 
Trouble at TAC

(Book 3 in the Mob from TAC series)

Published by Richard Pinkerton at Smashwords

Copyright 2020 Richard Pinkerton
Other books by Richard Pinkerton

Dead End High

Dead End Town

Time Warped

The Mob from TAC series

1 - The Mob from TAC

2 – Mismatched at TAC

3 - Trouble at TAC

4 - Heroes at TAC

5 - Scheming at TAC

6 - Murder at TAC

7 - New Year at TAC

8 - Challenges at TAC

9 - TAC Boot Camp

10 - Dark Days at TAC

11 - Jealously at TAC

12 - Choices at TAC

13 - Redemption at TAC

14 - Vendettas at TAC

15 - Aberrations at TAC

16 - Final Year at TAC

17 – Conspiracy at TAC

18 – Godly People at TAC

19 – Sabotage at TAC

20 – Distrust at TAC
Acknowledgements

Vera Gordon

Katherine Lato

### To Colin

As tough as Hew. At least on the inside.

# CHAPTER 1:  
Guilty by Association

Forty-five-year-old, Mr Francis Upton strode up the hallway in the direction of the staff room, his head held high, and smiled on the inside as students moved out of his way.

That was how it should be.

Although still quite new at Te Arawa College, he had already gained a reputation as a man not to be messed with. He felt proud of that and he loved the way he instilled fear into the students.

His pleasure turned to displeasure as a very obese student slowed his way forward. The student concerned, ambled along the hallway like a drunk elephant, seemingly oblivious to the fact that someone needed to get past him. Upton attempted to veer around him, but a long line of students came from the other direction. He didn't want to get trampled so stepped back in line behind the fatty.

Upton grunted loudly when the large out-of-shape student came to a halt, nearly causing him to run into his wide back. The student dug around in his school bag.

' _Tucker Pyles!'_

The fatty nearly leapt into the air and spun around to face him.

Upton felt a smug sense of satisfaction at having given the student a shock. 'Are you unaware you are obstructing traffic in this hallway? Making people behind you have to stop. Do you not think to make sure you are out of the way before you go rummaging around in your bag? If you were driving an automobile, young Tucker, you would have caused a serious accident. You were already slowing down the traffic as it was.'

The tubby face of Tucker Pyles, a year-11 student, stared blankly. 'I... I don't own an automobile.'

Upton let out a frustrated sigh. 'Of course, you don't own an automobile, you silly boy. No one in their right mind would ever let you drive one. Not only that but you are only fifteen years old.'

'Sixteen.'

'Sixteen? All right, sixteen then. I certainly hope you never do own a car as you would be a total menace on the road. It's just as well this is a school corridor but you need to realise that at this time of the morning it is very busy and people are trying to get places. Also, due to the rain outside, there are more people here than usual. Do I need to put you on detention so you can learn a little bit more about consideration for others? Well... do I?'

'No, sir!'

Upton grunted as a student pushed past him. Others moved past as well, peering at him through narrow eyes. Where had they all come from? He had no idea but they were building up behind him.

'See? Look at what you've done. Now we have a whole lot of people trying to get by, all because you had to stop in the middle of a busy corridor and rummage around in your bag. What is so important that you need it right now?'

Tucker pulled out a sandwich. 'Just this.'

'Couldn't you wait until you got outside like everyone else?'

'But it's raining out there.'

'There are plenty of shelters outside.'

'I needed it now. I would have eaten it in Woodwork but we're not allowed to eat in class.'

'So, you block off almost the entire width of the corridor just because you have no self-control? For goodness bloody sake, you are unbelievable. Go on, get out of here, you silly boy, and next time be a little more aware and considerate of those around you, otherwise, you _will_ find yourself on detention.'

Mr Upton went to move around him when another student, coming from behind, knocked into him. It was a female student and she stumbled back, hit the wall on the other side, and nearly collided with another student coming in the opposite direction. She landed on her bottom.

Upton let out a gasp. 'Where the heck did you come from?' He bent to check on her as she sat on the floor nursing her shoulder. It was another year-11 student, a blue-eyed blonde girl by the name of Chelsea Brown. 'For goodness bloody sake girl, why don't you watch where you're going?' He helped her to her feet. 'What do you think this is? A playground? You don't just go bowling into people like that'

'I was trying to get around you. You were blocking the corridor. And then you veered out in front of me.'

Upton narrowed his eyes. 'Oh, so you are going to blame me for your own clumsiness?'

'I...' Chelsea stared at him with indignation in her eyes. 'You walked out in front of me.'

'Nonsense! You were simply in too much of a hurry to get where you were going. Mmmm, no doubt to spend time with your dubious friends. You really should be choosier about who you spend your time with.'

He pictured some of her friends in his mind. Some of them were real troublemakers. One of them was the biggest menace in the entire school. Rex Cassidy. Troublemakers, and those they hung out with, were right on his radar. They all had to be dealt with. After all that had happened at his previous school, he knew first-hand the importance of dealing with those types.

'I mean it, young Chelsea. If you want to get somewhere in this world, the company you keep can be a major factor. You'll get nowhere if you get in with the wrong crowd.'

'I'm sorry, Mr Upton, but I consider my crowd the right crowd and I like them.'

Mr Upton huffed but allowed her to continue on her way. He shook his head, straightened his tie and patted down the jacket of his navy-blue suit before continuing on to the staffroom. Once there, he made himself a coffee in the kitchen area and was in time to hear another staff member complaining about the student he was just thinking about.

