Khaden pulled himself up on the wall to stand beside us. The steps would have been easier, but then again, bikini girl-Erica-was watching.

*Don't even think of buying it at that dodgy place over the road,' said Khaden.

I screwed up my face. *Yeah, that place is a salmonella outlet.'

*So, we'll stop at the one near home,' snapped Sas, brushing down her shorts.

I had to chew the inside of my cheek to stop myself from laughing at Sas's mood change.

Sas.

Why can't Mum just shut up about Dad? How I'm not coping with his *news'.

FYI, Mum-I'm coping fine, I'm just p.i.s.sed. Not at Dad's *news', but at the way I found out.

Ever since Dad and Mum broke up a lifetime ago-okay, eight years ago-I've spent weekends with Dad. Every second weekend was the best, when it was just me and Dad, and no annoying little sisters. I had my own room at Dad's place and we did all kinds of cool stuff together, like make sushi, have dinner parties for his friends, eat lunch on bay cruises and go to plays and concerts.

But thanks to Dad, my weekends are now filled with housework and babysitting. That time with Dad used to be so easy and so much fun, but he stuffed it up. I could have handled his news, if he'd just told me himself. It wasn't like he didn't have a chance that last weekend we were together.

We talked about everything else over lunch at that seaside cafe.

I don't want to think about dinner at the awful cafe/bar/restaurant/whatever it was. That black-and-steel place where Dad just fiddled with the stem of his wine gla.s.s while Lee told me. I waited, the whole trip back to Melbourne, for Dad to explain, to say something, but he didn't.

Dad's *news' was bad enough, but then he gave Mum that *follow your dreams' lecture. If he'd stayed quiet she would never have started that real estate course and my life wouldn't be so bad. Thanks to Dad, I'm Mum's full-time, live-in nanny, only without the full-time pay.

Every week I cook five dinners out of seven, make the girls' school lunches and breakfast, and do the washing, ironing and vacuuming. Last night, Mum had the nerve to crack it with me because the noise of the vacuum was making it tough for her to study. Poor baby.

Ha! Typical. I'm in my room-well, the room I have to share with Eliza-having time to myself, and Mum is bellowing down the hall for me to empty the dishwasher and repack it. It's not even my stupid job!

Is it any wonder I don't want to *communicate' with Dad? My life is c.r.a.p thanks to him.

Ruby.

A head of me, Khaden and Sas strolled out the school gates.

*Hey, wait up,' I yelled, running to catch up with them, backpack slapping my shoulder. *Where are you going?'

*Cafe,' said Khaden. *I'm starved.'

*Okay if I tag along?'

Sas laughed. *Are you serious, Ruby? You never have to ask.' She put her arm around my shoulder.

As we walked, we made plans for the summer-trips to the pool, beach, movies.

*Hey, we could catch the bus to Phillip Island, Rosebud or something,' I said, stopping at the pedestrian crossing over the road from the burger place.

Sas scoffed. *It's not that easy. I have to babysit the girls.'

Khaden pushed the crossing b.u.t.ton.

I looked across the six lanes of traffic to the crowded cafe. *Can we eat outside-in the sun?'

Sas sighed and stepped onto the road. *Come on.'

*But...' I looked at the *Don't Walk' symbol.

Sas and Khaden darted across the road through a gap in the traffic. I followed a few seconds later. They made it to the other side, but I was marooned on the median strip, the wind from the cars and trucks whipping my hair. By the time the lights changed, Sas and Khaden were lined up in the cafe, behind a bloke as broad as Dad but with tats up his neck and throat.

*Thanks for waiting,' I said, standing beside them.

Sas pulled a face.

The heat from the fryers and the sun blasting through the gla.s.s windows made the restaurant hot and stuffy. I wiped my palms on my school dress. A zit-faced guy took our order-three fries, burger, shake and two diet colas. *There'll be a wait on one of the fries.'

Sas picked up the tray. *We'll meet you at the table, Ruby.'

Khaden dumped napkins and straws onto the tray and shrugged.

*Outside?' I asked. My throat felt like it was closing over.

*Sure,' said Khaden.

*There's a table there.' Sas nodded to a booth in the back corner of the cafe. Khaden glanced at me, then followed. He slipped his school bag under the table and slid along the bench to sit beside her.

Zit-boy handed over my fries. I grunted thanks and scuttled to Sas and Khaden, carrying on like seagulls over their fries. Khaden's iPod sat on the table between them. He and Sas had an earbud each.

I dropped my backpack, crashed into the seat opposite, and shook the sweet-chili sauce sachet. *You can share my fries.'

*Not if you're putting that on them,' said Sas, her nose wrinkled.

I squirted sauce over the fries.

Sas took the earbud out and handed it to Khaden. *They're awesome. Who are they?'

