Gum Leaves

Maree sat in the on her windowsill with the window wide open in her room. It was well past two but she wasn't the least bit tired. Ok so maybe a little. Maree didn't really have an opinion about going back to school. Her twin brother Thomas didn't either. Maree yawned. She had to be up early to catch the train back to Barraback.

Maree woke the next morning to her alarm.

"Remind me to silenco that thing as soon as I get to Barraback " she thought groggily as her eyes burned.

She got up, grabbed her towel and went to the downstairs bathroom. This way she wouldn't wake her parents. As Maree tiptoed through the family room and downstairs, she noticed that not even the dogs, Poppy and Taxi, were up yet.

"Remind me to come back as you in the next lifetime," she whispered softly as she tiptoed down the stairs. Taxi opened one eye groaned in a way only dogs can and went back to sleep.

After a refreshing shower and hair wash, Maree was feeling a lot better and her blonde hair was now feeling clean, but her eyes still burnt. The eye drops in her top drawer soon fixed that.

"Whoever invented eye drops should be sainted," she said to no one in particular.

"The first sign of going insane is talking to yourself," called an all too familiar voice.

"Getting changed in here! Besides it's too early in the morning."

"Says she who got up at 6 simply to wash her hair…" Thomas shot back.

"Besides, it's nothing a little red cordial won't fix," he said as they joined their parents in the kitchen.

"Love one" Said Maree as she twirled towards the cupboard. Her mid thigh length, aqua babydoll top flew out around her. Thomas was glad she was wearing jeans underneath.

"Oh look who's finally out of the shower!" said Mark, the twin's father. The hazel eyes he had passed onto his daughter twinkled.

"Oh look who finally admitted there was a drought on!" Maree shot back.

"I never said that!"

"Daaaaaaaaaad!"

"You two stop arguing and hurry up and eat. We're going to be late." Called the twins mother Kathy.

"As usual." Replied Thomas as he lazily flipped through this morning's paper.

…..

As the family rushed into the station and bought tickets for the 11 o'clock train, Maree was mentally checking off things in her head.

Uniform, check, shoes, check, money, check, Poppy in her travel basket, check…

Meanwhile Thomas was doing the same

Water bombs, check, dung bombs, check, water pistol, check, uniform, check, bathers, check (A/N bathers are swimmers)

The whistle blew just as Thomas and Maree jumped on the train after a hasty farewell.

"Goodbye, have a good term, stay out of trouble!" Called Kathy

"See ya kiddos, Go get those stupid Durrins!" Called Mark.

"Bye Mum, Bye Dad," Called back Maree

"You got it Dad, this year the cups ours!" Responded Thomas.

Maree shook her head.

"Come on mucho man, let's go find a seat."

"David and Rick have probably saved us seats." Thomas thought out loud.

"Oh yea and I'm sure Louise and Patricia had nothing to do with that," said Maree sarcastically.

"Talk about us why don't you!" called Louise down the hall.

"Louise!" Maree dragged her bags up the hall and gave her best friend a hug. Louise had big puppy dog brown eyes, a natural tan to die for and long, blondey-brown hair. She was one of the lucky few chosen to mature in the chest department young and she was the tallest of Maree, Patricia and herself.

"Hey Maree" said Patricia as she hugged Maree. Patricia had white blonde hair and blue eyes. Her skin was paler than Louise's but she wasn't paper white. She was shorter than Louise but taller than Maree. She and Louise had known each other pretty much since birth. Maree hugged her other best friend back.

"Why is it that every holidays you guys have grown about 3cm taller and I seem to have shrunk?" questioned Maree

"Ah one day you'll catch up" smiled Louise

"Oh yeah one day I'm gonna wake up looking like Barbie."

"Twin in the compartment! Can't boob talk wait until you guys get to your dormitories?" called Thomas as he sat down between David and Rick.

"Thanks for that insight into the girls world, mate," shuddered Rick

"No worries" Said Maree and Thomas in unison.

…..

A/N ok so how'd I do? I know it started off a little bit slow but it will pick up. Barraback is based on the aboriginal word for witch. This is my first fanfic so pointers would be appreciated. Thanks

PinkPixie37