by S. K Munt
Finn knew what he was saying, and though it was awful to think that they might’ve inadvertently triggered Bailey’s ‘asshole’ switch, it was encouraging to think that this might be one of those: ‘What doesn’t kill you…’ situations for him. She’d already written a letter to Bailey, trying to absolve Reeve of any wrongdoing while apologising profusely for leading him on, but he’d never responded, and she knew she couldn’t resent him for that. It would be nice to salvage him as a friend, but in the end, it didn’t matter to her if he forgave her or not so long as he eventually forgave Reeve because although Reeve said he was fine, he’d already spent his fifteenth birthday alone because he’d been grounded and in trouble with everyone the Sunday prior, and she didn’t want that kind of loneliness to become a permanent fixture in his life the way it had in hers!
Of course, there’s always the wedding next weekend… Finn thought dreamily, imagining for the hundredth time how regal she was going to look in the ice-blue bridesmaid dress that she’d been asked to wear as part of the bridal party. Okay, every local Potential girl had been asked to be a bridesmaid too, so being picked didn’t make Finn special or anything, but it was still going to be an extra special occasion for her, because Reeve was coming as her date, and because it was happening on the eve of her sixteenth birthday too! I’ll kiss him until we both forget what loneliness is!
‘No, I didn’t dump Bailey for Reeve…’ Finn eventually responded to Georgia, while keeping her eyes on the wall. ‘But yes, I have dated them both and yes, Reeve and I are very serious now.’ She slid her eyes sideways to Georgia and narrowed them before saying: ‘Why? What’s it to you?’
Georgia’s blue eyes widened with china doll-like vacancy. ‘Nothing,’ she said, and then smiled a pursed smile. ‘I just think it’s neat. I remember Reeve from when we used to hang out with Paige, you know? And I think he’s actually a good match for you.’ Finn kept waiting for the punchline, but Georgia leaned over to rub a spot off of her polished black shoes without saying another word, which distressed Finn more than an insult would have.
What’s her angle?! Finn wondered, cringing as Georgia’s actions drew attention to how clean her shoes were compared to Finn’s scuffed old sneakers, and how tidy Georgia’s short, stubby fingernails looked next to Finn’s longer but uneven and somewhat stained ones, thanks to all the tie-dying. What’s she trying to say? That I’m a perfect match for a younger boy from the Shards, like she’s a perfect match for a potential prince or…?
But before Finn could get any clarification, the library door opened and Howard filled the frame like a mural on a wall- a six-foot wall of wiry red hair streaked with grey, a bush for a beard with a pipe in his mouth and the library’s resident cat, Penelope, nestled in his arms. He looked imposing but he wasn’t at all, so he smiled warmly when he saw Finn and then waved her through.
‘All right Miss Monroe… Penelope will see you now…’ which made both girls chuckle.
‘Good luck!’ Georgia called after her and as Finn rose to her feet and curled her shabby fingernails into her palms self-consciously, she couldn’t help but get the feeling that Georgia had found a way to psych her out anyway- by being uncharacteristically nice, which was quite possibly the most insidious thing she’d ever done to her!
*
Georgia-related anxiety aside, the interview went better than even Finn had anticipated it going, so by the time she’d popped in to see Miriam to have her second last bridesmaid dress fitting and then had started making her way to the castle gates, she’d been feeling like she had the job in the bag again and smiling an ear-to-ear grin.
‘Finn! Finn… wait up!’ a light voice cried, and Finn paused and turned, smiling when she saw Cara hurrying after her, tucking her school shirt back into her skirt. Finn couldn’t imagine what Cara was so excited about, but she was happy to stand there and watch Laidlaw Academy’s Queen Bee race after her for a change, so she waited patiently. Besides, she was completely at her leisure anyway- her mother was trying this new work party thing in Broadsound, where a bunch of Outsiders and Outskirters had volunteered to take a restored bus into Broadsound every weekend, and basically do what Finn currently did for a living on a grander scale. Secretly, Finn hated the idea of her mother sifting through rubble, but that first shift was gonna last for four days and it paid five chips a day, so even if she only did it this one time, they’d be better off for it. And it also meant that Finn had her van all to herself until Tuesday, which meant that she was planning on having a lot of long, hot showers and partaking in an unhealthy amount of reading time undisturbed. ‘I need to talk to you about something!’