'That Rex...' said Mrs Tantic, a fellow maths teacher who was nowhere near as good as he of course. To him, she seemed rather incompetent. 'I can't believe the way he behaves. Always late to class... cheeky... and always fooling around with the girls. I don't understand how he can get away with it.'

'What? The cheekiness or the fooling around?' asked Mrs Whiterow, a geography teacher.

Mrs Tantic held a cup of coffee near her lips. 'All of it. But the fooling around with the girls is the most dumbfounding. They love the attention they get from him and I've yet to see one reject him.' She drank from her cup.

Mrs Whiterow dunked a biscuit into her cup of tea. 'He certainly is the charmer. I'm sure if I were their age I'd be besotted with him too.'

Upton scowled. _Charming?_ What nonsense. Cassidy was nothing but a delinquent as far as he was concerned. He'd had his fair share of problems with the lad himself. He'd almost come to the end of his rope with the boy. It seemed nothing he ever did made a difference.

'Is he really so bad though?' asked Miss Brannigan, one of the school's office ladies. She was an extremely attractive brunette in her early to mid-20s. In his past dealings with her, Upton had found her incompetent and rude. For some reason, she had taken an instant disliking to him and seemed to enjoy making things difficult for him. 'Every time I see him, he's just so sweet.'

Mrs Whiterow laughed. 'Oh yes. And you know why that is, don't you? A teenaged boy is hardly going to give someone as young and beautiful as you any trouble. Rex is going to lay on the charm. I know for a fact that a lot of the boys fancy you, Miss Brannigan.'

'Yeah, I know. I'm forever having to shoo them away from the office.'

Mrs Tantic spoke again. 'It's all very well for you two but you don't have to teach him. I do. He always has some wisecrack and sometimes disrupts the class. He thinks it's a great joke and so do the other students but it's not funny when I'm the one suffering the brunt of his shenanigans.'

Mr Upton had heard enough. He strutted across the floor and sat with them at their table. He normally sat on his own in the lounge area but desired to have his say. Both Mrs Tantic and Mrs Whiterow smiled but Miss Brannigan barely acknowledged him.

'I too have had more than enough of young Cassidy's shenanigans.'

Miss Brannigan snorted. 'Yeah, I know. You're forever complaining about him at the office.'

'The boy goes too far. He's _always_ going too far. And the rest of the student body encourages him, especially the females. Ladies, there's only one way we can deal with this boy because nothing else is working. We have to have him removed from this school.'

Miss Brannigan gasped. 'No way! Why? There are way worse kids in this school than Rex.'

'Huh! I've never had as much trouble with any student as I have with him... except for perhaps that Bodine boy. But thanks to me, he's been expelled for his rotten behaviour. We need to do the same with Rex Cassidy. It's the only way.'

'Jeff Bodine's behaviour was malicious,' Miss Brannigan said. 'His treatment of staff was downright abusive at times. Rex, although he can be cheeky, just wants to entertain his fellow students-'

'At the teacher's expense!'

'Not necessarily. He usually has a valid point to make and even when he doesn't, it's all in good fun. There is nothing malicious about Rex.'

'That is your opinion.'

'He stands up to bullies for those who can't. He's always willing to help other students in need. I think he's a darling. '

'You would.'

Miss Brannigan's eyes narrowed. 'What do you mean by that?'

Upton snickered. 'He's only a few years younger than you. It's no wonder you like him so much.'

'Now, now,' Mrs Whiterow said as Miss Brannigan's face darkened and her green eyes blazed. 'Let's not get personal here. And Miss Brannigan is right. Sure, Rex sometimes does cross the line but he's a great kid.'

'Come now,' Upton said, tiring of the wishy-washy attitude of his fellow staff members. 'We need to take a hard line here. None of the other methods we've used has worked with this boy. And the man who's supposed to be in charge of keeping that student in line sure isn't doing anything.'

'I wouldn't say that,' Mrs Whiterow said. 'Mr Harris has been spending time with Rex.'

'Socialising from what I understand. For some reason, he likes the kid and sees nothing wrong with his behaviour. We need someone else to take control of him.'

'Who?' Miss Brannigan said sarcastically. 'You?'

Upton puffed out his chest. 'I would sort him out, I'll tell you that much...' As far as he was concerned, it was his job to sort out wayward students. At his previous school, he'd let one such delinquent get away with his behaviour and it resulted in major humiliation for him. That could never happen again. 'I'd sort him out good and proper.'

Just then, a male voice with an English accent spoke from behind. 'You sort him out? Huh! You're dreaming.'

Mr Upton nearly leapt out of his chair. He swung around to glare at the teacher who stood behind him. He was a tall, skinny man with a goatee, dressed in Khaki pants and black boots. He wore a green T-shirt and his hair was unkempt. He held a coffee cup with a dark liquid in it. A scowl crossed the Englishman's lips. It was Mr Harris, one of the school's PE teachers.

Harris spoke before Upton could. 'Why don't you get off your high horse? If you knew how to handle Rex Cassidy, you wouldn't be having the problems you're having. If you seriously think you can do a better job than me, then you're seriously deluding yourself.'

Upton found the wild-eyed PE teacher rather intimidating but he refused to let on that to his fellow staff. 'So, what are you doing? Cassidy refuses to attend detentions and he continues on with his behaviour, flaunting the school rules but you do nothing about it.'

'When he steps over the line, Uppity, I'll do something about it. It's as simple as that.'

