“Mind if we sit?” Trinity asks.
I nod, wondering what’s going to happen. Is this some elaborate prank?
They all sit down, and Imogen leans over. “How are you finding Easton Grammar so far?”
“Er. Okay.”
Kennedy smiles. “You’re lying, aren’t you?”
I close my textbooks to have something to do. “No.”
The girls look at me.
“It’s different,” I say.
“Where are you from?” Trinity asks.
I tell them the basic story but leave all the details out. From the western suburbs of Sydney. Moved because of my family. I know changing schools in Year 12 is weird. I couldn’t help it. Easton Grammar is pretty. Easton as a town is small compared to the city.
“Cool,” Trinity says when I’m finished.
I nod, and fiddle with my exercise book.
“You’re freaked out,” Zaina says in her tiny, soft voice.
“What?” I say, more sharply than I mean to.
“That we came over and talked to you,” Zaina continues, answering her friends’ questioning looks. “I know the feeling; when I first moved to this school, I got freaked out by how…friendly everyone is. It made me a little nervous.”
Apart from what happened at lunchtime yesterday, and everything to do with Jasper, people have been strangely friendly. Many people have introduced themselves, and teachers seem eager to be helpful.
“You moved schools?” I ask.
“In Year 10. I used to go to the local public school, and everyone there would ignore the new kid.”
I let out a soft chuckle. “Same for my old school.”
“Well,” Imogen says, bringing her hands together. “Our school prides itself on being a friendly community.”
Kennedy fixes me with a stare and asks, “why are you sitting here by yourself? Did the school give you a buddy or anything?”
“They did.”
The four girls wait for an answer.
“Jasper Harvey. But, um… he’s…”
I’m about to say “too busy” because even if I’m still pissed at him for this morning, and everything else, I’m not petty enough to talk badly about him behind his back, but then Trinity interrupts me.
“God, you don’t have to finish that sentence, we already know.”
“You won’t find anyone with a bigger ego,” Imogen says with a giggle.
“Er. Don’t you work with him? As school captains or whatever.”
“That’s how we know,” Trinity says, widening her eyes. “Jasper is…okay, maybe we’re being harsh,” she says to Imogen. “He’s…an interesting guy.”
“He’s not awful,” Imogen says.
