New Kid In Town (Bryant Rockwell Book 1)

by Jacky Gray

  “Call that acting? Looks like LT fancies the pants off the cripple. Pity he can’t stand the blob.”

  A sharp intake of breath announced Liv’s arrival with Ray.

  Jude turned, completely mortified. “God, I’m so sorry. What kind of a mean cow writes stuff like that?”

  “A nasty, small-minded bint like Diana, that’s who.” Luke surprised them all with his vehemence as he borrowed his dad’s trucker-language. They stared open mouthed as he explained overhearing Cecily whispering how she’d drawn over the initials.

  He pointed them out. “See, this ‘B’ was originally a ‘D.’ You can just make out the different blues of the ink. And the ‘KF’ was originally ...”

  “‘CI.’ Yeah, I worked it out, too. Cecily Irons.” Jude wanted to do something nasty to the pair of them.

  “Aka Cretinous Idiot.” Ray sported a dark expression.

  “Who are you calling a cretin?” Luke’s deadpan humour went down like a lead balloon. Only Ray rose to the bait.

  “Cecily of course.”

  “I know. It was a joke.” An artificial grin split Luke’s features before he returned to a straight face. “You know, Earth Humour.’

  “This is no time for jokes.” Jude still vibrated with shame for being the unwitting emissary of the horrid message, but she could tell Liv appreciated the lads’ support.

  “Actually, I think it’s exactly what this party needs.” Ray grinned. “Talking of parties, are you coming skating on Saturday, Luke?”

  Luke frowned at Kat. “Err, yeah, sure.” He gawked at Ray. “Um, you’re going skating? What, do they fit sleds on that thing?”

  “No, I have my own customised Zimmer frame.” He winked wickedly at Jude, adopting a bad Texan accent. “And this little lady, here, is gonna teach me how to do a rolling turn on it.” He could keep his deadpan face no longer.

  “I’m merely going to take care of the bags and kiss bruised knees better.” He paused. “Or any other bits.”

  “You wish.”

  “In your dreams.”

  At Liv and Kat’s protests, Ray leered with villainous exaggeration. “You have no idea.”

  Everyone burst into laughter as they headed toward the lunch queue, the nasty note forgotten.

  14 Brotherly Love

  After the morning’s excitement, the afternoon Chemistry lesson dragged and Liv rejoiced at the end-of-day bell. As they walked to the lockers to do the daily book swap, Ray asked how she was getting home.

  “I usually catch a bus with Jude, why?”

  “No reason. I thought you might walk past my house on your way home.”

  “We could do, it’s in the right direction; we’d have to catch the bus a few stops later. There’d be nowhere to sit, but hey, you’re worth it.”

  “Nah, it’s ok. I wouldn’t want to put you out. I simply wanted to prolong the craic. Eight minutes can be such a drag on your own.”

  “We wouldn’t wish such a dire fate on our worst enemies. I’m sure Jude wouldn’t want me to deprive her of an extra eight minutes of your company, and you know how much I need the exercise ...”

  “Your turn to fish for compliments, eh? Pity this pool’s empty, I used up all my best ones yesterday.”

  “My poor ego’s in desperate need of stroking after DD’s nasty note.”

  “Right.” He got serious for a moment. “I wanted to talk to you about ...”

  Whatever he wanted to say was lost as Jude sprang up like a whirlwind, grabbing Liv’s arm. “Come on, or we won’t get seats on the first bus.”

  Liv explained the change of plan and Jude looked well pleased by it. For most of the journey, she gabbled about how different Luke was, sitting next to her in Geography. They got chapter and verse of how charming he’d been – for Luke.

  “You mean, as in body-snatcher different?” Liv couldn’t resist the tease and was delighted when Ray mimed the pods, confirming his love of sci-fi.

  Jude ignored them, launching into Luke’s tale of the previous night’s encounter with Kat’s little brother and sister.

  “So, they’re walking home again tonight, huh?” Ray gave a knowing shrug, and would not be persuaded Luke was anything but Kat’s boyfriend.

