<div align="center" class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">The Party (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A
Guardian’s Wyrd</i> short story)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">by Nerine Dorman</span></div>
<div align="center" class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-align: center; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Also available on bookly via Mxit</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MG9fDoewoA8/U4WD2bTTmFI/AAAAAAAAAOI/hO8U1G4e9Q4/s1600/shield1+copy.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MG9fDoewoA8/U4WD2bTTmFI/AAAAAAAAAOI/hO8U1G4e9Q4/s1600/shield1+copy.jpeg" height="200" width="151" /></a></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">“This is a
very bad idea,” I told Rowan as we plodded up Andrews Road. The Hill from Hell
I liked to call it. My calf muscles were screaming.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">There was
enough moonlight for me to see Rowan’s grimace. “This party means a lot to me,”
he said.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">“I don’t
care,” I said. “And I don’t see why you’re invited to parties all of a sudden.”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">My friend
was the class geek, the one who was the butt end of all the pranks and teasing
whenever I wasn’t there to look out for him.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">“Angela
invited me,” he said.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">“Are you
sure?” Knowing Rowan, he had made all of this up. Angela Fourie was the most
popular girl in our grade. Everyone except for me seemed to be obsessed with
her. Okay, she was kinda cute, but she wasn’t <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">my</i> kinda cute. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">“She sent me
a Facebook invite.”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">“Does your
mother know you’re on Facebook?”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">“Shut up.”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">“The only
thing that’s saving you is that Oryxis and your mom believing you’re sleeping
over at my house,” I said. “If they hear that we sneaked out ...”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">“You sound
like Oryxis now, blah, blah-blah-blah.” Rowan made little talking hand movements.
“We’re just going for a little while.”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">I growled at
him but bit my tongue. Besides, I needed my breath for the last stretch of road
before we got to the security gate. If Rowan’s claim that he had an invite (of
course I hadn’t received one) wasn’t all a pile of dog poo, then we’d be
allowed in past those hallowed gates to Tierboskloof. If not ... Well, we could
go back to my place and play console games or something.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">I waited
next to Rowan while he sweet-talked the security guard at the gate. My mom had
brought me here a few years ago when she was visiting a friend, and then they
hadn’t had all the security. I allowed myself to relax a little. Rowan would be
safe enough.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">As his
Guardian, I had to look out for him, just like Oryxis made sure nothing
happened to Persia, Rowan’s mum. They were royalty in exile, from the magical
kingdom of Sunthyst, and how I had gotten myself tangled in their lives was
definitely another story for another time. (That’s if you wanted to cue <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Neverending Story</i>.)</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">But Angela
confirmed that we were on the guest list, the security guard buzzed us through,
and we followed the avenue up until we reached our destination. We could hardly
miss it. The music was pounding <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">doef-doef</i>.
Yay, my favourite. Not. I was already cringing and wishing I’d brought my earplugs
by the time Rowan rang the doorbell. Squeals of laughter sounded from the other
side.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">“Are you
sure you want to do this?” I asked him.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">“Sorry?” he
said, cupping his ear to me.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">Whether he
genuinely couldn’t hear me or if he was just joking, I decided to ignore him.
My night had been ruined, in any case. I could only ride it out until the
bitter end. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">Fay opened
the door and blinked at us with heavily made-up eyes, and my heart did a little
jig. Okay, Fay was <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">my</i> kinda cute. My
mouth went dry but that was okay, Rowan did all the talking and got us inside.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">Oh. My. God.
Fay.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">Things were
looking up. Definitely. Just about everyone from our class was here, and then
some. I didn’t recognise some of the older skate punk guys who were hanging out
on the balcony smoking cigarettes and trying to look cool.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">“Now what,
wise guy?” I asked Rowan.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">He shrugged
and pointed to the kitchen. Drinks, I suppose. Angela’s parents were loaded, so
they could afford to let their daughter throw big house parties. Not an adult
in sight ... </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">Loads of
fun, but things could also go horribly wrong if we weren’t careful.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">Rowan, of
course, was completely oblivious to all the dynamics around him – all the more
reason for me to look out for him.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">Everyone was
helping themselves to fruit punch in the kitchen, and I made Rowan dilute his
with more orange juice before we headed out to the balcony. From the smell of
things there was already way too much vodka in the punch.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">It was like
we had some anti-cool device strapped to us. The kids sort of shuffled out of
our way so that we clearly stood on our own – outcasts. We might as well have
that tattooed on our foreheads.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">“Happy now?”
I scowled at my friend.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">Rowan sipped
at his drink and tried not to grimace. He obviously wasn’t used to hard tack,
for all the times he bragged about sneaking beers from Oryxis’s stock. The
stuff tasted pretty vile, so I took small sips. I didn’t want to get drunk. Not
here.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">Just as I
feared we’d be standing around with nothing to do the entire night, I heard it
in a brief lull between dance tracks: one of the most beautiful sounds in the
world – a softly played classical guitar. The mystery musician was sitting on
another patio to our right, screened by a thick stand of wild banana.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">The next
