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--
Thanks to Valerie213 for giving me the boost
I needed in completing chapter 8 at
such a fast rate. (:
xo.
--
A small shape dashed past me just as I managed to unlock the door, making me drop my only piece of toast onto the floor. Cursing Scratchy under my breath, I threw my books onto the passenger seat and put the car in reverse.
Taylor was waiting for me as I parked in one of the last available spots in the lot. A tall muscular guy was leaning on her car as she ran a hand through her hair and giggled at some joke he’d probably just made. Okay, so maybe she wasn’t waiting for me…
“Hey Tay!” I called out as I ran past her. I had a paper that was to be handed in before school started, and if I didn’t want my marks to be deducted, then I was going to have to make it into the school within two minutes.
“Hey, slow down!” Taylor called out after me, but I kept on running. My history teacher was a real time-management nazi, so I’d probably get severely punished if I wasn’t on time.
“Hm, congratulations Miss. Wright,” a balding man with a thick moustache known as Mr. Horss said as he checked his watch, disappointment flashing across his face. “Five more seconds and you could have lost twenty percent.” As if on cue, the loud bell began ringing, indicating the beginning of the day. Mr. Horss rolled his eyes as he dismissed me muttering what sounded like “Bloody ruckus, think we’re getting deaf or something?”
I was still panting for breath as I walked into my first period English class. Miss. Sommers wasn’t there yet, so the class was chatting loudly with some frantically copying their friend’s completed homework, others making out with someone on a desk in the back corner, or if you were like Karlee Jones, sitting patiently in her seat with her hands folded neatly in front of her.
I ignored her as I walked past her desk to get to mine – distracted by the nightmarish sight presented before me. Holly was sitting on top of her desk, legs wrapped around the waist of an all too familiar boy. Her skirt was hitching up higher by the second as she continuously ran her hands up and down Tommy’s body. Tommy had one hand supporting her back, the other in a place beyond where I could see. They both looked like they were trying to suck each others lips off the other, frantic like it was the end of the world.
It could well have been the end of mine, I’m probably too scarred to live on any longer.
“Oh gosh, I think I’m going to be sick!” I muttered as I threw my books onto my desk.
Holly pulled away from Tommy looking dishevelled and panting for breath. I caught Tommy’s eye as he looked up at me through his long lashes.
“Oh babe, it’s just Loa, nothing to worry about,” Holly commented as she cupped Tommy’s face in her hands once more, bringing his lips back to hers. “Thanks a bunch for interrupting us,” she muttered at me between locked lips.
“No problem.” I rolled my eyes at her before sliding into my seat and pushing my table forward, trying to stay as far away as I could from the two sex-crazed hormonal teenagers behind me.
“It’s a bit of a disappointment, isn’t it?” I looked up from the dig through my bag as Karlee shifted around in her seat to talk to me.
“What is?”
She pushed her glasses up as she watched the couple behind me. Wrinkling her nose in disgust, Karlee scoffed. “How easily Tommy as given in to Holly.”
I raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“Well, I’d offered my services to Tommy – you know, to show him around the school since I have been here for five whole years.” I refrained from reminding her that most of the grade, including myself, has also been at Ravendale for five years as well. “He didn’t exactly refuse my offer…but then Harriett came in and took him away. And it wasn’t like I could say anything to Harriett – gosh! I mean, it’s Harriett Stevens! But then Holly had to come along and sink her disgusting black painted claws into him, and look what his turned into now, one of them…” She kept darting glances back over my shoulder. “And he was so nice before, and now, it’s just…oh, what a disappointment…”
I stared at her, not knowing whether to laugh or feel disgusted. There was no way Karlee; the nerdy book loving teacher’s pet could have fallen for Tommy’s ‘spell’ so easily. I never thought she could even get crushes – she had always been such a feminist.
“Don’t you think so?” she suddenly asked.
“Oh, um, I guess.” Pause. “Hey, I wonder where Miss. Sommers is,” I asked, trying to change the subject. Karlee, being Karlee, fell for it immediately. She sat up straighter in her chair, and pushing her glasses up again, skimmed the classroom.
“Oh, my! I better go get a teacher! I can’t believe we’ve wasted so much time already!”
I watched her dash out of the classroom, sighing with relief from the end of that conversation. There was nothing more awkward than talking about Tommy, when said subject was making out passionately with a girl a desk behind. It’s Creepy with a capital C.
