Chapter Twenty

 

 

     

      Paul stood in the hallway watching Costa and his cronies fiddle around with someone’s locker and by the way they were looking around he could tell that it didn’t belong to any of them but hay who was he to interfere it wasn’t his locker so it didn’t concern him.  He was late for class again and had just been hauled up before Rawlings not that the man had said anything.  No amount of lecturing served any kind of purpose. 

 

 

      Tara looked up from the computer when he entered the room nodded towards the teacher then hurried to his seat “We still on for Friday babe?” he whispered as he switched on his computer “Yep” whispered Tara trying to act calm “Cool” Paul replied as he produced a scruffy note pad and tiny pencil “So where are we going?” she asked he shrugged “Where would you like to go?” she thought for a second “I’m not sure you chose” he looked at her “Okay McDonalds then” he replied happily Tara tapped his arm “I think you can do better than a McDonalds” she said firmly he rolled his eyes “Sure I can leave it to me babe” he grinned at her.

 

 

      Chris took a deep breath then opened his locker “Oh come on Ingebrigtsen…you must know of a cool place to take a chick?” said Paul as he leaned on the locker next to Chris’s “I can’t think of hand” Paul folded his arms across his chest then pouted “Where do you usually take a chick?” Chris asked Paul raised his eyebrows “Err…to bed” he smiled Chris rolled his eyes “Tara ain’t like that” he insisted as he slammed closed his locker door “How d’you know…she might be” Chris shook his curtained hair out of his eyes “Yeah?  Well you don’t know her very well do you?” Paul stared at him “I know her!” he defended firmly.

 

 

      Tara appeared minutes later a worried crease furrowing her brow she was so deep in thought that she hadn’t even noticed Paul or Chris until she’d almost passed them by “Hayes were are you off to?” Paul said she stopped dead then turned round “I’m following Costa” both Paul and Chris exchanged glances “Err and you’re following Costa…Why?” Chris asked “Coz the jerk is up to something” Paul looked around “Why do you care?” he inquired as he placed an arm around her “I don’t know” Paul frowned “Come to think of it I did see him trying to break into someone’s locker” Tara stopped walking “Who’s?” she demanded Paul shrugged “Well I don’t know…I were late I didn’t exactly hang around to find out”

“Paul you’re worse than useless!  Come on”

“Where?”

“You’re going to remember exactly which locker they were messing around with”

“Are you nuts?  There’s like hundreds of lockers around here!”

“Yeah well we’ll retrace your steps”

“Oh what?  Taz this ain’t what I’d planned for my lunch break babe”

Tara ignored his pleas pushing him towards the stairs “I had other plans for lunch break to so we’re evens okay?” Paul frowned but allowed himself to be lead away.

 

 

~**~

 

 

     Chris shook his head as he watched the couple disappear as they got swallowed up by the crowd “Hey Chris how’s tricks?” he turned to find James Bourne standing “Hey how’re you doing buddy?” the boy grinned up at him “Okay so did you manage to come on Friday?” Chris nodded “Yeah I was there”

“And?”

“You guys ain’t bad”

The boy smiled again “You think?”

“Yup”

“So what d’you reckon we do?”

“What d’you mean?”

“Should we concentrate on rock or pop?”

Chris shrugged “I’d say Rock but I’m into rock music”

“Yeah I know”

“I’d say do whatever floats your boat”

James laughed, “So pop then?”

“Yup if that’s what you’re into”

“That’s what the girls are into”

“Yeah well girls are into other things to”

“Like what?”

“Nothing forget it”

“No…what other things are girls into?”

“Oh go figure,” laughed Chris as he took a few paces away.

 

 

      Mark smiled as soon as the younger boy passed by him “Gee I think you have a fan” he sniggered Chris rolled his eyes “Yeah?  I’m helping him out with some stuff that’s all” Mark narrowed his eyes “Stuff?  What stuff?” Chris moved away from his locker “Just stuff that’s all” Mark pouted “Like is it legal the stuff you’re helping him with?” Chris side glanced Mark then sighed, “What if I said it weren’t legal?” Mark stopped dead “But it is legal isn’t it?” he asked doubtfully and watched carefully as Chris walked backwards, the heavy folders resting on his denim clad legs he wanted to see if he was winding him up or not and the silent response spoke volumes but Mark didn’t pursue the matter any further.

 

 

      Both young men were about to enter their next class when they came across Costa and the look he gave Mark sent chills right through him “I don’t think you’re Mr popular” Chris whispered as he kicked the door closed with his foot “Just close it properly Ingebrigtsen” Layton hissed and watched as Chris opened the door once again and then slammed it closed much to the amusement of the rest of the class “You just had to do that didn’t you?” said Layton as he produced a bundle of papers.

 

 

      Chris sat down behind Tara who turned right round on her seat and tossed a long strand of hair away from her face “He’s definitely up to something” she grumbled referring to Costa Chris eyed the guy who was sitting a few seats away from him then sighed “Well I suppose we’ll know soon enough” he told her then watched as she turned back round to face the front.

 

      The class were just about to undergo another boring lesson in American history when a horn sounded “Oh great…locker search!” Jennifer cried out in despair “Yeah well it’s gotta be done” Layton replied angrily as he indicated for them to line up at the door “Okay Hayes whatcha got hidden in that locker?” Paul asked as he came up behind her “Ooooooo wouldn’t you like to know” she laughed as he wrapped his arms around her “Yeah I would actually” smiled Paul as they sauntered outside and along the hallway towards their lockers.

