Read Online Music From Standing Waves by Johanna Craven - Free Book Online Page A

eyes. For a while,
we lay in silence.
    “I’m really glad you’re here,” he said
finally, resting his hand on my side. His fingers slid up and down
my waistband. I felt hot and squirmy.
    “Sorry about that stupid house,” he said. “I
didn’t mean to scare you that bad. And I’m sorry you messed up your
new dress,”
    “It’s okay,” I said. “I’m glad you noticed. I
didn’t think you would.”
    Justin paused. “I notice lots of stuff about
you.”
    “Really? I thought I was old news. That I’d
always just been there. Like wallpaper or something.”
    Justin laughed a little. “Wallpaper?”
    “You know what I mean. Like there’s nothing
new and exciting about me.”
    “Your dress is new,” smiled Justin. “And it
looks hot.”
    I giggled, feeling my cheeks fill with
colour. Justin shuffled closer to me. His breath was hot against my
cheek. I closed my eyes and listened to the rain splatter against
the roof. Slowly, the drumming eased; softer and softer until I
could hear us both breathe.
    I looked up. Over Justin’s shoulder I could
see the vibrant turquoise sea and the sharp edge of the horizon as
the purple storm clouds became sunset.
    “It’s clearing,” I said. “They’re going to
find him now.”

ELEVEN
     
     
    We fell into a distressed sleep, lying with
our heads at the bottom the bed. Floating in and out of
consciousness, I was aware of Michelle walking in and out of the
room, and of a blanket being thrown over us and the light being
turned off. When I woke up properly, it was at the shrill ringing
of the phone, which had started in my dream then turned into
reality. I sat up in the darkness. My legs were cramped and sore.
Justin lay on his side, facing away from me. I wondered whether to
wake him. Then, he sat up on his elbow and mumbled:
    “Abby.”
    “I’m here.” My stomach tightened as
Michelle’s cries echoed up the staircase.
    “Abby,” said Justin again.
    I shuffled across the mattress and held him
so my chest pressed against his back. Michelle’s footsteps rose
towards the bedroom. She opened the door and curled onto the bed,
pushing her head against Justin’s.
    “They found him,” she coughed, her voice
husky. “He’s alive.”
    Justin burst into a rush of grateful tears.
Michelle reached her arm over both of us.
    “The boat was wrecked on the reef. But he’s
alive. He’s alive.” She repeated it over and over, her hair
clinging to her wet cheeks. I was going to say ‘I’m so glad’, but
it didn’t seem like enough. Instead, I just lay beside Justin and
felt our bare arms press together.
     
    It was four in the morning when he walked me
back to the caravan park. Twisted palm branches lay across the
road. Bark had washed up from the gardens and thatched the bitumen.
Seas of bugs clapped their wings around the streetlights.
    I stood on the doorstep and took Justin’s
hands. “I’m so happy your dad’s safe.”
    He stared vacantly into his sneakers.
“Thanks,” he mumbled. “For staying tonight.”
    I could hear the dull drizzle of the gutter
overflowing into the mud.
    “Are you going to school tomorrow?” Justin
asked finally.
    “I guess. Are you?”
    “I guess.”
    He held my glance. I shuffled backwards and
thumped into the door.
    “I’d better go,” I said, fumbling for my
keys. “Thanks for walking me.”
    Inside, the house smelled of wet towels. The
lounge was full of drenched campers, their clothes dangling from a
drying rack in the corner. A young woman sat up and turned over her
pillow. I climbed over the maze of sleeping bags and stopped at the
foot of the stairs. Nick was sprawled across the bottom three
steps, his head lolling against the wall like a rag doll. I knelt
down and rocked him gently.
    “Nick…” He didn’t move. I took a blanket from
the linen cupboard and tossed it over his body. “Jesus Christ,” I
mocked. The blanket slipped off his shoulders. I sighed and pulled
it back up towards his neck, careful to cover the