As soon as the girls arrive at my house that afternoon, I herd them into my room.

I show them the cover I’ve drawn for our drama script.

It’s pretty good, but the girls are more interested in talking about what happened at the skate park yesterday. I tell them all about our conversation at the graffiti wall, about how much Alec and I seem to have in common. Hazel is excited to introduce him to Leo. And then I tell them how Alec suggested we meet up every Saturday.

‘Oh my god, you’re so lucky,’ Jess says. ‘Chester and I have zero to talk about. It’s so unfair. All you guys have someone you actually like.’

It feels good, for once, being on the same level as Edi and Archie and Hazel and Leo. Well, similar. It’s not like anything has happened between me and Alec. It’s not like we’re actually going out together, but whatever it is, at least it’s something.

‘I guess you’re going to have to dump Chester, Jess,’ I say. Then, I take a deep breath. This is about the best opportunity I’m going to get to lead into telling the girls that Dad and Sandra are over. I’m going to say that I saw a text on Dad’s phone, and that’s how I know. I can’t tell them the truth, but at least if they don’t think Dad’s having an affair, it kind of undoes the damage. Then, I’ll be able to get rid of the sick feeling.

But just as I open my mouth to tell the story, there’s a knock at our front door. Then, I hear a voice. It’s the same bright, bubbly voice that I’ve known forever.

Sandra’s voice.

‘Okay, I guess you guys should get going now,’ I say, hoping my voice isn’t too wobbly. But the girls just ignore me. They’re too involved in talking about how Jess should go about dumping Chester.

‘You could just tell Chester you like him as a friend, and you don’t want to ruin the friendship,’ Hazel suggests.

I hear a laugh from the kitchen. I strain my ears to listen over the top of the girls talking. I hear Dad’s voice, though I can’t hear what he’s saying. Then I hear Sandra say, ‘Let’s open a bottle of wine.’

Oh my god. They’re settling in.

‘He wouldn’t believe that,’ Jess sighs, ‘cos we’re not actually friends. Whichever way I do it, I’m going to hurt his feelings. It totally sucks.’

‘Maybe you could tell him you’re too busy with …’

I can’t focus on what Edi is saying now. Because there are footsteps coming up the hallway. Then there’s a knock on my bedroom door. It opens.

‘Hey, girls,’ Mum says. ‘How is everyone? Edi, great boots. Are they the ones you were wearing when you got photographed for the paper?’

‘Yep,’ Edi says. ‘I like your dress too.’ Mum’s dress is nice. It’s white with blue stars and it comes down almost to her knees. She’s so much younger than the other mums, and it’s cool that she can talk fashion with my friends. Well, normally it is. Right now, I’m praying that she’ll just go and leave us alone so I can get the girls out of here.

‘I’ve made some snacks,’ Mum says, ruining that hope. ‘Sandra’s dropped in. Why don’t you girls come and join us?’

‘They have to go now, Mum,’ I say.

‘No, that’s fine,’ Edi says. ‘We can stay for a bit longer. Can’t we, Hazel and Jess?’

When I look back, all of the girls are staring at me. Three pairs of eyes are narrowed and harsh at the sound of Sandra’s name. Like they’re preparing for battle. They look at each other and then back to me. To show that they’re ready to support me.

I try to smile, but it’s more of a grimace.

‘Sandy, this is Edi, and Jess and Hazel,’ Mum says as we walk into the kitchen.

Sandra gives me two thumbs up as a hello and then extends her hand towards Edi. It’s really awkward when Edi crosses her arms. I can see Sandra is confused, but then, she probably just thinks teenagers don’t shake hands anymore. She doesn’t try with the others. Well, she wouldn’t, really, since their arms are crossed just like Edi’s.

‘Sandy has been my absolute best buddy for …’ Mum starts and then pauses to consider how long.

Hazel scoffs, but Mum doesn’t seem to realise.

‘Gosh … for how long, Sandy?’ she continues, refilling both of their wine glasses. The two of them clink glasses.

‘Since we were about your age,’ Sandra says, looking around at all of us. My friend’s faces are grim.

‘Ah, so you …’ Jess does a little cough, ‘really trust each other?’ she says, directing a glare at Sandra that makes me freeze. If Jess is acting like this, then god help Sandra if the others start.

Sandra tilts her head to the side, as though she thinks Jess’s question is odd. But she answers anyway. Sandra is too nice not to answer. At the moment, I wish she wasn’t.

‘Yes, of course,’ she says. ‘There’s nothing in the world like a close girlfriend. Boys may come and go but – ’ ‘Hey, watch it, Sandra,’ Dad says in a jokey voice as he comes into the kitchen.

‘… and come back, of course, Jimmy,’ Sandra says, filling a wine glass and handing it to Dad. I know it’s just her being good-natured. When she looked after us while Dad was gone, she never said anything bad about him. She was just there for me and Mum.