Mr Upton glared at the PE teacher's angry eyes. Fancy calling him names. He was almost as bad as his students, the way he mocked him and disrespected him. How Mr Harris had ever become a teacher at Te Arawa College was a mystery. The man was a terror, especially the way he treated his students. It irked Upton that Mr Harris never had anything nice to say about Upton himself - a far superior teacher than anything Harris could ever be.

'That's it,' Upton snarled. 'There you go, sticking up for him. He has stepped over the line time and time again but you are unwilling to acknowledge it. Just because that boy is the top sportsman in the school, you have some crazy idea he should be given special treatment. As if athletic prowess was the most important thing for a student.'

Upton considered sports a complete waste of time. School was about academia. Kids had plenty of time to run around and play sports outside of school hours. Why should the school waste time funding things like sports and athletics when literacy and numeracy skills were lacking so badly in society?

Mr Harris delivered Upton an evil glare. 'The only person who thinks they deserve special treatment around here is you, you great pillock. _Gordon Bennett_ , I've never heard as much whining and whinging as comes out of your mouth.'

'How dare you? I will be talking to Mr Andrews about your disrespectful attitude. I should not have to put up with this. We should be supporting each other, not some delinquent teenager.'

'Oh, shut your mouth, you snivelling-'

'Alright, alright, enough.' Mrs Whiterow intervened. 'You two are clearly letting your tempers get the better of you. I think this conversation should end now before it gets out of control.'

Mr Harris simmered down. 'Right, you are, Mrs Whiterow. I apologise ladies.'

Just then, the bell rang for the second period of the morning.

'However, you sir...' Harris eyed Upton. 'Will get no such apology out of me.'

Upton snorted. 'Well, the feeling's mutual.' He quickly finished his coffee and headed off to his first class of the day.

Minutes later, he stood in front of his classroom of students and computers and his temper once again rose. One student had not yet arrived. 'Where the deuce is Rex Cassidy?'

All the students remained silent. There was not a murmur, nor even a rustle of paper. Not even a cough or the sound of someone clearing their throat. Mr Upton was happy with that.

At last, they had learnt.

Nobody dared speak in his class without first raising their hand or being asked a question. _Well, everyone except for that Cassidy delinquent._ He was the only one who thought it was okay to defy him - to break the rules he set. This time around it was being late to class. Right now, he was at least five minutes late.

He thought back to his previous school to the delinquent whose behaviour he'd overlooked. That bully who had made the life of one of his students a misery, so much so, that the student committed suicide. It was that incident that made Upton determine he would never again give a student an inch. Not even a millimetre.

'Well? Does anyone know where he is?' he said loudly, glaring at his students. They all sat there at their computers staring blankly at him.

Even Rick Maverick was silent. Mr Upton had previously had trouble with that boy in the past too. _Very disrespectful._ At least now he toed the line but he had a black mark next to his name because he was good friends with Rex. _Guilty by association._

'Maverick! What about you? You're his friend. Do you know where he is?'

'No idea, Mr Upton.' An innocent expression appeared on his ruggedly handsome face. He didn't look like a troublemaker. He was a cheerful, friendly teen, tall but of average build, witty, bright but certainly no genius. In any other circumstance, he'd probably be a good student but the lad lacked respect for his betters.

'You better not be lying to me, lad.'

Maverick's expression didn't change.

_Go on, say something,_ Mr Upton willed the boy in his mind. _Just make one smart comment so I can put you on detention._

He did not like this boy at all. He hadn't liked the boy who had been bullied at his old school either. That kid was a whining little upstart who complained about everything, so it was only natural that Upton should stand back and allow him to be bullied. However, after the suicide, when questions were asked about why the school had allowed it to happen, he found himself in a very embarrassing situation. He had been one of the people blamed for allowing the bullying to continue.

Now he tolerated no negative behaviour, especially not by the likes of Rex Cassidy or Rick Maverick. 'Are you sure you don't know where Cassidy is?'

Rick Maverick smiled. 'I'm not his babysitter. I don't watch him 24-7'

_That_ was pushing it _._ If it wasn't for his polite tone of voice, Upton would have put him on detention immediately. 'Are you giving me cheek?' he boomed, trying to scare him with his volume and the most ferocious glare he could muster. How he longed for Maverick to step over the line.

'Me, sir? I'm not being cheeky. I'm just telling you I'm his friend but I don't keep an eye on everything he does.'

'Doesn't anyone know where Cassidy is?' Upton fidgeted. He turned his eyes from one student to the next, refusing to believe no one knew where Rex was.

Two girls sat at adjacent computers. They usually hovered around Rex like lovesick puppy dogs. Lisa Stott and Mandy Evans. He did not think much of any girl who doted over that boy. Even Mandy, whose big wholesome brown eyes made her look so sweet and innocent, was far from it. What sort of girls were they if they were part of his crowd?

Guilty by association once again.

'You two!' He glared at them. 'Where's Cassidy?'

Mandy scowled and spoke with venom in her voice, 'How the hell should we know?'

'Detention!' he growled. 'Lunchtime. You don't talk to me that way.'

That made him feel a little better. At least he had been able to vent his frustrations a little. Still, he didn't feel satisfied. He still smarted from the humiliation he had suffered during interval at the hands of Mr Harris.

He continued to scan the room and for the first time noticed a face he hadn't seen before. I new boy sat near the doorway at one of the computers. He was quite tall and well built. He had been sitting there so quietly Upton had not even given him a second glance. 'You.' He pointed to the youth. 'Who are you?'

'I just started today. I'm new.'

