A/N: Sorry the chapter isn't that long, but I thought I better update xD Lol my reaquaintance with MSN kind of took over my writing time a bit xD
Chapter Nine
You Scratch My Back
Reese stepped through the door of the Chemistry classroom and instantly screwed up his nose. He had to put a hand to his mouth and blink a couple of times to get over the churning sensation in his stomach due to the rancid smell inside. There was a chemistry set on every desk, most of them with Bunsen burners already turned on beneath tumblers containing unidentifiable liquids. The vapours that rose from the tumblers filled the classroom, and were probably the reason behind the glassy look in the eyes of the elderly teacher behind the desk.
'Um, sir?' Reese coughed, moving to the desk. 'Can I open a window?'
The teacher looked up at him and blinked, eyes small and beady behind his glasses. His face was deeply lined and he only had two tufts of grey hair on either side of his head. 'Open a window?' he asked, bewildered. 'Why who are you? Why do you want my windows open?'
'Um…' Reese paused and eyed the elderly teacher. His confusion was probably not only due to the vapours, but Alzheimer's also. 'I'm in this class and I don't think I'll be able to stay conscious throughout the lesson if a window isn't opened.'
The teacher blinked at him and drifted off into thought. 'Lesson…?' he murmured. There was a moment when the old man looked like he was never going to return from his catatonia, but then he stood up and clapped his hands. 'Oh, of course! Yes, yes. Open all the windows you like. Take a seat! And for God's sake don't eat anything.'
Reese nodded and then made his way over to a lab bench by the high windows. The glass was covered in a thin greenish film that was tacky beneath his fingers, but he slid the window open anyway. Fresh air rushed in and the flame on his chemistry set flickered excitedly. He sat down and glanced around, wondering when the last time the window was opened in this room. No wonder the teacher looked so spaced out, he was probably high as a kite from all the fumes.
'Who are you anyway?' the teacher enquired, eyeing Reese thoughtfully. 'You do seem familiar…'
'Reese Nixon.' Reese replied.
'Nixon…' the teacher searched his memory but came up with a blank. 'I'm sure I'll remember it later. I'm Dr Watts. I hope you're not one of these children who like to set fire to your shoes. I taught a child last year who did it every lesson without fail. Blaine Gray I think he's called…'
Reese smirked. He could imagine an idiot like Blaine doing something like that. He turned his attention to the window to end the conversation. He didn't want to be sitting having a nice little chat with the teacher when the other kids came in.
Surely enough about thirty seconds later the door opened and in walked the first students. Reese grimaced. Preps.
It was Darcy Harrington who sauntered in first. At least he thought it was Darcy – she was the one with the long blonde hair. Flanking her was a handsome young prep in pristine Aquaberry and smart dark hair. He laughed pompously at something the taller girl had said and followed her to the lab bench in front of Reese. They both sat down, not even registering his presence and carried on chatting. Reese tuned out, not wanting his brain to be melted by the inane conversation about the new stock of brown leather loafers that the store in the Vale had just gotten in and watched the rest of the students filing in.
Lara Romano and TJ Spinelli walked in next. Lara, as always, was closely examining her fingernails. They moved to the lab bench at the far end of the front row and sat down. TJ said something quietly to her, but she only looked harder at her fingernails. Eventually TJ gave up trying to make conversation and looked around in boredom. Reese watched them for a moment. It certainly looked like a baby-sitter set up to him. Dante probably had TJ watching Lara twenty-four seven to make sure no one tried anything with her.
Uninterested by the rest of the students, Reese turned his attention to the window. There weren't many other students outside; although he did see Joshua sprinting by with two Prefects hot on his tail. Apart from him there was no one, although Reese refused to believe they were all in class.
'Oh, Darcy,' the Prep said in a cooing voice. 'It appears we're seated in front of the new boy.'
Reese glanced up. The handsome Prep blinked his dark, thick eyelashes at him and smiled. Then he held out a hand. 'I'm Pierce. Pierce Vendome. My older brother owns quite a large stock in Aquaberry. You may have heard of him; Gord Vendome? Ring any bells?'
Reese said nothing, and just stared in boredom at the Prep.
The Harrington Twin turned sideways in her chair and leaned one smooth flawless arm on Reese's desk. She looked at him curiously with bright blue eyes and her full pink lips curled up into half a smile. Her long, poker straight blonde hair stopped halfway down her back and was kept off her face with a thin, light blue hair band. She had small crystal studs in her earlobes and a matching crystal nestled on her chest, tied around her neck with a thin silver chain.
'New boy,' she smirked, eyeing him. She let out a quiet, slightly disapproving snort. 'They'll let anyone in these days, won't they Pierce?'
'That they will, Darcy,' Pierce nodded, regarding Reese in a similar way, although his smirk seemed a little less derogatory and a little more… flirty? Reese sure hoped that it wasn't flirty. 'That they will.'
