Spiralling Out of the Shadow (The Spiralling Trilogy) Read Online Free Page A

something?’
    ‘ Just Mr Biceps.’ A warm flush tickled my neck.
    ‘ Mr Who?’ Suzie and Janet chimed in, laughing together.
    I giggled. ‘On the way to see Steph, I sat beside this dreamy guy.’
    ‘Why haven’ t you told us?’ Suzie asked.
    ‘ Did you talk to him?’ Janet’s eyes widened. ‘Did you hook up?’
    ‘ Be real. As if. He was like thirty or something.’ And as if I’d hook up with a random guy on a plane.
    ‘ So, why were you just thinking ...’ Suzie's voice trailed off.
    ‘ We do need to include some boys—for balance.’ I shook my head to remove the biceps image from my eyes.
    ‘ Like who?’ Suzie asked.
    ‘I don’ t know. Janet, can you think of who we can invite?’
    ‘ Hmm. Perhaps, the whole football team from Hill End?’ Janet smiled, nodding.
    ‘ That’s just crazy. We’d need a bouncer if we invited the whole team.’ I gathered my books and attempted to leave for class. ‘Actually, I think a bouncer would be a good idea anyway.’
    ‘ What about the guys from dance?’ Suzie suggested as she grabbed my arm.
    ‘ Sounds like a plan.’ I walked away but this time Janet pulled me back.
    ‘ They’re a bit ... ahem. But I guess if we asked them to bring their friends, you never know who they might bring.’ Janet stared into the distance.
    The bell vibrated through the walls.
    ‘Great, I’ll send the boys a text and tell them to bring a couple of mates.’ Janet tapped her phone as we trudged off to class.

CHAPTER 5
     
     
    Janet ripped the plastic wrap off six-packs of Cruisers purchased by her father. She wedged them into ice-filled eskies already laden with beer. I wanted to offer soft drinks to everyone, but my friend had manipulated other plans.
    Thankfully, Jane t’s parents grew money on trees. When she asked if we could hire security for the party, they jumped at the idea. Having bouncers at the front door would keep their daughter and home safe, or so they thought.
    Janet handed a copy of the guest list to the bouncers when they arrived. She bustled them to their post on the porch and returned, grabbing a drink from the top of the esky.
    ‘ Cheers!’ Janet opened a Cruiser, drained it and grabbed another before our first guests arrived. The house was bumping to the beat of the playlist. I’d spent the afternoon making sure we’d have loads of great tunes to groove to.
    My geography buddy Sarah arrived with her cousin Peta, who’d played netball with Lily. The three of them grabbed a Corona each.
    ‘ Hey, Janet, do you have any lime wedges?’ Lily asked.
    ‘ No, sorry. I didn’t think of lime for the beer.’ She opened a drawer loaded with stubby holders and passed one to each of them.
    Mum and Dad had drilled my brother and me from birth, “You only know that you are an alcoholic after your first drink. We just don’t want you ending up an alcoholic like your Uncle James. Once you take that first drink ...”
    Over the years I’d become more and more fearful that I might have the addictive gene and become the alco, the black-sheep family trouble maker. I took another sip of lemonade. The sweet drink gave me a sufficient sugar buzz.
    I passed Suzie a can of soft drink, knowing her parents would probably ship her off to a lock-down boarding school if she even smelt an alcoholic drink. The guests flooded through the door and soon Suzie and I were the only ones without alcohol running through our ve ins. Everyone else indulged in Janet’s supplies.
    Just before nine, Joey waltzed in. Seriously, he looked like he was doing a Fred Astaire impersonation. He was the definition of a dancing dork. I’d hoped some hot boys would join our dance school, but so far, Joey was as good as it got.
    Stop.
    Get out of here.
    Who just followed Joey in?
    ‘Suzie, Suzie,’ I whispered, grabbing her shoulder. ‘Mr Universe has just entered the house.’
    ‘ Calm down, Tabbie,’ she said, in a smooth molten voice, before she faced the door. She turned back to face