“Where’s your school bag?”
“None of your business!”
“Don’t you dare get shitty with me.”
“It’s at a mate’s, okay. Now, get outta my room.” Ash sat up, annoyed that his stepfather still hadn’t left.
Chaz glared at him. “No, it’s not okay, and you don’t get to order me around, I’m the adult here.”
“It’s my room.”
“I don’t give a toss. Apologise or I’m not moving.”
Ash crossed his arms over his chest, not willing to give in. Since being made redundant from his foreman’s job, Chaz had taken over the household duties, like cooking dinner, packing lunches, and poking his nose into where it didn’t belong. And Ash was sick of having his life rifled through as well as his drawers.
Okay, the last part couldn’t be helped as his stepfather did the washing, but still, it made him feel uncomfortable and when his condoms were found it had been embarrassing as hell. Chaz had given him the big grill about who he was doing. It wasn’t something that Ash wanted to talk to Chaz about, that was what Hunter was for, but when his stepfather started using words like penis and vagina Ash just wanted to shrivel up.
And the birds and the bees questioning was pointless as he wasn’t doing anyone at the time; he was just kind of hoping Tiana would change her mind. Though, Chaz didn’t believe him, and talked about being careful with girls, and how females got more emotional over sex—that information a bit too late, considering how Jenna had acted.
Chaz crossed his arms over his own chest, mirroring Ash. “Apologise now or you’re washing and drying the dishes for the next two days.”
“I’m sorry,” Ash said, his tone anything but.
“Say it like you mean it.”
“I’m sorry, good enough?”
“It’ll do.” Chaz got off the bed and walked over to the door. The guy was built like a construction worker, about six-foot-two, and with sandy-brown hair. He turned back to Ash, his expression far from amused. “If you’ve gotten into any trouble come to me before it gets outta hand. I’ll fix it without your mother finding out.” Without waiting for a reply, Chaz closed the door, leaving Ash by himself.
Yeah right, there was no way he could tell his stepfather about anything to do with Hunter’s business. Shit! Hunter.
Ash pushed off the bed and headed out of his room, and into the kitchen, where his stepfather had started peeling potatoes. Chaz turned around to look at him, his face hopeful as though he thought Ash was coming to confess.
“I needa use the phone.” Ash grabbed the handheld and headed back to his bedroom. He closed the door and slid down the wooden surface, using his body as a doorstop. He keyed in Hunter’s number and waited impatiently as the phone rang. When no one answered, he tried his cousin’s mobile.
Hunter picked up on the fourth ring. “That you, Ash?”
“Yup—”
“Can’t talk right now, I’m busy.”
“I’ve got bad news.” Ash quickly recounted what had happened. At the end Hunter let out a string of swearwords, capped off by more. On the other end of the line Ash could hear Hunter’s new girlfriend asking what was wrong.
“Everything, bloody everything,” Hunter snapped.
“I’m really sorry, cuz,” Ash said.
“It’s not your fault. Gimme Tiana’s address so I can sort out her bro.”
Ash went silent.
“Ash, gimme the bloody address.”
“You’ll get Tiana into trouble.”
“I’m not stupid enough to walk in there and start bashing the prick. I’ll stake out the place then jump him when he ain’t expecting it. So, last time, gimme the God-damned address!”
Ash rattled it off, then before he could say anything else Hunter hung up. He banged the back of his head against the door, pissed that he’d well and truly fucked things up.
He looked down at the phone and dialled Tiana’s number, hoping her day had gone a lot better than his.
6
Tiana
Only the sound of eating graced the table, where her mother sat at one end and her father at the other, while Tiana was stuck smack bang in the middle of the silent treatment.
After school her mother had picked her up instead of Levi—wherever he was—and had brought her home with more telling offs as well as new threats that she’d get sent to Tonga if she didn’t stop seeing Ash. It had scared her, because there was no way she wanted to leave everything and everyone she loved. She’d only been to Tonga on holidays, not there to live. It was beautiful, but she felt like a foreigner, which made sense considering she was born and bred in New Zealand.
