Free Paper Alice by Charlotte Calder Page B

gathering at the pub to farewell one of his friends who was going overseas.
    â€˜Um,’ I said, ‘what time will it finish?’
    Dunc shrugged. ‘How would I know? Till the last ones go, I guess, or the pub shuts.’ He looked at me. ‘Why?’
    â€˜We-ell . . .’ I took a deep breath and started plucking at the grass. ‘That guy at the Rose and Star that night – the one who thought I was Wilda – mentioned some kind of reading, poetry or something, in the Cave tonight that I . . .’ I broke off with a laugh, ‘I mean she was meant to be going to, so . . .’
    â€˜Oh, for god’s sake, Al,’ he broke in, half frowning. ‘Leave it, why don’t you? This chick looks like you – big deal! She sounds like a weirdo if you ask me.’
    I sighed. ‘I know. It’s . . . just that . . .’
    But I was interrupted by a cry of ‘Hey Dunc!’
    We looked up to see two girls, books in their arms, walking past – several metres away. They waved; Dunc gave a little wave back.
    â€˜Hey.’
    They both looked at me.
    â€˜Hope we’re not interrupting anything!’ one of them called.
    You are, actually , I felt like calling out to them. We were discussing a plot to blow up the Harbour Bridge.
    We both laughed and shook our heads.
    â€˜No.’
    Thankfully they kept going. ‘See you this afternoon,’ one of them said to Dunc over her shoulder.
    â€˜Yeah, see ya.’
    He turned back to me.
    â€˜She’s in my accounting tute,’ he said, with a little shrug.
    I looked back at the two figures, long hair bobbingdown their backs as they chatted their way across the lawn. Both carefully dressed in layered, figure-hugging gear. I gave a little laugh.
    â€˜They look like accounting students.’
    Dunc looked at me. ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
    â€˜Oh . . .’ I shrugged, feeling like a bitch again. I wondered if I was becoming like my mother. ‘It’s just that they look so . . . neat , that’s all. Like they’re already dressing for the office.’
    We turned again and watched as they stepped off the lawn and onto the road. A car braked; they crossed in front of it without looking at it.
    â€˜They look OK to me,’ he said, his eyes still on them.
    â€˜Yeah.’ I gave another little laugh and resumed my grass pulling. ‘They would.’
    I could feel him look at me again.
    â€˜Alice . . .’
    â€˜Well, I’m sorry I don’t dress up like that every day just to go to uni!’ I said, indicating my ancient jeans and two-year-old T-shirt. ‘I mean, they must spend a fortune just on make-up alone!’
    How irrational and attention-seeking did that just sound, scolded inner Alice. Was I about to get my period?
    â€˜Well, they’re allowed to if they want to.’ Dunc raised an eyebrow. ‘It’s a free country.’
    â€˜Yep.’ I sighed and touched his hand. ‘I know – of course they are.’ Then I grinned, my eyes meeting his. ‘Maybe you should go out with one of them – one of those glamour girls.’
    He laughed. ‘Maybe I should!’
    â€˜Or I should start trying to dress like Paris Hilton,’I said, watching his face. ‘You’d like that, wouldn’t you?’
    He stared back at me; I tapped his hand. ‘ Wouldn’t you?’
    A shrug and a laugh. ‘Maybe, sometimes.’
    I snorted.
    â€˜What’s wrong with looking like Paris Hilton?’ he cried.
    â€˜Du-unc!’ I pulled my hands away, annoyance suddenly flaring in me like matches tossed in a fire. ‘She’s a total ditz ! And a complete tart,’ I added, folding my arms.
    He grinned. ‘But a great-looking ditz!’ His smile widened as he watched me take the bait. ‘And hey – a bit of tart is good!’
    I stared at him, suddenly