Friendship on Fire (13 page)

‘No. Not on the first night, Shane.' I blushed and scowled at him.

‘Good,' he said, relief evident in his eyes. Then he frowned, ‘But you're planning to, then?'

‘I hadn't … thought about it yet,' I answered diplomatically. ‘Why?'

‘You said not on the first night. But, maybe the second. Or is it the third date these days. I usually try by the third date. They are pretty much used to me by then.' His nosey rambling gave me a headache. I sat down hard on my bed and watched him with bleary eyes. He stopped. ‘Sorry. I'm crapping on aren't I?'

‘A little.'

His eyes suddenly turned serious. ‘Dais, be careful. He's a rich boy with flash cars to burn. No doubt he's been taught how to win people over and drop ‘em like a sack of potatoes when he's done with ‘em, too.'

I was falling asleep. ‘Thanks for the hint.'

‘Don't make me have the sex talk with you, either,' he warned, pointing a finger at me. ‘Dad already hit me up for it. But I said,
Why me
? There are five of us who could do it.' He folded his arms stubbornly.

‘Um. I'm pretty sure I don't need it. I'm nearly eighteen. You can tell Dad that too, in case he's forgotten I'm not ten years old anymore. What are you doing up anyway?' He shuffled his feet a little.

‘Nothing,' he said quickly. ‘Well, maybe chatting up a girl… more importantly, waiting for my little sister to come home safely,' he added, nodding to himself.

‘Aww, thanks Shane,' I said, and got up off my bed to give him a hug.

‘None of that,' he half-heartedly pushed me away, ‘Go to bed. Leave the keys on your dresser.'

‘Trust me, I'm going to. I mean, no. I'm going to bed and you aren't taking the car for a drive.'

He laughed quietly, but he was dead serious. I threw the keys under my pillow, where they would hopefully be safe until I could drive the car back to Nate. Without getting changed, I fell into bed and slept dreamlessly for a solid four hours. At about six-fifteen am, I heard the last few seconds of my ring tone and reached out to turn my phone off.

The light on the screen flashed with an unknown number. Adrenaline kicked in as I remembered our agreement. My head groaned at me, but I answered and tried not to sound like I was half dead.

‘Yeah.' It came out like a croak.

‘Daisy, where have you been? I've tried to call you about sixteen times.' Nate's voice was impatient.

‘Hang on.' I took the phone from my ear and checked my menu. There were ten missed calls from his number, starting from five-thirty.

‘Sorry. Didn't hear it.' It always took me a while to wake up.

‘Can you bring the car over now? Dad will be up within forty-five minutes I reckon, and the car has to be here.' He sounded as tired as me.

‘Righto. See you soon,' I said.

And I fell back asleep.

Fifteen minutes later, my phone rang again.

‘Yo.' I yawned into the phone without checking who it was.

‘Daisy. Wake up
.
‘ I shot out of bed and realised what I hadn't done.

‘Yep, on to it,' I giggled quietly.

‘I'll get you back for this.' He couldn't help but laugh with me.

I changed my clothes and poked my head around the doorway to check if anyone was awake. All clear. I staggered to the front door and out into the sunrise. The M3 sat where I had parked it on the curb, shining with class. Was last night a dream? I was about to wake the whole neighbourhood up with the sound of a 4L V8 purring to life. What if my dad woke up?

Crap. Did I remember how to get to Nate's place from mine? I'd never gone that way before. Anxiety gripped me, on top of lack of sleep. I called Nate back.

‘Uh. A little help please? How do I get to your place from here?' I asked sheepishly.

If he could have rolled his eyes on the phone I'm sure I could hear it. After five minutes of directions and no traffic, thank God, I rolled into line with the curb of his house. I hadn't noticed in the darkness of a few hours ago how nice his house really was. It pretty much spewed class and money.

The beige rendering was perfectly unmarked and the whole two storeys shone like a really expensive flare compared to other houses in the street. There were water fountains amid the detailed rock landscaping and rose bushes lined the front, acting as a concrete wall. Nate bounded out of the house wearing only a pair of basketball shorts, his hair ruffled by sleep.

