by I N Foggarty
The trip back to Ms Cameron’s room was even easier than the trip going now that she had done it once already. Back in the classroom, she stooped to gather her belongings only to look up and see the woman staring at her from behind her desk, a gobsmacked expression on her face.
“W..wh…wha…what on…n…n earth!”
“Just enjoying the view,” Anna replied sweetly, making her way out of the classroom before the woman even had the chance to think up a response.
Slowly she sauntered through the hallways towards her homeroom a wicked grin on her face. Ms Cameron would probably not have been the only one who had witnessed her stunt, for that side of the English department looked out over one of the social areas. Wonder how far people will jump out of my way now she mused as the bell to signal the start of homeroom sounded and she crossed the threshold into her own room and dropped into a seat. Today would be a good day.
Different Similarities
Glorious sun rays poured down upon the large stone structure of Woodlake Academy. Overhead the sky was a cobalt blue sheet with barely a wisp of cloud in sight. Unfortunately, for all those encased within the concrete construction, the air hung still with an uncomfortable humidity. Not long before homeroom, the air-conditioning had breathed its last cold breath and over the course of the morning tempers and temperature had risen concurrently. By second period the grapevine had it on good authority that no amount of open-generator surgery would save them. In other words, they were all trapped in the oven until days end.
Somewhere deep within the bowels of the school Matt Taylor stepped out of a biology lab and made a b-line straight for the nearest water fountain. Only to find that everyone else in the hallway had shared his thought. Damn you, Dr Patterson, he cursed internally as he forced his way to the end of the queue. The biologist had held them back a full thirty seconds so he could make some stupid announcement. About to take his place in line, he was vaguely aware of a slender hand taking a tight grip on his own before its owner hauled him through a doorway.
Outside the fresh air filled his lungs and the transition from strip lighting to daylight rendered him temporarily blind. Helpless, he had to trust in the guidance of his abductor for the few steps it took them to round a corner and move into a patch shade.
“Here,” Anna’s voice said, shaking a bottle of icy water in front of him.
“Thanks,” he replied, taking it and gulping down the cold liquid. “Where in hell did you get this?”
“There’s an ice machine in Patterson’s back room. I snuck in there before class.”
Though she smiled, Anna looked tired. That report for Stevens must have kept her up till near midnight. He returned the gesture. It was not often she looked so relaxed these days. “You didn’t go in through the window, did you?”
Anna’s laugh caused a warm sensation to fill him from head to toe. The wicked smile on her face confirming his suspicion about the day's other hot topic of conversation, the now infamous ledge leaper. When he had caught wind of the tale first period, all anyone knew was that someone had been spotted leaping between two windows on the second floor. By the start of second period, a rough description of someone clad in black with red hair had generally been accepted as fact. Though debate raged on about whether or not they had climbed the walls. Matt could only imagine what stories would be concocted before the end of the day.
“So what possessed you to scale the building this morning?” he asked, handing the water back to her.
Anna took a drink before answering. “Has the gossip train already got me ascending the walls?”
“More or less. What were you actually doing?”
Anna sighed and the smile vanished. “Handing in my literature report for Stevens.” When he looked at her blankly she added, “the bastard locked his door so I had to find an alternative way in.”
“Through the window!”
The look on her face had turned cold. “If he won’t play fair, why should I? I can’t afford double the detention, Matt. Besides, it was a piece of cake. Ms Cameron’s door was open so I climbed out the window, over to his classroom and put it on his desk.”
Matt shook his head. Not only had Anna become lax in regards to her studies, she seemed to be becoming reckless too. He somehow did not think Stevens would take kindly to her having broken into his room. He chose to voice this concern. “And what if he gives you the detention for breaking into his classroom?”
“He can’t,” she replied flatly. Turning she indicated for him to follow. “He has no evidence. All he has is my report on his desk by the deadline. What’s he going to turn around and say? I know it had to be you because I purposely locked my door to prevent you from handing it in. How else could your report have gotten there… I doubt it.”
