Castle High

23. Battre En Retrait - II

“Guys, it’s time.”

Jake informed his group of muddled class-mates in the center of the room, whilst inspecting the hall-way from the door-frame. When the signal from the 9th grader who had conjured up a plan with them came – Jake motioned for the rest to head out of the class with him in the lead.

“Just walk with ease, and talk. No need to fret. When we get to the Alley, we’d be home and dry.”

“I won’t feel relaxed until we’re back from this picnic safely.” Ariel whispered to the group. The boys – Stephen, Jamie and Marc had joined Jake in the lead, upfront; whilst the girls followed behind. Andrew and Joey however, had gone ahead to inspect things at the Alley. “Guys, do you think we’re–”

“This is exactly what I wanted to avoid.” Alex grunted, shoving Ariel lightly on her biceps. “You could still back out now, Ari. It’s not too late. Return and go join the guys in the 2nd arm, so you won’t compromise us.”

“Good, good.” Jake remarked satisfactorily. “You guys should keep on arguing and talking. Make it look real. Refrain from hushing, BTW. There is CCTV everywhere.”

“And it won’t be a bother whilst we’re in the hall?” Emily enquired, worry lacing the tone of her voice. “The CCTV, i mean.”

“It won’t.” Stephen replied firmly, throwing a reassuring backward glance at his girl-friend. “The camera goes off, whenever practice session ends. All we have to do is pass the secluded corner into the Alley, and then no major obstacle would be existing anymore. The route we’re taking to Bee mom’s car is also void of satellite imagery.”

“I guess all would be well then.” Shelby replied, trying to ease her internal unrest. “It just seems like we’re about to commit a very sketchy crime. When all we’re doing is to stab school.”

“Well, by school standards,” Marc began an unwanted enlightenment. “What we’re doing is an indeed sketchy crime. It’s one of the vilest offences a student could commit.”

“Wow, thanks for easing the tension. Marc.” Alice scowled. “Could you please stop giving your useful suggestions? We could do without it in the meanwhile.”

“Guys,” Jamie called out to the group, holding his right arm up to induce silence. “Once the signal comes, we all have to move fast. And I mean ‘fast’.”

After a minute of inactivity and silence, Roxanne spoke up. “Is that signal ever gonna come?”

Jake narrowed his eyes at the entrance of the Alley, which was a few meters west-wards from the threshold they all stood on. In the distance, he could see three figures. The coach’s tall, stacked built one, surrounded by two other tall figures.

“It would seem that Andrew and Joey are having a hard-time convincing the Coach to leave.” Jake inferred, wiping droplets of sweat marred on his fore-head. “Unfortunately, we can’t do anything until he leaves.”

“You should have told me that, a long time ago.” Shelby announced, dipping her right hand into her side-pocket and retrieving her cell-phone. “I know a way to make that happen fast. Mr. Palmer is about to receive a phone call from the Principal. Or a missed phone-call rather.”

Ariel exhaled, cradling her mouth with both palms. “You stole your mom’s phone too!”

“Uh, nope.” Shelby’s brows furrowed. “Stealing two of her belongings in one day, that’s like signing a death wish. I’ve caught a glimpse of Mr. Palmer’s phone during cheer-leading practice and I know he happens to have an app called ‘Caller ID Pro.’”