  ~*~

  Luke was preoccupied; every time Kat spoke, he muttered a curt response. They were halfway home before she ventured a tentative apology. “I’m sorry you were put on the spot about the ice-skating. I wanted to tell you the full story, but I didn’t have time because Mr Johnston waylaid us at break and then with the note an’ all ...”

  He’d obviously figured it all out and was not a happy bunny. “You weren’t going to tell me Ray was coming until I’d said yes. Kinda like coercion. Or is it entrapment?”

  Kat couldn’t meet his gaze as she mumbled, “You seemed to take an instant dislike to him. He isn’t bad once you get to know him.”

  “He’s ok, if you like smart-arses.”

  “Does that mean you’ll come?”

  “I said I would, didn’t I? You know I never break my word.”

  “I know, but ...”

  “No buts.” His tone was final. They lapsed back into silence until he spoke in a low tone. “Was I really awful in English this morning?”

  “What?” Kat stopped dead, unable to remember any particular incident.

  He leant on the wall of the alleyway between the shops. “Playing the Duke. You know, Johnston swapped Ray for me.”

  “Oh, right.” She thought for a while. How could she say this kindly?

  “You don’t have to spare my feelings, just tell it how it is.”

  She moved closer as a kid rode past on a bike. “It was a tricky piece, full of emotion. Not easy to do unless you’re used to it.”

  “Which, of course, I’m not. I could tell Ray was brilliant, though. Is there nothing he can’t do?” His sour face matched the bitter tone.

  “Run, jump, dance, play football, rugby; need I go on?” Her words were a verbal slap in the face.

  “Point taken. Yeah, I suppose I should be grateful for some things.” He glanced her way. “Could you teach me?”

  “What? To run, jump, dance ...”

  “No. Well, maybe to dance. On second thoughts, forget it. Hippos in tutus spring to mind.”

  Kat grinned at the Disney image, then snuggled close and batted her eyelids. “And why would you be wanting to learn the dancing? Is there some lucky girl you have your eye on?”

  “No, I-I just …” He broke off, fear doing the deer/headlight routine.

  “Come on, spill the beans.” She couldn’t resist inching nearer.

  “I mean, maybe there is, but I really don’t know how to talk to girls and I was hoping you would help.”

  “Because I’m not a girl?” She pulled away dramatically and stepped up the pace.

  He caught up with her. “Because you are a girl.”

  “Exactly what are you doing now – making toast?”

  “What? Oh, you mean, I’m talking to you ...”

  “And I’m a girl.” She accompanied the words with sassy, American-teen body-language. “Congratulations, Einstein. Problem solved.”

  “But that doesn’t count, you’re different. I mean, I don’t ...” He seemed genuinely uncomfortable, but there was so much more mischief to be had.

  Kat kept up the relentless pressure, adopting a hurt stance and matching tone as they waited to cross the road. “You don’t fancy me? Well, thanks very much, Luke. You sure know how to make a girl feel good.”

  “No, it’s not that, I do ...”

  “You do fancy me?” As they reached the other side, she slipped her arm through his and squeezed close, putting her head on his very broad chest. “Why Luke, I didn’t know you cared.”

  “Stop it, will you? Can you just – let – me – finish?”

  “But Luke, I’m merely trying to show you what it’s like talking to girls. We can be such a silly, fickle bunch of air-heads. It’s no use trying to have a serious conversation
with us.”

  Shaking his head as they reached their close, he said nothing until they stopped outside his house. “Do you want to come in for a cuppa?”

  She nodded; he obviously wanted to broach something delicate, without the multiple interruptions inevitable in her household.

  Sticking to neutral topics, he made the tea, then led her up to his room. They sat on his bed and he took her free hand. “What I was trying to say earlier, is that I’ve known you all my life and you’re a good friend. You act like a mate, not like a ...”

  “Girl?”

  “Yeah. I guess I’m not afraid of you because I know you’re not gonna laugh at me if I say something dumb.”

  “Dumb as in stupid, or as in talking about your feelings?”

  “Yep. As in, both of the above.” His lips tightened.

  “Ok. My aunt once said to think of the very worst thing which could happen in a situation like this. If you can work out a strategy to cope with that, anything else is a bonus.”

  He didn’t seem convinced as he slurped the tea. “What do you mean?”

