THE GAME

VI

Wayne came down the stairs, all ready for school. His mum and his brother were at the dinning table rounding off their breakfast.
He walked to the fridge and opened it.
"Wayne... Aren't you going have your breakfast this morning?" Catlin asked, dabbing her mouth with a serviette.
"Nah... Not hungry." He answered and opened the fridge and brought out a bottle of water.
"If you say so..." She shrugged. "Jasper has something to tell you." She said and elbowed Jasper teasingly.
A blush crept on Jasper's baby cheeks.
"I'm sure he won't care." He said shyly.
"Come on, tell him." Catlin pressed.
Wayne opened the bottle of water and rolled his eyes.
"Tell me or leave it." He said unconcerned.
Catlin ruffled his hair with a convincing smile.
Wayne looked away from them and took a mouthful of water from the bottle.
"I've got a girlfriend." Jasper announced shyly.
On it's will, the water gushed out of Wayne's mouth as Wayne's eyes and mouth widened in shock and disbelief.
Catlin hugged Jasper sweetly.
"Awwn... Isn't that sweet?" She Inquired
Wayne turned to them with his brows raised.
He eyed Jasper inquisitively.
"You're 8." He reminded.
"Of course, I know that... I won't forget this age because it was when I first found 'true love_'." Jasper said dreamily.
Wayne had a look of disgust on his face.
"I'm so proud of my baby boy... Isn't he the Ladies man? At 8." Catlin commented and placed a kiss on Jasper's forehead.
Wayne rolled his eyes.
"Yeah right.! Mum, support him." He said sarcastically
"Hey! Because you don't have a girlfriend doesn't mean I shouldn't." Jasper told Wayne.
"What do I need one for? What do you need one for anyway?" Wayne said with a brow raised.
"My lost rib..! Becca is my lost rib.!" Jasper said forcing an amused look from Catlin's face.
She exchanged a glance with Wayne and they stopped themselves from laughing.
"Wayne! You heard him! He found his lost rib! At 8! Go find yours too and don't try to discourage him!" Catlin said a bit sarcastic.
Jasper looked at her
"Why do I sense sarcasm in your voice, Mum?" He asked accusingly.
"Because you are smart! And because, I'm not sure you're only 8. I think we must have miscounted and thrown away 7 years of your age." Wayne said carelessly.
Catlin laughed.
"Don't mind him, Jasper... I'm not being sarcastic. As a matter of fact, I'd love to see this lucky girl that happened to be the missing part of my Jasper." She said lovingly
Jasper smiled.
Wayne rolled his eyes again.
"Whatever... Let's get going to school already, I don't wanna be late." He said adjusting his bag and walking to the door.
"Don't be jealous, Wayne. You'll find true love soon." Jasper said and Wayne's eyes popped out.
He turned to glare at Jasper and met his childish grin.
What an annoying boy any body would want to have as a little brother.
Catlin playfully smacked Jasper's head
"Leave your brother alone! Clear the table let's get going... I'm gonna go get my keys." She said and Jasper obeyed.

