Chapter Twenty-Four

Tara had heard the rumours but hadn’t believed them at first; Paul wouldn’t be cheating on her. Well how could he be? Trina was in jail! How can you cheat when one is in jail? “Hey are you okay?” Hayley inquired as she ambled up to her Tara hovered by her locker “Did you know Paul was going to see Trina?” she almost snapped Hayley’s head off “No! Why? Is he?” Tara slammed closed her locker door “Yup!” she snapped then walked away leaving Hayley by her own locker “Wait up…I’ll walk with you” she called as she pushed her books into the locker the picture of Ben catching her eye “I wont be needing that anymore” she hissed before tearing it down and throwing it in the nearest trash can if only she could do that with her feelings but that wasn’t so easy.

Tara frowned as she begun to walk once again

“Why don’t you ask Paul about it?” Hayley advised as they almost ran along the hallway

Tara shrugged “He’d just deny it”

“Yeah you’re probably right…guys…who needs them?”

“I do” came a voice behind them

“Lyl darling you wouldn’t know what to do with a guy…you lead such a sheltered life” Hayley joked

“I would to” huffed Lyl but Hayley had a point Lyl’s parents were so strict

“So Lyl who would you do it with?” asked Tara as they entered the ladies locker room

“I’m not telling you that!”

“Oh come on just tell us,” said Hayley disappointedly

“No!”

“Does he go to this school?” Tara inquired as she sat down on the bench

“He might do”

“Okay let’s guess” Hayley smiled “Is it…let me think…someone we know”

“I’m not telling you”

“Wow it must be…now who would you like to date” Tara cut in

“Paul” Hayley interrupted once again

“No!”

“Mark?”

“No”

“Oh I know Ben…you’re welcome to him!”

Lyl looked Hayley in the eye as if trying to figure out if she really meant it “No not Ben”

“Well that leaves Chris” Hayley almost squealed “I’m right ain’t I you like Chris?”

Lyl remained quiet but a small smile curved her lips and her brown eyes shone at the thought of Chris.

“Chris wouldn’t date you” Tara muttered

“Why?” Hayley replied looking down to where Tara sat getting changed for gym class

“Because she ain’t his type”

“Oh and who exactly is his type?” barked Hayley annoyed at Tara’s insensitive manner

“Jen Rayburn”

“Taz that’s over now”

“Chris and Jen were an item?” Lyl broke in her voice low

“Yeah during the summer…but it didn’t last…you’ve seen them together…they hate each other”

Lyl glanced at herself in the mirror she could never compete with the Jennifer Rayburn’s of this world she was a different race for a start.

“Come on girls lets go…come on…you two should be changed by now” they heard their couch say firmly then usher the rest of them outside.

Tara hated girl sports she’d rather be playing basketball with the boys or soccer she’d tried out for the soccer team once but had gotten rather more than she’d bargained for “I so hate hockey” she cursed as she walked out onto the playing field only to be subjected to a chorus of wolf-whistles “Oh you guys are so mature” cried Lou staring at Mark who merely smiled “Hey Tazzy babe show us your t…” Paul yelled but was cut off in mid sentence when Tara stuck up her middle finger “Go screw yourself Marazzi” she yelled back “Miss Hayes…just take yourself along to Rawlands office” Tara spun round “But you don’t know what he said to me” she tried to defend the woman blew her whistle for the others to stop “Go now!” she was ordered.

Paul jumped down from the bleachers and fell into step with her “Sorry babe” he apologised she quickened her pace “Taz babe wait” he said she stopped dead “What’s up hon?” she placed her hands on her hips “You really don’t know do you?”

“Err no”

“Trina!”

“Trina?”

“Yeah you know Trina…your girlfriend…the one you’re still seeing”

“Oh”

“Yeah oh!”

“Chris just couldn’t keep his mouth shut could he? Taz baby…I’m only just being a friend” he tried to explain

“Really? Is that why you’re taking her to the prom? What were you gonna do Paul take both of us? One on each arm”

“Now that you mention it it would kinda be fun”

“I can’t believe you’re making a joke of this!”

“I’m not please Taz…you gotta understand Trina’s in jail I’m only trying to be a friend that’s all”

“Yeah well whose fault’s that she’s in jail?”

“Yeah I know but…”

“Paul it’s either me or Trina you can’t have us both!”

“Okay I’ll tell her babe”

“Good”

“Miss Hayes Rawlands office now!” screeched the couch

“Oh I’m going!” she screamed back as she walked away.

