Chapter Twenty-Three
“How was your Christmas Maz? We hardly saw you” Hayley said as they hurried up the few stairs leading to the entrance “It was okay” he replied happily Tara eyed her two friends knowingly then signalled for them to follow her to the ladies room “Great why do all girls go to the john together?” Paul asked aloud to no one in particular.
As he rounded the corner he felt himself
hit the wall with a thud “Gee Chris it’s swell to see you to bud” he joked but
the look on Chris’s face told him this was no joke “Let’s go” he growled as he
caught him by the arm and led him to the men’s room “OUT!” he yelled at the few
younger kids gathered they swiftly finished what they’d been doing them
scampered “Can’t we talk about this like two civilised human beings?” sniggered
Paul his heart racing. Chris was the
one person you didn’t cross “What’s going on?” Paul shrugged nervously “You
tell me? You were the one pushed me in
here” Chris caught hold of him and dragged him into the cubical “What’s with
you going to see my sis?” he said at last
Paul’s
eyes widened “What? You’re this upset
coz I went to see your sister?”
“What’s
your intentions towards my sis Paul?”
“What?”
“Are
you two going out?”
“Well
no not exactly…I just kind of said we…well I don’t know what I said”
“Well
you better get it sorted Marazzi coz my sister has gone through enough without
you screwing up her life to”
“Okay
fine!”
“You
better!”
“I
will”
As soon as the door swung closed Paul
slid down the wall, he could have taken Chris on and won he had done so many
times before but now Chris had to watch what he was doing any bang on the head
could kill him “Who’s in there?” he heard Layton’s voice echo around the room
“Just me Mr Layton…I suddenly felt really sick” he lied as he opened the door “You
okay now?” he smiled up at him “Yup fine” he replied as he scurried to the door
his hand hovering near the handle “Marazzi…you know if you’re being bullied you
can always report it?” Paul smiled “It’s fine honest” he insisted as he walked
slowly away.
The room fell silent when Paul entered
and quickly took his place behind Tara and across from Ben who was frantically
trying to get Hayley’s attention “What’s up?” asked Paul Ben shrugged then
shook his head “She wont talk to me” he whispered Paul reached over and tapped
Hayley’s shoulder “Ben wants you” he muttered but Hayley just turned her back
on them which made Paul stare “Wow what have you done?” Ben shrugged once more
then frowned “I’ll ask Tara” he offered before Layton silenced him.
Just before the lesson began Layton
handed Chris back his test paper then frowned down at him “Not bad…considering
you hardly attend these lessons” Chris glanced down at the paper then smiled on
seeing the A+ “I’ll be expecting the same standard from now on” added Layton as
he walked away.
Paul leaned over and snatched the test
from Chris’s desk looking down on it “Jeez man when have you ever gotten an A
on anything?” he muttered Chris leaned over and promptly snatched it back
“Often Marazzi…the one who fails everything is…” Paul sniggered “Me! You don’t have to rub it in man?” Chris
smiled as he placed the test paper into his rucksack then lifted his notepad
and pencil.
As soon as the bell sounded recess Paul
promptly made his way out of the room after Tara who was on her mobile phone
“She’ll call you back” he said as he ended the call “Paul! I was talking to someone” he shrugged as he
took her by the arm and hauled her into a vacant room “You can call them back
later this is important”
“What?
There’s no-one more important than my
Grandfather”
“Oh…Not
even me?”
“Especially
not you!”
“Oh
well I wont give you what I’ve got to give you now” he said huffily
Tara
looked down at his crutch area then smiled “Well I don’t particularly want what
you want to give me!” she teased
“Haha
well that’s not what I had in mind…well that’s a lie I did have it in mind but
later after school…no what I want to give you is this” he produced a small
black box which he handed to her “What is it?” she smiled joyfully “Open it and
see” she obeyed and gasped “wow I was looking at that the other day” he winked
“I know…put it on” he indicated and once again she obeyed quickly slipping it
onto her wrist “Wow looks good babe” she glanced down at the chunky silver
bracelet then kissed him softly on the lips “Mmmm that was nice babe” he said
quietly “I love this thanks so much Paul” she said at last.
As they left the room they noticed
Hayley ignore Ben once again “Wow she really ain’t speaking to him is she?”
“Nope”
“Why?”
“Ask
him”
“Tara…just
tell me?”
“No”
“Why
not?”
“Because…it’s
between Ben and Hayley…he knows what he’s done”
“I
don’t think he does…look here he comes just clue him in huh?”
