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  Sometimes he wished she wouldn’t.

  IN THE END, NICO’S father dropped him off at the football ground. They didn’t have much to say to each other on the way, but it was a comfortable silence and Nico felt his tension ease a little. Nico promised to ring if he needed a lift home and watched his father drive away. Inside the change rooms he stepped out of his cross-trainers and tracksuit pants and shrugged off his jacket. He quickly taped up his ankles, laced up his football boots and decided against wearing his mouthguard. Outside, he noticed training was in full swing. Brightly coloured cones dotted the ground and players zigzagged through them.

  ‘Are you sick?’ It was the team’s coach, Mr Viney.

  Nico shook his head.

  ‘Sure? ’Cause you look like crap.’ The coach stood with his hands on his hips, his cap pulled low over his brow.

  Nico shook his head again.

  ‘Well, good. So give me 100 push-ups and twice around the oval. You’re late.’

  The push-ups felt good. Finn nudged Nico over as he ran past and Nico pretended to go after him, before dropping back to the ground for an extra ten. After his first lap of the oval, he realised he felt better. Not normal, perhaps. But better than he had since Mr Waterson had handed him back the practice exam that afternoon.

  He ran faster.

  ‘Ease up, Nico. You’ll be knackered before you start,’ yelled Mr Viney.

  Nico settled into a steady rhythm, his legs pumping up and down, his arms swinging at his sides. When he passed the road-end goalposts for a second time, Poppy was there, sitting on her jumper, watching him. Just sitting, like he knew she would be.

  ‘Hey,’ he said gruffly as he jogged past her, aware of the people around them.

  ‘I’m still a virgin, Jacob Nicholson,’ she yelled at his retreating back. ‘Waddya gonna do about that?’

  He shook his head in mock horror, but a grin spread over his face and he felt his body truly relax for the first time that afternoon. He felt the power surge in his legs and felt like he could run to the moon.

  Another text came that night. Caller ID blocked. Just two words.

  ‘The Woods’.

  13

  SARAH

  I hear thunder

  I hear thunder

  How about you?

  How about you?

  Pitter patter raindrops

  Pitter patter raindrops

  I’m wet through

  How about you?

  IT’S ALWAYS SUCH a surprise when winter comes. It’s like I ignore the fact that the trees are losing their leaves, that the winds whipping about me have a bitter sting, that I’m wearing more layers. Then one day I wake up. It’s always the same. I look out my window and think, winter’s here. How did that happen?

  I think it’s called living in denial.

  Year 12 was a year of lasts, only we really didn’t think about it at the time. I’d spent my last summer stretching out on the sloping grass of the playing greens, buying iced juice from the canteen and having water fights like a Year 7 kid in the breezeway near the toilets. Then it was the last time I wore my summer uniform. I threw it in the wash without a second thought. For summer had turned to autumn, as it does.

  Poppy and I would often take the long way to English Language on Mondays, stomping through the fallen leaves behind the canteen, until one day she stopped me and said, ‘This might be the last time we ever do this.’ She clutched at her throat in mock horror, but the thought caught in my chest and stopped me short. Then Poppy grabbed my hand and we stomped around and threw leaves in the air and squealed and laughed until we doubled over to catch our breath. We were so late to class we should have got a late pass, but Mr Zable just shook his head and picked a few leaves out of Poppy’s hair as we excused ourselves at the door.

  And then it was winter, my last winter at high school, and the cold drove us indoors. Lucky Year 12s had a common room that could be used from eight in the morning until six at night, including recess and lunch breaks. It was actually a double room, with bifold doors that could be pulled across the middle of the room to cut it into two, but the doors were permanently open. There were the usual standard issue classroom tables and chairs, but some students had donated bean bags to make things a little more comfortable and last year’s students had left behind a dodgy TV that could actually get a few channels if you twisted the antenna into a certain position or made someone hold onto it while standing on a chair.

  It was at the start of winter when another body was found in The Woods. Loz came into class the period before lunch and announced that she’d heard about it from one of the ladies in the office. We congregated in the common room that lunchtime as the news hit the headlines. Some poor girl had been found half-buried in a shallow grave by a couple that had just happened to be ‘passing by’. Someone, a sister of a guy who knew someone, told us things that weren’t mentioned on the news.