  “Think about it. You say something dumb and she laughs. You have to figure whether she’s laughing because she’s nervous, or if she’s laughing with you because she thinks you’re funny, or at you because she’s a cow.”

  “I’m not sure I could tell the difference.”

  “I think you could. Say something funny.”

  “Oh, gosh. I hate this; I can never think that quick.”

  He nearly spilt his drink as Kat let out a raucous shriek, punching his arm and wiping false tears from her eyes as she cackled. “Oh, Luke. What a card.”

  His astonishment turned to realisation. “I get it. That was the cow, right?”

  She giggled nervously, hiding behind her mug as her body transformed into a shrinking wallflower and her eyes darted round the room.

  “Gotcha. The nervous one, right? What about the real thing?”

  “Oh, dear. This comes harder.” She swigged some tea to give her thinking time. “You’d have to know what the natural laugh sounds like. Probably best to watch her with her friends, first. Say something funny.”

  “How about, I love you?”

  The laugh forming in her belly died as it reached her throat, coming out as a strangled sound somewhere between a laugh and a cry. “Oh, Luke. I don’t know what to say. I ...”

  “Gotcha.” His laugh was sheer devilment.

  “You beast.” She couldn’t help but join in, letting loose with her natural, girly laugh.

  Finally she sobered up enough to adopt a serious face. “You must be ever so careful with those three little words. It’s not something to fling around to anybody; a girl will take you seriously if you say that.”

  “I know. I’m sorry; cheap trick. But I do love you, like a sister. The very best sort of little sister a boy could wish for.”

  Kat turned away, blinking back the tears in her eyes but he saw them.

  Putting his mug down, he removed hers and turned her to face him. “What’s wrong? I didn’t mean to upset you. I thought you felt the same way, too.”

  She sniffed and shook her head. “I’m sorry, Luke. You’re right, I guess I didn’t want to hear you say it in black and white.”

  “I never realised I could speak in colours.”

  “Or technically the lack of them.” She grinned. “They say it ruins a good friendship, but I can’t help wondering ...”

  “What?”

  Their faces were very close and he gazed deeply into her eyes for a moment before leaning over and touching her lips with his.

  Closing her eyes, she responded, feeling his arms tighten around her. She had to hang onto him as they overbalanced on the edge of the bed.

  Just then, the door sprang open and they jumped apart, ending up in a heap on the floor.

  “What the heck do you think you’re doing, bringing a girl up here?” Luke’s father didn’t actually breathe flames, but if you’d lit his breath … “Do you want to get done for statutory rape? Because that’s what they’ll say, you know. They’ll bring up your record and throw away the key.”

  Looking through Kat, he ranted, spittle flying from his lips. “And does your Father know where you are, you little hussy?” He peered closer. “Why, it’s Katrina ...”

  “Hello, Mr Harper. This isn’t what it looks like, honestly.”

  “What, do you think I was never fifteen with all those hormones? I know exactly what it’s like.”

  “You could never know what it’s like, Dad. You were never like me.” Luke stumbled out of the room and down the stairs, crashing through the front door which slammed behind him.

  15 What Happened to Luke?

  “So, what did you do?” Liv huddled with Kat and Jude in an empty stairwell where they’d gone for some privacy at morning break.

  Kat shrugged. “What could I do? Luke’s dad was breathing hellfire and damnation, while I sprawled on the floor with my knickers on display.”

  “Wow, girl. You’re milking this better than I could ever dream of.”

  “That’s what drama GCSE does for you. You should try it, Jude.”

  “Will you get on with it? We’re due in IT in five minutes and if I don’t hear the end of this story I will die.”

  “Liv gets the Oscar.” Kat grinned as they high fived. “Ok. I tried to explain we were merely rehearsing for Twelfth Night and Luke was struggling to play the Duke, but his dad didn’t buy it.”

  “Naturally. In his head, Luke’s a jock, not a drama brat.” Liv pulled out her trademark chocolate bar and started munching.

  “Then I said we were just good friends but he was having trouble talking to girls and wanted me to help him. His dad hit the roof. ‘No son of mine would ever have girl trouble,’ and words to that effect.”

