Once again, Tucker couldn’t help but feel miffed. Again she mentioned Rex, even though she didn’t use his name this time. ‘I can’t believe you’re so obsessed with that guy! Nobody should be that obsessed with anyone.’
He couldn’t resist returning to her photograph albums. He eyed the colour printer on the desk next to the computer and an idea came to mind. His wall was in need of some decent pictures and what better pictures to have hanging all around a wall than stunningly gorgeous shots of the goddess.
He started to print one of Vanessa on her own posing on a rock beside a river, wearing a short skirt and buttoned shirt. It was a slow job, frustratingly slow and he tapped his fingers irritably, casting a regular glance at the door hoping desperately that Rita would not return. Even if he could just get a few pictures tonight, he’d be happy. He could print some more out tomorrow.
He decided to compose a message to Vanessa to reply to her questions she’d asked, but this time without the spellchecker. For one thing it took too long and his time was short. For another thing, he knew he wouldn’t be able to use the spell checker when it came to instant messaging.
Hi Vanessa!
My frend at your skool is a junyerr by the name of Ted Dover...
He’d deal with Ted later and make sure that if Vanessa ever questioned him, he’d have a good answer to give her. He glanced at the last part of Vanessa’s message. He couldn’t help but smile. Vanessa thought he looked familiar. That was great. Perfect in fact, because it meant that Vanessa was more open to getting to know him and it may have been a big reason why she accepted him as a friend. He’d definitely exploit that for all it was worth.
U may have sene me at the interskool athletiks. I sore u and couldn’t get ova how beyutiful u were and how I’d luv to get to no u. U are a goddess. I hope u dont mind me saying that. I just think u r really...
He was about to write “ubbery” but then realised what a serious error that would be. It would most likely blow his cover.
... amaizing and I luv your fotografs. Id luv to c the privit wuns to. I hope u dont mind me being so bold. I get really shy normilly, but on-line its a lot eezier. I hope u will get to look at my profile and find out all about me. Maybe u will like me and we can exchange some messiges on IM?
Pleased with his message, he hit “send”.
‘Tucker!’ Rita’s voice boomed from the doorway, causing him to leap from his chair. She stormed in. ‘I told you to get back to work! What are you doing?’
Tucker quickly swept up the photographs from the printer. ‘I... I just had to print some emergency stuff out.’
‘Photographs? You’re wasting printer ink on photographs?’ She faced the computer screen. ‘FaceLink?’ She sighed and delivered Tucker a piercing stare. ‘Look, I would have had no problem with you using the computer for personal reasons if it was during your break, but it’s not. And I don’t appreciate you printing out full colour photographs either. Coloured ink is bloody expensive. Who is that girl anyway? Isn’t that Vanessa Dante?’
‘Yes.’ His eyes lit up as he had an idea. ‘She’s my girlfriend.’
‘What?’ Rita scoffed. ‘You’re girlfriend? Somehow I doubt that very much. A class act like that wouldn’t be caught dead with a...’ Her voice trailed off and her face turned red. ‘Never mind. Look Tucker, I’ve had it. From now on this computer is off limits to you. Even during breaks. You’ll stay right away from it, you hear?’
‘UUuBBAAA! Not even at breaks?’
‘No, because you have shown me that you can’t be trusted with it and you abuse the privilege of having it. I won’t have you wasting time and money when you should be working. If I see you on it again, you’re fired. No second chances. Enough’s enough. Now if you don’t want me to give you the sack right now, you had better get back to work!’
Tucker grumbled to himself as he walked over to his bag to deposit the pictures inside. He took one last glance at the three he had printed. As well as the riverside shot, there was one of her sitting cross legged on a chair wearing a skirt, fishnet stockings and a bare-shouldered top. Her neck looked so kissable. ‘Mmmmmmm.’ The final one was a close up of her gorgeous face, presenting one of her trademark, radiant smiles. It was the biggest, most detailed shot of her he now had in his possession and he knew he’d be spending countless hours gazing at it.
Still, although the shots of her were sexy, none of them showed the sort of cleavage Tucker really desired. He hoped that in the restricted album that he would soon have access to, there would be many such shots.
He got to work stacking glasses in the dishwasher. The whole plan of wooing Vanessa online was great and he was confident that by the end, Vanessa would be so in love with him, she’d be willing to accept him for who he really was once he revealed the truth. However, the issue of Rex still had to be resolved. Tucker somehow had to remove him from the picture so that Vanessa would not be so obsessed with him. Somehow, he had to drive a wedge between them, so that Vanessa would be angry with him and dump him. But how did he achieve that? An idea came to mind, something he could do while online. He’d have to wait until he got home for that though and hope that his mother was in bed once again.
An opportunity to execute his plan, came his way as he walked home that night. He passed by a patch of trees and who should he see sitting with Rex underneath them, but Chelsea Brown, one of the hot girls from school. Not only were they sitting there, but they were cuddled up and kissing each other.
Tucker fumbled for his cell phone. They were too busy kissing to even notice him over there. Even as he prepared to take a photograph with his phone, the view of them together there riled him up. ‘How dare he be unfaithful to the goddess? How dare he?’
He held the phone up and took a shot… then another… and finally a third one. Each one had enough detail in it to prove the identities of the couple. Feeling smug, Tucker continued on his way. ‘Oh, Rex, you are in deep shit now. Ha ha ha ha ha ha.’
CHAPTER 8:
Getting Aquainted
Jealousy at TAC Page 8
