families visited Noosa. Georgia and Ella didn’t really have that much in common, but Ella’s friendship was particularly useful at times like these.
‘Why would he like me?’ Georgia asked. She wasn’t looking for a compliment; she was genuinely interested.
‘Why wouldn’t he? You’re so cute,’ Ella said.
‘Yeah, I like your hair long,’ Mei added. ‘I used to think you were a supergeek. But you’re looking pretty hot these days. In fact, go and sit at the other end of the beach. You’re making me look ugly.’
It was the sort of backhanded compliment that Mei was good at. Her soft Eurasian features and petite stature completely mis-represented her brusque, direct nature. With two straight-talking lawyers for parents, Mei had no chance of being anything else.
‘Remember the time your sister cut that big chunk out of your hair and you had to cut it all really short?’ Mei reminisced. ‘You looked like such a potato head. Skinny arms and legs and a big head.’
‘I was seven when I had that Mr Potato Head haircut,’ Georgia reminded them. ‘Everyone had a bad haircut when they were seven.’
‘Yours was much worse,’ Mei insisted. ‘My mum would have sued if someone gave me a haircut that bad.’
Georgia left the haircut and moved on. She wanted to get back to the guy with green eyes. She needed to know if she had a chance. Short of consulting a clairvoyant, Ella was the next best thing.
‘What do you think I should do? Do you think I’ll ever see him again?’
It was meant as a question for Ella. But Alice, who had obviously been eavesdropping, decided to answer.
‘It’s him!’ she shouted, dropping her iPod and jumping to her feet, pointing.
Georgia’s heart thumped as she followed her sister’s gaze. Hot Running Guy was on the beach!
Then Alice laughed and Georgia saw she was pointing to an old guy with a saggy butt and a hairy back. ‘It’s your new boyfriend!’ Alice shrieked. ‘What a couple. I think he bought his togs at the same place you did.’
‘Very funny,’ Georgia said, slumping with disappointment.
Alice walked towards the water, imitating the guy with the saggy backside, and then turned around to blow Georgia a kiss.
Georgia blew one back sarcastically, but inside she was aching. ‘I’m never going to see him again, am I?’ she sighed.
‘Just ignore Alice,’ Mei said.
‘Of course you’ll see him again,’ Ella added.
‘How?’ Georgia asked desperately.
‘Think about it,’ Ella said. ‘If he’s a runner, then he’ll be out at the same time every morning, won’t he? Just go out running at the same time and you’re bound to bump into him. And next time, say something more than just oh .’
Georgia rolled her eyes. ‘Something like, Oh, you’re so hot ?’
‘That’s worked for me,’ Mei said.
Ella laughed and winked. ‘I think you’ll make a great couple.’ ‘Why do you say that?’ Georgia asked.
‘You’re eighteen, Georgia. Normal people sleep in until midday on holiday. They don’t run around the national park at daybreak. If this guy was doing that too, I’d say he’s just as obsessed as you. You’re clearly made for each other.’
Ella had a point. Georgia’s obsession had driven her across thousands of kilometres of cross-country terrain, through mud and cowpats, gravel and sand, through the pain of sprained ankles, hamstring injuries and grazed shins, all the way to state championships. But while she was flogging herself outside or locked away with her textbooks, Georgia had missed out on the crucial social and romantic skills that other girls had obviously been honing. It wasn’t that she was opposed to boyfriends – she just didn’t know where to start. Luckily, Ella was always ready to share her skills in that area and loved nothing more than a romantic project.
‘Do you really think I’ll see him again?’ Georgia asked again, probably a bit pathetically. ‘What if he’s only here for a few days? He
Martha Stewart Living Magazine