Hayley looked sympathetic as she listened to Tara cussing Rawlands out “I mean a detention for my un-ladylike behaviour…really this school is prehistoric!” she barked as they entered the lunch room Hayley’s eyes meeting Ben’s both not daring to show any kind of emotion “Why don’t you go talk to him?” Tara nudged looking worried now “Nope! He made his bed he can jolly well lye in it” they were both as stubborn as each other nether willing to give an inch “Come on let’s pig out and forget the male species what u say?” Tara suggested, “Sounds good to me” she accepted the suggestion.

On the stoke of three Tara bolted from the class and headed to detention she’d called Darren to tell him she was gonna be a little late and that Chris was gonna cover for her until she got there she entered the class and almost dropped dead. It was full of punks “Oh shit!” she mouthed as she looked around they all stared at her “Wow a broad at last…come sit here babe” the scariest one of all yelled “That’s enough” she glanced at the school councillor “Take a seat Tara…don’t worry they’re all quite tame” she added “Yeah Tara we’re really tame…it’s at night we tear up the neighbourhood” Tara glanced at the boy who’d spoken then sat down as far away as she could “I don’t’ think she likes us somehow” laughed the scariest one Tara stared at him “I just don’t know you” she replied “Oh she don’t know us well come over here sweetheart and get to know us” Tara remained were she was “Leave her alone” the boy in the corner spoke at last “Oh Billy wants her all to himself Benji” laughed Joel “Yeah? Hey babe what you say you get with Billy here…he’s a virgin by the way!” both Billy and Tara’s faces reddened “Right Benji that’s enough”

He glanced at the school councillor then sighed “Miss you can’t like tell him the facts of life coz he’s kinda innocent” Benji sniggered

“Really? It wasn’t long ago you came to my door asking the same question” the room erupted in bellowed laughter at that remark

“Okay okay you got me on that one miss”

The councillor glanced at her watch then sighed “Okay get going” she told them “Oh and try to be good” she added looking straight at Benji “Me I’m always good…it’s the old ladies who are bad and wont give up their handbags”

Tara glanced at her watch she’d only been in detention for ten minutes

“Miss Ryan always does this…she always let’s u s get off early…says ten minutes is all she can stand with Benji there”

Tara glanced at the boy called Billy then smiled down to where Benji was now helping Miss Ryan put her things into her case “She’s cool” she praised “She’s the best…she let’s us be who we wanna be…and doesn’t wanna change us…unlike most folks around here” Tara immediately thought of Costa and his lot “Yeah I get what you mean” she said as she stood up and headed for the door.

Benji and Joel were walking just in front of her both walking Miss Ryan to her car while Billy and another boy walked with Tara

“So where are you off to now?” Billy quizzed

“I have to work”

“Oh…where’s work?”

“Lori’s it’s a diner”

“Cool”

She stared at him “What’s cool about it…it’s a diner for Christ sake?”

“At least you got a job…no-one will employ us…they take one look and think we’re gonna rob the place” said the blond punk by her side “Wow I get your point” Billy sniggered “I could so see Benji working in the diner…he’d scare the customers into ordering” Tara laughed out loud

She could so imagine the scene “Sorry what’s your names again?” she asked “Well them down there are the twins Benji and Joel this is Paul and I’m Billy” she glanced at Paul “Gee I’m surrounded by twins and guys named Paul” she laughed “My boyfriend’s named Paul” both boys exchanged glances “You got a boyfriend?” Paul cut in “Yup but if he ain’t careful I wont have a boyfriend for very much longer” Billy sighed “Ain’t he treatin you right babe?”

“Nope”

“I’d treat you right,” he said quietly

“I’ll bare that in mind”

“Really? Wow!”

“I gotta go…might see you around?”

“Yeah definitely babe”

She smiled up at him then walked away.

“Hey where are you going?” Benji called after her

“Work”

“Oh take the day off…come with us…we’re gonna go take care of business”

“Ta for the invite and I’m real tempted but I gotta go…I need the money”

“Okay some other time huh?”

“Sure” she took a few paces away but stopped when they appeared once again “So…where’s the diner then?” Benji inquired looking down at her

“In the mall”

“Okay…we’ll escort you there…like we’re your bodyguards”

“I don’t need bodyguards”

“With a body like that? Sure you do”

Tara smiled then frowned on realising that it took four punk guys to make her feel special “Oh okay…but no scaring the customers” Benji placed his arm around her shoulder “Oh not just a tincey wincey bit” she laughed “No!”

“Okay” he smiled then manoeuvred her through the school gate.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Chris stared at Paul then sighed, “What are you talking about man?” he sniped

Paul threw down the pot “You just couldn’t wait could you?”

