Jonah jogs away from Beth without looking back.
The Waring Gardens are the main feature of Deni and located right in the centre of town. All the local businesses scramble for office space overlooking the parklands. The park hosts an abundance of trees, shrubs and flowers. There are rotundas covered in creepers, fountains and statues, but the main feature of the gardens is the large lagoon and footbridge, which brings in as many people as it does waterbirds.
Jonah heads towards the peacock aviary to run around the lagoon, but then he changes track and decides to cross the water by going over the bridge. The foliage is thicker around the lake. The plants with dark green leaves and orange flowers will give him better cover. Once he’s over the other side and certain he’s out of Bear’s line of sight, Jonah slows to a walk and finds Warra sitting on one of the park benches, hunched over his biology textbook. His backpack and bike are lying on the grass beside him.
Like lots of kids in Deni, Warra travels everywhere by bike. He lives two kays out of town so often hangs around after school if he has sport on in the evening. He doesn’t see Jonah at first because of the thick, dark curls that fall over his eyes.
Jonah smiles. Warra’s a good mate. When Jonah was training for the Karate National Championships, Warra held the bag for hours and asked for nothing in return. He said he just really wanted someone from Deni to win. That’s one of the best things about this town. Everyone wants to see the locals succeed. They do whatever it takes to help them achieve their goal, and when they do, the whole town is proud of them.
Warra finally looks up when Jonah plonks his bag down on the bench. Jonah lets out a long sigh and shakes his head. Warra sucks at the straw of his thickshake and puts it down beside him.
‘Everyone knows, man. Bear’s gonna find out sooner or later, and when he does you’re dead meat.’ Warra’s red school jumper slips off the seat and onto the ground, but he leaves it there.
Jonah sits down. ‘Beth’s telling him now,’ he says, nerves tightening his gut. He pulls out his phone and types Beth a quick message to wish her luck.
‘Before training?’ Warra stares at Jonah, eyes wide.
‘I know.’ Jonah shakes his head again. ‘My thoughts exactly.’ He presses send.
‘Whoa.’ Warra whistles though his teeth. ‘You’re either the bravest or most brainless dude I know.’
‘I’m hearing that a bit lately.’
‘No wonder. There’s a reason she’s never had a boyfriend before, why no one else has dared to go there. Can’t you hook up with someone else? Someone less … life threatening?’ Warra half laughs, but Jonah can see he’s also half serious.
‘I don’t want anyone else. It’s different with Beth. She’s worth all of this trouble. If Bear wants to kick my head in at karate tonight, so be it.’ Jonah speaks confidently, but inside he’s dreading going to training. He’s already thinking up possible excuses why he can’t go.
Warra holds out his hand. Jonah shakes it. ‘Good luck, man. If anything happens, I’ll stand up for you.’
‘Yeah?’ Jonah says. Warra’s skinny and almost a head shorter than Jonah. He could never take on Bear, but Jonah doesn’t doubt that he’d stand up for him anyway. He and Warra go way back. Warra’s the kind of guy you can tell something to and know it won’t go any further. At school he’s quiet, but everyone likes him. No one gives him shit.
‘Absolutely. I’ll tell the police everything I know. Then, if they promise to protect me, I’ll agree to give evidence at your murder trial. I’ll even say nice things about you at your funeral.’
He also makes Jonah laugh.
‘You’d do that for me? Thanks, man. I knew I could count on you.’
‘Always.’ Warra cracks a broad smile.
‘Anyway, I’d better get going,’ Jonah says, checking his watch. It’s almost four. ‘Mum will be waiting.’
‘Yeah. Enjoy these last few moments. Maybe get something nice to eat. Treat yourself.’
‘Fuck off,’ Jonah says, before heading across the road towards his mum’s building.