Everything Left Unsaid Read Free Page A

stop. She forgot her blazer one day and I lent her mine, and later I hid it from Mum when she wanted to wash it because it smelt like Juliet, like her shampoo and her perfume. Like something I wanted to bury my head in forever.
    So what was I doing with Tanya? Because Juliet was with Mick, rhymes with you-know-what, because Tanya asked and she’s hot, and because Juliet has this thing about doing the opposite of what people expect her to do. Everyone either thinks we’ll end up a couple, or that we already are, but instead I have a one-way ticket to the friend zone. At least that’s what I thought, even after she broke up with Mick and my mates said she’d be on the rebound and then laughed. And I’d rather have her as a friend than nothing at all, and I thought that’s what we’d always be – until an hour ago.
    When she leant into me against that wall tonight, I wasn’t shivering from the cold. It was because of her. Because I wanted to kiss her so badly, which is what I wish I was doing right now. But instead I’m trudging around the streets looking for Tanya, because I feel bad and I want to explain. Explain what, exactly? That I just like Juliet better than her? Oh yeah, that’ll work. Maybe I can throw in how I think Juliet’s prettier than her, too, just for kicks.
    I give up after a while; it’s cold and I’m tired and Tanya has probably gone home anyway. I walk back to the party, back to my mates, and warmth – and Juliet. But the first person I see is Sam. He’s holding my phone.
    ‘Where did you disappear to?’ he asks. ‘I tried calling you and heard this ringing on the table.’ Sam tosses me my mobile.
    ‘I’ve been looking for Tanya,’ I mutter. ‘She saw me kissing Juliet and took off. I wanted to check she was okay.’
    ‘Two chicks in one night? Way to go! So are you and Juliet together now?’
    ‘Dunno, I didn’t get the chance to talk to her.’ I scan the crowd – it’s much smaller now. ‘Have you seen her?’
    ‘She left a while ago,’ Sam tells me. ‘Your phone was beeping though. Maybe she’s sent you a message?’
    I look at my phone, getting excited when I see there are two new texts. But they’re both from Tanya, telling me I’m a fucking arsehole . I reply with a single word: Sorry . I’ve always said it’s a waste of phone credit to reply with just one word, but now, that’s all I’ve got.
    I look up at Sam. ‘Hey, where are you crashing tonight?’
    ‘Here, I reckon. Too late to try and get home now, yeah?’ Sam’s right, and the lounge is taken, so I find a spot on the floor and fall asleep, using someone’s jacket as a pillow.
    • • •
    When I get home the next morning, I make my way to the kitchen, grab a bowl and pour a heap of Coco Pops. It’s warm in here and smells of coffee and burnt toast. Dad’s left the milk out on the bench again, next to his coffee maker. I run a finger along the side of the carton, just to check it’s still cold, before pouring it and finally sitting down to eat. While I’m busy shovelling them into my mouth, Mum comes in.
    ‘Afternoon, Tai.’ She makes herself a coffee and sits down at the table across from me. ‘Did you have a good time last night?’
    ‘Um. Yeah. Kind of.’
    ‘Kind of? What does “kind of” mean?’
    ‘I don’t know – it was okay, I guess.’
    ‘Tai?’ She’s giving me that Mum look, which is code for I’m Not Going Anywhere Until You Tell Me Everything. Sucker.
    ‘It was pretty good,’ I offer, then hastily cram some more cereal into my mouth. Can’t talk, Mum, I’m eating.
    ‘But . . .?’ She waits, staring at me.
    ‘Is this a comfortable silence for you?’ I ask.
    ‘Answer the question, kiddo.’
    ‘We kissed. Juliet and me. But she hasn’t sent me a text or anything since, and Tanya saw us, and now I feel bad.’
    ‘You do know how to make life difficult for yourself, don’t you, Tai?’
    ‘Thanks, Mum. That’s really helpful.’
    My brothers start screaming