Page 65 of Even Ground

Reece: You wouldn’t do that to me.

Me: Probably not. I have to cook my dinner now. Talk to you later.

It’s not easy to ignore the phone while I peel the potatoes and put some sausages in the oven. Even when it buzzes again after I’ve left it there.

But my stomach no longer gurgles, instead grumbling. And when everything’s cooking away, I return to the table and pick up the phone.

Reece: Just wanted to make sure you were okay. If you’re responding I know you’re alive. Talk soon.

I smile and save his number into my phone. God knows if I’ll hear from him again, but it can’t hurt to have his contact details—just in case of an emergency.

I’m not sure what kind of emergency I’d have to contact him for, but that’s what I tell myself as I put the phone back down.

Makes perfect sense to me.

14

Pania

The past three weeks have been a fairy tale, but as my alarm blares in the morning, I come down to earth with a bang.

I rub my face with my palms, trying to wake myself up.

Maybe a cool shower will help.

Yawning as I climb out of bed, I then make my way to the bathroom and turn on the shower before adjusting the heat a little.

Ten minutes later, I’m refreshed and wide awake.

I scrape some butter and Marmite onto toast and wolf it down before making my way out to the car. If I don’t get to my favourite parking spot early enough, it’ll be gone. It’s bad enough that I then have to catch a bus into the city, but city carparking is ridiculous, and I like the freedom of having my car nearby.

It would be a great idea if it weren’t for the fact that so many other people do the same thing, and the quiet little side street I found last term fills pretty quickly, so I can’t afford to run late.

An hour later, I walk into the building and take my seat in my class. Back when I started taking an interest in fashion, Judith Brookes was at the top of her game. She had stores throughout the country, and while not quite cracking the international scene, there were some stores in Australia.

Very exclusive, very expensive, and everything my teenage-heart desired.

When I had an inkling that Delaney would want to go to Josh in LA, I looked at my options, and my heart leapt when I saw Judith was teaching fashion design. A few years ago, her business tanked and most of her stores closed, but she still has one in Auckland.

Now looking up, I see her glaring right at me. She reminds me of Edna Mode in The Incredibles, only blonde and with a ton of red lipstick.

“Miss Wilson. It’s so good of you to join us today.”

The venom is dripping in Judith’s tone. I knew she’d be pissy with me missing a couple of days class, but most of my time away was Easter followed by the holidays. So overall, I haven’t really missed much.

“I’m glad to be back.”

“Congratulations.”

I swear she spits the word out as if it’s an insult. She’s well known for her frosty demeanour, but she’s going real ice queen on me now.

“I’m not sure—”

She smiles, but it’s so fake I’m half expecting her face to crack. “Your name is in all the magazines this week.” Holding one up with Delaney and Josh on the cover, she flicks through some pages.

The penny drops. It’s something I knew would happen, but I was so invested on seeing my best friend marrying the love of her life, I’d pushed it to the back of my mind. Of course Delaney told people who made her dress. I’m so grateful to her, but right now I’m thinking I could have done without it.

“Thank you.”

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