Life’s
a bitch then you die! That was the
thought furthermost on Mark Reads mind when Hayley returned from the ladies her
face red “Honestly I don’t know what our Lou is up to!” she said on her return
“Why?” asked Chris
“She suddenly developed a headache”
“Oh” Chris muttered side glancing a quiet Mark
“She’ll be rushing home to talk to her Internet
guy”
Mark’s head shot up.
“What?
Don’t tell me she’s fallen for some jerk on the Internet?” Ben joined
the conversation
“Yup talks to him every night…sometimes I can’t
even get my turn on the pc for her”
Ben took hold of her hand “You don’t like talk
to any guys on the internet do you?”
“Why? Would it bother you if I did?”
“No!”
“Yeah it would look at you you’re so jealous at
the thought you’re almost pissing in your pants,” laughed Chris
“Yeah right”
“Hey Chris you wanna get outa here?” asked Mark
“Sure…where though?”
“I thought we could go grab your sisters and
take them skating or something?”
“ You’re kidding right I spend like all day
with those gremlins…I ain’t gonna spend what free time I have with them!”
Hayley glanced across to where Chris sat “Oh
don’t be mean your little sisters are just so cool”
“Yeah they’re cool in a I really wanna kill
them sorta way”
“Christian!” Hayley half laughed
“We could go check out the mall if you like
Mark but I ain’t taken my sisters anywhere”
Mark drew in a deep breath then stood up.
~***~
Louise frowned as she hung her coat onto the hook then closed the door;
thoughts of Mark occupied her mind why could he not just take the hint? She wasn’t and would never be interested in
him he just wasn’t boyfriend material “You’re home early sweetheart” she heard
her mother say “The mall was boring” she replied as she rushed upstairs to her
bedroom “Why not call Tara or one of your other friends?” suggested her mother
“Tara’s working” she called back “And well I ain’t exactly got any other
friends” she thought as she sat down at her pc once again.
After switching it on she went straight to check her emails smiling as
about a dozen appeared all from her mystery man she read each in turn
marvelling at all the romantic words “Lou” she heard her mother tap on the door
“Yeah?” she said as she clicked closed her emails “You want anything to eat?”
she shook her head impatiently she wanted to get back to reading all those
lovely words “Oh-okay” said her mother as she backed out of the room “Lou…this
boy Hayley is seeing…” Louise rolled her eyes “Mom you really should be talking
to Hayley about it!” she hadn’t meant to snap “I know it’s just that this boy
has such a fast car and you know what…” Louise turned right round on the chair
“Mom Ben’s not about to have an accident or anything so chill huh!” her mother
drew in a deep breath “Okay” she gave in at last “Sorry hon” she added as she
backed out of the room leaving Louise to read the rest of those romantic
emails.
~***~
Mark was still thinking about Louise when they reached the ice rink and
stood watching the skaters “Hey isn’t that Marazzi” he said indicating to where
Paul sat “Yeah! Maz your ass is all
wet” laughed Chris before waving him over “Well you try skating with all these
damn ass-holes” muttered Paul as he skated over “I didn’t think skating was
quite your scene man?” sniggered Chris
“It ain’t usually but well a boy gotta do what
a boy gotta do”
“Huh!”
“Lara Tyler boy she’s just so damn hot”
Mark and Chris glanced across to where a tiny
dark haired girl stood.
“Wow Maz she’s like way outa your league man”
“Yeah well we’ll soon see wont we”
Christian shook his head “You’re gonna crash
and burn buddy”
“Watch and weep Ingebrigtsen…watch and weep,”
laughed Paul as he skated away.
Mark
watched Paul skate up next to the girl and then pretend to fall which had her
catching him and escorting him to the side in order that he be able to hold on
“Wow that was neat” said Chris obviously impressed “He’s got the Goddamn moves
hasn’t he?” Mark muttered wishing he could be like that with girls he was just
too damn shy “Hey I wonder if she has a sister” Chris mentioned hopefully as he
took a few paces away “You go see…I gotta get home anyway” he urged Chris
frowned “You sure…hey buddy she might even have two sisters?” he laughed as he
backed away “Yeah maybe…listen I’ll catch you later buddy” Chris nodded as he
now trotted away the prospect of female company had him almost panting with
desire.
Once home he fixed himself more coffee and a snack and carried it
upstairs to his bedroom. Large posters
of the latest Disney Movie adorned his walls, some said he was a Disney freak
but they didn’t know him not really; he intended to work for Disney one day. He placed the plate of sandwiches down on
his dressing table the lifted the large sketch pad from the side of his bed and
quickly opened it, he’d been working on the latest designs for the school
newspaper which seemed to be taking shape, he’d been asked by the school
Principal to design something funky to bring the school up to date with the
rest of the world and Mark had obliged.
Once finished his snack he took his plate downstairs to the large
kitchen and promptly placed it into the dish washer “Ah Mark you’re home…busy
studying?” he heard his father say “Yeah…something like that” he replied trying
to sneak off before his father harped on about Harvard once again “Are you
keeping your grades up Mark?” he rolled his eyes “Yes dad…my grades are fine”
he insisted as he quickly returned to his room.
~***~
“I
thought you had a headache?” Hayley accused when she saw Louise seated at the
comp “I did…it’s gone now” Louise retorted without even glancing up “You know
Mark’s real interested in you” Louise pouted
“Is he?”
“Yeah Lou…he is”
“Well I ain’t interested in him?
“Why…Mark’s like the sweetest guy on the plant”
“Well you go out with him then”
“Don’t be ridiculous I’m seeing Ben”
“Yeah well as I said before I’m not
interested!”
“No of course not…you’re too busy with your
internet jerk”
“He’s not a jerk” defended Louise fervently
“Really…just what exactly do you know about
him?”
“Lots of things”
“Name one!” Hayley challenged
“He’s really sweet”
“Where does he live?”
“Boston!”
“Boston…Gee Lou he’s really close by isn’t he?”
“I’m not listening to this”
“That’s right run away Lou”
“I’m not running away I’m just letting you have
the pc before you rush off to tell mom like you usually do”
Hayley opened her mouth to speak but no words
came out.
“Oh and by the way…mom’s asking all kinds of
questions about Ben!”
“What questions?”
“Just questions!” said Louise smugly as she
skipped from their bedroom.