My heart pounds through my ears and I struggle to remain focused in the moment. My blood runs hot and as clichéd as it is, I swear I can see red. I dodge the missile aiming for my face and jab at the weakest point I can see, a rib, I think. I hit home and move to strike to the chest, to wind the idiot and get an elbow to my temple instead, dazing me and I stumble back. In my confused state I don't notice the voice that starts yelling for us to stop until I see the sergeant glaring down at me and his son. Santangelo glares at me for being caught and I keep my façade of calm indifference. On the inside I smile broadly, it was good to punch something for once, especially out on this stupid townie. It was almost worth it until I find myself, half an hour later painting over graffiti outside some stupid store close the houses of the Jellicoe School. We work in silence and eventually a few hours later, dripping with sweat from the heat, we are finally able to call it quits. I nod at the sergeant and turn to walk back to camp.

"Oi. Wanna ride?" Santangelo stands right behind me and I look back at him with a calm expression of disinterest about to decline. "Look, I got a car not far from here. I'll take you to town so my dad actually thinks we are getting along. Not that he knows about my car but…"

"How far is not far?"

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The walk isn't far after all but it is in my territory, I look to Santangelo the moment that we cross over and he has a rather proud smirk on his face. I fight the urge to roll my eyes and keep moving until we reach a rickety old shack. Her back is to me and I turn to Santangelo, who has a fury brewing in his eyes. The other chick's voice is loud as she speaks from under the dashboard.

"Hey Chaz, guess what? We knew where your precious car was all the time." I'd like to take a photo of his face. What do you think?"

The car clicks on and purrs, both girls laughing a bit. Santangelo looks like murder as he goes to pull Her out of his way, "I reckon I'd smile really nicely in that photo, knowing that you'll be keeping it under your pillow for the rest of your life." He opens the car door and pulls her out, roughly forcing her away. She turns to me and I school my expression from one of amusement into the annoyance radiating off Santangelo.

"Don't you ever touch my car again," Santangelo growls with fury.

Raffaela over exaggerates a touch to the driver's side window.

"You've just made our hit list." Santangelo pulls out a hanky to rub out the fingerprint left on the glass and I ignore the use of "our".

"Oh scary, scary," Raffaela says. "Let's go Taylor."

She turns and looks at me. "What are you guys up to?" She asks suspiciously. "Why are you hanging out together?"

"We're not," Santangelo says.

"Well it looks like you are." She shoots back.

"We're not," I echo. "Believe me. His father's made us paint half this town and if we stick around any longer he'll make us paint the rest of it."

"As a punishment for Gala day?" Raffaela asks.

"No. I think it was the 7-Eleven thing," I mutter, avoiding their judging faces.

"It could be because of that thing outside Woolworths," Santangelo says. "My Nanna Faye saw it and told my mum and she told my dad."

"You guys have got to stop fighting," Raffaela says. "It's passe`. No one has punch-ups any more."

I've had enough. I thought I was getting a quick ride into town.

"This whole bloody town is passe`," I growl. "Can we just get out of here?"

The little one glares at me, "Are you going to smash him for that or will I?"

She pulls Raffeala away, "We're out of here."

Santangelo and I watch them leave before he clears his throat, "You know in the name of pretending to get along…"

"Meet them at the road?" I ask with a heavy sigh.

The drive to Jellicoe Road is short and we stop and wait for the girls to arrive. Santangelo clears his throat a few times but I refuse to do anything but stare straight ahead.

"So… What's the story between you and Taylor? After my dad brought you home?" He asks, raising an eyebrow.

I wait a moment, "I don't want to do the whole backstory thing. And neither do you."

"What do you mean?" He frowns.

"You and Raffaela, more sexual tension than a private school for boys."

Santangelo goes quite for a second, looking out his window. "We were close once, then her parents sent her here. We drifted and I dated. Now we occasionally see each other in meetings. That's it really."

I smirk, "And the teachers kept saying we wouldn't get any soap operas out in the bush."

"Go on then. Why are you such a dick to Taylor when you so obviously want to be with her?"

"The fuck do you think I want to be with her for?"

Santangelo laughs and looks at me with slight pity. "Mate, you practically gravitate towards her." I glare at him and silence follows.

"She wouldn't talk to me." I say. I take another breath before continuing. "After that day. She ignored me besides, it meant nothing. Why would we be friends now?"

"They're coming." Santangelo throws a look behind before we both stare straight ahead.

I think you were right, I should let his story known. So this one is for the boy I lost. Who will live with me through Jonah.

Thank you.

- Love Escape Art1st xx