All Aboard

Part Five

Dan

Dan understood that Lazlo was just trying to keep everything running smoothly, but making Barney stand up and apologise to Chloe was a big mistake and Barney would be waiting for the moment when he could claim back his alpha male status. Dan didn't know where Barney got his nasty streak from, it certainly wasn't his dad. He was nice, polite even. But then Dan wasn't anything like his dad, either. And thank goodness for that.

Dan's stomach turned over at the thought of his Dad. Last week Dan had been picked up by the police for graffiting the path outside the police station. Not a dick, but a pig wearing a police helmet and holding a truncheon in one of its trotters. There was a definite glint of appreciation in the police woman's eyes as she escorted him into the building, Dan was sure of it.

Dan's Dad didn't even go to the police station, but called the Chief Constable who he'd met at charity events and convinced him that Dan was trying to embarrass him, that he was just acting up, and yes, he would absolutely make sure he wouldn't do it again. Dan was prepared to bet all his magic markers that he would have opened the telephone conversation with "This is Councillor Freeman; I saved the local swimming pool." It was his standard greeting but he'd never even been to the pool (Dan had; there were penises all over the changing cubicles).

Dan had spent his last bit of cash in the chippy, so had to walk home in the rain. As it soaked his skin and his battered sausage, a blue jaguar with a personalised number plate flashed past and sent a tidal wave of gutter water over Dan. Dan's heart sank as he realised his Dad was going to get home before him, which meant that his anger would have more time to stew.

Amanda opened the front door before Dan could turn the key, and she gave him that look. He ignored her and headed towards the sound of ice cubes clinking around expensive crystal.

Dan opened the door to the study as Amanda went into the kitchen, leaving them to get on with the inevitable. A glass flew past Dan's head, probably due to a few other drinks earlier in the day otherwise it would have hit him (his Dad played cricket and was an incredible bowler). Dan was mesmerised by the glass smashing on the hard wood floor, so forgot to brace himself for the fist that landed on the usual sweet spot and he collapsed on top of the shards of glass, sure that his kidney had exploded. But it hadn't. That's why it was his dad's favourite sweet spot.

Dan squeezed his eyes shut, pushing away the image of his dad's glassy eyes as he screamed at Dan, following the punch in the kidney with kicks to his stomach. He was angry with his dad, and had been for as long as he could remember, but not as angry as he was with Amanda. Things had gotten worse since she'd married him and those scenes had become a regular occurrence before tea time.

Dan put his hand on his school bag, caressing the fabric as he visualised the battered unopened envelope inside. Knowing it was there made him feel calm and anxious at the same time.

'While I encourage you to express yourselves and share your feelings whilst on this journey, I will not tolerate anyone being rude to my passengers. If anyone has a problem with that, then you will be removed from this bus whilst it's still moving,' said Lazlo.

Dan really liked Lazlo.

Kimberly

Kimberly held her breath, hoping that Barney would have a problem with what Lazlo said and Lazlo would have to make an example of him.

'Do we all have an understanding?' said Lazlo.

Kimberly looked up at Lazlo, who although he was addressing everyone, was staring at Barney. Her skin tingled as she felt caught between the two of them, a struggle for power hanging in the air above her.