Spiralling Out of the Shadow (The Spiralling Trilogy) (21 page)

The next
Friday night I introduced Anna to everyone at youth group. Something about her beauty had me playing with my hands. I stood back and chewed on a fingernail as boys from everywhere seemed to swoop in, wanting to meet Miss World Candidate. Anna, obviously used to male attention, didn’t flinch with all the interest and invitations to several events over the next few weeks.

Pulling as much air into my lungs as I could possibly fit, I remembered my conversation with Priscilla and Shelly. Again, I reminded myself, I was going to wait until the right boy came along.

In the corner of my eye, my attention was drawn to Danny manning a table, getting people to sign up for the carwash, and asking them to bring in red frogs and pancake mix for the schoolies team. I looked away—it was just something else to add to his awesomeness.

‘
Would you like to help us with the car wash tomorrow?’ I asked Anna as we left the crowd to find Mum parked out the front.

‘
Yeah, sure would. I’ve had a great night. These people here talk to me like I’m a person, not just a beauty queen.’

‘
They’re different to everyone at school, hey?’ Her comment cut me. Had I been treating her like a beauty queen too? I had to work on not judging people.

*~*~*~*

With an almost-healed ankle, I wasn’t completely useless at the car wash.

‘Hi, I’m Anna.’

‘Yes, I saw you last night.’

That voice.

His voice.

Heat
darted up my neck as I pulled my head away from the sudsy bucket.

‘
I’m Danny.’

Hi, and I’m here too, the one who doesn’
t want those biceps wrapped around me. Really. I’m fine. Ankle’s holding up. Guess I’ll just be quiet and let you two get to know each other.

I could see cupid drawing a heart around them as they conversed. My heart stung. Begging it to stop, I scrubbed the wheels of the car in front of me until the rubber nearly fell off. I tried to make as much noise as possible, splashing, scratching, scrubbing, to drown out their way-to
o-smooth chatter.

Back when I met Da
nny for the first time, at Janet’s party, he couldn’t look me in the eye or even string two words together. Now his eyes were not only focused, but seemed to feast on the beautiful Anna as he spoke with no hesitation.

As I moved on
to the next car, I wanted to tell them to get to work and help. But their conversation continued. 

My perfect match
was waiting for me at the perfect time. The more I repeated the words in my mind, the less I wondered what expressions Danny’s face held. Their voices petered into the hum of the crowd.

‘
You’re trying not to have a thing for Danny, aren’t you?’ Shelly whispered.

I jumped. Where did she come from?

‘I know the way you and Priscilla are, and I’m trying to be more like that too. Really.’

‘
You know, I’m still attracted to guys. I just don’t chase them. If someone I was attracted to asked me out, I’d go. I haven’t completely shut off.’

I nodded and stood. My bucket of water was filthy.

‘Here let’s empty that and get a refill.’ Shelly grabbed the bucket.

I limped along beside her without the added hindrance of carrying something.

‘But he’s not interested in me. Look at them.’ I tried not to stare but found it hard to look away from the happy couple.

‘
You’re young. And, you never know what or who’s around the corner.’

I looked away from Danny and watched the water fill the bucket,
spiralling, making me dizzy until I glanced up again. Did she mean that I might have a chance with Danny, or did she mean that I should just wait for someone else when I’m older? I shook my head and changed the subject to starving African babies. The reason we were washing cars.

*~*~*~*

Mid-semester exams were a breeze. I was coping well and I put it down to not having a boyfriend, the fact my parents weren’t getting a divorce and I wasn’t frying my brain with drugs or alcohol. My life seemed pretty tame when I stood back and looked at what my school friends were trying to cope with.

‘
He’s so different to other guys,’ Anna gushed.

‘In what way?’

‘He talked to me like I was a person and not an object.’

Hmm, Danny.
I smiled. I’d never thought of it that way, but it was true. He did speak to girls like they were just normal people, not someone he undressed with his eyes. Strange how he only grunted at me the first time I met him.

