The Call of the Wild (4 page)

‘Right,’ Liam said, heading towards the escalator with Jack.

‘Happy shopping,’ Jack called over his shoulder.

I opened my mouth to protest, but they’d gone.

‘Wow,’ Annabel frowned. ‘Who made them kings of the jungle? Give me a Highgrove guy any day. What is it you like about those guys, Phoebs? They’re pretty up themselves for nature nerds.’

‘They’re not normally like that,’ I said feebly as the guys disappeared towards the top floor of the mall.

‘I guess they’re pretty annoyed we’re not helping on the slushie stall,’ Kimmi said.

I felt completely deflated. ‘I’ve been in the Wild Club all year, not doing very much. And now, when I’m actually needed, I’m going to a party instead.’

Annabel gave me a hug. ‘You made the right choice. Those guys don’t deserve your help. They’re lucky we’re here at all.’

I sighed, pulling a roll of movie-night posters out of my schoolbag. ‘Come on, let’s put these up and get the paints and things. Show them we care about more than just shopping and parties.’

‘Totes,’ Kimmi said. ‘The art shop is this way.’

We linked arms and marched off down the mall, ready to prove our commitment to the Wild Club.

‘I can’t believe I thought Liam was kind of cute when I first saw him,’ Annabel said.

‘
Kind of
?’ I laughed. ‘You were practically drooling.’

‘I thought Jack was pretty sweet too,’ Kimmi added. ‘Quiet, but mysterious.’

‘They’re both really nice. But … not so much today.’

‘They’ll get over it,’ Annabel told me.

I hoped so. It really upset me to think of the guys being mad at me. Especially Liam. I’d thought we were good friends and could talk about anything. ‘I didn’t expect Liam to react
that
badly to us not going to the movie night.’

‘You know,’ Kimmi said, ‘I think Liam might be jealous that you’re going to a party with a bunch of Highgrove guys.’

I laughed. ‘Jealous? No way. Mad, yes. But jealous?’

Kimmi nodded. ‘I told you, he kept looking at you in the meeting today. Didn’t he, Annabel?’

She shrugged. ‘Didn’t really notice.’ She stopped in her tracks as something in a shop window caught her eye. ‘Hey! That dress. It’s just what I’ve been looking for!’

I sighed as Annabel disappeared into the shop, followed by Kimmi. When Annabel set her mind to something it was pretty hard to divert her. I followed my friends inside, trying not to think about what Liam would say if he could see us.

‘It’s half price!’ Annabel cried, excitedly poring over a white dress.

‘It’ll totes suit you,’ Kimmi said.

‘Have I got time to try it on?’ Annabel asked, looking at me.

I nodded. ‘Fine, but don’t be too long. We’ve got a stack of things to do before we meet up with the guys again.’

Annabel grabbed the dress and then pulled another two from the racks and tucked them under her arm. Then she found another one and handed it to me. ‘This is
so
you.’

I shook my head. I really didn’t want to meet the guys with an armful of shopping bags. But Annabel nudged me towards the fitting room, leaving me no choice but to try it on.

‘Oh, wow,’ Kimmi smiled. ‘That orange is so you. It goes perfectly with your dark hair and eyes.’

‘You’ve got to get it for the party,’ Annabel said.

I looked in the mirror, tilting my head one way and then the other. I did really like it, but there was no way I could get it. ‘It’s cute, but I can’t afford it.’

Annabel waved a hand. ‘No problem. I’ll lend you the money.’

I hesitated. Annabel always seemed to have spare cash and she had no problem sharing it with Kimmi and me. But it didn’t feel right, taking her money. I shook my head.

Annabel opened her wallet anyway, and pressed a pile of notes into my hand. ‘Go on, just get it. You’ll regret not buying it. It’s so much better than the pink top I was going to lend you.’

I stared at the money and then the dress. It really did look good. And I had some savings at home that I could use to pay Annabel back. I grinned. ‘Okay, thanks! I’ll pay you back tomorrow.’

By the time we headed back to the water feature to meet the guys, we all had new outfits and accessories for the party. But we hadn’t just been shopping. I had put up all our posters for the movie night, while Annabel had managed to get some earrings, a bag and some vouchers donated for the movie-night raffle. Kimmi had talked the art-shop owner into giving us some paints for our slushie-stall banner. The afternoon had been a great success. The guys could hardly complain about us now.

‘So how was the shopping trip?’ Liam asked as we approached.

‘What shopping?’ Annabel said, managing to sound affronted. She waved a bag at the guys. ‘These are donations for the movie-night raffle.’

‘And we’ve got paints for the slushie-stall banner,’ Kimmi said.

‘
And
we’ve put up posters all over the mall,’ I added.

The guys actually looked impressed.

‘How about you?’ I asked. ‘Any luck?’

Liam beamed. ‘Sloppy Slushie has got a mobile trailer. You know, like a caravan with a big serving counter at the front – the ones you see at fairs. We can have it for the night. No cost or anything.’

‘Way to go!’ I said excitedly, giving Liam a hug. But I pulled away quickly when I felt his body stiffen.

We stared at each other awkwardly for a moment. It looked like Liam wasn’t the hugging type. But I was glad we were friends again.

‘So,’ Liam said eventually. ‘If you guys are still keen to help out, do you want to meet up next week? Maybe Friday. Give us some last-minute help?’

