I knew the week was going to be another write-off. I knew that I’d be caught in a panic, worried if Dad and Caitlin were going to bust me for not letting them know that Mum had lost her licence, for not happily announcing to them that my Mum is a drunk screw up. But I didn’t know what to do – Mum had asked me not to say anything.

CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 12

I stashed the clothes that I wanted to wear at Caroline’s party into my bag and then jumped in the car with Dad. It was autumn now and starting to get cold, so I threw a scarf around my neck.

As we travelled to Caroline’s, Dad said, ‘It’s good to see that you’re spending time with your new schoolmates.’

‘Yeah, well, what else am I going to do? My real friends are on the other side of the planet.’

Dad was silent for a moment. Then he asked, ‘Should I come in and say hi to Caroline’s parents?’

Her parents were away for the weekend and there was no way Dad would let me stay if he knew, so I needed to think quick. ‘Nah, Caroline messaged to tell me to come around the back because her parents are out shopping.’

When we arrived, I gave Dad a kiss on the cheek before stepping out of the car. He drove off, giving me a wave and a smile. As I walked towards Caroline’s house, all I could hear was music blaring flat out – Jimi Hendrix.

I walked around to the backyard and found Caroline sitting on a banana chair, painting her toenails, a glass of wine next to her.

‘Hey Pheebs, how’s it going?’

‘Yeah, good,’ I said, admiring the vineyard, with the vines changing a different colour to the last time I was there. Beyond the pool, the massive fire pit was smouldering away.

‘It’s a glorious day, isn’t it?’ Caroline said, shielding her eyes from the sun as she looked up at me.

I looked back across the vineyard and thought about how it seemed sunny but a little too cold for autumn. When I looked back at Caroline I could tell that she’d already had a few drinks or maybe she was stoned. Her eyes were glassy.

‘You haven’t really seen this place in the daytime, right?’ she said.

‘Nah,’ I answered. ‘It’s really cool.’

‘Yeah, I’m pretty lucky, huh? We’ve lived here since I was born.’

‘I’d been at my old home in the city since I was born, too.’

‘Leaving must’ve sucked,’ she said, screwing the lid back on the nail polish. ‘Do you want a drink?’

‘Sure,’ I said, although I wasn’t really sure if I was ready to drink alcohol.

‘Just go inside and grab a wine glass, there’s some on the kitchen bench.’