  ‘She was eighteen,’ said Inger. ‘Not a local. The police have a couple of leads they’re following from the last girl.’

  I wondered if one of those leads included Nico’s shirt. I wanted to ask Poppy’s mum about it, but it was too risky. What if she guessed I was hiding something?

  David Wilkie was standing on a chair holding onto one of the antenna ears, while people ordered him to the left or the right or to just stay where he was.

  ‘I have it here on Breaking News,’ said Tamara Deng from her laptop, but most of us stayed watching the fuzzy reception that showed us images of our town which looked both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. Footage from a helicopter gave us a bird’s-eye view of The Woods and Batesford Park.

  The photo of a young woman was flashed onto the screen. It looked like her debutante photo, and she could have been any of the girls who were now crowded around the TV. I saw Nico reach for Poppy’s hand and she drew him close in a reassuring hug. The only people not intent on the TV were Tamara Deng, who was now reading snippets from the e-newspaper article out loud, and Cooper, who was playing some game on his mobile phone, earbuds in place, music drowning out everything else.

  Then Virginia Sloan rushed in, her face flushed from running, and demanded to know what was going on.

  I looked for Finn’s face in the crowd, but he was nowhere to be seen.

  14

  FINN

  Are all the children

  in their bed?

  For it’s past

  eight o’clock

  FINN WOKE WITH a start to find Virginia staring down at him. The light from his bedside clock gave her face a monster green glow.

  ‘Hey, don’t do that,’ he protested, raising himself onto one elbow. A textbook fell to the floor.

  ‘Where were you? I got bored.’ Virginia pouted. ‘You were supposed to meet me at Sparrow’s house. Where is your phone? I rang you, like, fifty times.’

  ‘How did you get in here?’ he asked.

  ‘Same way I always do.’ She pointed to the open window.

  ‘But I didn’t leave it open.’

  ‘I know how to open a window, Finn.’ She placed her silver bag on top of the small TV in the corner of the room. ‘Where is it?’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Your mobile.’

  ‘What time is it?’ He rubbed his eyes and groped around on the bed for his phone, then looked at his bedside clock. ‘Two-forty?’ He groaned.

  Virginia grabbed his phone and switched the ringtone to ring. ‘You had it on vibrate,’ she said.

  Finn shrugged. ‘I turned the sound off in class today. You know what Rashka’s like—’

  ‘So why didn’t you come?’

  ‘I’ve got a Physics SAC coming up. I tried to do some revision. Must have fallen asleep. The coach hammered us at training today.’

  ‘Hmmm.’ Virginia stood up, walked to the middle of the bedroom and executed a wonky pirouette. ‘Notice anything?’

  ‘You can dance?’

  ‘No!’ Virginia tugged at the hem of her skirt, which sat mid-t
high. ‘I have a new outfit.’

  ‘Oh.’

  ‘Is that all you can say?’

  ‘It’s… sparkly? Virginia, what do you want me to say?’

  ‘That I look so good you can’t get enough—’

  Finn’s arm snaked out and hooked her back down on his bed.

  ‘You look amazing. And I definitely can’t get enough sleep when you come and wake me up like this.’

  ‘Why you—’ Virginia struggled as Finn planted a kiss firmly on her mouth. He gasped when she kicked him in the shin with her stiletto shoe and she laughed until Finn muffled the noise with his hand.

  ‘Ssshhh,’ he warned.

  The pair lay still, listening to the intermittent creaks and pops of the house as it settled itself down for the night.

  ‘Are you smoking again?’ he finally asked. He kissed her once more, his tongue exploring her mouth. ‘I thought you were quitting?’

  ‘What are you, my mother?’ she said with a frown. ‘I only had one. Just to be sociable.’

  ‘So how did you get out tonight?’ he asked.

  ‘I told my parents I was having a sleepover at Sarah Lum’s house. Said we were studying for tomorrow’s Psych SAC.’

  ‘But Sarah doesn’t do Psych. And it’s not like you’re friends.’

  ‘They don’t know that.’

  ‘What if they ring her?’

  ‘They don’t have her number. They might ring me, but they haven’t bothered to so far. Anyway, they’ve got their own stuff going on. Mum’s charity ball or something.’

