Page 31 of Nothing Without You

They were a motley crew, but now as they all sat with her on the stairs, asking where she had moved from and what music and bands she followed, she decided she liked them. When her mother appeared through the front door about an hour later, they were still talking and laughing. Some of the jokes Peace told, made Evie laugh so much that, for a moment, she forgot about the threatening prospect of her new life.

Her mother talked to them only briefly, thankfully leaving them to go have her breakfast and unpack some more belongings. ‘Is your mum a single mum?’ Peace asked.

Evie thought about that new concept for a moment. ‘I guess she is. My dad is in contact with us, and they’re still friends. He moved to Sydney and we came here. I’ll go and visit him once we’re settled.’

After a while Tim stood up. ‘We’re just going up the track a bit to pick up some mushrooms from old Mr Dilger. Not the drug ones; these are the actual real ones you can eat. He grows them and Mum cooks with them. Best mushrooms you’ve ever tasted.’

Sissy held out her hand, and Arlo pulled her up. ‘He also grows dragon fruit and lychees,’ Sissy said. ‘Delicious with the ice cream our mum makes.’

‘We’re going to the beach this afternoon,’ Peace said. ‘Come with us. We can swing back and get you at about two.’

Evie stood up and smiled. Not even one day had passed and she had made friends. ‘That’d be great. I love the surf.’

‘Oh, we can’t swim in the ocean at the moment. Too many stingers,’ Sissy said.

‘Blue bottles?’

‘No. Box Jelly. Tentacles this long,’ Sissy held her arms out wide, her bangles jangling together as she demonstrated the length.

‘What are Box Jelly?’

Tim put his hands on his hips. ‘The deadliest marine animal there is. They’re large, box-shaped, and have tentacles longer than me that wrap themselves around your body, causing extreme pain, paralysis, heart attack and then death. But maybe that’s a better alternative than being eaten by the large crocodiles that live around here.’

Evie could feel the colour draining from her face. At least at Stradbroke there were only sharks to worry about.

‘Don’t look so nervous. We’ll just show you around,’ Peace said. ‘We can walk along the beach. Make sure to bring your togs because we’ll take you up to the falls. There’s a rock pool further up in the hills where we swim. No crocs there and the water is beautiful.’

As she waved them off, a wave of apprehension filled her. Box Jelly, crocs, and—she swatted another mosquito on her arm—the biggest mosquitos in the world.

Her mother was pleased she had made friends. ‘They look like nice kids. Just watch yourself if they take you back to where they live though. I’ll have to ask Katrina a bit more about this commune. But, I guess you’re old enough to work out what’s okay and what’s not now. I’ll have enough to do sorting out a job and this house which, before you go anywhere, you need to help me clean.’ She looked Evie in the eye. ‘What I’m trying to say is, you’re nearly sixteen now. I’ve done what I can, and I guess your father has too. The choices are up to you now.’

She nodded. That was okay with her. The last thing she wanted was her mother telling her what she could and couldn’t do. With Dad not living with them, she would have more freedom. Now she was an adult. She could make her own decisions.

Chapter Thirty-Two

The life-changing nature of her attitude was put to the test that afternoon, as she ventured to both the beach and the rockpool with the commune group she had met earlier that morning. Between the house where she was now living and the beach, there was about a mile of thick rainforest that was crisscrossed with tracks running in every direction. Tim led the way as they followed what appeared to be the main track.

It was dim amongst the foliage, and she steered clear of the large stinging trees that Peace pointed out. ‘If you even touch one a little bit and get stung, the sting is like being burnt by hot acid and electrocuted at the same time.’ Peace stopped and looked up into the canopy. Who knew that a tree could be so dangerous, Evie thought, as she drew her arms in close. ‘Sometimes people end up in hospital, and one bloke shot himself dead after using one of the leaves to wipe his bum.’

The commune kids were full of information about the area and the people who lived there. She listened to everything they said carefully, treading warily as she followed them.

Rain from the night before made the path muddy, and she eventually took off her thongs and walked barefoot, the same as the others. This was what freedom felt like. No adults, no shoes, and no rules.

Chapter Thirty-Three

When they emerged from the path into the sunlight, the sight of the beach and sparkling ocean took her breath away. It was a different landscape from what she was used to, and because it was high tide, the sandy stretch was narrow and constricted, hemmed in by the dark green rainforest that almost touched the water’s edge. Tranquil and clear, the water gently ebbed and flowed, creating delicate ripples with small frothy crests that danced in and out.

Beyond the rainforest behind them was a line of mountains, their outline distinct against the clear blue sky. She took a deep breath and tried not to think how much Chris would love this place. ‘Forget him,’ her inner voice told her. ‘Forget everything about him’.

While they walked northwards, the others filled Evie in on interesting facts about the school and the place she was now going to call home. ‘The parties are the best,’ Sissy said. ‘Wait ‘til you hear the music. There’s a group called ‘Bong and Gang’. I sing with them at some of the local gigs. They’re the best.’

‘Sissy’s in love with the drummer, Stoner,’ Peace added, gently shoving her sister with her shoulder.

Sissy pushed her back and giggled. ‘He’s gorgeous, and he can sing. When it’s just the two of us, he writes beautiful lyrics and then he sings them for me. He writes poems on dried banana leaves, and then his brother delivers them to me. I love Stoner. He’s so cool.’ Sissy stared up at the sky and held her hands together as if she was praying. ‘It’s true love.’

‘Have you got a boyfriend?’ Peace asked Evie.

Her answer came out a bit quicker than she intended. ‘No.’

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