‘
Does he go to your church on Sunday as well as youth group?’ Anna asked.

‘
You mean Danny?’ Of course she meant Danny. He was all she talked to me about.

‘Yeah.’

‘What did you two chat about at the car wash?’ My bag weighed heavy on my shoulder as we left the school grounds. ‘I thought he would have mentioned church to you then.’

‘
No, he didn’t. I told him all about camp and how you fell over and I was an angel sent to help look after you.’

‘
Yeah, he goes Sundays.’ How sweet—they were talking about me. ‘He plays bass.’

‘
Really?’ Anna’s eyes widened. ‘He’s a muso?’

Didn
’t she notice him playing at youth group?

‘
He hasn’t asked me for my number or anything yet though.’

‘
You’ve got it bad, Anna.’ I laughed.

‘
Mmm, I know! But he is so hot!’

I smiled
. She was right. He was hot. I couldn’t argue with that.

‘
Do you know if he’s dating anyone?’

‘
Not that I know of.’

She stopped walking and grabbed my arm
. ‘Do you mind putting in a good word for me?’

With Anna unable to stop talking about Danny, it was virtually impossible to put him out of my mind.

‘Anna, truth is, I don’t know him that well. He just hangs out with the same group I hang out with.’

‘
Oh, the way he helped you onto the beach and the way he was talking about you made me think you two were good friends.’

How
did she know about the beach?

‘
Look, why don’t you come again tonight?’

That night
, the added bonus of my new friend, Miss World Candidate, made youth group somewhat interesting. Anna made a beeline towards the stage where Danny was setting up to play in the band. I couldn’t hear a word the duo exchanged, but her body language? Flirt city.

‘Are you okay?’
Shelly came to my side.

‘
Yeah, I just don’t have what she’s got. I wrote her off at school until I got to know her on our school camp. She really is a nice person and she gets the ...’ I stopped myself before admitting I was gutted by the attention boys paid her. ‘She’s just so pretty.’

‘
And you are beautiful.’ Shelly put her arm around my shoulders and squeezed me. ‘As beautiful as Anna.’

I fought against the tears swelling in my eyes and sucked in several deep breaths until Anna swung her hips and strutted back to us.

‘Ready to head off to the beach again tomorrow, girls?’ Priscilla said as she walked past.

‘
Sure are,’ replied Shelly.

‘
Can I come too? I’d love to come!’ Enthusiasm seemed to suit Anna. I bet she was a hand clapper when she was younger.

Part of me wished I still needed crutches so someone
—ahem, Danny—would have to carry me. But no, I’d handed the crutches back and I was coping with walking.

The unevenness of the sand made walking awkward and uncomfortable. I thought with heavy strapping my ankle could handle it, but I clenched my teeth with every step.

‘Here.’ Anna noticed I was finding it difficult. ‘Let me help you.’

‘
Thanks.’ It was kind of her, but nothing like the thrill of Danny’s biceps picking me up.

We staggered to the group on the beach already in full swing, playing beach volleyball.

‘Is Danny here?’ Anna asked.

‘Haven’t seen him yet.
He’s probably surfing,’ Shelly said.

‘
Great. I might check out the surf then.’ Anna dropped her towel in a heap.

Obvious
, much?! I wanted to snark at her but I was impressively self-controlled. The essence of spring warmed my skin. ‘Let’s go for a swim.’

‘
Oh, um.’ Anna turned back but looked towards the surf again.

‘
Come on, Anna. You’ll see him if he comes out.’ I should know—his biceps stand out like beacons. ‘I need you to help me get down to the wet sand anyway.’

Thankfully she obliged. In the water she was seriously bad company, bobbing up and down to keep
an eye on where the surfer boys were. 

Anna had kept her hair dry until she got dunked by an unexpected tidal wave. I could have helped her, but I was too busy laughing. By the time she caught her bearings and collected her matted hair, Danny had caught a wave to the shallow water. In a nasty
-Tabbie moment, I chose not to tell her.

