on the map//spencer 'spider' white

26

Darren nods. "Yeah, there's nothing I'd love more." They grab Quinni. "Come on."

"But my phone is the key to finding Bird Psycho," Quinni protests.

After looking for Amerie for twenty minutes I finally spot her in the courtyard.

"You've been sneaking around with Rowan all day," I state.

Amerie jumps slightly. "What?"

"You and Rowan," I tell her. "You looked rather cozy."

"He's helping me with my campaign video," Amerie tells me.

"Sure." I nod my head. "Sure. Just helping you."

"He is," Amerie insists. "And what about you and Spider? Saw you two were pretty cozy at camp."

I laugh. "Don't forget we're meeting at Harry's later."

"Rhiannon!" Amerie shouts as I walk away.

Harper, Darren, Ca$h and I are sitting in a booth at Harry's waiting for Amerie. She's late of course.

"Did you try calling her?" Harper asks.

Suddenly there's a banging on the window. It's Amerie. "Sorry! Sorry! Sorry!"

"Jesus, Map bitch," Darren remarks.

"I'm so sorry," Amerie says as she sits next to me.

"Where have you been?" Harper asks.

"Oh, I was editing my campaign video with Rowan," Amerie explains.

"Does Malakai know you were spending the afternoon with his boyfriend?" Darren asks.

"I'll have you know they broke up actually," Amerie tells us.

"What did you do?" Darren asks.

"Oh, my God, nothing," Amerie insists. "Jesus."

"Are you gonna get back with Malakai?" Harper asks.

"No. Oh, my..." Amerie starts. "Can we please get off this topic? I thought we were here to talk about Quinni."

"Okay. So, tomorrow I'm thinking we get her out of her room and do something super fun," Darren offers. "Remind her there's more to life than Bird Psycho. So, suggestions for activities... There are no bad ideas. Go."

"There's a day rave in Marrickville," Ca$h offers.

"No, we should go axe throwing," Harper says.

Darren winces. "Guys, I said no bad ideas."

"My mum wants me to help clean out the fridge. Maybe we could make it like a fun team-building type thing," Amerie offers.

"Uh, it's, like, Nan." Ca$h says as he points to his phone. "I gotta take this."

"Okay, you guys, let's think of activities Quinni actually enjoys," Darren tells us.

"Hip-hop dance class," Amerie offers.

"She'd rather clean your fridge," Darren tells her.

The decision was made to take Quinni to the zoo this afternoon. I just need to make a stop first.

I knock on the front door of Spider's house. He looks surprised to see me.

"Rhiannon?" Spider asks.

I push my way past him into his house. "Thought we should talk about what happened. You've been unusually quiet about it."

"Now's not a good time," Spider tells me. He looks down at the shirt I'm wearing. It's his stupid election shirt. "You're wearing my shirt."

I nod my head. "I need a way to get you attention."