Lunch is right after computer class, but I’d waited, pretending to eat my lunch, while the school cleared. Only when I hadn’t seen anyone for a good while did I come here. I keep thinking about the time my cousin Kelly was caught sneaking around with a Miller boy. After the screaming slowed, she’d been shipped off to boarding school and he went to the mines in Emerald. Most of the mob stopped talking to Kelly, like she was some kind of traitor. Being cut off from family is a fate worse than death. My thoughts are making my paranoia worse so when Sam walks around the corner, I jump a few centimetres off the ground.

Sam takes one look at me and doubles over, laughing silently. I’m so shame, but I giggle nervously. ‘Shut up, it’s not funny! If anyone sees us …’ I let it hang for a second. ‘I know we’re not … friends, but I need your help.’

He shakes his head. ‘About Laney, you said. What I can’t figure is how you think I can help?’

I get all uncomfortable, but this is for Laney.

‘I need to talk to Ma … your Aunty May.’

Sam’s face stiffens. He knows what I almost said.

‘Why?’ He could’ve cut me with the sharpness in his voice. ‘You don’t think she had anythin to do with—’

‘No!’ Wincing at my too-loud reply. ‘No way, not that, I swear. But I heard … well, that maybe somethin happened to er … like with Laney.’

His expression becomes glacial as Sam stares me down. I can’t keep my eyes on his face, and my hands are shaking so hard I have to twist my fingers together.

‘I wouldn’t bother er, but Laney …’

I take a peek and realise I’m looking at Sam’s back. Intense anger and shame fill me. Hard to know how I could’ve stuffed that up any more.

At least no one will wonder why he hates me so much after this. Shaking my head to push away the tears I walk back around the toilet block and come face to face with Bobbie. She swings her eyes from mine to Sam’s retreating figure as he heads past the Big Building. By the time her head swings back to me her mouth has dropped open and I watch the shock turn into glee. I am so busted and there is no way she’ll keep her mouth shut, but I have to try. Grabbing her by the arm I haul her into the girls’ toilets. She is grinning at me as I swing to face her, hands on hips, ready to battle.

‘How long’s that been goin on?’ she asks.

‘It’s not! And you better not tell anyone or I swear—’

‘Get it straight, cuz, either you got nuthin goin or nuthin to hide, which is it?’

She has me there.