Page 34 of Plight
“Can I have your autographplease, Chris?”
I looked up from where I was standing behind the counter and noticed Chris by the entrance to the merchandise store. He’d barely even entered before a customer swooped, wanting his scribble on their playing guernsey. My mouth curled into an obnoxious smile. Chris loved when he was fan’d upon. It made him feel special. Adored. Famous.
“You certainly can, mate.” He took the young kid’s marker and removed the lid with his teeth. “Spin around,” he mumbled, helping the kid position the giant white number eleven on his back for him to sign.
Now shaking my head with amusement, I returned my attention to the membership hoodie order I was placing. It was approaching midday on Friday, and I was eagerly counting down the minutes to the weekend while simultaneously dreading them. Tonight was the night I would have to up the ante of my non-existent engagement to Elliot for the sole purpose of upping the freakin’ ante. Ugh. I had absolutely no idea why I agreed to accompany him to the gala. In fact, I had absolutely no idea how he managed to persuade me into doing all the shit that he somehow got me to do. Which wasn’t exactly a new occurrence, considering he’d done it when we were younger as well. The tree climbing. The long-distance bike riding. The storm drain hideout games … they’d all been instigated by Elliot.
Part of me wondered if he still blamed himself for us nearly drowning. He’d been his own judge, jury, and executioner in the weeks that had followed, to the point of not speaking to me. I’d been scared, remorse-ridden, and wallowing in my own guilt from terrifying my mother … and myself, for that matter. But, most of all, I’d been lonely. The only other person who’d understood what I’d been through, and who I could’ve freely talked to about it all, was Elliot, and he’d withdrawn.
At first, I’d thought Elliot blamed me for it all, because that was the only logical explanation for his avoidance. But I’d soon learned through the Chinese whispers of Mum and Helen that he was punishing himself for us being in the drain system in the first place.
Silly, selfless, sweet, Lots.
“Earth to Dani,” Chris said, as he stepped up to the counter. “You in there?” He lightly knocked on my head.
I swatted his hand away. “Yes. What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be in Adelaide?”
“Bus leaves in a few minutes. Just thought I’d poke my head in and remind you that the plumber is comin’ over at 7:00 p.m. You don’t need to be home. I just know how you are about Pugly and visitors.”
“Shit! Is that tonight?” I covered my mouth with my hand and quickly pondered a solution, realising it could actually be a blessing in disguise. It was the perfect excuse to get out of accompanying Elliot to the gala.
“Yeah. Why? What’s the problem?”
“Ah, nothing. It’s fine. It’s perfect.”
He leaned over the counter and helped himself to one of my Minties. “What are you up to?”
“Nothing. I had plans tonight, plans that were planned for me. Now I can get out of them.”
“If you smile any wider your face will rip.”
“Will not.”
He stole another Mintie. “So what plans are you ditching?”
“None of your business.”
“They involve pretty boy geek, don’t they?”
I rolled my eyes and bent down, pretending to look for something in a cupboard under the counter.
“He likes you.”
“Thanks, Einstein, but I know that already.”
“No, he really likes you.”
Glancing up through my lashes at him, I was just about to explain that Elliot and I were only friends and would always be only friends when one of the Assistant Coaches opened the door to the store and barked for Chris to get his annoying arse on the bus.
“Gotta go, Duck,” he said, pushing off the counter and turning around.
I stood up. “Duck? Really?”
“Yep. Really.”
“You’re so original.”
“Yep. One and only, despite what pretty boy geek says.”
