[Excerpt] No More Maybes (a No More Maybes novel)

One

Year 12 was supposed to be difficult. I knew that. I expected that. What I hadn't expected was for one person to come along and dash all my carefully laid plans to pieces. But, at this point, I was still in blissful ignorance. I was quite happy just eating my favourite blue liquorice – blue vines – and catching up with my three best friends.

"Ugh, no! Don't do it!" Rachel laughed.

Cassidy winked. "You say that like I haven't already."

Cassidy and Rachel descended into a fit of giggles. I shared a look with Beat and grabbed another blue vine. Rachel and Cassidy kept talking and giggling about all the things they got up to over the holidays, with occasional interjections from Beat and I.

At a particularly vulgar comment from Cassidy, I doubled up, almost choking on my liquorice. As I looked up, I saw a new student walking through the school gates and my blue vine hung from my mouth, all-but forgotten.

I mean, damn, the guy was fine. He wasn't hugely tall or bulky, like some of the other guys at school with their over six-foot height and Rugby-player bodies. He had dark hair, almost black, that was long enough to tuck behind his ears and the upturned collar of his grey jacket. His hands were shoved deep in his pockets and his gaze swept across the courtyard of Saint August's like it was the most unimpressive sight he'd ever seen.

He had a very Jess from Gilmore Girls vibe going on.

His gaze swept past me and I had a moment.

You know when you're watching some television show or movie? And one of the actors has that look? You stare at them and you have a new appreciation for their attractiveness. You sit there, on the couch or in the cinema, and you can't stop yourself from exclaiming 'oh my God'.

Yeah, that happened.

"What?" Beat laughed.

I blinked and closed my mouth, trying to smile despite the realisation that I'd just voiced my thoughts. Beat looked around, but the new guy was gone.

"Who was it?" Beat sniggered.

I laughed. "I don't know what you-"

"Aurora Daniels!" the shrill call interrupted me.

I jumped, trying to stifle my giggles.

"Matron Peters." I smiled.

Our English teacher scowled. "Miss Daniels, is that really an appropriate place to sit?"

I looked down. I was sitting on the picnic-style table, one foot on the bench, the other crossed over my knee and my foot hooked around my leg; same way I sat every day. I looked back up at Matron Peters, my most charming smile plastered to my face as I slipped off the table, making sure to hold my skirt down.

"I'm sorry, Matron."

After a momentary pause, Matron Peters smiled. "Just don't be late to class, girls."

"Of course, Matron Peters," we chorused and I held out the blue vines packet.

She smiled back and took one. "I'll see you girls later."

"Bye!" We smiled as she left.

"So, trials tomorrow after school and practice Thursday, yes?" Beat asked, moving onto the important things in life.

I pulled my blue vine from my mouth. "Yup. Blerg."

"Blerg? You love soccer season," Beat chastised.

"True, but..."

"Kelly's probably going to try for captain again?"

I shrugged, trying to play it cool.