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Sweating Palms, Beating Hearts & Mouthing Off

Lunchtime was the time to have a break from the boredom of school. Vio was standing by the school gates waiting for Jonas to show up as he had promised. Daniel was walking out, into the playground. Seeing Vio, he decided to walk over.

"Are you waiting for Jack?"

"Nope." Vio replied.

"Oh…are you thinking? – Because if you are, I'll leave you alone if you want."

"I'm just waiting for Griff."

"Your boyfriend?"

Vio rolled her eyes and answered, "You know it."

"Do you want some company while you wait?"

"That would be great." She thanked. Wondering why he was out here alone, she asked, "Where's Sam? I swear there's barely a moment out of class when you're not together."

"That's only because she's been a bit off lately. About Janet leaving."

Vio nodded, "Jack has told me about Janet. He said she was like his mother and that she kept him in line."

"That's the truth. She's great." Daniel realised how Vio must feel hearing about a person she's never even met. "You're great too. You're a good replacement."

"Thanks."

Suddenly, a car parked across the road. And Jonas stepped out.

"Griff!" she shouted and ran over to him. He caught her in his arms, lifted and swung her.

"Happy now?" he asked.

"Absolutely." She said, putting her arms around his waist. "I'm so glad you came."

"I said I would. Did you think I'd forget?"

"I'm sorry for doubting you." Realising that Daniel was still standing by the gate, Vio dragged Jonas over. "Daniel, meet Jonas. Griff, this is Daniel."

Jonas and Daniel shook hands. All of a sudden, out of nowhere Harry, Anise, Jack and Ferretti appeared.

"Another fucking new kid? Man." Harry started.

Daniel, Jonas and Vio spun on the spot in amazement, "where the hell did he come from?" Vio whispered to Daniel.

"I've got no idea." He whispered back.

"New kid, what's your name?" Harry continued.

"I'm not a new kid." Jonas said. Looking behind Harry, he noticed Jack, "Jack?"

"Hey! Jon, how you been?" Jack replied.

"I'm good. I just came down to see Vio."

Harry stepped forward, "O'Neill, who the fuck is this?" he asked looking straight up at Jonas.

"This is Jonas. Who the fuck are you?" Jonas replied staring down at Harry, making the height difference obvious to him.

"You're here for Vio?" Harry said, backing off.

"This is Griff." Vio said.

Daniel was studying with Annie in her bedroom.

"Daniel, you're so smart!" Annie said as she undid her ponytail and ran her hand through her hair. She touched his arm, stopping his hand to carry on writing. He glanced into her gaze and she held his. For a moment, there was a silence until she said, "Kiss me?" and leaned in…

Sam had walked over to Daniel's house only to find that he was studying with someone. She knew perfectly knew who that someone was and wasn't pleased about it either. On her way home, she took the long route to give her time to think about the latest change in her life, the difference of the people she thought she once knew. Just after crossing a turn, she heard a call,

"Sam?" was loudly spoken from a short distance behind, making Sam almost jump out of her skin. She turned around to see her caller.

"Viola. What are you doing here?" Sam responded knowingly sounding rude.

Vio scrunched up her face, hearing the tone and then decided to ignore it, "I'm taking a walk. What about you?"

"I thought you were with Daniel."

"What made you think that?"

"I just came from Daniel's house and his aunty said he went to someone's house to study."

"- And you assumed it was me?"

"I thought he was helping you with your history."

"He is, but not today."

Sam nodded.

"Anyway, now we got that sorted, do you want a shake? I was thinking about going to get one before I saw you. You wanna come with?"

Sam thought for a second and realised how biased she had been towards Vio and decided, "That would be great."

Walking along for about another ten minutes making petty conversation, they got to know each other and found that they had a few things in common. But it wasn't until they reached the café and paid for their milkshakes that they really felt homely towards each other.

"How's that banana milkshake?" Vio asked.

"It's good." As a moment passed, Sam processed the word 'banana', laughed and playfully said, "Your sick." A little silence followed, which was broken by Sam, "so how long have you been going out with Griff?"

"If you want to know a secret. I'm not. I lied about it."

"To get Harry off your back?"

"Yep. That guy is such a wanker." Vio said, her accent turning English.

Sam laughed, "He just likes you and thinks it's a way to impress a girl."

"And I bet he's never got one."

"You'd be right about that."

They laughed together.

"Anyway, what about you and Jack?" Vio asked.

"What about me and Jack?"

"You like him, right?"

"Um…yeah. A bit. But I wish I didn't."

"I knew it. I could tell."

"Really?"

"Yeah, the way you two act towards each other. And I heard you and Daniel talking the other day, the same day you said me and him had a date."

"I was teasing him about him liking you."

"He likes me?"

"Yeah. Jack and I were chatting on messenger and he told me that you and Daniel were on a study date."

"That Jack." Vio chuckled. "Anyway, I think you and Jack would make a great couple. I'll help if you want."

"But he's going out with Anise."

"So. It doesn't mean he can't dump her and go out with you."

"Come on O'Neill, stop the chatting, get on the ice!" Coach Davis shouted.

Jack was standing with Anise as she spoke quiet personal words into Jack's ear. Jack just stood there with a smirk plastered across his face.

"I'll be there in a minute Coach!" Jack shouted back.

Anise gave him a kiss and before leaving said, "call me later."

"Sure." He replied.

In the boys changing room, Jack, Louis and Charlie were getting dressed after practice.

"So how's Anise working out for you?" Kawalsky asked looking in a mirror, putting gel in his hair.

"Great. She loves whispering things in my ear." Jack replied.

"Things. What things?" Ferretti asked raising his eyebrows.

"Now that would be telling." Jack responded.

"Hey, what's with this new girl?" Ferretti started.

"You mean Kawalsky's ex-girlfriend?" Jack added.

"Kawalsky had a girlfriend. You've had the new girl already?"

"No. I went out with her a few years ago. At camp."

"Camp. Well I wish she wasn't going out with that guy."

"You mean Jon. He's a good guy." Jack stated.

"Yeah he is." Kawalsky agreed.

"Maybourne was well pissed after meeting him. He really thought she was lying." Ferretti said. Jack and Charlie glanced at each other. "Even I thought she was lying. But I guess it was Harry. I'd find it hard to believe a girl admitting to having a boyfriend to Harry. I mean, what girl in their right mind would want Harry on their case. All he cares about is scoring and even I know that's wrong."

"That's what his problem is. He's trying to score. Me on the other hand, I'm just trying to have fun. And the girls want me to score with them." Jack says.