Beautiful Monster Read Free Page B

blame on one crew member not pulling their weight. And Tess knows they all think it’s her.
    â€˜About this morning,’ he begins.
    â€˜No Dad.’ She turns to look out the window. ‘Just don’t, okay.’
    â€˜Okay.’ He stares through the windshield. They’re in their street now. ‘But she’s okay, you know. She’ll be fine.’
    Tess tries not to hear him.
    Her mother is dressed immaculately. She sits at the table, reading the morning paper. She glances up as they walk in. ‘How was training, love?’ she asks, getting up to pour a coffee from the percolator.
    â€˜Good, Mum,’ Tess says warily. ‘I’m going for a shower.’
    â€˜Right, I’ll make you breakfast. Eggs?’
    â€˜No thanks.’ Tess is ripping her top off as she walks up the staircase. ‘Cereal will do.’
    In the shower she watches the water trickle over her body. Is her stomach getting fatter? It seems so unfair with all the training she’s been doing. She’s never been a big eater; maybe she was before Dad took over the cooking—but that life was so far away, she can barely remember it. Ned has warned her about the high calorie content of the Maccas burgers she tucks in to occasionally. But, as she reminds him, it is only occasionally. Surely a body that works as hard as hers is allowed the odd treat or two? Towelling herself dry, she grabs her inner thigh. It jiggles unattractively. What the hell is going on? She’s meant to be a lithe and mean fighting machine. Instead she is this wobbly, flabby pudding.
    â€˜Breakfast,’ her mum calls as she comes down the stairs ready for school. Tess looks at the clock.
    â€˜Too late, Mum. I gotta go.’ Her mother looks crushed, but Tess can’t help it. ‘Just give me the toast. I’ll eat it on the way.’
    The toast is still in her hand as she walks to school from the bus stop. She needs to step up her pace or she’ll be late for home room, and Mr Allen has been threatening her with infringements all week. She only needs one more and then it’s an after-school detention, which will mean missing their last training before the meet. She can’t afford that. If she misses training and they lose—what then? It will all be her fault.
    Ned is up ahead. She wishes she could be like him—never caring about anything, least of all being late for class. He senses she’s there, as he always does, and his attention makes her heart leap.
    â€˜Hey, princess, how was training?’
    â€˜Shit,’ she says, glancing around. She would give him a quick kiss, but someone might see. ‘Debbie rode my ass as usual.’
    â€˜You need to tell her she’s a big-mouthed bitch. Which is why she shouts the orders and doesn’t row the boat,’ he says.
    She nods. She’s heard this speech from Ned a hundred times before. Those who can’t pull an oar bark an order. He totally hates laziness.
    â€˜She is,’ she agrees, ‘a bitch.’ They walk along in silence for a while. ‘Ned?’ she ventures finally.
    â€˜Yeah?’
    â€˜Do you think I’m getting...’ She searches for the right word, but what’s the point with Ned? He’ll tell her the truth. ‘Fat?’
    He laughs and she feels his hand cupping her stomach. She pulls back, repulsed.
    â€˜I wouldn’t say fat.’
    â€˜I’m fatter than I was,’ she says angrily.
    He sighs as she hauls her schoolbag higher up her shoulder, defensive now. ‘Fatter than when you were thirteen, yes. But face it, Tess, you’re fifteen now. All girls change shape, it’s normal.’
    She can’t look at him. She’s humiliated and they walk along silently, Ned oblivious to the damage he’s caused. He’s always like that, so forthright and honest—with an honesty that’s like corporal punishment. But he knows her so well. He’s been her