  ‘So, do you plan on staying here the night?’

  ‘Maybe.’ Virginia laughed. ‘Tamara said I could crash at her place if I wanted.’

  ‘Does she know? Does Tamara know about us?’

  ‘I haven’t told anyone,’ Virginia whispered, her lips close to Finn’s ear. ‘How about you?’

  Finn grunted. ‘Mum thinks I’m depressed. She wants me to go out more. Which is crazy, because before she was always on my back about spending too much time on you and not enough time on study. Everyone here thinks you ditched me.’

  Virginia laughed.

  ‘Seriously, Virginia, whatever I do I am never gonna make her happy. No one’s ever gonna be as good as Evan. And now Aaron’s playing big brother and Mum thinks he’s wonderful. And of course, Cody gets away with everything ’cause he’s the youngest. I should have left with Dad.’

  Virginia smoothed out the vertical frown lines between his brows with her fingers. ‘No one is going to be as good as Evan. Not for your mum, anyway. But, I have to tell you that my mother is really happy now. She blames you for my tragic results last year so now that we’re not together she thinks I am going to fly through exams. I wonder who she’s going to blame when I bomb out this year?’

  ‘You’re not going to bomb. Unless you want to.’

  Virginia shrugged. ‘I could leave now and get a job like that.’ She snapped her fingers. ‘But at least if I stay at school I get to see you.’

  But Finn wasn’t listening. Virginia was lying against him and he could feel the heat of her body through his clothes.

  ‘And Dad’s so happy,’ Virginia continued, ‘he’s finally going to buy me that car he promised for my 18th. I want a sports car. White. What do you think?’

  ‘Hmmm?’ Finn was trailing his hand down the soft skin on the underside of her arm.

  ‘What sort of car should I get?’

  ‘I dunno. A V8?’ Finn kicked his shoes off and they fell with a thud to the floor.

  ‘Ssshhh. Isn’t a V8 like those cars they race up Devon Street? They’re so noisy. Anyway, P drivers aren’t allowed to drive those cars. I want a sports car. With leather seats. It’s got to have good speakers. Maybe I should get a black one?’

  ‘Mmmhmmm.’ Finn nibbled on Virginia’s bare shoulder, tasting a mixture of dance sweat and stale perfume.

  ‘So, Finn.’

  ‘Mmmmm?’

  ‘You didn’t ask me who was at Sparrow’s.’

  Finn pushed away from her.

  ‘Who?’ he demanded.

  Virginia’s mouth turned down. ‘Oh, no one. No one in particular.’

  She reached up to touch his face but he jerked away.

  ‘I’m just teasing you,’ she said. ‘There was just Loz and some of the other girls there.’

  Finn sat up and ran a hand through his hair.

  ‘Well, if you can’t be bothered showing up, I have to go with someone. Besides, they were my cover. We’re not supposed to be seeing each other.’

  ‘I think this is a stupid idea,’ said Finn. ‘Our parents are gonna find out. I say, stuff them.’

  ‘Noooo,’ said Virginia slowly. ‘It’s exciting. We’re sort of, like, Romeo and Juliet. Not meant to be together. Can’t stay apart. It’s romantic.’

  ‘Didn’t they die?’

  ‘I saw Cooper there,’ she said, reaching out once more and twirling a lock of Finn’s hair around her finger.

  Finn grunted.

  ‘I swear he checks me out whenever he can—’

  ‘The guy’s a jerk.’

  ‘I think he’s sweet.’ Virginia unraveled the lock from her finger. ‘Mia broke up with him over term break. She said he was cute, but she’s going out with that kid — JT — you know, Axel’s brother? She’s only going out with him ’cause his parents have a beach house.’

  ‘Hmmm.’

  Virginia giggled. ‘Anyway, I think Cooper’s going to ask me to the Formal.’

  Finn pushed her hand away. ‘What?’

  ‘I said Cooper’s—’

  ‘I heard.’

  Virginia sighed, a long dramatic note. ‘Finn, don’t you see, it’s perfect. Mum just loves Cooper. Actually, it’s quite disgusting seeing them together. Anyway, she’ll probably give me extra money for a new dress just ’cause she’s so pleased I’m not going with you. Going to the Formal with Cooper is the perfect cover for us.’

