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I shrug. “Getting ready for pre-season.”
Mum nods. “All ready for school? Do you want me to make you some breakfast before I head to work?”
I shake my head, grabbing an apple from the fruit bowl and biting into it. “No thanks. I’m going to have a shower.”
Pursing her lips, Mum watches me carefully as she says, “I spoke to Principal Fraser yesterday. He wants you to stop past his office when you get to school.”
I groan. The last thing I need is a pity speech from the principal on my first day back at school.
“Oli, this is important. It’s a big year for you. He only wants to help.”
Clenching my fists, I speak through gritted teeth. “I’m fine, Mum. I’m going to be fine. I just wish everyone would leave me alone and let me get on with it.”
She sighs. “Just promise me you’ll stop past his office.”
“It’s not like I have a choice,” I mutter as I leave the room.
Does it make them feel better thinking they’re trying to fix me as if I’m broken? It’s only been a couple of months since Dad died. How do they expect me to act?
I let the scalding hot water of the shower rush over my body, washing away the sweat and the nightmares. It’s no wonder Hannah’s in my subconscious since I can’t stop thinking about how good she felt in my arms when I kissed her at my birthday. I have no idea what came over me. Was it the combination of my anxiety meds and alcohol? The heady smell of her strawberry shampoo and coconut body scrub? Or her rocking body in that silver dress? I’ve always known she was attractive - I’m a teenage boy with eyes - but I just never thought about her as more than a friend. I don’t know what changed, but something about her that night woke me up. I wanted to kiss her. Hell, I still want to kiss her. I run my hands through my hair, closing my eyes as water runs down my face.What made me pull away? Have I screwed up our friendship?
I still haven’t called or text her. I didn’t plan to kiss her, but I’m glad I did.Was it a mistake kissing my best friend? What am I supposed to say to her?She hasn’t called or texted me either, so I have no idea what she’s thinking. Hell, I don’t even know whatI’mthinking.Am I in love with her? Am I just missing my dad and latching on to the one other person in my life I can’t live without?
I groan as my thoughts drift back to the way I’d pulled her towards me, running my fingers through her hair, pressing my lips against hers. God, they were so soft and warm. My body stirs at the memory.Ugh. Pull yourself together.I shake my head. I can’t go there with Hannah. I can’t risk our friendship. I can’t lose her from my life if I screw it all up. I need to find a way to fix this.
I jump as someone knocks on the door. “What?” I yell.
“You alright?” Jake calls. “You’ve been in there for a while. Save some hot water for the rest of us.”
I just need some bloody breathing space.“Yeah, I’ll be out in a minute.” I shut off the water and wrap a towel around my lower body. I scowl at Jake as I pull open the door.
“What’s your problem?” He narrows his eyes at me.
“Nothing.” I shove past him, slamming my bedroom door shut. The bathroom door slams a couple of seconds later.
I rush to pull on my school uniform and get out of the house before Jake gets out of the shower to avoid any further run ins. I fumble with my school tie, groaning as I undo it and start again. I wish I could just forget it, but I have no choice as it’s part of St Christopher’s Catholic Boys School’s uniform.
I’m pinning my sports captain badge on my grey button-up shirt when my phone buzzes. Pulling it out of my pocket, my heart skips a beat as I see the notification of a Snap from Hannah. I swallow before clicking on it. My lips pull up into a grin as I stare at the picture. She’s dressed in her summer uniform, her hair pulled up in a messy bun on top of her head. She’s holding up two fingers in the peace sign, her lips full and pouty.Totally kissable.I swallow down the lump in my throat. She’s so beautiful. The caption reads #BeginningOfTheEnd with a flashing rainbow‘Year Twelve’in the corner. I take a screen shot and hit reply, shocked as my face fills up the screen and I take in my dishevelled appearance. I try to fix my hair and force a smile, but it’s my eyes. They won’t fool Hannah.
The shower shuts off in the bathroom. I quickly drop my phone in my pocket without responding to her, grabbing my bag off the floor and rushing out to the garage. It only takes me ten minutes on the bike to get to school, and my stomach churns the closer I get. I don’t want to hear how sorry my teachers are about losing Dad or how lucky I am to be alive.
After chaining my bike up to the bike rack, I make my way to the administration building. Macca and JD walk out of Principal Fraser’s office as I approach. I greet them both with a high five and shoulder bump. “What’s up?”
“Official school captain duties, you know how it is,” Macca says with a grin. “What happened to you on Friday night? You just disappeared.”
I shrug. “One too many.”
The boys laugh.
“We better get going,” JD says, clapping me on the back. “We’ve gotta get ready for the Start of Year Assembly. Catch ya later.”
I nod at them before knocking on Principal Fraser’s open door.
“Ah, Oliver.” He looks up from shuffling some papers on his desk. “Come in, son. Come in.” He gestures to the seat in front of him and I sink into it, dropping my bag at my feet. “How are you going?” He asks.
I clear my throat before giving him my standard response. “I’m fine.”
“Mmmm. Right, of course. I would like to offer my condolences on behalf of everyone at the school. I can only imagine how hard this summer has been for you.”
