Crimson High

A/N: So, after so many of you have begged me to update this, I have finally found the time to write this chapter. I would like to thank the reviewers who gave me the ideas I have used as a base for this story. Please enjoy this next chapter. Hopefully the next chapter of 'Crimson High – The Jane Story' will be up by Monday.

Chapter seven

I arrived at school the next morning wearing some of the new clothing Patrick had bought for me. I felt very excited, and almost happy, just in these new clothes. I met Grace in the hallway in front of my locker. She looked me up and down. "You look very nice today, Teresa," she said. "I love that shirt."

Judging by the way she politely didn't ask where I had acquired my new clothing from, I could only guess that Patrick had told her about the shopping the previous day. As we turned to walk to our first lesson, an irate figure stormed around the corner towards us. Lorelei's left cheekbone was a fading browny-grey colour, and I could see she had tried to cover it up with makeup. She was yelling before she got to us. "How dare you steal Patrick from me!"

I stepped back. "Lorelei," I said. "I didn't steal anybody…"

She raised her hand to slap me, but someone behind her caught her wrist before she could make the movement. "Enough, Lorelei," said Patrick behind her, pulling her arm down.

JJ came around her and attempted to pull her away, but she yanked her arm out of his grasp. "No," she said vehemently. "That bitch stole Patrick from me and now she must pay." She turned on me again. "Look what you did to my face, you bitch. It's ruined."

I glanced at the bruise on her face and shrugged. "It will heal," I muttered turning away. I've had worse, I thought.

I had definitely had worse than that done to me, and so her protest meant very little to my resolve. Patrick stepped up to Lorelei and grabbed her by the arm. He dragged her – protesting and yelling – around the corner. I turned to Grace. "Let's go," I muttered. "Before Mr Bertram yells at us."

Craig and JJ both looked at each other in surprise as we passed between them to get to our English lesson. "Grace," said Craig, stepping forwards.

Grace looked at me, and I nodded. It was time she told him where he stood.

She turned to him. "Craig," she said. "This had gone on long enough. I'm sorry, but I have never liked and will never like you in that way. I have a boyfriend now. I think it's time for you to move on."

Craig's face was a picture of absolute shock. Grace and I made our way to Mr Bertram's classroom, and I smiled at her. "That was very brave, Grace," I said.

She smiled at me. "I needed to do that. Wayne and I are official now, and I needed to tell Craig where I stood with him."

I glanced up as Cho and Rigsby entered the room. Rigsby's face was red with what I could only figure to be anger. He sat down in his chair and turned to face us. "Why was Craig yelling at me?" he asked Grace.

Grace blushed. "I finally had the courage to tell him where I stood with him. Apparently he didn't take it too well."

Rigsby's face broke into a huge grin. Cho glanced at me and rolled his eyes. I laughed and we settled down for Mr Bertram's lesson. I sat contemplating Lorelei's bruise. She was getting so worked up over one black eye. I could probably count on one hand the months since my mother died that I wasn't bruised in some way. Right up until I left Chicago, I lived in fear in my own house. I still feared for my brothers, but calling the police would mean that my father would be arrested, and my brothers split up into foster care. I couldn't let that happen.

I followed behind Cho on our way to the cafeteria. As I walked through the door, I was joined by Patrick. Cho raised an eyebrow, but said nothing, as Patrick followed us to our table. He sat down next to me as Lorelei entered the cafeteria. She glared at me. Grace and Rigsby were already at the table, and so the five of us just sat rather awkwardly at the table. Patrick eventually turned to Rigsby. "I heard that you and Grace are finally official."

Rigsby grinned. "We made it official on Valentine's Day."

"Really?" asked Patrick. "I hadn't realised, or I would have congratulated you then. I've been watching this bloom for a while now."

Grace glanced across at me. Patrick then launched into one of his stories of life in the carnival, and soon we were all in stitches. Even Cho cracked a smile. I laughed with them, finally feeling happy.

XxxxxxxxxxxX

Patrick met me in the parking lot after school. "Would you like me to come over to your house once your shift at Chuck Charlie's is finished?"

I thought about that for a few seconds, then nodded. "I would really like that."

Patrick grinned before climbing into his Citroen. I drove off to work. Aside from a weird question about my health, which I could only guess was the excuse Patrick has used to get me a day off work, the shift was uneventful. I arrived back at my apartment to find the Citroen already parked outside. I parked my car and headed up to my apartment. I found Patrick inside, stretched out on a new crimson couch. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. "You bought me a couch?" I asked in disbelief.

He sat up and grinned. "I figured that, if I were coming over more often, you would need better seating arrangements."

