Kindred by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781760651305
Publisher: Walker Books Australia
Published: 2019-08-02T16:00:00+00:00

“Please, Audrey, put this on.” Vanessa shoves her jumper into my arms, her eyes darting around the crowd of people at Southern Cross station.

“Why?” I ask. It’s twenty-four degrees and we just got off a packed train. I’m already sweating.

“Because,” she says with a huff, “people are looking at you weird.”

I glance around, but don’t see anyone paying even a sliver of attention to me. Exactly the way I like it.

She makes a point of nodding at my T-shirt. It’s the first time I’ve worn it; I ordered it online specifically to wear today. It’s a comic-book-style drawing of Stephanie Beatriz, aka Rosa Diaz in Brooklyn Nine-Nine, in Wonder Woman pose with the word “BICON” exploding underneath her. She’s my bisexual hero, and she’s scheduled to be at PrideCon today.

“Come on,” Vanessa says. “Just put it on until we get into the convention centre, please?”

I open my mouth to argue, and Vanessa gives me The Look. I get it a lot. Her big, brown eyes glare with an intensity that makes me drop my gaze to the floor. She’s not someone people would typically describe as intimidating. Her thin frame stands at about five feet, shorter than me, her white skin is covered in freckles, and her features are almost fey-like. People often mistake her for a twelve or thirteen year old, rather than sixteen – which she hates. Still, when she looks at me like that, I shrink before her.

“Fine,” I mumble, then pull her thick woollen jumper over my head. The way it scratches against my arms makes me squirm, but it’s easier than arguing with her.

She texts her boyfriend, Sully – short for his surname, O’Sullivan – while we walk through the city. It’s around 8 am on a Saturday morning. The only people out are joggers and partygoers heading home from a big night. And people like me: queer geeks on their way to the convention.

“Okay,” Vanessa says, flipping her mop of curly brown hair. “So, we need to be at Flinders Street by five. Sully is gonna meet us there, then we’ll catch the train. Mum thinks I’m staying at your place again tonight. Don’t forget that. I don’t need you messing up my alibi again.”

“I know,” I say. “I’ll remember.”

She’s my best friend. Well, my only friend, really. We sat next to each other in English class last year. She had recently moved to the school and didn’t know anyone, so we kind of just stuck together. She met Sully when they started working together at Hoyts about six months ago, and now she mostly sticks with him. I’m excited to have a day for the two of us today.

By the time we reach the convention centre, the line is stretching all the way around the corner of the building.

“Whoa,” Vanessa says when she sees it. “I didn’t realise how popular this thing is.”

“It’s huge!” I say, grinning. “Look at all these cool people!”

Vanessa snorts. “Yeah.”

We stand at the back of the line, and soon others join the line behind us.

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