Louise shifted nervously when Mark sat down opposite her this was all she needed. This guy was everywhere “Budge up” said Chris happily she smiled as she moved over a little at least now she wouldn’t be staring at Mark Read all lunch time “Well thank you” Tara said as she placed her tray of food down on the table “Don’t mention it” laughed Chris as he dug happily into his plate of macaroni
“What’s
up Taz?” Hayley inquired
“He
just went and left me alone with Agostini”
Mrs
Agostini was their art teacher
“She
wants volunteers to help out with this years thanksgiving dance”
“I’d
help,” said Louise noticing Mark’s stares
“Well
that makes two of you huh…don’t worry Tazzy you wont be on your own” smiled
Chris
Tara
smiled smugly
“I
wasn’t gonna be on my own anyway”
Chris’s
green eyes narrowed “Oh how come?”
Tara
simpered “Coz I volunteered you”
“What?”
“Yup…d’you
think you’ll manage to make em little paper flowers?”
“Do
I look like a paper flower maker?” he asked
Tara’s
eyes sparkled with devilment
“Well
you would leave me alone with the woman after I specifically told you not to”
Chris
took a French fry from his plate and threw it at her
“Oh
you going down that road huh?” she asked as she seized a handful and hurled
them back some of which hit Louise who looked surprised
“You
gonna take that Lou?” asked Paul as he to got in on the action.
One by one they begun to hurl food at
each other Tara and Chris the worse culprits “Chriiiiiiiiisssssss you jerk!!!”
yelled Tara as a French fry slipped right down the front of her blouse “Wow
Ingebrigtsen what a shot!!!” Paul congratulated as Tara got to her feet and
before Mark could stop her she had seized his half eaten pizza and proceeded to
spread it all over Chris’s face “You Bitch!!!” he cried as he got to his feet
and crabbed some potatoes salad which he rubbed into Tara’s hair.
They stopped abruptly on seeing the
Principal approach each suppressing the urge to laugh, the only one not smiling
was Louise “I suggest you lot get cleaned up then report to me!” they were
firmly told.
As soon as the man disappeared they
burst into hysterical laughter all except Louise who got to her feet “Well
thanks a lot!” she cursed as she hurried out of the lunch room “God those guys
are so immature” she heard Jen’s voice echo all around the ladies room “Gee
Parker you been raking through the trash can again?” asked the blond beauty
smiling sweetly Louise rolled her eyes “Get over yourself Rayburn” she snapped
“It
wont be long until Adams dumps that sister of yours…once he gets what he wants
he moves on” Louise ignored her “I don’t see you with anyone Parker” Louise
eyed the dark haired female standing by Jen’s side “She hasn’t got anyone” Jen
muttered
“Why
ever not I mean surely one of those loser kids would take her out”
“For
your information I have a boyfriend!”
“Really? I must tell Costa he’s quite safe”
“Wow
what’s Costa got to do with this?” Gina inquired
“Oh
Gina don’t you know…I thought the whole school new”
Louise
held her breath.
“New
What?”
“That
Parker has the major hots for Costa”
“No
I don’t!” Louise defended hotly her checks flushed red
“Really?”
smiled Jen as she moved into Louise’s space
Louise
maintained eye contact “Yeah really!”
Jen
backed off but the smile said it all.
As soon as the door closed Louise drew
in a deep breath then placed both hands on the sink unit just hearing Costa’s
name infused a reaction from her slowly she raised her head letting the tears
which had welled up in her eyes roll down her cheeks “Hey Lou you okay?” asked
Tara on entering the ladies room “Yeah” she forced a smile “Oh hey it’s okay
just blame Chris…he did start the food fight after all” Tara added Louise
forced a smile grateful that her friend and sister didn’t know the real reason
behind those tears.
