“Oh…” I relax my tense hands and lean back, and the throbbing in my throat subsides. “I don’t think he will, but if he does, I’ll take your advice.” I bite my bottom lip, take a deep breath, then say, “Um…could you take me to Central? I need to go to the bank before work. You can say no if you want, too.”
“Sure.” Conner turns to me, and his brows furrow. “What’s wrong?”
I look away and murmur, “Nothing.”
“Is it what I said about Andy? Look, I know he is your friend, but?—”
“It’s not that,” I interrupt.
“When what?”
“I thought…” I stare out the window as I say, “When you said I shouldn’t turn him down, I thought it was because you didn’t…yeah.”
“Oh…oh! Seriously? You think my love for Guinevere isthatfragile?” He shakes his head and scoffs.
I smile. “Not anymore.”
He barks a laugh, then sighs. “On a serious note, Ireallydo like you, Noya. And I’ve got things planned.” Conner raises his head and smiles smugly.
“And what are thosethings?”
He eyes me as he says, “You will see. Until then, let’s get you to the bank, right?”
I nod, unable to speak.
During the drive to Central, I think more about what I will say to the people at the bank. I’m essentially opening another account. So, they’re going to question that, aren’t they? And I can’t tell them my reasoning, but I also can’t think of anything else.
Maybe I should go to another bank?
Yet, they may want three forms of identification, and I don’t know where my birth certificate is… I also don’t have a Medicare card—only a driver’s licence. So, going to another bank would be difficult, but going to my bank will be easier. I just need to think of a reason to open another savings account.
The crowded car park forces Conner to search for a parking spot. The guilt gnaws at me at the thought that it could look like I’m using him so he can drive me around to all these places. I could have caught the bus, and the thought crossed my mind, but I know Conner would have offered if I had.
He’s too kind.
The bank is on the ground floor of the shopping centre, and near the front exit leading to the street. Inside, there is a line of stalls, and the owners step forward with pamphlets, hoping for a sucker to draw in so they can gain a sale.
If it weren’t for Conner and his uncaring nature as he keeps walking, I’d be that sucker, sucked in out of guilt and awkwardness. Then I’d eventually have to apologise and tell them I’m broke, wasting my time and theirs.
“What do you need to do at the bank?” Conner asks. He steps to the side, and his hand instinctively moves to my lower back, drawing me to him as a group of rival high school kids walks past. “Do you need to do anything else while we are here?”
“Uh…no. Is there something you need to do?”
“Yeah. There’s a shop I want to check out. I’ll go there while you’re at the bank.”
When we arrive at the bank, it isn’t too busy, and once I’m inside, Conner heads to where he needs to go. From there, a lady waiting near the line asks what I want, and after I tell her, she tells me to wait in line. An elderly woman is before me, holding a shortbread cookie tin that rattles as it moves. Ahead of her, aman is talking to a worker, his foot tapping away as she raises her hands and apologises, then looks for help.
The line doesn’t move much, even though it doesn’t look busy. I step forward and exhale deeply when the lady hands the worker the tin and reveals money bags inside…all coins.
“Excuse me,” someone says ahead as she sits down at one of the service areas. “What can I do for you?”
Relief floods in as I go to her, only for this kick in my stomach, and an anxiety sensation slams into me like a freight train. “Uh…I’d like to open another account, please.”
“You’re already with us?” I nod. “Full name, please.”
“Noya Dawn Taylor,” I murmur.
She asks for my identification, and I hand her my license. After a brief examination, she returns it to me and says, “You’re only seventeen.”