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strand of his chin-length blond hair behind one ear, as he felt for the item stowed within his pocket. ‘I-I must have the wrong room. Sorry to have disturbed you, if you don’t mind, could you help me find my parents?’
     
    The target lowered his weapon. It was the last thing he would ever do.
     

 
    10 – Four More
     
    My head felt as though it was cemented to the pillow, held down with lead weights. At first I wondered what was happening. Was I ill? Had I hurt myself? Then the evening’s events dripped slowly back into my mind and the reason for my pain became clear. I had a hangover.
     
    Ergh!
     
    For all the times I’d heard Rachel complain and thought she was overreacting, I said a silent apology.
     
    I was closing my eyes again, when something stirred in my en-suite. At the exact same moment a disturbing thought crossed my mind: I don’t remember getting to bed . I shot upright, ignored my throbbing skull and yanking the quilt around me. Kalen walked casually out of the bathroom wearing nothing but his jeans.
     
    ‘Good morning,’ he said, sitting on the edge of the bed and flashing me a bright smile.
     
    ‘I’m half naked,’ I exclaimed dumbly, aware that all I had on was my underwear.
     
    ‘I undressed you.’
     
    Desperately, my mind searched for a memory of what had happened, but everything was hazy. ‘That’s so rude! How dare you?’
     
    ‘It was necessary,’ he answered, as if my question was ridiculous. ‘You fell asleep, so I put you to bed. I promise, I hardly looked, and I slept on the floor.’
     
    ‘Oh my goodness!’ I wailed.
     
    ‘It’s okay, I’ve slept on worse.’
     
    ‘Kalen, that’s not what I meant.’
     
    ‘Call me Kal.’
     
    That threw me. ‘Really? Do your friends call you that?’
     
    ‘No.’
     
    ‘Oh, well why –’ I closed my eyes, clutching the duvet. ‘Kalen, Kal, whatever, don’t try to confuse me. You can’t be here. You can’t stay over at a girl’s house or undress her without her permission!’
     
    ‘I’d better go then.’
     
    ‘Yes, you better had.’
     
    He grinned widely and left the room. I listened to his footsteps as he went down the stairs and the slam of the front door. Finally sure he was gone, I leaped out of bed and looked in the mirror. Surprisingly, I didn’t look too bad for an evening of crying. I felt both relieved and ridiculous. I should have been mad, but somehow I couldn’t stop thinking about his firm and sculpted torso – tanned, strong and vastly more appealing than any of the boys at school. Mostly, I was picturing the large milky scar that ran from the base of his neck to the middle of his chest, almost like a continuation of the small one on his face. As I wondered what could have happened to him, my anger melted away.
     
    The house phone rang, startling me out of my reverie. I answered it carefully; my whole body felt fragile. On the other end of the line, Mae sounded furious, hurling questions I didn’t want to answer. To buy some time, I invited her over. I used the minutes to take some painkillers and pull on some clothes. In my favourite tracksuit, I curled up on the sofa and waited.
     
    When she arrived she stared at me with her arms folded. ‘So, are you gonna fill me in on the guy from the club last night? Was that Caleb?’
     
    ‘Kalen.’
     
    My stomach churned and I didn’t know if it was from the mere mention of his name or an aftereffect of my alcohol-fueled night. ‘I told you the other day that I met him.’
     
    ‘Met him where?’
     
    ‘He was at Dad’s funeral.’
     
    Her eyes grew wide, her mouth forming a little O. ‘That’s weird.’ She sat down. ‘Where was he? Did he know your dad?’
     
    ‘He was standing over by the lake. He stood watching for ages. And, I don’t know if he knew Dad. I think so.’
     
    ‘Um, hello? Have you asked him?’
     
    ‘Yes,’ I frowned. ‘But it’s complicated. Anyway, now I guess, we hang out sometimes.’ I shrugged,