*This band Taj has been mixing for. They have a weekly gig at The Bas.e.m.e.nt.'

Khaden's brother Taj was the same age as Harrison. I couldn't imagine Mum or Dad letting Harrison work at The Bas.e.m.e.nt, or even go there.

*The Bas.e.m.e.nt has the best bands.'

Her change of mood and the corner seat thing had made me uncomfortable. I snorted. *Been lately, Sas?'

She folded her arms. *I read, Ruby.'

*Angst Ridden.'

*What?' I didn't mean to snap at Khaden.

*Angst Ridden is the name of the band,' he said, reaching for one of my fries. *They're indie rock.'

*You wouldn't like them,' added Sas.

She was right, but it still hurt. Sas and Khaden liked the same sort of music-rock and bands from the 60s and 70s. I remembered one time, when we were in Year Seven, Sas and I went over to Khaden's place to work on an English project. While I worked, they hung out with Khaden's dad, and played stuff from his vinyl record collection.

I sipped my diet cola.

At the table in front of us, a guy with flecks of grey through his hair talked to a woman with straight blonde hair. The woman laughed. The man reached out and stroked her face. Maybe it was the grey flecks in his hair, or the arch of his eyebrows, but something about him reminded me of Dad.

The man caught a strand of the woman's hair and tucked it behind her ear.

Sas and Khaden's chatter, the buzz of the ice-cream machine, and drone of voices seemed to stop. My skin felt cold. The air was too thick to breathe.

*You okay, Ruby?' asked Sas, her voice m.u.f.fled, as though my ears were filled with water.

*Yeah, you look bad,' said Khaden.

*Have to get out of here.' I slid out of the seat and bolted. At the traffic lights, I bent over and gasped for air. My legs were weak and shaky.

*Ruby! You just about trampled a little kid,' yelled Sas. *What's wrong?' She placed a hand on my shoulder. *Eww. You're all sweaty.'

I leant against the traffic light.

*Hey,' said Khaden, strolling towards us. He held a drink cup and had my bag slung over his shoulder. *What's up with you two?'

*Ruby's sick,' said Sas.

Khaden shrugged. *Figured. Why else would you leave your stuff behind?' He thrust the paper cup at me. *Want your drink?'

*Thanks,' I croaked. The icy cola fizzed in my throat. *Felt like I was going to be sick.'

Sas wrinkled her nose and stepped back.

*Public spew? The cafe toilets were right beside us.'

*I needed fresh air.'

*Maybe we should walk you home,' said Khaden, even though he and Sas lived the other direction from me.

*I'll be fine. Honest. It was just stuffy in there.'

Khaden frowned and opened his mouth but Sas cut him off. *If you're sure. See you tomorrow.'

Feet cemented to the pavement, I watched them cross the road and walk away, unreachable through the snarling traffic.

I was lying on my bed reading when I heard Mum pull into the driveway. It was just after seven. I brushed my hair and raced downstairs to the family room, where Archie stood in front of the TV, holding the PlayStation control in both hands. Harrison was hunkered down in the corner of the couch with the other control. Mojo lay between them, head on her paws.

*Mum's home.'

Archie and Harrison ignored me.

*Heelllooo?'

*What do you want us to do? Alert the media?' asked Harrison, not taking his eyes from the game.

Archie giggled.

*You're hilarious, Harrison.'

*What's your problem, Ruby?' asked Harrison.

*You,' I snapped.

Mum stumbled through the back door, arms laden with pizza boxes, chips wrapped in butcher's paper and a bottle of soft drink. *Sorry I'm late. Had paperwork to finish.' She placed the food on the bench and took plates and gla.s.ses from the cupboard. *Takeaway as a peace offering?'

*Cool,' said Archie, jumping off the couch and running to the kitchen. He grabbed the chips and bolted back to the family room.

I grabbed the pizzas and bottle of drink.

Mum followed with the plates. *How was your day, Ruby?'

*Good.'

*So why are you so grumpy?' asked Archie.

*Yeah, hate to see if you had a bad day,' said Harrison.

Archie sn.i.g.g.e.red.

I ignored them and placed the food on the coffee table. *Where's Dad?'

*Golf committee meeting.'

Since when did the golf committee meet during the week? I swallowed the scoff in my throat.

*Can we watch TV while we eat?' asked Archie, tossing the game control on the sofa.

*Sure.' Mum pushed Mojo aside and sat between Archie and Harrison.

I grabbed a handful of chips and sat in the armchair.

While we ate, Archie and Harrison cracked up at The Simpsons. Even Mum giggled.

A yellow man crashing a golf buggy set off a chain reaction. I thought of Dad, which made me think of the cafe, which made me feel sick again.

I s.n.a.t.c.hed up the plates and empty pizza boxes and carried them to the kitchen.

*Suck. What do you want?' asked Harrison.