She continued bobbing, up and down, trying to find him. When I saw him join in with a game of beach volleyball, my conscience got the better of me.

‘Hey, Anna. Danny’s over there, playing volleyball.’ I tilted my head. There was no way I was about to lift my arm to point at him.

‘
Wow! He got over there quickly. Let’s go and cheer them on.’

She all but dragged me out of the water and over the sand until we were on the sidelines.

Someone give the girl some pompoms!

She was going above and beyond, cheering for her man, who seemed completely embarrassed by all the screaming.

After the game, Danny and his mates wrestled their way to the water.

‘
Do you think he noticed me?’ Anna flicked her hair.

‘
Um, Anna, I think he was trying not to notice you.’

‘
Was I over the top?’

‘
Just a wee bit.’ I held my pointer fingers one centimetre apart and then spread them apart as far as I could.

‘
It must be the cheerleading I did back in primary school. Sometimes I just don’t know when to stop.’

She wasn’
t a bimbo, but sometimes she acted in a way that would appear to many to be worthy of bimbo status.

‘
I think he’s just shy.’ Anna shook out her towel and lay on it. ‘I’m going to ask him out.’

Okay, go for it. I
’m not chasing. You can.

‘
Hey, Anna.’ Priscilla leaned towards us. ‘There’s no need to rush things.’

‘
But I really like the guy.’ Anna sat up.

Priscilla smiled at Anna and then at me. Obviously Anna was used to getting her way. I
’d probably be the same if I was a Miss World Candidate. But I wasn’t. And I had a new plan. The waiting game.

Danny
returned to the surf with his board and was still catching waves by the time we left, so Anna didn’t get a chance to speak with him. But the next day at church, she hunted him down and asked him out. Much to her surprise, he said no. She didn’t understand. I didn’t understand. It wasn’t even a “no, I’m busy.” It was simply a, “no thanks.” I saw his face flush through shades of pink to red. He rushed away before the bright colour left his face.

‘Maybe he’
s never dated a girl before,’ Anna said after he’d run off. ‘I’ve got it. A group date.’

‘
What?’ That’s what I’d done for Suzie. Did we really need to go there again for Anna?

‘
Why don’t we all go out? He seems fine talking to me when everyone is around, but awkward when we’re alone.’

I had to give her props for not giving up easily. I headed home as the others went out for lunch.

‘You’re home early,’ Mum called through the kitchen doorway.

‘
Yeah.’ I needed to clear my head. ‘Thought I’d better get some homework done.’

‘
Have you spoken to Steph lately?’

‘
No, not since she was here. Did she call?’

‘
Her mother rang.’ Mum put the jug on, busying herself in the kitchen.

‘
Aha ... and ...’

‘
I think their family have some major issues to work through. Diane seems very angry.’

‘What did you tell her?’

‘Everything I knew. Seems it’s not in line with what Stephanie’s been telling them. I just wish there was something we could do. I think it’s time we went over to Jason’s and insist on Stephanie staying here.’

‘
Mum, Steph’s pretty headstrong. She assures me every thing’s fine. I know she wants independence.’ But I was worried about Steph. I had a feeling she wasn’t as happy as she wanted me to believe. ‘I’d hate for her to run away or do something stupid. I’ll call her again.’

‘
Let me know how it goes.’

‘
I will. Thanks, Mum.’

Had we failed her? Mum and Dad weren
’t her guardians. Steph’s parents were clear they’d only ever wanted a boarding agreement. But what if she needed us and we hadn’t responded to her cries?

When I rang, the line clicked through to her voicemail.

‘Stephanie. It’s me, Tabbie. Remember, your best friend. Give me a call. Hey, your mum’s been calling my mum. Just thought you should know they’ve been talking.’

*~*~*~*

Janet clung to her backpack straps as she dawdled into school.

‘
Ah,’ I fell in step with her, ‘so they let you back on school grounds.’

‘
They were begging me to come back.’ Janet flicked her ponytail.

