Bro Page 3

  ‘Yeah, it’s been a while. I wondered if you were coming tonight. Here, I got you a drink. You still like Fanta, don’t you?’

  Her eyes widen. ‘You remember?’

  How could I forget? I met Stefanie at the train station, second week back at school. She was the new girl who’d come from some private school. I couldn’t take my eyes off her. She was talking with Nat and sipping Fanta. She had her sports uniform on and those short shorts were a turn-on. Anyway, I heard her say something about Fanta being her favourite drink.

  ‘That’s really nice of you, Romeo,’ she says. ‘I love your shirt.’

  ‘Thanks. You look good too,’ I tell her. She smiles shyly and reaches for the heart-shaped locket around her neck, twisting it.

  God, she’s good-looking. Her lips are sending me wild but I’m trying not to stare. My hands are clammy and I keep folding my arms and unfolding them. It’s better if I stick my hands in my jeans pockets. That way I’ll be still.

  ‘So … I heard about you and Luke Palmer.’

  ‘Yeah, we broke up a couple of weeks ago. It wasn’t working out.’

  ‘Are you okay?’

  ‘Believe me, no problem there,’ she says, looking straight at me with raised eyebrows. She obviously wants to make sure I understand she’s over him. I do. And I’m glad.

  ‘What about you, Romeo? Are you with anyone?’

  I shake my head. The question makes me nervous and I start chewing the inside of my mouth fast and hard. I swear I’m boring a hole in the flesh.

  ‘So, how’s footy?’ she asks.

  ‘Yeah, good. Actually, um …’ I clear my throat, cough a little. I’ve had an idea but I don’t know if it’s a good one. Then I just come out with it. ‘I’ve got a game tomorrow. I was gonna ask you if you wanna come and watch.’

  ‘Oh.’ Her cheeks blush. She smiles. ‘I can’t tomorrow, I promised my sister I’d go shopping with her. But I can come next week … if you want?’

  ‘Yeah, I definitely want,’ I say, grinning, relieved and excited all at once. I wish I’d had the guts to do this before Palmer moved in. He knew I liked her, but he went ahead and asked her out himself.

  A new song starts playing on cue.

  Sounds familiar.

  I turn and wave, a quick thanks to Chris for playing the song. Diz is standing with his arm around Chris’s shoulder, staring at me with a cocky smile on his face. He’s batting his eyelids and making kissing gestures. He’s going to give me heaps about this tomorrow, I just know it. I look away hurriedly because if I don’t, I’ll crack up laughing then probably give him the finger. That wouldn’t be a good look in front of Stefanie.

  ‘I love this song, Romeo,’ she says. ‘I love it, love it. It’s my ringtone.’

  ‘Yeah, I know. I asked Chris to play it.’

  ‘Really?’ She pauses, stares hard at me. For a second I’m not sure if she thinks I’m weird or cool. But then she grins. ‘Let’s dance,’ she says, grabbing my wrist and leading me to the dance area.

  There are only a few of us dancing. Most people decide to sit this song out because it’s a love song and only couples dance to love songs. I slide my hands around Stefanie’s waist and we move with the music, inching closer and closer. Her breath is warm on my neck. It’s making my heart beat faster and I’m praying she can’t hear it thumping.

  ‘So,’ I say, pulling back, ‘are you having fun?’

  ‘Yeah,’ she says. She looks so closely at my face, it gives me tingles. I stare back, hoping she’s feeling tingles too.

  The song finishes too quickly. Chris will follow with a fast song, I know his style. He doesn’t do cheesy for long. Reckons it kills the party mood.

  I take her hand and walk around to the front of the house and down the driveway, away from the party noise. It’s colder without the fire but my nerves keep me warm. Stefanie’s rubbing her arms though. She’s cold.

  ‘I didn’t bring a jacket,’ I say, pulling her in close and gently wrapping my arms around her. ‘Is this okay?’

  ‘Yeah. You feel so warm,’ she whispers, snuggling against my chest.

  In the background we hear Chris calling for everyone to gather around the birthday cake. Poppers explode and dirty remarks are shouted like, ‘blow, Danni, blow’, followed by someone I’m sure is Sally telling them to shut up. The crowd sings ‘Happy Birthday’. Cheers erupt and the clapping goes on for ages.

  ‘It must be eleven o’clock,’ she says, checking her phone for the time. ‘My dad’s picking me up soon.’