‘Well this is deja vu,' he grinned cheerfully and kissed me good morning, not for the first time today.

I smiled back sleepily. ‘Sure is. Your folks up yet?'

He frowned. ‘Well it's me and Dad at the moment. Mum kind of left with Amelie last night. I found out before I went to bed this morning. I saw the note in the kitchen, but I don't know what's happening.'

I was shocked. ‘What? I had no idea. Why didn't you tell me things were so bad?'

He shrugged. ‘It's not something you tell someone you've just met. Or are trying to impress,' he said, trying to tone it down.

‘Yeah, but you can trust me. You harped on last week about how I need to trust you; doesn't it go both ways?' I asked indignantly.

‘I know. I guess we are still getting used to each other. I find it hard to trust people. It's so easy to fake it.'

‘But I'm not fake,' I said in a quiet voice.

‘And that's why I like you. You're good for me. No games.' And he took my hand and kissed it.

I couldn't possibly know how to play the games he was thinking of, but I kept that thought to myself.

‘Anyway, I'd better be getting back inside in case Dad wakes up. From all the beer bottles around the house, I wouldn't be surprised if he slept for the rest of the year, though.' He pursed his lips.

I wasn't going to remind him that I didn't have a magic chariot to ride home in. He seemed stressed out enough without having to drive me home and get back in time. I opened the door.

‘Oh crap I've gotta drive you home.' He started getting out of the passenger side of the car.

‘Nah don't worry about it. I'll walk home. I need the fresh air anyway. Clear my head,' I assured him.

‘Are you sure? I don't mind.' But he looked cautious.

‘Yep, positive. See you later.' I gave him a quick peck on the lips and got out.

I turned back and waved as he went into the house. Fresh air was a great idea as long as I didn't get lost trying to pursue it. I rounded the first bend and recognised the next street. This was going well.

The morning sun was well up now and the tail end of the summer weather was warming the sky. Twin Rocks was renowned for humid, windy weather, which to me seemed like a paradox. The wind helped with the sweat factor, but on a day like today where the wind hadn't picked up yet, it was humid. I took my jacket off and put it round my waist, heading for the shady side of the street. My head throbbed from being up so late, but my heart pounded solidly with the memory of last night. Did this mean I had a
boyfriend
?

It had been a while since a guy took an interest in me. I was never real keen on dating guys from school; they were more of the ‘school boys' and anyone else outside our fish bowl was more interesting, even if they were still in school themselves. And besides, I didn't like the idea of everyone seeing and knowing all about our relationship, as tended to happen when people dated each other from school. The ‘no touching your partner' rule was also a bit of a tease. It encouraged us to find other, more creative ways to vent our attraction on each other.

My last boyfriend, Ryder, moved interstate last year after we were dating for only six months. We were pretty cut at losing each other and tried long distance for a while. The phone bills sky-rocketed and letters, emails and text messages went back and forth, but there were no guarantees if and when we would see each other again. After about two months we let it go. We had to; it was driving us insane. We weren't heaps serious, but it was an unfair way to end a good relationship.

I had barely crossed the first large intersection when my mobile phone beeped with a text message. I slid my phone up and smiled. It was Nate.

Thanks4everything last night. Hope ur not2tired for school tomoz. Miss u already. Such a sap. C u Tues?

My fingers were itching to answer but it was best to make him hang on. At least an hour.

I texted Rach instead:

So stoked right now. Guess who will hopefully be my bf soon. Do u approve? How'd u go cleaning up, and with the cops? I can come help later if u like?

She wrote back five minutes later:

Yeah fine. Just got a slap on the wrist for the noise. Most of the cleaning is done; dw about coming over. Thanks anyway. Nate seems cool? C u tomorrow.

Well that was convincing. I knew she wouldn't be as stoked as me about Nate but she didn't have to be indifferent about it either. Maybe she was annoyed at me for leaving her to clean up after the party — but I had to help Nate. I couldn't leave him. Maybe she was jealous about his interest in me. I shook that idea out of my head. Rach has always been pretty good when it came to boyfriends; I doubt she would be that petty now. She was probably tired, and would be fine tomorrow for school.