“What?”

“To tell Tara!”

“Tara had a right to know!”

“Yeah and I had the right to tell her!”

“Oh what? When? When the hell were you gonna tell her?”

“In my own good time!”

“Which would have been when? When Trina got out of jail?”

“No!”

“No?”

“No Chris!”

“Why don’t I believe you?”

“Because you’re so wrapped up in your own jealousy”

“Oh What?”

“You didn’t tell Tara because you were looking out for your sis…you told Tara because you were looking out for yourself!”

“What oh puleeze don’t even go there”

Paul spun round “Chris it’s no secret how you feel about her…it’s written all over your face! You want her so much you can’t sleep at night…well I got news for you buddy…you’re the last person she’d date…when it comes to boyfriend material you don’t even make the list!” at that moment Chris punched him the force of which sent him flying into the steel sink unit “Don’t make me hit you Chris!” Paul warned but Chris wasn’t listening “Come on give it your best shot!” he challenged as he pushed at Paul’s chest. It took all the restraint he could muster not to hit him back “Chris you’re angry buddy…please just calm down” he said knowing full well if pushed too far he’d hit back “Come on!” Chris yelled and Paul punched him back watching him land on the tiled floor where he hit the back of his head “Oh God! Chris Chris buddy are you okay?” he sat up and held the back of his head “Ahhhhhhhhh God!” Paul helped him to his feet “I’m sorry bud” he said “It’s okay it was my own fault” Paul looked guilty “What the hell’s going on?” cried Tara on entering the kitchen “He err slipped and hit his head” Paul stammered Tara flashed him a disbelieving look “Really? Is that a fact? You were fighting!”

They both shook their heads “No!” said Paul “I weren’t born yesterday…look at you both you’ve got a split lip and you’ve taken a blow to the head I’m calling 911” Chris placed a hand on her arm “No! I’ll be okay” he reassured but Tara wasn’t so convinced “I’ll be fine!” he said again his tone a little more forceful.

~*~*~*~*~*~*

Chris sat at the dining room table that evening revising for yet another test Layton was giving there was no way he could cheat again he’d felt guilty ever-since the last test when he’d gotten an A+ which he really should never have gotten. His head hurt but he put it down to stress “Chris” Ingrid said quietly from the doorway he turned round to face her

“What’s up honey?”

“Irma’s sick”

Chris rolled his eyes he knew Irma would end up being sick that evening he’d told her three times not to take any more ice cream from the freezer and three times she’d ignored him and eaten a large helping “Great” he said aloud as he threw down his glasses and went to attend to his sister.

Irma was standing by the door looking at the vomit which now not only covered the carpet but her pyjama top and her face and her hands “Oh great!” he thought “Why couldn’t you do this when mom was home?” his thoughts continued she stared at him “I’ve been sick Chris” she suddenly wailed “So I see…go and get cleaned up I’ll be in to help in a minute” she rushed out being followed by Ingrid “Great this is all I need” he said aloud as he begun pulling covers from her bed then clean up the room before going to the bathroom to attend to her.

He returned to his studies but found his concentration gone and thus closed his books with a snap, his head really hurt now and so after taking a couple of pills he went to lie on the couch for a while, closing his eyes he fell into a restless sleep and didn’t wake until 8am next morning “Chris you’re such a sleepy head we’ve been calling you for ages and ages” laughed Ingrid he tilted his head and tried to focus on her “Are you okay Chris?” Irma asked quite recovered now her brother glanced up to where two versions of Irma stood “I’m not sure…could you get me some water honey?” they both rushed off squabbling over just who was going to fetch the water “He asked me Ingrid!” Irma insisted as she nudged her out of the way “No he asked me to get it for him Irma” Ingrid insisted as she pushed Irma back both determined to be the first one back with the water “Ta sweetie” he said as he took the water from Irma and sat up. The glass slipped from his hand as he felt the room spin round “Chris…Chris are you okay?” said Irma as Ingrid retrieved the glass

“Wow…sure hon I’ll be okay in a minute I just gotta go lie down for a second” he assured as he stood up and took a few paces nearer the door but as he reached for the handle he suddenly fell to the floor with a thud

“Chris!!!” both his sisters cried out in panic as they rushed to his side

“Is he dead Irma?” yelled Ingrid

“I don’t know…Chris wake up! Please wake up!” she yelled tearfully as she knelt down at his side “Please Chris we don’t know what to do!” she continued panicking “Chris wake up! We’re scared…you’re really scaring us Chris please don’t do this” both little girls knelt by their unconscious brother not quite knowing what to do…