  “Oh, no. I bet Luke really copped for it when he got home.” Jude peeled a banana, alternating bites with an energy bar.

  “That’s the problem, I don’t know. He came round to my house at about half past nine, exactly when Paddy arrived back from London.”

  “Great. And of course you hadn’t seen Paddy to tell him ...”

  “Got it in one. So, Paddy was all ready to run Luke out of town.” Kat shrugged. “Big brothers, eh? I ran down when I heard the shouting, but it was too late, Luke had already left. I called after him to wait but he shouted back, ‘I told you what it would be like.’ Then he ran off.”

  Liv gasped, waving at Kat to continue.

  “Anyway, I tried to tell Paddy about it all, but he wouldn’t believe me. He ranted on about Jimmy Parr’s scumbag gang until Rory came in and backed me up. Then he calmed down and started to listen.”

  “Typical.” Liv snorted. “It’s got to be a guy thing.”

  “It gets worse. Paddy went round to apologise to Luke and Mr Harper told him to get lost. He’d drunk even more and started to get nasty, saying Paddy should be looking out for me instead of trying to blame poor suckers like Luke. Luckily, Rory turned up to drag Paddy off for last orders at the Brickies or who knows what might have happened.”

  “Yeah.” Jude nodded. “Paddy’s got quite a temper, but I wouldn’t want to say who’d come off the worst if he tangled with Mr Harper.”

  “Paddy can take care of himself; he works out regularly, you know.”

  Liv sighed. “Let’s get back on track. What happened to Luke?”

  “I don’t know. I don’t even know if he went home again.”

  “And he wasn’t in RE. Do you think he’s done a runner?”

  “Judith Briskell, famous screenwriter – NOT!!!” Liv grinned.

  As Liv borrowed her famous trick, Kat’s concern showed in her indirect criticism. “If you’d been on time at registration, you’d know he had a dental appointment booked in for this morning. Lenny read it out.”

  “Let’s just see if he turns up to IT, shall we?”

  Ray beckoned urgently to Liv at the start of class, but Mr Brotherton was quick off the mark,
putting them into pairs for the promised workshop on spreadsheets. He took great pleasure in splitting up known groups of friends.

  The IT teacher drove them through some advanced cell formulas and they had to concentrate hard to pick it all up.

  Luke’s arrival halfway through caused great relief among the girls, but he was assigned to a group with Neil and Danielle, giving no chance for even a quick exchange. As the lesson drew to a close, Kat saw Luke clock-watching and realised he’d be dashing off for a lunchtime training session.

  Sure enough, when the bell rang, he shot off like a greyhound from a trap. She flew down the corridor, merely seconds behind, calling his name.

  “What it is, Kat? I can’t stop.”

  “Are you ok?”

  “Yeah, my mouth’s still numb after the filling.”

  “Are you still coming skating tomorrow?”

  “Why wouldn’t I be? See you later, by the lockers. Must go. Bye.”

  She stood waiting until the others caught up, running through the brief conversation in her mind. He seemed quite normal – happy even – not upset with her at all. Kat figured he couldn’t possibly have gone home. That’s it; he must have spent the night at his Aunt Sheila’s.

  “There she is. Kat what happened to you? Off like a rat up a drainpipe.” Jude had a collection of ancient sayings, courtesy of her dad.

  “I wanted to catch Luke before the sports training.”

  “Did he tell you any more about it?” Liv glared meaningfully.

  “About what?” Ray picked up the subtle undercurrents.

  Jude jumped in. “You would not believe what’s been going on. Lu ...”

  “I don’t think it’s something he would want spread about the school.” Kat interrupted. “He thinks we all gossip about him far too much already.”

  “But Ray’s an honorary member.”

  “It’s ok, Liv. I’d rather hear it from Luke.” Ray gestured behind, lowering his voice. “Besides, you never know who’s listening.” He smiled an obviously false smile and waved at Diana and Cecily who were standing a few yards away, gawking with interest.

  They finalised the arrangements for the skating trip during lunch: Jude would already be there for her training session with Bernie; Ray’s mum could drive him and Liv and Kat would sort something out with Luke later.