Friendship on Fire Read online

  Just before we reached the bottom, Terry sighed and hit his set of brakes. I peered around me sheepishly, wanting to shrink into the seat. He had stopped us metres before hitting four lanes of peak hour traffic.

  ‘Out, Daisy.’

  I peeled myself out of the seat and bolted to the passenger side of the car.

  y 8 am pink paper covered the school grounds beyond the front gate. Then the busses arrived. Everywhere students satisfied their curiosity by streaming into the piles of pink paper and picking up fliers to read. Their ecstasy rivalled reactions to wedding invitations as the girls in particular squealed with delight, planning straight away their outfits, hair, make up and what person they hoped might also be at the party.

  An ‘end of week one’ open house party was a tradition for students at St Dominic’s College. It was usually at a senior’s house chosen according to whose parents would be away that weekend, or on the unlikely occasion, had given permission. I picked up a flier and grinned. It was at Rach’s house. How did she wing that?

  ‘So what do you think, Dais?’ Rach was suddenly in my face bouncing up and down.

  ‘Stoked. Where will the folks be?’ I grabbed her shoulders to stop her jumping.

  She grabbed my wrists instead. ‘Visiting Mum’s sister in Perth. Do you like the invites? I made them myself.’

  ‘Yeah. I was beginning to think this party was never going to happen. Talk about last minute.’ I shook my wrists free and started walking to the lockers.

  There was a small note wedged between the vents at the front of mine when I arrived. It was from Roman.

  Feels like we haven’t talked properly for a while. Coffee this arvo?

  It would be good to chat again. There’s only one problem. It meant I couldn’t walk home with Nate and learn more about him. I was desperate to continue our conversation from yesterday morning. It also meant I couldn’t invite him to the party in time for the weekend. I cursed myself for throwing out his number in my typical fit of rage and thought of ways to get around this.

  If I postponed, Roman might start asking questions; he was a smart boy and he probably suspected Nate’s interest in me. On the other hand, he might be gambling with the fact that Nate can’t come to the party unless I specifically invite him face to face. He didn’t know whether I had his number or not.

  Not wanting to think that Roman would put in that much effort to sabotage my friendship with Nate, I put the note in my pocket to mull over for the day.

  Before lunchtime I had my outfit and hair planned like the rest of the female population at school. I couldn’t wait to help Rach set up her house. It was hard to predict how many students would show, as it was open house. I was pretty sure it was going to be the party of the year regardless.

  As we walked into maths, Skye brushed past Rach and whispered, ‘Hope you don’t mind if we invite a few extra friends along to the party,’ with a wink.

  Skye had very colourful friends, so it is always a worry when she wants to go to your party. Rach tried to ignore her, but I guessed she was having second thoughts already about the party. Her parents were lovely people who didn’t deserve to have their house trashed if Skye felt like being a bitch.

  ‘It will be fine,’ I reassured her while Mr Berry wrote the problems to solve for this lesson on the board. ‘You have me watching your back — and Roman.’

  ‘Thanks. Maybe we can have someone at the door turning away strangers?’ she suggested, but looked doubtful.

  ‘Yeah, maybe. Talk about it later.’ I opened my exercise book and prepared myself for another lesson of inevitable failing.

  Time was dragging. I longed for the beach and the white, open sands. I wanted to daydream all my classes away until I found something that motivated my own interests and stimulated my mind. It’s a pity daydreamers are told they’ll never get anywhere in life.

  Just before I walked into history last period I felt someone clasp my elbow gently. I turned around to face Roman in his full height above me. I peered up at him and smiled.

  ‘I’ve been looking for you. Did you get my note? Meet you at the gate after school?’ he asked, eyes hopeful.

  I had made up my mind that my friendship with him was more important than my hormonal interest in Nate, and besides, I wanted to hear any new goss in Roman’s life.

  ‘Yeah, sorry I haven’t got back to you earlier. I’ve been daydreaming. Sounds good.’ I smiled earnestly at him.

  ‘Glad you are coming. My shout.’ He flashed a smile at me and walked away.

