then ~ RUEL FANFIC~

Alira's POV

I wake up already sweating like a tap. The air is muggy and presses in on me. I roll out of bed and throw open the window, but the rush of hot air that fills my room provides no comfort. 

It's going to be a bad day at the nursery.

Once I've showered and burnt myself via boiling water spilling out of the cold tap about 29582 times, I manage to wake Rocky who seems just as unenthusiastic about leaving home today as I do.

"You have to go to school, bud!"

"No I don't. They won't notice if I'm not there."

"Rocky, eight people go to that school. I guarantee they'll notice."

"Can't we go back to Sydney!? Then I could skip every day and nooneeeee would know."

"We aren't going back to Sydney. And you aren't skipping. Ever. You need your education!"

"Says the dropout."

"Rocky, I'm providing an income."

"What's an income?"

"This is why you need to go to school!"

"Fine!"

I roll my eyes and return to the bathroom to brush out my hair which seems to have grown about four inches since we moved. I really can't be bothered going into town to get it cut so I'll do it with some kitchen scissors later.

"Dad?" I yell down the hallway. "Dad!"

"I'm awake, I'm awake!" He yells back from his room. 

"Good. You need to go to the shops today, you're working 9pm till 2am at the hospital. Then tomorrow morning that guy is coming to buy your old surfboard."

"You seem on top of everything."

"I'm the only one." I mumble. Not loud enough for him to hear.

From how I talk to him strangers might think I resent my dad. But the truth is I love him more than anything. Through everything we've been through he stayed away from alcohol, contrary to his alcoholism when I was younger and life was good. He managed to get an alright night shift job at the quiet hospital in town. They see some pretty bad stuff there but he never unloads the struggle at home with us. I worry he's lonely out here, though.

"You working today?" He calls. 

"Yep. 8 till 3. I'll get rocky from school then take him to the river."

"Watch out for crocs."

"I will. We will."

I grab my bag from my room and bike helmet from the front door. 

"Bye Rocky!" I yell, a little too loud to be considered kind.

I can practically hear him roll his eyes.

"Bye dad." I say, a little more resigned.

"Bye, love. I'll see you later."

"Yep."

At the front door I kick up the stand on my bike and jump on. The dirt roads seem to be even bumpier in hot weather. Steam rises off the floor. 

Along the red compacted ground few plants grow. Maybe a little Bush here and there, brown and wrinkled in the heat. A hawk swoops past.

After a half hour hell trip I arrive at the Nursery. Throw my bike to the side and run up the drive into the mercifully cooled building out the front. 

"Morning Lira." Comes a croaky voice from behind the counter. It's Lillian, an old, withered woman with a kind face and kinder demeanour.

"Morning, Lil. Watering?"

"Done. You can go pack the seedlings In shed 3."

"On it."

I'm halfway out the door when she calls me. "Alira?"

I spin around. "Yeah?"

"I got a call for you yesterday evening. A guy, i dont remember his name, asking how you were and where you were. He said he spent ages finding out where you work."

My heart rate quickens. "Did you get his number?"

"Yep. I've written it down for you."

"Oh. Thank you so much, I'll call them... him during lunch."

"Sure thing."

I turn and bite my lip, stomach churning. Somehow I know who this call might be.