The bell for recess rang and soon, the hallway was rowdy and crowded.
Wayne stayed by his locker, searching for Sasha with his eyes.
His mum just wanted him screwed up!
He had to obey her though. He respected her more than any woman alive.
He couldn't find Sasha and was almost relieved that he couldn't.
That'll be his excuse. He couldn't meet her to talk things out.
His eyes caught Rexy in her locker.
He recognized her. That was Sasha's half. He thought and rolled his eyes, making his way towards her.
He got to her locker and said a hey to her.
She began to act wierd... Like she wore a wide grin that he was afraid her mouth would tear, her brows raised to the point he was sure it would jump off her head, she began to blab at him.
He felt that irritation again. Why was girls that way around him?
"Where's your friend?" He snapped in obvious irritation.
Rexy paused her act of dreaminess and glared at him.
"Well, a more polite manner would have been appreciated." She said and turned back to her locker.
Wayne groaned.
"Go to hell!" He said and brushed past her.
"She's outside, you. Under a tree" Rexy told him at last.
He acted like he didn't hear her but he made his way outside the school.
Sasha couldn't concentrate on the project she was trying to put together.
On the book in her hand, she didn't stop writing 50 thousand dollars... In words in figures and mixed.
Her mind kept flying to the hospital bills... To her dad... To his condition.
The thought of him going through so much pain brought tears to her eyes.
She battered her eyelids rapidly to get rid of them.
But why was life so unfair? Some people were blessed with more than enough that they even had a lot to waste while others... Others...
"Hey!" He cut into her thought.
She looked up at him and her sober expression was replaced by an irritated one.
"What?!" She grimaced.
He bit his lower lip and sat down at the foot of the tree, few meters from her.
"How far have you gone?" He asked hoarsely.
Sasha folded her hands and leaned back on the tree.
"Oh, so now you care?" She said.
"I don't! Now are you going to cooperate and let's get this done with or what?" He snapped.
"So, what if I say I don't want to cooperate with you?" Sasha said
Wayne looked at her incredulously
"What is wrong with you?" He said "Last time I checked, you wanted so much to work with me." He added cockily.
"Ha... Me? Wanted to work with you? You wish! I thought I had no choice and I just had to stop bothering you." She said and scoffed and turned her attention back to her book.
Wayne rolled his eyes roughly.
"Seems like, I'll be the one bothering you this time." He said
Sasha looked up at him.
"I'm just kidding anyway... If you're ready to work with me, that's fine." She said.
"I can't believe you are my partner in this." He stated coming closer to sit beside her under the tree.
Sasha scoffed.
"Like you would believe anybody can be your partner in it." she said
"Wow, you know me well, thank you, Sassy." Wayne said in sarcasm.
"Stop calling me that!" She complained
"Let's get on with it." He said, ignoring her and snatching the book from her hand.
"Hey!" She exclaimed.
He looked into it and chuckled.
"Seriously?? I'm not sure this is any element in chemistry." He mocked.
Sasha snatched back her book and tore out the page. She fundled it in her hands and threw it away.
"Ok, so, now you're here, we can start all over." She said "Whatcha got, genius?"
Wayne took the book from her hand again and flung it to the side, ignoring her protests.
He brought his tab out of his bag.
"Why the fuck do we need to stress our brains that much? We could get the information on the net and then we could put the construction based on the information we've got." He explained carelessly
Sasha rose an accusing brow at him.
"That's cheating! We're supposed to..."
"Listen child, you're young.. Sometimes in life, you have to play dirty because you have no other choice." Wayne interrupted casually.
Sasha's eyes widened a bit. Yeah sure she knew she played dirty in many things she did but she also knew that having no other option didn't justify it.
What was good was good and what was bad was bad.!
Although Wayne said what he said stupidly, it got her thinking about it. What does Wayne think he knew about playing dirty anyway. She mentally scoffed.
He felt he was more bad by trying to cheat in a project than her that actually cheats in life. She almost laughed out.
It was a sad feeling though.
She surely would never feel like a good person even if she tried to look like one.
"Hey!" Wayne said, clicking a finger in front of her face.
She blinked back into reality.
"Why are you staring at me like that? Don't think too much on what I said. We both know that cheating is bad In any aspect." He said.
"Like I don't know." She said and rolled her eyes.
"Yeah sure you do." He said sarcastically and turned his attention back to his tab.
Sasha studied him for a while.
He didn't really look as dangerous or stuff. It was just a covering. Then that she had had a conversation with him, he was just a kid like herself and other sarcastic and annoying kids in school.. But not dangerous.
Wayne had a smile plastered on his face as he said
"Bang! I got the exact information we need for this project! We can start working on it straight away." He said evily.
"I'm still not in support of this." Sasha said.
"Well then, if you can come up with a better idea, we'll do it your way."
Sasha thought of it for a while before she finally gave in.
"Fine.!" She said. After all it wasn't going to be her first dirty play. She thought. "Lemme see what you got."
She shifted closer to get a better view in the tab.
Wayne stretched his hand to stop her suddenly, his hand brushing her breasts.
"Hey!" She complained.
"Don't invade my personal space, girl.!" He said
"Well, watch your hand, boy!" She said in offense.
His eyes went down to her chests and he rolled his eyes.
Sasha sighed in annoyance.
"You know you..."
She was interrupted by the bell that resounded from inside the school indicating that recess was over.
"Look, my mum wants to see you. She wants to see if my partner in this project is someone reasonable... She will be disappointed." He said standing up and hanging his bag on his left shoulder.
She stood up too.
"I'm not sure I want to meet your mum." She said with a grimace.
"You don't have a choice, sassy.!" He said and chuckled.
"Turns out I do." She said sternly.
He looked her in the face and sighed.
"Fine, let's do it this way..." He said and cleared his throat.
"You meet my mum and I'll stop calling you Sassy." He offered
Sasha laughed.
"Like the name has any stupid effect on me!" She said. "Let's do it this way, I meet your mum and you'll have to stop your sarcastic remarks." She said.
"Deal!" He said stretching his hand for a shake.
She took it hesitantly, not trusting the look on his face.
"Deal." She said and picked up her bag.
Wayne smirked.
"I have you admit. You're kind of fun to pick on." He said.
Sasha turned sharply to him and gave him a glare.
"Well, you're not too bad yourself!" She said icily. "See you after school!" She announced, walking away.
He followed her.
"After school, we'll meet at lunch." He said.
"Well, I'll be with Rexy and Gwin, so suit yourself." She said not stopping or looking back.
"Gwin? Fisher! Wow Sassy, what a choice of friend." He mocked and laughed.
Sasha stopped and turned to him.
"First off, Gwin is Rexy's partner not my friend. Secondly, Gwin is human and I see no wrong with him being a friend. Thirdly, well, I'm way better than you that pushes everyone off your hair!" She said and walked away again.
"See ya." He threw at her less concerned with what she said.