It made sense Matt conceded, parking his rear on the cool, shaded brickwork of a raised flower bed. Anna had led them around to the west side of the building, one of the few spots where the sun's scorching rays had not yet reached.
“You must be sweltering in all that black,” he then said, taking in the beads of sweat on her forehead and her slightly flushed cheeks. He had not failed to notice that today she wore his Woodlake Wolves hoodie. “If you want you can borrow my gym shorts, I’ve got a spare pair in my locker.”
“EWWW,” Anna declared as she screwed up her face. “I might be your girlfriend, but even I draw the line at wearing your stinky gym shorts.”
They both broke out into a bout of laughter and Anna gave him a light shove. In hindsight, it was probably a wise decision on her part. The shorts in question were the same ones he had worn for yesterday's volleyball match.
“Besides if I took my jeans off some perve would probably steal them and by tomorrow they’d be up for auction. The pants of the infamous Woodlake Ledge Leaper.”
Matt snorted, the image of an auctioneer, who looked suspiciously like Raymond, holding Anna’s jeans aloft for the baying crowd filling his mind. “Shouldn’t I get first refusal?” he enquired. “I am your boyfriend after all.”
“Hmph!” She exclaimed indignantly as she clipped him round the ear. “So while I’m standing there in my undies, you’re bidding on my pants. Some boyfriend you are.”
He gave her a smirk and could see she struggled to keep a straight face. Had it been anyone else her look would have been still as a corpse, regardless of whether she was poking fun or not. “At least you’ll have my stinky gym shorts.”
For a split second, they locked gazes. They always played this game in such situations. Her icy green eyes against his soft brown ones. Laughter was imminent but neither were willing to break first. Matt’s fingers began to twitch and he could feel the corners of his mouth begin to tug. Anna struggled too he noticed. Though the undisputed champion she was having difficulty in containing herself. Always a sign that she felt fairly relaxed. A heartbeat later and they both broke down into a fit of hysterics.
A solitary tear rolled from Matt’s left eye due to the effort of trying to maintain decorum. Wiping it away he stretched out a hand and took hold of Anna’s clammy palm. “I’ve missed this,” he said sincerely, finding her eyes once more. On a day like today, when the ice had melted, he could stare at them for eternity. Like looking into the essence of spring.
“Me too,” she replied softly.
Feeling a light squeeze from her hand, Anna shifted herself closer to him. Releasing her grip she slowly rubbed her hand up his sticky back until it reached the short hairs on the back of his head. She smiled, pure and devoid of any devilry or wickedness that were her trademarks. Soft and pale, for Anna did not believe in makeup, her lips were too close and tantalising to resist.
Placing an arm around the small of her back, Matt pulled Anna’s slender frame towards him. A metaphorical spark shot through the pair as their lips met in the smallest, most delicate of moments. A fire raged within him, burning away all the doubt, the worry… the issues. For that brief instant, he knew what kept them together, love.
Pulling
apart, Matt’s gaze instinctively glanced from side to side.
“Worried someone will see us?” Anna whispered seductively in his ear.
He looked her straight in the eyes. “It’s just a bad habit.”
She laughed and he could tell his cheeks had gone red. “You're lucky I know how bashful you are.” Effortlessly their lips interlocked, tongues twitching back and forth. According to Anna, his hockey skills were apparently transferable from the ice. “I know baseball’s not your thing but come Friday even you’ll be able to make it to first base. And I promise you won't have to worry about a heckling crowd.”
Blood flowed to Matt’s extremities as Anna reconvened the kiss. They had never talked about sex and he doubted that would change anytime soon. Yet it didn’t bother him. He wasn’t with Anna so he could get his rocks off then maybe call her in the morning. She meant so much more to him that even the thought was abhorrent. He still had the urges of his peers of course. Except for Dylan, whose urges seemed to be insatiable. If Anna wanted to try for second base, great. If not, he would wait for her. Anything beyond that... he probably wasn’t prepared for yet. Still, it added an extra dash of spice to their planned evening alone.
