Part 3 (1/2)

Khaden pulled himself up on the wall to stand beside us. The steps would have been easier, but then again, bikini girl-Erica-was watching.

*Don't even think of buying it at that dodgy place over the road,' said Khaden.

I screwed up my face. *Yeah, that place is a salmonella outlet.'

*So, we'll stop at the one near home,' snapped Sas, brus.h.i.+ng down her shorts.

I had to chew the inside of my cheek to stop myself from laughing at Sas's mood change.

Sas.

Why can't Mum just shut up about Dad? How I'm not coping with his *news'.

FYI, Mum-I'm coping fine, I'm just p.i.s.sed. Not at Dad's *news', but at the way I found out.

Ever since Dad and Mum broke up a lifetime ago-okay, eight years ago-I've spent weekends with Dad. Every second weekend was the best, when it was just me and Dad, and no annoying little sisters. I had my own room at Dad's place and we did all kinds of cool stuff together, like make sus.h.i.+, have dinner parties for his friends, eat lunch on bay cruises and go to plays and concerts.

But thanks to Dad, my weekends are now filled with housework and babysitting. That time with Dad used to be so easy and so much fun, but he stuffed it up. I could have handled his news, if he'd just told me himself. It wasn't like he didn't have a chance that last weekend we were together.

We talked about everything else over lunch at that seaside cafe.

I don't want to think about dinner at the awful cafe/bar/restaurant/whatever it was. That black-and-steel place where Dad just fiddled with the stem of his wine gla.s.s while Lee told me. I waited, the whole trip back to Melbourne, for Dad to explain, to say something, but he didn't.

Dad's *news' was bad enough, but then he gave Mum that *follow your dreams' lecture. If he'd stayed quiet she would never have started that real estate course and my life wouldn't be so bad. Thanks to Dad, I'm Mum's full-time, live-in nanny, only without the full-time pay.

Every week I cook five dinners out of seven, make the girls' school lunches and breakfast, and do the was.h.i.+ng, ironing and vacuuming. Last night, Mum had the nerve to crack it with me because the noise of the vacuum was making it tough for her to study. Poor baby.

Ha! Typical. I'm in my room-well, the room I have to share with Eliza-having time to myself, and Mum is bellowing down the hall for me to empty the dishwasher and repack it. It's not even my stupid job!

Is it any wonder I don't want to *communicate' with Dad? My life is c.r.a.p thanks to him.

Ruby.

A head of me, Khaden and Sas strolled out the school gates.

*Hey, wait up,' I yelled, running to catch up with them, backpack slapping my shoulder. *Where are you going?'

*Cafe,' said Khaden. *I'm starved.'

*Okay if I tag along?'

Sas laughed. *Are you serious, Ruby? You never have to ask.' She put her arm around my shoulder.

As we walked, we made plans for the summer-trips to the pool, beach, movies.

*Hey, we could catch the bus to Phillip Island, Rosebud or something,' I said, stopping at the pedestrian crossing over the road from the burger place.

Sas scoffed. *It's not that easy. I have to babysit the girls.'

Khaden pushed the crossing b.u.t.ton.

I looked across the six lanes of traffic to the crowded cafe. *Can we eat outside-in the sun?'

Sas sighed and stepped onto the road. *Come on.'

*But...' I looked at the *Don't Walk' symbol.

Sas and Khaden darted across the road through a gap in the traffic. I followed a few seconds later. They made it to the other side, but I was marooned on the median strip, the wind from the cars and trucks whipping my hair. By the time the lights changed, Sas and Khaden were lined up in the cafe, behind a bloke as broad as Dad but with tats up his neck and throat.

*Thanks for waiting,' I said, standing beside them.

Sas pulled a face.

The heat from the fryers and the sun blasting through the gla.s.s windows made the restaurant hot and stuffy. I wiped my palms on my school dress. A zit-faced guy took our order-three fries, burger, shake and two diet colas. *There'll be a wait on one of the fries.'

Sas picked up the tray. *We'll meet you at the table, Ruby.'

Khaden dumped napkins and straws onto the tray and shrugged.

*Outside?' I asked. My throat felt like it was closing over.

*Sure,' said Khaden.

*There's a table there.' Sas nodded to a booth in the back corner of the cafe. Khaden glanced at me, then followed. He slipped his school bag under the table and slid along the bench to sit beside her.

Zit-boy handed over my fries. I grunted thanks and scuttled to Sas and Khaden, carrying on like seagulls over their fries. Khaden's iPod sat on the table between them. He and Sas had an earbud each.

I dropped my backpack, crashed into the seat opposite, and shook the sweet-chili sauce sachet. *You can share my fries.'

*Not if you're putting that on them,' said Sas, her nose wrinkled.

I squirted sauce over the fries.

Sas took the earbud out and handed it to Khaden. *They're awesome. Who are they?'

*This band Taj has been mixing for. They have a weekly gig at The Bas.e.m.e.nt.'

Khaden's brother Taj was the same age as Harrison. I couldn't imagine Mum or Dad letting Harrison work at The Bas.e.m.e.nt, or even go there.

*The Bas.e.m.e.nt has the best bands.'

Her change of mood and the corner seat thing had made me uncomfortable. I snorted. *Been lately, Sas?'

She folded her arms. *I read, Ruby.'

*Angst Ridden.'

*What?' I didn't mean to snap at Khaden.

*Angst Ridden is the name of the band,' he said, reaching for one of my fries. *They're indie rock.'