For the past hour and a half, Janae had been watching her brother out the corner of her eye wondering just what the hell was going on. The whole time they were watching TV Dylan was fidgety, and every time Janae peeled her eyes of the screen she saw him giving Sky a squeeze on the shoulder, or saw him whisper something to her, or share a look. Her mum and stupid little sister were too dumb to notice but she had.

She studied him. He was still on edge. He’d said goodbye to Sky 10 minutes ago, but she could tell from his body language something was up, it was like he’d rather be anywhere else but here.

With Sky, would be anyone’s first guess.

Dylan caught her eye. “What?”

Janae shrugged innocently. “Nothing.”

“Then quit looking at me then.”

“God, you sound like a 12 year old! What’s up with you?”

Dylan’s brow furrowed and for a moment Janae thought she saw fear flash across his face. Apprehension maybe? “Nothing’s up.”

“Come on, something’s bothering you!”

Dylan flung a cushion at Janae and it hit the side of her head. “The only thing bothering me is you!”

Ordinarily, she would have been groaning in pain by now, trying to gain as much sympathy as she could from mum, but she was on to something and she wasn’t going to let it slide.

Dylan was going to do all he could to evade her questions. He got up and headed to the kitchen on the pretence of needing some water. Janae pursued.

“Dylan, I know something’s up, you might as well spill.” Janae leant casually on the counter and waited.

She watched him for a second longer before letting out and amused little laugh. “Hey, you didn’t get her pregnant did you?”

Dylan swung around and glared at her. His face said it all.

* * *

“Hey love, do you want to watch the movie with us?”

Lil leaned over the back of the couch and smiled at Sky. “No thanks Aunty Lil, I think I’ll just go to bed.”

David, who was sitting next to her, shook his head. “Young people these days have no stamina. Serena went to bed a while ago as well.”

Lil looked at her niece a little longer with a puzzled look on her face. Sky took off her jacket and threw her keys down on the table, hoping to avoid any questions. She got 3 steps towards the door before they came.

“Is anything the matter?”

Damn it.

Sky turned around slowly, mustering up her most convincing smile. “No, I’m fine. Goodnight.”

A few minutes later, Sky threw her bag down on her bed and slumped down next to it, exhausted. She sighed and rubbed her face with her hands. She twisted sideways and looked at Serena, curled up under the covers asleep.

Sky knew she wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight.

* * *

“Sis, it’s not as simple as that. There’s more to it.”

Janae sighed. “You’re not gonna spin me off some soppy rubbish about being madly in love are you?”

“No. It’s true, but that’s not the point. She wasn’t upset with me, or because she thinks I might leave.”

Janae smiled. “Dyl, it’s fine. I’m teasing. Listen, I can keep my big mouth shut, I won’t tell mum or Scotty or Bree if that’s what you want. But I also don’t want you telling me all your problems ok?”

Dylan bit his lip. “Ok, but I really have to tell you something else.”

Janae raised her left eyebrow in a ‘what did I just say?’ kind of way but let him continue without saying a word.

Dylan opened his mouth to say what he wanted to tell her but stopped, and seemed to have second thoughts. “I’ll tell you, but you have to promise not to tell mum.”

“So that’s two secrets you want me to keep?”

“Janae! Shut it will ya? Just listen. You remember that toxic waste spill at the wetlands?” Janae nodded. “Well, I kind of got contaminated.”

Janae’s brow furrowed. “You’re not ill are you?”

“No, nothing like that. Not yet anyway. It just means that I might get ill in the future…”

“… and also that your kids might be ill right?”

Dylan nodded once and sighed. “Yeah.”

* * *

Sky lay in bed staring up at the glow-in-the-dark stars stuck on the ceiling. The blue glow from her clock radio seemed to illuminate the room and she could hear Serena breathing softly in the next bed.

The last time she remembered looking at the clock it was about 1 o’clock and the next time she looked across she was surprised to find it was nearing 2:30. She was positive she hadn’t slept, she just got lost in here thoughts.

She leant over and picked her phone off the floor. Her thumb hovered over speed-dial 1 and she wondered momentarily whether or not to call. Then she remembered what Dylan had said at the door as she left number 26 a few ours ago.

“I’ll keep my phone on silent, call me whenever you want.”

She pressed and held the ‘1’ key until she heard the number being dialled. It only rang once.

When Sky spoke, she wasn’t surprised that her voice sounded so quiet and emotional. But she had been kind have hoping to disguise it. “Dylan, I need to see you.”