  I go to speak but she turns to face me, locking her hands around the back of my neck. There’s a playful look in her eyes. Her breath is heavy and a smile stretches slowly across her face. Then it happens. Just like that, she’s rising on her toes and kissing me. She’s kissing me. Lips. Tongue. Everything. I think I’m giggling. I hope I’m not. But I think I am.

  ‘I like you, Romeo,’ she whispers.

  ‘Yeah, me too – I mean I like you – not me – you know what I mean.’ I’m grinning. I don’t know what I’m saying because I’m still lost in that kiss. Her lips are so soft, and warm, and … chewable.

  We hold each other, laughing nervously. I shuffle on the spot. She bites the corner of her mouth. We knock our heads together, then giggle at our awkwardness.

  ‘So …’ I say, ‘I’m guessing we’re cool?’

  Translation: Are we going out? Are we girlfriend and boyfriend? I don’t just want a hook-up, you know, like a one-off.

  She smiles.

  A smile?

  I want a yes. Or a nod at least. But she said she likes me … so we’re definitely on.

  We kiss again. And this time I kiss her.

  8

  Morning rain has drenched the field and so instead of running, we’re sliding and diving across wet, muddy grass. Tackling is impossible too. Players slip through your grip like soap. All I keep thinking about is the hot shower I’m going to have when I get home.

  We’re versing a team made up of Fobs mostly. We’ve never won against Fobs. They’re too big. We’d have a chance if Jarrod was on our team but he’s a good player, so he plays in a higher division on the next field over. Coach tells us to grab the big blokes around the ankles and make them trip, because ‘the bigger they are the harder they fall’. I did that once and copped a boot-stud under my eye. It swelled and I couldn’t see properly for a week. Another half a centimetre and I’d have been blinded. Today I try throwing myself at them and hanging on tight. That doesn’t work either. One Fob drags me like a plough across the field. I end up having to take myself out of the game, ten minutes before the match is over.

  When the final bell goes, Diz comes over, completely covered in mud, and flops beside me on the sideline, complaining about the muck in his hair.

  ‘How am I gonna get this out?’ he gripes, poking inside his sports bag looking for a towel.

  ‘Yeah, I’m fine by the way – thanks for asking,’ I say.

  ‘Oh, crap, sorry, bro. Are you all right?’

  I shrug.

  ‘I thought he was gonna drag you all the way to the tryline.’

  We laugh, and I suddenly realise how sore my ribs are.

  ‘I’m getting a sausage sandwich. Want one?’ Diz says.

  ‘Yeah, get me one with heaps of barbecue sauce, and onions, heaps of onions.’

  After a footy game, nothing compares to a thin greasy sausage with sloppy onions wedged between white doughy bread, all plastered with sauce. Just thinking about it makes me drool.

  I grab our bags and limp over to the benches near the crowded barbecue. I haven’t sprained or broken anything this time but there’s a bubble of blood swelling through the dried mud on my knee. It’s no big deal. I’ll live.

  ‘Romes.’

  I look up and see Dane striding towards me. He’s not the sporting type but he hangs around our games, hunting for gossip.

  ‘Good game.’

  ‘Thanks.’ He sits next to me on the bench like we’re
best mates. Gutsy, after the stunt he pulled with Zac last night.

  ‘What’s happening?’ he asks.

  I shrug.

  ‘Where’s Zac?’

  I point with my thumb to the change rooms behind us. ‘Why?’

  ‘Nah, nothing.’

  ‘Is it about fight club?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Nat?’

  ‘Shhh, will you? Zac will hear,’ he says.

  ‘Don’t be a dog, Dane.’

  ‘Listen, I got it, all right. No-one’s allowed near Nat because King Zac likes her.’

  ‘Didn’t you know that already?’

  ‘Nah, Romes, I didn’t.’

  ‘Crap it on.’

  ‘I’m serious. I’ve …’ He stops, rolls his eyes.

  ‘What?’

  ‘Nah, nothing.’

  ‘Tell me,’ I argue.

  He glances behind us at the change rooms, moves his head closer to mine and speaks in a hushed voice. ‘I’ve seen him hook up with other chicks. How can he be serious about Nat if he’s doing that? Know what I’m saying?’

  I know exactly what he’s saying. I just didn’t know anybody else knew. It’s not cool. Zac explains it as having male needs. He’s been waiting over three years for Nat. And until she’s ‘officially’ his girlfriend, Zac is playing around … quietly, I thought. Anyway, Dane can’t talk. That’s why his last girlfriend dumped him.

