Tom and Doug arrived at Union state high school on a cold November morning. The school was big with grey bricking. Teenagers filled every possible space in the parking lot and on the greenery that surrounded the high school.
They both got out the car and looked around. Tom was dressed in a casual jumper and blue jeans. He had also decided to put on his round glasses that he had used in previous cover ups. Nerdy but casual was the image he was going for. That's what Ruby seemed to be like anyhow. Penhall also dressed in casual wear but still wore his beloved leather jacket.
"Big school," Doug pointed out.
"Doug all schools are big." Hanson said as he continued walking towards the entrance.
"See Ruby anywhere?"
Hanson looked around. He could not see the red haired girl he had seen in the picture. Perhaps she was already in class.
"Man, I really don't fancy doing history. It's going to be b-o-r-ing." Penhall emphasised as they walked through the double doors of the entrance.
"Yeah well neither do I really but we have to pretend."
"I know that!"
They managed to find the student office and asked for their timetables. They also got given a map. But after having to work in so many different schools, they were use to having to find their way round.
"History…in the morning…room 51…" Penhall said with little enthusiasm.
"Doug, really? We need to get into character. Act more enthusiastic."
He flashed a smile quickly.
"That'll do," Hanson praised, rolling his eyes at the same time.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Ah, Tom and Doug Jackson," the teacher beamed. "Do take a seat."
The teacher, Mrs Davison, was a middle aged woman with short brown curly hair. Her hair also had the promising sign of grey streaks peaking through her brown hair. She wore glasses and a long dress with opened toe sandals.
The class was deserted in terms of students. They both expected to find loads of students in which they would have to stand in front of the class and then introduce themselves. But the only students who occupied the classroom were Ruby and Georgia. The two girls looked at them and smiled. They also looked hopeful too. Probably because there would be two other people to join their class.
Doug and Tom awkwardly walked into the classroom. Tom sat at the desk next to Ruby and Doug sat next to Georgia. Both of the girls looked at either one of them. Ruby gave Tom a smile and he mouthed a hi in return.
"Okay, Tom and Doug I'm not sure what you learnt in your other school, but obviously you have some knowledge of British history as you have chosen to take this class." Mrs Davison possessed a posh British accent.
Doug tried to get Tom's attention as the teacher had her back on them. Tom could see Doug looking at him in the corner of his eye. He knew why he was trying to get his attention: they both knew nothing about British history. Perhaps the odd monarch or when a certain event happened. But nothing detailed. No wonder hardly anyone was in this class.
Georgia looked at Doug. She caught him looking worried and trying to get Tom's attention. She giggled slightly when Doug gave her a sheepish smile.
"What is the matter, Georgia?" Mrs Jackson asked, turning around.
"Nothing, miss."
"Okay, so we are learning about the Tudors. Could either one of you tell me when Henry's the eighth's reign begun?"
She was addressing the two newbies. Tom looked at Doug. He was simply staring at the floor, pretending to think when he was actually trying to think of a way to escape this class. Thanks Doug Tom thought to himself.
"Yes, Tom?"
"About 1530?"
"Close, but not quite. Doug?"
Tom smirked a little as he looked at Doug.
"Erm…1509?"
"Correct, well done."
Tom looked at his partner in annoyance. Doug looked smug as he sat back in his chair, feeling much more relaxed.
The lesson continued in the same way. The teacher would write a few sentences on the board and the students would have to answer the questions and write them down. Tom wondered when this lesson would end. It felt like it was going on forever. He would glance at Ruby now and then, but she seemed too engrossed in the lesson. How was he going to talk to her? Then he remembered what Fuller had advised. He needed to take it slowly. He needed to act like he was interested in the lesson.
The bell finally went and Doug couldn't get up faster.
"Need to be somewhere, Doug?"
"Yes…the bathroom!" And Doug ran out.
The two girls laughed. Tom smirked.
"Your brother is so funny," Georgia commented as they walked out of the classroom.
"Yeah, sometimes I wonder how we're related."
"What lesson do you have next, Tom?" Ruby wondered.
Tom pulled his timetable out of his pocket and looked for the day they were currently on.
"English Literature, room 67."
"Me too!" Ruby said happily. "Let's go."
Finally, I might be able to ask her a few questions, Tom thought to himself.
