Friendship on Fire (51 page)

He didn't. He simply got more to eat. He was filling out; his arms thicker and hands stronger. Had he been working out? To make matters worse, I discovered that what Roman must be doing to improve himself was making him more attractive to me.

Don't think about it now, Daisy,
I willed, as chemistry zapped me like electricity. This wasn't a new feeling, but it was unexplored, which was possibly worse.

‘So Daisy. How are your parents and brothers going?' Jordan asked out of the blue.

I had just closed the deal with a mouthful of stir-fry. Willing myself not to choke, I smiled politely and waited out the awkward silence until I swallowed it.

‘Fine, thanks for asking,' I answered, stomach churning. Noticing their staring faces, I then realised I needed to add more detail for this dinner to work. ‘Treston is busy at uni. He misses soccer and can't wait for next season to start.'

Jordan nodded knowingly and waited for me to continue.

Think, brain
. Think. ‘Mum's birthday is next week and I have no idea what Dad will buy her but I have a feeling it will be something big. He's been hiding something under wraps for a while.' There, that sounds good.

‘The old dog,' Jordan said. ‘What's the bet it's a new car.'

‘I hope not. For his sake,' I mumbled into my glass of juice.

‘What about Josh? Still being a heart-breaker?' Lyn asked.

I nodded, pursing my lips as an afterthought. ‘I have a feeling he'll be more careful in future. But yes, he always has heaps of girls calling our home phone for him. It's annoying. I don't know how he can meet so many girls at once.'

They laughed politely, while Roman kept eating. I took a sidelong look at him and caught his eye. We both darted our eyes away, only to meet one of his parents' set of eyes. My heart sank. Could they tell we were awkward together?

‘And how are your studies?' Jordan prodded.

I used the same old line. ‘Fine. Could be doing more, but we all need a life, right?'

‘You sure do. Not long left,' he replied, using his matching adult line.

How long were these niceties going to last? My head was spinning at the scent of Roman's skin, the unsaid words between us, the memory of our brief moment of intimacy …

‘How is your work? McDonald's still?' That was Lyn.

‘It keeps my shopping addiction healthy, but I wouldn't want to do it for long after school.'

There, I'd decided something about my future.

‘Roman has been telling us about the hectic school captain meetings. How do you think the plans are going?'

What is this? Twenty questions for the guest?

‘They are, but we're coming along nicely. Roman is diplomatic and fair. Everyone appreciates him for that.'

I thought I noticed Jordan kicking Roman under the table as it rocked slightly. Roman sat up straighter and forced a smile. ‘Someone has to be, I guess. It's easy for me.'

Lyn started clearing the table to organise dessert. This wasn't going so badly, but it was still awkward as hell.

She called from the kitchen, ‘What are your plans for the holidays, Daisy? I wish you could have come with us on the first break, but there'll be other times.'

I gulped down a hard ball of anxiety.

‘Yeah, definitely another time. Um. Study, I guess. Hanging out with friends. Beach, that sort of thing.'

I put my hands under the table and started to wring them. My knuckles threatened to crack under the pressure.

Lyn placed dessert bowls in front of us and we helped ourselves to butterscotch pudding and ice cream. The delicious sugary treat melted in my mouth as and by the time I was half way through my bowl Roman had another serving. Typical.

Before I knew it dinner was over. I was dying to leave, but I couldn't without offering to help with the dishes. It was Mum's golden rule.

‘Well, thank you so much for dinner, Mrs Taylor. I'll do the dishes, if you like,' I offered politely, hoping she would decline and send me home.

‘Rubbish,' Jordan interrupted as Lyn's mouth opened to speak. ‘You're not doing the dishes by yourself. Roman, help her.'

I blushed crimson as Roman looked at his plate and slightly shook his head.

‘I don't mind. Honestly. I can do them on my own if Roman has other things to do,' I replied, still in formal mode. Roman hated dishes. I didn't want to make his resentment for me any worse than it already was.

‘Don't be silly. I won't have a guest in my house doing dishes by themselves. Lyn, let's go. Leave these kids to their own devices,' Jordan announced, taking Lyn by the hand and dragging her into the lounge room.

Roman's posture oozed uncertainty, which I'm sure mine did as well. We stacked the dishes in silence and I filled up both sinks to start washing. Hopefully Roman would dry and we could talk in private like we should have weeks ago.

Elbows brushing gently over the sink, we washed and dried dishes but didn't talk. I didn't know where to begin and Roman wasn't leading in his own house, his comfort zone, so as time went on my heart sank and I lost motivation to say anything.

Twenty minutes later, Jordan and Lyn came in to steal some chocolate supplies from the pantry. I could see where Roman got his sweet tooth from.

When I thought it might be safe again for us to go back to our non-speaking ways, Jordan stood behind us and bellowed, ‘OK out with it.'

I jumped, flicking fluffy white dishwater on to the bench. ‘Out with what?' I asked in a shaky voice.

‘Have you two slept together or something?' he demanded.

‘Jordan,' Lyn exclaimed, mouth open.

‘Sorry?' I squeaked.

Roman said nothing.

Mr Taylor shook his head. ‘The way you're carrying on. That sort of avoidance is reserved only for friends who have slept together and don't know what to do from then on.'

‘Daisy, don't listen to him, he's just joking …' Lyn tried to cover but Jordan was having nothing of it.

