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so I hope you enjoy ;)

Chapter 4

… All about appearances …

Tom always hated gym class even when he went to school the first time around. Sure he was pretty fit, he needed to be to make sure he could defend himself. But if he was completely honest he didn't consider himself to be very talented at any 'real' sports.

He looked at his partner standing across from him. He was beaming with delight at the thought they were about to play football or baseball or anything really. Hanson realised, for what felt like the millionth time how different the two best friends really were.

"Cool it a little Doug, you're forgetting who we are, the Mcquaids, two kids with no future and no talent for anything but getting into trouble," Tom gently reminded his partner, trying his best to not crush his good mood.

"Of course Tommy, but I think you're forgetting that I'm also a protective older brother who will surely be looking for some payback for Monday!", Doug replied a little too enthusiastically for Hanson's liking.

Everyone was beginning to get changed when Tom suddenly remembered the second half of their plan. He thought back to two nights ago.

They had stopped at a local bar on their way home, It was only 7 o'clock but they both already had a few beers under their belts. The boys were fuming at being told they weren't good enough to do business with. The Mcquaid cover always worked a treat and they 'weren't about to let some no good punk at some middle class school get the better of them', they had demanded furiously at each other several times already.

"I've got it" said Tom triumphantly, "I have a feeling you're not going to like it though,"

"Try me,"

"You need to beat me up," the officer said matter of factly.

"Whaat? I'm not going to do that! Besides I don't see how you being beat up it going to make you look any tougher," Doug said utterly confused.

"No, but it would be impressive if I made out I beat someone off on my own wouldn't it?" He said grinning cunningly. "And there not going to just swallow some bullshit story! They are going to want some hard evidence of the fight!". Doug looked at him realising Tom had a good plan or at least the best plan they could come up with. Doug was certain the alcohol they had consumed was severely clouding his judgement but he agreed to Hansons' idea anyway.

After the partners felt they were sufficiently intoxicated they went back to Jump Street knowing that at 8:30pm everyone would have gone home. They needed to do this relatively quickly as Doug needed to relieve Clavo's babysitter at 9. On entering the chapel Tom immediately removed his jacket and signalled for Penhall to start. "Let's get this over with," he beckoned not wanting Penhall to sober up any more. He knew his partner would not be able to willingly hurt his friend if he was thinking clearly.

With that Penhall closed his eyes and punched Tom hard in the stomach. He punched him again several times in the ribs and back also. Tom tried hard to ignore his pain but on the last blow to his side he unwilling let out a groan. At this Doug opened his eyes fully and they were instantly flooded with guilt. Hanson knew there was no point trying to convince him to keep going and beside he was certain the injuries he already had would create impressive enough bruises.

"Tom I can't believe you convinced me to do this, look at you, you can't even stand up straight. This was a terrible idea!" said Doug in a word vomit of regret.

"You know any make up would wash off in the showers and that I would have gone and gotten myself beaten up by somebody else if you didn't do it! And I took advantage of the fact I knew you would never let me! That's all that happened Doug," Tom reassured him trying to ease his guilt. Tom was surprised at how certain he was he would have actually done it if Doug didn't cooperate.

"I know. You're stubborn and you're an idiot Tom! And you're staying at mine tonight, ok?"

"Whatever you say Doug." Replied Hanson glad for an excuse not to go back to his apartment and sleep alone.

Toms thoughts returned to the present as he began to lift the bottom of his shirt. He knew the bruises must have been impressive as he noticed that slowly one by one the entire class had turned around to look at him. He finished pulling his shirt over his head in one swift movement as he heard Doug let out slight gasp of guilt. He generally hated getting changed so openly in locker rooms and he had always despised being the centre of attention, but today he didn't mind, 'show time' he thought.

"Staring is rude you know?" he said hostilely. "Is my bareness making you uncomfortable? he teased twirling his slightly overgrown hair around his finger. He blew the kid closest a kiss before proceeding with his performance. "This is nothing, you should see the other guy," he bragged as cockily as he could, throwing his shirt into his locker hoping desperately no one could see through his act.

He slowly approached Robert the kid that hit him a few days previous, patting his cheek before grabbing him by his hair "He didn't stand a chance once I got started. I never make the same mistake twice you see," he said cruelly narrowing his eyes at the nervous boy in front of him. Doug looked at his partner with an impressed grin across his face. Tom always played the shyer more mysterious brother for a reason; Doug honestly didn't think he had it in him to pull off a tough guy cover. Sure Hanson was a smart ass but he had always been the one of the two who would avoid a fight. With that thought he saw his partner let go off his victim and beckon for his assistance with his eyes.

"The prick was just lucky I was in detention," Doug responded, Tom saw Mathew look over in interest at the insinuation that Tommy beat up this guy on his own, "Because no one ever gets away with making a delayed payment to the Mcquaid Brothers!" Doug continued before they broke into their usual antics. They continued fighting until the teachers called for everyone to come out and start the class. Even though the whispers continued Tom finally allowed himself to relax a bit while Doug beamed like proud older brother as they walked out of the locker room together.

Mathew cornered Tom alone in the hall later that day. "Look I apologise I think may have judged you a little too quickly. What do you say we start over?"

"Fine, but I would like to know how this sudden change of heart is going to benefit me." Tom said trying to maintain his tough demeanour from earlier.

"Yes actually I wanted to talk to you about that, I think you would be a great help with my business after all. But just you, not your brother. I still think that he's a sloth, the lights are on but nobody is home if you know what I mean," Hanson was not at all happy about having to continue the case on his own but thought it best to just agree for now.

"Look I'm happy to deal with you alone, but never talk about my brother that way again! Got it?" He threatened surprised at the tenacity in his voice.

"Sure whatever, didn't think you would be so touchy about him. Ok, so all we have to do is deliver product, we get the product from someone and we pass it along at the time and place they tell us, different specifics each time. We get paid 30% of the value of the product we deliver. It's pretty good money for very little work," he grinned widely showing how extremely proud he was of his set up.

"I don't know, it seems too easy, I mean why do they need us really?"

'That's really none of your concern McQuaid," he said his expression once again turning steely. "You just need to make sure that you get to the meeting place with the product in tact without being followed,"

"So what kind of product are we dealing with?"

"Cocaine," He said with a smirk, "What does it matter to you?"

"If it's good stuff then maybe I could organise to get a cut with my pay?" Mathew looked Tommy up and down in silence.

"What? Spit it out," He hissed agitated at being stared down in such a way.

"Nothing it's just interesting, I mean I suspected you may have been a user, but to ask for it to be part of your payment you must have more of a habit than I thought."

"Trust me when I say it won't affect my ability to do this job. Besides tell me honesty that the biggest dealer in the school doesn't indulge in the drug he sells,"

"Not now, not ever, I don't want any part of it. I'm just in this to make some money so I can go to college. So you better not do anything to screw this up for me ok?"

Tommy looked into the boys' eyes and felt like he was seeing him for the first time. He wasn't some hardened criminal; he was just a kid, doing what he thought he needed to do to get ahead in this world.

"I won't, trust me." The words tasted bitter coming out of his mouth and he wanted to take them back immediately. But he didn't, he knew he had a job to do and this kid was willingly breaking the law. And worse than that, he was willingly participating in the distribution of a drug that had the potential to ruin lives, to kill. All for a few lousy dollars. Hanson reminded himself of this as forced himself to finish planning their first job.

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