  ‘Listen,’ he says, changing the subject. ‘Heard you hooked up with Stefanie last night.’

  Inside, I’ve got fireworks going on. But I keep my voice even. ‘You hear a lot of things.’

  He chuckles then places his hands behind his head like some cocky wannabe gangsta. A cigar in his mouth would finish the picture. ‘So, seriously, did you?’

  ‘What’s it to you?’ I snap.

  ‘Whoa! Relax,’ he says, holding his palms up. ‘I don’t care. I just heard Luke’s spewing about it, that’s all.’

  ‘Why? She’s not his girlfriend any more.’

  ‘I’m just telling you what I heard.’

  ‘Who’d you hear it from?’

  ‘Romes.’ He laughs. ‘I can’t tell you my sources.’

  ‘Because you have none. Just get lost, will you?’

  ‘Chill, Romes,’ he says. ‘I’m just telling you what I heard.’ He stands up and offers me his fist. He’s grinning. Why’s he grinning? It makes my skin crawl.

  It takes me a few seconds but I dice him, weakly, just to get rid of him. He struts off, too coolly.

  Diz appears with a big grin on his face, a sausage sandwich in each hand and a bounce in his step. I mean, literally a bounce. Diz walks on the balls of his feet.

  ‘What’d Dano want?’ he asks, handing me my sandwich.

  ‘Reckons Palmer’s spewing about me and Stef.’

  ‘What’s it to Dano?’ he says, cramming the sausage in his mouth and biting off a large chunk. ‘You know what? He’s probably jealous Lebs always get the chicks. Anyway, forget that idiot. So listen, tell me what happened last night. I want details.’ He grins through a mouthful of food.

  Sauce runs down his chin and for a second it looks like blood. Diz is a messy eater when he’s enjoying his food, and he doesn’t care who sees it.

  ‘This isn’t show and tell,’ I say.

  ‘Come on, tell me what happened,’ he begs, swallowing another chunk. ‘I know you hooked up. Saw you walk out the front with her.’

  I raise my eyebrows. Try to stop the grin spreading across my face.

  ‘No way! You did hook up! Did she let you have a feel?’

  ‘Shut up, will you?’ I elbow him. ‘Don’t talk about her like that. I like her.’

  ‘Then tell me what happened,’ he says.

  ‘Seriously, nothing happened.’

  ‘Bro, I’m disappointed.’

  ‘I’m not, so shut up, will you? And wipe your chin.’

  ‘You make a good couple, bro. You’re both wozzies. Get it? Half-wog, half-Ozzie. Wozzy.’ He cracks up laughing.

  ‘Ha ha, very funny.’

  9

  Full and satisfied after downing a second sausage sandwich, Diz and I head into the change room, stepping over jerseys and footy boots. It’s an old building. The lights are dim and it stinks of sweat and foot odour.

  Zac and Jarrod are still in their footy gear, sitting side by side on the bench. It’s a funny look. Zac’s so small and Jarrod’s huge. They’d look like big brother, little brother if they weren’t Leb and Fob. Their bodies are hunched over and they’re talking quietly. Secretively.

  ‘Why so serious, boys?’ Diz laughs, disturbing their private meeting. He and I leap over the metal bench and sit on the cold seat opposite.

  Jarrod glances around the change room then leans in closer to Diz. He sniffs. ‘It’s on for Friday,’ he says in a serious voice, like an army general plotting an attack.

  ‘What’s on for Friday?’ Diz whispers, catching the mood.

  ‘Fight club.’

  ‘Yeah? Who’s fighting?’

  ‘Me and your mate here.’ He slaps Zac on the back.

  Diz and I shoot each other a puzzled glance.

  ‘Is that right?’ I ask Zac.

  Zac nods. It’s a simple answer. No explanation, no details. His face is expressionless, like a poker player’s. Zac never gives away his feelings. He hardly smiles, hardly laughs, and his dark, sunken eyes make him look even more sombre.

  ‘Well, if Zac’s fighting, yeah, of course we’ll be there,’ Diz says. ‘Gotta support our bro.’

  ‘Cool.’ Jarrod stands and scoops up his bag. He looks even bigger than usual from where I’m sitting. He smiles down at me and Diz. ‘It’s gonna be a feature fight, boys,’ he says, winking as he shuffles towards the exit.

  As soon as Jarrod is out, Diz pounces on Zac. ‘What’s going on? Why you getting involved in a Fob’s fight club?’

