‘Oh my God, Sky! Are you OK?’ shrieked Tina.

Mr Benedict steered the boat to my side so Zed and Nelson could heave me out of the river. I lay gasping on my back at the bottom of the boat.

Zed briskly checked for injuries. ‘She’s fine. A bit scraped up but fine.’

We completed the rest of the course in a subdued mood, the fun having been swept away when I had. I felt cold, numb, and angry.

If Zed hadn’t pounced on me, I would’ve been al right.

Mr Benedict steered us to the landing area where a jeep and trailer waited to take the raft back up the river. I refused to look at Zed as I got out on to the bank.

On dry land, Tina gave me a hug. ‘Sky, you real y OK?’

I forced a smile. ‘Fine. Whose bril iant idea was this anyway? What is this—kil -a-foreigner week?’

‘I thought we’d lost you.’

‘You know something, Tina: I’m not cut out for this great outdoors stuff you Coloradans do.’

‘Sure you are. You were just unlucky.’

Mr Benedict and Zed finished loading the raft, then came over to us.

‘You al right, Sky?’ Mr Benedict asked.

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.

‘What happened?’ The question was directed to Zed.

I got my side in first. ‘He flattened me—made me lose my grip!’

‘I realized what was going to happen—I tried to warn her,’ countered Zed.

I scowled. ‘You made it happen.’

‘I tried to stop it—shoulda just left you to it.’ He scowled at me, eyes chil ed as the river.

‘Yeah, perhaps you should—and then I wouldn’t be freezing to death here!’

‘Enough!’ Mr Benedict separated us. ‘Sky, get in the jeep before you get any colder. Zed, a word.’

Swathed in towels, I watched father and son continue the argument until Zed stormed off, heading on foot into the woods.

Mr Benedict climbed into the driving seat. ‘I’m sorry about that, Sky.’

‘It’s OK, Mr Benedict. I don’t know why but your son seems to have a problem with me.’ I shot a glance at Tina to say ‘I told you so’. ‘I don’t need an apology. Perhaps he could just keep his distance or something. I don’t like people laying in to me without cause.’

‘If it’s any comfort, he’s got a lot on his mind at the moment.’ Mr Benedict’s sombre eyes fol owed his son. ‘I’ve asked too much of him. Give him a chance to work things out.’

‘See what I mean?’ I whispered to Tina.

‘Yeah, I do. What was that about?’

‘I dunno—I real y don’t.’ I needed her advice so badly; she was rapidly becoming the Obi Wan to my clueless apprentice. I hoped she understood boys, or at least Zed, better than I did.

‘That was weird.’

The windscreen wipers swished to and fro as the rain began to fal in earnest: he hates me, he hates me not, he hates me …

‘You’ve not been pestering him, have you?’ Tina asked after a pause.

‘No, of course not.’ I kept quiet about the number of times I had looked out for him at school. She didn’t need to know the details of my pitiful obsession with the guy. Today had cured me of that.

‘You wouldn’t be the first. Lots of girls throw themselves at him, hoping to be the one.’

‘Then they’re seriously stupid.’

‘After what he said, I’d have to agree with you.

There’s a lot of anger in that boy and I wouldn’t want to be around when it gets out.’

I spent the evening and

much of the night pondering

Tina’s warning, transposing it in my mind to fit her new role in my internal storyboarding: the force is strong in this one but the boy has much anger.

Good advice, Obi Tina. Zed was too much for me to handle. Leave the Wolfman to chew on his own resentments. I was making light of it, but part of me instinctively cringed away from violent emotions like his, knowing that they could hurt. I had an uneasy sense I’d once lived too close to someone who flew into rages—someone from the time before I was found. I knew that harsh words became fists and bruises. Added to this, I was furious with myself. I had to be the prize idiot for obsessing about hearing Zed’s voice when I was in danger. I needed to get a grip and leave the whole Zed thing wel alone.

My good intentions were stil intact as I crossed the school car park with Tina the fol owing morning, that was until I saw the look I got from Zed. He was standing with the other boys by the motorbikes, arms folded, scanning the crowds entering the building.

When he saw me arrive, he took one long examination and then, as if deciding I didn’t measure up, dismissed me.

‘Ignore him,’ murmured Tina, seeing the exchange.

How could I? I wanted to go over and slap him, but, let’s be honest here, I’m not the kind to have the guts to make a scene like that. I was sure I’d get halfway and bottle out. I’d promised myself I’d leave it alone.

Go on, do it, my anger told me. Girl or mouse?

Mouse every time.

Every time but this. There was just something about Zed Benedict that was like a match to my fuse and I was fizzing up to the point of explosion.

‘Excuse me a moment, Tina.’

Before I knew it, I had changed direction and started towards him. I was having an Aretha Franklin moment—‘Sisters are doin’ it for themselves’

blasted through my head, giving me the foolhardy courage to close the gap. The intent behind my furious charge must have transmitted itself to the other students because I could see heads swivel ing towards me.

‘Just what is your problem?’ Whoa, had I real y said that?

‘What?’ Zed dug in his pocket and pul ed out his shades, putting them on so I was now looking at myself in double in the reflection. The four other boys were smirking at me, waiting for Zed to slap me down.

‘I almost get drowned yesterday thanks to you and you made it sound like it was my fault.’

He stared at me silently, an intimidating tactic that almost worked.

‘You were more to blame than I was for what happened in the raft.’ Aretha was leaving me, her voice dying to a whisper.

‘ I was to blame?’ His tone was marvel ing that someone dare address him like this to his face.

‘I knew zilch about rafting—you were the expert—

go figure who was most in the wrong.’

‘Who’s the angry chick, Zed?’ asked one of his friends.

He shrugged. ‘No one.’

I felt the punch—and it hurt. ‘I am not “no one”. At least I’m not an arrogant pain-in-the-backside with a permanent sneer.’ Shut up, Sky, shut up. I must have developed a death wish.

His friends howled at that.

‘Zed, she’s got you nailed,’ said the one with slicked-back red hair, looking at me with new interest.

‘Yeah, she’s something else.’ Zed shrugged and nodded his head into the building. ‘Run along, BoPeep.’

Mustering al the dignity I could, I clutched my books to my chest and strode into school, Tina at my side.

‘What was that?’ she marvel ed, touching my forehead to see if I was running a temperature.

I puffed out the breath I’d not been aware I was holding. ‘That was me being angry. Was I convincing?’

‘Er … some.’

‘That bad?’

‘No, you were great!’ She didn’t sound very certain. ‘Zed had it coming. Just you’d better get good at hiding when you see him coming; he’s not going to be pleased you ripped into him in front of his mates.’

I hid my face in my hands. ‘I did, didn’t I?’

‘Yeah, you did. He isn’t used to girls criticizing him

—they’re usual y too much in awe. You know he’s the hottest date in Wrickenridge, right?’

‘Yeah, wel , I wouldn’t date him if he were the last breath of air on the planet.’

‘Ouch, that’s harsh!’

‘No, it’s fair.’

Tina patted my arm consolingly. ‘I wouldn’t worry.