  Sitting at St Peter’s Bakery on its sunny terrace, I felt as if I was undergoing the Spanish Inquisition. Roman was in one of his annoying cheeky moods and wanted to know everything about ‘grammar boy’ and my level of interest in him. No matter what I said, he refused to stop ripping me off about Nate.

  I punched him in the shoulder for the third time since leaving school, hurting my fist more than him.

  ‘I am not a sucker for rich boys,’ I spat back at him.

  Pondering, he rubbed his chin. ‘OK, OK. Give me more time, I can guess. It must be his hair. All that product in it attracts you to him because deep down, you want him to be one of your girlfriends and play hairdressers with him.’ He laughed at his amazing wit.

  ‘You’re hilarious.’ I rolled my eyes in mock despair.

  ‘More? His first pick up line was that he lost his pet possum and needed your help to find it. Then he asked you on a date to thank you and you couldn’t resist a man who is sappy enough to use a possum as an excuse to get in your …’

  I rubbed my weary eyes. Maybe if I ignored him, he’d stop. It made him worse.

  His eyes lit up. ‘I’ve got it. He’s promised to buy you all the surf clothes in the world if you help him pass year twelve,’ he alleged, taking a drink of coffee.

  ‘Next,’ I said, bored. I thought this was supposed to be fun.

  ‘He’s given you some sob story about his family being unhappy in their wealth of money and you feel sorry for him so you waste your time talking to him.’

  When I frowned into my cup, his eyes bulged. ‘You’re so soft Daisy Brooks. And gullible. Is that how he’s charming you?’

  ‘Stop it, Roman.’

  I didn’t like the idea of being manipulated by real life stories. How could I test if it was true or not?

  ‘I don’t know what’s going on yet so can we drop it please?’

  ‘Fine. Don’t blame me when he steals your GHD and runs away to Mexico with it.’ He ruffled my hair as I ground my teeth.

  Flattening my afro, I grumbled, ‘Look. How would you like it if I asked you a million questions about girls you ‘happened’ to talk to?’

  Roman liked this question. Sitting up in his chair, he folded his arms and grinned at me. ‘Try it. But if you were really observant, you’d notice you’re pretty much the only girl I talk to. For long periods of time, that is.’

  I thought about this for a second. ‘Bull.’

  He called my bluff. ‘Fine; who have you seen me talking to recently? First week of school? Hit me.’ The latter was tempting, but my wrist still ached from the last time …

  Desperately delving back into my memory, I vaguely remembered Skye trying to make a pass at him, but he managed to get out of it without getting her offside. So that left minimal options for argument. He had spoken to me and Rach, and … that’s it.

  ‘Rach.’ I folded my arms to match his, in certain triumph.

  Roman slammed his palm on the table. ‘She doesn’t count. I only talked to her ‘cos she was with you.’

  ‘What a gentleman,’ I pouted, knowing he was right about the whole thing.

  ‘Come on ranga, give up. You’ve got your family dinner now, haven’t you? I’ll walk you home. It’s probably safer than you driving us, anyway.’ He stepped away from my fist just in time.

  So I chased him down the road.

  Nanna was sitting at the dining room table sipping a hot drink as I walked through the front door. I was so
excited to see her. Every visit she brought me clothes from the local op shop that she thought I would like. Some of it was cool; most of it was from a time long before I was conceived. I always pretended to like it regardless.

  ‘I hope you’re not studying too hard, young lady,’ she said into my hair as I gave her a huge hug.

  ‘Aww, I could easily let a bit more slide.’ I grinned and sat down on a wooden chair next to her.

  She put her hand gently over mine and asked, ‘How is the big year twelve going?’

  ‘Fine. Busy, but I can handle it. How are you?’

  ‘Alive,’ she smiled, and then she reached out to touch my hair. ‘Hmm.’

  ‘Dad’s fault,’ I said.

  ‘Right. I’ll tell him he has to fix it. It makes you look washed out.’ No one could say no to Nanna.

  ‘Thanks, Nanna. It’s kind of growing on me. Being a ranga isn’t so bad.’