“Hi
guys” Ben greeted downheartedly
“Hey
Ben” Paul replied
Ben
glanced from Paul to Tara “Hey Taz…how you doing?”
Tara’s
look could stop an express train in its tracks “Better than you by the looks of
things” she sniped his eyes widened in surprise “What am I suppose to have
done?”
“You
don’t know?”
“No…I
wouldn’t be asking otherwise”
“Well
just let’s say Hayley found out about your other girlfriend!”
“What
other girlfriend?”
“The
one who was over at your house on Christmas day?”
“Oh
her Jen ain’t my girlfriend! Hayley
should know that”
“Yeah? Well your mother seems to think she is”
Ben
scoffed “My mother knows nothing of my life I can’t believe Hayley believed
her”
“Yeah
well…you mother was very convincing”
“But
that means that Hayley doesn’t trust me”
“What?”
“She
doesn’t trust me Tara,” he repeated as he slowly walked away.
~*~*~*~*
Hayley spun round eyes wide “What? What the hell do you mean I don’t trust
him?” she yelled her voice echoing all around the ladies room “That’s what he
said Hayley” Tara muttered later that afternoon when she got her on her own
“Oh
so this is my fault?”
“I’m
just telling you what he said you guys need to talk”
“Talk! He spends Christmas day with that bitch Jen
and then has the audacity to say I don’t trust him!”
“Well
you didn’t exactly give him a chance to explain”
“Why
are you defending him?”
“I’m
not I’m just telling you to give him a chance Hayley”
Hayley thought for a few seconds before
marching from the ladies with Tara in hot pursuit “Now where are you going?”
she said as she practically run along the corridor “To find Ben and let him
explain!” Tara frowned “In this mood are you nuts…Hayley calm down!” she said
as she caught her by the arm bringing her to an abrupt halt “Tara you want me
to give him a chance to explain don’t you?” Tara nodded as they begun walking
once again “Well let me go find him?” Tara stopped walking allowing her friend
to carry on.
The hallway begun to fill with people
all with one aim in mind the canteen “Hey Taz…you seen Chris anywhere?” asked
Mark Tara glanced up “Nope not since Layton’s class why?” he fell into step
with her “Coz we were suppose to meet for lunch but he seems to have gone AWOL
again” Tara smiled to herself “He’s probably off somewhere making the deal of
the century” Mark pouted down to where she stood “Deal?” he queried “Yeah deal…he’s
really good at making deals is Chris” Mark held open the door for her “What
kind of deals?” Tara rolled her eyes “Oh Mark for someone so inelegant you can
be quite dumb at times” Mark raised an eyebrow “Please tell me he ain’t doing
what I think he’s doing?” Tara grinned “Well that depends on what you think
he’s doing” she sniggered Mark suddenly seized her by the shoulders “Tara! Quit playing games and tell me straight is
Ingebrigtsen dealing drugs!” at that very point all chatter stopped and everyone
turned to face them “Oh good one Mark now everyone including Rawlands and
Layton suspect Chris” Tara said as she marched away. He followed a few seconds later “Sorry” she turned round “If you
really wanna know what’s going on with Chris I suggest you ask him okay?” Mark
nodded as he placed some food onto his tray.
Paul entered minutes later and after skipping right to the front of the queue he paid for his food then carried the tray across to where his friends sat “Hey babe” he said as he manoeuvred himself in between her and Mark “What d’you wanna do tonight?” he added Tara shrugged as Louise entered being followed by Hayley who seemed even madder than before “Wow who’s pissed up your tree?” Paul inquired as he placed a French fry his mouth “Don’t ask” whispered Louise as she sat down opposite Mark “I take it you didn’t get things sorted out then?” Tara inquired looking around for Ben but he was nowhere to be seen
“Ben Adams is a nasty repulsive repugnant disagreeable offensive belligerent pugnacious and antagonistic son of a bitch!!!”
“And those are just his good points” laughed Chris who’d just joined them Hayley frowned as she glanced up at him “Don’t even joke about it” she sniped
“Wow sorry” he apologised with his usual
smile
“So
ain’t you gonna have any lunch?” Mark interrupted
“I
ain’t hungry”
“Chriiiiiiiiissssss”
“I
ain’t hungry Mark!”
“You
gotta eat” Mark replied
“What? Are you the food police or something?” Paul
sniggered
“I’m
gonna get you something to eat”
“There’s
little point I won’t eat it!”
