waiting out the front when Piper left the store at seven thirty.
“Spend the day with me,” Katie said. Piper looked at her in confusion.
“Come again,” Piper said.
“Come to Bundaberg next week,” Katie said. “Give me one last chance to prove that this is not just in my head.”
“Why should I?” she asked. “I’m already in a relationship.”
“If by the end of the day you can look me in the eye and tell me that you don’t feel anything for me, I’ll leave you alone,” Katie said. Piper hesitated, the thought of not seeing Katie again was appealing, but Piper wasn’t sure that she wanted to spend a day alone with Katie to achieve it.
“One day, one day only and then you’ll leave me alone.” Piper said as she adjusted the strap of the bag on her shoulder before turning and walking away. As she walked home Piper prayed that she hadn’t just made the biggest mistake of her life.
Katie pulled up outside the house at eight o’clock on Saturday to pick Piper up. Aside from exchanging hellos, the two girls did not say anything to each other until they pulled into the car park at Sugarland, one of the two shopping centres in Bundaberg.
“What do you want to do?” Katie asked. Piper sat for a few minutes, trying to think of the most public thing there was to do for people their age.
“Let’s go ten pin bowling,” she said.
“Ten pin bowling it is,” Katie said as she started the car up and reversed out of the space for the short ride to the bowling alley.
“Are you any good?” Katie asked as they waited for their lane to be free.
“Not really,” Piper said. “I’ve only been bowling a couple of times.”
“I’m not much good either,” Katie said as she noticed the lane was now free. Piper tested the weight of the bowling balls as Katie typed their names into the computer. “You’re first.” Katie went over to get herself a bowling ball as Piper lined up her ball. She pulled her arm back and then swung it forward, letting the ball go as she did.
“Strike,” Piper called to Katie as she walked back to the seats and sat down. Katie watched in disbelief as the ball knocked all the pins over.
“I thought you said you’d only been bowling a couple of times,” Katie said and Piper grinned.
“I have,” she said. “But I’m also freakishly good.”
“You played me?” Katie asked. Piper nodded in response.
“Don’t feel bad,” she said. “You’re not the only one who’s been suckered.”
“Why do I get the feeling this is going to be a long day?” Katie asked.
“Because it is,” Piper said with another smile. Katie sighed and walked up to the line for her turn.
Katie pulled into the driveway of Piper’s house at eight o’clock that night; she cut the engine and stared ahead. Piper knew what Katie was waiting for and took a deep breath before turning to look at her.
“Katie,” she said.
“Yes?” Katie asked without looking at her.
“Look at me,” Piper said. Katie turned to look at Piper who swallowed before speaking.
“I don’t feel anything for you,” she said. “I think we should just be friends.”
“Friends it is,” Katie agreed. Once inside her house, Piper sat in the chair beside the door in shock. She found it hard to believe that Katie had given up so easily without any attempt to change her mind. As Katie pulled out of the driveway Piper pulled her phone out and typed a message.
What, no fight? No argument?
She stared into space as she waited. It wasn’t long before Katie replied.
I told you if you could look into my eyes and say that you felt nothing for me, I’d leave you alone. So I’m leaving you alone.
As she read the message, Piper thought that she should feel relieved but as she got to her feet she realised that felt hollow.
The days became colder as winter approached but Piper barely noticed. She saw Katie a few times when she went to Bundy with her mum but Katie would walk away before she had the chance to talk to her. Her relationship with Marcus was no longer fun, Piper pretended that she enjoyed being in his company but it was obvious things weren’t right between them. Marcus never questioned her but Piper knew that she wasn’t being fair to him.
One weekend in mid-July while Marcus was playing soccer with his friends Piper went to the movies in Bundy while her mum went shopping. Piper wanted to be anonymous and pulled the hood of her jacket up. Keeping her eyes glued to the movie screen she didn’t pay any attention to the person who walked in front of her and sat a couple of seats away. Afterwards, she couldn’t even remember what the movie was about. She folded her arms and tried not to cry, coming here had been a bad idea. She just wanted to find her mum and go home. Piper stood to leave the cinema as the lights turned on but regretted this move instantly. The person, who had come in late and had sat only two seats away from her, was Katie. Piper silently cursed her luck but it was too late to hide because Katie had noticed her.
