2015 School Magazine

66 SECONDS [EXCERPT] INDEE LEE (9R)

Mara waited impatiently as her teammate Zoe took off. The roar of the crowd echoed in Mara’s ears as the third runners completed their transitions error free. As the track cleared, Mara marked out her spacing and readied herself. She could feel her hands shaking and her palms becoming clammy in anticipation of the cold thud of the baton. As Mara checked up on the runners’ positions, she noticed Zoe had fallen behind. She methodically went over her checklist in her mind: speed, technique and focus. Mara knew she had a chance of catching up as long as she didn’t let her nerves take over, though discomforting thoughts of doubt and worry kept racing through her mind. Zoe was making her way around the final bend behind all the other runners. Butterflies fluttered in Mara’s stomach and she could hear her heartbeat in her ears. It was all down to Mara. As Zoe approached the changing zone, she suddenly stumbled and the baton clanged to the ground. Mara could see the terror rise on Zoe’s face as she quickly picked it up. The baton had fallen in the middle of their lane so they were still in the race, but the other teams were already in their changing zones.

A NEAR MISS [EXCERPT] HELENA RUDDELL (9O)

069

Ava pulled opened the door of the corroded abomination, which doubled as a Holden Commodore in a former life. The rain was so heavy it blew sideways onto her face, obscuring her vision. She had come from afternoon volleyball practice at the PCYC in Milton. Her best friend Carmen’s brother Jason was dropping her home. She climbed in hastily, oblivious to the three people already in the back. By the time she realised that there were too many passengers, the car was speeding off. ‘Guys, wait, I don’t have a seat -,’ Ava stopped short as she realised no one was listening – or caring. ‘Ava, I’m so happy you’re here!’ Carmen piped up next to her. There was something unfamiliar about her voice that made Ava uneasy. The two girls had been best friends since before they could walk. They were only sixteen, but already had amassed a history of adventures. Kitty and Leila, gossiping and chattering like monkeys as usual, were sitting on the other side of Carmen. Ava glanced down and saw beer cans strewn randomly across the floor. Then she noticed Jason and Brad — his wingman — in the front. Both were swigging on full-strength beers, just as Jason swerved wildly to avoid a tree. Cars honked as the rust-bucket began snaking erratically, ignoring the double lines: the difference between life and death. Ava’s anxiety levels skyrocketed.

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