‘No, I'm sorry Lyn but I have to ask. It's killing me. One of you, out with it.'

‘Nothing's happened, Dad,' Roman finally spoke and I felt sad. OK I didn't want his dad to know I kissed him, but the fact that the only time he spoke was to deny anything happened between us at all was worse.

‘Bull,' Jordan continued.

I emptied the dishwater in the sink with relief and wiped it out quickly.

With a forced smile, I turned to Roman's parents and said, ‘OK, all done here. I guess I'd better go. Thanks heaps for dinner. I really appreciate you having me here.' I went to retrieve my purse and bolt out their front door.

Lyn followed me. ‘No you don't have to go. Isn't this the time where you two go to Roman's room and hang out like you normally do?' Or kiss him, as I felt like doing now.

Roman threw down his tea towel and folded his arms. ‘We have heaps of study to do, Mum. Aren't you the one who keeps telling me exams are in a month?'

‘Yes, but you've had your nose in those books all day. Look at your skin. It's going yellow. Don't become a nerd, son,' Jordan joked.

I opened the front door to signal my departure. ‘It's fine, really. I've got things to do at home. Help Dad and stuff.'

‘Well if you must go, we can't stop you,' Jordan said, ever hospitable. ‘Roman, walk her home. Don't let a girl walk home at this hour by herself.'

He winked at me, then shuffled Lyn away from us again.

Roman, still unusually shy, scratched the back of his head and said quietly, ‘Let's go, then.'

‘Roman you don't have to …' I started.

‘I don't mind. Dad will kill me anyway if I don't go, so let's just get it over with.'

I was something to get over with, was I? Two could play at this game.

I straightened my back. ‘So your dad said Anya went home.'

‘Yeah,' he replied, staring straight ahead in the dark street.

‘Why did she go?' a slight hint of sarcasm in my tone.

‘Her visa ran out.' A safe blanket statement. Very nice.

‘So, you were just some fun for her in a foreign country?' I baited.

He shrugged. ‘Something like that.'

His mystery and nonchalance irritated me. How could someone be so annoying and so attractive at the same time?

‘Right.'

Silence.

Honesty.

Taking a deep breath, I dared to ask, ‘Are we ever going to talk about what happened?'

He winced slightly at my question, but kept walking. ‘Maybe.'

I pursued him, wisely or unwisely I couldn't tell. ‘I need to feel some closure, Roman. Please?'

We rounded the corner into my street. I was running out of time. My heart beat with urgency.

Instead of appeasing me, Roman walked me to the door in silence. Before I could open my mouth to ask again, he put his hands in his pockets and turned to go.

‘Good night, Daisy,' he barely called over his shoulder and I watched the familiar image of Roman walking away from me.

Oh how parents conspire against us. I had just finished whinging about Roman's form at dinner last week to Shana on the phone and received a wealth of sympathy and promises of chocolate. I opened my door gently and heard muffled voices coming from the family room. Sneaking into the kitchen, I gasped with horror as my ears burnt at hearing them talking about me. And Roman. They were discussing Roman's and my ‘relationship troubles', as they coined it.

‘… they were just funny when Daisy was over last week. It's been niggling me ever since.' That was Lyn's voice.

‘That is strange, for them. I know Daisy has been off boys in general since Nate broke her heart, but I didn't realise it had been transferred into her friendship with Roman so heavily.' That was my traitor mother.

Funny. I didn't know if she was lying or being honest with Lyn. How much do I subtly let on about Roman?

‘Does he come to your house anymore?' she asked my mum.

Mum, now like a double agent, spilled to her. ‘No, and it's a damn shame, too.'

‘What's happened then, that they're both avoiding each other?' Jordan's voice chimed in.

‘They do have school and exams,' Dad's voice interfered in the conversation. That was dangerous.

‘Yes, but they made time for each other in the last six years. We find it hard to believe that busyness has caused this apparent rift,' Jordan said, and Mum murmured in agreement.

Mrs Taylor clicked her tongue. ‘You know, Jade, I might be a silly romantic goat but I always figured they would be best friends forever, or one day fall in love and get married. They have got along like a house on fire since the first day they met.'

‘I know what you mean,' Mum said quietly.

‘You should have seen them at dinner. Awkward as strangers. Worse than. You don't suppose they've … you know …?' Jordan asked and Lyn protested again.

Mum laughed loudly. ‘No. Definitely not. Daisy would have told me. I'm pretty sure she would have, anyway.'

Like I told you about Nate?

‘OK, so we can count that out. I'll keep digging on my side; see what I can find out. We can't let this friendship die for no reason.'

‘No,' they all agreed in unison.

I laughed to myself bitterly. How our relationship couldn't be more opposite to what they were thinking.

‘Mum, how could you?' I accosted her as soon as I heard the front door shut. Jordan and Lyn hadn't stayed much longer, such was their enthusiasm to corner their son and force information out of him. I hope he didn't think I put them up to it.

Mum stopped in her tracks, looking surprised amidst her happiness at having guests. Her eyes searched for Dad's assistance, but he'd disappeared to their room. ‘I know you wanted to go shopping sweetheart, but my birthday is tomorrow and Jordan and Lyn wanted to get in to see me beforehand …'

‘No, Not that. How could you discuss my private life with them?' I accused, voice rising on each word.