"Les amitiés particulières," She says, definitely butchering the french pronunciation.

My blank face is the only answer I give her.

"It means This Special Friendship. It was very beautiful, very queer, very sad, and a bit creepy," She tells me.

"Sounds French then," I tell her with a laugh.

"Very," She tells me, smiling.

This is how we greet each other every day. She asks me about the book I'm reading, and I ask her about the movie she's just watched. I can't remember when we started doing it, but it's become one of my favourite parts of the day. Most people don't want to talk about that stuff with us the way that we talk about it. It's nice.

Noelle glances behind her again, then catches my eye. Biting her lip as she realises I caught her.

"Why are you so paranoid about her?" I ask her.

"It just feels like she's out to get me. She's always got these snide comments and is "accidentally" bumping into me. It's not like I've actually got any chance with Aaron," Noelle tells me, her face shrouded with frustration.

"Or, like you'd even talk to him," I say to her, my tongue in my cheek.

Noelle smacks me because she can't think of anything to say (because I'm right) when Mr Teerie appears.

"Just one day, Noelle. I'd like to have just one day where I don't have to remind you of the school's policy on physical assault," Mr Teerie scolds Noelle. He sounds exasperated, but there's a hint of humour.

"Even when he deserves it?" Noelle asks with a pout.

Mr Teerie peers down at me and smirks.

"Even then. At least not on school property," He says before ushering everyone into the classroom.

__________________________

The final bell rings, and I make my way to the old grey stone wall that borders the high school, the words "Bombora Bay High" engraved onto it, and sit on top of it to wait for Helen and my friends. The stone is cool, even through my jeans. I shift myself atop the broken pieces of rock, trying to get comfortable.

I fish my book out of my bag again, holding the pages tight as the wind blows through them, nearly making me lose my spot for the second time today. The autumn sun warms the back of my neck as I read about the residents of Castle Rock committing various acts to receive their deepest desires.

The story envelopes me, and the real world begins to fade away. The sounds of students leaving the school just begin to muffle when a shadow covers the words on my page. I let out a sigh. It feels like the universe is determined to prevent my reading today. I look up from my page to see who is interrupting me.