They’d tried this one on me and Laney before. The guidance counsellor is a nice guy, but over-worked. He always seems to be rushing somewhere. Probably because he’s responsible for visiting all the schools in the district and he only has a day, or sometimes half, in each place.

‘Thanks for worryin about me, Sir, and Miss, but Laney’ll be back soon so it won’t matter.’

Both of them perk up in their seats and I can almost see them mentally dialling the number to the cop shop. Mrs Clay beat her whipped hubby to the punch.

‘Oh? Do you know where your sister is then?’

‘No, Miss.’ And it’s not like I’d tell you anyway. ‘But Laney’d never leave without tellin me.’

The two eye each other, their condescending thoughts practically leaping across the desk. The bell blasts and Mrs Clay and I jump. Mr Clay doesn’t move; he’s gotten used to it being right outside his window.

‘Well, that’s lunchtime, go ahead and join your friends, Stacey.’

Again they do the condescending eye-dance thing, and I roll mine as soon as I have my back to them. We all know I have no friends here.

Day 1, Afternoon

Day 1, Afternoon

Heading up to the port rack, I grab my lunch and some books before we’re all chased off the verandah. They don’t let us up there during lunches because they say we can’t be trusted not to steal from each other. Sitting in the high schoolers’ lunch area under the Big Building, I start scoffing the sandwich Mum has thrown together. Normally I ignore lunch in summer – it’s too damn hot to eat during the day – but who’d pass up a bacon sandwich? At least it’s cooler under here with all the concrete, polished to a shine from epic handball wars. I can see a few of the primary schoolers hanging out in little groups over in their area, but most have already eaten and are off to the playground on the other side of the primary school building. A lot of the older kids have lunch passes so they head home or down to the shops to get their food.

I try not to think about the office. It isn’t that I don’t have friends or family in the school, but my best friends are all gone now, either to boarding schools or off working somewhere. I get on with most of the others when Cassie isn’t around, but I’m not close with anyone except Laney. I have no trust for sheep who blindly follow bullies. Laney and I can go out for lunch too, but in the middle of summer it isn’t worth being in the heat for that long. Lately, though, Laney has been going out to spend them with Troy.

So much for not thinking about it.