Hostage Read Online Free PDF Page B

do they think they are?’
    Nathan turned off the motor. ‘Do you want to go home?’ he asked.
    Tully frowned.
    ‘Come on,’ she said. ‘I’ve been thinking all day about this.’
    Tully pushed her fringe back out of her eyes. It was hard to see in the dim light of the skate ramp tunnel, and she swore at the batteries in her torch that had faded to nothing after only five minutes. They’d been at it for over an hour and her back was feeling cramped.
    ‘We’re gonna run out of black,’ said Nathan, shaking a spray can so that it rattled.
    ‘Then use brown. We’ve got brown, don’t we?’
    ‘It’s not the same—’
    ‘Seriously, Nate.’
    ‘Seriously, Tully. Let me see.’ He pushed Tully aside to look at the section she’d been working on. ‘Hey. Not bad.’
    ‘Sure.’
    ‘No really. It’s ... different.’
    ‘When do you think I’ll be ready to do something people are going to see?’
    ‘Umm...’
    Tully pushed Nathan’s shoulder and he jostled her back before she held up her hand.
    ‘Someone’s coming,’ she whispered.
    Nathan stuffed the cans into his backpack and Tully wiped her stained fingers on the wall behind her.
    ‘Leaving your fingerprints as evidence?’ whispered Nathan.
    ‘Shut up,’ said Tully.
    A figure appeared at the tunnel entrance, bending down to look inside.
    ‘Hello?’
    ‘Griff?’ said Nate.
    ‘Hey, Nate. Thought I saw your car. Are you coming over tonight? We’re hanging out with Damo before he leaves for the coast.’
    ‘Sure. Who’s coming?’ asked Nathan.
    ‘Just the regulars.’
    ‘You’re on. Have you booked for Schoolies?’
    Tully fiddled with her shoe as the boys talked then stole a peek at Griffin to find he was looking straight at her.
    Griffin shook his head. ‘Can’t be bothered. I’m gonna hang around here until after Christmas then see what happens.’
    Nathan nodded. ‘See you tonight, then.’
    Griffin nodded towards Tully. ‘Bring a friend if you like. See you round nine.’
    Tully waited for the boy’s footsteps to fade into the distance, then turned to Nathan.
    ‘That’s Griff,’ explained Nathan. ‘We used to hang a couple of years ago. He’s okay.’
    Tully nodded. ‘I’ve seen him before. At school and in Smith Street. Is he kicking a bad habit?’
    Nathan pulled the cans out from his backpack then selected one. He shook the can then added a dark outline to emphasise a line. ‘The only bad habit I know of was a bad zit problem, and they seem to have cleared up now. Can you pass me that can?’
    Tully handed a can over then moved back to get a better look at Nathan’s artwork. ‘That looks good. I want to take it home and hang it on my wall. Do you think Michelangelo felt that way?’
    ‘What?’
    ‘Do you think he ever wanted to take a church ceiling home with him?’
    ‘I don’t think you can compare us.’
    ‘You’re right. You’re way better.’
    ‘So did you want to come tonight? Have a farewell drink with Damo?’ asked Nathan.
    ‘Oh, yeah. That is so what I want to do.’
    ‘Hey, just asking. I thought maybe I’d ask Desi to go.
    ‘Desi!’ Tully snorted.
    ‘What?’
    ‘Nothing.’
    ‘What’s wrong with Desi?’
    ‘She’s so ... plastic, Nate. I can’t believe she’d be your type.’
    ‘So what is my type?’
    Tully shrugged. ‘Suit yourself.’
    ‘Why don’t you come? I won’t ask Desi if you come along.’
    ‘I’m busy. Maybe another time?’
    ‘I didn’t know your social calendar was so full.’
    ‘There’s a lot you don’t know about me,’ said Tully. She left the pipe tunnel and stood outside to stretch. She watched the afternoon sun wink off the windscreen of Griffin’s car as he drove out of the car park.
    Dear Tully,
    Happy birthday to the brightest six year old girl I know. I hope you got a lot of presents and finally got to the zoo with your mum. This money is to spend on whatever you want. (As long as that’s okay with your mum.)
    Maybe you could visit me one day? See