6 he begins a romance—with national sprint champion Maria "Gladiator" Testi—and ends it in book 7; however, unlike Robbo, he starts it up again. Christina Perry is Specky's on-again, off-again girlfriend. The two meet in book 1, and begin a romance at the end of book 3 after her relationship with Derek "Screamer" Johnson ends. Christina follows Carlton like Screamer. She is portrayed as a footy-mad tomboy just like Samantha Shepherd. She moved to Sydney in book 6, but returned at the start of book 7. Samantha "Tiger Girl" Shepherd is another of Specky's close friends. She meets Specky in book 3 while she is in Year 9 and he is in Year 8. Specky supports her through her battle with cancer, and become close friends by the end of the book. She also reveals that she is staying down a year to make up for her long absences from school due to her treatment, so is now in Year 9 like Specky and his mates. They have always felt romantically close to each other, but this intensified in book 7, when Robbo and Tiger Girl's relationship ended. They are now a couple, something Christina is not aware of. She supports the Tigers, hence her nickname. Derek "Screamer" Johnson is Specky's long-time enemy, and now one-time friend. He enters the series in book 2, sparking jealousy from Specky due to his immediate connection with Christina and his skill at full-forward. In book 5, Specky learns of Screamer's extraordinary piano talent, and encourages him to follow his dreams, which turns them into friends at the end of the book. In book 7, it is revealed that he is leaving Booyong High to attend Eckert School of Music on a piano scholarship in Sydney. Ben "Gobba" Higgins is another of Specky's schoolmates. He is first mentioned in book 3—when he returns from Canada, apparently having been there a year—but had not been mentioned before that. His nickname comes from his dream and talent of being a pro sports commentator, and he is so good that he is enrolled in the Dennis Cometti School of Young Sports Callers. He gets frequent assignments from this school, but he still attends Booyong full-time. He supports the Bulldogs. Johnny Cockatoo is one of Specky's close friends. The two meet on Specky's trip to the Northern Territory in book 2, and immediately bond. When Johnny moves down