Friendship on Fire (35 page)

Monday turned out to have great weather. It was like the calm before the storm. Windless, sunny, without a cloud in the sky.

We went shopping at tacky touristy shops, cruised the harbour on jet skis and even went parasailing. Trouble set in just before sunset. Eating dinner outside, I saw the sky morph from blue to grey. The fat raindrops fell on my face instantly. I squealed at their cool touch and the way they took over everything; clothes, food, and hair. Running to Nate's car, we drove back to the shack, where we stayed all night without leaving again.

Nate hadn't minded that I wanted to sleep in separate beds last night. His only request was that we spoon for a while. I loved the feeling of his breath on my ear, his strong body fitting into the groove of my back. His hand rested just on the underwire of my bra; enough for me to pay attention, not enough for me to slap his hand.

Tonight, however, he was more determined.

His kisses grew more desperate and mine followed close behind. At one point Nate's head disappeared under the covers. I inhaled sharply as I felt his warm mouth on my stomach, hips, and ribs. Not being able to see him only made the sensations more intense. I tried to hold his head to predict where he was going, but he pinned my hands under my back; I was trapped and at his mercy.

I didn't want this to go too far, which I'm sure Nate was aware of, but at the same time, I didn't want him to stop whatever he was doing. It was like the first night we kissed; I wanted to learn to surrender to him; not necessarily to sleep with him, but to escape reality and live in the moment. He was helping me get better at it. Much better.

When I couldn't take it anymore I pulled my arms out and lifted up the covers to discover his eyes gazing into mine. They were filled with a level of desire that frightened a small part of me.

‘Excuse me,' he said softly and snapped the covers back over his head. He then proceeded to tug at my shirt until I relented and took it off.

‘Nate,' I squirmed, and he laid his hand flat on my stomach to settle me. Then his mouth moved up the middle of my chest.

lay awake in the early hours of Tuesday morning wondering how Nate could sleep after what we experienced tonight. My whole body was shivering, not with cold, but nerves. For some people such things might not be a big deal, because I hadn't exactly slept with him. Not even close. It was enough for me and where I was at.

My mind played the scenes over and over. His eyes, the darkness. The way he held my body.

Nate had smiled at me when he finally released me. ‘My next lesson', he'd called it, before falling back into bed, exhausted.

It was only now, alone in my moment of reminiscence, with the rain drizzling softly on the shack's roof, that I felt the full effects of falling in love with him.

The rain continued into breakfast. By mid-morning, we'd checked out and decided to cut our losses and drive back to Twin Rocks. The dangerous pearl coloured ocean thundered back at me as I waved it goodbye. Scooping up my legs under me, I leant over as far as I could to rest my head on Nate's shoulder and enjoy our last few hours of freedom from the watchful eyes at home.

At three, I opened my eyes to see a familiar house. Had we made it home already? It barely felt like we'd left Portsmouth. Nate smiled and patted my hand.

‘You talked my ear off for the first hour or so, then you stopped. I was bored. You could have paced yourself,' he chuckled.

‘Sorry, I didn't realise.' I rubbed my eyes wearily. Staying up half of last night showed on my face. I had better wake up before my parents saw me; I didn't want to think of my Dad accusing Nate of all sorts of sexual misdemeanours. The thought of last night made my back shiver anyway; he was amazing.

I stole a moment to gaze at his features close up. The shape of his jaw, his chin, his perfect ears and the way his hair sat on his forehead. He was better looking than the first moment I saw him at school. Better still, he was mine.

Catching me looking, he grinned and kissed me one last time before my parents stole me from him.

‘When will I see you next? I'm getting used to having you around on a more regular basis,' I said.

‘Me too. I'm not sure. I need to help Dad a bit these hols. The house is getting run down because Dad's too lazy to organise a gardener or housekeeper now that Mum's gone. He's bloody useless, Dais,' he commented, shaking his head. ‘So it might not be for a few days.'

I pouted.

‘Look at you. So cute. Trust me, I can't stay away for very long. I'll be banging on your door before you know it.'

‘Can't I come to your house sometime? Help you a bit? I just want your company. I don't care about mess.'

He shook his head. ‘Not until it's clean. I have pride, you know.'

‘OK.'

I had to respect that. He would invite me over when he saw fit.

Shane came out of the house in his manager's uniform and waved to us casually.

‘Crap,' I yelled.

‘What?' He looked startled at my outburst.

‘I have to be at work in an hour. I forgot.'

‘Don't stress. I'll help you take your bag inside and I'll get going.'

I stopped and looked at him. ‘I'm so tired though. Can't I call in sick and hide with you?'

‘Nope. You need the money. Sorry for wearing you out,' he said without a sorry look on his face.

I kissed his cheek, being sure to breathe in his sweet scent and hold it in my memory before I left him in his car, about to re-enter my world that just got a whole lot less interesting.

I didn't see Nate for nearly a week. Had I done something wrong? Surely not. Was he
so
busy that he didn't have time for me? Had we saturated our quality time to last a whole week without seeing each other? I got no answers and no peace. His texts would come frequently, telling me he missed me and would see me soon. When?

I managed to keep busy at home, took extra shifts at work and hung out alone at the beach. Shopping with Sarah helped, but I didn't see Rach. What was she doing with herself? Maybe she had got a job and was working full time, or catching up on the week that she missed while she was sick. All I was sure of was that things were changing and next term would be very different.

On Wednesday of the second week of the holidays, a removalist truck backed into a house down the street. It was a cute little cottage, previously owned by an old lady I didn't ever get to know. I assumed she had died, as an ambulance appeared in our street nearly a month before. The cottage was white, with navy blue edgings and a beautiful rose garden. I was glad someone was moving in; the garden needed tending to maintain its grandeur.

I strained my neck ungracefully out my window to see who the house had attracted. Two cars were in the driveway; one a Ford Falcon, the other a Toyota Corolla with P-plates, and stickers around the back windscreen. Must be a girl. My age? I hoped she wasn't a nerd.

I tossed up whether I should be the good neighbour and take her over a tray of biscuits to introduce myself. No, that was so Hollywood. People in the movies only ever did that if they wanted to gossip and interfere.

I raced to the kitchen and made my best batch of Anzac biscuits, hoping they would be ready within the hour. Treston came out of his room, sniffing the air. Luckily I had brought my diary into the kitchen with me to write while I guarded my bikkies. They might have disappeared while I was distracted writing my memoirs in another room.

‘Aren't you a good sister, Daisy,' he said, all sweetness.

‘Not for you, sorry.' I didn't look up from my diary.

‘Nice to see you looking after your older brother,' he said, walking back into his room.

I giggled and opened the oven to check on them. They smelt so good I wanted to smuggle a few into my room for later.

Closing the front door behind me, I called, ‘I'm going to meet the new people. Be back soon.' I got no answer
. They'd
be sorry if I got kidnapped,
I grumbled to myself.

After dinner, I raced to my room and opened my bedside drawer. The anticipation waiting for my Anzacs was unbearable and my subtlety was blown. My family knew there was something important in my room and Treston followed me to see what it was.