What We'll Leave Behind - Len Webster Page 0,1

home. But Noel and Alex had just started as junior accountants at G&MC, one of America’s largest accounting firms.

Julian: Thanks, man. Wish you were here with us.

Noel: You sound like I’ve died.

Julian: Might as well have. You’re boring as fuck lately.

Noel: Welcome to the real world, asshole.

Julian: Thanks, asshole.

He looked up to see Clara staring at him curiously. “That was Noel. He says hi.”

She let out an unbelievable laugh and then shook her head. “I doubt it.”

“What do you mean?” he asked as he returned his phone to his pocket and reached for a bottle of water. The hot sun had caused him to sweat, and he was feeling parched.

Clara picked up a piece of sliced watermelon. “Nolan Parker is not important. What is important is if we’re still on for lunch and a movie when you return?”

Julian kissed the top of her head. “You got it, kiddo. I’ll never break our promises.”

“Just have fun and be safe, okay?”

He placed his hand on her shoulder and looked down at her. Her big, brown eyes were shining. Clara was like an adorable little sister for him.

“I promise, Clara.”

“Stephanie! Stephanie Appleton!” Hayley called.

“Seriously, how many times?” Stevie mumbled under her breath.

But it didn’t matter. Exams were over in a week and she would be free from the horrible all-girls high school. University meant being away from many of her classmates. Most would likely attend university in other countries or states.

After a deep breath, Stevie turned around to see Hayley Craft standing next to her, rolling up the long sleeves of her white school shirt and breathing heavily. Hayley had been the girl who sat in front of Stevie in their business management class and had always been nice. “You okay?” she asked as she closed her locker.

Most of the girls still kept their lockers while they studied on campus for their year twelve exams. Stevie used hers to stuff her bag in when she couldn’t be bothered to drag it from her car to the library.

“Do you have plans for Schoolies?” Hayley asked as she brushed a lock of her auburn hair behind her ear.

Stevie shook her head. “Nope.”

Hayley’s hazel eyes shone as she grinned. “That’s great!”

“Great? More like pathetic.”

“This is really great!”

Not sure where Hayley was going, Stevie spun around and walked towards the library on the far end of campus, past the science labs and next to the art studios.

“Wait up!” Hayley shouted, picking up her pace to match Stevie’s. “Do you want to go to Thailand?”

Stevie stopped and squinted at her. “What?”

Hayley let out a heavy sigh. “My boyfriend wants to spend Schoolies together, and I really want to go with him. But I’ve already paid my share for the trip with the girls. When I said I couldn’t go, they wanted me to ask you if you’d fill my spot.”

Schoolies with the pretentious bitches?

Stevie scrunched her nose at the thought. Thailand would mean she would be away from her stepbrother, stepmother, and father. As much as she loved them, they suffocated her. A few weeks on the beach meant she wouldn’t have to deal with her persistent mother trying to get her to move to London. For Stevie, ensuring that no one connected the dots was crucial. She didn’t want to be known as French supermodel Collette Augstin’s daughter. It was hard enough to keep the French side of her a secret. The only time she spoke French was around her father and on the occasional calls to her family in London and Paris.

“I’d love to take your spot, Hayley.”

“Really?” Hayley asked, surprised. “Are you sure?”

“Sure. It’s just Thailand. A few weeks in the sun will do me some good,” she explained.

No. I just need to breathe on my own for a while.

“Roxy and the girls are staying at a resort. You’ll just have to pay me for my share of the accommodation and pay for your own ticket since I’m getting mine changed for Queensland.”

Stevie nodded. “Sure. Text me the amount and I’ll bring the money tomorrow.”

To her surprise, Hayley wrapped her arms around her. “Thank you so much! You are going to have an amazing time.”

She didn’t move, allowing Hayley to hug her. “Eh, sure. I guess.”

Julian stood on the balcony of his private villa on Karon Beach in Phuket, Thailand. University was done and he’d never have another assignment or exam again. Freedom had never been sweeter than when he had stood on the hot, white sand for the very first time yesterday. He had