“We could skip now.” We could go back to mine—go to bed.
“I’m missing three days for you this week already.”
Grant’s head pops up.
Fuck off, Grant.
“You are?” he asks.
“Yeah.” She winces. “I was going to speak to you later.”
Once I’m gone?
“Where are you going?”
“To LA.” Her face lights up with pride. “Spencer’s premiere. I have to be there. I’ll be able to get anything I miss, right?”
He nods. “Of course. I’ll make sure you have everything you need. Not that three days is going to put you behind. I’m glad you’re going. If anyone deserves to have a wonderful time away, it’s you.”
Who does this prick think he is?
I watch Indie’s body shrink with his compliment. “Thanks.”
There’s a weird dynamic going on here. Something is out of place… or I’m crazy.
The room fills slowly until Grant closes the door and begins the lecture.
There’s a lot of talk about early trauma and how that affects later life choices, leading you to repeat mistakes in adult life.
It’s a subject that makes me feel like my clothes are made from Velcro. Indie listens to Grant like he’s the fucking messiah. Her lips are slightly pouted while she’s deep in concentration. She was the same when I taught her to ride a bike, when she was almost twelve. A bike that looked like it was for a younger child, which definitely made it harder. I never understood why she left it so late to learn. She just shrugged and said she’d never been bothered before.
She was determined then, and she’s determined now. I think she scribbles down everything Grant says, word for word.
What makes me burn with pride even more is when she participates, answering questions or giving her take on something with a confidence I never see on this level.
She’s smart as fuck.
Grant, the prick, was right about one thing: she is going to get a first.
When the class is over, students leave like the place is on fire. Grant shuffles papers on his desk.
“You really are a geek.”
She rolls her eyes. “Yeah, yeah. What did you think then?”
“I think you’re amazing, and I made the right choice with acting. I’m not cut out for uni.”
And I think I love you.
Actually, I know I love her. I never stopped.
Tilting her head to the side, she slaps my arm. “That’s not true, Spence. You can do anything.”
“I would go mad and kill everyone by the second week.”
“Excuse me.” Indie and I look up at the same time. “Sorry. You’re Spencer Lowe, right?”
Indie will be looking up at the ceiling, no doubt.
“Yeah, hi.”
“I’m Sophie, and I can’t wait to see your movie. It looks so good.”
Hearing that never gets old. “Thank you, Sophie.”
“Can we take a picture?”
“Sure. You want to selfie?”
Sophie nods and slams her body against mine. The overwhelming floral perfume she’s wearing almost makes me gag. She holds her phone out, already having the camera function up.
We both smile, and she puts her phone in her pocket. “Thanks. So, are you busy today?” Sophie eyes Indie the second she’s asked.
I nod. “I’m hanging out with Indie. I’ve only got her for a week.”
Sophie’s smile transforms from hopeful to borderline aggravated. “Right. Well, have fun. I’ll tag you in this,” she says as she walks out of the door.
Indie tilts her head towards me. “Where are those sunglasses?”
“That’s going to happen. It’s the nature of the job.”
“Do you mind?”
“I don’t know how to answer that without you thinking I’m an attention seeking dickhead.”
She stuffs her textbook into her bag. “You’re not a dickhead.”
“But I love attention?”
Laughing, she nods. “You said it.”
“Where to now, smartarse?”
“I usually go back to the library.” Really? “But we’ll go to a café down the road until my afternoon lecture… which you can’t attend.”
Because Grant is a prick.
“See you later, Indie,” Grant say as we begin walking out. “Nice to meet you, Spencer.”
I force myself to smile. “And you, Grant.”
Indie and I need a long chat about this arsehole. I want to shave his beard off.
She wouldn’t sleep with her lecturer. I’m not sure she’s slept with anyone. She was a virgin when we were together, and she hasn’t talked about anyone since.
Mila will know. Just how many times can I go behind her back and talk to one of her friends, though? I still feel nauseous from my meeting earlier. The one where I’m supposed to fix whatever is going on in Indie’s life… that I have no clue about because she doesn’t discuss her family.
The fact that Mila felt the need to call me worries me beyond belief.
Why is Indie secretive about her parents?
LA is where Mila thinks I’ll get something out of her. She’s never been on holiday, that I know of. Maybe she will relax and open up. Whatever’s going on, I will find out, and if they’ve hurt her in any way, she’s never going back.
Fifteen
Indie
Spencer had been acting weird all morning. We parted ways after having a quick lunch in the café. He could tell I was anxious to get some work done before my lecture in the afternoon, and he had a thousand calls to return. There’s always someone to call or message back in his world.
Even when he has time off, he’s still working. It must be exhausting.
We had a testimonial from a twenty-year-old woman about her experiences growing up with a dad who hit her and her mum. She had been in prison five times for petty crimes and lost custody of her two children before turning her life around.
I sat there seething at my parents all afternoon. I’m not like that woman—not everyone reacts to childhood trauma the same way—but I could so easily have been in her place.
Now, I’m in my room after having a quick shower and changing because I’m about to leave for Spencer’s. Post sixteen-year-old me didn’t spend much time at his house—only ever to watch movies—but we can’t exactly go out all the time now. It wouldn’t be much