'I can see that!' Upton sighed. 'What's your name, lad?'

'Vin Deemas.'

There was a snicker from somewhere in the corner of the classroom. Upton spun around and scanned the room for the culprit, desperate to dish out another detention but all the faces that stared back at him had expressions of innocence on them.

'Someone thinks his name is funny, do they?' Upton paced in the direction of the snicker. 'Somebody here wants to waste my time by disrupting my class with stupid laughs? Do you think I have nothing better to do than try to find the culprit? Typical. How about I put the entire class on detention?' But he knew he couldn't do that. He had already been in trouble with the principal, Mr Andrews, for doing that in the past, which he felt was silly because putting the entire class on detention was a sure-fire way of getting them to behave.

He hoped his idle threat would be enough to weed out the offender or at least encourage someone to speak up and identify who it was but all the students remained silent. It was as if they were aware it was a bluff. It seemed someone had told them about his reprimand from Mr Andrews. It wouldn't surprise him at all if it were that scoundrel, Mr Harris.

Mr Upton pretended the laugh no longer bothered him and ambled back to Vin. 'So, you're new, are you? Why wasn't I told about you?'

'I don't know.'

'A new student comes into my class and I am not even told to expect him?' This was typical of the competency of the administration staff. It annoyed him that such a breakdown in communication was prevalent in the school. He'd had many disagreements with the office staff in the short time he had been there. He had yelled at Miss Brannigan so often now, one would think she would make an effort and keep him informed. He would be having another word with her later.

'My Woodwork teacher knew,' Vin said.

'Well, nobody told me. Incompetence! Sheer incompetence, that's what it is. I've got a good mind to send you off to administration and let them take care of you for this period. I need some time to prepare for new students. It's my job to get you up to speed with the rest of the class and that requires extra work on my part. I can't be expected to have a new student turn up out of the blue and be able to teach them effectively.'

He huffed and paced up and down the class a couple of times. 'This is just ridiculous. I am sick and tired of having to come in to teach a class and having to get order and discipline before I can even start teaching. Students turning up unannounced, people laughing and being rude when they should be quiet and listening. Students late for classes. _I don't know—_ '

'Morning, morning, morning.' A cheerful voice interrupted his ranting. 'Looks like everyone's arrived early today.'

Mr Upton swung around to see a tall, athletic figure leaning against the door frame.

Rex Cassidy had finally arrived...

### CHAPTER 2:  
The New Guy

Tucker Pyles was one of the first people to meet the new guy Vin Deemas. Vin was a tall well-built teen with a pointed nose and jagged teeth. Tucker couldn't tell whether they were naturally that shape or whether he'd done some damage to them at some stage. He might have been considered good looking if it wasn't for the teeth and the grave expression that never left his face.

It had been the first class of the day – woodwork - and Tucker was working on a project with his two best pals Ash and Hew, when their teacher introduced Vin.

'Attention everyone.' Mr Hill, their burly 38-year-old Woodwork teacher, called out from the front of the workshop. 'We have a new student joining us this morning and his name is Vin Deemas.'

'Huh!' Tucker said. 'Who do you think you are? Riddick?' His huge gut shook as he laughed.

Hill scrunched up his face. 'What are you talking about, Pyles?'

'Riddick! You know, from the movie Pitch Black... or XXX... or Fast and the Furious."

'I said Vin Deemas, not Vin Diesel.' Mr Hill peered at Tucker with contempt. With his bushy beard and large stature, he could look very intimidating indeed. 'I want you all to make Vin feel welcome. It's not easy starting out at a new school. Tucker, your team could probably do with some additional help with your project. How about Vin joining you?'

'UuBBAA!' Tucker cried out in protest. 'We don't need help. Not with me in charge.'

Hew snorted but Tucker ignored him.

'Vin can help you,' Mr Hill repeated firmly. 'I want that project finished _this_ week. The way you're going, you won't have it finished until sometime next year.'

'That's for sure,' Ash grumbled.

Workbenches were evenly spaced along the length of the classroom. Rows of tools lined the walls and the shelves contained other woodworking equipment. Larger equipment like the jigsaw and bandsaw had their own special section near the teacher's workbench.

Tucker's bench was near the front of the room. It had been near the back until Mr Hill forced them to move forward, complaining he always had to walk down there to sort them out and ensure they were working rather than mucking around.

Vin made his way over to the trio and joined them at their workbench, a serious expression still on his face. He uttered no greeting, nor did he smile. Tucker wondered what his problem was. He was new so surely, he wanted to make friends? Then again, having to come to Te Arawa College wasn't anything to smile about.

'What are we making?'

'What are Ash, Hew and _I_ making, you mean,' Tucker said irritably. 'We are making a deskside cabinet. You can help but you'll do what I tell you to, got it?'

Vin narrowed his eyes. 'Who made you the boss?'

'I did! So, don't mess with me or I'll dish out a good ubbering to ya.'

'A what?'

'Don't mind him,' Hew said. 'He talks a lot of shit. My name's Hew. This is Ash...'

Their athletic Maori friend nodded.

Hew continued, 'Tucker likes to think he's in charge, but we only do what we want to do. But we're not making much progress because Tucker does sweet FA to help. When he does help, he keeps cutting pieces of timber incorrectly.'

'And when he hammers in a nail, he ends up splitting the timber,' Ash growled.

'Or bends the nails and then _we_ have to pry them back out. Now, we're letting him do a mock project while we do the real thing.'

' _UuBBAA!_ What?' Tucker gaped.