I shut my door behind me and went over to the couch. I sat down and bounced up and down. Patrick cooked for me again, and I sat just chatting with him while he worked. A question came to mind, and I couldn't help but ask it. "Tell me," I said. "Yesterday, you were so sure of your guess. How did you know?"

He glanced over at me. "I use body language and general responses to an environment to determine information."

I pressed for more. "How did you know that specific information?"

He came over to me and sat next to me. "I had guessed quite quickly that you didn't trust me, or any male figures, but I didn't know why." He raised his hand. "Then I realised this happened."

I was confused. "Realised what?"

He grimaced. "Whenever Cho or Rigsby raised their hands or waved about, you would flinch ever so slightly. It wasn't enough for most people to pick up on, but I noticed it clearly when I was cleaning your face."

I frowned in confusion. "I had no idea I did that."

He nodded slowly. "I figured that you did it unconsciously, as a result of the…" He was uncertain how to finish.

I nodded slowly as he got up to check on his steaks. After we had finished eating, we sat chatting on the couch for a long while afterwards. Much later on, Patrick stood to leave. "Teresa," he said. "I would like to take you to the carnival this weekend."

I looked up at him in surprise. I had never been to the carnival before. "I would really like that, Patrick."

I stood with him. "Thank you for excellent conversation tonight, Teresa."

I smiled. 'Thank you for the couch, and for cooking dinner."

He smiled back. "I really do enjoy the time I spend with you."

I blushed as he bent over and kissed my cheek. With that, he left the room.

XxxxxxxxxxxX

The long drive out to the carnival grounds that Saturday was filled with general small talk about random topics. Soon, we pulled into a grassy field. Patrick stopped the car. I got out and he walked around the front to join me. "Shall we?" he asked, waving his hand.

I nodded, and followed him into the adjoining field.

The air was filled with the excited screams of children, and with some music being played a little way away. Patrick fairly dragged me along to a nearby stall. "Shooting Gallery," it said above the stall. Several paintball guns lay on the table, and five brightly coloured targets lined the back wall. The man behind the counter smiled at us and turned to Patrick. "Would you like a chance to win the lady a prize? Only costs a dollar."

Patrick turned to me. "You want a shot at it?"

I shrugged. I knew that most of these games were rigged, but why not give it a go anyway? "Sure," I said. "I'll have a go."

Patrick paid the man a dollar, and I picked up the gun. It shot paintballs at the target, and you had ten to knock the five targets over. You had to knock all of them over to win a prize. I stood behind the designated line and aimed the gun. The smirk on the man's face fell away rather abruptly after my third shot. I knocked down all of the targets using only five paintballs. I put the gun back down and looked up at the man. He turned to Patrick. "Found yourself a regular Annie Oakley, haven't you, Paddy?"

Patrick looked back at the man and smiled. "She won the prize, didn't she? I know what a bitch it is to win this thing, Herb."

I looked at Patrick in confusion, and then across to Herb. Herb laughed. "Paddy here didn't tell you he was bringing you back here, did he?"

I looked at Patrick. "He mentioned growing up in the carnival," I said. "But not that it was this carnival."

Herb looked at Patrick, and then pulled a stuffed tiger from the top shelf. He handed it to me. "You earned it, Annie."

I laughed. The reference to the best Wild-west woman shooter made me proud. Patrick took my arm, waved goodbye to Herb, and dragged me to the next stall. One by one, I met all of the people who Patrick grew up with. But there was one who I didn't see. I questioned him about it at the top of the Ferris wheel. "Where's your father?" I asked, gripping on for dear life.

He shrugged. "Word is that he left about eighteen months ago. Apparently he scammed the wrong people."

I nodded. "Thank you for today, Patrick," I said. "It's been amazing."

He smiled and gently released one of my hands. "I can see you're terrified. Not to good with heights?"

I nodded, and he put a comforting arm around me. I rested my head on his shoulder as he gently stroked the top of my hand. The wheel stopped at the very top for people to get on, and I gazed off into the darkening sky. "This really had been an amazing day, Patrick," I whispered.

His arm tightened around me. "Thank you for letting me do this, Teresa. I was terrified that you wouldn't want to do this."

I laughed. "You haven't won me over just yet, Patrick. But I'm sure you of all people will work out what to do."

He bent down, and his hot breath on my ear caught me off guard. "I'm sure I will eventually."

I shivered, and he pulled me closer. We rode down to the ground like this, and looked for all the world like a true couple. But I knew we weren't, not yet.

XxxxxxxxxxxX

Patrick dropped me back at my apartment, and walked me up to the door. Just before I went in, a thought seemed to occur to him. "Teresa," he said. "What are you doing over Spring Break?"

A/N2: Well, I hope you have enjoyed this interlude. It hasn't really advanced the plot too far, but it was more of a change in scene to the next part of the story. Please review and tell me what you think of it. Thanks.