October Academy

Chapter 32

I lean against my car. A figure approaches me, and I know instantly that it's Darcy's. Something about the way he walks, the way his broad shoulders aren't proud or arrogant, but rest modestly, the way his pace is firm, certain and steady.

I get in my car, not waiting to greet him. He walks over, opening the door and sitting in the passengers seat. "Feel like a Maccas run?" I ask him.

"McDonald's?" a grin spreads across his features.

I pull out of the park and start driving across town to the closest McDonald's.

"This is your car?" he asks me.

"My pride and joy. Tim got her for me."

He nods solemnly.

"Do you have a car?" I ask him.

"No, I've never really needed one."

"Because your sugar mumma's drive you everywhere?" I tease but he doesn't laugh. "I've heard rumours..."

"I did, but it's over now."

"So you have mummy issues?" I say insensitively, partly because deep down, something inside me is very jealous.

"My mum died when I was thirteen."

"Fuck, I'm sorry." Now, something inside me is very guilty.

"Don't be sorry." He looks out, arm resting against the windowsill.

"How about the rest of your family? Are you close with them?"

"Not really. My father's an dickhead, but I guess I'm loyal to him." He pauses.

"I'm sorry."

He looks back in my direction. "Do you ever wonder about your biological family?"

"Honestly, when I was younger I thought about them a lot." I sigh, my hands gripping the steering wheel tighter. "But when I figured out they weren't coming back for me – I realised that any hoping is futile."

"I imagine not knowing would be torturous."

"I've come to peace with it."

He gives me a small smile as we make our way up to the McDonalds. I pull over and we walk inside, waiting in lines briefly, grabbing a 50c soft serve cone each, then walking back outside.

We go for a walk along the pier, just below us. It's freezing, between our ice cream and the wind caressing the creek.

"Vanilla or chocolate?" I ask him.

"Oh, so we're hitting the hard questions now?"

I nod, a smile creeping onto my lips.

"Obviously chocolate."

I gasp, "Oh no, we can't be friends anymore!" I joke, then realise I've called us 'friends' when he seems to think we're something else.

He doesn't correct me - he laughs too, his gentle airy laugh. "Is this what you called me out here to talk about? Ice-cream flavours?"

I shiver slightly, as the wind picks up.

Darcy takes off his jacket, stepping closer to me and wrapping it around my shoulders.

"No, no, you'll get cold—" I say.

"You're literally shivering," he laughs, "Don't be stubborn."

I laugh too. He knows me better than I thought.

"Actually I wanted to talk about... I had a fight with Perry."

"Xander's sister?"

"Yeah. She's been so moody ever since the Ouija board thing. She said I'm as 'unperceptive as a brick'."