Spiralling Out of the Shadow (The Spiralling Trilogy) (11 page)

‘How did it go?’ Stephanie whispered when everyone was silent at the dinner table.

Mum and Dad looked at me.

‘Ah, what was that sound at the front door?’ I scraped my feet across the floor and looked towards the front of the house.

‘
Not sure.’ Dad pushed his chair out. ‘I’ll check.’

‘Everything okay,
love?’ Mum called out to Dad.

‘
Later,’ I whispered, glaring at Stephanie with wide eyes.

‘
Sorry,’ Stephanie mouthed when Mum wasn’t watching.

‘
No one there.’ Dad returned to the table. ‘Must have been a cat or something.’

Once we’d cleaned up after dinner
, I returned to my bedroom.

Stephanie followed me. ‘
So tell me, I want all the details.’

‘
Yuck!’ I fell onto my bed with my hands over my eyes, not wanting to replay the sordid event.

‘Bad huh?’

‘Yes. Argh. It was horrible.’ My stomach churned. ‘Like spew horrible.’

‘Why, what went wrong?’

‘We were going to go to the movies but Rhett got the times wrong. He got there late and the movie had already started-and-it-would-have-been-too-late-to-go-to-the-next-one-so-we-sat-in-the-coffee-shop-and-had-a-milkshake.’ I knew my words had run together, but I just couldn’t get the story out quick enough.

‘
That doesn’t sound too bad.’

‘
The whole time I struggled to keep his hands off me, eew, it’s gross just thinking about it.’

‘
Oh, no.’

‘
Then he was Mr-octopus-arms on the way back to Janet’s. I ran away from him, but look what I did.’ I pulled up my jeans to show the grazed and bruised knee.

‘
Ouch! Did you get inside okay?’

I nodded.

She said she was sorry I had to go through the ordeal. It seemed like she meant it when she didn’t push for any more details. I was so caught up in my own grief I almost didn’t ask how her night went. I was sure she’d had a blissful time. It was hard keeping that green-eyed monster at bay. 

But in a moment of silence, I
asked, ‘Anyway, how was your night—amazing, I’m sure?’

‘
Ah, pretty average.’ She turned to the window with slumped shoulders.

‘
But you stayed, with Jason for the night ... somewhere?’ I asked, knowing the answer.

‘
Yeah, slept in and got in trouble at work. I have to find another job. George and Bridget are horrible.’

‘Steph,
did you …’

‘
Yeah. We did. I’m off to get some more sleep.’ Steph stood up and trudged to the door. ‘Have you got church in the morning?’

‘
Yes. I wish you could come sometime. You’d love it.’

But I knew she didn
’t want to come. I was sure she saw God as an angry father, wanting to tear shreds off her. But he wasn’t. Steph turned and blew me a kiss before shutting the door. She looked like someone else. Her body language had changed. She would never have blown me a kiss like that before.
Lord, please keep her safe.

*~*~*~*

Priscilla stopped me after church. ‘Weather is so good we’re heading to the beach for lunch, want to join us?’

Cringe
. The thought of Rhett being there with Danny made me shudder.

‘
No, thanks. I’ve got to get some homework done.’

It was the truth. I was already sinking under the avalanche of assignments.
After last year’s results, I wanted to blitz the year as an A-plus student. As long as life didn’t get in the way.

‘
Hey Steph.’ I stopped her as she arrived home. ‘I just wanted to bounce some ideas off you for this assignment.’

‘
Sorry, Tabbie, I’m just not in the right frame of mind.’

Steph
anie left the house for the afternoon, and Mum and Dad were catching up with friends. I was home alone, listening to my own thoughts, which weren’t pleasant after Friday night. How was it that I got a dud first up? I couldn’t even go on a regular date with a guy and get all gooey-eyed after the fact. Stephanie’s life just cruised along even when she lied. I told one lie to go on a date and thwack—I ended up on the horror date of the century. Maybe I’m the girl who just shouldn’t lie. Maybe I’m just meant to be the nice person and never have any fun.

 
The phone interrupted my mind battle.

‘
Tabbie?’

‘
Yes?’ I didn’t recognise the voice.

‘
Rhett here. Maybe we could try the movies again this week.’

‘
No. Not in this lifetime. Don’t call me again.’ I couldn’t get the phone out of my hands quick enough. 

I stepped back, staring at the handset sitting on top of our old-fashioned phone and shook my shoulders and hands to rid myself of him. Before I could return to the couch, the phon
e rang again. My heart thrashed. My skin shivered. Surely he wouldn’t ring back.

‘
Hello?’

‘
Look, Tabbie, I think we got off on the wrong foot.’

‘
No.’ I stomped my foot.

‘
I’m really not that bad.’

‘I said no! And don’t ring again. Just go away!’
I slammed the phone down and pulled the cord out of the wall. Creep!

