The Call of the Wild (12 page)

‘How was your meeting?’ I asked when I saw Annabel and Kimmi at the lockers after lunch. ‘Learn anything interesting about Liam?’

Annabel frowned. ‘I learnt not to ask Liam about endangered animals. Turns out he isn’t so quiet when it comes to that topic.’

I smiled to myself. I was sorry I’d missed it – I loved hearing Liam talk about wildlife. Trying not to dwell on that, I asked. ‘Anything else?’

‘I found out that Jack’s really good at painting,’ Kimmi said, blushing slightly as she mentioned Jack’s name. ‘We’re working on the banner for the slushie stall together. He’s really talented.’

Kimmi banged her locker shut and checked her phone. I couldn’t help noticing that she was reading a message from Jack.

‘Is there another Wild Club romance blossoming?’ I asked, looking at Kimmi.

She pressed her phone to her chest. ‘Wouldn’t you like to know.’

‘Yes, I
would
,’ I said, pretending to be indignant.

‘You’ll have to come to the next meeting and find out for yourself,’ she said. ‘We’re seeing the guys again on Wednesday.’

I grabbed my books. ‘Okay, sounds good.’

But in the end I didn’t go. That week at school was the worst. Annabel talked about Liam so much on Monday and Tuesday that by the time Wednesday came around, I couldn’t bear the idea of going along and watching her flirt with him. Just as the girls were headed off to the meeting, I made up another debating emergency and rushed off in the other direction. Then on Friday, when everyone was meeting up again, I pretended to be sick and spent lunchtime in the toilets.

It was awful. I really wanted to help out with the stall, but I didn’t want to be around when Annabel was making eyes at Liam. I decided it was best to help Kimmi and Annabel out with the things they were organising for the slushie stall, and not see Liam at all.

The most important thing was that I would be there on the night to help out with the stand. Kimmi and Annabel would be at the party, and I would be able to hang out with Liam, without Annabel twirling her hair and getting in the way. Sure, Liam and I could only be friends, but that was better than nothing. I wished I’d never talked Annabel into joining the Wild Club in the first place.

‘You feeling okay now?’ Kimmi asked as we headed off to French after I’d spent lunchtime in the toilets.

‘Much better, thanks. Did I miss anything important in the meeting?’ I wasn’t sure I really wanted to know, but I had to ask.

‘Jack drew me the cutest little monkey. Look how intricate it is.’ She handed me a picture of an emperor tamarin.

‘It’s beautiful,’ I said, handing back the drawing. ‘But I meant, did I miss any stuff I need to know for tomorrow night?’

‘It’s all pretty sorted,’ Annabel said. ‘But there’ll be a bit to set up, so we’ll need to get there early tomorrow.’

‘
We
?’ I asked. ‘I thought you were going to Ryan’s party?’

Kimmi and Annabel glanced at each other. ‘Totes,’ Annabel said. ‘But we’ll give you a hand to set up first. There’ll be a lot to do.’

It wasn’t really what I wanted to hear. I wanted them to go to the party and have fun with Marco and Ryan. I didn’t need them at the slushie stall. But Annabel was adamant. She and Kimmi would help set up.

‘So, how are things going with Liam?’ I asked Annabel, torturing myself some more on the bus trip home.

‘Oh, so great,’ Annabel replied. ‘I feel like we’ve known each other forever. We’ve just
clicked
this week. He’s so cute and clever. I can’t wait until we’re properly going out. I’m hoping he’ll ask me tomorrow.’ She gave me a smile that almost made me sick. Just listening to her talk about Liam like that was enough to turn my stomach.

‘Of course, it’s going to be tricky with you two in different grades,’ I said. ‘That never works out.’

‘There’s no law against it, you know,’ Annabel replied calmly.

‘Yeah, obviously,’ I said. ‘But it’s kind of an unwritten code. You can’t break those.’

‘Is everything okay?’ Annabel asked. ‘You kind of seem in a bad mood.’

‘Fine,’ I replied, feeling guilty. I knew I was being nasty, but I couldn’t help myself – it made me feel a bit better.

‘I know it’s hard when your friends get boyfriends, you kind of feel left out,’ Annabel said.

Kimmi put her arm around me. ‘You’re actually looking a bit pale. Sure you’re okay?’

‘It’s fine. I’m fine. I’m not like you two, anyway. I don’t
need
a boyfriend.’ I didn’t want anyone right now. I just wanted to run away to a jungle and hang in a tree with an orangutan.