Everyone had burst out in cheer, making the short kind looking Mr. Moore from next door pop his head into the classroom in inquisition. Poppy and Mr. Moore had left with amused faces with the rest of the class rushing out after them.
That was how I’d come to find myself sitting under our usual tree with Tim, picking up my mobile to hear my mum’s voice calling my name over the line.
“Hello, hello? Loa? Is this Loa? HELLO?!”
I pulled my mobile away from my ear as Tim shot me a bemused look, tearing his eyes away from his PSP.
“Mum! I can hear you perfectly fine, calm down!”
“Oh…oh! Thank gawd! I thought I had to shout into it or something, I still don’t understand how it works, how can I be so far away, yet you can hear me perfectly without my shouting?”
“Um, I…don’t know.” I ran my hand through my hair. Sometimes my mother asked the most obscure questions. Like I seriously knew how a telephone worked. “Did you need something mum?”
“Hmm…what? Oh, oh! Yes!” She paused.
I waited but she didn’t speak.
“Mum?”
“What? Oh, sorry dear, I was watching Gareth do his stretches,” she purred as I gagged silently. Tim watched me now, thinking me to be more exciting than his game. “I need you to pick Nick up from his day care today.”
“Okay.”
“We’ll be going out for a family dinner tonight, so remember to bring Tommy along, dear.”
“Hmm, okay.” I began examining my nails. “Wait…what?!”
“Oops, got to run honey! I have a class in five. Love you cupcake!”
“Wait, mum! MUM!” I was briskly cut off. Groaning, I threw myself down on the grass as Tim laughed full out. Frowning at him, I tried to grab a hold of his legs, but failed miserably.
“Your smile is quite lovely today Loa. Rys must have been looking at you upside down when he fell in love with your smile.”
I tried to find something hard to throw at him, but gave up when I was only rewarded with grass. “Oh, shut up Tim.”
He grinned like a Cheshire cat as he pocketed his PSP and got to his feet. Offering me a hand, he pulled me up swiftly. “Gosh, I love your mother. Shame I haven’t seen her in awhile.”
I punched him on the shoulder as I picked up my books. “You just miss her delicious rock hard cookies.” I winked at him as he shuddered. Mum had never been famous for her cooking skills, and I would never forget the day she had offered Tim her newly baked batch of cookies. Being the greedy guy he was, Tim had grabbed a handful (to the delight of my mum) and stuffed them all into his mouth. Let’s just say his never thought of my mum as a wonderful cook ever again.
“Say hi to her cookies for me, Loa!” he called out as we separated in the hallway to our second period classes. “Tell them they should be proud I’ve had many sleepless nights over them.”
I laughed as I slipped into the classroom.
I looked up at Rys as he leaned against the locker next to mine. He was decked out in his soccer gear, all ready for the trials in half an hour. Soccer season had just begun, and Rys, being one of the main stars, was needed on the field, not really for him to try out, but to supervise.
“About what?” I closed my locker and leant against it next to him, entwining my fingers through his.
“Him,” he nodded towards someone. I looked up to see Tommy and Holly making their way through the crowd, with most people frantically stumbling out of their way. I frowned as we watched Holly snap at a year seven for brushing against her in his haste to get out of her way. The year seven blushed brightly, mumbled a few stuttered sorrys, and then dashed through the crowd as fast as he could. Holly smirked and laughed at his retreating back before grabbing Tommy’s arm and pulling him forward once more.
She came up to Rys and me when she noticed us watching her. With lips painted a rich scarlet red, she pulled it into a smirk as she gave me a once over.
“What do you want, Loa?” She pulled a cigarette out of her back pocket and stuck it in between her red lips. Tommy took one when she offered, but he shoved it into his jacket pocket instead.
“Don’t you dare speak like that to her,” Rys snapped as he stood up straighter. I squeezed his hand, warning him to calm down.
Holly rolled her eyes as she eyed our entwined hands. “What, in my bored tone? I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, Hunter, but Loa isn’t exactly entertaining company to me.” She retrieved a lighter from her jacket pocket and proceeded to light her cigarette.