Breaking off once more Anna wrapped her arms around him and nestled her head in beside his neck. Responding in kind he couldn’t help but notice a pair of woman had walked around the near corner of the building. The first was Miss William’s, the vice principal, but he did not recognise the other. He paid them no heed.
“Matt,” Anna whispered from where she had snuggled, “I love you.” The sincerity of Anna’s words struck his heart like a bolt of lightning. She’d said it before, of course, but never so simply. “I know I don’t act like it sometimes but… it’s hard for me.”
“I know,” he said reassuringly. Her words held no secrets from him. Her family life had been… difficult, turbulent. “I love you too.”
Pulling away she gave him another warm smile. “Sounds like we’re about to be interrupted.”
A look of bewilderment spread across Matt’s face as he tried to work out how Anna had known the woman were approaching without seeing them. In reality, it shouldn’t have been a surprise. He had long known Anna possessed senses beyond those of the average person. Perhaps someday he could ask her to teach him how to attune his own.
“Good morning, Miss Williams,” Anna said, standing to greet the pair of woman who had stopped beside them.
The vice principal returned the gesture with a cold, expressionless look. Matt was well aware of the woman's disapproval of Anna. A tardy delinquent her most recent label. Nevertheless, he followed suit. “Good morning, Miss Williams.”
The vice principal did not reply, instead, she turned to her companion. “These are two of our current year twelve students, Mrs Giles.”
Matt looked at the woman the vice principal had just referred to as Mrs Giles. She was short, even when taking into account a pair of six-inch stilettos. With raven hair held up in a chopstick bun and makeup, which to Matt’s eyes bordered on excessive. Still, she held a beauty that ten years ago would probably have ranked her amongst the hottest cheerleaders in the school, give or take. He shrugged, she had nothing on Anna in his eyes.
“This is Mr Taylor, captain of the school hockey team.” Matt almost jumped at the sound of his own name.
“Nice to make your acquaintance,” Mrs Giles said, holding out a long, red-nailed hand. He took it gingerly though the woman did not let it linger. “Well, that’s a strong grip you’ve got. And who might this be.” The woman turned her attention to Anna.
Matt could see irritation begin to spread across Miss Williams’ stern features. “This is Miss Richards, one of our…”
“…martial artists,” Anna cut in. The vice principals face slowly began to turn puce and Matt shot a sideways look at his girlfriend. She gave the pair a sweet smile that he knew held nothing but contempt for the teacher. “I was the junior state champion in Tae Kwon Do three years ago.”
The looks Anna received from the two woman could not have been more different. While Miss Williams face looked like thunder, Mrs Giles gave her an impressive smile, “fascinating! You must tell me all about it.”
“Perhaps another time,” Miss Williams interceded. “Mrs Giles, we must continue with the tour. I’m sure that you will see Miss Richards again should you choose to enrol your children here with us at Woodlake Academy.” She then turned to glare at Anna and himself. “Don’t the pair of you have classes to attend to? The morning interval is about to end.”
Matt did not need telling twice. Picking up his rucksack he took the hand Anna offered to him and they set off.
“She looks rather young to have children in middle school, don’t you think?” Anna then said in a low voice.
Turning to look at her he could see why she had used such a tone; the two woman were following them.
“I would have said she looks old to have kids in high school.”
They both sniggered under their breaths when they re-entered the building. Turning left they started off down the corridor when a voice called out to them. “Matt!” It was Dylan.
“Hey, Dylan,” he replied, sounding slightly deflated. It looked like his alone time with Anna for the day had come to an end.
Dylan jogged up the corridor and Matt could only watch as Miss Williams stepped through the same door he and Anna had used, right into his path.
“Wahh!” Dylan exclaimed, failing to stop his flailing body from colliding with the vice principal. Fortunately, both parties remained on their feet.
“MR RODGERS!” Miss Williams yelled, straightening her jacket. Mrs Giles filled in behind her. “What have I told you about running in the hallways?”
