Chapter 7:
-
As Pogue stepped into the classroom two days later, he saw immediately that all eyes were on him. It seemed every student was thinking the same thing… that this was the troubled kid, the bad news boy, the guy who had come straight out of jail. They had all seen the cop cars, and the ambulance, and the police taking him away.
He straightened his uniform and glared right back as a telltale sign that he didn't give a damn what they thought about him, and sat down next to Caleb and Sarah, slamming his book bag on the table loudly.
"Hey," Pogue said, disregarding the other students and turning his attention to Caleb as they waited for the teacher to show. "Tyler filled me in on all the gory details about Reid. Tyler seems pretty pissed."
"I'd hate to be in Reid's shoes," Sarah said. "I'd never sleep. They're still sharing a dorm together, huh?"
Caleb snickered.
"Naw, Tyler's sleeping over at my house for now. You're right about him being pissed at Reid, Pogue. I've never seen him this way before."
"She must be some girl…" Sarah said, then gestured to the door as Elle followed a group of students just entering the classroom. "You think she remembers anything from last night?"
"I'm having Reid keep an eye on her and me posted for any unusual behavior towards him, or otherwise."
"Tyler won't appreciate that you ordered 'big bad Reid' to follow his girl around," Pogue commented.
"Yeah, no kidding," Caleb agreed. "But it's our best bet."
Pogue and Caleb watched Tyler pull out a straw and Used to shoot a spitwad extra hard to the back of Reid's head, who sat several rows below him. Reid must've sensed it coming, because fast as lightning he reached behind his head and caught the ball of wet paper in midair before it hit him, then turned around to glare at Tyler with threatening eyes. He shook his head to the younger boy, warning him not to mess with him.
"Good morning, students," said an older blond woman who entered the room with a briefcase. She had a sour face and starched clothes, and stood tall and thin like a young tree. She straightened her glasses and looked up at the children like every one of them were suspicious troublemakers.
"As you can tell, I am not Mr. Bishop. My name is Ms. Smith or ma'am. Sadly, Mr. Bishop will not be joining us today, because of a family emergency, but he left me very detailed instructions to follow until his return. Please pull out your books and turn to page five hundred and eighty-eight."
Caleb and Pogue glanced at one another with confusion.
"Why could Elle show up to class today, but not her father?" Caleb said with suspicion.
"We should leave it up to Reid to find out," Pogue said silently. "I'm going to the Pentagram tonight to look up some things in the book. There has to be a record of this 'Power explosion' thing happening somewhere in history."
"I'll go with you," Caleb promised. "I'll have a look at the other books, just in case--"
WHACK!
Caleb, Pogue, and Sarah all jumped in surprise at the teacher's pointer swatting the desk space in-between Pogue and Caleb.
"I surely wish that you were this intent on reading the books at hand," Miss Smith said through her teeth. "Economics, page five hundred and eighty-eight."
Pogue and Caleb exchanged looks and obeyed. No other student dared talk after that, for the intimidating presence the teacher had aroused.
-
Reid followed Caleb's instructions carefully, stalking Elle like an international spy, hanging around corners, watching the classes she went to and from. Thankfully, his skills were so great that she never saw him once, from what he could tell. It went on for days, and soon Reid found that he was enjoying watching her between the shelves of the library, or scratching intently away in her little brown notebook out on the quad. She looked graceful in whatever she was doing, even actions as simple as sitting to eat or walking down a hall. Perhaps Reid was beginning to enjoy it a little too much.
Reid grabbed his lunch from the line, feeling tired after a particularly vexing final on chemistry, and headed through the maze of tables toward where his friends sat. Tyler saw him coming, and quickly put his book bag down on the empty seat with a strong hint.
"There's no room at this table, Garwin," he snapped, glaring his way.
"Tyler…" Caleb scolded.
Reid glared right back at Tyler, his hands slowly clenching Tyler's lunch tray.
"Reid," Caleb said quickly. "Don't…"
Suddenly Tyler's plate was launched into his face, getting macaroni and cheese all over his eyes and hair.
"Whoops," Reid said cynically, throwing the tray back on the table. "You should be more careful."
Tyler was suddenly on his feet, but Caleb grabbed him by his jacket sleeve and dragged him back down.
"Guys, com'on," Caleb begged. "You're acting like bratty little kids."
Tyler shook his arm out of Caleb's hold, grabbed his bag and stormed off to the bathrooms to wipe off his dirty face.
"Don't cry too much, baby boy," Reid taunted to his back. Tyler stopped, then seemed to talk himself out of whatever he had been thinking, and marched even more determinedly off.
"You shouldn't bag on him like that," Pogue told Reid.
"Yeah," Caleb agreed. "He's just under the impression you were going to take advantage of Elle instead of trying to save her. He'll come around."
"Like I care," Reid insisted.
