smorgasbord of cold meats, cheese and crackers.
‘Achuwally, I’m thirsty. I’ll get y’slushy.’
‘No thanks.’
‘Hey, there’s Al.’ Janet tripped over her own feet, then steadied herself. ‘Come over. I’ll introduce you to him.’
‘Janet, no.’ Al was about to stick his tongue down the throat of a tall, curvy girl.
Janet hadn’t noticed. ‘What? But—’
‘Mum will be here in fifteen minutes.’ I pulled Janet outside onto a deck, away from the scene.
Overlooking the harbour, sailboats rocked and lights twinkled on the water. It was serene, the complete opposite to what was happening behind me.
‘Is it already time? Feels like we’ve only been here an hour.’ Janet leant against me with all her weight. I had to brace myself to keep upright.
‘And a bit.’ I straightened her up, so she rested against a wall.
‘Really. Amazing.’
When Al and his new girl moved outside to the deck, I ushered Janet through the house.
‘You aren’t leaving already are you?’ Mr Pick-Up-Line stepped in front of us.
‘Yes, taxi’s waiting outside for us,’ I rushed my words.
‘Really?’ Janet asked.
I kept her moving towards the door, stepping around Mr Pick-Up-Line.
‘I thought you said your mum was coming.’
‘Yep, my mum the taxi driver.’
‘When did she start driving taxis?’
‘When you started drinking.’ At least this time she was amusing instead of puking.
CHAPTER 34
‘Hi Suzie.’ I found her sitting away from the group waiting to get on the bus that would take us to camp.
‘Joey stayed over again last night and Dad walked in on us.’ A tear developed and rolled off Suzie’s eyelashes.
‘Walked in on you?’ How could Suzie have been so careless?
‘We were just kissing.’ Her cheeks glowed red. ‘It got ugly. Dad threatened to call the police.’
‘What happened?’
‘Dad went off at me, then drove Joey home. I snuck out through my window and phoned him early this morning. He said that Dad yelled at him the whole way in the car. I haven’t slept.’
‘That’s horrible. Everything seemed to be going so well.’
; ‘Until ... I’m not going to stop seeing him just because of my parents. He’s the kind of guy I could marry.’
‘Woah, Suzie, you’re only sixteen. You can’t make life decisions yet.’
‘Other people have, and they’ve survived.’
‘But—’
‘I’ll work it out somehow. I’ve snuck out to meet him before. I’ll do it again when we get back from camp.’ She had a determined looked in her eye that spelt danger.
There was no use trying to change Suzie’s mind. Her fists clenched and she kept shaking her head. I’d rather see her full of life, like this, rather than smothered like she’d been a couple of months ago.
Janet, on the other hand, rushed towards me with nostrils flared.
‘Why did you drag me out of the party?’
‘It was getting late and you were ready to leave.’
‘Johnno said you dragged me out before nine o’clock. That’s so freaking early.’
‘Truth is ...’ I checked on Suzie, then faced Janet again. ‘You were drunk.’
‘I was fine.’ Janet’s hand landed on her hip.
Suzie chewed on her fingernail, watching us.
‘Hmm, so you didn’t remember what time we left.’ I moved closer to Janet, this wasn’t a conversion Suzie needed to hear. ‘You had to find out from Johnno.’
‘Time isn’t important at a party. I wasn’t wearing a watch.’
‘If that’s what you think, then the fact we left a little early isn’t important either.’
‘I was having a really good time!’ Janet screwed up her nose.
‘If you don’t remember leaving ...’ Other girls started to looked at us. So I lowered my voice. ‘How would you even remember whether you were having a good time or not?’
‘Some friend you are!’ She took her bag and dumped it beside the bus.
I pressed my lips together and pinched my tongue between my teeth. She wasn’t about to forgive me or thank me. I looked around for the teachers and waited to board the bus. Really, I just wanted to go home. How was it that my ridiculously beautiful and far from perfect best friend fobs me off all the time? And how did Suzie find herself living so dangerously? And how did Janet become so angry with me?
Finally the roll was called, our bags were stacked in the storage compartments and we were allowed to file onto the bus.
Janet and Suzie sat together, and I found myself brooding as my friends’ chatter and laughter rose above the drone of the bus. When we arrived at the mountain campsite, they claimed their bags and raced off before mine was even unloaded.
I assumed the three of us would be in the same room, but when I found my way to our sleeping accommodation I discovered there were two to a room. Suzie and Janet had already claimed a room together so I trudged down the line of doors until I found a spare bed. Unsure who I was about to bunk in with, I heaved my bag onto a small set of drawers. The toilet flushed. Out walked our school’s Miss World candidate. Now, more conscious than ever of my pear shape, I slinked my hand over my hip and turned a shade of green. Envious.
‘How lovely,’ Anna said in a pleasant tone.
Was she talking to me?
‘I was wondering who I’d be sharing with.’ She smiled.
‘I was expecting more beds in each room.’ I thought about walking straight back out the door. But I’d already dumped my bag.
‘It’s good that there’s only two to a room, hey? And the ensuite is a bonus. I was dreading a shower block.’
I had to get out of the cabin, away from way-too-beautiful-to-be-nice Anna.
I pulled on my runners and pounded my feet toward the unknown terrain. While still running on concrete paths, I scolded myself for challenging my friends instead of just being there for them and listening to their problems. The path came to an end and the mountain earth sank a little with each step. It was like I was on enemy ground. Please come and zap me back home, Fairy Godmother. I wished I could be back in my comfortable living room or even at the beach with my friends. But no, I was out in the middle of woop woop, sharing a room with Miss World Candidate.