‘
Have you spoken to Suzie?’

‘
Nope. Hopefully her parents don’t cut her off from the world forever.’

I nodded. Isolating her would just make her sneak out more.

‘How’s school been?’ Janet asked.

‘
Yeah, good,’ I said, distracted by Anna’s wave as she walked towards me.

‘
Hi,’ Anna said in a smooth sultry voice. ‘Hey, Janet, that was a pretty lame stunt you and Suzie pulled at camp.’

Janet glared from Anna to me.

‘Well, I agree with Anna. No sympathy from me.’

‘
What. Ever.’ Janet’s hand rested on her hip. ‘I’m off to class. Can’t push my luck this week. Apparently I’m still in the bad books.’

‘
So,’ Anna turned to face me after Janet strutted of, ‘when can we book in that group date with Danny?’

‘Man
, you have it bad. Why don’t you just wait until Friday night?’

‘
Why can’t we all go to the movies through the week?’

‘
It’s school holidays next week. Why don’t you wait ’til then? I’ll give Shelly and Priscilla a call and see when they’re free.’ Hanging out with Danny and Anna curdled my stomach.

Suzie also returned to school, but
not until the bell rang. She walked briskly with her eyes focused on the path in front of her. I called out hello to her but she shook her head and didn’t look up.

She spent the lunch break in the library and refused to talk to anyone. She looked terrible. How could I help her? Before the final bell, her mother called her to the office and removed her from the school grounds. I hated seeing her be treated like that.

The next day, Janet gave Anna the cold shoulder and turned the other way when she joined us.

‘
Hi, girls,’ Anna said.

‘
Hey, Anna.’ I waved as she continued on to her usual crew.

‘
I can’t believe you’re hanging out with
her
.’ Janet barely waited ’til Anna was out of earshot. ‘I’m away for a couple of weeks, and you find someone else to hang out with.’

‘
Yeah, classy, Janet. You pull a dumb stunt and then don’t approve of me making new friends.’ Sounds around me echoed. I clutched a fist, squeezing against my thigh. ‘You aren’t in control of my life.’

‘Well, yes, I was away, but I’m back now.’

Of course she was. I took a deep breath, willing my shoulders to relax. It was pointless saying anything else. Though she irritated the pants off me, most of the time she was a good friend. ‘You want to come to the movies with us during the holidays?’

‘
With us? As in ...?’

‘
My friends, Shelly and Priscilla, and a couple of others from church.’ I missed out Anna ... I should have told her Anna was going too.

‘
Maybe. There’s a couple of new movies coming out that look good. But you didn’t answer me before. What’s it with Anna? Why is she deviating from the beautiful people to talk to you?’

‘
We are the beautiful people.’ I smiled. ‘I am. You are.’

Janet rolled her eyes. Maybe the alcohol was affecting some of her brain cells already.

Suzie was just a couple of metres away, walking towards us with her head down. I couldn’t let her walk past without saying hello. I hated the way her parents seemed to be smothering her.

‘
Hey, Suzie!’

‘
I can’t talk.’ She didn’t lift her eyes from the path. ‘They’ll kill me if they see me stop. They’ve even got the teachers to check up on me. It sucks. I’ll try slip out tonight—send you a message.’

She
slipped away as quickly as she’d appeared. Unless in earshot, no one would have known she’d even spoken to us. 

‘
It worries me the way she sneaks out at night to meet up with Joey.’

‘
She’s a big girl.’ Janet shrugged. ‘She’ll be fine.’

‘
You think so? She meets Joey at the servo. If she goes there regularly, anyone could stalk her.’ I couldn’t understand why Joey would be okay with her walking around by herself at that time of night.

‘
Anyway, not much we can do about it. Yes, I will come to the movies. It’s not like my Mum and Dad care what I do. Got any cute boys from church who’ll be there?’

I raised my eyebrows and shook my head without answering. Did she remember Danny from her party
? Could he soon have both Anna
and
Janet chasing him? That would be horrible.