Friendship on Fire

by Danielle Weiler

  I waved to Roman’s mum and kept walking. Shortly after, Dad pulled up to the curb and I jumped into the car.

  ‘So how was it? Champion girl?’ he teased and I smirked.

  ‘Hardly,’ I said dryly. ‘I got pushed into the pool and that was sufficient for me.’

  ‘That good, huh. Well, don’t forget you’ve got your driving lesson to cheer you up. Terence is picking you up from home in half an hour, so you’ve got time to clean up.’

  I groaned. I’d clean forgotten about the driving lesson.

  ‘Nice hair,’ Dad said.

  hy did Homo Erectus die out, yet he helped contribute to the next species in the chain of evolution, Homo Sapiens?’ my human biology paper asked. My rebellious fingers itched to use the token answer I’d saved throughout the test, waiting for a perfect question like this. It sounded logical. If he died out, couldn’t it have been because he had an erectile dysfunction?

  I wrote it in anyway. I was already on detention for the rest of the week so Mrs Von Ruse couldn’t do anything worse to me. I put a full stop at the end of my answer with a smile and closed my test paper.

  I couldn’t help it if I put more time and effort into the subjects I loved more. English annoyed me sometimes and I barely passed my first essay, but I did love the subject when I had fewer life distractions. I’d struggled in maths since I could breathe, no matter who the teacher was or how brilliantly innovative they made the content. History was my best subject by far, the broad content and skills more suitable for my big-picture mind. And I must say the essay I was ready to hand in tomorrow would be nothing short of spectacular. Gosh, I sound up myself. But it would be the first time Miss Shaw would read something important from me, so I had put in a lot of time into details, especially into finding relevant quotes to back up my arguments. That was the hardest part, apart from referencing. Referencing was evil.

  The bell went for lunch. I had ten minutes to eat before my date with Mr Head and the Blonde Brigade. At least Roman would accompany me; he would keep me sane.

  Rach texted me last night and told me she had a nasty cold. It crept up on her on Sunday and by Monday morning her throat had razor blades in it. Her words, not mine. Poor girl. She had yet to hear the outcome of the swimming carnival.

  Skye was standing in front of my locker when I walked into the common room to put my books away.

  ‘Move,’ I said, not very politely.

  ‘Make me,’ she challenged, planting her feet firmly. ‘Or will you get your boyfriend to do it for you?’

  ‘He’s not my boyfriend,’ I said tiredly. She was thick as three bricks.

  ‘Who is then? Nate, or Roman? Or are you having it off with them both at once?’ Venom oozed from her red, pouty mouth.

  ‘I won’t answer that. I said move.’ My temper rose in my throat. I felt my nerves slipping from my head; it got lighter and lighter.

  ‘Why should you have all the nice guys? You can’t choose one to keep to yourself. And yet look at you; red and green, like a Christmas tree. What are you giving them that makes them stick to you like glue?’ she whispered in a low, angry tone.

  This was probably the first time I’d seen Skye truly angry, not annoyingly sarcastic as usual. I stared at her for a second, almost letting myself enjoy this moment of variance in her personality, due to me.

  ‘Goodbye, Skye,’ I said, turning to walk back out the way I came. I knew if I didn’t leave some time soon, I would embarrass myself again publicly. I couldn’t afford to hit my reputation with another week’s worth of detentions, with Skye or without her.

  ‘See you in detention, tart,’ she spat, loud enough for a fair few people to hear. I just ignored her and walked to the canteen to buy my lunch instead.

  In detention, Mr Head lectured us for twenty minutes about respect, intelligence, etiquette, appropriate behaviour, the importance of rules, discipline and order. I nodded at everything he said, but I had tuned out big time. Roman and I were on opposite sides of the room to Skye and her friends, while Mr Head was standing at the front trying to be a big shot professor. I secretly wanted to put my head in my hands and sleep.

  The rest of the day was a blur. Work was boring and I was wondering the whole time at what point I’d see Nate again. I really missed him. His cheeky eyes smouldered in my memory and my lips were dying to kiss him again.

  He had texted me a few times to see how the carnival went and how my day was going, but otherwise I didn’t know how he was. I decided to call him after work and say hi before bed. Besides, I had to tell him the real story about the swimming carnival.