My head throbbed as everything replayed in my mind. The past year ran in order, like short movie scenes. Everything I’d done, everyone I’d kept secrets for. The hair holding, the hand holding and the support. And had anyone returned the favour?
It had been Shelly and Priscilla who had been there for me. They were always ready to listen and encourage. Pretty much always available to hang out. Oh, no! I was doing exactly the same to them as my friends had done to me. Dumping on them without returning a listening ear.
I ran faster, wanting to push the envy and anger away. The misty mountain air flushed my lungs and helped me think more clearly. Running downhill, I decided it was time to put my best foot forward. After camp I would start to be a friend to Shelly and Priscilla rather than just drain them for my own needs.
The trees seemed taller, the air seemed a little warmer, the atmosphere more peaceful. Small rolling hills one after the other. Up. Then down. A magpie swooped, baring its claws. I swung my arm to shoo it away. It came again. I ducked and lost my footing on some stones. My ankle rolled and I went down hard on my knees, just getting my elbows out in time to save my face.
Bruised and startled, I stood up, but fell over again. I couldn’t believe I’d stuffed my ankle. Again. Tears rolled silently down my cheeks. How was I going to get back to camp? No one would know where to find me as the sun slunk down, kissing the horizon. If only they’d let us bring our mobile phones to camp.
I looked to the sky. ‘Please send someone to rescue me!’
CHAPTER 35
I lay back, closed my eyes and hoped the pain would subside with a little time. When I looked up, big puffy clouds floated around the sky. They were pretty enough to distract me from the intense pain. The sinking sun sent dark tree shadows that lengthened across the grass with every minute. Mosquitoes nibbled on my arms and ankles, forcing me to sit up and slap them. My ankle had blown up to three times its normal size.
I tried to walk again, hopping on one leg, but nausea churned my stomach and the throbbing pain sent my head spinning. I slumped back down onto the stone-infested grass.
‘Help!’ I called. ‘Help me,’ I repeated in barely a whisper.
Who on earth would be out here in the middle of nowhere? I had run at least two kilometres away from the camp grounds. Thankfully I wasn’t in dense scrub bush. At least if a chopper flew overhead they might see me. But who would send for a chopper? Great day to wear earthy green! Gah. I fell backwards and punched my fist into the ground. I had no one to blame but myself. I cried and cried and cried.
‘Hey. Do you need some help?’
Was it an angel? I opened my eyes expecting to see a bright white supernatural being. But standing there in front of me was Miss World Candidate herself.
‘Anna! I hope you can.’
‘Wow.’ She crouched down to inspect my ankle. ‘How did you manage to do that?’
To tell her I was running to try and thrash out my envy of her beauty probably wasn’t a good idea. I took a deep breath.
‘I was running and a magpie swooped me.’
‘They can be nasty this time of year.’ She stood. ‘The air is so fresh out here isn’t it? I saw you take off and tried to follow, but you ran so fast.’
Why would she follow me? The throbbing seemed to get worse as I sat up.
‘Do you think you could go for help?’
‘I don’t want to leave you alone. Here.’ She reached out her hand to help me up.
Once standing, I went to swing my arm around her neck for support, but she was tall I could hardly reach. Instead we linked arms and she acted like a crutch, supporting me enough to hop.
I groaned at the extreme pain. When the campground was in sight, Anna stopped.
‘Will you be able to wait here while I get a stretcher or something.’
I nodded clenching my teeth. The pain had increased to the point where I couldn
’t speak.
She elegantly strode away from me, leaving me wondering what it would be like to be so ridiculously beautiful. I closed my eyes and prayed she’d return soon.
Within ten minutes a rescue party of teachers and students returned along with the owner of the campground. They loaded me onto a stretcher and I bounced along in a horizontal position for the next five hundred metres or so.
‘We’ve called an ambulance. They should be here soon.’ The campsite owner led us to a smoother path.
Was this my way out? Maybe I could leave and sleep in my own bed tonight.
Anna returned to our room as soon as Janet and Suzie arrived at my side.
When the paramedics examined my ankle, they decided it just needed to be iced, wrapped and elevated. Apparently there was no need for further medical attention.
‘Just get it checked again when you arrive home,’ the ambulance officer told me.
I didn’t want to stay. I wanted to go home.
‘Oh, that’s good news.’ Suzie wrapped her arms around me.
‘Maybe I should go and get it x-rayed?’ I looked to the ambos, hoping they’d agree with me.
‘Only if the swelling doesn’t go down. But I’m sure you’ll be fine in a couple of days. Just keep off it.’
‘You have to stay. You don’t want to miss out on what we have planned tonight.’ Janet raised her eyebrows.
The extra shiny sparkle in her eyes concerned me. What was she planning?
An old wheelchair was kept on the grounds for accidents like mine, so I was able to roll around rather than hopping. Thankfully the buildings were linked by ramps and paths. Janet pushed me back to my cabin while Suzie opened the doors.
‘We’ll come back in half an hour and help you get to dinner,’ Suzie said.
‘I can help Tabbie.’ Anna was lying on her bed. ‘We’ll meet you there.’
‘You don’t have to do that.’ I looked at her, wondering why she was being helpful.
‘Really, it’s fine. I’d love to help you.’
Why? I wanted to ask but instead I just said, ‘Thanks.’
‘Okay.’ Janet was already out the door. ‘See you both in the dining room.’
Spiralling Out of the Shadow (The Spiralling Trilogy) Page 18