I walked on to our front lawn to find Dad sunning himself on the front veranda in his robe. Our house wasn't nearly as flash as Nate's parents', but it was OK. It was only one storey, with grey/blue rendering, a standard tiled roof and fairly large front yard. Enough room for all the cars the men of the house, and now me, apparently, brought home. Dad was clasping a cup of tea in his hands. He smiled at me as I came closer.

‘Out for an early morning stroll, Dais? Trying to get your strength up for all your assignments due this week?' he teased.

‘Something like that.' I stood in front of him and he squinted up at me. I hoped he wouldn't notice the glow on my face, my tousled hair and the bags under my eyes. I hadn't planned to be up early, that's for sure. If I did, I would have showered to make myself more presentable.

‘You know, I had the craziest dream last night. There was an M3 on my lawn, a gift from the PM for all my years of service to the country. The engine was made up of …' His voice trailed off.

‘Good dream, Dad.' I patted him on the head and walked inside before I burst out laughing.

Mum was cooking breakfast and the boys were on the Wii as I walked through the door. What was everyone doing up so early? On a Sunday? They paused their game and smiled at me. They normally didn't pause for anyone.

‘Shut up.' I kept walking.

‘We didn't say anything.' They fell about laughing.

I stalked into the kitchen to find Mum.

‘Idiots,' I said to her.

She turned from the stove and smiled at me. ‘Well, tell me everything.'

‘Not you, too,' I moaned.

‘Oh come on, it's me you're talking to. You can tell me anything. Make my day for me. Give me some romance,' she pleaded.

‘Whatever. You have had enough with four kids.'

She shrugged, stepping aside to show me what she was cooking. My favourite: tomato and cheese omelettes.

‘That's bribery, Mum,' I protested.

‘You don't have to have any. Although I did make this one especially for you,' she blackmailed.

Wily woman. I gave up and sat down on a bar stool opposite her. ‘Fine. What do you want to know?'

She grinned. ‘Who is he and what does he do and why do you like him?'

‘You met him the other night at home, Mum.'

I rested my head in my hands and watched the omelette cook. About two minutes, I calculated, and this would be over.

‘Yeah but that doesn't tell me who he
is
, does it?' She flipped the golden omelette and turned back to wink at me. ‘It only tells me you don't like it when he doesn't give you his attention.'

I tried to sound bored. ‘Very funny. I don't know who he is this early. He goes to Addison Grammar, but his little sister goes to our school. His dad owns heaps of shipping companies so they're really rich and stuff. I haven't met his parents. As far as I know, they are fighting heaps so his mum has gone away for a while. He's going to uni next year to start a business degree to eventually take over from his dad. What I like about him?' I smiled into my hand. ‘He's really sweet and charming, and he makes me laugh. I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell Dad for a while,' I begged, eyeing her with caution.

‘Daisy. You can't keep it from him forever. The boys will tease you about it until you give them some attention anyway. Your father will be all right. He has a hard time watching his little girl get older and make her own choices. I'll leave it up to you to tell him, then.'

She put the omelette on my plate and gave me a knife and fork.

‘Thanks, Mum. It's just weird talking about boys with him.'

I felt awkward thinking about it.

‘I know. Your grandfather was worse. When he knew a boy was picking me up for a date, he would answer the front door pretending to be sharpening his Bowie knife. He said it weeded out the good ones from the cowards. I was furious with him for ruining some of my dates but, you know what, your father was the only one who laughed at him and put his hand out to shake his.'

She laughed at the memory and I giggled. I hadn't heard any of these stories. It was strange to think of my parents as young and in love.

‘Don't give Dad any ideas, please.' I imagined Dad trying stunts like that on Nate, but he couldn't possibly fake it well enough. Dad was soft.

‘So, did you kiss him?'

‘Mum!' I acted horrified, but secretly I wanted to tell someone. She persisted; probably after my traitor eyes gave me away.

‘Well, did you?'

I took a mouthful of omelette ‘Maybe,' I smiled.