‘Okay…’ Finn took the moment to repeat her new favourite ritual- slipping her arms into Reeve’s hoody, like she was wrapping herself up in one of his warm hugs. ‘Sup?’
‘You’re out of here for the rest of the weekend, right?’ Cara panted, looking around as though afraid of being overheard. ‘Like, you don’t have any other business in the castle until Monday?’
‘No,’ Finn frowned as she zipped up the jacket. ‘Why?’
‘Because I need to tell you something, and I don’t want a Harbinger overhearing it inside your brain.’ Cara grabbed Finn’s shoulders and grinned. ‘Surprise: I’m throwing you a sweet sixteenth tomorrow night!’
‘Why?’ Finn squeaked. ‘My birthday’s after the wedding!’
‘Exactly!’ Cara smiled like she was ready for her halo. ‘What you said to me at the Gala really got to me, okay? You were right- no girl should have to share their sweet sixteenth with such a big event-’
‘But-’
‘And I know your mum’s out of town for a few days-’
‘Hold on-’
‘And you said that the water tower would be perfect for a Roast ‘n’ Toast, so that’s where we’re having it! Tomorrow night at-’
‘Whoa!’ Finn held up her hands. ‘Cara, stop- I am not going to a party in my honour tomorrow night- no way! I haven’t gone to all of this trouble applying for my dream job for three weeks just to get busted doing something illegal before I can get it.’
‘Actually, it’s not illegal for someone from the Pen to have a gathering of mates outside of the castle walls before ten p.m. on a Saturday night!’ Cara pointed out brightly, which gave Finn pause because technically, that was true. ‘If it were after ten it would be a problem, and if any of us get caught it will suck because barely any of us from Laidlaw will have our parents’ written consent to leave the grounds… but it’ll be us that get in trouble if that happens, not you.’
‘Oh I won’t be getting in trouble for anything,’ Finn joked, shaking her head and walking off, ‘because I won’t be there!’
‘But I need you to come Finny!’ Cara wheedled, catching her wrist and dragging her back. ‘And what’s more- I need you to get Bailey to come too… so I can ask him to the wedding!’
Finn sighed, counting herself lucky that she’d never been naive enough to assume that a Roast ‘n’ Toast for her would be about her in any way. She wasn’t surprised that Cara was already making a play for her ex either and the truth was that she really didn’t care… but if Cara thought Finn was the key to getting in Bailey’s good graces, then she was the naive one. ‘How am I gonna do that?’ she demanded. ‘He hates me, remember? He hasn’t even spoken to me for two weeks. Three, if you count the last week of our relationship...’
‘He hates you because he’s horny, heartbroken and missing his bestie-’ Cara pointed out, striking a pose ‘-which is where I come in: ready to solve everyone’s problems!’ She grasped Finn’s hands like in prayer. ‘Come on girl! I know you’re rushing home to post Reeve a letter now anyway, so all I’m asking is that when you do, you write to Bailey too! You know he’ll read it- he won’t be able to help himself!’
‘And say what?’
‘That the hottest girl in school is ready to kiss his tears away and make him a guest of honour at the biggest event in Laidlaw’s history… and all he has to do to earn i
t is show up tomorrow night for a meet-cute!’ She grinned. ‘Naturally you’ll invite Reeve too, then, after we’ve partied for a while, Bailey and I will kiss, him and Reeve will make up, and just like that- everyone will be happy!’
Finn stared at Cara. ‘Did they lace your dress too tight or…?’
‘It’ll work Finny, I know it will! Bailey was never quite sold on me before no, but he’s on the rebound now and if there’s one thing I’m good at doing, it’s cheering up lonely boys, see? It’s like a gift.’ She waved her hand. ‘Well honestly, it’s more like a hand job but-’
‘Ew! Stop!’ Finn closed her eyes and covered her ears, but she could still hear Cara laughing. ‘I’m over him, and would be happy to set you up, but I do not need that image in my head...’
‘Sorry.’ Cara released her. ‘So… will you do it?’