The phone started ringing. Tiana’s mother reached behind and grabbed it off the bench that separated the dining-room from the kitchen. “Hello,” she answered. “Hello?” Grumbling something about a wrong number, she hung up and started eating again.
Tiana stabbed the taro on her plate then stabbed it again.
“Stop playing with your food, Tiana,” her mother growled.
Tiana popped the taro into her mouth and glanced at her father. Although he was quietly concentrating on his food, she knew he was angry, because the vein on his forehead, which only showed when he was upset, was still prominent. Earlier, her mother had told him everything, which had resulted in an argument between her parents, lasting for over half an hour.
To be sent to Tonga or not to be sent to Tonga: that was the question, the argument.
She couldn’t believe how things had gotten out of hand. Oh, she knew her mother thought she’d had sex, but to suggest sending her to family in Tonga as a punishment was ridiculous. Panicked by the threat, Tiana had even considered telling them about all the things that Levi had gotten up to, anything to deflect what was happening to her, but had decided in the end that it wouldn’t be fair on her brother.
The front door banged. Talk of the devil, she thought, as Levi traipsed into the dining-room looking annoyed. He had a plaster over the bridge of his nose and a red mark on his forehead.
“What happened to your face, boy?” their mother asked.
“I was helping Isaia fix his car and banged it when I went under the dump on wheels.” Levi plonked his butt down across the table from Tiana. He picked up his fork and started stuffing food into his mouth, ploughing through it like he hadn’t eaten for a week. Levi was reasonably tall like their father, but had a slimmer face that appeared younger than his seventeen years. If anything, he probably got away with so much because he had one of those deceptively innocent faces. He only had to smile and old women melted like he could do no wrong.
“You’re a good boy.” Their mother’s gaze shifted to Tiana. “Considerate, unlike your sister.”
Considerate! Tiana stabbed her food again, annoyed that her mother hadn’t said anything about Levi not being in uniform. Typical, he probably didn’t even bother to go to school, yet he was still “considerate.” But nothing could stick on Levi, his quick tongue usually getting him out of trouble.
Levi raised his gaze, his expression confused. “What’re ya talking ‘bout, Mum? Tiana’s always considerate.”
Tiana sighed, now feeling guilty about her thoughts. He really was a sweetheart with her, unlike her friend’s stepbrother who strived to make Lavinia’s life a living hell.
“Not when she shames me,” their mother said.
“It’s always about you. You!” Their father dropped his fork onto his plate and pushed out of his chair noisily. Tiana watched him leave the room, the look on his face furious. Her mother got up and followed, calling after him.
Levi looked over at Tiana. “What the hell didja do?”
“Mum thinks I had sex, cos I got scared and lied about bringing a boy home. I swear I didn’t have sex with him, I wouldn’t do that until I’m married.”
“Married?” Levi laughed. “You aren’t serious?”
“Of course I am, and it’s not funny. Mum won’t lemme see him anymore, and says you hafta take me
to and from school now.”
“Shit.” He threw down his fork like their father. “Why does she always hafta overreact?”
“I agree.”
“So, what’s this boy’s name that you did the dirty with?”
“I didn’t do the dirty with anyone, and it’s none of your business.”
“I’m gonna find out anyway, so ya might as well tell me.”
“No, you’ll cause trouble.”
“No, I won’t.”
She dropped her gaze. Levi usually meant well, but it always ended in violence, like the time a boy picked on her at school. The day after she’d told Levi about it, the boy turned up to class with a black eye.
Levi threw a bread roll at her plate. “Look at me.”
Tiana looked up.
Levi continued, “All I wanna know is who’s dating my baby sister.”
“You don’t tell me who you’re dating.”
He smiled. “That’s cos I’d be introducing you to a different chick every week.”
“Still can’t tell you, it’s private.”
Levi shrugged. “Then I’ll ask Monika, or Isaia can get it outta her. He always knows how to make her talk. Well, that’s all he gets from her other than blue balls—”
“Sssh, Levi, Mum will hear you.”
