‘If I’d wanted to help you I’d ave said so at school. You shoulda taken the hint and left it alone!’

‘Since I don’t know what the fuck you’re talkin bout it’s a good thing I did!’

Even I have to admit that last sentence doesn’t make much sense, and the confusion is clear on both our faces. I’m not backing down till he does, because if there is one thing guaranteed to piss me off it’s being blamed for something I didn’t do.

For his part Sam shuts up long enough to try to puzzle that one out. He even takes another step back, which helps me feel less defensive.

‘Bullshit. You talked to her.’

‘To who? Your mum? My mum? Your imaginary friend?’

His wince stops my smart-arseness and I take a second to register the tightness around his mouth and eyes. It almost looks like he’s in pain.

Maybe it’s time to shut that big Thomson mouth and open them binangs, girl. Nan loved saying that. A mouth just like your bloody mother.

‘Look, in case you haven’t gotten the hint, I don’t know what you’re on bout. So tell me what’s going on or leave me alone, maybe before someone figures out we’re up here?’

‘Everyone knows you come up here anyway,’ Sam mumbles.

‘That just makes it worse then.’ It’d be nice to think people don’t much care what a sixteen-year-old kid is up to, but in this town they care from embryo to casket. And if they notice me then someone has probably seen Sam. ‘Shit, are you tryin to get us in trouble?’

Wind firmly out of both our sails we stand there hangdog for a minute, thinking of our fates. I can’t take it anymore so I sit down again.

‘Well, you’ve done it now so you may as well tell me what’s goin on.’ I will not feel guilty for the flogging Sam has coming. I just won’t.

I kind of expect another angry storm off so when he sighs and sits next to me I nearly fall off the boulder. I watch as he tucks his legs in tight to his chest and leans his chin on his knees. He looks out at the landscape. He’s brooding. God, teenage boys are such drama queens.

‘Aunty May asked to see you,’ he whispers.

I feel like I’ve been stung by a hornet and brace for the rest of the little buggers to come join the party. My body vibrates with the need to shake more out of him. I’m finally starting to learn to hold things in. By the end of this I’ll have to find a way to let everything pour out for fear of poisoning myself with all the bad feelings.

‘Did she? Why?’ My voice is as quiet as Sam’s.