The Calm Before the Storm

Chapter 8

"H! Give me back my maths book!" I laughed and she finally gave it back. I shut my locker and we walked down the corridor towards Maths. We just turned the corner when-

"Oh my God!" H yelled. I looked up to see Tom, leaning up against a locker in school uniform. Tom, from my holiday in Spain. Seriously-irritating-but-annoyingly-hot Tom.

I dropped my maths book.

"Huh?!" I shrieked. He looked up shocked, then smirked when he saw me.

"See something you like?"

I looked to H who was standing there gaping then back to Tom.

"What the hell are you doing here?!"

"I could ask you the same question," he winked.

"Uh... I go to school here. You?!"

"We moved here because of my dad's work," he smirked, "And this was the nearest school."

We just stood there, gaping at him. What are the chances of that?! There has been way too much coincidence involved with this boy.

The bell rang and he smirked again, then spun round and walked off. Tom. At my school. Seeing him 5 days a week.

I can't wait. (Note the SERIOUS sarcasm).

***

"You should go, H. Holland is an awesome place and it would be a great opportunity for sports college," I said as we sat at lunch. Tom was playing Football, thank God, so we didn't have to face another lunchtime with him.

Harriet was trying to decide whether to go on the school Hockey trip. To be honest, I didn't even know why she was even hesitating. Money definitely wasn't a problem for her, her minted divorced mother Anna and her psychotic, rabid, thoroughly unstable ex-husband Daniel who's had more years in jail and restraining orders than I've had Sunday dinners. He was in jail right at that moment after raping Anna and threatening to murder Harriet if she divorced him.

In other words, not a nice man.

"Yeah, but I don't really like leaving Mum on her own after... You know..." She trailed off, shuddering at the thought of her 'father'.

"I know what you mean, babe. But he's safely behind bars. He's got no chance of having anything to do with Anna," I said, patting her shoulder reassuringly.

"You're probably right. I don't really know why I'm worrying about it... It's just-"

"Harriet, think of it as a week with your sporty friends doing what you love to do every day for a week, having fun and wowing college scouts. What's not to like?!"

"Nothing," she smiled, "Thanks, La."

"No problem. Do you want a cookie?"

"Uh, is the Pope a Catholic?"

I rolled my eyes at her and grabbed two.

"When is the tour, anyway?" I asked.

"Two months on Monday," she sighed.

"It's gonna be awesome, H. I'd definitely come if I had the money and if I liked hockey."

She giggled. She really did need to stop worrying about Anna. Sure, Daniel was a disgraceful, shameless man with grotesque intentions but he was dealt with appropriately, never to be seen by Anna or Harriet ever again. H still has nightmares about that horrible, horrible night.

"Ladies," Tom nodded to us as he plonked his tray down and plopped onto a seat.

"Tom, tell Harriet she should go on hockey tour," I said.

"Uh," he cleared his throat, "You should go on hockey tour."

H rolled her eyes, "Okay, okay, I'll go. But you better look after mum."

"Deal," I said, and we shook hands. Tom just sat there shoving chips into his mouth and looking confused.

"Well, I do have incredible self defence skills," Tom crowed.

"Course you do," I rolled my eyes.

"Don't make me prove it, Laura."

"Ooh, I'm really scared."

Tom narrowed his eyes at me, but continued eating. He probably did have good self defence, but I couldn't just let him boast about it, could I?

"Anyways, I've gotta go. I promised Lauren I'd meet her at the end of lunch," H said, and got up to leave.

"Okay, bye H," I said.

When she'd left, Tom leaned over and whispered, "So I guess we get a week alone."

"Lucky you." I let my breath fan his cheek.

"That's what I thought," he purred. I rolled my eyes and pulled back and he said, "Lucky me."