Finn was standing beside Kelly. ‘I don’t understand,’ he said. ‘We didn’t kiss.’
‘More’s the pity, hey, big fella?’ Juliana said.
Finn stared at her, dumbfounded. ‘What?’
She led them through the backstage area and then outside. The sun immediately stung Kelly’s cheeks and she raised a hand to shield her eyes. They stood at the edge of the car park, huddled like a small football team about to head onto the pitch.
‘Listen,’ Juliana said. ‘That Gerry Carpenter is a sleazeball. Everybody knows it, but people still love him anyway. It’s one of the many clear reasons why the human race cannot survive forever. We’re just not smart enough.’
Kelly exchanged a glance with Finn, who clearly thought Juliana was a lunatic.
‘So, when you refused to dance to his tune of female objectification, the online feminists went berserk!’
‘Objectification?’ Kelly said. ‘Because he thought we should kiss?’
‘Because heorchestratedthe kiss. He turned you into an object of desire, an object to be observed and dehumanised by the male gaze.’
Finn shifted uncomfortably.
Juliana placed a hand on his arm. ‘It’s all right, darling. Nobody’s suggesting you did anything wrong. Kelly pulled the pin in time.’
‘But I didn’t do anything wrong,’ Finn said.
‘You know that’s not the point.’
Finn conceded the argument with a nod and a sigh.
Although Kelly had almost no idea what this conversation was about, she didn’t have the luxury of hanging around to learn more. She’d already lost enough study time today.
‘Finn, we’ve got to go.’
‘Wait, you came together?’ Juliana said.
‘Yeah.’
‘That won’t do. It’ll compromise your position.’
‘I don’t have a position.’
‘You do now, honey. Feminist warrior.’
Warrior. Kelly ran her left thumb across Finn’s name on her right wrist. She stopped before Juliana could notice and ask her any invasive questions. ‘Listen, Juliana, I appreciate all your help, but Finn and I are old friends. We came together in his car and we’re leaving together in his car. End of story.’
Juliana placed a hand on Kelly’s shoulder. ‘Oh, no, honey. This story is just beginning.’
***
They drove in silence. Finn had a million things to say but didn’t know which to say first. He was worried about Kelly. Worried about putting her in a difficult position. Worried about how he might have affected her job, which would affect the way she could treat kids, which could mean some of them didn’t get the treatment they needed, which meant…
‘Stop it,’ Kelly said.
Finn looked at her out of the corner of his eye. She hadn’t even turned to face him.
‘Stop what?’
‘Thinking. I can hear it from here. Everything’s fine, Finn.’
Finn gripped the steering wheel. ‘I’m sorry about all that, Kel. I didn’t know it was going to happen.’
