Free Head of the River by Pip Harry

does.
    Audrey and her boyfriend have been together since she was in Year Ten. He’s just finished Year Twelve. In high school years that’s a long time.
    Audrey sighs. ‘I told Kieren to dump me for schoolies’ week.’
    â€˜Why?’
    â€˜I doubt he wants a little Year Eleven girlfriend who can’t even go to clubs on the biggest party of his life. I told him we should break up for a week, and he can do whatever he likes. Then we can get back together.’
    She looks miserable. ‘I think I made a huge mistake.’
    I give her a hug.
    â€˜Get back together with him. Kieren is awesome and you guys are like vegemite and toast. Not as good apart.’
    She nods and wipes her nose on my sleeve.
    â€˜Yuuuk,’ I say. ‘We’re not that close.’
    I decide to confess something murky and secret to Audrey because we tell each other almost everything.
    â€˜I’m crushing on someone at school.’
    Audrey leans forward and widens her eyes.
    â€˜Might this have something to do with you wanting to be single?’
    â€˜Promise you won’t tell anyone.’
    â€˜Pinkie swear.’
    â€˜It’s Sam Camero.’
    â€˜Bike Pant Guy? He’s in my ceramics class. You should see him handle a piece of clay.’ She makes a lewd gesture with her hands and laughs.
    â€˜What do you think of him?’
    Audrey shrugs. She hasn’t spent a minute thinking about Sam. Unlike me.
    â€˜Doesn’t talk much, comes in, does his thing, leaves. Obviously he’s very lovely to look at, but I reckon he’s well aware of that. Oooh. Want to look him up on Facebook?’ she asks.
    I’ve already googled him, but I let Audrey feel like a detective.
    â€˜I’ll log in as you. Password?’
    â€˜RowingGirl.’
    â€˜Of course.’
    â€˜Sam Camero, Samuel Camero Jr, Samantha Camero. There’s heaps of them.’
    I look over her shoulder at the profiles. ‘Cut out all the Samanthas and all the ones overseas. There he is.’
    Sam’s profile photo is of him riding a mountain bike over a huge cliff and taking air.
    â€˜Let’s see. Photos first,’ Audrey says. ‘Photogenic character, isn’t he?’
    Sam’s photo bank is like an action adventure catalogue. Mountain biking, rowing, snowboarding, bungy jumping and one of him in an insane yoga pose. There’s a cute one where he’s holding a baby I assume is his niece or nephew.
    â€˜What can Facebook tell us about the elusive Sam?’ Audrey says, reading his profile.
    â€˜One hundred and eighteen friends. Interested in women. Lucky. Birthday, September. Dating status: It’s complicated. Hmmm. What does that mean?’
    What did that mean? It’s new since I last stalked his profile.
    â€˜Favourite activities: Bikram yoga, whatever that is, rowing, mountain biking. Yawn. He likes Discovery Channel, Nat GEO, Breaking Bad , Dexter , favourite movie The Lord of the Rings … okay, maybe I have a crush on him now.’
    I’m too busy looking at Sam’s page that I don’t notice Audrey has moved the mouse to hover over the ‘Add friend’ button. She looks at me, smiles and clicks it.
    I scream and try to wrestle the mouse away from her.
    â€˜You did not do that!’
    â€˜It’s sent, Leni!’
    â€˜You are the worst best friend ever!’ I scream, falling backwards onto her bed and covering my face with her pillow.
    The next time Sam logs into Facebook he will see a big fat ‘Friend Request’ from me.
    â€˜He probably has a crush on you too. You’re gorgeous,’ says Audrey.
    â€˜You think?’
    â€˜Don’t fish.’
    â€˜I’m not!’
    I knew I wasn’t Year Nine Leni anymore, painfully skinny, with a faint moustache and greyhound legs. I looked good to guys. I’d seen them staring.
    â€˜I can’t believe you sent Sam a friend request from my account. What’s