by Julie Fison
‘Why did Annabel tell me that things were going well with you, then?’
Liam shrugged. ‘I guess she wanted you to think they were. She also said you had a boyfriend.’
‘But she told me she didn’t say that!’
‘Well, okay. She didn’t say that exactly. I just thought maybe you did, because I saw you become friends online with this Highgrove guy called Saia, and when I asked Annabel about it she hinted you were together. And when you didn’t turn up to any meetings this week, she said you were too busy. I figured you didn’t want to hang out with me anymore.’
I swallowed hard as Liam’s eyes searched my face for a response. ‘I don’t even know Saia, I just got invited to a party he’s going to. And I’ve only been skipping Wild Club because I’ve been jealous of you and Annabel.’
‘You were … jealous?’ he smiled shyly. ‘But Annabel told me you thought we’d never be more than friends.’ He kicked at the grass with his toe. ‘Did she make that up too?’
‘Yes,’ I said. But it was a lie. I had said those exact words at the mall, right before Annabel started her campaign to get Liam. ‘Well, no. She didn’t make it up. What I meant was I thought we were just friends, and then …’ I dropped my gaze. How was I going to explain that my feelings for Liam had changed as soon as Annabel started flirting with him? ‘Things change,’ I said eventually.
And I realised that was true. Annabel hadn’t exactly been honest with me or Liam. But I hadn’t been honest with her about my feelings either. As soon as she found out the truth, she had stayed at home alone instead of coming between me and Liam.
‘What does that mean?’ asked Liam.
I took a deep breath. I could feel every hair on the back of my neck stand on end as Liam watched me, waiting for an answer. And I could have tried to explain everything, but it just felt right to show Liam how I felt. Enough words had been wasted in the past week, saying things that weren’t true. I leant towards him and gently kissed him on the lips.
‘I’d like it if we could be more than friends.’
‘Oh,’ he smiled. ‘I’d like that too.’
‘Sorry, I think I’d better go,’ I mumbled getting to my feet.
I raced between movnie-goers and then ran for the slushie stall. I could feel my heart thumping as I ran. Why was Liam playing handsies with me when he was into Annabel? I must have misjudged him completely.
I desperately needed to talk to Kimmi.
When I approached the slushie trailer, I saw Kimmi and Jack leaning on the counter, chatting. I hung back in the shadows, watching them. The customers had gone and they were smiling and laughing, obviously getting on well. I was sorry to break up the fun.
‘Kimmi!’ I called. I waved, gesturing for her to come out of the trailer.
‘Phoebs, what’s up?’ she asked, bouncing towards me. Her face broke into a smile. ‘Did he ask you out?’
‘No,’ I frowned. ‘Why would he do that?’
‘Jack told me that Liam was going to ask you out.’
I sat down on a bench and stared at Kimmi blan tpkly. ‘What about Annabel?’
Kimmi sat down beside me and rolled her eyes. ‘There’s nothing going on between him and Annabel. He likes you! That’s what I was trying to tell you earlier.’
I should have been excited, but I was still confused.
‘But Annabel has been talking about Liam all week, and she said they were getting on really well. Do you think she was just making all that up? And the stuff about me having a boyfriend – what was that about?’
Kimmi shrugged. ‘Well, he was asking a lot of questions about you in our Wild Club meetings. Maybe she saw he was into you and she was trying to get him to like you less.’
‘By lying about me? By torturing me? If she were here right now, I’d pour a slushie over her head. We’re meant to be friends!’ I couldn’t understand why Annabel would do that to me.
Kimmi put her arm around me. ‘I don’t think she was trying to be mean. She had no idea how you felt. Remember you said that you and Liam would never be anything more than friends?’
‘I didn’t say …’ I began. Then I remembered. ‘Oh yeah, I did say that.’
‘You also told Annabel that you didn’t have a problem with her hanging out with Liam,’ Kimmi reminded me gently.
‘Yes, but I didn’t mean that. And I told her the truth tonight. And what did she do?’
Kimmi just looked at me.
‘Oh, right,’ I mumbled. ‘She gave me her top and wedges and then went home.’
Kimmi nodded. ‘She must have done that so you could work things out with Liam.’
I sighed, feeling awful. I could hardly be angry at Annabel. I’d lied as much as she had. ‘Poor Annabel. She’s probably at home crying her eyes out because Liam doesn’t like her.’
‘I feel bad for her,’ Kimmi added, checking her phone. A message had popped up.
‘Timing. It’s from Annabel and she’s asking about you.’
‘What’s it say?’ I asked nervously.
Kimmi read the message out loud. ‘How is Phoebs? She hasn’t replied to my messages. Tell her I’m sorry I lied about what happened with Liam. She should go for him. They’ll make a cute couple.’
Kimmi looked at me and raised her eyebrows. ‘It’s a confession.’
‘And an apology,’ I said, unsure how to react.
A great big mixture of emotion was swimming around inside me. I felt hurt, guilty and excited, all at the same time.
I needed to get my phone to message Annabel, but I also had to apologise to Liam for rushing off.
I looked over towards the slushie trailer, where I could now see Liam with Jack, cleaning up. This was going to be awkward, but at least I’d worked out the truth now. I wondered how Annabel would react if Liam really did ask me out. Even though she’d told me to go for him, she’d probably still be a little bit upset. I would have to be careful if I was going to hang out with Liam – I wanted to stay friends with Annabel.
‘Oh my god!’ Kimmi shrieked. She was staring at her phone.
‘What?’ I asked.
Kimmi showed me a picture. It was Annabel and her old crush, Ryan Baker, with their arms around each other.
I laughed. ‘Poor Annabel,’ I said, shaking my head. ‘I’m really worried about her. She looks heartbroken, doesn’t she?’
‘I guess she’s over Liam, then,’ Kimmi giggled. ‘I can’t believe she went to Ryan’s party alone – and she’s hanging out with him! I think you can stop feeling sorry for her,’ said Kimmi. Then she leant in close to me and whispered, ‘You know, Jack says Liam has liked you for ages.’
‘Hey, Phoebe!’ someone called. I turned around and saw Liam heading towards me. ‘You’re missing the movie. Is everything okay?’
I walked right up to him. ‘Yes,’ I said. ‘It couldn’t be better.’
The Call of the Wild
published in 2014 by
Hardie Grant Egmont
Ground Floor, Building 1, 658 Church Street
Richmond, Victoria 3121, Australia
www.hardiegrantegmont.com.au
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eISBN 9781743582473
Text copyright © Julie Fison
Illustration and design copyright © Hardie Grant Egmont
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