Free August by Gabrielle Lord Page A

on the door finally twisted, but then it swung open slowly, like it was moving of its own accord.
    ‘Hello?’ I asked. ‘Winter?’
    Cautiously I stepped into the flat.
    ‘Surprise!’ Winter and Boges both jumped out from behind the couch!
    ‘Happy belated birthday!’ Winter added, revealing an awesome-looking chocolate cake with sixteen candles on top of it.
    I grabbed Boges around the shoulders. ‘You both nearly gave me a heart attack! Nice hats!’ I added, noticing the sparkly party hats they were both wearing. Once I’d caught my breath I realised that the place smelled delicious, and Winter’s table was covered in good stuff–lollies, chips, slices and cupcakes!
    Boges cleared his throat and in a deep voice started singing ‘Happy Birthday’. Winter was quick to join in and add the higher notes.
    ‘Go on, Cal’ said Winter. ‘Make a wish and blow out the candles!’
    I stared into the glow on the cake and smiled. It sure wasn’t a happy birthday–I was so worried about Gabbi–but having my friends onmy side, and a powerful ally like Nelson Sharkey, gave me the boost I needed to know we’d get through it OK.
    I blew the candles out and my friends came over and hugged me.
    ‘That’s for Gabbi,’ said Winter when she saw me looking at a thick, pink candle that was burning on the desk near the photos of her parents. ‘That’s her candle. I’m going to keep it burning, whenever I’m here, until we bring her home.’
    Inside me, the small light of hope in my mind grew, until it shone like sunlight on a murky pond.
    ‘Thanks guys,’ I said, and plunged the knife into the cake.
    ‘We’re a bit late!’ said Winter. ‘We planned on doing this after your meeting with Rathbone, but we all know how that didn’t quite go to plan. Anyway, you should open your present,’ said Winter, pulling out a small box tied with a bow. ‘It’s from both of us.’
    Boges sawed off huge chunks of chocolate cake, while I opened my card and present.
    ‘This is unreal, thanks you guys!’ I stared in awe at what I had been given–a new mobile. It was similar to the one I’d just lost, but a newer version.
    ‘I’ve already set it up for you,’ said Boges.‘The number’s written on the back of your card. I’ve done what I can to make sure you can’t be tracked on this one, but it’s hard to know for sure when technology’s always changing. I don’t fancy setting another phone up for you again, so do me a favour and try to hold onto this one, will you?’

    ‘And now for present number two,’ announced Boges as we demolished the cake. He lifted a bulging backpack out from behind the couch. ‘What do we have here?’ he said to himself. He unzipped the bag. ‘Ooh, some new clothes!’
    Out came a pair of jeans, some T-shirts and hats, and a new hoodie. Boges pulled one thing out after another, flourishing them like a stage magician pulling rabbits out of a hat. He waved them around before tossing them to me.
    ‘Here’s your new backpack,’ he said, sliding the now-empty bag over to me with a kick of his foot. ‘Like I said about the phone, try to hold onto these this time.’
    ‘One final thing,’ said Winter, looking at me sheepishly.
    ‘What is it?’ I asked. The curious look on Boges’s face matched my own. Clearly he had no idea what she was about to reveal either.
    She stood up and twisted on the spot, seemingunsure about whether she wanted to follow through with handing over her gift or not.
    ‘Come on,’ said Boges. ‘We’re late enough with his birthday as it is.’
    ‘OK, but please don’t get angry at me,’ she begged. ‘Promise you won’t get angry?’
    ‘Winter, what are you talking about?’ I asked.
    ‘Promise?’
    ‘Fine, just out with it already!’
    Winter opened a drawer in her kitchen and pulled out a familiar handful of folded papers. She walked over to me slowly, and placed them in my hands, all the time staring into my eyes as if she was afraid of how I was