Friendship on Fire (24 page)

We tried the main street again. I saw someone trying to back out of a park and screamed at Nate to get that one. He laughed, and told me to relax as he put on his indicator.

‘Sorry,' I smiled sheepishly.

‘It's OK, it's cute. You found us a park, Greeny,' he said, using my new nickname, and kissed my forehead while we waited.

‘Which restaurant are we going to?' I asked, excited because we were going out alone.

Nate shook his head. ‘Not a chance. Surprise only.'

I sighed. He squeezed my hand.

He led me around in circles for a while before I promised to let him lead and stop asking questions. Nate stopped us under a sign that was coloured red, green and white.
Portobello's,
it said.

‘Ahh. Italian. I like,' I said, nodding in approval.

‘Good, let's get our table then.'

We were seated upstairs in a booth, reserved for couples. It was a beautiful restaurant, boasting thick honey oak tables and brush box flooring, with leather couches for the booths in the corners. They played classical music and left a rose on the table for our date.

Nate ordered our entrees and mains and held my hand in his the whole time we waited for our food.

‘So, Daisy Renae,' he began, ‘what pets do you have or have you had?'

‘Ahh, well, at the moment, none. But in the past, we've had a few cats and dogs. Our pets die unfortunate, premature deaths. We are unlucky with animals,' I said. ‘But, I'd love a kitten.

‘Next question. Are you ready?' he asked, his brown eyes dancing with mystery in the candlelight.

‘Give me all you've got,' I challenged, and leant in to kiss his full lips before he asked.

‘Silver or gold?'

I eyed him quizzically, but played along. ‘Silver, it suits my skin tone better. Gold is so … Mum,' I laughed.

‘Fair enough. So what do you see yourself doing in ten years?' he asked, drawing circles on my upper thigh again. My head went cloudy as I raced ahead in my mind ten years.

‘Work for a few years, get married, have a kid maybe by then … hopefully squeeze in some travelling. What about you?' I asked, throwing it back on to him.

He thought for a few seconds. ‘Really don't know, hey. A lot of it depends on my parents' situation.'

‘What do you mean?' I frowned.

‘Well, they wouldn't be able to afford me going to uni if the company ever crashes. I might have to pay for myself and it will delay the process a while,' he said calmly.

‘OK, keep going,' I said.

‘Secondly, if they divorce, I'll have a chance to look at other options. Dad might want to keep working as head of the company because he becomes a workaholic when he's stressed, and I can live with Mum and not have the pressure of becoming what my dad wants me to be.' A sad hope blazed in his eyes.

‘That would change things for your ten year prediction, definitely. You don't think they will divorce, do you?'

‘Probably. They don't get along, Daisy. Not since I can remember. I need to accept it sooner rather than later and make my own plans.'

I read his face and changed the subject.

‘On the bright side, our good friend Skye has been making rumours up about me once again. She reckons suss stories are getting around Grammar about you and me. I'm not entirely sure what that means, but it's all bull.'

His eyes dropped as he thought about a response.

‘Nate?' I asked, alarm rising in my throat.

He recovered quickly. ‘Of course it's not true.
We
know that. But my friends can be dicks sometimes. They spread stuff about me to piss me off. Everyone knows they are making it up, so you have nothing to worry about. It's a boy thing.'

‘Right. And they are your best friends? That's not cool,' I said, questioning my eagerness to meet these people.

‘I know, Daisy. Let me handle it,' he said quietly.

‘Fine. Something else, too. Skye seems to think we are a lot more serious than we are. Have you agreed about that?'

‘No way. I don't talk to anyone about us. Tiffany is probably feeding her lies — you remember her? The one keen on your friend Roman?' My back rose in defence of Roman, but Nate didn't notice.

‘Honestly, don't waste your time worrying about them. They're jealous.'

I sighed at the repetition of Skye's supposed jealousy. ‘I guess so.' I didn't want to push it with Nate because of his stressful personal situation, and I believed him over Skye, so I let it slide.

‘Hey,' he said softly, tipping my chin up. ‘You are more important to me than any of them, so let's focus on having a good time here and now, OK?'

He was right.

‘Yep.'

March
Dear Diary,
So sorry it's been a while since I wrote last. I've been flat out with dates with Nate, assignments and balancing work with life. It's been pretty hectic and I've barely had time to scratch myself, let alone sit down and pour out my thoughts. So much has happened since I started school already; some positive, and some really negative, like the stuff with Skye and the Grammar girls. I feel like I'm in for a steep learning curve this year, but I'm not sure if I can handle it. What if I'm not strong enough to deal with what comes my way? I'm so little still. OK, I'm nearly 18, but that's little in my eyes. I won't be able to have adults solve my problems for much longer and I'm scared of making mistakes that could cost me parts of myself. Does that make sense? Sorry if it doesn't. 

Dais xx

‘Yeah, and?'

‘They are coming to dinner tonight with the family. Can you remind Roman at school today, please?' she asked, kissing me on my ear and racing out the front door.

‘Yep,' I called after her. I had to make it up to Lyn after snobbing her off the last two times I saw her. She must think I'm a strange child.

Roman's dad, Jordan, is ultra loud and has a booming laugh.

He is friendly, jolly and confident. Lyn is sweet and kind, and very laid back. It will be good to see them properly.

I knew Nate wanted to see his mum and sister again this weekend, so he couldn't come to the dinner. Not that I would have asked him in all likelihood; it could become awkward very quickly having Nate and Roman in the same room, both with the same reason for attending; me.

In English I nudged Roman and whispered to him, ‘Remember, you are coming to my place tonight.'

Roman looked surprised yet interested and lifted his eyebrows while staring blankly at me. Because Mr Andrews was talking, we couldn't do much more.

‘Is this something we've talked about before?' he whispered in my ear. The heat from his breath filled my neck with goose bumps.

‘What?'

‘You know.'

‘No, I don't, but it's news to me, too,' I said, frowning at him.

‘What sorts of things will we be doing? Like, what's the plan?'

I whispered back. ‘Um. Stuff. What do you think?'

‘So, why are we doing it? If you didn't know about it either?' he asked, now as confused as I was.

‘I thought it would be nice to have you over. If you don't think so, don't bother,' I whispered hotly.

Roman got annoyed, too. ‘I didn't say it wouldn't be a nice idea. I didn't see it coming. Let a man get his head around something would you.'

‘Your parents should have told you by now. Do they forget they have a son?' I whispered sarcastically.

‘How do they know?' he frowned, a disturbed element weaving its way into his mouth.

‘Oh my goodness. How do they know they have a son?'

‘No, how do they know they are coming as well? Wouldn't that be
awkward?
‘ His whisper turned into a squeak, his eyes trying desperately to show me the meaning in them.

‘Roman, stop.' I rubbed my forehead in frustration. ‘My mum has invited you and your parents over for dinner tonight and they clearly didn't tell you like they were s'posed to, hence our current dilemma,' I said, spreading my hands wide.

Roman smirked with surprise at our misunderstanding and Mr Andrews stopped what he was saying to glare at us. He put his hands on his hips.

‘Do I have to stop you two from sitting together? In year twelve? Don't make me do it,' he warned.

‘No sir, Roman talks to himself sometimes. He will get over it soon, promise,' I said seriously.

Roman kicked my leg under the table. I grinned back.

Not wanting to risk getting caught talking again, he picked up his pen and wrote sideways on my notebook, 
I'll get you back.