Liza’s cheeks were even pinker the night of the end-of-school party, when she dragged Kit out to sit on the kerb, an uncharacteristic bottle clutched in her hand, and told her about this Alika girl. Kit watches the pink staining her best friend’s cheeks fade slowly.

“Maybe.” She stares out the window, her eyes closing against the sunlight streaming through the window. Have an exotic one-night stand with some Mediterranean hottie.” “Anyway, who knows? Maybe you’ll meet someone on this trip.

Liza shrugs, like she’s only half listening, and continues to inspect her split ends. So instead, she just says, “Hey, Olivia might seem kind of, I don’t know, distant or whatever, but she’s going through some stuff, that’s all. She wants to tell Liza to look out for her while they’re away, but Olivia begged Kit not to tell anyone about exams. But she’s so messed up over her exams and Will. Olivia’s usually so assured and self-sufficient. Kit’s never seen her friend so miserable. Kit frowns as she thinks of Olivia yesterday. Tam’s a sweetheart, even if she seems tough. “You’ll be fine,” Kit tells her for the thousandth time. I’m just hoping I can manage a conversation with these girls, let alone to make friends with them.” “Highly doubtful.” Liza inspects the ends of her hair, pulling the wiry coils straight. “And you have to promise you won’t have too much fun without me.” Why can’t she have a body like that, instead of this short, scrawny one? Kit runs her hands along Liza’s sharp, brown shinbones, feeling that familiar bubbling of envy at her friend’s ridiculously great legs. Liza finishes sorting her washing, climbs onto the bed, and kicks her legs over Kit’s. She just hadn’t planned on doing it without Kit by her side.Īnd they’re all learning that travel isn’t just about the places you go, but who you’re with at the time. Meanwhile Kit’s stuck working double shifts to pay off a debt, wondering if she’ll ever get it together.Īll Liza wants from this trip is to discover a new version of herself. And there’s Olivia, so miserable about screwing up exams she’s not even sure she wants to get out of bed, let alone on a plane. There’s Tam, who already has her doubts about leaving her sick father behind. Liza’s left with three girls she barely knows. But when Kit’s suddenly forced to drop out, It’s exactly what they all need after the final slog of high school. In this young adult novel, to be released June 2016, best friends Kit and Liza have been looking forward to this trip forever.įive girls, five tickets overseas.

Points of Departure by Emily O’Beirne