  Zac shrugs.

  ‘You’re a boxer, a proper fighter. You’re like a professional. Jarrod brawls.’

  ‘All Fobs brawl. They don’t know how to fight,’ Zac says, standing. He’s calm, unaffected.

  ‘Bro, listen to me,’ Diz pleads, sliding to the edge of his seat and holding out his hands. ‘Fight club’s for posers. Lebs fight for good reason, not to show off. You don’t need to prove nothin’.’

  ‘He’s challenged me, bro. What do you want me to do? Say no? Do you want him to tell everyone Lebs are chickens? He’s had one Leb fight him and he’s already bagging us out.’

  ‘George Wehbe’s year nine. He can’t fight anyway, and Jarrod knows it. He’s just baiting you, Zac.’

  ‘Maybe. But I can’t say no. Just chill. Jarrod’ll keep his mouth shut after this.’ He extends his fist. ‘I’ll catch youse later,’ he says, dicing Diz then me.

  It’s hard for Zac. He’s known as the toughest Leb at school and there’s pressure to live up to that title. I’m not even sure if he wants to, but everyone expects it. It’s not like he’s a hothead – far from it. It’s his father who’s the hothead. Makes my dad look like a kitten. The two things Zac’s dad loves? His Scotch, and a bendy stick to beat Zac with. He makes Zac pick the branch from the pomegranate tree in their backyard. I know this because I was there once. I saw the whole thing and was frozen in terror, trying to avoid being noticed. ‘You’re a donkey!’ his father yelled in Arabic between lashes. ‘You’re a dog!’

  Zac laughed about it afterwards even though he could hardly move. It was his way of dealing with the embarrassment. I pretended to laugh with him so he wouldn’t feel bad but I knew he was hurting. I was still shaking when I got home that day. I closed myself in my room and cried for him.

  10

  I know there’s a stupid grin on my face but I can’t help it. Usually, I’m grumpy on a Monday morning. Not this time. I’m reading over the texts Stef sent me on the weekend.

  So this is what it’s like to have a girlfriend.

  ‘You look dopey, Romes,’ Diz tells me, as he, Zac and I
step off the train at the station. ‘It’s the sign of a man in loooove,’ he teases, nudging me in the arm. I push him. He goes to slap me in the head but I grab his wrist.

  ‘Don’t be slack, bro, please,’ I beg. ‘Stef’s gonna be here, you’ll mess the hair.’

  ‘Bro, you are whipped!’ Diz laughs.

  ‘There she is,’ Zac says, nodding once in the direction of the platform stairs.

  She’s with Nat, Sally and a few other girls. But Stef stands out. Even in her checked school skirt and oversized blazer, she’s hot. Her long curls are tied in a ponytail and her lips are shiny with gloss. Is she wearing it for me? I wonder. The thought gives me butterflies and my face heats up so rapidly, it feels like I’m on fire.

  ‘You’re going red,’ Diz says, slapping the back of my neck and squeezing it. ‘Relax, bro!’

  He and Zac laugh. I try to laugh too, but I’m nervous and it comes out more like a squeak.

  At that moment, Stef looks up at me and my insides go crazy. But she stays where she is, doesn’t come over. I’ve got to go to her.

  ‘Stef,’ I call, making my way through the throng of students on the platform. Diz and Zac lope along behind me. ‘Hey, how are you?’ I say as I walk over to her.

  I want to kiss her hello, but there’s something about the way she’s standing that makes me stop.

  ‘I’m good, thanks,’ she says. She’s half-smiling, and suddenly it’s the other half I’m worried about. ‘Romeo, can I talk to you for a minute?’

  What? My heart sinks. Paralysis in my legs. She doesn’t kiss me. She doesn’t even come up to me. Worse. She wants to talk.

  ‘Something wrong?’ I manage.

  ‘I just need to talk to you.’ She takes a quick look at Diz and Zac. They get the hint.

  ‘We’ll see you at school,’ Diz says, winking.

  They start walking away but Zac stops in front of Nat. He goes to say something but she folds her arms and walks ahead of him. Zac’s face turns red. He glances around at everyone staring, then follows her without saying a word. I cringe for him. That was harsh.

  Sally cups her hand over her mouth and starts whispering something to Stef. She makes me wait like an idiot while she has this friggin’ conversation in Stef’s ear. That girl is not cool. She’s full of herself and acts like she’s in charge of everyone.