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Annie
The exams are held at the footy club rooms in town, because it’s the only venue equipped for it. My first exam is psychology, and I walk out feeling relieved instead of worried, so I guess that means it went okay.
I did end up doing a lot of studying for it—mostly to avoid Mum’s scrutiny. Ever since she saw me with Hunter, she’s been oddly quiet but extra watchful. Safer to hide away in my bedroom than risk questioning.
As I’m descending the steps, I spot Hunter leaning against the rail at the bottom. He straightens when he sees me. I can’t tell if his serious expression is due to the fact that we’re in public or if something’s actually wrong.
‘How’d you go?’ he asks when I reach him.
‘Okay—I think.’
He gestures towards the empty part of the car park under the clubhouse, and we head there. The second we’re out of sight of everyone, he turns to me.
‘Did you get in trouble?’
It’s clear he’s no longer talking about the exam. ‘On Saturday? No.’
‘I came to the creek yesterday looking for you.’
He was likely concerned, but it’s always hard to tell with him, because every emotion comes out as anger. ‘I had to lie low. Mum was watching me like a hawk.’
The creases on his face deepen. ‘She tell the elders?’
Definitely sounds like concern. Angry, Hunter-style concern. ‘Tell them what? She found us talking.’
‘I thought you couldn’t be with a guy unchaperoned?’
I touch his arm. ‘It’s all fine. I’m not in any trouble.’
He steps out of reach. ‘And what if she’d found us kissing? Would she have told them then?’
I let out an exasperated breath. ‘Probably. Or one of the sisters. I don’t know.’
A car drives by, and we fall silent until it passes.
‘What happens when you’re brought before the elders?’ he asks.
I draw a breath before replying. ‘We’re not lashed or starved, if that’s what you’re asking. It’s just a lot of talking, reading of the scriptures, and prayer.’ Guilt. Shame.
‘What about shunning?’
I feel hot suddenly. ‘You’re only shunned if you’re baptised.’
‘Like your sister?’
I drop my gaze. I don’t know what this is, what he’s doing. And I don’t know how to fix it. ‘I need you to explain what’s going on here.’
He links his hands atop his head. ‘It’s just messed up. I can’t contact you to find out what happened, and you have all these bullshit consequences, half of which I don’t understand.’ He shakes his head. ‘I don’t like the lies.’
‘You think I do?’
‘And I don’t like sneaking around.’
Panic rises in me. This feels a lot like an exit. ‘When exams are over, we’ll go to the city and watch that horror movie. We’ll do whatever we want, and we’ll do it out in public. We won’t have to worry about anyone seeing us.’
He doesn’t react or say anything, and now my stomach feels like I’m about to walk into another exam. His silence is more unsettling than Mum’s. ‘Hunter.’
He blinks slowly. ‘And then what?’ His tone has a hard edge to it.
