Chapters (34)
- Author biography
- Title page
- Dedication
- Prologue
- The Day Of
- The Night Of
- Day 1, Daylight
- Day 1, Afternoon
- Day 1, Twilight
- Day 1, Night
- Day 1, Midnight
- Day 2, Daylight
- Day 2, Afternoon
- Day 2, Twilight
- Day 2, Night
- Day 2, Midnight
- Day 3, Daylight
- Day 3, Afternoon
- Day 3, Twilight
- Day 3, Night
- Day 3, Midnight
- Day 4, Daylight
- Day 4, Afternoon
- Day 4, Twilight
- Day 4, Midnight
- Day 5, Daylight
- Day 5, Afternoon
- Day 5, Twilight
- Day 5, Night
- Day 6, Daylight
- A Few Days Later
- Author’s Note
- Acknowledgements
- Imprint page
Finally Bobbie nods, wrenching herself out of my hold. Walking out of the toilets she never looks back. I slump back, fighting my emotions. I will find my sister, but knowing Bobbie can’t help herself, that threat will only last for so long. I have a week, tops.
Day 2, Afternoon
Day 2, Afternoon
I power-walk home. It’s still way too hot to sprint. I find the house empty and my heart drops to the floor. I do as much thumping around as I can. No one is home to tell me to be quiet. The home phone is on forward to one of the great-aunties who never moves far from her house. The place is so damn silent it starts to feel like someone has died. I fling my port into the corner of my room and take a cold shower to get off the coat of sweat. Only the cold tap is on, and still it’s lukewarm from the sun. As soon as I climb out I am covered in sweat again, but it’s worth it for that little bit of relief. I pull on a pair of shorts and a tank top, and shove my hair into a cap to try to keep the moisture in as long as possible. I grab my Discman, my favourite CD and storm to the front door.
I am still pissed at all of them and I’m all set for a dramatic exit when guilt hits. Mum will freak if she gets home and I’m not here. I huff my way back into the kitchen. There’s always a notepad on top of the fridge for groceries and messages. I pull it down and scribble a quick note.
Gone to reservoir – T. She won’t get any love hearts or hugs today.
The entire afternoon has been filled with Sam’s and Bobbie’s accusing stares. I’m too frustrated to think straight so I’ll go to my thinking spot and try to sort it out. Walking out into the 4pm sun the heat is intense. I plug my headphones in and stride off to the beat of Tupac’s Greatest Hits. Laney got it for me for Christmas, mostly because she wanted to listen to it. She got the biggest shock when I wouldn’t share it with her.
I round the corner onto Reservoir Road just as Tupac is rapping about a poor girl named Brenda. I walked off a lot of anger, sweating it out on the way; that and the song has me feeling wrung out and sad. My shoulders loosen up a little. Laney always gives me shit for coming up here.
‘Why would you want to sit at that ugly old place? Isn’t it borin?’
‘Unlike some people I don’t mind my own company.’
‘You wouldn’t catch me up there; it’s creepy!’