by Fiona Palmer
Jaz was just about to pull apart a handful of the roll but quickly put it on the chopping board.
‘Here sis, will this do? S’posed to be top notch.’ Simon lifted up a skateboard. It was red and black underneath, with the word Habitat in the design.
‘Cool, cheers, bro. I like that.’ Jaz took it off him and spun one of the wheels. ‘Now I just have to figure out how to ride it.’
‘Why on earth would you want a skateboard?’ her mum asked.
Jaz shrugged. ‘Just saw some kids with one and it looked like fun. I could get to The Ring faster on it too, especially seeing as someone won’t help me buy a car,’ said Jaz, with a big dramatic eye roll.
She was about to tell her mum that she had a job and could buy her own car soon but she stopped, remembering that Pax said not to mention her job just yet and to say he was paying her now. ‘Besides, Pax is paying me at The Ring. I’m in a more permanent role, so I’ll have a car before too long.’
Tasha’s frown lines appeared.
‘Come on, Mum. You can’t keep me off the road forever. I’ll be an adult soon and you won’t have any say.’
‘I know, Jaz. I know.’ Tasha put her hand to her forehead as if she was getting a headache. ‘I’ll talk to your dad tonight and see what we can do to help. I like that you are saving for your own car, but I would still prefer to help you get something that is reliable and safe.’
Jaz groaned. ‘Please not a Volvo.’ Simon burst out laughing.
Jaz grabbed her bit of bread, shoving in a mouthful as she went outside with her new skateboard. She’d have a bit of a practice before she headed to the cemetery. Maybe Taylor would come and drive her, save her taking the bus.
Just as she was about to stand on the skateboard, she felt eyes on her back. ‘What do you want?’ she asked Simon.
‘Seeing if you stack it. Maybe I should have got you a helmet and knee pads too,’ he said with a smirk.
‘Bugger off, Si,’ she said, teasingly. Finishing the last of her bread, she pushed off the ground and rolled along on the board. Simon got bored of watching after five minutes, especially since she hadn’t stacked it, and went back inside.
With him gone, she attempted that thing she’d seen Marcus do and quickly realised it took a lot of skill to get the board off the ground, let alone as high as he had. Maybe she should watch a few YouTube ‘how to’ clips. That could be her job tomorrow.
After putting the skateboard in her room by the door, she texted Taylor and asked him if he was busy. His reply was instant.
Nup.
Cool. Can you give me a ride to the cemetery pls?
Sure. C U in 5
Jaz pulled out one of the fake plastic hydrangeas in a vase on her desk. She’d brought them from a shop a few days ago. They had a stem perfect for hiding a note in.
Jaz pulled out the coded message hidden in her book and rolled it up tightly. She slid it into the fake flower stem and plugged the end. When Taylor turned up and honked his horn, Jaz was still sitting there looking at the flower. So many things running through her mind. The message, her job and, most of all, going to the cemetery to see her sister. The last time she’d been was with her parents for Becky and Simon’s tenth birthday. It was a milestone and he’d wanted to celebrate with Becky. That was going close on five years ago now.
Shaking herself from her daze, she headed downstairs. Simon was in the kitchen raiding the same chocolate stash she had earlier on. He looked like a kid caught stealing, guilt all over his face. Simon never was good at lying or being bad. Jaz chose to ignore an opportune time to tease him. ‘Can you let Mum know I’m off with Taylor for a drive? Be back later.’
Without waiting for him to answer, she pushed through the large French doors to the side driveway where Taylor was waiting.
‘Hey you.’
‘Hey yourself,’ she replied.
Jaz put on her sunnies and slid onto the front leather seat.
‘Nice flower,’ he said as he reversed out of the driveway. ‘For Becky?’ he asked.
Jaz nodded as she touched the soft blue petals. ‘Yeah, it’s been a while.’
He didn’t say anything but Jaz could feel Taylor was wondering ‘why now?’
They drove in silence, radio playing in the background and the breeze blowing in through their open windows on the warm afternoon Saturday.
‘I just got a skateboard,’ she said, out of the blue. ‘Have you ever tried it?’