How was I going to get through the next week after such humiliation? I was sure everyone would be laughing at my attempt at dating. Perhaps I could shake it off
by making a joke out of it by saying,
Ha, can you believe I even went out with him?
I could hear everyone’s laughter already. But the truth was, I went out on a date with a complete dweeb. I made the choice to go. My error.

As I
meandered into the school grounds on Monday with Steph, I saw Janet, and my perspective changed. What she was going through was a whole lot more intense than my dumb-arrogant-boy date. My issue would blow over and be forgotten in a couple of days. Janet had to deal with the possibility of major changes in her family.

‘
So, how are you?’ I asked. ‘Did you talk to your parents about what’s going on?’

‘
It sucks.’ She spat the words like she had a bad taste in her mouth. ‘They both need help.’

I was lost for words. I wanted to console her but what could I say?

‘So, Steph,’ Janet said. ‘Are you sleeping with him?’

‘
What?’ Steph asked.

‘
You asked if you could sleep over but you didn’t sleep over. Great friend you are.’

‘
You’re pretty torn up about your parents, aren’t you?’ I interjected a moment too late. 

Stephanie tried to apologise as Janet stomped off in a huff.

It seemed my horrendous date didn’t make it to the school gossip chain. Phew, saved from that humiliation. Janet, on the other hand, was lashing out and putting everyone offside.

*~*~*~*

‘You have to dance with me again this year.’ Suzie rushed towards me during lunch with the sign up form in her hand.

‘
No, Suzie, it’s your chance to shine. My ankle is still weak. And to tell the truth, it’s not my thing. I’d rather go for a run or a swim. I only started dancing because everyone else was doing it.’

‘
Please, Tabbie?’ Suzie begged with puppy dog eyes. ‘It won’t be the same without you. I’ll go insane!’

‘
You’ll be fine.’ I promised her I’d drop in from time to time and was about to mention Joey but stopped myself. Her parents were way-over-the-top stricter than mine. It was pointless even suggesting Joey might have a thing for her.

‘
You and I have hardly done anything since Stephanie returned. I hoped you’d do dance so I we could hang out again.’

‘
What do you mean? We have classes together.’

‘
I mean, like, out of school.’

She had a point. I hadn’
t been to her house since before Christmas. Not that I was welcome there.

‘
And you know Mum and Dad never let me do anything outside of routine. I’m lucky that they actually let me take dance classes.’

‘
I’m sorry, Suzie. I’ll check what I’ve got on. Why don’t you come to the beach with us on Saturday?’

‘
No way the parentals would let me.’

‘
Leave it with me. I’ll find time to come and hang out or something.’ I parked a mental note, to make an effort to see Suzie outside of school. I could only imagine how isolated she felt.

Saturday mo
rning I woke well after dawn, strapped my ankle and headed out for a run. Stephanie’s door hung ajar and her bed hadn’t been slept in. My heart nearly stopped. The best friend I was hoping to reclaim seemed to be slipping further away. I had to deal with my frustration. I ran for half an hour before returning home to shower and head into the mall for a little retail therapy.

Entering my favourite jeans shop, I tried on a coup
le of pairs. They accentuated my pear shape which seemed to becoming more obvious by the day, so I hung them back on the rack. All I came home with was a new top.

My best friend, the beautiful, sophisticated and elegant one, still wasn
’t home when I walked in.

‘
Have you spoken to Stephanie, love?’ Mum asked.

‘
No, I thought she’d be home by now.’

‘
So did I. Maybe we should give the Tiger’s Eye a call and see if she’s there.’

‘
Yeah, maybe.’

Mum’s phone call uncovered the fact
Stephanie hadn’t made it into work that day. I waited in the room while Mum rang Stephanie’s mum.

‘That was quick,’ I said.

‘She said she was busy and she’d ring Steph later. Or perhaps tomorrow.’

‘
Is there anything else? Homework is calling me.’

‘
No love, you go. I’ll have a talk with Stephanie when she arrives home.’

Hmm
, that sounded ominous. I trudged upstairs and opened my books.

When Stephanie arrived home
, I pulled my door open a little, waiting for Mum to question her. I hoped Mum wasn’t about to send her back to Toowoomba. When they spoke, I heard bits and pieces of Mum voicing her concerns about Stephanie staying at Jason’s. Within minutes, Stephanie stomped into her room and closed the door. After half an hour, I couldn’t resist any longer. I knocked on her door.

‘Hi, how’
s it going?’

‘
Not learning much.’ Stephanie’s books were open on her desk but she was lying on her bed.

‘
How was last night? You stayed at Jason’s again, didn’t you?’

She raised an eyebrow.
             

‘
I overheard Mum before. Steph, what will you do if she talks to your mum and dad, and they want you to go home or something?’

‘
I don’t know. I don’t think Mum and Dad actually want me to come back anyway.’ She sat up. ‘What if next time they ring, if your mum is around, I’ll continue the conversation when they hang up? It’ll work.’ She nodded. ‘I usually have quick phone calls with my family.’

‘
Or you could just come home instead of staying with Jason.’