  ‘I miss you too, babe,’ he said towards the end of our conversation, a sad tone in his usually cheerful voice. ‘I’ll try to catch up with you soon, properly. Things are intense here at the moment. Dad is being weird about Mum and I have to do all the cooking and cleaning, believe it or not. I feel like a housewife.’

  ‘Aww, you poor thing. Are you sure you don’t want me to come over and help you with house stuff? I honestly don’t mind,’ I offered.

  ‘Nah, it’s OK. Sounds like you’re just as busy. Look, how ‘bout we go out for dinner Thursday night, if you’re not doing anything?’

  My pulse started racing. ‘Of course we can. I’d love to. See you tomorrow at training?’ I asked, hopefully.

  He went quiet. ‘I’d better stay here and help look after Dad. Tell Corby I said sorry, please?’

  ‘Sure I will. Hey don’t worry. This mess will work out, you’ll see.’ I hoped it would, for his sake.

  ‘Yeah I guess. Thanks heaps. Wish I could give you a goodnight kiss right now …’ he started.

  I chuckled. ‘I bet you do. I wish you could cuddle me all night and keep me warm,’ I said, without thinking.

  I waited for his response, nervously, but didn’t want to take it back.

  ‘Really? Hmm. Maybe one day, if you’re lucky,’ he said in a low voice.

  Not knowing what else to say from here, I muttered, ‘OK, let me know what time Thursday and where. Take care.’

  He got the hint. ‘Yep, you too. Imagine my arm across your middle tonight. That’s me spooning you. Seeya babe,’ he said, and hung up.

  I rolled on to my stomach and stared at the phone screen. I shouldn’t say things like that to him if I didn’t particularly mean it. Well, that’s not entirely true. I did mean it, but I didn’t want to encourage him or for him to think I was easy.

  Still, a growing seed of curiosity drove me to push the boundaries, to see what he would say if I said something a certain way. I liked the way he made me feel, the way the pure adrenaline flowed through my veins when he surprised me with a comment I didn’t see coming. It added to his mystery.

  Nate was predictably unpredictable and I loved the fact that I had all of his attention to myself.

  ‘A toga party? ‘ I said, doubt heavy in my voice. Whose idiotic idea was that for the first school social?

  ‘Yep. At James’ house. It’s a sick idea,’ said Roman, nodding as he mulled it over.

  ‘Firstly, Roman in a toga? Cliche. Secondly, what do we wear? Giant sheets?’ I squeaked. How flattering. Nate was definitely not invited to this party. Not that he could come anyway, seeing as it was technically a ‘school function’.

  ‘Something like that. Be creative. We will need to be in the best outfits seeing as we’re heads of the school. Maybe I can get a crown made out of leaves to wear on my head …’ Roman’s voice trailed and I stared at the faces of other students on the committee.

  ‘People, is this what we’re agreeing on?’ I demanded. Eleven blank pairs of eyes stared back at me like stoners as they nodded.

  ‘Pathetic,’ I said and sat back in my chair.

  Roman patted my arm. ‘Don’t worry. I’ll help you find some Jesus sandals. It’ll be fun. James’ house is built for parties, you’ll see.’

  That was period four. Lunchtime detention was awkward, again, and I handed in my history essay to Miss Shaw in period five. She took it with her
usual smile, saying, ‘I can’t wait to read it Daisy. I had a look at your grades from last year. You topped the class. Well done.’

  So she had checked up on us. She was a smart lady. I hoped my essay lived up to the reputation I’d worked so hard to get with my old teacher.

  Training after school was also boring without Nate. Corby seemed annoyed that he wasn’t there, but he couldn’t argue with family troubles as the excuse for his absence.

  As soon as I got home I looked in my wardrobe for a giant sheet. I wasn’t sure why I looked there first; the linen cupboard would have been the most obvious place to go, but I looked in hope anyway.

  What on earth could I wear to this toga party without looking stupid?

  ars lined the main restaurant street in Twin Rocks. It was so packed on a Thursday night that we couldn’t find a park for more than half an hour. We kept driving around the back streets but there was still nothing. It was the most popular street for eating out, but I had only been here a couple of times. It was quite exclusive, the restaurants pricey. I felt out of place amidst such magnificence.

