Mark glanced at the alarm clock that
Saturday morning he’d intended being up and out of the house before his parents
got wind of where he was going, today was going to be a very busy day detention
he didn’t mind but having to work for Costa he most certainly did.
After showering he pulled on black jeans and blue sweater then fixed his
hair before stamping into his sneakers and padding downstairs and out, snow was
forecast for the day but there was no sign of it yet Mark pulled on his denim
jacket as he got into his car.
A
few minutes later he was on his way to pick Chris up music blaring as he pulled
into Chris’s street, the station wagon still absent which worried Mark slightly
he was going to honk the horn but decided against it and got out of the car
“Maaaaaark” he heard Irma cry as she came out to meet him “Hey get back
inside!” snapped Chris “I’m just talking to Mark Chris” she said Mark took her
hand and led her back inside.
Ingrid
was sitting at the table eating waffles and drinking fresh orange juice when
Mark entered “Come get your breakfast” Chris told Irma
“I ain’t hungry”
“Eat!”
“No!”
Mark watched his best buddy closely something
was wrong something was very wrong.
“Get it eaten!”
I don’t want it,” yelled Irma as she stamped
her little foot
“I’ll have it,” said Ingrid as she reached over
to take it
“No!
Irma get it eaten”
“Noooooooooooo I don’t have to!”
Chris suddenly seized hold of his sister by the
arm “Are you gonna eat?”
The child stared straight into her brother’s
eyes “Nooooooo I don’t want it!”
“Chris cool it…she might not be hungry” Mark
intervened as he placed the little girl behind him. Chris took a deep breath then stormed from the room “Hey come
here” said Mark as he placed his arms around the child “I don’t want em
waffles” she sobbed Mark glanced at Ingrid who was now scoffing them “Okay what
would you like?” she shrugged her little shoulders then sat down opposite her
sister “How about I make you toast huh?” she nodded eagerly.
After fixing some breakfast for Irma Mark went to talk to Chris who was
sitting on the couch with his head in his hands “What the hell’s going on
Chris?” he asked Chris drew in a deep breath and slowly exhaled “Nothing” he
said in a low tone Mark neared “Chris you were all set to spank her!”
Chris shook his head in disagreement “I
wouldn’t have touched her”
“No?”
“No!”
“Isn’t your mom here?”
“No”
“What?
Chris you got a detention this morning”
“Oh tell me something I don’t know”
“Well what the hell are you gonna do?”
“Beats me”
“Chris you don’t turn up and you’ll be in deep
shit”
“Oh what do you suggest I do Mark…take em with
me?”
“Well err it could work”
“Tell me you’re joking?”
“Well I was but well we could hide them in one
of the rooms”
“No way!”
“Think about it…what other option do you have?”
Mark was correct if he didn’t show up he’d be
in even more trouble and trouble he could do without.
“Fine I’ll just get em ready help yourself to
coffee”
Minutes later Chris returned with his
sisters who were dressed the same, in little jeans and blue sweaters their hair
combed into some kind of order “Chris said we’re going on an adventure are we
Mark?” Irma asked happily “Yeah…we better get a shift on coz we’ll be late
otherwise” Irma took hold of Mark’s hand allowing herself to be lead to his
car.
The school building looked deserted when they pulled into the parking
lot how they were going to sneak two excitable four year olds into the building
they’d yet to discover but only time would tell.
~***~
Louise took a deep breath as she entered the building, it was silent and
eerie the hallways deserted “What the hell are you kids doing here?” asked the
caretaker “They are here for a detention” Layton’s voice echoed all around
“Great…he’d just have to be here” said Tara downheartedly “Well don’t just
stand there get in” the man indicated to the room opposite.
Paul was already there sitting at the back and swinging on his chair “Wow
I thought I were the only one stupid enough to turn up” he laughed on seeing
Louise and Hayley enter “Where are the others I thought Ben would be with you
Haylz?” Hayley shook her head “We’re not together 24/7 you know” Louise
disagreed “As good as” she laughed as they sat down.
Tara was next to arrive and enter the room her face pale and drawn she
was looking really tired “Where did you disappear to last night?” Paul inquired
“I went to the Blue Angel” Paul’s eyes almost popped out of his head “What…but
that’s like full of err” he stammered “Homo’s I know” both Parker girls stared
at her “What? Tara why were you there?”
asked Hayley “Coz I wanted to hear a new band who were playing there” Paul fell
to the ground with a clatter making them laugh “Marazzi I might have known”
yelled Layton as Mark and Chris arrived “Great I’m surrounded by morons!” he
added as he watched Chris close the door.
“We could go if you like?” suggested Paul
hopefully
“I suppose you could but then you’d just get
another detention”
Paul sat back down and pulled the black hood of
his zipper over his head.
The door opened and in walked Ben dressed casual in jeans sweater
sneakers and baseball cap his car keys in his hands “Hey babe” he greeted
Hayley fondly as he sat down next to her I trust you have things to get on
with?” said Layton as he got to his feet a smile curving the corners of his
mouth “Err no not exactly” said Paul as he rested his head on the desk “Pity
you are all going to be so bored then aren’t you?”