Taylor turned to her at the red light and gave her a look as if to say ‘who are you?’ ‘No. Guns are my thing, remember?’ he said with a smile.
Jaz laughed. ‘You’re a guy, I just thought you might have done it at some stage.’
‘Gee, thanks, Jaz. You just made that sound like you were asking about my sex life.’ They both cracked up and were still joking about it when he pulled into the cemetery.
Taylor turned off the car. ‘Remember where she is?’ he asked.
‘I think so. I’m sure I can find her.’
‘You want me to stay here?’
She shook her head. ‘No, I’d like you to come. Please,’ she added.
The first time back to see Becky she wanted company, and her note was already hidden. Later, when she would be picking up a message, she’d go alone, but for now, she was grateful for Taylor’s presence.
Jaz took the path that she remembered, letting her memory guide her. She passed the gardener who was trimming some of the lawn and tending to a flowerbed. ‘Do you think he finds this job lonely, or do you think all these people keep him company?’ she whispered to Taylor.
‘Who knows? To me it feels eerily quiet and a little creepy, but I can’t say I go to cemeteries a lot. The last time I was here was for Mum.’
Jaz nodded as they came to stop by Becky’s grave. Taylor’s mum had passed away four years ago. ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t think to ask if this would be hard for you.’ She reached for his hand as they stared at the large headstone. It was big for such a tiny grave.
Taylor squeezed her hand. ‘Maybe we could go to Mum’s next?’
‘Of course, Tay.’ She gave him a smile before letting his hand go and stepping towards Becky’s grave. There was a little vase at the base, incorporated into the headstone. Jaz put in the flower and said a silent hello. How much different would their life be if Becky had lived? There were enough people dying from disease and medical conditions, let alone from man-made deaths like drugs and gang wars. Jaz hoped that her message inside the flower would some how be the start of something amazing. Something to be proud of and something that would help many others. She couldn’t save Becky from her fate, or Taylor’s mum, but she could certainly try her best to save others.
‘See you next time, Becky. I’ll be back,’ she said before turning to Taylor. ‘Come on, let’s go visit your mum.’
Chapter 7
It was Tuesday afternoon and school was nearly over for another day. Jaz lent her arm on her desk and flinched as her grazed elbow connected with it. Damn skateboard. She much preferred fighting; bruises didn’t bleed and scab.
Jaz had been toying with the idea of texting Marcus, not wanting to leave it too long in case he forgot her, when she felt her phone vibrate in class. They were supposed to be using the last ten minutes to finish their essay but Jaz couldn’t concentrate. Luckily her teacher was working back through her notes, so while her head was down she slipped her phone out of her pocket and read her message.
I’m hoping you haven’t lost my lucky shirt?
Jaz felt a grin spread across her face as she realised it was Marcus. He may be her target but she found herself keen to catch up with him again.
With a glance at her teacher, she typed out a reply.
What lucky shirt? Do I know you?
She waited half a second before sending another message.
Haha just kidding. Can you afford the ransom price???
Depends what it is? Where r u now?
At school for the next few minutes.
<
br /> Me too. What class?
English. ZZZZ
LOL Better than calculus. Wanna meet & talk terms of ransom price?
The siren went, and Jaz hurried to stash her things away in her bag and rush out the door with her classmates, like fish escaping a torn net. Jaz leaned against a wall, as students filtered out the hallway to the exit, to continue texting.
Sure, why not.
Cottesloe Arch Monument, it’s by the car park. Meet you in 20? I’ll bring coffee.
Sweet.
‘Why are you smiling like that?’
Jaz glanced up to see Anna and Ricky standing in front of her. They were holding hands, but Ricky was standing back, trying to be invisible.
‘Hi Ricky,’ she said, in her nicest voice. He nodded and half waved back. Was he scared of her? Her reputation wasn’t that bad. Was it?
‘Was that Ryan?’ Anna asked.
‘Um, no. I wish.’ Jaz’s smile fell from her lips.
‘Oh sorry. I didn’t mean to remind you. I’m going home to Ricky’s place. What are you doing now?’ said Anna.
‘I’m going to go to The Ring, as usual.’ Jaz wasn’t ready to mention Marcus yet. Maybe she wouldn’t have to. For now, Jaz wanted to keep it quiet for as long as possible. Things would only get harder when they collided.
