So Much to Learn by Jessie L. Star Read Free Book Online Page A

is
that," Jack agreed, but he didn't look too happy about it.
    Something
wasn't quite right. Jack looked ridiculously uneasy and I could’ve
sworn he was lying about something. He was fidgeting something
shocking and I’d just opened my mouth to ask him what was wrong,
when the door burst open and Matt appeared, still holding the
phone.
    "Your turn
Hammer and, for God’s sake, don't ask her about Professor Clarence,
I already hate the man."
    Jack grinned
and took the phone. "Mrs D! How are you?" He began, his voice
fairly dripping with affection. His face was transformed from being
creased with worry to open happiness. Seeing him so cheerful made
some of the tension in my body melt away and I smiled fondly as he
wandered out of the room, listening intently to my mother's prattle
in a way I'd never seen anyone else manage to do.
    I was brought
sharply down to Earth, however, as it was my brother's turn to
close Jack's door in preparation for a confrontation. "Anything you
want to tell me, Natalia?" He asked sardonically and I sighed
loudly.
    "Don't call me
that. But yes, I broke up with Brad yesterday. And I'm sorry you
found out like you did, but if you sit down and behave nicely I'll
tell you all about it."
    He rolled his
eyes and I could tell he wasn't really angry just a bit hurt. Of
course, due to masculine pride, he couldn't really express that. He
brushed a sweep of hair out of his face, instead, and glowered at
me. "I'm not going to like this story much, am I?" He asked very
perceptively.
    Shaking my head I led him over to the bed where we both sat
down and I proceeded to tell him everything that had happened the
day before. Actually, scrap that, I didn't tell him everything . The bit where
I forced his best friend to become my teacher in matters of the
physical I left out for obvious reasons. I felt a hard little knot
forming in my stomach as I lied by omission. Damn my closeness with
my brother! Lots of people I know have no qualms at all about lying
left, right and centre to their siblings.
    By the end of
the story his fists were clenched, just as Jack's had been when I'd
talked to him about it, and I was suddenly thankful that I hadn't
told him earlier because he probably wouldn't have stopped at
throwing Brad against the wall.
    "You should
have told me before," he said tightly and I gave him a quick
one-armed hug in apology and then bounced off the bed.
    "Come on, let's
join the others," I said to distract him from his anger. It seemed
to work as he followed me without complaint back into the living
area to see that Jack was still on the phone over in the kitchen.
Micky, Tommo and Samsa, meanwhile were still sprawled comfortably
on the couch and armchairs, completely oblivious to the emotional
upheaval going on around them.
    Tommo had been
friends with Jack and Matt since grade eight and the three of them
had met the twins Micky and Samsa in the first year of uni. Tommo
was my favourite of the boys; I’d even had a major crush on him for
about six months in grade 10. Thankfully I got over that and nobody
except Simone knew about it. See, sometimes it is good that boys
are oblivious! Tom is Maori and, although he was born in Australia,
it’s fun to tease him about the faint New Zealand accent he
inherited from his parents. He has a shaved head, which he swears
lends him an aerodynamic advantage on the footy oval, dark brown
eyes and a penchant for tattoos. Maori symbols circle his upper
arms and are present across his shoulder blades in that greeny ink
that looks so good against dark skin. I may have moved past my
crush, but there was still no denying the boy was fine!
    Micky and Samsa
are twins, but not identical. Micky hates me and the feeling is
entirely mutual. He once told me that when the boys were hanging
out they didn't need 'no f-ing chicks hanging around.' Misogynist
to the max that one. Despite his nasty personality Micky plays the
guitar beautifully, even I couldn’t deny it. Both him and Samsa