‘We’re just trying to help,’ Kimmi sighed, taking her arm away.

‘Yeah, I know. Sorry.’ I felt bad for being mean. Again. It wasn’t Annabel’s fault that Liam liked her. And Kimmi was just being sweet. I knew they were just trying to help, but they were making things worse.

I was still feeling annoyed the next day. The movie night was just a few hours away and I felt uneasy about going. Seeing as Annabel and Kimmi were going to help set up before going to the party, the plan was to meet at Kimmi’s place and go to the movie night together from there.

I took a deep breath. I just had to suck it up and get used to things. Annabel and Liam were almost an item. I couldn’t hide from it forever.

I had just pulled on some clothes, ready to head to Kimmi’s, when my phone buzzed with a text. I was running late, so I figured it would be Annabel telling me to hurry up. But the message was from Liam.

Are you still coming to the movie night?

It seemed a strange question, but I hadn’t been to the meetings all week, so maybe he’d guessed something was wrong.

Yes!! Just getting ready to leave now
, I replied, pushing away any ideas about not going until later. The guys would need my help.

A text pinged back almost immediately
. Where have u been all week?

I felt a little bit excited that Liam had actually noticed that I’d been missing.

Soz, debating commitments. Couldn’t get out of them.

Nothing to do with your boyfriend commitments?
he replied.

My heart skipped a beat. Boyfriend? Where did he get the idea that I had a boyfriend?

No boyfriend commitments. U know me. I only have eyes for Bunga the orangutan.

I stared at the screen for a minute, waiting for a reply. When it finally came, I almost dropped my phone.

Annabel said u had a boyfriend.

I felt my stomach churn. What was going on? Surely Annabel hadn’t told Liam I had a boyfriend. He must have misunderstood.

What??
I dashed back.

She said u had a boyfriend at Highgrove. That’s y ur too busy for the Wild Club.

I read the message again, then again and again. But there seemed only one way to interpret it. Annabel had lied. But why?

I definitely don’t have a boyfriend
, I replied.
C u tonight. Never too busy for Wild Club!

I flopped onto my bed, almost too stunned to move. Liam’s texts kept going round and round in my head.

I picked up my phone to text Annabel. I had to understand why she’d lied. Then I changed my mind, packed up my bag and headed to Kimmi’s. I couldn’t work this out by text. I had to talk to Annabel in person.

I was feeling totally stressed out as I buzzed Kimmi’s front doorbell. I had no idea how I was going to handle things with Annabel. I couldn’t just walk in and accuse her of lying. There was no way we’d stay friends after that. On the other hand, there was no way I
could
be her friend if she had lied to Liam. I just hoped it was all some silly misunderstanding.

‘Phoebe!’ Kimmi smiled as she opened the door. ‘You look so cute. Love that necklace on you.’

I gave her a hug. She smelled like a bunch of fresh flowers and looked just as pretty. ‘I don’t look nearly as cute as you. Love those shorts. Did you get them today?’

Kimmi nodded. ‘I’m so excited about tonight.’ She did a little shoulder shuffle as we walked towards her room, to prove the point. ‘Do you think Jack will like the outfit?’

I frowned. ‘You mean Marco?’

She hesitated for a moment. ‘Well, we’ll be at the movie night for a while.’

‘Sure,’ I said. ‘But then you’re going to the party, right? To see Marco.’

Kimmi nodded. ‘Mmm.’

‘You
have
told Liam and Jack you’re going to the party, haven’t you?’

Kimmi shook her head. ‘Not yet.’

‘What?’

‘We didn’t want to disappoint them,’ Kimmi said, looking uncomfortable.

I couldn’t work out what was going on with Kimmi, but there was something I needed to discuss with her before Annabel appeared.

‘Kimmi!’ came a voice from the bedroom. ‘Is that Phoebs? We have to get going.’

I froze at the sound of Annabel’s voice, grabbed Kimmi by the hand, and dragged her off to the kitchen. ‘I have to tell you something,’ I whispered urgently. I knew I didn’t have much time.

‘What?’ Kimmi asked, leaning towards me with a concerned look on her face.

‘I had a text,’ I whispered. ‘From Liam.’

I pulled out my phone and showed her the exchange. Kimmi read through it, her eyes getting wider. Then she gasped.

‘Why would Annabel say I had a boyfriend?’ I asked. ‘Or that I was too busy for the Wild Club?’