“What
the hell’s going on…Mark if he ain’t hungry then he don’t have to eat” Paul
stated
“But
he does have to eat” Mark ground out angrily as Ben appeared with Jen in tow
“Wow what’s going on there?” Paul changed the subject
“That’s
his new girlfriend” sniped Hayley
“What?”
asked Chris relieved to have Mark off his back?
“Yeah
they were looking mighty cosy in the hallway” Louise cut in
“What? What do you mean?” asked Tara looking over
to where Ben stood deep in conversation with Jen “Maybe they were just
talking?” Paul suggested
“What? With their arms around each other!” hissed
Hayley turning her back on Ben
“Ouch! Said Paul wondering just what his buddy was
playing at
“What
a jerk!” Tara suddenly cried out
“What? What’s he doing?” Hayley almost screamed
“He
just gave her arm a little rub but honestly there was nothing in it”
Hayley
could feel the muscles tighten in her tummy she wanted so much to hurt Ben.
“Chris
Lunch” Mark lightened the atmosphere
“Oh
for heaven sake! I’ll go get it now
dad!”
Mark
looked satisfied
“What’s
he doing now?” Hayley asked suddenly
“Who?”
Tara asked knowing exactly who she was referring to
“Ben
who else?”
“Oh
him he’s still talking”
Hayley
leaning in closer beckoning for Tara to do the same
“What?”
“D’you
remember the dare?”
“What
dare?”
“You
know the one where if I got out with Ben you had to kiss him?”
“I’m
not kissing him Hayley!” Tara refused
“You
wont have to we’re no longer together but I shall keep my end of the dare”
“What? What end was that again?”
“You
know where I have to kiss Chris”
A
look of recognition crossed Tara’s face “Hayley don’t you’re angry”
“Yeah
well I’m gonna do it right here right now” she said as she got to her feet
“Hayley don’t” warned Tara but Hayley was set in her mission and when Chris
returned with a small carton of yoghurt Hayley kissed him softly on the lips.
When she’d finished she took a step back
and smiled but the smile leapt from her face on seeing Ben storm out of the
lunch room and Jen’s smirking face she’d just played right into the hands of
her rival “Well that was nice but what was it for?” Chris asked smiling down at
her she just stood there staring “I err I em I’m sorry Chris” she stammered
before rushing outside “Wow! Do you always have that affect on women?” Paul
laughed as Tara got up from the bench “I’ll be back in a mo I’m just gonna see
how she is” she told Paul.
Louise was trying to calm her sister
down when Tara reached them “Well that was smart I must say”
“I
don’t need a lecture Tara!”
“No
what you need is a right good smack in the mouth you’ve just made the situation
ten times worse”
“Well…I
was angry!” shouted Hayley blind with tears
“I
know that…that’s why I told you not to do it”
“Look
it’s done now…there’s no point in arguing about it you’ll have to go and find
Ben and tell him…oh I don’t know…Hayley you gotta get this sorted because if
you don’t you’re gonna lose Ben altogether” Louise advised but Hayley couldn’t
see any way out of this she’d kissed another guy right there in front of Ben
how could he forgive her for that.
~*~*~*~*
As soon as the bell sounded ending the
school day Chris jumped to his feet and pushed his things into his rucksack
before heading to the door. He still
had to pick his sisters up from the day care centre and was running late again.
Two little faces beamed at him from
behind the window they were the last ones to be collected which was nothing
unusual “Hey Chris look what we made today” Ingrid said happily as she skipped
across to a small table Chris looked down at the painting she was holding “Wow
that’s fab honey” he said as he took a closer look “Are we going now Chris”
Irma asked as she reached for her coat “Yup” he replied happily.
The cold air nipped at his face as he
waited for the bus once again Irma staring at the punk youth standing nearby
while Ingrid leaned against Chris’s leg “Is he trick or treating Chris?”
whispered Irma as the boy past by them and got on the bus “No” whispered Chris once again Irma sat
down then turned right round on the seat “Then how come he’s all dressed up?”
Chris smirked “That’s how he wants to look”
“What? Why?”
“He
just does”
“Why?”
“Because
he likes punk music”
“What’s
punk music?”
“It’s…”
Chris suddenly stopped speaking
“What? What Chris?”
“It’s
just music okay”
Irma
smiled across to where the boy sat “But…”
Chris
sighed, “Irma enough already…its just music okay?”
Irma
frowned then looked back at the boy
“Why’s
he got all them tattoos on his arms?”