It was then Reid spotted the girl in question scanning the tables for a place to sit. She quickly found a spot at an empty table, seemingly intent on studying rather than socializing. Caleb spotted a good place for a change of subject and pounced on it.
"Have you been watching her like I told you?"
"It's only lunch period, Caleb, geez," Reid said.
"And?" Caleb pressed.
"Do you see that?" Reid pointed over to her lonely self. "That's what she does. All the time. When's she's not reading books, she in the library getting more. That's it."
"What does she read?" Pogue asked.
"To hell if I know."
"Find out," Caleb commanded.
"Speaking of hot girls," Pogue said, quickly sitting up as high as he could to scan the cafeteria. "Have any of you seen Kate?"
"She's back at the dorm cramming," Sarah explained. "We have an English final tomorrow and she completely forgot about it."
"Hey guys," a perky female voice said very suddenly. The boys looked up to see Kira before them. She was speaking as if it were the most natural thing in the world, like they were old friends, when in all actuality, each and every one of the people sitting at the table hated her guts, Sarah included.
"Hey, Kira…?" Pogue was the first to find words.
Kira, like Aaron, came with her own set of lackeys, the most common being Sherry Rictor, who rarely spoke but remained forever glued to her side, probably hording in on Kira's popularity at the cost of their slavery to Kira.
Reid had considered Kira at times, but there was something about how easy she was that got rid of the thrill of the chase. There was no challenge involved, and it was a major turn-off. And, not to mention, she had never asked it of him. Reid imagined that if ever given the opportunity, he probably would go for her anyway, since the 'candy was free', and who was he to turn down a physical relationship with no strings attached? He was only a man, after all. Though, so far, her sights had never fallen on him, so that prospect hadn't been truly confirmed.
He also knew Kira was just after each and every one of the Covenant boys out of some strange obsession, like lifetime goal, and so far she had only managed to snatch up half of them as her conquests. Tyler was stupid enough to fall for her sweet talk, and Caleb was stupid enough to fall for her. It was back in freshman year, so his naivety was excusable. He had soon found out she was cheating on him (no surprise there), and he never called her again. So whenever she came around, things tensed up quite quickly.
"Hey, listen," Kira went on cheerily. "I'm having this huge end-of-the-year party down at the lake house tonight… is anyone interested?"
"Gets a little lonely without Aaron, doesn't it, Kira?" Sarah retorted harshly in an equally cheery voice. "Just don't go barking up Caleb's tree, K?"
Kira smirked evilly back.
"Been there, done that…" she said with double meaning. "F.Y.I., Aaron is so yesterday's news. I was just wondering if you guys felt like having a little fun, for once. Everyone's going to be there. When the parents are away… the kids can play, right?"
Sherry giggled behind her.
"Just give it a think… I'll be waiting for you…"
At last, she turned to go.
"Bye, Reid," Kira said with an obnoxious wave using all of her fingers. Reid grinned with a polite smile only skin deep, and let it fade as soon as she turned her back.
"Ho-bag," Reid muttered.
"Watch out-- Looks like she's after you next, Reid," Pogue teased.
Reid shook his head with abhorrence to the entire ordeal, and looked over to Elle's table once more to ease his aching eyes.
"Think Elle will go with me?" he asked his friends. Caleb and Pogue glanced over to make sure they knew whom he was speaking of, then said together very assuredly:
"No."
"I'll bet you," Reid insisted. "I'll bet you I can get her to say yes."
"No way," Pogue said with a smile at the thought of easy money. "I'll take that bet."
"Oh, don't encourage him," Caleb complained, then looked at his friends and quickly saw that they weren't going to let up.
"Fine," Caleb said, slapping down his money as well. "To hell with it… I'll add in twenty more that says she'd rather eat her own liver."
"How mean!" Sarah said, smacking Caleb on the shoulder. "Reid's an attractive guy—"
She quickly turned to Reid with an encouraging smile.
"--I have faith in you, Reid."
"Thank you!" Reid said, grateful and flattered.
Suddenly another hand came out of nowhere, slamming a twenty on the table very loudly.
"Let's say we make it interesting," Tyler said, his face now clean and his clothes with wets spots where he had wiped off the food residue. He stared at Reid with an unwavering stare.
"If you win," he said boldly. "You get Elle as a date and some extra spending cash, and the car for the party tomorrow."
Reid looked down at the money on the table, which was now up to a considerable sum.
"And when you lose?" Reid said.
"Loser backs off from Elle for good, and has to take Kira to the party instead."
"Shouldn't that be Elle's decision?" Sarah piped up, but Pogue promptly shushed her, waiting for what Reid would answer to Tyler's challenge.
Reid stood up straight and his eyes narrowed confidently. A smug look was on his face, more than a little certain that Elle was as good as his.
"You're on," he replied with a cocky smirk.
-
Who's going
to win::bites nails::… Wait, what am I worried about? I
already know… Anyway, please review.
Signed,
--RedRogue