****************

Rexy and Sasha laughed loudly at the joke that was playing in her phone. They looked around them, still giggling. Most of the students were watching the same joke.
"Men! Hill's den is filled up of naughty kids! I can't believe they did this to Mr Hector." Sasha said amidst laughter.
"He deserves it and even more!" Rexy said and cackled.
Sasha looked at her.
"You sound like a witch, Rex." She said and they laughed.
"I won't be going home with you today, the cheerleaders are having a brief meeting soon, I'll have to be there, wanna come?" Rexy said.
"No problem... I'm actually waiting for Wayne, I'm supposed to see his mum."
Rexy frowned
"His mum? What for?" She asked.
Sasha shrugged. "I don't know, he said his mum wanted to see his partner for the project." She said.
"Oh." Rexy said in understanding.
"So, you guys came to understanding." She stated
"I wish we did... But at least he came back." Sasha said.
"Well, that is good news." Rexy commented. "You won't fail chemistry after all." She added hugging Sasha goofily.
"Hey! Let go girl!" Sasha said in discomfort.
Rexy let her go and giggled.
"But do be careful with him." She adviced seriously.
"Why?" Sasha asked.
"So you won't get hurt..."
Sasha scoffed
"...and so you won't fall in love."
Sasha coughed.
"Excuse me?" She stated eying Rexy.
"You're quite excused, Sassy, let's go." Wayne said walking towards them.
Sasha and Rexy exchanged glances
"Where have you been? I've been waiting here for ages." Sasha said
"Well, thats how it ought to be." He said harshly.
"Pretty jerk!" Rexy said and turned to Sasha.
"Tomorrow girl." She said and cartwheeled away.
"Have fun." Sasha said after her.
"Have fun." Wayne imitated. "Let's go already, I'm not sure my mum would love to wait." He said, grabbing her forearm and pulling her with him.
"Hey! Let me go!" She protested and freed her hand from his grip. "I agreed to go see your mum so don't drag me along! I'm not your puppet!" She said glaring at him.
"Actually, you are!" He said carelessly and took her hand again.
She dragged her hand away
"I can walk myself, you fool!" She said and stomped towards the door.
Wayne followed her.
They came out of the school and stood outside, with Wayne's eye searching for his mother.
He saw her, leaning on her car, a distance away.
She was looking at Jasper who stood beside her.
"Found her. Let's go." Wayne announced pointing towards his mum's car.
Sasha had to tiptoe a bit to see above the heads and see the woman he was pointing at.
She had a light brown hair, like Wayne and she looked really friendly.
Wayne took her hand and led her into the crowd of students.
She followed without protesting. Her eyes didnt leave the woman they were heading towards. She looked unusually familiar.
She could only see the side view of her and it was damn familiar and she wondered where she saw that face.
They got closer to Catlin and Sasha got a glimpse of the young boy with Catlin.
She narrowed her eyes at him.
He too was familiar.
It was Wayne's mum and brother but where had she met them before? She asked herself.
The boy said something that made the mum laugh and look towards their direction.
Sasha almost gasped in shock as she saw her face.
She stopped and turned around quickly that Wayne had to do the same.
Her heart began to pound in her chest and her eyes grew wide in realisation
"What's wrong?" Wayne asked her with furrowed brows
"Wayne... I need to get back inside the school!" She said and took her hand away from his.
Wayne furrowed his brows in confusion
"I'm a cheerleader and I have to be in that meeting.!" She lied
"Your mum and I... We could see later, maybe tomorrow or next year.... Bye!" She blabbed and dashed back into the crowd and towards the school.
There was a bit of confusion written over Wayne's face
"Wayne!" Jasper called out excitedly
Wayne looked back at them and he completed his journey to them.
"Hey mum." Wayne greeted.
Catlin looked behind him and furrowed her brows
"Where's the girl? I thought I saw someone follow you." She asked.
"Em... Yeah, you'll meet her later mum, she has a meeting to attend to with the cheerleaders back in school." Wayne defended although he didn't quite believe that she was a cheerleader, he'd never seen her in the fields.
Sasha barged back into the school breathing heavily.
God! That was reeeeally close!
Gosh! She's Wayne's mother? That explains how Wayne got his watch back.
And the lady sure didn't tell him who she got the watch from and that was why he didn't mention it to her.
If she had been in such a clash, she would have been exposed! Men, she couldn't stand that.
She made a mental note to avoid Wayne's family!
Great! Its gonna be hard since she'd already said they could meet the next day. No way she was gonna let that happen!