'He's not too bright either, is our Tucker,' Hew said to Vin. 'He hasn't realised that every piece of the cabinet he creates is discretely replaced by a piece Ash or I have made.'

If Vin was amused, he showed no signs of it and scowled. 'Talk about useless.'

'Watch it, Deemas!' Tucker glared at him. 'I _will_ dish out that ubbering if you're not careful.' He still couldn't believe his friends had been deceiving him. He gazed down at the offcuts and sure enough, there was the previous piece of timber he had worked on. His heart sank.

'A what? An ubbering? You think you're going to beat me up?' Vin asked. Vin was a big guy and looked like he could handle himself, but Tucker was not afraid of him. He knew that Hew and Ash between them could easily handle a big guy like Vin.

Hew was well built himself. Ash was smaller but muscular and hard as nails. The tough Maori could take on almost anyone in a fight and come out on top. As a pair, nearly everyone feared them.

Right now, Tucker's goal was to stamp his authority on this new guy. Although there was something he liked about the guy, so he didn't want to make his life too miserable. 'If you're not careful, I will. One word from me... and Hew and Ash will pulverise ya.'

'Oh, so _they'll_ beat me up?'

'You better believe it, ubbhead! But seeing as you're the new guy. I'm gonna cut you a break. You can join us and help us with our project but any cheek and you'll be in trouble, got it?'

'Yeah, sure,' Vin said without emotion. 'Anything you say, master.'

'That's what I like to hear. Stick with me kid and you'll do okay.'

'Gee, _thanks.'_

'But before we give you a task, what have you got for us to eat?'

'Huh?'

'In your bag?'

Vin glanced at his school bag at his feet. 'I've got nothing for _you_ to eat.'

'What?' Tucker said, determined not to let him get off that easy. 'You come to this school for the first time and you bring nothing to share with your fellow students? Don't you realise you're supposed to bring a chocolate cake at least?'

Vin sneered. 'One cake. For an entire school of people?'

'No, just to share with whoever it is you have to work with first period and that's me, Ash and Hew. Come on, bud, you don't want to get off on the wrong foot on your first day, do you?'

'I'm not sharing food with you, so drop dead!'

Tucker glared at Vin for a few seconds but then let it go. 'Well don't expect _me_ to share any of my goodies with _you_!'

'Huh!' Hew scoffed as he measured out a piece of timber for sawing. 'It would be a cold day in Hell when that happened. You share food?'

Ash chuckled and he sand papered his own piece of lumber. 'I don't think it would happen even on a cold day, bro.'

'Yeah, you're probably right.'

Mr Hill stepped up. 'Pyles, are you still mucking around? What's your problem?'

'Nothing. It's just this new guy isn't being very co-operative.'

'Why not?'

'Because he won't share his food.'

Mr Hill let out a sigh of frustration. 'Damn it, this is not the time and place to be talking about food. You know the rules anyway. No eating in class. Didn't you have any breakfast?'

'Yes.'

Ash paused from sandpapering. 'Yeah, he did. And he's been eating all morning.'

'But I'm still hungry. Can't I even have a sandwich?'

'No,' Hill said. 'Wait for interval. I'm sure you can handle that, it's under an hour away. So, what are you guys giving Vin to do?'

'Here.' Hew handed Vin his piece of timber. 'See if you can saw this into the shape I've measured.'

'You got it.'

Interval arrived and Tucker sat with his two friends, and the new guy Vin, out at their favourite haunt, outside F block where they had just had woodwork classes. It had been raining but had eased off quite a bit. Only a little bit of drizzle but fortunately where they sat was sheltered. He liked it outside F Block as very few people went there, so that meant no aggravation. It didn't have trees or plants like the other blocks did, mainly concrete but he was happy to forgo those pleasures for peace.

Hew was telling Vin what he claimed was an amusing tale, not that Tucker fround it funny. '...And Tucker tried to feed a load of crock to his cousin, making her think Gordon Phillips was Rex Cassidy and Rex Cassidy was Gordon Phillips...'

Tucker munched on one of his sandwiches, an evil eye on Hew as he spoke. As far as Tucker was concerned it was a humiliating story, an incident he wanted to forget.

'...But it ended up that she got wise and realised the truth. In the end, Tucker's plan backfired drastically. Rex ended up with her...'

'And _he_ ended up stuck with Myrtle, the Turtle,' Ash added.

Ash and Hew burst into laughter. Vin simply sat there and eyed Tucker with what looked like contempt.

'Ha de ha ha,' Tucker grumbled. 'That's right, mock me, go on. If it weren't for me, you'd be a couple of losers, depressed and lonely. I've turned you two into objects of fear. Nobody messes with you.'

'I must admit, Tucker definitely keeps us entertained,' Hew joked. 'There's never a dull moment with him around.'

' _You better believe it, ubbhead!'_

'Yep,' agreed Ash as he peeled back a banana. 'He's always doing something that makes us laugh. Even though he doesn't mean to.'

Tucker thought about the boy who had been responsible for his humiliation. Or at least indirectly responsible. 'Urrrrrbaaarrrrrr! One of these days Cassidy is gonna pay. Speaking of that ubbhead, I saw him sneaking off with some girls earlier this morning, just before school started. They were heading out of school grounds.'

'Wonder what they were up to?' Ash bit into his banana.

'I don't know but I mentioned it to Mr Reaper.'

'Who's Mr Reaper?' Vin asked.

'The deputy principal.'

