THE UNLISTED

Chapter Two

Dru was pedalling fiercely to stay slightly in front of Kal – until Kal noticed and put in a bit of extra effort to overtake him, leading the way through the suburban Sydney streets to arrive at the school grounds a moment before his twin.

As the boys parked their bikes just inside the gates of Westbrook High School, Kal said, 'You might be smart, but you lose every time.'

Dru ignored Kal's usual jibe about his lack of sporting prowess, instead looking around him, suddenly wondering if the dream dictionary might have any basis in reality. Should he be on the lookout for an 'untrustworthy presence'? He let his gaze wander around the schoolyard.

Everyone seemed the same. Same teachers, same kids, same grey uniform.
Dru and Kal had never really hung out together and didn't sit near each other in class.

Although they got on just fine, it had become clear when they were both in primary school that they had different personalities and different interests.

Their parents had never dressed them the same, much to Vidya's disappointment, and the friends they'd grown up with never really thought of them as twins. Anyway, Dru wearing glasses made it easy to tell them apart.

Kal was staring at him, waiting for his response to the jibe.
'It wasn't a race,' said Dru.

Kal nodded with an exaggerated smile. 'You keep telling yourself that.'

'Dru! Kal!' Chloe Flannery waved and jogged over to them. 'Happy Diwali.'

Chloe, with fair skin and long red hair, had been the boys' next door neighbour their whole life and Dadi made sure Chloe was included in all their special family celebrations.

Dru wasn't great with girls, and even though he had known Chloe forever, he still struggled to keep it together around her. He thought she was really pretty, which made it a hundred times worse. He tried to act natural. 'You remembered,' he said, coughing self-consciously.

Kal rolled his eyes, embarrassed by his brother's embarrassment.

Chloe, on the other hand, never seemed to notice Dru's nervousness around her. 'I've been counting down. Can't wait for Dadi's party tonight.'

'You're coming?!' Dru knew he sounded too eager, and tried to backtrack. 'I mean – come if you want.'

Chloe smiled. 'Okay then,' she said quietly, 'see you later.' Dru grimaced. He tried so hard to play it cool around Chloe.

Kal looked at Dru with amusement. 'Smooth.'

The bell rang over the school's PA system, followed by an announcement: 'Good morning, students and staff. It's Mr Park. My year group will be participating in the Global Child Initiative dental plan today. Please head directly to the sick bay instead of homeroom. Thank you.'

The blood drained from Dru's face. 'Oh no,' he said. 'No, no, no.'

•

At the sick-bay door, Dru was next in line, sweaty, shaking and terrified. Chloe, who was well aware of Dru's squeamishness with dentists – she remembered Dru sobbing when he lost his first tooth – was right next to him in the line. She did her best to calm him down.