Read Online White Lady by Jessica Bell - Free Book Online

body down into a sitting position with a thud.
    “You alright?” Kimi has one eye closed.
    I nod and rub my forehead. “I guess.” I’m getting a bit of a headache.
    Kimi lifts her T-shirt and points to her scar. All dramatic-like.
    “ This is why we’ve gotta screw this guy over.”
    And she’s just showing me now? I don’t get it. This whole strategic let-things-out-one-bit-at-a-time is getting on my nerves. What’s the point? She fishing me out? I shuffle my arse backwards a bit to get a better view. Seeing the scar up close, I can tell that the wound must have been pretty deep.
    “Shit. That looks painful,” I say.
    “It was. And I couldn’t go to hospital because I—look, that doesn’t matter. It’s not important. Anyway, I survived. But now he’s gotta pay. And that’s where you come in. Okay?”
    I frown and inspect my nails, thinking that what Kimi just said sounded way practiced and melodramatic. I want to know where this shit is going. What kind of person does she think I am? I’m not gonna go and stab some dude because he stabbed her. But I guess I shouldn’t push it until I’m clear about what she wants. And what’s with the acting all of a sudden? I used to think first impressions counted. Obviously not. Kimi is not the reserved “mysterious” cool chick I always thought she was. She’s … well, I don’t know what she is yet. I suppose that does make her mysterious. But, you know, not in an intriguing way. Much. I’m sorta getting the feeling that she’s as desperate for a friend as I am. So I’m game. I’ll let this ride out and see what happens.
    “Are you gonna tell me who the guy is?” I say. I tilt my head to the side and notice another scar behind Kimi’s ear running along her hairline. It’s long and thin and clean.
    Cosmetic? Corrective?
    “Can’t,” she says, stretching her arms to her toes, and doing some sort of yoga position.
    “How come?”
    Kimi sits upright and glares at me as if I’m asking the most ridiculous question ever.
    “I think I have the right to know who I’m gonna screw over.” I don’t mean to snap. It just comes out that way.
    “You will,” Kimi snaps back. “Eventually. But right now we should just focus on getting you in shape.”
    The comment stings. What? Is she my personal trainer now?
    “Why can’t you do this on your own?”
    “Are you kidding?” Kimi shrieks, then resorts to a half-whisper. “The guy would kill me. He’s too strong.”
    “What exactly do you need me to do? Why can’t you just be honest with me?”
    Kimi tsks . “I told you I’d tell you soon. I’ve just gotta figure out a few things. And I need to know you’re on my side first. I can’t do this on my own. And I can’t afford for you to turn on me. Is that honest enough?”
    I hardly know you, I think. Kimi stares at me, expectant, eyes like an owl.
    “Well? Are you on my side?”
    This is all too weird. Here we are, sitting in a typical high school corridor, in a typical Melbourne town, living our typical inner-city suburban lives, and all of a sudden we’re characters in Underbelly ? I mean, come on. Get real!
    I grit my teeth in frustration. She found my soft spot and pounced. Typical of me to think she was just trying to help. Everyone has an agenda, I guess. Why I thought she was an exception is beyond me. And why did she choose the fat girl? There has to be a reason other than the fact we’re both outcasts, doesn’t there?
    I guess I’ve been fooled now, and none of that matters anymore. What’s important is to take advantage of the free speed and lose weight. If Mum sees me like this, there’s no telling what fitness regime she is going to force on me this time. It was hard enough getting over the last one. She had me doing cardio for four hours a day, and I ended up in hospital with heart palpitations. At sixteen, man!
    Let’s face it. There’s nothing stopping me from pulling out of Kimi’s plan once I’ve got my weight under