Read Online Frankie and Joely by Nova Weetman - Free Book Online Page B

forgives her, loving her again in that way that only a best friend can.

Chapter 11
    Frankie and Joely sit at the back of the bus. The sun streams through the dirty windows making the dust dance. Frankie’s long legs stretch out over the chair in front. Her towel is squashed under her head. She closes her eyes. The heat is making all her thoughts messy and jumbled. She can still see the boys on the plastic tube, turning to watch her. And then the sharp flip as the tube went up into the air and crashed down, turning them all out.
    Then something tugs her under, something dark, and she’s struggling to breathe. Her throat full of chlorinated water, she starts coughing … choking …
    Frankie opens her eyes in fright and looks around confused, not knowing where she is. Then she sees the peeling green vinyl of the seat in front and the children trying to lick their icy poles faster than the heat can. And she can breathe again.
    But her thoughts are still caught in the pool. She feels scared and wishes, for a second, she was back home in her messy bedroom with her headphones blasting out music. She sees Joely staring out the window and feels a rush of fondness for her slightly sunburnt friend, knowing she’ll be safe if they’re together. She slips back into sleep.
    Joely leans against the glass, liking the feel of the sun on her cheek. She watches the grass change colour outside until it is so brown, it looks like it’s been fried. The bus slows. Joely looks down the road, imagining a girl on a horse, but it’s just someone hailing a ride. The bus stutters to a stop. Joely hears the driver call out something friendly, and she feels herself sitting upright to see who gets on.
    He’s wearing a singlet and shorts. He’s so brown he looks like someone has painted him with the sun. She can’t see any of his features until he smiles and his white teeth shine. He looks down the bus like he’s searching for her, his eyes scanning her face.
    It’s him! The boy Joely saw last summer and hoped would one day be hers.
    He swings down into the seat behind the driver. Joely can hear the odd word, something about a motorbike running out of petrol, and the occasional laugh as the two chat. But all she can see is his blond head.
    Heart racing, Joely tries to watch the grass again, but she keeps turning back to the snatch of hair all those seats away. Her back is wet with sweat and the vinyl sticks to her bare arms. She wriggles in her seat. Frankie hasn’t moved. Her mouth is gaping open, and Joely can see a tiny line of dribble that’s escaped.
    Joely doesn’t want to get off the bus. Doesn’t want to feel that sting as she peels her sticky skin away from the seat. Doesn’t want to walk up the long, dry driveway to her aunt’s house, scuffing her thongs through the small pebbles that manage to wheedle their way in under her toes. She just wants to sit here, in the heat, and catch glimpses of the boy.
    But she can see the gum tree coming up and the cows gathered together. As the bus rides over the slight hill, Joely rouses her friend with a touch on her arm.
    Frankie smiles before she opens her eyes. ‘I was deep-pool diving.’
    â€˜With blue tiles and hard concrete?’
    â€˜I was in a suit. A yellow suit so nothing could get me.’
    â€˜You were dribbling.’
    Frankie wipes her mouth with the back of her hand.
    â€˜Time to get off,’ says Joely.
    The bus shudders and the two girls grab their things and peel themselves off the fading vinyl. The whole bus seems to be waiting for the girls to leave so it can relax again. Just like at the pool. Joely goes first. She feels nervy as she gets close to the crop of hair. But he doesn’t turn as she passes.
    She steps down into the dirt and looks up quickly. The boy is not in the window. She scans the other faces, but she still can’t see him. The doors rattle closed and the bus pulls away. Joely