‘
But that would be boring.’ Stephanie swung her legs off the bed. ‘I’m living on the wild side.’

I looked down at my new shirt
, a conservative T. Maybe I was boring in her eyes.

‘Just tell me you’
ll be safe. You know Mum is okay with you ringing at any time of night.’

‘Maybe they’
d be okay with you ringing, but I think I’d be stretching the friendship if I rang at 4 am. Anyway, Jason loves me. He won’t let anything bad happen.’

I wanted to tell her
, “Yeah, he may say he loves you, but he’s only seventeen and has all the hormones of an average teenager.” But I scratched my head and said nothing. Would it make me an accomplice now that I knew her plan? Sometimes best friend codes were hard to work with.

Steph and I were watching
reruns of old soap operas when her mum rang. She jumped from the couch, ready to play out her lie. She was ridiculously convincing, and if I didn’t know what she was doing, I would have bought the fib. I wanted to run into the kitchen and tell Mum the truth. My stomach churned. Yep, I was guilty of allowing her to lie. I was an accomplice. But, it was her life. Oh, gee. Everything all of a sudden seemed really messy.

‘
I couldn’t help but overhear.’ Mum stood beside the TV after Stephanie hung up and returned to the couch. ‘Just be careful, okay?’ 

Mum headed out for a few hours and m
y blood started to boil. ‘You’re getting a bit too good at lying, don’t you think?’

‘
Don’t go getting all judgmental on me now.’

‘
I’m not judging you, just stating a fact. Lying just isn’t the right thing to do. Wouldn’t it be better to ’fess up and tell the truth?’

We both stared at the TV. I was still steaming
, and could see Steph’s face in my peripheral vision. It had turned red. When the show finished, she left the room and I went for a walk.

She was the one lying. It was her decision to lie. Her
life—not mine. I wanted to talk to Mum about the whole situation, but the loyal-best-friend in me urged me to keep quiet. After walking a block, I began to run, pounding my feet into the path. My ankle held my weight without wobbling. I wanted to punch the air and scream, “’bout time!”

When
I returned, I stopped at Steph’s room before showering. ‘Hey, sorry if I upset you before.’

‘
You were just being honest. Apparently that’s something I could get better at.’

I smiled. Yes, something she could get much better at.

‘I know you’re right. I’m stuffing up, aren’t I?’ Stephanie pulled her lip between her teeth.

‘
You need to spend more time on your schoolwork if you want to pass.’

‘I’
m too tired most of the time.’ Stephanie covered a yawn escaping her lips with her hand.

‘
Have you looked for another job?’

‘
Haven’t really had time.’

‘
Maybe I could help you find one?’ I went to grab the newspaper from downstairs.

‘
No, it’s okay. I’ll get to it, eventually.’

So she didn
’t want my help. ‘What are you doing with all that money you’ve earned?’

‘
Yeah, I do have a bit in the bank.’ She smiled. ‘Let’s go shopping tomorrow. I’ll buy you some new clothes, a peace offering.’

‘
What about school?’

‘
Stuff school.’

‘
I can’t, Steph, and you shouldn’t either. We’ve got millions of assignments to do.’

‘
I guess. It was just a thought. You are just too good. You do all the right things.’

I shook my head.
‘Right now I stink. I need a shower.’

I had to get out of there. I didn
’t do all the right things. If I did, I would have called her parents and dobbed her in. I would have told Mum and Dad the truth. But no. I kept her secrets to keep in line with the best friend code.

On Tuesday, when Shelly rang to invite me out to the movies, I jumped at the chance. A night with a bunch of fun people who didn
’t seem to hide secrets and tell lies was what I needed. When they invited me to the beach the next Saturday, I shook my head. Then I cringed, knowing my face hid nothing.

‘
What’s up?’ Priscilla asked

‘
I’ve got some homework to catch up on.’

‘
Spill.’ Shelly leaned in. ‘Tell us. You enjoyed coming last time. What’s going on now?’

‘
It’s about one of your friends and I really don’t want to bad-mouth him.’

‘
Him?’ Shelly asked.

‘W
ho?’ Priscilla’s eyes opened wide.

I told them the whole sordid story.

‘That was the first time Rhett joined us at the beach,’ Priscilla said. ‘He was there again last week.’

‘
And that’s why I don’t want to go.’

‘
But that’s crazy.’ Shelly shook her head. ‘You’ll be with us.’

‘
That’s right. We’ll protect you.’ Priscilla flexed her tiny arms.

‘
It’s just that I don’t ever want to see him again.’ It was the truth. Just the thought of Rhett gave me a chill.

‘
I think he came with Danny, so I’ll have a chat with Danny this Thursday night at music practice and ask if he’s coming again.’

‘
Are you sure?’ Heat prickled in my cheeks.

‘Yep.’

Shelly drove me home and before I climbed out of the car she said, ‘We’ll talk again Friday night, okay?’

‘
Sounds good.’ Could they really protect me?