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Italics are thoughts .

Chapter 27 - Confessions

Beatrice's POV

I couldn't believe I hadn't seen it .

The rain drummed on the window of the library gently , the occasional flash of what I assumed was lightning (I learnt otherwise later) helping the dim light bulbs in the library to illuminate the room . Cornelius sat next to me , examining my face warily for my reaction to what he'd just told me . But I still couldn't believe it .

"Really ? " I checked , wondering if Edna's cooking had finally got to me and this was all just a figment of my imagination .
"Yes . " my friend repeated , his face reddening as the conversation continued .
"Vance ? As in the greaser Vance ? "
"How many Vances do we know , Bea ? " Cornelius pointed out , his face returning to its normal shade .
"Fair point . Still , why didn't you say anything ? It's not like we didn't know that you prefer guys . " I enquired .
"Well , I wasn't sure at first . I figured it was maybe just the greaser bravado thing , but I've started talking to him and ... well , he seems cool . I really like him . You can understand that - I mean , you're a girl . "
"Am I really ? That's an interesting development ! " I joked . My friend's lips twitched into a smile .
"You know what I mean . You ... have feelings for guys . "
"Every now and again ... " I admitted , feeling the warm blood rush to my cheeks under my skin .
"You feel that way now , don't you ? " Damn , is it that obvious ?
"Maybe . " I stated dismissively . "Have you said anything to Vance ? "
"Is it Johnny ? I heard the guys on about it . " The next time I see Melvin , I'm going to decapitate him with a wooden spoon and make it look like an accident .
"Well ... maybe just a tiny bit . "
"It's all over your face , you little minx . " he teased affectionately , raising his fist in pretend anger before putting on a serious expression . "Are his intentions honourable ? " he asked in a low , gravelly voice that sounded a bit like my dad .
"Firstly , you're one to talk about being a minx . Secondly , your impression was great , but my dad would say " He'd better not hurt you or I'll feed him his own unmentionables . " . Thirdly ,I don't know if he has any intentions . He wanted to ask me something the other day , but Lola walked in . Judging from her clothes - or more accurately , lack of - she was probably on her way to work . Anyway , it was probably homework or something . "
"Greasers don't do homework . "
"Of course they do . Have you talked to Vance , then ? "
"He talked to me , actually . Asked if I wanted to go for a coffee . "
"And what happened ? " I interogated , already guessing the answer from Cornelius' grin .
"We went for a walk , had a chat about stuff and then we arranged to go again this evening . " my friend revealed , pride painted all over his face .
"You lucky thing ! Good luck with it . " I congratulated as we stood up . Looking up at the window , Cornelius' book thudded to the floor . Snapping my head round , I nearly screamed . As clear and obvious as an explosion in the chemistry room was Jimmy Hopkins perched on a tree branch , clutching a camera . His shocked expression matched mine .

"Mrs Carvin ! " my friend shrieked even louder than he had when he discovered the rats last year . "There's a pervert outside ! ".

Johnny's POV

Johnny , you're an idiot .

Three days had flew by in a mix of fixing Hattrick's car and self-cursing since I'd made the arrangement with Jimmy . No sooner had I stepped out of the dorms than regret whacked me in the face .

The Auto-shop was painfully silent since I'd spoken to Jimmy . Almost everyone was gone ; Vance was getting ready for a date with some bloke (he thought it was his little secret) , Peanut was studying for a test and everyone else was out tagging , leaving me and Norton to fix cars for Neil (for a reasonable price) .

"Johnny , what the hell's up ? You look more miserable than when you were dating Lola , and that's saying something . " . Desperate to get it off my chest , the slightly altered story poured out of my mouth like poison .
"Norton , say you've this friend named Ronny , and Ronny fancies this girl called Lee whose friends with this guy . But Ronny thought that Lee was dating this guy , so he asked this guy called Timmy to find out for him . Now Ronny feels like an arsehole because he's invading Lee's privacy , but he's already paid Timmy so Timmy's already started looking . What would you tell Ronny to do ? "
"I'd say what the hell were you thinking , that you should've bloody asked her in the first place , that not every girl is like Lola and that if Beatrice finds out , she's going to castrate you . " my friend replied , his eyebrows raised almost to his hairline . Putting my tools down , I sank onto the bench behind us .
"It's not just me then . I can't believe I actually listened to Lola . How do I let her keep manipulating me ? "
"You can't blame entirely on Lola - even if she is a bitch . You're just going to have to hope Beatrice never finds out and think up a good excuse just in case . " Norton stated .

At this point , Beatrice herself came in .
"You'll never guess what's just happened . " she stated , dropping her schoolbag on the bench as she sat down beside me . Whatever it was , her face was still incredulous from it . "Jimmy Hopkins was in the tree outside the library with a camera ... "

Johnny , you're an idiot .