“What?
Are you saying we’ve gotta sit here and do nothing?” said Chris
“Yup but don’t worry Ingebrigtsen you should be
use to that” said Layton condescending as ever.
As
soon as he’d gone Louise turned to Chris a worried look on her face “Was that
your sisters I just saw you sneak in through the gym hall?” Chris stared at her
“What do you think?” he replied with a sigh
Paul sat up once again “Oh you got em with ya?”
he asked fondly Chris eyed him “Yeah they’re here” he admitted
Paul grinned “And you’ve like just left em in
the gym hall?”
“No…they’re safely installed in the next room”
“Oh I gotta go and see em” Louise watched Paul
get up and begin to walk to the door.
“Maz come back you’ll frighten them” said Tara
“No I wont” he insisted as he neared the door
He
was just about to place his hand on the door when it swung open and in walked
Jennifer Rayburn all eyes turning towards her, she stopped dead “Oh God I’m in
detention with a bunch of morons” she said aloud “Well look who it’s not?”
growled Chris
Jennifer stared at him a weary expression on
her face
“So what did you do to get yourself a Saturday
morning detention?” Tara inquired
“I don’t have to answer to you”
“Suit yourself Where you going Maz?”
“For a walk”
“I’ll come with you” Tara decided as she
skipped out of the room.
The Parker girls sat growling at Jennifer Hayley because she felt sure
Jennifer had an ulterior motive for being there and Louise because she didn’t
trust the girl.
“What?” she hissed
They stared at her
“You’re staring!”
“Are we…I hadn’t notice”
“I don’t have to stay here!”
“Then go!” growled Chris his eyes blazing
“Oh don’t worry I wouldn’t remain in this room
one minute more!”
“Then why are you still here?”
The rest of them sat staring wondering just
what the hell was going on Chris wasn’t usually this off hand with girls.
Jennifer fumed as she reached for her purse then stomped from the room
slamming the door behind her.
“Jesus Chris what the hell were that all about
buddy?” Mark inquired his eyes wide
“Trust me…you don’t wanna know”
Mark side glanced Ben then Hayley before
looking back at Chris who was now on his feet and heading towards the door.
“Shouldn’t someone go after him?” Louise
suggested
“I think he wants to be on his own Lou” Ben
muttered as he signalled to Hayley “You wanna go someplace else?” he whispered
Hayley took a deep breath then nodded “Sure…I’ll be back in a minute” she told
Louise.
Mark smiled across to where Louise sat “Well looks like we’re on our
own” he stated the obvious she smiled back at him “Looks like” Mark tried to
think of something cool to say “Cold isn’t it?” he cringed as soon as he’d said
it, Louise grinned thinking back to a movie she’d seen years ago called dirty
dancing “Sorry that was a corny line” he added Louise frowned “Well it is
rather cold outside” she laughed Mark looked through the window at the snow
covered ground “Holy shiiiiiiiit!” he cried Louise rushed to his side “What?” she
asked following his gaze to where two little girls stood playing in the grounds
below “Come on…we better get to them before Layton sees them” Louise agreed as
she followed him outside.
Layton smiled down to where the lovely Jennifer Rayburn now sat she had
gone to him in tears telling him that Christian Ingebrigtsen had said some
awful things to her “There now you just stay here Miss Rayburn” he cooed as he
walked to the window. Two little
figures catching his eye “What the hell…” he said aloud as he pulled at the
blinds, yes there was definitely two children playing he watched them as they
ran around in circles laughing heartily as they hurled snowballs at one
another. The older man smiled down on
them as he recalled his own children “Will you be okay Miss Rayburn?” the girl
wiped away tears
“Yes as long as Chris doesn’t start saying all
those nasty things again” she sniffed “Don’t worry by the time I’m finished
with him he wont be saying anything to anyone” Jennifer smirked as he left the
room.
~***~
Irma grinned at Mark as soon as he stepped through the swing doors and
down the few steps “Are you done? Can
we go now?” asked Ingrid looking hopeful “No…we’ll be a while yet” he replied
as he signalled for them to follow him inside
“Oh Maa-aak” Ingrid ground out “I wanna go
home”
“Yeah me to I wanna go home and watch
Nickelodeon”
“Well you can’t not just yet we ain’t through
here,” they both pouted up at him
“Oh well when will you be through?” they said
in unison
“A while yet”
They both screwed up their noses
“Is Chris through?” Ingrid inquired
“No”
“Oh”
Mark escorted them back inside the building and
along the hallway to where Chris had told them to stay
“Will they be okay?” Louise inquired
“Sure they will” Mark insisted as they closed
the door
“So how come they’re here?”