‘Okay. Hey, is Tay alright? He hasn’t been replying to my texts.’
‘Yeah, as far as I know. He’s playing basketball with the guys this arvo so he’s probably just preoccupied.’ But Jaz realised he hadn’t replied to any of hers today either.
‘That must be it,’ said Anna as she turned back to Ricky. ‘ See ya, Jaz.’
‘Catch ya tomorrow.’ Anna and Ricky headed to the bus stop, hand in hand.
Jaz checked her watch, a big silver dial on a leather band. Twenty minutes was not long enough to dump her schoolbag at home, change and get to Cottesloe. She’d just have to go as is. Jaz went around the corner to wait for a different bus on the other side of the road and hoped it wasn’t late.
Twenty-five mintues later she found Marcus standing by the large pine tree beside the arch monument with two coffees in his hand. She nearly didn’t recognise him in his school uniform.
‘Hey, sorry I’m late. Bus,’ she said rolling her eyes.
They stood looking at each other for a moment. ‘Glad you made it,’ he said eventually. ‘You look different in uniform.’
‘You too. Scotch College, I see.’ Jaz tugged on his maroon tie with the gold and blue stripe. He also wore a white shirt and school pants. It was weird seeing him like this, and he probably thought the same about her white shirt, black tie and checked skirt.
‘Yep. Saint Christian’s?’ he asked as he handed her a coffee.
She nodded. ‘Thanks.’
‘Come, let’s sit down on the stairs near the beach.’ They walked down a path that sloped towards the ocean. It was quiet here, not like further up the street where the Life Saving Club and the shops of Cottesloe begun. The only thing opposite them here was the small car park and the golf course. It was also overcast, so not many were out enjoying the beach.
Marcus stopped about halfway down the steps and sat on some rocks just off to the side. Jaz put her bag down beside her and joined him, drawing her legs up together. The sand clung to her black tights.
‘I don’t suppose you have my shirt with you?’ he asked with a raised eyebrow.
‘No, sorry. You’re out of luck.’ She laughed.
‘At this point, I don’t think so.’
Jaz quickly took a sip of her coffee as she felt her cheeks grow warm. She glanced at his hair, which was pulled back into a ponytail at the base of his neck. A few long strands had fallen free and moved across his face in the afternoon breeze coming offshore. It was a beautiful spot and the rhythmic sound of the waves over the rocks nearby had a soothing effect on her.
Jaz had pulled her ponytail out on the bus, letting her hair fall down around her shoulders like a sea of black silk. Hopefully he liked long hair.
‘I’m glad you came today, Jaz,’ said Marcus.
‘Me too. I’d do anything for a free coffee.’ She laughed as she tucked her hair behind her ear. ‘So what’s it like going to Scotch with only boys?’
‘Boring,’ he said. ‘Mixed would be heaps better. You would have to fend the guys off at your school, right?’
Jaz almost choked on her coffee. Marcus patted her on the back as she coughed. ‘Oh, you are way off,’ she said. ‘I scare them all.’
‘Get out of here.’
‘No, it’s true.’
‘Don’t believe it for a second.’ He smiled and Jaz felt the honesty in his eyes.
‘What about you?’ Jaz wanted to change the subject. ‘Which one of these houses is yours?’ she said with a wave to the opposite site of the road.
‘Why? You plan on visiting me?’
‘I have to drop your shirt off somewhere. Or maybe I could just post it?’ Marcus was shaking his head before she could finish.
‘No,’ he said seriously. A pink flush appeared on his cheeks. ‘I was thinking you could hand it over on Saturday, over lunch?’
‘Were you now?’ Marcus was a flirt but he wasn’t over the top, more cheeky and fun. It felt nice to have someone’s attention.
‘So, are you free on Saturday?’
‘Maybe,’ she said coyly.
‘You don’t give much away, do you?’ He tilted his head as he studied her.
They chatted for nearly an hour, everything from school subjects, sports, movies. Marcus would be great boyfriend material, if his parents weren’t possible drug runners. Sadly, she couldn’t have Ryan either because they were both on the same spy team. Life was never easy.