Hew scowled. 'You reported them to the Reaper? Man, you can be a real drongo. So what if they _were_ up to something? They weren't bothering you. You don't go around telling teachers what other students are doing.'

'Cassidy deserves it.'

'What about the girls he was with? They'll get into trouble too.'

'They're a bunch of snobs anyway. I have no sympathy for them, hanging out with him. Haven't you ever heard of _guilty by association_?'

Hew and Ash rolled their eyes at each other.

Vin leaned forward. 'So Pyles, what does that make people who hang out with you? Does it make them guilty by association too?'

Tucker glared at him. 'Why don't you shut your mouth, Vin Diesel? You look like a Ferengi with those teeth of yours.'

'What the hell is a Ferengi?'

'Haven't you ever watched Star Trek?'

'Can't stand Star Trek.'

'Then what are you doing at this school then? Only Star Trek fans are allowed here.'

'Whatever!' He leaned back and folded his arms.

Ash's banana peel flew through the air and landed in Tucker's lap. 'Shut up, Tucker and stop being an egg.'

'Yeah,' Hew agreed. 'Why don't you nark off and go live in your fantasy world. Stop trying to make us part of it.'

'Urrbbarrrrrrr!' Tucker swiped the banana skin onto the ground. 'No respect. And after all I've done for you two.'

Both Hew and Ash chimed in at the same time. ' _Whatever!'_

'No redundancy pay for you,' Hew added, then changed the subject, 'Hey, have you guys heard about the town's upcoming Jubilee celebrations? Te Arawa's 150th. I hear there are going to be some fun events.'

'Should be good.' Ash nodded. 'It will probably be mainly for adults though.'

'I hear they're having a bachelor auction.'

'A what?' Tucker frowned.

'A bachelor auction. The eligible bachelors in town are going to be auctioned off. Well, the ones who want to be involved anyway. Apparently, whoever enters gets free tickets to the dinner and dance the following night.'

' _UBBA!_ ' Tucker's mouth watered at the thought of free food.

'Whoever puts in the highest bid gets to be their date.'

'I heard about that,' Ash said. 'And I hear they're doing a junior bachelor auction too. One for college-age guys.'

'You're kidding.'

'Apparently, it's really happening. Anyone who wants to be in it can put their name forward.'

Tucker imagined a bidding war going on between the hottest girls in school as he stood up there on stage being auctioned off. Then he thought about the dinner afterwards, an even nicer thought. 'Ubba! In that case, I'm signing up. Anything for a free feed.'

' _Whaaaaaat?'_ Hew stared in disbelief. 'As if you'd get any bids.'

'What are you talking about? Any girl would give an arm and a leg to get a date with me.'

'Don't forget a shell. Myrtle the Turtle will be first in line.'

Tucker screwed up his face at the thought of going out to dinner with the pimply-faced year-ten girl who for some reason had a big crush on him. 'She couldn't afford me. I'm telling you, I'm gonna fetch a high price.'

Hew and Ash burst out laughing, while Vin showed no amusement at all.

Tucker scowled. 'Laugh it up but you'll see. Those girls will be clamouring to bid for me.'

Ash smirked. 'You mean they'll be clamouring to get out of the building.'

'So, Ashley,' Vin said. 'Are you going to put your name forward?'

'Doubt it, bro. I wouldn't have the guts.'

'I will if you will,' Hew said. 'You never know, we might get lucky.'

Ash screwed up his face. 'On the other hand, we might end up with someone like Myrtle the Turtle as a date.'

'True.'

Vin said nothing, eying him thoughtfully. At least he didn't laugh at him like his other two friends. He probably wasn't a bad guy and might make a valuable ally. He was one burly guy and if Tucker could gain his trust and respect, it might elevate him in the pecking order at Te Arawa College. He would have three tough guys under his command rather than just the two. Surely, Rex Cassidy couldn't handle three of them?

_Yes_ , he thought to himself. Making friends with Vin could very well be to his advantage. He would be able to deal with Cassidy once and for all.

### CHAPTER 3:  
Skipping Class to Visit the Sick

Chelsea Brown arrived at school that day unaware of the trouble brewing. She had seen enough trouble to last her a lifetime in the last few months after being caught skipping class and going places behind her parents back. It was the price she paid for being part of the in-crowd.

'Oh, you're here,' said Jacqui Donaldson. The blue-eyed brunette looked down her nose at her, her full-lipped mouth turning into a smirk. Jacqui, most of the time. wasn't even nice to her, nevertheless, Chelsea was willing to put up with a little bitchiness from her to continue to be part of their group.

'Hi, Jacqui.' She forced a friendly smile.

Kids congregated inside the E block locker bay area due to the rain outside. It was noisy and musty. Chelsea and her friends usually sat outside amongst the gardens waiting for their first class of the day. Instead, they hovered around the west entrance.

Jacqui snickered and paced to the doorway and stared out. 'Of course, you're the first one to be here. You always are. Miss studious Chelsea Brown who just loves studying so much she arrives early every day.'

'That's only because my mother forces me out of bed at 6 am, so I figure I might as well come early.'

Jacqui turned and smirked. 'Yeah, whatever.'

'You're always here before me.'

Jacqui scowled. 'That's because I have to catch the bus here, dumbass. If it wasn't for that, I'd arrive later.'

The main source of Chelsea's problems was Jacqui because she often led them into activities that got them into trouble. Their friends looked up to her for some reason and thought of her as their leader. How Jacqui could attract so much support when she was so obnoxious to so many people, made Chelsea wonder. It surely had something to do with the fact she was beautiful, smart and came from one of the richest families in Te Arawa.