“Piper,” Katie said. “I didn’t realise that was you.” Piper moved closer and sat in the seat beside her.
“I didn’t want to be recognised,” she said as she watched the crowd leaving. Piper sneaked a look at Katie who sat in silence.
“Are you having problems with your boyfriend?” Katie said when she realised Piper wasn’t going to say anything. Piper shrugged.
“Just the usual,” she said.
“I’m sure you’ll work it out,” Katie said. “Anyway, I should get going. My mum made me come to a movie while she went shopping but she probably wants to head home now.” As Katie walked away, Piper realised that she didn’t want Katie to go. All the emotions that she had been holding back for the past few months suddenly filled her. Looking around to make sure that they were alone, Piper grabbed Katie’s hand.
“Don’t leave,” she said. “Don’t leave me.” Katie turned to look at Piper, her bewildered look changing to shock as she realised what Piper meant.
“What about Marcus?” Katie asked.
“Marcus who?” Piper giggled. Katie barely had time to laugh before Piper pulled her close and kissed her.
The next month was the best of Piper’s life. She started spending every spare minute she had with Katie. She knew she wasn’t being fair to Marcus by cheating on him but she didn’t know how to break the news to him. He wasn’t an idiot though. Piper knew he was beginning to get suspicious about her blowing him off all the time.
“I have to do something about Marcus,” Piper said to Katie one Saturday. It was now September and Katie was spending the holidays with Piper in Gayndah. Piper’s parents had agreed to let them stay there on the condition that the house was spotless when they left.
“Break up with him,” Katie said. She’d suggested this every time Piper brought the subject of Marcus up. Piper wasn’t sure if she was serious or not.
“And tell him what?” Piper said. “That I’m in love with a girl?” Katie put the magazine she’d been reading aside.
“That’s why you won’t dump him?” she asked. “Because you’re afraid he’ll tell everyone that you’re gay.” Piper turned away.
“I never said that,” she said as she felt the heat rise in her cheeks. Katie crawled on her hands and knees over to Piper. She leaned down to whisper in her ear.
“Why do you care what other people think?” she asked. “It’s your life, live it.” Piper didn’t talk she just stared at the ceiling. Katie sighed and flopped down beside Piper.
“I’m scared,” Piper said, barely loud enough for Katie to hear.
“What did I tell you about that?” Katie asked. Piper turned to look at Katie.
“It’s ok to be scared,” she replied.
“Whenever you feel ready, I’ll be there,” she said, her hair brushing Piper’s forehead as she closed the distance between them. While they were kissing Katie thought she heard someone coming up the stairs but she didn’t want to break the kiss. Neither Piper nor Katie would have
ever thought that Marcus would open the door. Katie sprang back, but not fast enough because the look on Marcus’ face told her that he’d seen everything.
“Marcus, wait up!” Piper called as she chased him down the street. Halfway down the block she caught up with him, he spun around as she grabbed his arm. He yanked his arm away and stared at her, his face emotionless.
“How long?” was all he said. Piper looked at the ground.
“Two and a half months,” she said expecting Marcus to start shouting at her but he didn’t he just shook with shock/rage.
“Is that why you haven’t been hanging out with me?” he asked. She nodded. “I suspected you might have another boyfriend. That’s why I came over this afternoon but I could never have imagined what I saw.”
“I never meant for this to happen,” Piper cried. “I never meant to hurt you.” Marcus laughed but it was a bitter laugh.
“Well, guess what,” he said. “You hurt me anyway.”
“I’m sorry,” she said but Marcus wasn’t listening. He was muttering to himself.
“I can’t be the guy who was dumped for a chick,” he said.
“It’s not your fault,” Piper said. Marcus rolled his eyes.
“That’s not what everyone at school is going to think,” he said. “So here’s the deal. You have two choices. Stay with me and no one will ever find out your secret. Or you can dump me and everyone will know by tomorrow afternoon.” Piper stared at the ground.
“Can I have time to think about it?” she asked. Marcus looked at his watch.
“You have