Frankie and Joely Read Online Free

whoever she likes. She smiles as she steps up to Mack and Thommo, ready now to be part of whatever this summer is going to be.
    â€˜Can I take your bag?’ says the taller one.
    â€˜No thanks,’ says Frankie. ‘I’m fine.’
    â€˜That’s Mack,’ says Joely.
    Frankie looks up. Mack isn’t just tall, he’s broad. His shoulders are thick and strong, like a Mack Truck, and Frankie wonders if Mack’s his nickname. Her eyes settle on his face. The rest of him feels too big for her to take in. His eyes are a dirty-blue and his skin looks like the dust has settled on it and he’s given up trying to keep it clean. He’s handsome, Frankie thinks. But the way he stares at her without talking makes her uncomfortable. Then she notices a tiny smudge of freckles across his nose and cheeks, like the freckles that Joely hates so much and, suddenly, Frankie isn’t scared of him anymore.
    â€˜Hi Mack,’ she says in her sweetest voice.
    â€˜Hi Frankie.’ Mack’s glad he wore his best blue singlet to meet the train. He’s pretty sure it brings out the colour of his eyes. Wanting the first impression to be a good one, he moves his shoulders back and tries to stand even taller. Poor Thommo. He didn’t even have a shower this morning, and Mack’s pretty sure Thommo slept in the shorts he’s wearing. There’s no way his little brother looks his best. Besides, Mack knows girls never go for red hair.
    Mack edges forward a bit. He wasn’t expecting this girl. He can’t quite work out how Frankie could be a friend of Joely’s. It just doesn’t fit. Not that there’s anything wrong with Joely, but compared to the girl who is standing in front of him, it’s like Joely’s from another universe. Within seconds, Mack decides she might be a good way to make Anna jealous, and he smiles.
    â€˜And that’s Thommo,’ says Joely.
    â€˜Hi Thommo,’ says Frankie.
    â€˜Yeah, um, hi,’ says Thommo.
    Frankie smiles, wondering how long it will take her to crack Thommo. He’s nearly as tall as Mack and his hair is bright, carroty red. She only got a glimpse of his green-grey eyes before he looked away at his feet, but she can see the freckles on his skin. They are thick like he’s been flicked with spots of dirt. His arms have threads of muscles, but he’s not like his older brother. Not as big and not as male. He’s nothing to be afraid of.
    â€˜And this is my best friend, Frankie,’ says Joely. It always surprises Frankie to hear those words. It’s not something she’s ever had said about her before meeting Joely. Hearing it now makes Frankie feel like she’s being claimed. And she’s not sure how she feels about that.
    â€˜Hi again,’ says Frankie.
    Joely grabs Frankie’s hand and starts leading her out of the station. ‘We might walk through town and get the bus back.’
    â€˜Righto,’ says Thommo.
    â€˜You could come with us on the bikes,’ says Mack.
    Joely laughs. ‘I’ve seen you ride. No way.’
    Frankie turns her head to watch the cousins walk to their bikes. She wonders if they’ll look back at her. As they climb on, Mack looks up, and then so does Thommo. Pleased, she waves, wanting them to know that she isn’t unfriendly. Then she lets Joely drag her across the narrow road towards town.

Chapter 4
    â€˜So this is the town,’ says Joely.
    â€˜One street?’ asks Frankie. A dry breath catches in her throat like the asthmatic gasps that plagued her when she was young. How was she going to cope with this heat for a week? How does anyone actually do anything here?
    â€˜Well, sort of. There’s a few other council buildings and the primary school, but pretty much all the shops and stuff are here,’ says Joely, randomly waving her hand.
    The town is even smaller than Frankie expected. It’s really just a line, a