“When I was in primary school, I made birdhouses with my pop.”
“Really?”
“He did all the cutting and stuff. He wasn’t crazy enough to let a kid near a power saw. But I put things together and liked decorating them with windows and roof tiles. If birds were going to live there, it should at least be pretty.”
“That’s adorable,” I said.
He blushed. “I started making more elaborate stuff when I was in high school. Once I was old enough to use everything in pop’s toolshed. I was like, ‘Houses are out. The birds in my neighbourhood deserve mansions and palaces.’”
“Did you build things for other animals?”
“I made possum boxes. Pop lived on the outskirts of Sydney, with a national park in his backyard, so I have had a lot of contact with wild animals since I was a kid. I thought about studying to be a vet, but science is not really my thing. I almost failed Chemistry.”
“God, Chem was my worst subject,” I said.
After I’d thrown away all my rubbish, Leo got me to glue a print out of brick texture to slices of paper, which was easier than cutting. Later, he instructed me to glue together a few trees. He said they didn’t have to be perfect since they weren’t part of the main building, so they wouldn’t be a major factor in deciding his grade. Nonetheless, I paid careful attention to gluing together the branches to the trunk.
“Shit,” Leo said once the time clicked past midnight. “I’ve kept you here for hours.”
“It’s fine,” I said.
“But aren’t you tired?”
“Not really.” I felt relaxed but not drowsy. “Besides, you haven’t finished yet.”
“I can’t expect you to help me to the very end,” he said.
“Why not?” At his expression, I added, “You’re doing me a favour tomorrow. The least I can do is help. I’m enjoying myself. Trust me.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course. Besides, you’re good company. It’s all good, Leo.”
“Okay.” Then he smiled, so wide and sweet, and I had to look away.
7
By one forty-five in the morning, my bones started to ache the way they did when I was tired.
Leo rubbed his eyes as he opened his laptop and searched his music playlists. “I need something to wake us up.”
“Are you tired too?” I asked. “I’ve seen you drink, like, three coffees tonight.”
“I told you, I’ve built up a tolerance.” He scrolled through his playlists a moment longer, then closed the program with a sigh. “Are you sure you want to stay?”
“I told you I’m not leaving until you submit the project.”
He ran an eye over the work he’d completed so far. “I reckon I can finish in half an hour.”
“Really?”
“Yep. Once I’ve completed the model, I need to take photos and attach them to a design brief I’ve already written up. The physical model itself isn’t due until Monday because it’s more of a hassle for students to bring to school.”
I nodded and handed him the trees I had completed. It took me slightly longer than I expected because I tried my best to make them look good, but they weren’t as elegant as Leo’s card and paper building. “Is there anything else I can do?”
“That’s pretty much it, model-wise.” He nodded at his bed. “You can lie down if you need a rest.”
“If I lie down, I might fall asleep,” I said, walking over to his bed and slumping down on the bedspread. I twisted around so Iwas on my belly and propped my head up on my palm, watching Leo work.