~***~
Mark simpered as he made his way along
to the Principal’s office, he was getting use to taking these trips but not for
something so trivial as being involved in a food fight “Wow this has really
made my whole entire day Ingebrigtsen” he barked as he walked Chris merely
smiled back at him
“Err…I
don’t remember twisting your arm Read” he retorted
“Look
on the bright side” Paul cut in optimistically
“Err
this has a bright side?” said Mark
Paul
grinned “Sure it does…chances are we’ll all get a detention”
“Pardon
me if I’m not too thrilled with that prospect” Ben cut in
“Listen
up…we’ll all be in detention together”
“Wow…I
just so can’t wait!” said Chris turning right round and walking backwards
“Noooooo”
Paul disagreed getting annoyed now “We’ll be in detention with the girls”
“Oh
I get you now wow what a thought” said Ben smiling
“Yeah
well you guys are okay the girls like you the one I’m interested in doesn’t
know I’m alive,” said Mark half jokingly
Paul
grinned as he saddled up to him
“Mark
leave it to me…before you know it that girl is gonna be putty in your hands”
“Wow…should
I be worried at the prospect?”
“It’ll
be cool just chill” Chris assured as they reached the office
They emerged minutes later smiling “Oh
come on guys a Saturday morning detention ain’t so bad” said Paul as they
headed off to their next lesson “What?
Are you nuts? I have things to
do on Saturday mornings” snapped Louise “Oh like what?” grumbled Hayley Louise
drew in a deep breath “Like…like dance class” Hayley laughed “Lou you ain’t
been to dance class for weeks now” she disagreed “Yeah well I intended going
back this Saturday” she lied
“I
gotta work Saturday…I’m gonna lose a whole mornings pay” said Chris worriedly
“Well
you would go starting food fights,” said Tara happily
“Yeah
but I can’t afford to lose money Tara” Tara frowned
“I
know look we’ll work something out”
“A
Saturday morning detention boy my parents are just gonna be so wrapped” said
Mark worriedly
“You
don’t have to tell them,” Paul suggested
“I
suppose that’s an option”
“I
lie to my parents all the time!” boasted Ben “In fact I wont have to tell them
anything they don’t know I’m alive half the time” he added as he placed his arm
around Hayley’s shoulder
“Oh
poor baby” she sympathised
He
looked down then smiled at her
Mark pouted as he backed his car out of
the space but was so deep in thought he hadn’t noticed the red sports car stop
behind him until he’d bumped into it “What the hell was that” he said “Ohhhhh
shit” he added as he got out “Look at my car moron!” yelled Ant Costa as he got
out Mark glanced at the slight scratch on the door then let out a deep sigh
“It
was an accident,” he said calmly
“Yeah
well it will cost you buddy…just look at that scratch”
Mark
noticed a large crowd begin to gather around
“You
call that a scratch?” he inquired as he produced his car keys
“Yeah
moron…it’s a scratch all right!”
“That
ain’t a scratch” Mark disagreed “Now this” he proceeded to run the key right
along the driver door “Now that’s a scratch!” he added to cheers from the rest
of Brandon Highs outcast kids “Go Markie” he heard someone shout out in
approval “You are insane! You’ll pay
for this!” shrieked Ant as he got back into his car and sped off.
Mark caught a glimpse of Louise as he
got back into his car and for the first time he seen her smile approvingly in
his direction but he wasn’t about to get his hopes up just yet.
Costa had wasted no time in telling his
parents what had occurred but had added to the story “I tried to kill him…well
that’s original” laughed Mark on being told “Are the cops coming to bust me?”
he added happily “Mark this isn’t funny…did you ram into this Costa guy?” Mark
eyed his father “Well I wouldn’t exactly say rammed more backed into him”
“And
you caused $5oo dollars worth of damage by just backing into him?” he glanced
at his mother who’d joined the conversation “Ah well that might have occurred
when I accidentally run the key along the door panel” his mother’s eyes widened
“You did what…Jesus Mark that temper of yours” Mark merely shrugged “I’ll pay
the $5oo dollars” he offered “You’re damn right you will…Mr Costa is expecting
you” Mark’s eyes widened “What?” he snarled “I have arranged that you go over
there and work off your debt” Mark looked crushed “You gotta be kidding” he
panicked “Well the only other alternative is that you pay up right away
today…have you $500 dollars?” he shook his head in answer to his father’s
question “I didn’t think so…they are expecting you on Saturday” he drew in a
deep breath then walked slowly from the room.