Chapter Eighteen

Tara glanced across the classroom to where Paul sat, he hadn’t said much upon his return only that he was feeling a little better “Earth to Tara” Hayley sang “What?” she muttered Hayley stared at her “What’s up?” she quizzed “Nothing…has Paul said anything to Ben?” Hayley looked confused “Like what?” Tara shrugged then tossed her long hair over her shoulders I don’t know…anything” Hayley shook her head “I don’t think so why?” Tara eyed Paul once again “I just wondered that’s all” Hayley to glanced across to where Paul sat, his pencil poised just above the yellow coloured writing pad. She caught his eye and he simpered thoughtfully, Hayley frowned then glanced back at Tara who was now engrossed in one of her assignments.

Mr Layton entered the room and was about to close the door when he noticed Chris “Going somewhere Ingebrigtsen?” Chris stopped dead and slowly turned around “Err no” he’d been caught red handed “I think you’ll find class is this way,” the man added as he stepped aside to let him pass.

Tara smiled warmly when Chris slid into the seat opposite her

“Wow you actually made it to Layton’s class… I’m impressed”

“Yeah…well don’t get too carried away I’m only here coz the jerk caught me!”

“Oh dear” She watched him slump on the chair and twirl the pencil between his fingers. He was staring in Layton’s direction ready to do battle. “How’s Irma?” she whispered he fixed those green eyes on her “Okay…lapping up all the attention”

“I just bet she is”

“My mom went ape-shit at me of course”

Tara frowned “Why?”

“I should have taken better care of her”

“Chris she’s a child who’s to say that wouldn’t have happened had your mom taken her?”

“Yeah but my mom don’t see it like that”

“Well that ain’t fair is it?”

He shrugged “Probably not”

Tara opened her mouth to say something else but an alarm sounded and everyone went into lock down mode, “Read you check the windows and pull the blinds…Costa you get the door” Layton instructed as everyone else moved swiftly to the appointed place at the back of the now darkened room “What the hell’s the point of this” Chris said as he crawled to the opposite end of the room beside everyone else “Because Ingebrigtsen if some maniac or student were to come in and start shooting up the place they would think there was no-one in here” Chris eyed Layton cynically “Then if that’s the case wouldn’t a student know about lock down?” he said quietly “Yeah probably but hell it’s just something they have us do” said Layton firmly.

~**~

Paul smiled when Tara approached his table he’d kept her a seat next to him “You feeling better then?” she said he looked confused “Huh?” Tara rolled her eyes “You were ill remember?” a little sign of recognition flashed in those hazel eyes, he knew he’d have to be careful where Tara was concerned she knew him too well “So what you doing after work?” his eyes widened “Err I’m not too sure why?” Tara frowned “I thought we could hang out for a while?” Paul looked regretful “I cant I got something planned sorry” Tara merely shrugged but Paul could tell she was a bit hurt by his rejection

“You got something planned?”

“Yeah…sorry babe”

“It’s cool I’ll just hang out with Chris”

Paul searched the lunchroom for Chris finding him sitting alone “Why don’t you go hang out with him just now?”

Tara looked stunned “Fine then I will!” she said standing up

Paul pouted thoughtfully “No I’m just kidding” he said as he reached up and pulled her down on the seat next to him

“Paul what’s going on with us?”

“What do you mean?”

“Are we going out or not?”

“What do you think?”

Tara looked surprised “Paul stop playing games I want to know?”

“Yeah…yeah of course we are babe”

“So we’re gonna start dating like go out and stuff?”

He flashed her one of those heart melting lush grins of his the kind he used when he was after something. “Course”

Tara smiled then lifted her fork.

~**~

Chris finished what he’d been eating then stood up he had to meet someone at one and was now running a little late.

“You okay bud?” he heard Mark ask as he past

“Yup why?”

“It’s just that you didn’t eat much”

Chris glanced down at the empty carton of yoghurt then sniggered

“What are you? My mother?”

“No! Of course not I’m just a concerned friend”

Chris sighed then smiled “Well rest assured I ain’t gonna get all bulimic or anorexic on you bud”

Mark’s brow furrowed “Don’t even joke about it I’ve just done a story on some bulimic kid”

“Yeah I know you did sorry I didn’t think”

“That’s okay”

“Listen I gotta go I’m meeting someone”

Mark looked intrigued “Oh anyone I know?”

“Doubt it”

“What no beautiful broad?” asked Ben who’d just sat down opposite Mark “Err no” Chris said as he took a few paces away from them?

“I don’t believe you’re gonna eat all that junk food Adams” he heard Mark say

“Err yup looks like”

“Oh you really are gross…I don’t know what the hell Hayley sees in you?”

“His dashing good looks of course,” Hayley said as she sat down on the bench

“Oh puleese…him good looking!” said Jennifer as she passed.

Chris made his way across the icy gravel pathway and through the school parking lot “Hey Chris” he heard the kid say in a low tone “James how’s things?” the tiny boy frowned “Okay I guess…so have you got it?” Chris nodded “You got the bucks?” the younger boy nodded eagerly as he dug a hand into the pocket of his scruffy jeans and pulled out ten bucks “Here” he said quickly as he glanced around

Chris sighed then took the money “Okay I might take a little longer to get some more okay they just don’t come on demand right” James Bourne nodded eagerly as he took the small piece of paper and pushed it into his jeans Chris watching in amused silence at the secrecy of everything “Thanks Ingebrigtsen you’re a pal”

Chris sighed as he watched the guy scurry back towards the school building but he wasn’t the only one watching him. Layton was standing by the window and had witnessed the whole scene “Well well well…what the hell are you doing Ingebrigtsen?” he said aloud as he watched the older boy slowly make his way back into school.