Gracie Faltrain Gets it Right (Finally) Read Online Free PDF Page B

on her own.’
    â€˜That’s what Kally said but she doesn’t know Gracie like I do. She didn’t help because it was my cousin sinking out there.’
    â€˜Do you and Faltrain even remember why you started fighting in the first place?’
    â€˜She pushed me off the swing in kindergarten.’
    It sounds so stupid that even she laughs. ‘I don’t want to talk about Faltrain. I want a break. For good.’ I feel guilty but I need to say it aloud. ‘Don’t tell anyone.’
    â€˜I won’t,’ Annabelle says, and I trust her. She never told anyone about the kiss and there must have been plenty of times when she wanted to throw it in Faltrain’s face.
    â€˜How was your trip?’ she asks.
    â€˜I only came back because I ran out of money.’
    â€˜Aren’t you starting uni this year?’
    â€˜I’m deferring.’ I don’t plan on telling anyone about failing. ‘Did you see the comet?’ I ask to change the subject.
    She nods. ‘Mum and I drove to the country over summer to move the last of Kally’s things to the city. We hiked into this rainforest after dark so we could see the glow-worms. They were all along the rocks, these little dots of light. They looked like stars. After we walked back out the comet was clear in the sky.’
    It takes me by surprise how much I like the way she talks. When she’s not firing comebacks at Faltrain her voice is quiet and full of things I haven’t seen before. Listening to her is like waiting for that ocean to come into view. ‘You know a bit about astronomy, huh?’
    â€˜My dad always said, “With a last name like Orion, you have a responsibility.”’
    â€˜I guess so.’ If I was Joe he’d be saying something impressive right about now. He makes picking up girls look easy. ‘You need to relax,’ he said. ‘Girls like to laugh. That look on your face makes them cry, mate.’
    â€˜So, I’ll see you around?’ Annabelle stands before I’ve thought of something else to say.
    She starts her car and I watch her back lights disappear. ‘That’d be good.’ Perfect. Tell her that now, after she’s gone. At this rate I won’t see any action till I’m fifty. ‘Try sixty,’ I imagine Joe saying. ‘And mate, that’s if you’re lucky.’

7
GRACIE
    I lie in bed and try not to think about the look on Martin’s face when he dumped me. ‘Gracie, can I come in?’ Mum’s voice floats through the darkness.
    â€˜I’m sleeping.’
    â€˜We could sleep-talk, then.’ The door lets in light from the hallway. Her face has the soft look it gets when she’s worried. She wants things to be the way they were but they can’t because we’ve been fighting all summer about soccer and school. There’s a brick wall shaped like a ball in the middle of us and we have to yell over the top to be heard. You can’t yell for months and then decide one day to walk around and have a conversation.
    â€˜What happened with Martin this afternoon? You didn’t come out for dinner.’
    â€˜He came over to say hi, that’s all.’
    She doesn’t believe me. She watches like I’m a toaster. If she waits long enough what happened today will pop. ‘Mum,I’m fine. I need to get a good night’s sleep before state trials tomorrow.’
    She waits a little longer. I look at the door. ‘Well, I’ll let you sleep. Remember the deal, Gracie. I’ll drive you to trials and Dad will pick you up after.’
    â€˜Can’t I have a quick kick with the guys to see how they went?’
    â€˜You can find out on Monday.’
    I keep my voice low so I don’t wake anyone. ‘You’re getting bent out of shape over nothing. School soccer means training Monday and Wednesday nights and one game on Saturday. I can handle that.’
    â€˜I’m