  ‘A what?’ Her eyebrows knit together in confusion.

  ‘Never mind. So, what have you brought me?’ I nodded at the bag at her feet.

  ‘Things for a beautiful girl. Hope you like them,’ she said, as she handed the bag to me and let me rifle through it in peace.

  In the past she would contentedly smile as she watched me pull clothes and trinkets out of the bag. I never understood how it could give her so much joy to be constantly giving. I wondered how much giving I had in me.

  When the others got home, we sat around the dinner table and ate pizza and salad. Family dinners on a Friday night were a tradition in the Brooks household. It was a time where everyone shared their news for the week, brought up issues to discuss and made future plans. Tonight we predominantly heard about Josh. He had another new girl he was pursuing and we gave him heaps for it. He changed girls so often it was hard to keep up with who he was actually with at any point in time. Not that he meant to be like that. Josh got bored of them real easy and would not settle down with one girl for longer than a month. He would rave about a girl and we might miraculously meet her once or twice, but then we’d stop hearing about her. He liked the conquest.

  Shane thought he saw a shark in the surf yesterday. He swore black and blue it was coming for him, but we think he’s going crazy from not enough hard work since finishing school at the end of last year.

  Treston complained about his many assignments for uni in his science course. He was considering taking up engineering as an extension of his study and wanted all our advice. Mum talked about the latest studies being done in the health and diet world. Having a dietitian in the family came in handy for the most part, except when us kids felt like eating junk for a day. The lectures started when she caught us.

  All eyes turned towards me.

  ‘Well, Daisy? Who is he?’ Dad was glaring dangerously at me; I’d tuned out of the conversation while he was hogging the time talking about his latest potential car deal.

  ‘He’s an astronaut from outer space,’ I said wearily. ‘Who is he?’

  Treston grabbed a slice of pizza off my plate and smirked. ‘My friend Nate? The guy who went into your room the other night? Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten already.’

  I nearly choked on some garlic bread. Dad’s face went a perfect shade of red. He put down his knife and fork delicately on either side of his plate and folded his hands.

  ‘Excuse me?’ I managed to squeak. Everyone had gone dead quiet.

  ‘At least tell us you have a boyfriend, Dais, and we’ll make sure we don’t interrupt next time,’ Shane shrugged.

  ‘I very much do not have a boyfriend. Not that it’s any of your business. Look at you, like vultures. I’d rather not have this discussion over the dinner table.’ Sliding my chair out roughly, I got up and went into the kitchen.

  Mum came to join me not long after, pretending she was getting a glass of water. I was aimlessly banging around in the cupboards, shifting appliances to illogical places and cursing to myself. She placed one hand on my shoulder.

  ‘Don’t mind them sweetheart. They’re only teasing. I know you’d never get a boyfriend without telling me all the gory details first,’ she said, sounding confident.

  I said nothing. There was nothing to tell, so I didn’t have to feel guilty either way.

  voiding an awkward follow-up conversation with Dad in the morning, I slipped out early and walked the half an hour to Rach’s place. I was prepared to spend the best part of Saturday setting up her house for the big party.

  Her parents left early. We had sat on the couch smiling at them innocently, and waved as they walked out the door. I felt sorry for them, in a way, but they weren’t meant to find out. I definitely didn’t feel guilty enough to give up this party.

  Our first plan of attack was to move any valuables into their bedroom upstairs and lock the door. We cooked snacks, cleaned the party area and set up Rach’s backyard with lanterns and her older brother’s sound system. It was a perfect house for a party; I couldn’t deny it. With two storeys, a large front and back yard, pool and outdoor bar, we were all set.

  At eight, we got dressed into our well-planned outfits and waited for everyone to arrive. At eight thirty, Roman showed up, carrying beer and some strobe lights. He was wearing light blue jeans and a white dress shirt rolled up to the elbows. Roman brought a few other guys from school with him, including his best friend James, and they immediately went outside to find the keg.

  As more people arrived, we started bringing out food to soak up some of the alcohol.

  Roman turned to me in the kitchen and said, ‘You girls have done a great job of the house. Looks like everyone loves it.’

