LEILA {ongoing}

26.

"You're going back to Australia."

My heart stutters, breathing slows until I hear myself screaming happy cries of joy running on the spot, puffing myself out.

My parents are laughing along with me as I throw myself on them.

Mums beaming. "We know how disappointed you were that you had to leave before going on the summer roadtrip with Kel and Stacey, so we've been organising it with them and you leave next Sunday."

A new round of jumping and screaming in the lounge room occurs before Dad pulls me into him and hugs me tightly before sitting me down and they both go oddly serious.

"This means that you'll be completing all of your exams this week. We've spoken to all your teachers and Mr Whiting and they are all fine with you getting it out of the way."

Perks of having parents as teachers, I guess.

"Seriously! They're fine with it? Even Mr Heckles? I'm not exactly his favourite student."

Dad chuckles. "The amount of times that man has whinged to me about you is pretty amusing. Especially because it's literally that you're doing too well. I don't think he likes being shown up."

I mean, most people don't but especially not him.

"This...this is amazing! I wish you had told me earlier, I would have finished my science assignment."

"You were helping Elijah study, sweetheart. We thought it might be rude telling him to leave when he asked for your help."

Elijah didn't even need my help but let's not get into that now.

"We weren't expecting him to take you out for dinner though, but it doesn't matter now." Mum follows up and I giggle at Dad rolling his eyes to Mum's reference to my dinner buddy.

"You'll be missing a few classes but mostly completing the exams through your lunches and a couple after school. With how we've planned it out you will be done by Thursday afternoon, maybe earlier." Mum let's me know.

Dad buts in. "It does mean you won't be helping out with the team this week."

"I'm sure the guys will be more than fine without me."

"Ehh. Don't be too sure about that. I think they equally like having you there and are scared of you more than me. Especially the juniors." The three of us have a good chuckle at that. Poor little boys.

Once my parents have filled me on everything that will be happening this week I call Kelly and Stacey. It's early Monday morning so hopefully they answer.

A very sleepy looking Stacey appears on my screen. "What the hell, girl. Why-"

"Hold on. We need to wait for Kel." A couple seconds tick by and as soon as I see Kelly's disgruntled mug on my screen, I bellow.

"YOU BLOODY BITCHES! How am I ever going to trust you again! We were literally talking not even 24hrs ago and you said absolutely nothing! How were you both able to keep the secret, aye!? Especially you Kel, you're shit at secret keeping."

Both of their eyes widened when I called them bitches. We aren't the type of friends to use that as a term of endearment so I knew it would instantly get their attention. Their smiles are beaming at me through the screen as we all laugh.

"We're sorry! Kinda. Not really." Kel jokes. "I almost let it slip yesterday but Stace elbowed me, which by the way I have a bruise from but anyway, your parents would have killed us and we kind of like being on Vicky and Richards good side."

"I can't believe I get to hug both of you in 7 days!" I start bouncing around my bedroom.

Once I had calmed down, Stacey emailed me our itinerary which basically consisted of the different caravan parks we would be staying at and a form that I needed to sign so I could drive the rental van we would all be living out of for 4 weeks.