This is starting to become an addiction... LOL! Hope you enjoy and please offer suggestions as I am still learning!
Chapter 10
The second part of the day flew by rather quickly. Tom was careful not to attract any more attention to himself than he had already. He hadn't seen Lexi since lunch and really didn't want to explain the bruise on his cheek to her. The bell rang for eighth period and Hanson got to his locker, grabbed his saxophone and ran. He had a bit of ground to cover before class. He ran outside and up the back stairs, threw open the door to the hallway outside of the band room and smack into an iron chest.
"Watch it punk…" Darren's cold blue eyes burrowed straight into Tom's. He grabbed Tom by the shirt and proceeded to run him into the wall. Something caught his attention as he let Tom go and his eyes warmed up. Tom took a deep breath as the grip holding him relaxed. "Hey Baby." He said in a singsong voice.
"Darren…" Lexi smiled, her blue eyes dancing as she snuggled into his chest. He moved away from Tom. She arched her neck and pushed herself up onto her tip toes, wrapping her thin arms around his neck she kissed the football player in front of her. He leaned over wrapping his hands around her narrow waist, he gently planting his lips against hers returning the display of affection. Tom slid along the wall into the band room carrying his instrument case.
"You must be Tom Miller." A female's voice stated out of the blue. Tom turned in the direction of the voice to see a tall woman standing by the music stands. "Hello, I'm Miss Harner." She said as she approached the officer. She held out her hand and offered a firm handshake. Hanson returned the gesture. "How has your first day been?" She asked
"Long…" he returned with a nervous smile running his fingers through his dark locks.
"Believe me, I understand. I have been doing this about three years now and I am still nervous on my first day of classes." She was a young lady with a bright twinkle to her eyes and an understanding smile. Her long brown hair flowed gently over her shoulders in loose curls. She was very tall and had a commanding presence to her. "There is a seat for you next to Jeremiah, but I may be moving you. I need to listen to you play a little bit. From what I here about you from your uncle, you're pretty good." She winked at him walking out of the room.
By the end of the period Tom was set to play in a quartet on the sidelines for their marching band show. He was given a position to march in on the field and would be issued a band uniform later that week. He wasn't sure if he could remember all the positions he was to stand in as they marched. Miss Harner had promised him that if he would take it slow and learn what he could and she would place him in the show when he knew the steps well enough. Until then he would play in the stands and would be in the Quartet on the sidelines. The class had been great, but trying not to be distracted by Lexi, the drum major standing in front was hard. Once class had ended he darted over to the side to disassemble his instrument and get out before she had a chance to notice him.
"Tom!" Too late, he turned his head and saw Lexi George walking up to him, her hair bouncing off of her shoulders with each carefree step. Tom rolled his eyes and let out a sigh.
"Hello Lexi." He returned.
"What happened to you?" Her eyes narrowed as she caught sight of the purple bruise on his cheek.
"Uhh, I cut a corner to tight and I… uhh… hit the… door frame." Tom lied cocking an eyebrow at her. "Really, it looks worse than it is." Tom lied again. His kidney still ached where her boyfriend had possibly assaulted him earlier. His cheek had been throbbing all day as the purple and blue blended together to an unhealthy black color on his face. He felt miserable lying to her, but how could he tell her that her boyfriend was an ass.
"Wow, be careful next time." She smiled at him lightly rubbing his shoulder. Tom continued to remind himself that her boyfriend may have assaulted him earlier and had slammed him into a wall just forty-five minutes before. "Hey, Miss H. wanted me to give this to you and let you know that there will be practice after school on Tuesday and Thursday. She is going to have your uniform ready on Thursday also."
Tom flipped the latches closed on his instrument case and picked it up. He was standing toe to toe with Lexi who smelled so good. He looked down at her and she looked back up at him. She was beautiful, but she was also seventeen.
"Look, I gotta go, my uncle is going to be in the parking lot in about two seconds." Hanson told Lexi. "Thanks for everything today." He said quickly walking away.
"Have a good night, see you in class tomorrow." She grinned as he walked away.
Hanson nodded over his shoulder as he ducked around the corner when he saw Darren making his way to the band room. Tom wanted to check into his new friend Darren and find out a little bit more about him.
Hanson made his way to the front door of the school through the multitude of students. The students seemed removed from reality. They walked carelessly through the halls cracking their gum and talking. Tom walked out the front door looking for Deans Bronco II in the sea of parents and students vehicles. Tom spotted Dean leaning on the SUV looking at a file and talking on a wireless phone. Dean looked up and saw the young officer slowly making his way to the parking lot. Tom was carrying a stack of books and a saxophone case. He walked slowly weaving in and out of the other students.
The afternoon sun glinted brightly off of the silver chrome bumper of the vehicle. Tom glanced up as the sun reflected into his eyes. He looked back down the ground as he made his way over the Dean.
"Hey sport, how was you're… MY GOD TOM!" Dean started out smiling and then his expression turned stormy.
"Relax; it looks worse than it is." Tom replied nonchalantly. He walked to the other door and placed his belongings in the back seat, shut the door and proceeded to the front seat to climb in. Once inside Dean looked over at Tom's face. He slowly placed his finger under the officer's chin and shifted his face to one side.
"Tom… who did this?" Dean asked.
"Darren Thompson, I think. He blindsided me by my locker." Hanson responded.
"He nailed me in the kidney and slammed my face into the locker."
"Tommy…" Dean seemed concerned for the young officer.
"I'll be alright." Tom stated looking back at the man. "It hurts a little right now, but I'll be fine…"
Dean looked back at Tom who looked back at his superior "Are you sure, I mean I have known Darren since he was a boy."
"Dean, I don't know for sure, but he grabbed by the collar outside of the band room and when his girlfriend showed up he let me go."
Dean looked at the steering wheel and then let out a deep sigh. He shook his head and then looked back at Tom. "Are you ok, did he do anything else?"
"I'm sorry Dean, this day has really sucked and I feel like I'm getting nowhere with this case and now… this…" Tom pointed at his cheek. "I got hit because his girlfriend talked to me today."
"Tom… I know that his is rough, you guys are like a fish out of water here, but I know you guys can do this. I talked to Adam… Captain Fuller today and he was concerned about you boys, but he also said if anyone could figure this out, it is you three."
"Thanks Dean…" a slow smile spread across Hanson's face.
"Want to watch some of football practice tonight?" Dean asked raising an eyebrow.
"Sure, but can we get some pizza first… I'm starved." Hanson grinned.
"Well Angie will… ahh… sure, I'll buy; you can't tell Angela, she'll have my hide."
As the vehicle drove away they passed the football team moving down to the football field. Darren spied the young passenger in Captain Dean Miller's SUV. Tom… he must be Doug and Dennis's younger brother. A slow smile spread across the senior football player's face. This was going to be better than he thought…
hope you enjoyed... chapter 11 will bring a bit of action... so please don't change that dial... Firebunee READ AND REVIEW ME:-)