"I'm sorry, Sir: what?!"
"I want you to date Skye."
The green-eyed young man blinked. Had things really gotten this crazy? It had all started the week before school ended, when he had started his stay in Cameron...
Skye was standing at the kitchen sink, washing the blood from her knuckles. Jeffrey stood next to her, staring at her hand in horror.
"Skye! What happened? Did you fall at school?"
She just snorted. It was Jane, seated at the kitchen table who answered his question. "No, she punched this kid in the nose."
"You mean that's someone else's blood on her hand?"
"Yep. Rather a scary thought, isn't it?"
He nodded, before turning back to Skye. "Why did you punch them, and - dare I ask - where?"
"In the nose."
"Are you not going to tell me why?"
"He kissed me!"
Jeffrey couldn't help himself. He burst out laughing. "And you punched him the nose for that?! Don't you think that's a bit drastic, Skye? After all, most girls would be thrilled!"
"Most girls are brainless cows with no more sense than a gaggle of geese! Why shouldn't I punch Greg in the nose? He had no right to kiss me!"
Here, Jane broke in. "Wait - Greg?! Do you mean to tell me that it wasn't Pearson who kissed you?"
"No, Pearson was last week. John was yesterday, and, now that it's Tuesday, apparently it's Greg's turn!"
Jeffrey held up his hands to halt the conversation. "Woah, woah, woah! Skye, do you mean to tell me that you have punched three guys in the last week?"
"Week and a half."
"And you did this because they all tried to kiss you?"
She rolled her eyes. "Of course not, you idiot! John asked me to go to the movies with him."
"But why do you want me to date Skye, Sir?"
The older man looked at him from across the desk. "Jeffrey, you've been here for the past few weeks. You see Skye. She's growing into quite a lovely young woman, and the boys are noticing it. She's always had Pearson pestering her, but in the past month and a half the numbers have grown immeasurably. She doesn't like it, obviously, the school doesn't like it because they don't like having nearly every boy in the Junior class be beaten up by one girl, and I don't like it, because she's my daughter and I don't like the thought of strange boys trying to kiss her. And so we have to do something about it."
"And you think that something is to have me pseudo-date her?"
"Yes. You are Skye's favorite person, I trust you immensely, and none of us would mind having you around more. On top of that, you have developed an unique ability to survive long periods of time in her company, and you two are close enough already that the other boys won't have a hard time believing that you are in a relationship of romance. You, see, it makes perfect sense!"
Jeffrey nodded, trying his hardest to actually process what had just been, well... ordered, of him. Taking a deep breath, he winced. "I'm sorry, but I just can't do that."
Martin Penderwick almost looked surprised. "Why not?"
"Well, for one, Skye would never go for it. And, honestly, I would never go for it either. Don't get me wrong, I like Skye. She's one in a million. But I'm not in love with her, and I know she's not in love with me. All those guys would pick up on that right away, so it would be pointless. Look, Skye is perfectly well able to take care of herself. And if that means that she punches three guys a week in the nose, then who cares? Mr Pen, the last person you have to worry about is Skye."
"So you won't do it?"
"No, Sir. I'm sorry, but I just can't."
Mr Penderwick nodded. "Alright then. We tried, Jeffrey, but you leave us no alternative. Thanks for your time."
The next day...
Skye groaned and rested her head on her knees. "Jeffrey, I'm beginning to think that this is deliberate."
He snorted. "Oh, really? What makes you say that?"
"I don't know, but it just doesn't seem natural that two people would be locked in the closet, together, three times in one day. It isn't normal."
"What a brilliant observation!" He chuckled. "Oh, Skye, have I got something to tell you... We've just began the dating game..." The look on her face was priceless.
More to come soon! Please review! :-)