‘Of course,’ I said. ‘We’ll work on the banner this week. And we can even help set up on Saturday if you want. Before we go to the party.’

‘Yeah, cool,’ Jack replied.

‘Okay,’ I said. ‘Next Friday, then.’

We agreed on a time then said goodbye. The guys took off in one direction and we headed in the other.

Mum was meeting us in the car park to give us a lift home. I was feeling good again, now that Liam and Jack seemed to have forgiven me for ditching the movie night.

‘That actually went pretty well,’ I said.

‘Mmm,’ Annabel replied, busy on her phone, as usual.

‘What’s up?’ I asked, trying to read over her shoulder.

‘Just chatting with Marco,’ she said.

Kimmi’s eyes brightened. ‘About the party?’

Annabel shook her head. ‘What are we doing tomorrow?’

‘Well,’ I said, ‘we could work on the slushie-stall banner.’

‘Then maybe we could go to a movie,’ Kimmi suggested.

‘Or …’ said Annabel, grinning. ‘We could go wakeboarding.’

‘Wakeboarding?’ I said as we walked outside to the car park. ‘When do we ever do that?’

‘Tomorrow afternoon!’ she cried. ‘Because Ryan’s dad is taking their speedboat out. And Marco has asked us to come.’

Kimmi stopped in her tracks. ‘You’re joking.’

Annabel laughed at her. ‘For real. We’re going wakeboarding.’

‘Marco invited us?’ Kimmi’s eyes were wide.

‘Well, sort of. It was more my idea and Marco made it happen. It’ll be fun!’

‘It sounds amazing,’ I said. ‘Except I can’t actually wakeboard. In fact, I’m not even sure what it is.’

‘It’s like waterskiing on a skateboard. But that’s not the point!’ said Annabel. ‘Kimmi can hang out with Marco, I can talk to Ryan, and you’ll get to meet your new
friend
Saia. He’s going too!’

Suddenly it felt like a million butterflies were on the loose in my stomach. ‘Oh my god, Annabel. You’re unbelievable!’ I squealed.

‘Just relax, don’t force it,’ Ryan shouted from the back of the speedboat.

I sat in the water, my feet strapped to the wakeboard, clinging to the end of a towrope, getting cold and frustrated. Ryan was being really sweet (and very patient), but there was no chance I could relax.

‘Okay, I’ll try one more time,’ I called back. But I was beginning to think I would never get up on the board. All I had managed so far was three face plants into the water. How embarrassing!

If I’d known it was this hard I never would have agreed to go first. The guys said I’d be able to get up, no problem – and I’d believed them. Big mistake! Now I was just making a fool of myself in front of everyone. I wondered what Saia must be thinking.

‘You right to go?’ Ryan asked.

I gave him a wave.
Ready as I’ll ever be
, I thought.

I gripped the towrope and pulled my knees to my chest, trying to remember everything I’d been told. Slowly the boat took off ahead of me. I felt the rope pulling on my arms. My legs straightened, but the board stayed behind. My body pitched forward. I was heading for another face plant, but somehow I managed to lean back far enough for the board to rise to the top of the water, skim across the surface and take my weight.
Finally.
I was up!

I glanced at the boat to see Kimmi throw her arms in the air, cheering. It looked like Annabel was taking a photo. I smiled even wider. I was wakeboarding!

By the time I looked down again, I realised that my board wasn’t running directly behind the boat – it had drifted off to the side. I could see the rough water of the boat’s wake ahead, but I couldn’t steer myself away. I ploughed straight into it. The board flew into the air and I went head-first the other way. I did a half-somersault into the water and felt water gushing up my nose. When I finally got myself the right way up, coughing and spluttering, everyone on the boat was cheering.

‘Not bad for your first go,’ Saia called, as I swam to the back of the boat. I looked at him sheepishly. It was sweet of him to say that, but I knew I was totally useless.

‘Yeah, I’m a natural,’ I said, laughing, as I climbed the ladder. ‘Naturally terrible, that is.’

Saia smiled back at me. His smile was even lovelier in real life than it was in his profile pic. ‘No, you’re pretty good. I’ve seen people take thirty goes to get up. You were up almost straightaway.’ He put out his hand to help me back onto the boat. I felt goosebumps ripple up my arm as I took his hand. It wasn’t the chilly water that was getting to me – it was definitely Saia. He was just as cute as Annabel had promised.

‘Nice work, girlfriend,’ Kimmi called as I peeled off my wetsuit. I held it out for her to put on, but she shook her head. ‘Looks way too hard for me.’

‘Go on,’ I said. ‘If I can do it, anyone can.’

But Kimmi didn’t move. ‘I’m fine right here, thanks.’

Kimmi was sitting between Annabel and Marco, looking very comfortable. Marco had his shirt off and his shades on, leaning back with his hands clasped behind his head, checking out the world with a slight sneer. Yes, he was cool. But didn’t he know it!

‘Guess it’s your turn,’ I said, handing the wetsuit to Annabel.

She giggled and complained about how cold and clingy the wetsuit was as she wriggled into it. ‘Here goes nothing,’ she said, heading for the back of the boat.

‘You’ll kill it,’ Ryan said, giving her a wink and a fist bump. Annabel flashed him a great big flirty smile before jumping over the side.

I laughed to myself. Annabel sure knew how to get what she wanted. She and Ryan had only just met, but they sure didn’t look like strangers now.

‘All set?’ Ryan called as Annabel got into position.