“Oh
because he wants them on there”
Irma
looked deep in thought “Paul’s got tattoos is he a punk?”
“No”
“Why?”
“Oh
Irma enough with the questions huh”
Irma
frowned down at here red Wellington feet then sighed
“Chris?”
she said fretfully
“What?”
he sniped?
“Can
I be a punk?”
“No!
You’re too little”
“No
I ain’t”
“Yes
you are”
“Well
I don’t think I am”
“Irma
you’re four years old believe me…you’re too young!”
“How
old do you have to be then?” she genuinely inquired
“Twenty”
Chris plucked a number from mid air
She
stared at the boy once again “Well he don’t look twenty twenty’s old isn’t it?”
“No!”
“Chris”
“What?”
“Can
I be a punk when I’m twenty then?”
“Yeah
sure whatever”
She
beamed at the boy who grinned back at her.
Once home he relaxed on the couch while
his sisters squabbled in their room.
“No Irma it’s mine!” squealed Ingrid
Chris
listened intently to the ruckus going on above him.
“No
Ingrid you had the torn book!”
“No
I didn’t Irma you tore yours remember?”
“No
I didn’t tare mines”
“Yes
you did give it back!”
“No!”
“Give
it back Irma!” Ingrid was becoming tearful now
“No
it’s mine”
Chris
turned down the volume on the TV and listened more intently any minute now and
they’d start physically hitting each other.
“It’s
mine I wont it” sobbed Ingrid
Irma
clung to the book with all her might but Ingrid when riled could pack a mighty
punch, which is just what she did.
All when quiet for about ten seconds
before a wail escaped from Irma “I’m telling Chris” she yelled then bolted for
the door Ingrid in hot pursuit both talking at once.
“She
punched me”
“Well
she wouldn’t give me my book back!”
“Well
she didn’t have to punch me!”
“Well
you shouldn’t have taken my book it’s mine Chris!”
“You’re
both to blame…you” he pointed to Ingrid “Shouldn’t be hitting and you” he
pointed to Irma “Had no right taking her book you did tare yours…I’m gonna
punish you both…”
“But…” Irma tried to reason
“Bed…now!”
They stood there stunned, he’d never
really lost his temper with them before he usually calmed down and let them off
the hook “But…” Irma tried again Chris’s eyes widened “Now!” he said firmly as
he stood up and pointed to the door two pairs of little feet scurried from the
room he smiled to himself as he sank back onto the couch and listened to the
voices as they blamed each other for their punishment “Mom!” they cried in
unison making him turn to the door “How’re my girls” he heard his mother say
tiredly as she held them close “Wow mom you’re back” cried Irma looking
excitedly across to where Chris stood “Hey how’re you doing okay?” he smiled in
relief as he felt her arms around him “Are you back for good mom?” asked Ingrid
looking hopeful her mother let Chris go then crouched down “I’m back for a week
or two just to give your brother a bit of a rest” they smiled then frowned “Are
we still to go to bed Chris?” Irma chanced her luck “Oh what’s this? Were you
two misbehaving?” Irma bowed her head “Yeah they were fighting” Chris muttered
and watched his mother crouch down once again “Oh that’s not very nice is it?”
they shook their heads “We’re really sorry mom we wont do it again” Irma said
“Oh I’m sure you wont…now I suggest you do as you’re told and go to bed” they
looked even more shocked “What? But you’re home now?”
“Yeah
and you’re brother has punished you both”
They
looked up at Chris then frowned as they strolled dejectedly away.
Chris went to the kitchen to make a
start on tea and fix his mother a cup of coffee, she followed him “Come and sit
down…I’ll fix dinner…I want to talk with you” he obeyed “What’s up?” he said cheerfully
“You’ve
lost weight”
He
glanced down at himself “Yeah I know but it’s not much”
“It’s
a lot Chris I’m taking you to see the doctor”
“What? Mom I’m fine I don’t need no Doctor”
“I’d
rather you got checked out”
“Mom! I’m fine stop fussing okay?”
“Okay
but…”
“Mom!”
“Okay! Hey if you wanna go round to Tara’s or
Mark’s you can”
“I’d
rather spend some time with you mom I ain’t seen you in ages and besides I
wanna know how Trine is?”
His mother sighed, “Okay I’ll just fix
dinner then we can watch a movie together how does that sound?” Chris smiled
joyfully “I’ll choose the movie okay?” she nodded as she watched him; these
past months had been hard on them all but she was hopeful that things were
going to get back to normal sooner rather than later.