Finn groaned, feeling utterly conflicted. On one hand, Cara was right- if they were in and out by ten then there was no reason why she’d get in trouble… and she really did like the idea of fixing Bailey up with a rebound fling, especially if that meant seeing Reeve that weekend in the process. But on the other hand… could she really be that girl that snuck out to parties the second her mother looked away?
‘Come on Finny…you’re one of us now, aren’t you?’ Cara wheedled then, which made Finn’s heart skip a beat with all the force of a thunderclap. ‘Because if you are, I need you on my side here- to save me from having to go to that wedding like a big dateless loser next to my perfect bloody sister!’
OMG! Finn thought, stunned. Does she mean that? Am I truly one of them now?! Finn didn’t know if she’d ever believe that, but she groaned and closed her eyes, judging herself as she relented by asking: ‘Do you promise you’ll all clear out by ten?’
‘Quarter to, on the dot!’ Cara swore, crossing herself.
‘And there’s no way Paloney will see it coming?
‘Anyone who knows is already avoiding the castle for the next twenty-four hours- which is why I waited until now to tell you.’
Finn frowned. ‘And how are you going to sneak out?’
‘I found out which Tutela Georgia bribes,’ Cara winked at her. ‘And told him that if he doesn’t let me out, I’ll sing like a canary!’
Finn grimaced, remembering the way Georgia usually smiled like the cat that ate the canary. But again, that risk was on Cara, not Finn and the way she saw it, it looked like the party was going to happen whether she was there or not, so why not invite Bailey and Reeve over for it? If they said no, she’d just stay at home, safe in the knowledge that Cara would know she’d tried. And if they said yes, well, maybe she and Reeve would just stay at home anyway- together.
‘Give me some paper,’ Finn said, holding out her hand before shooting a nervous look toward the gates. It was already almost five, which meant she had less than an hour to get to the dock. She’d started pedalling a lot faster since those girls had turned up dead though, so she didn’t doubt she’d make it, so long as she wrote fast first. ‘I’ll write Bailey and ask, but if he doesn’t respond kindly, no shooting the messenger, okay?’
‘You are the BEST!’ Cara squealed, and though Finn knew she was only being used, just the way Paige had been all those times, Finn couldn’t help but smile, thinking that it was nice to finally have some currency to trade, even if she still didn’t have a chip to spare.
*
Finn rushed down to the dock waving her letters overhead, but dropped her hand and her jaw when she saw an anxious-looking Reeve leap up at the sight of her. ‘Aah!’ Finn cried, throwing herself at him in breathing him in deeply as he buried his face in her neck. ‘You’re here! Can you stay? Are you-’
‘Sorry but no- mum thinks I’m fishing on Whitecap, so if I don’t head back with Simon and get home before dark, I’m a dead man.’ Reeve cupped her face and looked into her eyes with his troubled green ones. ‘But I needed to see you!’
‘Why?’ Finn asked. ‘Did something happen?’
‘Yes and no. It’s just…’ he leaned in and kissed her roughly, groaning against her lips before pulling back, leaving her breathless. ‘Bailey was just in fine form today and I knew I’d need a hit of nicotine if I couldn’t get a hit of Finn first so-’
‘Why?’ Finn caressed his cheek when she noticed that he was trembling again. ‘What did he do?’
Reeve grimaced and looked away. ‘He was just… talking shit you know? With his mates- about the girls he’s hooked up with...’
Finn grimaced in kind. ‘About me?’
‘Yeah,’ Reeve scowled at her, but she could tell that scowl wasn’t meant for her, but for Bailey. ‘He was saying- loudly- how you made these little sighing sounds every time he kissed you, and about how, if someone hadn’t interrupted, he would have gotten his hand up your shirt by the fire that Sunday night and-’
‘Geez...’ Finn groaned and pulled back. ‘Talk about fine form! Fictional form, too!’
Reeve bit his lip. ‘So he didn’t? Almost get his hand under-’
‘No,’ Finn frowned. ‘Firstly, I was exhaling because he didn’t let me breathe much, not sighing and secondly, we didn’t actually kiss by the fire that night, so I don’t see how it’s possible for him to think he almost got to second base without rounding first first, and thirdly… doesn’t his need to brag about such a non-event tell you how hard he’s trying to trigger one of your jealous rages?’
