Part 26 (1/2)

We were Khaden, Ruby and Sas.

Khaden *Left here,' said Khaden, turning down the side street that led to the main road.

Sas groaned.

*What's up?' asked Ruby.

She screwed up her face. *There's a queue. I hate queues more than anything.'

*More than The Fink?' asked Ruby.

*And Lyndal?' asked Khaden.

*Okay, so I don't hate them. Queues annoy me about as much as Dad.'

Khaden stood closer to her. She'd dropped enough hints that things weren't great with her dad, but it was the first time she'd come out and said it.

*Sas, is everything okay?' asked Ruby. *I don't mean to, you know ... I just...'

Sas's deep breath was loud and long. She stopped walking. *He has a new partner. It's ... complicated.'

Words tumbled from Ruby's mouth in a rush. *Don't I know it. Fathers are worse than complicated, mine is a complete idiot.'

Ruby looked freer, happier than she had in ages. Khaden glanced at Sas. Her face grew dark.

*I mean, at least yours are divorced, that's got to make it easier,' continued Ruby, without noticing the change in Sas's mood. *My dad has been-'

Sas cut her off. *Where are we meeting Taj?' she asked, her voice flat.

The lightness in Ruby's expression disappeared. She fiddled with her cardigan b.u.t.ton.

*I have to text him when we arrive.' Khaden crossed the road a couple of steps ahead of the silent girls.

Khaden just wanted to chill and enjoy the band, not referee their catfights. If they fought or became compet.i.tive tonight, he'd lose it at both of them, for sure.

Ruby What had I been thinking? For the few seconds I'd teetered on the edge of spilling my guts to them, I felt so light, but while I was pouring out my horrible secret, all Sas was worried about was where to meet Taj. I was over being laughed at, pushed around and ignored.

Sas fell in step with Khaden and their hands, hanging by their sides, brushed. Instead of pulling away like I did if I accidentally touched Khaden, Sas left her hand where it was. A chill slithered down my arms to my fingertips. They weren't even pretending any more.

They could stick their hints! No way was I coming out and asking what was going on.

*Hey, Khade.' I forced myself to sound light and bright. *Cool shoes-they new?'

*Yeah.' His voice was a little softer than before. *Sas helped me choose them.'

*Good choice, Sas.'

Sas just nodded.

As we drew close, I checked out The Bas.e.m.e.nt. Two bouncers the size of rugby players stood in front of the door, arms crossed, faces stern behind identical black sungla.s.ses. The queue, which snaked along the footpath and past the bottle shop, was full of people way older than us.

*May as well queue while we wait for Taj,' said Khaden. He took his phone from his pocket and sent a text.

Sas and Khaden strolled the length of the queue. I slunk behind them, feeling small under the stares.

*What the h.e.l.l?' said a gruff voice. *Someone left the kindy gates open.'

Other harsh voices buffeted us. The laughter was loud and grating.

*Go home to Mummy, kiddies,' crowed a voice.

I lowered my head further. Sas and Khaden didn't seem worried by the heckling or laughter.

*If I wanted to hang out with little kids, I'd have gone to a Hi5 concert.' This voice was slurred.

I lifted my head and glared. A girl shorter than me, wearing a striped T-s.h.i.+rt, fedora hat and mini skirt, leered. Equally cool people in dark skinny legs and T-s.h.i.+rts surrounded her.

*Problem, Princess?' she said, looking me up and down.

My laugh was more a scoff. *Are you asking me a question or introducing yourself?'

A couple of her friends laughed.

Sas, Khaden and I stood behind her in the queue. She stepped away from the brick wall and onto the footpath.

*This isn't play school.'

*Ignore her,' said Khaden.

*Like Ruby will take her on,' said Sas, leaning against the wall.

Ears buzzing, I faced the girl, hands on my hips. *What is your problem?'

The fedora girl grimaced. *My problem is you under-age tools.'

*Didn't know it was a gig for only old tools.'

Khaden groaned. *Leave it, Ruby.'

Sas clapped. *Go Ruby.'

The girl's eyes were so narrow they looked like black lines. *Watch your smart mouth.'

A guy wearing a grey cardigan and white T-s.h.i.+rt pulled her back into the queue. Whatever he said to her made her laugh. She looked over her shoulder at me, shaking her head. I swear she mouthed s.k.a.n.k at me.

I bit the inside of my cheek.

*Oi, Khade,' bellowed Taj from the corner. *What are you doing in the queue?' He beckoned us forward. *It's all squared with Mal and Deck. Come in.'

I frowned. *Who are Mal and Deck?'