I watched her in half disgust, but decidedly ignored her. “Tommy, we’re having a family dinner tonight, so you’re coming with me to pick Nick up,” I told him, turning away from Holly. I’d figured out that Holly already knew we were living under the same roof, so there was no point trying to be discreet about it. Rys’s hand tightened around mine as Tommy’s blue eyes landed on me.
“Why am I invited?”
Rolling my eyes, I pulled my hand out of Rys’s as I leant over to pick my bag up off the floor. “You think I want you there? Like heck I know why you’re invited.”
“Then that means you don’t really need to go,” Holly stated as she blew smoke into the air beside her. Rys glared at her. “Look, I wanted you to meet the boys today, so just ditch this shit and come with me, babe.”
“Um, maybe not today. I should really repay Sofie somehow for her accommodation, so I better go to this family thing.” He shot a look at me, which I ignored.
Holly rolled her eyes and snorted. “Fine, whatever.” Holding her half finished cigarette in one hand, the other snaked around Tommy’s neck, bringing his mouth down to hers. Rys and I watched in shock as she practically shoved her tongue into his mouth before pulling back and shooting me a satisfied smirk before strutting out of the front doors.
Tommy watched her go with an unreadable expression on his face. “Let’s go.”
I nodded as I turned around to give Rys a quick peck. “Good luck!”
He nodded, eyes locked on Tommy. Turning to me, he smiled. “Have fun, say hi to everyone for me.”
Nodding, I made my way out of Ravendale High with Tommy by my side, trying not to groan in disappointment as hour one of my torture began.
“Why, hello there.” Her gaze shifted between Tommy and I, and it took me a second before I realised what she was thinking.
“We’re not together!” I blurted out as Tommy choked on his breath beside me.
The lady smiled; probably amused as she watched Tommy and I exchange glares. “Of course not.” She wiped her hands on her teddy bear apron as she stood up. “My name is Mary, what can I do for you?”
“I’m here to pick up Nick Wright.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”
“He’s my brother.”
Mary laughed warmly. “Honey, it’s okay. I was just teasing you.” My shuffled my feet as I blushed whilst Tommy backed away slowly towards the door. “Nick is just over there, playing with Sally.” I looked up to see Nick giving a small blonde girl in pigtails his red pencil. They sat down side by side as both began to draw.
The bell on the door tinkled once more, followed by someone exclaiming, “Oh, I’m so sorry! I didn’t see you there!” I spun around to see Rys’s mum looking worried as Tommy rubbed his back. Her big eyes widened as she took in Tommy before bringing a small hand over her mouth to cover up her shock. “Oh, Tommy, I’m really sorry!”
“No, it’s my fault.” I watched as they both avoided each other gazes as Mary hurried over to see if everything was alright.
“Oh, Ms. Hunter! It’s nice to see you today. Come to pick Sally up?”
“Yes, yes. Sorry I’m late; I got caught up at the office.” She patted down her crisp black suit before catching my eye. “Oh, Loa. How nice to see you. Come to pick up Nick?”
“Yep.” We exchanged hugs before she glided over to Sally. Picking her up swiftly, she hurried back to the door.
“Thanks for taking care of her Mary, I’ll drop her off at eight tomorrow. It’s been great seeing you Loa, do come over more often. Sorry to dash out like this, but I’m waiting for a very important call. I’ll tell Rys we met today.” She smiled brightly before slipping out through the door, ignoring Tommy altogether. I watched in amazement before Mary interrupted me with Nick in her arms.
“My, his grown quite a bit, I can barely hold him anymore.” Thinking better than to give Nick to me, she walked over to Tommy and put him in his arm. “Better let the man hold him, eh?” she winked at me.
“Hmm, yeah,” I replied as I watched Nick try and climb onto Tommy’s shoulders.
Lizzie laughed at Tommy’s stricken face as I smirked at him, unable to find a word that you could really describe Ella Vista by.
“This,” she began dramatically, “is where we’ll be testing our survival methods at. If you last the next two hours without making some sort of excuse to disappear for awhile, then you are considered a Legend!”
I nodded, spurred on by Tommy’s expression. “So far, I hold the record for lasting forty-two minutes before having to dash outside for real air.”
“I’m so beating you this time!” Lizzie exclaimed. “I just practiced holding my breath in the car.”
“There is no way, you can beat me Lizzie!” She stuck her tongue out at me before taking a deep breath and sliding open the door, covered all over by pink cellophane. I grinned as I followed her, turning around to see whether Tommy was following. “Are you coming?”
