All This Could End Read Online Free PDF

issues.
    She has already decided on option two. To endure the next four months, she just needs to manipulate other people’s perceptions of her. This is easy during a bank robbery but at school, without the benefit of a balaclava and a gun, it can be more difficult. More nuanced.
    So far she’s had a good run in schools—managed to evade bullies, hang around the fringes of large friendship groups, and spend plenty of time in the library, trying not to appear like someone worth taunting.
    There are things that are the same at every school: the principal who endlessly praises the school; the uniform (always too bright, too stiff, and usually itchy); the bubbly girl who either self-appoints or is appointed as Nina’s buddy (but quickly deserts her in favour of more interesting lunchtime companions); legions of kids who all look the same and whose friendship-group pecking orders are dictated by the alphabetical order of their surnames; roll-call being done in Homeroom and the teacher calling out ‘Pretty, Nina’, and everyone turning and looking at Nina and appraising her prettiness (or lack thereof) with a lack of subtlety only teenagers possess. The checklist could go on.
    The principal of Evandale College is elderly and rotund. She looks more like a librarian than a principal. Her first name is Caroline, and she lets the students address her as Caro. She’s sort of manic and praises her school endlessly, but she’s pleasant enough. No doubt it helps that Nina’s father is working at the school.
    ‘Let’s find you a buddy, someone to look after you.’ Caro opens the door of her office and ushers Nina into the hall. Every time someone is nice to her, Nina suspects a conspiracy. Caro, however, does not seem the type to be an undercover cop.
    Walking past at a swift clip is a short, plump girl, her hair a dark, stick-straight bob. She wears thick, winged eyeliner and a much-shortened school dress, and has a takeaway coffee in her hand. She is very tanned.
    ‘Bridie McGregor,’ says Caro, in a voice that demands attention.
    The girl freezes and turns around.
    ‘This is Nina,’ says Caro. ‘Nina, this is Bridie. She’s one of our brightest.’
    Bridie beams. ‘Hello!’ She is unusually cheery.
    ‘Nina’s a new student in your Homeroom,’ says Caro. ‘I was wondering if you’d be her buddy for the day—give her a tour, make sure she settles in.’
    ‘I’d love to,’ says Bridie. ‘I’m just off to Homeroom now.’
    ‘Wonderful,’ says Caro. She steeples her fingers and taps them against each other like Mr Burns when he says ‘Excellent’. ‘I hope that’s not caffeine, Bridie. I don’t want you getting addicted to substances.’ She winks; she’s joking. She has to be, thinks Nina. ‘Have fun, Nina. Come visit me if you need anything. I’m always in my office.’ With that she disappears back inside.
    Bridie starts talking, very fast: ‘The Caro has always been a big fan of buddies. In Prep we got a Grade Six buddy; in Year Seven we got a Year Twelve buddy. On every camp every student in the school ever goes on, they get a buddy. I have had a number of buddies, but I’m yet to actually understand what the term buddy means. I’m thinking it’s something like “a person you are obliged to spend time with and be nice to because a teacher told you to”. I’m totally a nice person anyway, don’t worry.’
    ‘That’s good to know.’
    ‘Still, I can’t believe she told you to have fun,’ says Bridie, staring at the now-closed door to Caro’s office. ‘I bet she sits in there watching YouTube videos of cats on skateboards all day and forgets this is a school.’
    Nina smiles.
    ‘She tried to retire about five years ago. They got this young bloke in as principal and it just wasn’t the same. It lasted all of two days before everyone demanded she come back. I never found out her surname until last year,’ Bridie says.
    ‘What is her surname?’
    ‘Robinson. Terribly mundane. “The