Reeve kissed her hard then rested his forehead against hers as he whispered: ‘Thank you.’
‘For what?’ she joked. ‘Being frigid?’
‘Yes. And for being so good with words again.’ He brightened instantly, once again stunning her with how quickly he could switch between moods. ‘Speaking of which: how did your interview go?’
‘Awesome!’ Finn grimaced, but then dug the letters she’d written for him and Bailey out of her pocket. ‘But since you’re here and in a rush, there’s something more pressing we need to talk about first…’ Finn rattled off the entire story then, and she felt her heart sink when Reeve’s expression became pinched. ‘You don’t think it will work, do you?’ she guessed when she was done.
‘Actually no, I think he’d jump at the chance to make you jealous by hooking up with one of your former bullies in front of you…’ Reeve muttered. ‘And he’d definitely come if I can con Hadley and Paige into attending too, but…’ he sighed. ‘I just don’t know how I’m gonna manage it. I have a lot of chores to do tomorrow, and I’m still technically grounded until midnight, so I-’
‘Just try okay? I totally understand if you can’t make it, and I feel like an idiot for even suggesting it….’ Finn looped her arms around his neck and smiled up at him, basking in his warmth and presence. ‘But I tell you what… deliver that message to Bailey for me and try to con him into it and as a thank you…’ she leaned in and whispered into his ear: ‘I might just let you succeed where Bailey failed- with second base, I mean.’
Reeve pulled back, looking thunderstruck. ‘Are you serious?’
‘I think so,’ Finn blushed, wrinkling her nose. ‘Is that uh, something you’d like me to be serious about?’
‘I don’t know…’ Reeve bit his lip, then lifted her hood and pulled it over her head. ‘Truth? I like the way you look in this so much, that I don’t see myself willingly unzipping it anytime soon.’
‘Really?’ Finn asked, relieved that he was as happy to take their time as she was. ‘You don’t mind waiting for things to uh, progress?’
‘Really.’ He cleared his throat. ‘But I am a guy so…’ he cupped her face and kissed her, whispering against her lips: ‘Consider me motivated. Maybe it can be an I.O.U thing for when I don’t shake like a girl at the idea of going to second with one!’
Finn giggled, then buried her face in his neck, holding him as tightly as she could while breathing him in. ‘I think I’m gonna love you forever…’ she whispered tightly, ‘is that weird?’
‘No,’ Reeve wrapped his arms around her, and she sighed when she felt
his heart thrumming against hers as he whispered: ‘That’s exactly why I’m not in a rush to do anything but kiss you Finn because I know we have forever, you know?’
And then they kissed, like they really were the last boy and girl in the world, who had all the time in the world.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Finn was a nervous wreck all night, and when she rushed down to the dock after her farm shift after lunch to receive the latest letter from Reeve for her from the barge operator, the butterflies in her stomach turned to hornets.
To my Tiny Dancer,
He said YES! Paige had to swear she’d come too, and I had to promise I wouldn’t make eye-contact with him the whole time, but he’s bored and looking to cut loose so he said as long as we treat him like the strangers we are to him now, he’ll be there.
Mum’s agreed as well, so long as it’s okay with your mother that we stay- and we have to catch the fishing boat that does runs to Laidlaw on Saturday afternoons to get there and pay for it ourselves, but I’m so excited to get to spend a whole night with you again that I don’t even care! Isn’t it awesome though? Not just that we’re going to be spending two weekends in a ROW together, but even that Bailey’s coming too! Of course I’m gonna honour his wishes by avoiding him, but what if Cara’s right and this really does fix everything? Ugh, I’m so excited I could write all day! But I have paddocks to mow so I’m gonna go… but just know that I will be counting the minutes until tonight!
Love always Your Ratbag.
P.S: I’ll meet you at your dock- Jeremy who runs the charter is a mate of my dad’s, so he said he’ll swing by the Pen after Laidlaw just for us, so see you at about quarter past five!
Finn had sunk her teeth into her lower lip and had composed a letter back right there on the dock, leaning up against the pylon he’d once pinned her to, so she’d have a firm surface to write against.
