Nine Letters Long by J.C. Burke Read Free Book Online Page B

She’s too busy trying to be Miss Prissy Sexy Perfect.’
    â€˜But … are you fine about it?’
    â€˜Evie, I’m the one that goes on the rides you and Alex arealways too chicken to go on. Who went on the sling-shot five times at the Easter Show? Eh?’
    Evie is laughing.
    â€˜Who was the first one to do the “Questacon Drop” at the excursion to Canberra in Year 7? Hmm?’ Poppy says to her. ‘Remember the teacher said I was so fearless even fear would be afraid of me. God, what a daggy line!’
    â€˜We thought it was so cool at the time.’
    â€˜Yeah.’ Poppy laughs, rocking back on her heels. ‘Look, I’m not freaked out about it. Promise. Maybe I’m a weirdo, but what’s new? I actually thought it was kind of cool.’
    â€˜Yeah?’
    â€˜Did you figure out what the message meant?’
    â€˜Kind of.’
    â€˜Can … can you tell me?’
    â€˜It’s a bit complicated,’ Evie starts. ‘I’m not sure I –’
    â€˜Don’t worry,’ Poppy says. ‘If you can’t tell –’
    â€˜I’m just not … not sure at the moment.’
    They walk out of the library and down the stairs to the quadrangle.
    At the last step, Evie stops. A sea of girls in white blouses lounge around the benches, eating their lunch. ‘Don’t be scared,’ the voice whispers to her. ‘Remember, you’re special.’
    Poppy weaves her way around them and Evie follows, her face hidden behind her folder.
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    Evie leans against Victoria’s kitchen table while Victoria rinses a coffee plunger.
    â€˜Is your mother handling things?’ she asks Evie.
    â€˜Barely.’ Evie fiddles with the watch on her wrist. ‘She thinks I think she’s fine, so I’m not letting on. Not even to Dad, but I know she’s terrified. When they dropped me here, she looked like she was about to burst into tears. Actually, thinking about it, Dad did too.’
    â€˜They’re just concerned. It must feel very strange for them.’
    â€˜Mum was actually cross she couldn’t be here.’ Evie walks to a balcony door off the kitchen. ‘I’m not sure I could’ve … done it, if she was here. I’d be too self-conscious.’
    â€˜Well, that’s progress on her part,’ reminds Victoria. ‘She wouldn’t have done that even six months ago.’
    â€˜I know. I’m trying to remember that.’ Through the glass, Evie counts the traffic queuing at the lights. ‘Gee, the surf must be good. There are six cars with surfboards on the roof.’
    â€˜It’s unseasonably humid for October,’ Victoria says. ‘Will you have a coffee later?’
    â€˜No,’ Evie answers, sitting down at the table. ‘My heart’s racing enough.’
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    Victoria pulls out the chair next to Evie’s. Evie glances at her watch. Twelve minutes to go.
    â€˜I wouldn’t have you here if I didn’t think you could do this.’ Victoria takes her hand. ‘You know that, don’t you?’
    Evie nods.
    â€˜You don’t realise the strength you possess. When I was sixteen, I didn’t have what you have. Nothing near it.’
    â€˜I’m almost seventeen.’
    â€˜Even at twenty-one I didn’t have your … sensitivity,’ Victoria tells her. ‘So don’t be scared. Remember you’re the one running the show.’
    â€˜It’s not that I’m scared, exactly. I was scared with Athena, petrified, ’cause I didn’t understand. It was all so new. It’s … different this time.’ Evie places her hands on her chest. ‘It’s, it’s … I can’t even describe it. It’s like … I can’t breathe. And yet I can.’ Evie opens her mouth, puffing out the air. ‘See.’
    â€˜How long have you felt like this?’
    â€˜Since last week when you came