Love-shy by Lili Wilkinson

Author:Lili Wilkinson
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: ebook, book
ISBN: 9781742696249
Publisher: Allen & Unwin Pty Ltd
Published: 2012-03-18T23:00:00+00:00

I found Nick at lunchtime that day, and the next day. The Gazette and Debating could do without me for once. We had a break from swimming practice, after the carnival, and I wagged Orchestra and avoided Ms Darling in the corridors.

Nick was starting to seem less anxious around me. His breathing was normal and he no longer trembled and dripped with sweat whenever I sat next to him. I was sure if he could go to a social event such as a party and see that it wasn’t the big deal he thought it was, he’d relax. And maybe even pluck up the courage to talk to Amy Butler. Then he’d realise she was kind of boring, and I could move on my as-yet undefined plan to really fix his problem. But Nick remained adamant that he wouldn’t be able to talk to Amy, because he’d be too anxious.

‘Anxious about what?’ I asked, on Wednesday afternoon. ‘What do you think is going to happen? What could happen that would be so very bad?’

‘Everything,’ said Nick. ‘She might laugh at me, or tell everyone and they would laugh at me. And then every day for the rest of my life I’d think of it, and burn with shame, right into the depths of my soul.’

‘Okay,’ I said. ‘What if you only had six months to live? And your doctor told you that for those six months, your lifestyle wouldn’t be compromised in any way by your health. Would you talk to her then?’

Nick shook his head. ‘No way. I’d still be too anxious.’

‘So you’d just sit in your room and do nothing?’

Nick leaned forward so his chin rested on his hands. ‘I’d steal my father’s credit card,’ he said. ‘Or sell my mother’s engagement ring or something. And I’d run away.’

I frowned. ‘Really? You’d steal your mother’s engagement ring? You don’t want to win the lottery or something?’

‘I’ve never bought a lottery ticket. I’d never win. I’m too unlucky.’

‘But this is a hypothetical fantasy,’ I said. ‘You can win the lottery if you want.’

‘I’d rather steal from my parents,’ said Nick. ‘To teach them a lesson.’

I really, really had to meet Nick’s family. Surely they couldn’t be as bad as he was implying. Could they?

‘Okay, then,’ I said. ‘Where would you run away to?’

‘Everywhere. I’d travel around the world. I’d stroll along the canals of Venice, and climb the Eiffel Tower, and walk on the moors in Scotland. I’d go to galleries and museums all over Europe. I’d go to London and see every musical showing in the West End, apart from the ones that have music from Queen or ABBA.’

‘Alone?’

Nick nodded. ‘Alone.’

‘That’s sad.’ I didn’t mean sad as in lame. I meant it made me sad to think about Nick in all those romantic places, surrounded by couples, but always alone.

‘Why?’ he asked. ‘What would you do if you only had six months to live?’

I thought about it. And the more I thought about it, the sadder I felt. Because if I was truly honest with myself, I’d do exactly the same thing.

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