I turn around to see if Dane’s gone. He looks back at the same time winks turns a corner.

Dad’s lying in bed watching TV some shitty infomercial endless talk sipping something from a plastic cup.

Stares at me. Asks: How much do you know?

TAMARA puts her earphones on. She says nothing. Just stares out.

SQUID: Exam tomorrow—you wrote the date in my diary—put a love heart in the ‘a’—who loves tests? We’re meant to study tonight. It was your idea. You said you’d cook some tea and we’d go through all the shit we need to. And I got a surprise for you too. Can’t wait to see you face.

A bell rings.

But I don’t.

PETCHALL: In my hand a piece of paper with one name on it. Tamara Brewster absent from the exam. Not like her.

Then I see her walking up the corridor.

Tamara?

Standing there shaking, trying to catch your breath that’s fast like you’ve been running.

You alright?

TAMARA: Didn’t get much sleep. Tried to get here fast. Ran. When I went to the hall they wouldn’t let me go in.

Got to do the exam, Miss. If I don’t…

PETCHALL: What’s happened, Tamara?

TAMARA: Stuff at home.

PETCHALL: What stuff?

TAMARA: Don’t want to talk about it. Shit happened. I need to do the exam, Miss.

PETCHALL: I know that, Tamara, but there are regulations.

TAMARA: Regulations?

PETCHALL: Mr Rowney won’t let you do the exam/ because you’re not in uniform.

TAMARA: Because I’m not in uniform? You got to be fucking kidding me, Miss.

PETCHALL: I’ll look in lost property—see what I can do. Wait here.

PETCHALL goes. TAMARA sits. Plays with her phone. She receives an sms.

TAMARA: sms

DANE: hey babe, wot u doing got wheels u wanna go for a drive?

sms

TAMARA: wot like right now?

sms

DANE: like when else?

TAMARA weighs things up, then smiles to herself as she leaves.

PETCHALL returns with a uniform, too late.

SQUID: Empty seat up the front in the exam—weird you not being here.

Don’t hear nothing from you after and I got such a great surprise for you too—can’t wait. I got the formal tickets—just like you asked—just like/

TAMARA: Eight weeks four days seven hours. I’ll say I didn’t know. I’ll say I didn’t realise. That it was your brother ’cause I thought he was in jail. Doesn’t feel like cheating when we meet at the park.

Him sitting in this ute opening the door for me.

DANE: Hey.

TAMARA: Hey.

They kiss.

Doesn’t feel like cheating till we stop on the road by the sea, Dane’s arms—his smile and him knowing what to do. Doesn’t feel like cheating till you ring me.

Her phone rings.

DANE: Who’s that?