Xxxxxxxxxxxx
Literature was a bigger class, well compared to his last class, with ten people taking up desks. Ruby took Tom to the back of the classroom and told him that was where she normally sat.
"Why don't you sit near the others?" Tom asked.
"I don't really know them. Plus most of them talk when the teacher isn't in the class and I would really like to be able to concentrate."
Fuller was right, she really was dedicated.
The teacher was a man named Mr Roberts. He looked about thirty and wore glasses. He didn't say much, just to get out the sheets from last lesson and complete the tasks given. He didn't even acknowledge that Tom was new until Ruby said so.
"Ah, of course. Well, Tom welcome to English literature. I expect you are familiar with the book The catcher in the rye." He threw a copy of the book lightly onto Tom's desk. He also placed a sheet of paper down. "Complete these questions on the text. More on the other side."
Tom had never studied the book, even when he was in high school.
"If you need help, just ask me," Ruby whispered. "If you ask him, he'll give you an hour speech on just one question."
Tom smirked. He tried tackling the questions. Some were pretty obvious. Some weren't. He would now and then glance over at Ruby. She was always writing, scanning pages…or writing. She wouldn't seem like the type of girl to make something up, especially as serious as someone stalking her. Tom wondered who would stalk her.
He picked up his pen one last time, to write a few words, and the bell went.
Xxxxxxxxxxx
Doug leaned against the car, waiting for Tom to arrive. School was out for the day for at least ten minutes and Tom still hadn't arrived.
Then he saw him, walking at a quick pace out of the school.
"Where have you been?" Penhall asked.
"I got lost."
"We got given a map." Penhall pointed out.
"Yeah well I forgot I had one."
Tom felt a light tap on his shoulder. He turned round and found Ruby smiling at him. He didn't realise how small she was. She didn't even look seventeen.
"Hi, Tom."
"Hey Ruby, what's up?"
"Oh…nothing. It's just…I was wondering if you would like to walk home with me."
Tom nodded straight away. "Yeah, sure. You don't mind do you, Doug?"
Doug looked slightly agitated. He waited for no reason. It was freezing cold and he waited for no reason. But he nodded and before Tom walked away, he whispered:
"Take things slow."
Xxxxxxxxxxxx
"So, where did you move from?"
"Ohio," Tom replied. He was carrying some of Ruby's books.
"Oh, that's quite far away."
"Yeah, our dad got a new job here."
"You know, you and your brother really don't look alike, or is that similar personality wise."
Tom shrugged. "Yeah. People say I'm a lot like my mom."
There was a pause between the two of them. Tom had a lot of questions he wanted to ask. Who do you think is stalking you? Why are they stalking you? But then he remembered he was undercover and didn't know anything about this. But he felt like she was going to ask him about the book that he hasn't read.
"Thanks for walking with me," Ruby said.
He felt relief flood over him. "That's alright."
"I normally walk home by myself but…" She trailed off.
"But what?" Tom pressed.
She stopped walking. She looked Tom straight in the eye.
"Promise you won't laugh."
"What is it?"
Ruby sighed. "I think I'm being stalked."
"Stalked?" Tom tried to sound surprised. "What do you mean?"
"You know what stalking means."
"Yeah I know but…"
Ruby continued walking. "I don't exactly know who it is. But I always seem them. I don't really know why. I tried calling the police but…"
"Not enough evidence?"
Ruby's face beamed. "Yeah exactly. I don't even have a description of them."
"Why do you think they follow you in the daytime?"
"They don't follow me all of the time in the day. Sometimes if I go out a night, with my friends, I feel like I'm being followed."
Tom nodded. They walked on a little further.
"You probably think I'm really pathetic," Ruby laughed slightly. "Asking you to walk me home in the daylight."
"No, no of course I don't." Tom smiled. He wanted to reassure her more. But he was worried he'd sound too much like a police officer.
Ruby stopped and looked down a street.
"Well, this is my stop. Thanks again for walking me home. It's nice to meet you as well."
"No problem."
Ruby nodded and said bye and then left. Tom watched as she walked away. He still felt that she wouldn't be wasting police time in order to get attention. But surely she would have a slight description. Like the height of the person. He then thought of her face as she told him about her being stalked. It seemed like she was…lying? But not about being stalked. He believed her straight away. But something. Could it be possible that she was trying to cover up for someone? Tom kicked a loose stone and began walking to the chapel.
