The Call of the Wild (17 page)

I was totally wrecked by the time Kimmi and Jack returned to take over the slushie stall. The movie had been paused for an intermission, which meant we were crazy busy in the trailer. Kids were shouting, money was going everywhere and so were the slushies. Kimmi and Jack squeezed in beside us.

‘I have to tell you something,’ Kimmi whispered.

‘Three Rainforest Greens and two Blue Lagoons,’ Liam said, sliding a stack of slushies onto the bench beside me.

Kimmi pursed her lips until Liam had his back turned again. It seemed like she had something important to share, but she wasn’t going to get a chance while we were crushed in a trailer like this.

‘Just need to go outside for a sec,’ I said loudly as I climbed out of the trailer.

I nodded to Kimmi to follow, but before she had a chance, Liam came after me.

‘Looks like it’s our turn to enjoy the movie,’ he said.

‘Oh yeah, right,’ I nodded, a wave of excitement sweeping over me, despite myself. I glanced over Liam’s shoulder to see Kimmi at the slushie machine. She was mouthing something to me, but I had no hope of working out what she was saying. I guessed she had exciting news about her and Jack, but whatever it was, it would have to wait. For now, I had issues of my own to work out. I was just about to watch a movie with Liam. How was I going to act normally when I felt like I’d swallowed a packet of jumping beans?

‘Do you prefer being close to the screen or back further?’ Liam asked, assessing the crowd on the oval.

‘Don’t mind,’ I said, trying to sound calm. ‘Wherever we can squeeze in.’

Friends, just friends
, I said to myself as we headed towards the oval. I put my hands in my pockets so I didn’t accidentally brush against Liam. Even though I would have loved to be holding his hand, I knew I couldn’t.

We found a spot on the edge of the crowd. He leant towards me. ‘This okay?’ he whispered, trying not to disturb the people around us.

I nodded. ‘Great.’

But as we settled on the small patch of grass, things started to get not-so-great. Liam sat down so close to me, I could feel the warmth of his arm.

I turned my eyes to the big screen. But even though I tried to watch the movie, all I could think about was the guy sitting next to me.

Friends, just friends
, I kept saying to myself. But by then my heart was thumping and it felt like my legs had melted into the grass. My head felt like it was drifting away like a helium balloon.

I tried to focus on the movie, pushing thoughts of Liam out of my mind. There was no point torturing myself with the fact I liked Liam. He was off limits – except as a friend.

I can do this
, I thought. But then Liam ruined everything. He slipped his hand on top of mine.

I wriggled my fingers slightly, just in case it had been an accident. But his hand didn’t move. My whole body stiffened as I realised this was no accident. This was exactly what I had dreamt of, but it couldn’t happen in real life. I didn’t know what to do.

Should I stay here and watch the movie with Liam? Or should I go back to the slushie stall, and make sure we stayed just friends?

‘Phoebs,
what
about Liam?’ Annabel asked again, staring at me.

I glanced at Kimmi. She raised her eyebrows and nodded, urging me to tell Annabel about the text, but I didn’t want to make the night any worse, now that we were going to be side by side at the slushie stall.

‘What is it?’ Annabel asked again. ‘Something good, I hope?’

‘Of course,’ I replied, thinly. ‘I …just wanted to tell you what a nice guy he is.’

Annabel frowned. ‘I know.’

‘Yeah, but did you know he was down at the cove last Saturday, cleaning up rubbish? He’s really sweet.’

‘Oh, yeah, tell Annabel about the cove,’ Kimmi encouraged me.

‘Why? What happened?’ asked Annabel. ‘Liam didn’t tell me about it.’

‘Oh, a funny story really. I was down there with him and I took some brownies.’

‘Hold on,’ Annabel interrupted. ‘Liam was at the skate park on Saturday.’

