Bridie

The walk was only fifteen minutes. They crossed a long wide footbridge that saw them safely over the busy arterial road and various sporting fields. The stadium loomed in the distance, the sky a combination of dark and light above the curve of its exterior. Bridie glanced up at the indigo-coloured clouds and witnessed the first flash of lightning. The crowd reacted as one, making a collective ‘ooh’ sound, followed by a ripple of ‘we’re in for it now’ laughter.

‘Damn, we’re going to get wet.’ She sighed. So much for her efforts to look older and more sophisticated.

‘Who cares?’ Emmet barely combed his hair on the best of days, and didn’t have to worry about such things as mascara streaks. Of course, he had no inkling that she and Fitz were texting plans to meet up, or of her intentions when they did. She would make the first move, if necessary. She’d read online that boys were grateful when girls took control.

The footbridge circled down and released them onto the walkway opposite the Sydney Cricket Ground. Some mounted police were watching the crowd from a height; their horses had gleaming coats and dark expressive eyes.

Bridie’s phone screen lit up at the same time as the sky. A message from AJ, a friend from book club.

Managed to get a ticket on the official resale site. Leaving home now. Should be there in about an hour. Can’t wait to see you.

AJ had been trying to snag a ticket for ages, and now – at the last minute – he’d apparently succeeded. Bridie couldn’t believe it. After zero romantic relationships to date, all of a sudden there were two strong prospects. Which made things complicated – and thrilling. What would she do? See things through with Fitz? Or check out the vibe with AJ before making a decision? Was she drunk enough to kiss both boys? She must be drunk to even consider it.

Bridie’s phone buzzed again. Just a message from Dad.

Wait for us at the sandstone monument near the base of the bridge.

They were almost past the monument. Bridie grabbed Emmet’s arm and pulled him to the side, onto the grass.

‘What the hell?’

‘Sorry. Mum and Dad want us to wait here.’

The monument was old, the sandstone inscribed with someone’s name and the year: 1888. A small outdoor gym was close by, tucked behind the opening of the footbridge. The DJ’s voice projected from inside the stadium. ‘Sydney, are you having fun?’

Yes, Bridie was having fun. After months and months of misery, she felt alive, desired – important. She also felt reckless in an out-of-body way. Hooray for vodka.

Mum and Dad emerged from the crowd, looking breathless and flustered. Dad ushered them all further to the side, while Mum glanced worriedly at the
sky.

‘I was hoping the storm would miss us,’ she said sadly.

‘You and Dad will be nice and dry in the stands,’ Emmet retorted. ‘I don’t care about getting wet. I just want to get inside. Can we go?’

‘Hold up.’ Dad held Emmet’s arm. ‘This spot is where we’ll meet after the concert. Bridie, Emmet, you’ll enter at a different gate to us, and God knows where you’ll exit … depends on where they’ll channel you. Just be aware it could be on the opposite side, and you might lose each other in the push of the crowd. Make sure you come down the steps at the front of the stadium and that should point you in roughly the right direction.’

‘Yeah, got it,’ Emmet said impatiently.

The first drops of rain speckled Bridie’s forearms. She was not ordinarily vain, but who wanted to look like a wreck for their first kiss?

‘Bridie, are you listening? Do you know exactly where you are? Do you understand you might have to walk in a bit of a circle to get to the front of the stadium? It’ll be harder to see in the dark, and the crowd will be much denser than this. Use the stadium steps, the footbridge and the lake to orient yourself. Follow pedestrian directions to Central Station until you come past this point. Got it?’

She rolled her eyes. ‘Yes, Dad.’

Mum handed them a print-out of their tickets, a frown marring her face. ‘Why does this suddenly seem like a bad idea? Maybe you should come with me, Bridie, and the boys go together?’

‘No, Mum, no way. Stop worrying, okay? I’ve got my phone, I know where we’re meeting up – thanks, Dad – and I’m perfectly capable in the unlikely event that Emmet and I get separated.’ Bridie was astonished at how firm her voice sounded, how authoritative, how unlike her usual voice.

‘Yeah. She’s right. We’re fine. Can we go now?’ Emmet was straining to get inside, to find a good spot before the first support band came on stage, to enjoy the full experience.

Bridie wanted to be inside the stadium, too. A different, more daring version of herself was waiting in there; she wanted to step into that girl’s shoes for the night.

‘Chill, Mum.’ She gave her mother a hug, to seal the deal. ‘We’re not idiots. Nobody’s getting lost, okay?’