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“What’s going on in here?” Mum asks. She’s dressed in her scrubs ready for work.
“Don’t ask.” Dad shakes his head with a chuckle.
I roll my eyes. I’m officially living in a madhouse. “Can I get a lift to school?” I ask, picking at the food on my plate.
“I can take you,” Mum says. “My shift at the hospital doesn’t start until nine-thirty. I’ll be ready to go in ten.”
Brad opens his mouth, but Dad beats him to it. “I’m on a site close to you today, Brad. I can drop you off.”
My brother is starting year ten at Lakewood High. They have a really good STEM program that he was interested in, so my parents let him change schools from St Christopher’s.
Ashley waits for me by the front entrance when Mum drops me at school. She squeals when she sees me. “We made it! We’re finally seniors!”
I laugh. “You’ve been watching too many movies.”
“Oh puh-lease.” Hooking her arm through mine, she drags me across the quad towards the building where our lockers are. “This is going to be the best year! You’re going to be voted editor of the school magazine. I’m going to get the lead in the Lakewood Dramatic Arts production ofI’ve Got the Music in Me, alongside the smoking hot Lucas King, and he’s going to fall madly in love with me now Kelly Peters is finally out of the picture. Did you hear she’s dating a guy who was an extra onNeighbours? How crazy is that?”
My head starts to spin, and Ashley finally pauses to take a breath.
“Anyway, so I’ll finally have the man of my dreams, your best friend will finally pull his finger out and admit he’s in love with you, and we’ll be able to go on double dates. Everything’s going to be perfect.”
My stomach twists at the mention of Oliver. “Yep, definitely been watching too many movies,” I say with a sigh. I lean against my locker. “Time to come back down to reality, Ash. I don’t even know that I want Oli to admit he’s ‘madly in love with me’.” Ashley rolls her eyes at my use of finger quotes and I ignore her, muttering, “I’d just be happy for him to tell me we’re still friends right now.”
But deep down, that’s a lie. I can’t stop thinking about the kiss. The way my lips tingled for hours afterwards. The way my stomach flutters and swirls whenever I think about the way his fingers ran up and down my skin, leaving goosebumps in their wake. As much as I’m scared to admit it, I think I’m falling for my best friend. The only problem is, I’m not sure that he feels the same way.
“Have you heard from him yet?” Ashley’s question pulls me from my thoughts.
I shake my head, holding up my phone. “I sent him a back-to-school Snap. No reply.”
Her smile drops. “So, you messaged him?”
“That’s what I said.” I narrow my eyes. “Why?”
Ashley shrugs. “He’s the one who stuffed up. He kissed you and then ghosted you. He should grovel at your feet.”
Ouch!I swallow the lump in my throat. Maybe it’s better if I just brush it off and pretend like it didn’t happen. “I don’t want to make a big deal when it probably meant nothing. Oli’s had a rough couple of months. He doesn’t need drama, he needs a friend.”
“Meant nothing?” Ashley raises her eyebrows. “Han, he kissed you! That’s not nothing.”
“Who kissed who?”
The sugary sweet voice behind me makes me cringe, and I turn to face Sarah Kelly. Her friends Caley Peretti and Tiana Ristevski hover behind her. Usually I try to avoid them at all costs. Sarah is like a rabid dog. Once she sinks her teeth into you, you’re screwed.
“Hey Sarah,” I force a smile. “How were your holidays?”
“Not as interesting as yours, it seems?” She raises her eyebrows. “Don’t tell me you finally hooked up with that sexy best friend of yours?”
“Oh, I’m so flattered you think I’m sexy.” Ashley puts her arm around my shoulder, a fake smile plastered on her face. “But sorry, Sarah. We don’t kiss and tell.”
“Ha-ha. I forgot howhilariousyou are Ashley.” Sarah smirks. “It’s not like Oliver would be interested in Hannah anyway. I’m sure he has better taste.” She looks me up and down. “How sad to have been friend-zoned by the hottest guy at St Christopher’s.”
I can’t stop the heat rising up my neck and spreading over my cheeks.
“Doesn’t your boyfriend go to St Christopher’s?” Ashley shoots back. “I’m sure he’d be real impressed you don’t thinkhe’sthe hottest guy at the school?”
Sarah laughs. “At least I have a boyfriend, unlike you two virgins.” Shrugging, she adds, “Besides, Oliver’s got a better chance of making it to the AFL, thus increasing his sex appeal. Who wouldn’t want to go to the Brownlow and all the other red-carpet events?”
Ashley snorts. “Oli’s way out of your league! You’re dreaming if you think you have a chance. He doesn’t even know who you are.”