“It’s a long story”
Louise rolled her eyes “Well we got all
morning”
Mark glanced down at her “I wish I could tell
you but I promised Chris I wouldn’t”
“Chris oh right”
Mark could tell Louise was slightly put out by
this refusal to divulge what he knew about the situation
“So what’s with Chris and Jen?” She changed the subject
“I’m not sure” he retorted getting a little
irritable here he was alone with Louise and all she was talking about was
Chris’s sisters and Chris’s ex girlfriend
When they returned to the room they found Tara and Paul already there,
Tara was sitting on the desk staring at Paul who had his hands on her jean clad
hips from the way they had parted he could tell they’d been kissing “Oh it’s
just you guys” said Paul as he returned to the task in hand
“Can’t you guys give it a rest!” hissed Chris
on his return
“Wow sorry buddy I didn’t realise it were
upsetting you” Paul replied
Chris shot him a glance “You ain’t!” he
insisted as he sat back down.
~***~
Layton looked through the glass partitioned door to where two children
now sat drawing smiling to himself he reached into the pockets of his grey
slacks and produced a few coins which he pushed into the vending machine at the
end of the hallway, he returned to the room with two candy bars and two milk
shakes.
Two pairs of green eyes met him with some scepticism as he entered
“Hello there” he greeted them
“Hello” said Irma smiling up to where the man
stood
“Irma we’re not suppose to talk to anyone
remember?” whispered Ingrid
“It’s okay I teach here,” said Layton as he
approached
“Do you teach Chris?” Irma continued talking
“Chris?”
She nodded as she eyed the candy bars hungrily
“What Christian Ingebrigtsen?”
She nodded again still eyeing the candy bars
“Yes I teach Ingebrigtsen why? Do you know him?”
She grinned happily “Oh sure we do he’s our
brother”
“Is he indeed…Well we can’t have you here
alone…best come with me huh?”
Ingrid placed a hand on Irma’s arm “No! Chris said we’re to stay right here” she
cautioned firmly “Yeah but” Irma protested, “No buts Chris said we ain’t to
talk to anyone that we don’t know!” Irma huffed she wanted the candy bar and
milk shake and nothing was going to get in her way “Well he didn’t say anything
about not talking to teachers”
“Well if you want Chris to spank ya on you go!”
“He wont…he just says he will but he never
does!”
Layton smirked as he watched the two little
visitors argue
“I think I should get your brother to come take
you home huh?”
They both smiled “Yeah!” they replied in unison
once again.
~***~
Mark leaned across and tapped Chris on the arm “So what’s with you and
Rayburn?” he asked again Chris fixed those cold green eyes on him “Don’t even
go there!”
“Why?”
“Just don’t!”
Mark sat up straight eying the door as it
opened and in stepped Layton, his eyes on Chris.
“A moment of your time Ingebrigtsen?” he
requested as he signalled for him to come
Chris narrowed his eyes then got up form the
chair and followed his enemy outside into the hallway.
Layton reappeared and signalled to Mark which had everyone staring
“Great I’m in even more trouble” he thought as he got to his feet and followed
the man to the next room “I’m told you know about these to also?” Mark glanced
at Chris who shrugged “Sure I…” the man held up his hand “No excuses Mr Read I
will see you both in my office on Monday…now I suggest you get those two little
ones home?” Chris glanced at his sisters Irma was scoffing a candy bar while
Ingrid stared at him.
Mark frowned as he reached into the pockets of his jeans for his car key
“The man just found us Chris” Ingrid insisted as she run along the hallway
beside him “We’ll talk about it later” he growled as he whirled round on Irma
“Where did you get that?” she stopped dead then glanced up at Mark “What
Chris?” she tried to sound innocent, Chris crouched down coming face to face
with her “The candy?” she swallowed “That nice man gave it me” Chris straightened
up “Oh he did?” she nodded “He was real nice Chris…he came and got you” Chris
drew in a deep breath “Chris! Cool it!”
Mark interceded taking hold of Irma’s hand “He could have been anyone Mark”
defended Chris “I know…just don’t deal with it now…not while you’re angry” he
cautioned and Chris nodded as they reached the front steps.
~***~
Louise stood by the large windows watching Mark. Hayley was correct he was a sweet guy but
that’s not what she wanted she wanted, well if the truth be told Louise Parker
didn’t quite know what she wanted she had only just managed to put her
shattered heart back together and was still fragile, she had vowed that no man
would ever hurt her the way Costa had.
She still didn’t quite know what she’d done to deserve being treated in
such a despicable manner, a hand on her shoulder snapped her from her thoughts
“Hey babe…you okay?” she turned to find Paul standing “Yeah I’m fine” she
smiled
Paul glanced down to where Mark was
“I’m guessing you like Mark?”
She let out a heart felt sigh, “I don’t know
Paul…he’s a sweet guy”
“But?”
She shrugged then smiled when Paul raised his
eyebrows
“He’s not your Boston guy right?”
“What?
Oh him? No he’s not my Boston
guy”
Paul glanced at Mark who was now in his car and
heading off towards the city he had an idea, which with Chris’s help just might
work.