“So? At least it’ll take some pressure offa you. Anyway, Monika is making Isaia go nuts with boredom. His cock has forgotten what a pussy looks like. You’ll be doin’ him a favour if she’s banned from seeing him.”
“You’ve got a disgusting mouth.” She glanced at the kitchen doorway, now paranoid. “And you better keep quiet or Monika will think I ratted her out, then she’ll say worse ‘bout me and I’ll get a one way ticket to Tonga.”
“Tonga?” Levi made a spiffing sound. “Mum already thinks you had sex and you ain’t packing, so ya just needa sit tight ‘til it all blows over.”
“But, Monika’s vindictive. I can’t risk it, she’ll say sumpthin’ worse to get me back.”
“Still not gettin’ your logic. S.E.X. What’s worse than that? Unless…” He pointed his fork at her and sniggered, “…you did it with two guys at the same time.”
“Levi,” she hissed.
He shrugged, looking unapologetic. “Monika’s your mate, why would she think you dobbed her in?”
“We had a fight over Isaia, and she’s never been my friend by choice. She’s too snotty. If she wasn’t in my class I’d avoid her.”
A big grin split his face. “Are you jealous of Monika? Cos Isaia would drop her in a second for you.”
“No! He’s disgusting, and what are you, my pimp?”
Levi laughed. “You’re gettin’ a smart mouth now. Anyway, I told him he can’t touch you, cos he’s a dirty bastard and you’re too good for him.”
Tiana smiled. Yeah, her brother may get up to God only knew what, but he was still a sweetheart. “Good, cos he’s definitely not my type.”
“Who’s your type? Pālangi?”
Tiana rolled her eyes at the term used for anyone that wasn’t Tongan. “I like Tongan guys too, just not Isaia, and there’s nuthin’ wrong with Kiwis.”
“I didn’t say there was, I think Kiwi chicks are great, they lemme do way more than Tongan girls.” He waggled his tongue.
Tiana shook her head. “Shut up.”
“So, is your boyfriend a pālangi? And did Mum catcha with him?”
“No, she didn’t see him, and I’m still not saying who he is.”
He pushed out of his chair, walked around to her side and placed a hand on her shoulder. “I’m still gonna find out, then I’ll go kick his arse.”
“Don’t even joke about it.” She looked up and froze, her eyes darting back to his arm. A black watch with red, green and yellow stripes was wrapped around his wrist. She’d seen Ash colour in the straps with markers to make it look Rastafarian.
“New watch?” she said, forcing herself to remain calm, even though she wanted to throw up her dinner. Was Levi playing with her, having already hurt Ash? “Where’d ja get it from?”
He looked at the watch. “Some kid from your school.”
Her gaze moved up to the plaster on his nose. “Didja really hurt yourself on Isaia’s car?”
“No, that Wera kid smashed a beer can into my face.”
“You’re kidding me? What didja do to him?” she rushed out too fast.
He frowned at her. “I did nuthin’, but next time I see him I’m gonna return the gesture—and more.”
7
Levi
Thursday, August 24.
It felt strange walking through Wera High in his Claydon uniform, Levi’s blue jumper standing out amongst a sea of red. Oh, he didn’t give a toss what the students here thought about him, giving a few of the male variety the finger, but it was the fact that this was his li’l sister’s school, a place that was supposedly better than his own.
And he couldn’t see why.
The buildings were basically the same, save for some slight variations. There was a wall here, a wall there, doors over there and there, classrooms, lockers… He looked up. Yup, there you go, a ceiling too. And lookey over there, he glanced past Tiana where some lockers had a fresh coat of graffiti. It was all the S-A-M-E, nothing special, just another damned school.
Tiana frowned at him. “What’re ya staring at?”
“Nuthin’; was just thinking that Wera isn’t any different from Claydon. Don’t know why you’re wasting your time coming here when there’s a school right next door.”
“Claydon is nasty with losers who carry knives and guns.”
Levi raised an eyebrow. “You calling me a loser?”
She stopped in the middle of the corridor, almost colliding with a short kid. “You have a knife? You’re not serious?”