  Finn shook his head and Virginia snuggled closer. ‘I’ll ditch him at the end of the dinner and we can have a nice quiet night together. Just the two of us.’

  ‘I don’t know…’

  She placed her lips against his ear. ‘I’ve got it all planned. It’s going to be a special night, Finn.’

  ‘Maybe Cooper’s got plans of his own,’ said Finn, distracted by Virginia’s breath in his ear.

  ‘You leave Tom Cooper to me. He’s going to be so wasted by the after-party, he won’t know whether I’m there or not.’ She tickled Finn lightly under the chin.

  Finn growled low and flipped Virginia onto her back, tickling her sides until she begged for mercy. Then, from somewhere inside the house, a door slammed.

  ‘Ssshhh!’ he said.

  They froze, listening to the creak of the hallway floorboards. It was the sound of footsteps muffled by the hall carpet runner.

  ‘Quick,’ Finn muttered.

  Virginia dived under the bed. Finn smoothed the bedclothes around him and grabbed the textbook from the ground, then switched on the TV with the remote control.

  Finn’s bedroom door opened and his brother, Aaron, stood in the doorway.

  ‘Fish,’ said Aaron. ‘You’re up late.’

  Finn relaxed, a grin splitting his face. ‘Thought it was Mum,’ he said. ‘How was your night?’

  ‘Yeah, good. And yours?’

  ‘Just hitting the books.’

  ‘Uh huh. Hello Virginia.’

  Virginia poked her head out from beneath the bed.

  ‘Hiya, As.’

  ‘How did you know she was here?’ Finn demanded.

  Aaron pointed to the silver bag on the TV.

  ‘Oh,’ said Finn.

  ‘I thought you two had split up,’ said Aaron as he watched Virginia wriggle out from under the bed.

  ‘We’re just friends,’ she said.

  ‘Friends?’

  Finn nodded in the direction of his mother’s bedroom. ‘Can we keep this just between us?’

  ‘Wel
l if this is a secret, you’d better be quieter about it. I could hear you two all the way from the front door.’

  ‘Sorry, Aaron,’ said Virginia meekly.

  ‘Maybe you should go,’ he suggested.

  ‘Maybe you should mind your own—’ said Finn.

  ‘No, he’s right.’ Virginia planted a kiss on Finn’s cheek. ‘I’ll let you get your beauty sleep. See you tomorrow. Night night.’ She grabbed her bag. ‘Night, Aaron.’ She threw her bag out the window, then climbed through, careful to keep her dress pulled down at the back.

  Aaron shook his head as he closed the window after her.

  ‘Mum can’t know,’ said Finn. ‘Don’t tell her.’

  Aaron shook his head again. ‘What are you, six?’

  Finn shrugged, turning off the TV. ‘Fine. I don’t care if you do tell her. There’s nothing she can do about it. I’ll go and live with Dad.’

  Aaron closed the door quietly behind him as he left.

  Finn got up and paced around the bedroom. He kicked the books on the floor then opened the window to see if Virginia was waiting for Aaron to leave, but she had gone. Finn grabbed his laptop and scrolled through the emails in his inbox until he found what he was looking for.

  To: [email protected]

  From: [email protected]

  Hi Finn

  Unfortunately, Eric Cashin is no longer in our employment and cannot be contacted at this email address.

  He has not left us with any forwarding details so I am unable to help you with any leads in this regard.

  Yours sincerely,

  Tim Shevellton

  Finn clicked onto Facebook, not expecting anyone to be awake, however the last message had been posted just thirty minutes before. It was from Virginia’s friend, Loz.

  ‘Awesome night, peeps. Nice dress, Virginia. Some pics for those who missed out!’

  Finn clicked onto Virginia’s Facebook page and saw that she’d been tagged in the album ‘Loz Piper’. He opened up the album and flicked through some grainy night shots, then flicked back to re-read a tag.

  ‘Coops and his harem.’

  A couple of girls were hanging off Cooper’s arms and Virginia was leaning in, frozen mid-pucker, her lips aiming for Cooper’s cheek. Finn studied the photo. What did Virginia say? He couldn’t remember, but she definitely didn’t say she talked with Cooper. What did she say?