Jacqui stepped back into the hallway and leaned her back against the wall. 'Might skip class this morning, Go over to Holly's place, seeing as she's homesick.'

'In the rain?'

'It's easing off. Besides, it will be PE period and we'll just be stuck in the gym.'

Skipping class was a complication Chelsea didn't need. The last time Jacqui convinced her to cut class resulted in the deputy principal, Mr Reaper catching them out by the river at the back of the school. That led to her parents finding out about it and her being grounded, which resulted in her lying to her parents to go out in the weekend with her friends. After they found out they banned her from going to the school dance, which resulted in Jacqui concocting a crazy plan so she could sneak out and go to the dance.

Since then, she had gotten into trouble many times with teachers and other adults.

The two of them dared venture outside and were relieved to see a little sun peeking through the clouds.

Jacqui, delivered Chelsea a dirty look.

'What?' Chelsea asked.

She shook her head in disbelief. 'What did you do to your hair this morning? It's a mess.'

Jacqui was being more obnoxious than usual but then it was because none of the other girls were around. 'I parted it a different way, that's all.' Her blonde hair was quite short and as far as she was concerned wasn't much different to what it normally was.

'It just looks like you didn't brush it. And I thought you had started to take pride in your appearance. Next thing you know, you'll be going back to wearing those geeky glasses.'

'Not likely.'

Laura Stott arrived on the scene. 'Give the girl a break. She looks great as usual.'

Chelsea felt glad to finally have an ally but withheld a smile in case it irritated Jacqui.

'Holly not here again today?' asked Laura. She flicked back her long blonde hair. Like Jacqui, she had bright blue eyes, but she was taller and a smiled a lot more.

'No,' Jacqui said.

'What's with her anyway? She's been sick a lot lately.'

'Poor girl,' Chelsea said. 'I hope it's nothing serious.'

'Let's just go see her,' Jacqui suggested.

Chelsea shuffled from one foot to the other. 'We could go see her after school I suppose.'

'No, I mean now.'

'But school's about to start and it's likely to rain again.'

'So what? Now's as good a time as any to get out of here. Right before class starts.'

'Sounds like a plan,' Laura said. 'I'm sure she will appreciate visitors.'

Chelsea had to say something to talk them out of it. 'Please, do we really have to do this?'

Jacqui rolled her eyes and let out an irritated groan. 'Oh, puuuleeease, Chelsea, don't tell me you're still afraid of a little adventure? This is our friend we're talking about. She's sick. Why should we wait until after school? She might appreciate company now.'

'Come on, Chels.' Laura patted her on the arm. 'The great thing is, they moved house and they're living right in town here instead of Akato. We can be there and back by mid-morning. Even better, let's invite Rex along too. Here e comes now. Hey Rexy, baby, over here!'

The tall, dark-haired, muscular figure of the hottest guy in school strolled up to the girls with a smile. His smile was the type that could melt you. The sort you could gaze at all day. The sort that could make a girl do anything he wanted. It was the smile Chelsea had fallen in love with but one she knew would probably never be hers and hers alone.

Rex Cassidy was her other major problem. She loved him and yearned to have him as her boyfriend. It's just that he would not make that commitment to her. They enjoyed each other's company regularly, but a former love haunted him. Some girl he refused to talk about.

'Hi, girls. What's up this morning?' He paused at Chelsea with a twinkle in his deep-blue eyes. 'Love what you've done to your hair, it rocks.'

'Thanks, Rex!' She smiled broadly, feeling like she had been given the world's greatest compliment.

Chelsea noticed out of the corner of her eye the dirty look on Jacqui's face. Oh, how Jacqui hated it that Rex liked Chelsea the most. How she hated that Rex spent more time with her than any other girl in the school.

A disturbance came from the entrance to E block and caused them all to turn their heads. Two year-12 boys had a younger student between them. His school books had landed on the floor and pens and pencils had spilt out of his pencil case.

'You're a little homo, aren't you?' said one of the older boys.

'Yeah,' taunted the second and shoved him, nearly causing him to trip over. 'Likes boys rather than girls, don't you?'

'No, I don't!' replied the younger boy.

'What's this then?' The first bully grabbed his ear and pulled it towards him causing the younger student to cry out. 'An ear stud!'

' _Owwww, let go!'_

'Only girls or homos have ear studs.'

'He doesn't have one on the other ear,' said the second bully. 'He's a little woofter alright.'

Chelsea felt indignation well up inside her. She wanted to say something, to stick up for the boy and remind the two bullies they lived in the 21st century now.

She didn't have to.

Rex stepped up and shoved both older boys backwards, nearly sending them toppling over. 'What's with you two eejits?'

Chelsea felt elation, seeing Rex come to the younger student's rescue.

The two boys he now faced were older than him, but he still towered over them by a few inches. The two of them took a further step back, their eyes wide. One opened his mouth to speak but couldn't.

'Real tough guys, huh?' Rex scowled. 'Ganging up on a junior. Why don't you try picking on me?'

The first one shuddered. 'We were only kidding around, Rex.'

'Yeah,' said the other.

'Don't give me that crap. You're a couple of Neanderthals. Come on. Try to shove me around instead. Let's see how tough you are.'

Chelsea wanted to cheer him on but remained where she was, loving seeing the tables turned on bullies.

'H...Hey...' said the first hooligan, his knees trembling. 'We don't have a problem with you, man.'