  I beamed. ‘Thanks, it only took us the whole day.’

  Rach groaned at the memory.

  ‘Really? That’s a fair effort. I bet people can hear the sound system from China,’ he joked.

  ‘I hope so,’ said Rach. ‘Here, Roman, eat some food. You’re wasting away.’

  Roman chuckled and reached for the food platter as we heard a loud scream accompanied by several other screams. Rushing to the front door, we swung it open to discover Skye, in all her glory, lying on the front step, short skirt ridden high up her legs, blonde hair in her face, drink leaking out of the can in her hand. The big scream was hers. With her were five girls from Grammar, as drunk as she was, standing like penguins around a flapping fish.

  The blonde bimbos were covered in fake tan; faces caked in orange make-up, and dressed to the nines — like Skye. Hell, they may as well be sisters.

  Skye started laughing hysterically as the girls tried to get her back on her feet. Rach folded her arms in disgust. Roman laughed politely and told them to come inside before they hurt themselves any more. I wasn’t so friendly.

  ‘This isn’t happy hour at the local brothel, girls,’ I said sharply.

  One by one the girls turned around to look at the person who dared make them feel unwelcome at a party they had been invited to — by the host, no doubt.

  One of Skye’s friends clasped Roman’s arm. She somehow managed to ignore me yet address me in the same sentence. ‘Thanks, gorgeous, we always appreciate a gentleman.’ Stumbling through the front door, she added, ‘More than a size twelve red-headed girl who should know when to keep her mouth shut.’

  ‘Yeah,’ Skye drawled, picking her hair out of her eyes. The others chimed in with laughter while yet again, Roman didn’t come to my defence. He let himself be led to the slaughter instead. This girl didn’t know him and she was already throwing herself at him. And he didn’t shut her down. He was dropping his standards and I intended to tell him that as soon as I had the chance.

  I was heading to warn the Brigade off our alcohol when I heard someone call my name from the front garden. It was hard to see through the darkness so I stood at the front door and squinted at the cars parked on the lawn. I waited for a minute but began to feel like I was hearing things. I might as well give up and close the door.

  ‘Where was my special invite?’ Nate appeared on the porch and leant against
a wooden post with his arms folded.

  Heat tingled up my spine; he was the most gorgeous thing out of his school uniform. He was wearing tailored dark jeans with a fitted black t-shirt. His slip-on shoes matched his shirt and his dark hair had been messily styled. Nate was smiling at me now; a disarming smile that I wanted to look away from but couldn’t.

  ‘Didn’t think you’d want to come,’ I said, trying not to show my excitement at seeing him. I stood nervously in the doorway, not sure what to do with my hands except fidget.

  ‘Why wouldn’t I want to use any opportunity to see you again? This is your best friend’s house isn’t it?’ His eyes were mocking me.

  Still enchanted. ‘Yeah. But how did you know?’

  ‘I have my sources. As luck has it, you have a loudmouth at your school. She invited our whole class,’ he laughed, and shifted his weight from foot to foot.

  ‘She does have a habit of opening it too often,’ I agreed, ‘But you are more than welcome, if you think you will like it here.’

  ‘Don’t be humble, Daisy. I can imagine you’ve set up an awesome gig. You can hear the music from down the street. You should have told me about this yesterday afternoon. Why didn’t you walk home with me? Did I bore you that much in the morning?’ he teased.

  ‘No,’ I gasped, mind racing.

  ‘Then you could have called me?’ His frown was unsteadying.

  ‘I kind of lost your number …’ I stammered.

  ‘ “Lost”, hey,’ he murmured.

  ‘I had to visit a friend. He needed my help,’ I said too quickly.

  He raised his eyebrows. ‘Oh. Do I have competition already?’

  ‘Do you what?’

  ‘Aren’t you going to show me around?’

  He brushed past my arm even though there was plenty of room for both of us in the doorway. When I didn’t immediately follow, he turned around and grabbed my arm. Dragging me through the house like he owned it, he addressed each room as if he was the one showing me through the house for the first time.