Dylan wisely held his tongue. Too many times in the past had Matt witnessed his best friend dig himself a deeper grave.
“Dilly’s for it now,” Anna whispered in Matt’s ear.
Matt suspected that she was about to be proven right when Mrs Giles interrupted. “Another one of your budding athletes? Track I assume?”
“No. Mr Rodgers is one of our more academic students. Particularly in the field of computers.”
“Ahh. With an introduction like that and the name Rodgers, I can only assume you are the son of William Rodgers, CEO of WMR Electronics, am I right?”
Dylan nodded dumbly and Matt suspected he was too busy worrying about the prospect of detention than the question he had been asked.
“Excellent. Some of my husband's associates have worked with your father.” Mrs Giles gave Dylan a smile before turning back to the vice principal. “Miss Williams, I think I have seen enough. Shall we return to your office and go over the enrolment criteria?”
Overhead the bell to signal the end of morning break sounded and Miss Williams turned her attention back to her guest, allowing Dylan the opportunity to slip past her.
Down the hallway, Dylan let out a sigh, “phew. Almost cooked my goose there.”
From beside him, Anna snorted, “Lucky Boy, aren’t you.” Giving his hand one last squeeze Anna let go. “I’ll see you later, Matt. Love you.”
She pecked him on the cheek before heading for her Japanese class, while he and Dylan trudged into Spanish. By the time he had taken his seat and unpacked his stuff, the teacher had begun. The lesson was monotonous, at least for Matt. Languages were not his strong suit, however, he had been advised to take one for ‘academic reasons’, or so his guidance counsellor had told him.
Halfway through the lesson, he found himself gazing out the window, instead of searching his dictionary for a word. His eyes wandering over the parking lot he saw Miss Williams guest walk out the main entrance, talking rapidly on a cell phone. When she reached an old blue Mustang she paused. Ripping her jacket off she proceeded to pluck the chopsticks from her hair and give her head a shake, long raven hair falling down around her shoulders. Tossing them into the passenger seat she climbed in and sped off.
Matt pushed her odd behaviour to the b
ack of his head, his mind wandering to Anna… and Dylan. He sighed. Why could his friends never get along? He laughed internally, knowing perfectly well the source of Anna and Dylan’s animosity. It was a sad reality he thought, that he could never spend any meaningful time with the pair simultaneously. Like some child, whose parents had separated and now couldn’t stand to be in the same room as one another. It seemed history had a habit of repeating itself, at least in a metaphorical sense.
Bartending
A sliver of moonlight penetrated through the thick banks of dark cloud that hung over the southern reaches of Lake Michigan. The crisp air held a breeze that threatened to break out into a full-blown gale should the mood take it. Rain was thus less of a possibility and more a certainty. Only the when remained to be determined. The passage of a depression was… well depressing It seemed.
Down below on a quiet and crumbling road surface, a pair of mid-sized heavy duty Lorries made their way towards one of the lakes many docks. As they sped along the cracked highway bits of loose tarmac flicked up against the rusted undersides of the wheel arches, resulting in a steady stream of harsh clicks where stone hit metal.
Almost with an air of caution, the vehicles approached the wire metal gate that obstructed the entrance to the dock. The trepidation in the motion of the trucks somehow seeming to convey the collective feelings of those inside. Privately owned and in a shabby state of disrepair, the crumbling stone and rotten wood constructions that formed the wharf were quite at odds with the relatively shiny looking fence that circumscribed it. In fact, coupled with the haphazard way its constituent parts had been shoved into their breeze-block bases, it was quite apparent that the fencing had arrived both recently and in a hurry.
Inside the back of the lead lorry, Ramone sat with a cigarette between his fingers, an inch of ash hanging on by force of will alone, the last of the paper burning ever closer to his hand. As the vehicle suddenly juddered to a halt the change in velocity proved to be too much for the glowing ember to cope with and it broke off from the main body of the cigarette only to land on top of Ramone’s battered black boots.