I thought for a moment. ‘This was in the morning. Anyway, I took some brownies that Lulu made, and Liam ate one and he had to run off to throw up. Then I discovered that Lulu had put dog biscuits in them.’ I laughed. It seemed much funnier now.

Kimmi smiled too. But Annabel’s mouth was set in a hard line. ‘Why were you at the cove with Liam, taking him brownies?’

I stopped laughing and looked at Annabel. ‘He asked me to come down and –’

‘Like on a date,’ said Annabel.

‘No, no,’ I said. ‘I went to help clean up the beach. But we ended up building a sand mermaid with Lulu.’

I watched Annabel’s face fall and her shoulders collapse. She looked really disappointed that I’d been hanging out with Liam. I hadn’t told her the story to make her feel bad. I was just trying to get out of a sticky situation, but things were getting even more awkward between us.

‘Then what happened?’

I shrugged. ‘Nothing happened.’ At least that bit was true.

‘Really?’ she asked.

‘Yes, really.’

Annabel drew a deep breath and then looked at Kimmi. ‘Really?’

Kimmi threw her hands in the air. ‘Don’t look at me. It’s not my story.’

I shuffled uncomfortably as Annabel sighed again. She seemed really upset.

‘Suppose we should get going,’ Kimmi said. ‘The guys will be expecting us to set up.’

She packed up the banner that she and Jack had made. ‘Is everyone ready?’

Annabel and I glanced at each other warily. I still didn’t know if Annabel had intentionally lied to Liam about me having a boyfriend or if there’d just been a mix up, but it hardly seemed to matter. She was clearly hooked on Liam and she was doing everything she could to get him. I was just getting in the way. Annabel was usually so bubbly and happy, but right now, she looked so sad I felt sorry for her. All the excitement I’d felt about helping on the slushie stall with Liam evaporated. I didn’t want to upset Annabel, and I didn’t want a guy coming between us. I dawdled behind my two friends as we headed for Kimmi’s mum’s car, trying to think of a way to get out of the movie night. I had to come up with an excuse.

‘Oh, no,’ I cried suddenly, staring at a message on my phone. ‘There’s been an emergency at home. I have to go.’

The girls both turned to look at me. I waved my phone at Annabel and Kimmi, hoping they didn’t look too closely. It was just an old message from Mum that I was showing them.

‘What kind of emergency?’ Kimmi asked.

‘Not sure. Mum just said:
Come home now
. I can’t believe it. What timing!’ I huffed, pretending to be really disappointed about having to leave.

‘Do you need a lift home?’ Kimmi asked.

‘No need,’ I said. ‘I’ll walk back.’

‘Do you think you’ll miss the whole night?’ Annabel asked.

‘Hope not, but I might have to,’ I sighed.

‘Oh, that’s a shame.’ Annabel sighed too, but I could tell she was faking, just like me. She must have been happy to see me going.

‘Have fun!’ I called as I raced off home. I didn’t want to miss the movie night, but I didn’t want Annabel hating me because she thought I was interfering. After a week of being jealous and bitter, I just wanted to be a good friend. If Annabel changed her mind about Liam, then I
might
do something about my feelings for him, but for now it was better to just go home.

I hadn’t even reached my front door when Kimmi started texting me.

What are you doing? If you’re not going to ask Annabel what’s going on, I will.

No!
I replied.
I’m over Liam. I want things to work out for Annabel. Have fun and I want a full report on you and Jack at the end of the night!

Are you sure?
Kimmi replied.

Yes!
I texted back.

OK. I hope I have something to report!

Lulu was already in her pyjamas and ready for bed when I got home. She looked very cute in her pink spotted top and pants.

‘You look yummy enough to eat,’ I said, sweeping her up and giving her a squeeze.

‘Phoebe!’ she said, giggling. ‘You can get an ice-cream if you’re hungry.’

‘I’m not hungry,’ I said. ‘How about I tuck you into bed and we can read a book.’ Reading to Lulu was always a great way to get over boy troubles.