track started up and I grabbed Rowan’s sleeve. “C’mon, we’re not going to stand
about like a pair of lost farts in a perfume factory.”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">I didn’t
give Rowan a chance to argue and all but dragged him with me down a small
flight of steps into the garden then around the vegetation to where a girl was
sitting cross-legged on a pile of cushions. It was Fay, and she had a
nylon-string guitar clasped to her chest.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">“Hey,” she
said.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">“You’re not
going to get heard over the music.” I gestured behind us.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">“It’s fine.
It’s still better than being out there with all the posers.”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">Rowan made
to go into the room behind Fay.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">“It wouldn’t
go in there if I were you,” she told him.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">He froze. “Why?”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">“Angela’s in
there with Tom.”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">Rowan tried
and failed to hide his disappointment. I hid my smile behind my hand.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">“Yeah, I
know. Sucks. She asked me to keep chips out front.”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">“That’s just
twisted,” I said.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">Fay gave a
little shrug and played a trill of notes. “It beats getting hassled by boys out
there. Mike’s been trying to make me do shooters.” She stuck out her tongue.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">“Mike’s an
idiot,” I told her and sat down next to her. “Whose guitar is that?”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">“Angela’s
brother’s. He’s gone overseas. I always play it when I visit.”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">“You’re
anti-social.” I smiled at her.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">“So are you.”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">Well, that
was one way of chatting up a girl.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">As it turned
out, Fay and I shared a bunch of similar favourite bands and we took turns
showing each other different songs on the guitar. I hadn’t even known to speak
to her at school, but thanks to the party, we were good. Fay and Jay – it had a
nice ring to it. We had a laugh about that. I guess that’s why I didn’t notice
that Rowan had wandered off. The first we heard of any drama was when the music
got turned off and there was shouting.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">“Where’s
your friend?” Fay asked me.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">I swore, and
my “Spidey” senses as I called it were tingling – I knew on a gut-deep level
that whoever was responsible for the disturbance, it was Rowan. He was in
trouble.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">“Crap, crap,
crap!” I muttered under my breath as I rushed through the bedroom behind us and
into the house. Fay and I had been so busy talking music we hadn’t even noticed
when Angela and Tom had finished whatever it was that they’d been doing. Not
that I cared. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">My main
concern now was saving Rowan from getting beaten up. That kid couldn’t hit a
fly if his life depended on it, and it wasn’t difficult imagining a dozen
scenarios varying in degree of horror – Rowan with a black eye; Rowan with his
front tooth knocked out; Rowan with a broken hand ...</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">All these
scenes ended the same way: Jay having to “please explain” to Persia, who could
possibly literally fry me with whatever weird magic she kept up her sleeve. If
she knew we were even here ...</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">There was a
circle of kids out front in the driveway, and for a moment I thought the boy
sprawled on the ground was Rowan. But it wasn’t. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">Mike lay
there, moaning. Big-ass bully Mike, who was at least a head taller and twice as
large as Rowan. I couldn’t help but gape, as surprised as Rowan, who stood
there over him rubbing at the knuckles of his right hand. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">“Angela’s
dating Tom, you douche,” Rowan spat. “When she says she’s not interested in
seeing you anymore, she means it.”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">Some of Mike’s
friends, eyed up Rowan and were muttering among each other, and it was at that moment
that I figured it would be a good idea if we went back to my place to play
console games. Less chance of Rowan causing any trouble.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">“I’ll see
you on Monday,” I told Fay. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">She gave me
a knowing smile and melted back into the house, clearly uninterested in what
was going on out here. Well, there went my chances of having something with a
girl tonight. Plus she’d been sending out all the right signals. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">I sighed and
ploughed through the crowd and grabbed Rowan by the elbow. “C’mon, mate, we
gotta chuck.” </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">He glared at
me but didn’t bitch, thank goodness. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">I cast one
look behind me, but Mike’s friends were too busy helping him up off the ground.
</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">Then I
groused at Rowan, “What did you go and do that for?”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">Rowan’s grin
was devilish. “That was payback.” </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">“Dude,
seriously, what would you have done if his friends had piled into you? You were
outnumbered.”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">“You’re here
now.”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">“Dude.” I
shook my head. Had he honestly thought I’d haul his ass out of the fire? No. He
was right. I would. Even if I got hurt.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">Running footsteps
from behind had us spin around. I tensed then relaxed. It was only Angela
coming up the driveway.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">She was
breathless and grabbed both of Rowan’s hands in her own. “Thank you! I can’t
believe Mike was such an idiot.”</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">Then she
kissed him. Full on the lips.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="normal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 14.2pt;">
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***</div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Did you like this short story? <a href="http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-guardian-s-wyrd" target="_blank">Buy The Guardian's Wyrd for more</a>.</span>&nbsp;</div>

