Free The Mission by Fiona Palmer Page A

reappeared. ‘You have a board? Sweet. You’ll have to bring it on Saturday and I’ll show you a few things. I surf as well. Hard not to when you wake up to this every morning.’
    ‘Yeah, rub it in, why don’t you.’ Jaz rolled up the sleeve on her right arm and showed Marcus her graze. ‘Maybe you could show me how NOT to stack it on a skateboard.’
    His hand reached out and caressed her arm gently. ‘Ouch. That’s a good one.’
    Jaz didn’t pull away from him. Instead, she enjoyed his warm touch. She didn’t have to pretend. She was enjoying Marcus’s company. Jaz shivered, the breeze off the ocean had turned cold without her realising. The salty air carried the freshness of the approaching night.
    ‘You’re cold.’ He pulled his hand away reluctantly. ‘Can I drive you home? I take it you don’t have a car, seeing as you took the bus here.’
    Jaz pulled her sleeve down and nodded. ‘I’m in the process of saving for one. Hopefully I can get one soon. Mum’s decided to actually help me get something decent. She’s worried I’ll be stranded on the freeway or some seedy suburb with engine trouble. My friend has a classic Mustang and I’d love to get something like that, but Mum will want something more reliable and modern.’
    ‘Mustang. Nice. A guy friend?’ he asked curiously.
    ‘Yeah. My best mate Taylor. Him, Anna and I have been best friends since we were kids.’ Marcus seemed pleased with her answer.
    ‘Come on, my car is just up here. It’s no Mustang, though.’ He stood up and held out his hand. Jaz took it and he hauled her up to her feet, and then he reached for her bag and slung it over his shoulder.
    ‘Thanks.’ Jaz brushed off the sand, took one last look at the beautiful beach and walked back up the steps to the car park by the road.
    She heard the beep of a car unlocking and then saw the lights on the sleek black BMW in front of her. ‘That’s your car?’ It had dark tint and big shiny rims. Jaz loved it.
    ‘Kind of.’
    Marcus put her bag in the back and they got in. The leather seats hugged her body.
    ‘It’s my dad’s car, well, one of them. He’s always in his Jag, so I get to use this one.’
    ‘It’s cool. My folks don’t appreciate a good car. I guess Taylor has rubbed off on us girls,’ she said with a laugh.
    As he started the car, Imagine Dragons Radioactive blared through the speakers. ‘Shit, sorry.’ He turned the volume down and then pulled out of the car park and headed away from Cottesloe. ‘That’s my house there,’ he said pointing to the two-storey with the big fence.
    ‘Fancy,’ she said, trying to look as if it’s the first time she’d checked out his house.
    ‘So where to?’
    Jaz mind began to spin. Should she let him know her address? If she was supposed to get close to him, become his girlfriend, then he’d expect her to share things like where she lived. He’d want to meet Taylor and Anna, her parents. This thought scared her. Maybe she should have gone with a fake name.
    She watched Marcus driving. It was hard to believe he could hurt her, especially when he seemed so normal and nice. Better than nice, even.
    Jaz gave him directions to her house and actually felt a little sad when he pulled up out the front.
    Marcus whistled. ‘Not bad digs, Jaz. Which room’s yours?’ he said teasingly.
    ‘Ha, as if I would share that with you. I’ll run up and get your shirt while you’re here?’ she said, and went to leave but he grabbed her hand.
    ‘No, leave it. Bring it on Saturday. That way I know you have to turn up.’
    ‘Marcus, you don’t have to worry. I turned up today, didn’t I?’ She gave him a big smile as he let her go. ‘Besides, I really need some skateboard lessons.’
    ‘Maybe we could swap and you could show me some of your moves?’ He lifted his hands into a karate chop pose. ‘I only know The Karate Kid moves,’ he said with a smirk. He started to move his hands in circles. ‘Wax on, wax off.’
    Jaz