Girl Saves Boy Read Online Free Page A

‘Yeah. You know I can’t hang around here all day, Dad.’ I didn’t look at him as I spoke.
    ‘Sacha.’ Dad sighed. He massaged his temples. ‘You’re sick. Again. We need to figure out what we’re going to do. We need to talk about this. You’re going back into hospital in a couple of weeks, and you’re not going to be able to keep up with your schoolwork.’
    I gulped back a handful of painkillers and the glass of water. I put the glass in the sink and turned to Dad. ‘Why are you being like this?’
    ‘What do you mean?’ he replied. It looked as if new lines had appeared on his forehead overnight.
    ‘Why are you suddenly so concerned?’
    ‘You have cancer, Sach,’ he said. ‘It’s kind of a big deal.’
    ‘I know,’ I snapped. ‘Of course I know. I remember being sick. I know I’m sick now. But why are you being like this? You’ve been emotionally detached my whole life—off with the fairies, painting and crap, never even noticing half of what’s going on around you. You didn’t even notice when Mum was dying. But now you’re so concerned about me? Where did this come from? Why are you being like this ?’ I glared at him.
    ‘It’s just you and me, now, okay? We’re going to work everything out,’ he said, looking down at the Vegemite jar. ‘Helen’s death was a tragedy, I know and I’m sorry, but now we need to sort this out.’
    I shook my head and swallowed. ‘I can’t believe this. You killed her, you realise that? Now you suddenly want to talk?’ I spluttered.
    ‘You’re being ridiculous,’ Dad said. He crossed his arms and leant against the fridge.
    ‘I have to go to school,’ I said, leaving the room to grab my schoolbag.
    ‘Ignoring this won’t make it go away, Sacha!’ Dad yelled.
    ‘Worked pretty well for you when Mum was dying!’ I yelled back.
    He didn’t kill Mum literally, but I couldn’t help but blame him.
    He’d always been so distant, so lost in his own world, that he hadn’t noticed the changes in her. The changes she had made, I think, so that he would notice. The changes that went too far.
    I hated myself for not seeing it coming either.
    Now that I was sick again—the leukaemia back and worse than ever—he noticed. He wanted to help. I just wanted it all to end.
    I wished he’d helped Mum. I wished we’d helped her.
    True caught me by the sleeve of my school jumper as soon as I left homeroom, and spun me around.
    I looked up at her. ‘I don’t appreciate being manhandled.’
    ‘It was Jewel Valentine, right?’ she said, pulling me clear of the doorway to stop me from being trampled.
    ‘You know what I don’t get?’ I asked. ‘Why people ask you a question when they know the answer already.’
    True sighed and readjusted the clasp in her hair. ‘You drive me nuts.’
    ‘In an I-want-to-rip-off-your-clothes kind of way or…’
    ‘I went to the school registrar and guess what? Jewel Valentine’s starting school here today, and she’s in the same Art class as you.’
    My eyes widened. ‘The office lady told you that? I’m surprised. Last time someone asked her to give them someone else’s timetable she read us this whole thing on the privacy act.’
    ‘ Us ?’
    ‘Little Al and me. He tried to get your schedule when he was fourteen. Can’t remember why, but I’m sure Al can…And I can’t help thinking you’re able to hypnotise people into giving you what you want.’ I shifted my books in my arms. Why did they have to make them so heavy? Couldn’t the people who wrote them have been more concise?
    ‘Everyone likes me around here.’ True shrugged. ‘Except the students. But I don’t like them either, so it doesn’t bother me.’
    ‘Then why so fascinated by Jewel Valentine?’ I asked. It felt strange to say her name. Like I was betraying some kind of secret between us—she had, after all, left before the ambulance arrived. I needn’t have told anybody about her. So why did I?
    ‘Don’t you want to meet her in a