‘You fence, really? Like with swords? That’s different,’ he said.
‘Our school has a fencing team. I like different things. I do martial arts as well.’
‘Ah, that explains your abs.’
‘And yours are from surfing?’ she said, gesturing to the expanse of ocean in front of them. ‘Or skateboarding? I tried doing that flip thing you did on mine and it’s not as easy as it seems.’
Marcus raised his eyebrows and his dimple reappeared. ‘You have a board? Sweet. You’ll have to bring it on Saturday and I’ll show you a few things. I surf as well. Hard not to when you wake up to this every morning.’
‘Yeah, rub it in, why don’t you.’ Jaz rolled up the sleeve on her right arm and showed Marcus her graze. ‘Maybe you could show me how NOT to stack it on a skateboard.’
His hand reached out and caressed her arm gently. ‘Ouch. That’s a good one.’
Jaz didn’t pull away from him. Instead, she enjoyed his warm touch. She didn’t have to pretend. She was enjoying Marcus’s company. Jaz shivered, the breeze off the ocean had turned cold without her realising. The salty air carried the freshness of the approaching night.
‘You’re cold.’ He pulled his hand away reluctantly. ‘Can I drive you home? I take it you don’t have a car, seeing as you took the bus here.’
Jaz pulled her sleeve down and nodded. ‘I’m in the process of saving for one. Hopefully I can get one soon. Mum’s decided to actually help me get something decent. She’s worried I’ll be stranded on the freeway or some seedy suburb with engine trouble. My friend has a classic Mustang and I’d love to get something like that, but Mum will want something more reliable and modern.’
‘Mustang. Nice. A guy friend?’ he asked curiously.
‘Yeah. My best mate Taylor. Him, Anna and I have been best friends since we were kids.’ Marcus seemed pleased with her answer.
‘Come on, my car is just up here. It’s no Mustang, though.’ He stood up and held out his hand. Jaz took it and he hauled her up to her feet, and then he reached for her bag and slung it over his shoulder.
‘Thanks.’ Jaz brushed off the sand, took one last look at the beautiful beach and walked back up the steps to the car park by the road.
She heard the beep of a car unloc
king and then saw the lights on the sleek black BMW in front of her. ‘That’s your car?’ It had dark tint and big shiny rims. Jaz loved it.
‘Kind of.’
Marcus put her bag in the back and they got in. The leather seats hugged her body.
‘It’s my dad’s car, well, one of them. He’s always in his Jag, so I get to use this one.’
‘It’s cool. My folks don’t appreciate a good car. I guess Taylor has rubbed off on us girls,’ she said with a laugh.
As he started the car, Imagine Dragons Radioactive blared through the speakers. ‘Shit, sorry.’ He turned the volume down and then pulled out of the car park and headed away from Cottesloe. ‘That’s my house there,’ he said pointing to the two-storey with the big fence.
‘Fancy,’ she said, trying to look as if it’s the first time she’d checked out his house.
‘So where to?’
Jaz mind began to spin. Should she let him know her address? If she was supposed to get close to him, become his girlfriend, then he’d expect her to share things like where she lived. He’d want to meet Taylor and Anna, her parents. This thought scared her. Maybe she should have gone with a fake name.
She watched Marcus driving. It was hard to believe he could hurt her, especially when he seemed so normal and nice. Better than nice, even.
Jaz gave him directions to her house and actually felt a little sad when he pulled up out the front.
Marcus whistled. ‘Not bad digs, Jaz. Which room’s yours?’ he said teasingly.
‘Ha, as if I would share that with you. I’ll run up and get your shirt while you’re here?’ she said, and went to leave but he grabbed her hand.
‘No, leave it. Bring it on Saturday. That way I know you have to turn up.’
‘Marcus, you don’t have to worry. I turned up today, didn’t I?’ She gave him a big smile as he let her go. ‘Besides, I really need some skateboard lessons.’
‘Maybe we could swap and you could show me some of your moves?’ He lifted his hands into a karate chop pose. ‘I only know The Karate Kid moves,’ he said with a smirk. He started to move his hands in circles. ‘Wax on, wax off.’
