Page 19 of Bluebird

“So, how’re things with Jake?” Marni asked, as I browsed through her music collection.

I grimaced. I still hadn’t told anyone about what he did. “Not great actually.”

She paused on a page in her trashy magazine and looked up at me from her bed.

We spent the weekend at her house, because there weren’t any parents around to annoy us. Her dad worked long hours and her mum had already left to start a new life in Melbourne.

“Oh…” she uttered quietly.

Perhaps a female friend could help me get some perspective on my boy troubles.

“He…um.” I cringed. “…kissed someone else.”

Marni’s eyes grew wide. “He told you?”

I nodded and her face paled.

“Did he say who with?” I wondered if she was fishing for more gossip.

I shrugged, not wanting to think about it. “Just some girl in the city I guess.”

She closed her magazine and lay back on her mountain of unnecessary pillows. “So, are you guys still together?”

“I don’t know. I guess so… He said she didn’t mean anything, but…”

Marni’s eyes darkened. “He said that?”

“He said he was missing me and lonely, and I guess she was just…there.”

Marni snorted. “Riiight.”

“You think he’s lying?” I queried, keen to hear another girl’s opinion.

Marni shrugged unhappily. “So…what are you going to do about it?”

“I don’t know,” I groaned. “I asked him to give me some time, but he keeps calling.”

“Well, I guess he really loves you then,” she bit, and went back to reading her magazine.

I don’t know what I said to upset her, but I took it as my cue to leave. Marni often got into moods I couldn’t work out. She dropped me off at Easton’s Tavern, where I was about to start my first official shift.

In Luke’s absence, I had offered to help Dawn at the pub. She gave me a crash course on pouring wine and pulling beers until I was working the bar like a pro. I took on every shift Dawn was willing to give me, whether it was to avoid spending more time with Marni or to simply occupy my time until Luke got home.

* * *

The boys returned the following Friday afternoon, after I had already left to work at Easton’s.

They both strolled into the pub, freshly showered and ready for dinner and a few drinks to end their week-long adventure. I suspected Luke’s main reason for coming in was to check on how his Nan was coping without him.

I finished pouring a beer for a customer, before turning my attention to the boys. They were both staring at me with mouths agape. Nate blinked several times and the corner of his mouth lifted, but Luke’s expression became unreadable. I pulled two more beers and slid them in front of the boys with a triumphant smile.

Nate happily took a sip, but Luke remained motionless.

“You’re supposed to be up there, not behind the bar pulling beers, Blue.” He pointed to the mini stage where I would be performing later that night.

“I don’t mind, it’s fun.” I really did enjoy it.

Luke shook his head angrily and stormed into the kitchen to speak to his Nan. I winced at what sounded like a hushed argument. I couldn’t be sure what was said, but I knew it was about me.