Reese just looked at them both passively, ghost of a smile playing on his lips. All the surrounding students were chatting amongst themselves as it seemed that Dr Watts had fallen asleep at his desk.
Darcy turned a little more in her seat and narrowed one eye. 'Hold on a moment… you're that little thug who punched Chuck Wiles in the auditorium this morning, aren't you?'
Pierce tilted his head. 'It is? I thought it was one of those moronic bullies?'
'You're Reese Smith, aren't you?' Darcy asked, eyes lighting up. 'Oh you are. Everyone is talking about you.'
'Actually, it's Reese Nixon.' Reese corrected her. 'I kind of prefer that name.'
Darcy nodded. 'I totally understand. When my father nearly got arrested for that whole rent-boy-in-the-trunk situation I totally didn't want to be a Harrington. But it's a good job Derby got into congress. He just made that little mess just slip away.'
'How is Derby by the way?' Pierce asked, turning back to Darcy.
'Oh he's fine,' Darcy waved a hand dismissively. 'Although he's been away with Bif for a few days on some kind of business getaway thing. Pinky isn't very happy about it though. She's been left at home with the nanny and the kids. She says Derby is going away nearly every weekend on these business getaways with Bif…'
'Sounds like they're having more than business meetings.' Reese interrupted.
Darcy and Pierce turned and looked at him. After a moment Darcy leaned towards him. 'Is it true that your dad tried to murder Crabblesnitch?'
'Probably not,' Reese shrugged. 'From what I gathered he wasn't a very hands on kind of guy.'
Darcy half smiled. 'You're going to be in big trouble with the Jocks you know.' She told him. 'Unless you find someone to put in a good word for you.'
Reese leaned back, sensing some kind of deal in the air. 'Is that right?'
Darcy reached into her small handbag and pulled out a little mirror. She opened it, checking her smooth face. 'Oh yes,' she said airily. 'They're all just big ruffians really. If they get their hands on you I think they'll probably make one hell of a mess.'
Pierce was frowning slightly at her. 'Darcy,' he almost whispered. 'What are you…?'
She shot him a look over her mirror that silenced him, and then she clicked the mirror shut and turned back to Reese. She tilted her head and smiled coyly. 'I could always say something for you,' she said. 'After all, it's no secret that Chuck Wiles is madly in love with me.'
Reese smirked. 'I got the impression that he was into people with more chest hair.'
Darcy grinned. 'I like you. You're one of those fun poor kids.' She glanced to Pierce. 'Do you know what I mean?'
Pierce shrugged, drawing a blank.
'Oh I know what I mean,' Darcy said. 'That's all that matters really.'
Reese was quickly growing bored. He shifted irritably in his seat. 'What do you want off me then? Obviously you want something before you say something to Chuck.'
Darcy grinned. 'Ooh, he's quick.' She nudged Pierce. 'You like quick, don't you, Pierce?'
Pierce blushed visibly. 'Darcy I really don't think that's appropriate…'
'You're right,' Darcy said, amused smile vanishing abruptly. 'I do want something. I want you to do something for me. If you agree to do it then I can have the Jocks off your back in a flash.'
Reese eyed her thoughtfully. 'What then?'
Darcy snorted. 'Well I can't very well tell you here, can I? You never know who is listening.'
Reese glanced around, eyebrow raised. Dr Watts was dozing, everyone else looked like they would soon be following suit. It was obvious no one cared in the slightest what Darcy was saying. 'Alright,' Reese sighed. 'I guess you'll want to meet later then.'
Darcy nodded. 'You're friends with that little pervert Tommy Jackson, aren't you?'
'I guess, yeah.' Reese replied.
'You'll probably want to bring him with you. It's a two man job.' She flicked her long hair back, making a point of sticking her chest out. Reese looked but didn't really feel anything. To him, Darcy Harrington was practically the same as a plastic mannequin. Under those expensive clothes of hers she was probably featureless. 'I want you to meet me on the top floor on the library - only the Nerds will be there and they're not stupid enough to stick their nose in my business. And don't tell anyone that you're coming to meet me. Don't even tell Tommy. If people find out that I'm talking to you then it might make some of the other kids think it gives them a right to come up to me, and if I'm honest mingling with them makes me feel a little nauseous.'
Reese narrowed one eye suspiciously. 'No offence, Darcy, but I don't think I trust you that much.'
Darcy smirked. 'Well I'll leave it up to you. If you're not in the library at six thirty on the dot I'll assume you're going to deal with the Jocks on your own.' She looked him up and down. 'Pleasure doing business with you, Reese Nixon.'
With that, she turned away. Pierce continued to look at him thoughtfully for a moment before following suit. Dr Watts finally rose from his seat and gathered up a pile of papers to hand out, but Reese had lost any interest he may have had in Chemistry and looked out of the window.