  We tried the main street again. I saw someone trying to back out of a park and screamed at Nate to get that one. He laughed, and told me to relax as he put on his indicator.

  ‘Sorry,’ I smiled sheepishly.

  ‘It’s OK, it’s cute. You found us a park, Greeny,’ he said, using my new nickname, and kissed my forehead while we waited.

  ‘Which restaurant are we going to?’ I asked, excited because we were going out alone.

  Nate shook his head. ‘Not a chance. Surprise only.’

  I sighed. He squeezed my hand.

  He led me around in circles for a while before I promised to let him lead and stop asking questions. Nate stopped us under a sign that was coloured red, green and white. Portobello’s, it said.

  ‘Ahh. Italian. I like,’ I said, nodding in approval.

  ‘Good, let’s get our table then.’

  We were seated upstairs in a booth, reserved for couples. It was a beautiful restaurant, boasting thick honey oak tables and brush box flooring, with leather couches for the booths in the corners. They played classical music and left a rose on the table for our date.

  Nate ordered our entrees and mains and held my hand in his the whole time we waited for our food.

  ‘So, Daisy Renae,’ he began, ‘what pets do you have or have you had?’

  ‘Ahh, well, at the moment, none. But in the past, we’ve had a few cats and dogs. Our pets die unfortunate, premature deaths. We are unlucky with animals,’ I said. ‘But, I’d love a kitten.

  ‘Next question. Are you ready?’ he asked, his brown eyes dancing with mystery in the candlelight.

  ‘Give me all you’ve got,’ I challenged, and leant in to kiss his full lips before he asked.

  ‘Silver or gold?’

  I eyed him quizzically, but played along. ‘Silver, it suits my skin tone better. Gold is so … Mum,’ I laughed.

  ‘Fair enough. So what do you see yourself doing in ten years?’ he asked, drawing circles on my upper thigh again. My head went cloudy as I raced ahead in my mind ten years.

  ‘Work for a few years, get married, have a kid maybe by then … hopefully squeeze in some travelling. What about you?’ I asked, throwing it back on to him.

  He thought for a few seconds. ‘Really don’t know, hey. A lot of it depends on my parents’ situation.’

  ‘What do you mean?’ I frowned.

  ‘Well, they wouldn’t be able to afford me going to uni if the company ever crashes. I might have to pay for myself and it will delay the process a while,’ he said calmly.

  ‘OK, keep going,’ I said.

  ‘Secondly, if they divorce, I’ll have a chance to look at other options. Dad might want to keep working as head of the company because he becomes a workaholic when he’s stressed, and I can live with Mum and not have the pressure of becoming what my dad wants me to be.’ A sad hope blazed in his eyes.

  ‘That would change things for your ten year prediction, definitely. You don’t think they will divorce, do you?’

  ‘Probably. They don’t get along, Daisy. Not since I can remember. I need to accept it sooner rather than later and make my own plans.’

  I read his face and changed the subject.

  ‘On the bright side, our good friend Skye has been making rumours up about me once again. She reckons suss stories are getting around Grammar about you and me. I’m not entirely sure what that means, but it’s all bull.’

  His eyes dropped as he thought about a response.

  ‘Nate?’ I asked, alarm rising in my throat.

  He recovered quickly. ‘Of course it’s not true. We know that. But my friends can be dicks sometimes. They spread stuff about me to piss me off. Everyone knows they are making it up, so you have nothing to worry about. It’s a boy thing.’

  ‘Right. And they are your best friends? That’s not cool,’ I said, questioning my eagerness to meet these people.

  ‘I know, Daisy. Let me handle it,’ he said quietly.

  ‘Fine. Something else, too. Skye seems to think we are a lot more serious than we are. Have you agreed about that?’

  ‘No way. I don’t talk to anyone about us. Tiffany is probably feeding her lies — you remember her? The one keen on your friend Roman?’ My back rose in defence of Roman, but Nate didn’t notice.

  ‘Honestly, don’t waste your time worrying about them. They’re jealous.’

  I sighed at the repetition of Skye’s supposed jealousy. ‘I guess so.’ I didn’t want to push it with Nate because of his stressful personal situation, and I believed him over Skye, so I let it slide.