It's one of our favourite days here at the Wordsmack office: Cover Reveal Day. The other favourites include publishing day and Friday...

Here at Wordsmack Publishers we realise the power of book bloggers - we love that the Internet has made it possible for anyone's voice to be heard. So get hold of us and we'll send you ARCs and cover reveals and interviews and all kinds of goodies!

If you're into speculative fiction - fantasy, sci-fi, paranormal - that kind of stuff, then our books are right up your alley. 

Currently, we have two Young Adult books waiting to be reviewed and published, here's more info on them:


The Ripmender by Julianne Alcott:

"In the real world, your idol usually ends up in rehab or, even worse, at a wedding altar in some tacky Vegas chapel. What they don't do is tell you they are from another planet ... Just my luck!"

Cathy Slater dreams of meeting the love of her life ... teen rock
sensation, Nathan Jake.

He's adored by millions, while she has trouble even fitting into her own family! Although he is a tutor at her university, there is no way she can compete with the packs of worshipping fans constantly surrounding him.

But then fate intervenes and her life changes forever when she stumbles onto Nathan's biggest secret ... She wasn't meant to see what he can do ... what he is ... Now there's no going back.

Who are the Ripmenders and what is their purpose here on Earth?

Follow Cathy across the galaxy as she uncovers the truth about the shady organisation behind Nathan's secret. Can she ever truly understand the mystery behind the man she loves? ... Or will an enemy from the past ruin everything?


The Guardian's Wyrd by Nerine Dorman:

Sometimes having a fairytale prince as a best friend can be a real pain.

Jay didn't realise that sticking up for Rowan, the gangly new kid at school, would plunge him into the dangers and politics of the magical realm of Sunthyst. But if anyone is up for the challenge it's Jay September. With his trusty dog, Shadow, at his side, he braves the watcher in the dark that guards the tunnels between the worlds, and undertakes a dangerous quest to rescue the prince.

It's a race against time - can he sneak Prince Rowan away from under King Lessian's nose and bring him safely back home - all before the prince's sixteenth birthday? Or is Rowan's mother, the exiled Queen Persia, secretly trying to hold onto her power by denying her son his birthright?

Jay is ready for anything, except, perhaps, the suffocating darkness
of the tunnels. And those eyes ...

Talk to Wordsmack by checking out our details here: www.word-smack.com