The Chain (A Catherine Diary) - Stamfield. Complete

Chapter 83

83

I hadn't seen Jack, the whole day and a vague thought crossed my mind, that all the work I had put in that day, was in vain. Not that I would have been too disappointed, in fact with the rugby match drawing ever closer I was starting to feel the fear rise through my nerves.

My A level English class was the last for the day. Although I did what was requested of me by Mrs Steel, my mind was on the rugby match. The worse thing was, that I should have been more concerned with how I was going to get into the changing rooms to check Dwayne's chain, for Carla's pendant, but I wasn't. What concerned me more was looking foolish when asked about something I should know. What made it even worse, was how unsure I was as to whether anything I'd learned would actually be relevant.

'You okay?', Gemma said, packing her books into her bag.

I shook myself out of my daze and gathered my books, 'Yeah fine'

'Are you coming to the cafeteria before we leave?'

I thought about it for a moment, I had a couple of hours before I was supposed to meet Jack, plenty of time to get home, get changed and get back to college. I could spare half an hour.

'Sure', I finally said and noticed a relieved release of breath from Gemma. I found it strange at the time, but chose not to question it.

On the walk to the cafeteria, Gemma was bursting to say something to me, eventually she did.

'I thought you might have been avoiding me today', she finally said.

'Why?', I asked, although I should have explained what I had been doing, only there was more to what she was saying and I wanted to give her a chance to divulge it to me.

'Oh...well, you didn't turn up for lunch....and.....'

She was struggling, it was time to put her mind at rest. Plus, I was fully aware that she was worried about me kissing her the previous evening and how that would effect our friendship.

'I was busy doing some research, I'm going to be a physio's assistant for a couple of hours, at a rugby match, this evening'.

'Really?', she said confused.

'Yeah, Jack asked me to', as I said it, I noticed how her shoulders visibly slouched and she turned away from me. She was clearly disappointed, but what about. Maybe, she wanted to hang out with me this evening. I decided to change the subject.

'So, tell me. What happened with Peter and Richard after I left?'

She turned back to me, some of the light returning to her face.

'It was amazing, they were still verbally aggressive, but no longer abusive. When I asked them to do something, they moaned, but they did it. I couldn't believe it, I even got them to do the washing up I was supposed to do'

I laughed quietly, 'good. I'm glad they're getting a taste of their own medicine. But, be careful, don't abuse the power too much, there's only so much a person can take'.

She nodded.