Life's Gravy

Chapter 5

We run down to the river. It's so dark and I can't see much but Matt's hand on my arm holds me up. We're sneaked out of the house and it's so much fun. When we get there Matt's friends are already waiting for us, Gregson shows up a few minutes after us and joins us in the cold water.

We're all laughing and splashing around when one of Matt's friends suggest touch football.

I toss the ball to my brother and my team scores again-we are leading.

"Your sister's arm though!" one of his friends says.

"Yeah I know; raw talent runs in the family."  Matt beams.

"You should join your school's team." the blonde one suggests.

"Hey, don't give her ideas! She'll be my replacement; coach doesn't think I'm good enough." Gregson says.

"Hey you aren't bad- I've been working with you and your arm has improved." I pat his arm as emphasis.

There is laughter from the guys then one of them says, " Oooh Gregson, getting help from a girl?"

Gregson smiles then he shrugs," I'm not complaining- then again who would if a hot girl was helping them out, holding them all over the place to show them how to stand and-" he doesn't finish that sentence because the football flies to his stomach.

"Stop checking my sister out during your practices!" Matt warns but his face is too gentle to be serious. The rest of us crack up with laughter as Gregson pretends to be more hurt than he is.

“Ouch man, I was just kidding. Han-han is like my sister.” He falls to the floor dramatically. I roll my eyes, grab the ball from him and the game continues.

*******

Brian Turner slugs into my chemistry class and walks to the back to his seat. Gregson was right, three days ago Brian asked me out and as per his request I said no. He still won't tell me why he made me reject the poor boy. He just told me to trust him on it, so I did. Which may seem like some sort of blind loyalty trust thing but I don’t it really isn’t. I mean it’s not like I had any real interest in Brian.

I have my notebook and sharp pencil when another figure walks in- Marco Neil. He walks straight to Andrew Colsten- who sits right behind me. There is shuffling and next thing Marco has Andrew up against the wall holding his shirt in a fist. He says something in a low tone, I don't hear it but from the pale look Andrew has I can tell it's a deadly threat.

Marco releases Andrew and turns to look at the back of the class. His eyes scan the back and he finds the person he is looking for.

"Turner, " the anger in his voice is evident, " be careful." And with that he marches out of the class bumping into the teacher in the process.  Brian's face becomes as pale as Andrew's. That was a threat. As in be careful because my fist might just find its way to your face. Or be careful because your car might just find its brakes cut- but I don’t think Marco is that drastic. I mean he is a bad boy not a criminal. Right?

People whisper about the events during the lesson and even I have to admit I'm slightly distracted. Why was Marco so angry? What did Brian and Andrew do? I'm sure they didn't do anything to him- he didn't look beat up or anything and besides no one would dare touch Marco Neil, he's a known street fighter. They probably did something to someone else and Marco is defending that person? I think back to two weeks ago when he had been pissed at those girls. These questions run in my mind until the end of lesson. When I close my notebook I see that I haven't written anything. Did Gregson know about this? Is that why he warned me off Brian? When the bell rings I scan the room to look for him and ask him but Gregson is gone.