He shot me a worried look. “Do not make me go in there!”
I smirked. “You’re part of the family now. Hurry up before they order without us!”
Nick giggled on top of his shoulders as he sighed in defeat. “Fine,” he huffed.
We made out way through streamers and big cardboard love hearts decorated in glitter. I cringed as we passed a freaky looking bear holding what looked like a bunch of flowers, its face locked in a sadistic looking grin.
“I think I just died and landed in hell,” I heard Tommy mumble under his breath. He looked out of place with Nick on his shoulders and decked out in his Ravendale uniform.
“At least hell is colourful,” I informed him as we found the table and sat down in the last two seats. He placed Nick in his highchair as Gareth motioned for a waiter.
“Hi kids!” he grinned as mum giggled and grabbed his hand. “We have exciting news to tell you.”
“What is it?” Lizzie piped up as she shovelled a tomato into her mouth.
Mum giggled again. “Now, now dear. Don’t talk with your mouth full. It’s only exciting if we announce it after the meal.”
I watched them suspiciously as Gareth and mum began talking in lowered voices on the other side of the table. Leaning over to Lizzie, I whispered into her ear, “Reckon mum’s pregnant again?”
She nearly dropped her fork in surprise. “Oh, crap! Do you think so?” I shrugged as I leaned back in my chair, aware that Tommy was shooting me a scared ‘what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-this-place’ look.
The waiter came over to take our order as he leaned towards me. “How long as it been?”
Checking my watch, I groaned aloud. “Only seven minutes.” He swore under his breath as he fidgeted in his seat.
“Oh, be a dear and bring us some more of these wonderful tomatoes. Whoever do you order from?” mum asked the waiter who looked confused and worried.
“Um, I’m not sure, Miss.”
“Oh, well, that’s okay.” He gave us a smile before hurrying off with our order. I checked my watch again: ten minutes.
“Um, I’m just going to…the bathroom for awhile,” Tommy piped up. Lizzie shot a smile at me as we both watched his retreating back.
“One down, only you to go, Loa,” she whispered to me.
“No way, I’m not losing to you.”
By the time Tommy came back from the ‘bathroom’ the food had arrived. Mum and Gareth never even noticed he was gone; they kept staring into each others eyes dreamily, as if we weren’t there at all. Lizzie and I entertained ourselves by playing with Nick, until the first dish arrived, which didn’t exactly cheer us up.
I swallowed my tasteless stir-fried rice and eggs, wondering what exciting news mum and Gareth wanted to announce. Although it’d be exciting to have another sibling, Nick was enough work for us. We weren’t exactly rich, and with three kids (well, four now that Tommy is with us – though temporarily, thank gawd!) and mum being a single parent, there was no way we could manage another baby, not even if Gareth moved in with us.
“Kids,” mum piped up, bringing me out of my thoughts. “Gareth and I have some exciting news to make.” We all stopped eating, attentive and excited as we watched mum bury her head into Gareth’s shoulder in embarrassment. “Oh, you tell them pumpkin, I’m too embarrassed.”
Gareth chuckled as his eyes lit up. “Your mother and I…”
I shot Lizzie a look. “Yes?” I urged.
“Well, we’re engaged!”
A stunned silent overcame the table as his words sank in. Mum. Gareth. Engagement.
“OH MY GAWD!” Lizzie squealed loudly as she jumped up from the table and ran over to hug both mum and Gareth. I followed her, a stupid grin spreading across my face. I was thankful mum hadn’t gotten knocked up again, and a marriage was so much more exciting – it even made Ella Vista seem more enjoyable than before.
“Congratulations,” Tommy spoke up as I engulfed mum and Gareth in hugs. “I’m happy for the both of you.” Mum grinned from ear to ear as Gareth chuckled.
“Why thank you everyone, we’re both majorly excited as well.”
Dinner that night didn’t seem to bore me as much afterwards, although my face did hurt from smiling a little too much.
A/N: Eeps, another chapter. This chapter was really fun to write for some reason. The story has come a long way since it's first attempt as Loa and Boo, but I hope it's developing well in everyone's eyes. I'm on my Easter holidays, that's why I have some time on my hands to write. Thanks to Valerie213 once again for giving me the boost in completing this chapter in such a short time. Your review made me smile! :D