 

      Tara leaned against the wall as she watched Jennifer Rayburn open her locker and stand with her arms folded defiantly across her chest as the school security guard searched inside…nothing “What the hell are they looking for?” asked Paul who was next in line “Okay Marazzi” Layton told him firmly “Oh what the hell…I ain’t got nothing to goddamn hide” he stated as he opened the lock combination then stepped back “Be my guest!” he said indicating for the man to search.  “Well?” asked Layton getting angry at having his lesson interrupted in this way they moved along “Okay Miss Parker…Hayley” Hayley stepped forward and opened her locker cringing at Ben seeing the large picture of him she’d managed to have blown up “Wow!  Okay we all know with whom your allegiances lie” her face reddened even more by Layton’s comments but Ben just grinned then winked at her “Nothing” said the security guard then continued down the line until they came to Mark.  “Okay Read…your turn” Mark eyed Layton then moved forward “What are we suppose to have hidden in here?” he asked as he fiddled around with the combination “Just get on with it Read!  We don’t wanna be out here forever!” barked Costa impatiently, Mark drew in a deep breath then caught the smug looks on the faces of Costa ‘s friends as he swung open the locker door and stepped back allowing the security guard to search…nothing “What?  That can’t be” someone whispered worriedly as Tara stepped forward, her face hot

“This really is outa Order!!! She shrieked

“That’s right you tell them babe!” cried Paul 

“Just do as you’re told Hayes,” sighed Layton

“Fine but I want my protest noted!”

“Just get on with it…we’ll be here all day otherwise” Jennifer cut in

“Who the hell are you talking to?”

“Hayes open your locker now!” Rawlings yelled

“Fine!!!” She opened the door then pouted “There!”

The security guard slowly shook his head then moved to the next.

 

 

      Slowly one by one the lockers were searched and each time the guard came up empty handed “Okay Costa…your turn” said Layton Ant took a deep breath then opened his locker and stepped smugly back while it was searched, “Anything?” asked Rawlings as he moved forward “Bingo” the man replied as he produced some sort of handgun “Okay son let’s go” Ant Costa backed away “That ain’t mine…someone must have planted it there it wasn’t suppose to be in my locker” he panicked “Yeah…tell it to the cops” Ant broke free and rushed at Mark with such ferocity “It was you…you must have found it and put it in my locker…you bastard!” Mark merely smiled as he watched him being dragged away “It was in Read’s locker honest to God…it was him brought it to school I seen him put it in his locker himself I swear!” he yelled as he was lead away “That’s funny come to think of it I seen you hanging around the lockers this morning” Paul interrupted matter-of-fact “I swear I’ll get you back Read” Costa yelled furiously Mark slowly shook his head as they returned to the class all talking at once.

 

 

      Layton settled then down then stared straight at Chris “Good job they didn’t search your locker son” he muttered as he placed an assignment onto his desk “It may have been you being dragged off by the cops” Chris remained silent his eyes fixed firmly on the assignment just handed back C+ not too bad but he really needed to start getting A’s if he was to succeed “Okay you guys can go…except you Ingebrigtsen” Chris sat back down noting the worried look on Tara’s face as she made her way from the room.

 

 

 

~**~

 

 

      The gang met in Lori’s after school Tara grabbing a bite to eat before they got busy “Well what about Costa then?”  Louise asked side glancing Mark who gulped down a glass of fresh orange juice “He really does have it in for you Mark…maybe you better watch your back for a while” Hayley cautioned recalling what had happened to Ben and how they’d concluded that Costa had called in a few favours “That was wicked the way you managed to switch the gun back on him” sniggered Louise Mark looked down at her then pouted “I didn’t I had no idea what the moron was up to” he confessed “But whoever switched the gun back saved me big time” Louise smiled in relief “I wonder who it was?” Hayley muttered as Tara brought over their order then sat down next to Hayley “It was me” all eyes fell on Ben “You?” said Hayley looking impressed

“Yup I noticed them fiddle around with it pointing it at each other and stuff they really were jerks anyway I followed them and saw them place it in your locker Mark but I knew I couldn’t do anything about it…so when Layton asked for a volunteer to go fetch those assignments from his room I jumped at the chance I sprinted along the hallway switched lockers then rushed down to fetch the assignments” Mark looked grateful “Thanks bud” Ben smiled “Yeah well he had it coming…I can’t beat him in a fight but I can damn well beat him at his own game” he muttered looking smug “Yeah you certainly can do that” Hayley agreed as she leaned over and kissed him “Oh puleese…hide eyes Ingrid they’re at it again Ben and Hayley are kissing yuk!!!” cried Irma as she approached with Ingrid following and Paul not too far behind “Paul collected us today coz Chris’s in strife” Irma continued as she sat down next to Tara.

 

      Chris arrived minutes later looking as if he’d like to kill someone “So what did Layton want?” asked Paul looking concerned

“He’s giving me a test on Friday”

“What?  Why?”

“To see if it’s worth my while staying in his goddamn class”

“Oh ouch!”

“Yeah tell me about it”

“Yeah well I can see where he’s coming from” Mark interrupted

“What?  Oh cheers bud…you really know how to make me feel good”

“Well Chris you can’t stay away from class all this time and just suddenly pick things up”

“So I brought this all on myself?”

“In a way yes”

“Great nice to know you’re on my side bud”

“Guys cool it!!! Chris I’m sure you’ll come up with something to help you get through this test” said Tara firmly as Paul wondered around the counter “Is anyone out here actually planning to work today or am I on my own?” Tara let out a deep sigh then nodded “Just coming” she said “Come on Chris” she added as she caught his arm.