But the girls must be thinking she’s playing some sort of evil game, with my mum as the victim. No-one even takes a biscuit when Mum offers them around. It’s as though they don’t want anything to distract them from focusing on what seems to be going on. Of course, Mum, Dad and Sandra just chat away like nothing’s wrong.

‘Hey, Sandy,’ Dad says after a while. ‘I got that part for your car.’ He gives Sandra a wink so we can see but Mum can’t. I can practically feel my friends’ bodies stiffen.

‘Come out to the garage, and we’ll see if it’s right,’ he says to Sandra. Then he turns to me, his eyes wide. ‘Why don’t you come too, Limps, since you’ll be driving someday?’

It’s completely lame, but I know what’s going on. Every year, Sandra gives Dad advice on what to get Mum for her birthday.

‘Okay, have you got all your stuff?’ I say to my friends, ‘I’ll walk you to the door.’

‘Oh, I’ll do that, Limps,’ Mum says. ‘I want to ask Edi where she got her boots.’

I breathe in. It should be okay. It’s not like the girls would say anything to Mum without me there. And I know Sandra will wait for me if I don’t go right away.

The mood in this kitchen is intense, even if the adults don’t realise it. I’ve got to get Sandra out of here before something gives. So I walk out to the garage with Dad and Sandra.

Sandra’s Honda Accord is parked next to our ute. Dad, Sandra and I stand next to the open window, where warm sunlight filters through into the garage.

‘So,’ Sandra says. ‘I’ve got the best idea for Vanny’s birthday.’ She’s trying to whisper, but her whisper is as bubbly as her regular voice. ‘Last week, when we went shopping, she saw a pair of earrings and a necklace that she really liked. They weren’t that expensive. I think she’d love it if you gave her the earrings, Jimmy,’ she says. She turns to me. ‘And you could follow up with the necklace, Limps. Perfecto.’

‘Sounds good. Where were they?’ Dad asks.

‘You know the little store in the Westland Mall?’ Sandra asks. ‘Cargo?’

Dad shakes his head, but I know it. Edi bought a bracelet there. ‘Yep, I know it,’ I say. ‘You’ll just have to show us which one she liked.’

Then a shadow falls across the garage floor. I look and see three heads at the window. I make an excuse to leave, then go out into the backyard. The girls are there, crouching down. There’s nothing I can do.

‘I’ll meet you there, Jimmy.’ Sandra’s voice bubbles through the window. ‘How about Friday night?’

‘Yeah, I reckon I can swing that,’ Dad says. ‘I could always tell Vanny that I’m working late.’

I look around. At three mouths, gaping open in horror.

‘All right, Jimmy, it’s a date,’ Sandra says, and she might as well have said, Let’s go to a hotel room and have sex, as far as the girls are concerned.

As Dad and Sandra go back inside, the girls flop backwards in a row on the grass. I keep crouching. Jess and Hazel hold me by the elbows and ease me down.

‘Is she okay?’ Edi asks, as though I’m not here.

‘I think she might be in shock. Are you in shock, Limps?’

I shrug. Maybe I am in shock. Mainly that I’ve got myself into this situation. The girls definitely won’t let this go now. I can feel it in my bones.

‘Limps, I’m so sorry,’ Hazel says.

‘I just can’t believe it,’ Jess adds.

‘That’s because it’s unbelievable,’ says Edi.

They keep going on, but I don’t even know who’s saying what. It’s all a mish-mash.

‘I feel like climbing in the window and smashing her stupid Honda Accord to pieces.’

‘Yeah, but it’s not only Sandra. Like, she’s obviously the worst best friend in history, and I can’t believe she’s making a date with Olympia’s dad almost right under her mum’s nose. But it’s him too. How could he do that to your mum?’

‘It’s even more horrible than what happened on Acacia Lane and it’s real life!’

‘It’s so, so, so wrong.’

As they talk, Sandra’s car starts up. We can hear Mum shouting her goodbyes from the driveway. Then, Dad’s ute starts up. He’s probably just nicking up to the shops to get stuff for dinner, but I know the girls will assume he’s driving off to hook up with Sandra somewhere.

It’s my fault they think that.

My hands are in my lap, curled into fists. Jess puts her hand over my left one and then Hazel and Edi layer theirs on top.

‘Limps,’ Edi says, ‘you have no choice now. It’s gone too far. Your mum has to know.’

‘You have to tell her, Limps. It’s the right thing to do,’ Jess declares. She stands up and the others stand up too.

They pull me to my feet. I’ve got pins and needles from crouching for so long. I can barely feel my legs. But, still, the girls are pulling me forward, back into the house.

And suddenly, I can’t stand it anymore. The stupid secret. The sick feeling. The constant stomach-lurch of having jumped off a cliff, and knowing at any minute I’ll be splattered onto the ground.

‘Wait,’ I say. ‘There’s something I need to tell you.’