“The rumours had to start somewhere,” he said amused.
She grabbed his arm and whispered, “Why? Why would ja take a knife to school? And where on earth didja get it from?”
He grinned. His sister was so easy to rile. “I got it from the cutlery drawer at home, gotta butter my bread somehow—”
She smacked his arm. “Smart-arse.”
“Serves ya right for slagging off my school. And you’re exaggerating, Claydon’s not dangerous; you’re just a big wimp.”
She resumed walking, pushing between students and apologising for doing so. He thought she was polite to a fault; a gene he missed or more likely tossed back into the pool.
Tiana stopped at a locker and opened it. “You didn’t hafta come in with me. All Mum said was to drop me off.”
“No way, I wanna meet this boyfriend so I can smack him in the mouth.”
Tiana spun around. “Don’t cha dare!”
He put an arm over her shoulder. “Just kidding, but I still wanna meet him to see if he’s good enough for my li’l sis.”
“Well, you’re not gonna, cos it looks like he isn’t here today. He usually hangs around his locker before the bell.” She pointed to where three boys were bunched together. “So, you can go now, cos you’re late for school.”
Levi eyed up the three guys. They were talking to each other and giving him the occasional glare. He turned back to Tiana. “This is a school, and I’m here before the bell, sooo… why don’t I just go to your classes and see what’s so damned special ‘bout this place?”
Tiana did that horrified look again, her eyes bugging out. She seemed to be doing it a lot this morning. He decided to put her out of her misery before she started blubbering. “I’m just having ya on, sis. Anyway, I’ve gotta get outta ‘ere, cos this place stinks of sumpthin’ rotten.” He looked behind him as a bloke in a long sleeved shirt and tie walked past, giving him the same ‘Why are you here’ look that everyone else was dishing out. “Now I know where the smell’s coming from?” Levi said. “Teachers. They always give off an old folk stench.”
Tiana smacked his arm. “Get outta ‘ere before ya get me into trouble.”
Levi waved at the tea
cher as the guy glanced back. “He’s not offended, doubt he even heard me. Pro’bly forgot to TURN ON HIS HEARING AID.”
She pointed in the opposite direction. “Out!”
“Okay, okay, chill. I’ll pick ya up out front after school. Gimme an extra quarter of an hour to get ‘ere.”
“Sure.”
He gave Tiana a hug then pulled back. “Catcha later.”
She nodded and walked in the opposite direction. His gaze flicked back to the three guys, the kid with the dreadlocks yelling at him to piss off to his own school. He gave him the finger then turned around, almost colliding with a blonde with hot pink streaks through her hair. She stared up at him, looking extremely happy.
He grinned back. “With a smile like that I’d say ya want my number?”
She shook her head. “Nope, cos I’m gettin’ myself a hot new boyfriend soon.”
“Yeah, me, so where’s your number?”
“You’re funny. How ‘bout you gimme yours instead.”
“Nah.” He went to walk past her. There was no way he was waiting around for some chick to call him.
She grabbed his arm. “No, hun, I really do want your number.” She pulled out a pen from her bag.
He smiled. He liked keen girls, especially since it usually meant they were willing to put out. He grabbed her hand and wrote his number, then passed the pen back. “Catcha later, gorgeous.”
He started walking again, occasionally banging his shoulders into students. He wasn’t being rude, the placed was just crammed. Now, that was definitely different from his school. Claydon wasn’t overflowing like Wera, but then again a good chunk of the students here were supposed to go to his school, like his ex, the hot Samoan girl with big tits and arse walking towards him. He’d dumped Salma a couple of months back after he found out she was a nasty cow, her sweet act at the beginning all pretence.
Salma gave him the finger as she neared him. He blew her a kiss in response, although he should’ve returned her gesture. He continued on, his attention zeroing in on his cousin as Monika walked through the doorway with her little mate. Monika’s face dropped when she spotted him. She quickly spun around and walked back out the door, leaving her mate looking surprised.
Graffiti Heaven Page 4