  ‘Hey,’ he said softly, tipping my chin up. ‘You are more important to me than any of them, so let’s focus on having a good time here and now, OK?’

  He was right.

  ‘Yep.’

  March

  Dear Diary,

  So sorry it’s been a while since I wrote last. I’ve been flat out with dates with Nate, assignments and balancing work with life. It’s been pretty hectic and I’ve barely had time to scratch myself, let alone sit down and pour out my thoughts. So much has happened since I started school already; some positive, and some really negative, like the stuff with Skye and the Grammar girls. I feel like I’m in for a steep learning curve this year, but I’m not sure if I can handle it. What if I’m not strong enough to deal with what comes my way? I’m so little still. OK, I’m nearly 18, but that’s little in my eyes. I won’t be able to have adults solve my problems for much longer and I’m scared of making mistakes that could cost me parts of myself. Does that make sense? Sorry if it doesn’t.

  Dais xx

  o I called Roman’s parents while you were out last night,’ Mum said as she rushed around the house getting ready for work the next morning.

  ‘Yeah, and?’

  ‘They are coming to dinner tonight with the family. Can you remind Roman at school today, please?’ she asked, kissing me on my ear and racing out the front door.

  ‘Yep,’ I called after her. I had to make it up to Lyn after snobbing her off the last two times I saw her. She must think I’m a strange child.

  Roman’s dad, Jordan, is ultra loud and has a booming laugh.

  He is friendly, jolly and confident. Lyn is sweet and kind, and very laid back. It will be good to see them properly.

  I knew Nate wanted to see his mum and sister again this weekend, so he couldn’t come to the dinner. Not that I would have asked him in all likelihood; it could become awkward very quickly having Nate and Roman in the same room, both with the same reason for attending; me.

  In English I nudged Roman and whispered to him, ‘Remember, you are coming to my place tonight.’

  Roman looked surprised yet interested and lifted his eyebrows while staring blankly at me. Because Mr Andrews was talking, we couldn’t do much more.

  ‘Is this something we’ve talked about before?’ he whispered in my ear. The heat from his breath fi
lled my neck with goose bumps.

  ‘What?’

  ‘You know.’

  ‘No, I don’t, but it’s news to me, too,’ I said, frowning at him.

  ‘What sorts of things will we be doing? Like, what’s the plan?’

  I whispered back. ‘Um. Stuff. What do you think?’

  ‘So, why are we doing it? If you didn’t know about it either?’ he asked, now as confused as I was.

  ‘I thought it would be nice to have you over. If you don’t think so, don’t bother,’ I whispered hotly.

  Roman got annoyed, too. ‘I didn’t say it wouldn’t be a nice idea. I didn’t see it coming. Let a man get his head around something would you.’

  ‘Your parents should have told you by now. Do they forget they have a son?’ I whispered sarcastically.

  ‘How do they know?’ he frowned, a disturbed element weaving its way into his mouth.

  ‘Oh my goodness. How do they know they have a son?’

  ‘No, how do they know they are coming as well? Wouldn’t that be awkward? ‘ His whisper turned into a squeak, his eyes trying desperately to show me the meaning in them.

  ‘Roman, stop.’ I rubbed my forehead in frustration. ‘My mum has invited you and your parents over for dinner tonight and they clearly didn’t tell you like they were s’posed to, hence our current dilemma,’ I said, spreading my hands wide.

  Roman smirked with surprise at our misunderstanding and Mr Andrews stopped what he was saying to glare at us. He put his hands on his hips.

  ‘Do I have to stop you two from sitting together? In year twelve? Don’t make me do it,’ he warned.

  ‘No sir, Roman talks to himself sometimes. He will get over it soon, promise,’ I said seriously.

  Roman kicked my leg under the table. I grinned back.

  Not wanting to risk getting caught talking again, he picked up his pen and wrote sideways on my notebook, I’ll get you back.

  The last day of detention awaited us. I couldn’t wait. The same lecture again, with a different spin on it, like every other day. The same seats, the same stand-off with the Brigade. I needed a change of scenery; the hostility in the room was making me claustrophobic. I stared out the window longingly at the rest of the student body enjoying the sun and relaxation.