Rex shoved a finger into his chest, which caused him to jerk back. 'Well, I have a problem with you. I have a problem with anyone who bullies people weaker than them. Especially when they're being bigoted douchebags.'

'We're sorry,' whimpered the second tormenter, his face pale. 'We didn't mean to be.'

'It better not happen again,' Rex said. 'Because if I see you hassling anyone like that again, you'll have me to deal with, got it, assclowns?'

'Yes!' both chimed in.'

'Go. _Scram!'_

The two didn't need a second invitation and scurried past Chelsea and outside.

Rex patted the junior on the shoulder. 'You okay?'

'Yeah. Thanks, Rex.'

'What's your name?'

'Jeff.'

'Well, Jeff, if those eejits cause you any more trouble, you let me know, okay?'

'Thanks, Rex.'

Rex re-joined the girls.

'Nice work, Rex,' said Jacqui. 'Buttheads.'

Chelsea smiled. It was one of the things she loved most about Rex and that's he was always willing to stand up for the little guy, especially when it came to bullies.'

'We're going to see Holly,' Laura said. 'Wanna join us?'

Rex frowned. 'Is she sick again?'

'Afraid so.'

'Count me in. What about Mav, where's he? He'll want to come.'

'Haven't seen him this morning. Why don't we have a quick check around for him?'

Rex nodded. 'We'd better do it quick. We need to leave before anyone realises we've actually arrived.'

'Good idea.' Jacqui smiled. 'Chelsea, I dare say you won't be joining us?'

Seeing as Rex was going, there was no way she intended to stay behind now. 'It's okay. I'll come.' On top of that, she knew it would annoy Jacqui even more because Chelsea would end up getting the majority of Rex's attention.

They couldn't find Mav but they did run into one of their other friends, Rog Shepherd. Sheep, as he was better known as, was an athletic and good-looking farmer's son with fair hair and piercing blue eyes. He decided he'd come too.

Chelsea had a crush on Sheep for several years but that had changed over the last few months as she'd got to know him on a more personal level and found that he was way too pushy with his affections. Despite that though, she still quite liked him but only as a friend.

'Chelsea,' Sheep said as they headed for the main school gates, having given up the search for Rick Maverick. 'Your hair looks different than usual. I really like it.'

'Thanks.'

Jacqui let out a huff but said nothing more.

They slipped out of the main school gates and hurried off down the road. Once far enough away from the school, they slowed their pace a little.

Sheep walked alongside Chelsea. 'Guess what, Chels. I gave up smoking the other day.'

Chelsea glanced at him as they walked. It was one of the things she didn't like about him, mainly because of his cigarette breath. 'That's good to hear. What made you decide to do that?'

'I don't know. Just figured I was better off not smoking.'

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him staring at her while they walked. She wondered whether his decision to quit smoking might have something to do with her. 'Well, I'm glad you did. You don't want to destroy your lungs and get cancer.'

'True. Also means no cigarette breath.'

She kept on looking straight ahead. Somehow, Sheep had found out about how it had disgusted her. Had one of her friends been talking? Jacqui perhaps?.

'I was wondering...' His words trailed off.

Chelsea flinched. She could sense what was coming. He was trying to impress her and was going to try to gain her favour like he had done the previous term.

He repeated his words, 'I was wondering if... if maybe you'd go to the movies with me some time.'

It was as she had expected. She'd told him last term she was no longer interested in him. Told him she didn't like his attitude and that he wasn't respectful of her. It seemed now he'd decided enough time had gone by to try again. Maybe she might have considered it if he wasn't so shallow and simply after one thing.

'I don't know.' The problem now wasn't so much whether Sheep had learnt his lesson though. It was more to do with the thing she had going with Rex. If she were to hook up with Sheep, she couldn't go on dates with Rex because it wouldn't be fair on Sheep. She would have to give up on her hopes of having Rex as her boyfriend.

They paused to cross the road, waiting first for a couple of cars to drive by.

They proceed across.

'Come on, Chels, I quit smoking. Thought you would appreciate that.'

'I think it's great you've quit but I'm not looking to date anyone right now.' It was the best excuse she could come up with.

'What about Rex? You've hung out with him.'

She glanced across at Rex who talked with the other girls as they trotted along the road.

That was a difficult one to answer. She wanted to keep her options open and she most definitely wanted to keep spending time with Rex but how did she say that to Sheep? How did she say that to any guy for that matter? It would make it look as though she was holding on to a dream, a futile hope she could call Rex hers someday. She didn't want people to think her pathetic.

Fortunately, she didn't have to answer that question as they neared the Robinson's new house.

'I wonder if Holly's mother or father will be home,' Chelsea said as they halted outside the section.

'They'll both be working,' Laura said. 'But anyway, I don't think her mother would mind us visiting.'

It was an average 4-bedroom house with a rather plain front yard. There were a couple of trees out the front and a hedge down the left side but otherwise not much in the way of growth. A flower garden had been freshly dug out the front but of yet it seemed nothing had been planted there.

'Isn't Mrs Robinson involved in a big way with the upcoming town Jubilee celebrations?' Chelsea asked, eager to move away from the awkward conversation with Sheep.

'So Holly was saying,' Jacqui said. 'Apparently, it was her idea to have the bachelor auction.'

'I thought those things only ever happened in movies,' Laura said.

'Or in America,' Chelsea added. 'Did I hear something about a bachelor auction for school-age guys?'

'Yep. Can you believe that? We can make bids on hot guys like our Rexy here.'

'Are you entering, Rex?' Chelsea asked.

Rex shrugged. 'Why not? Should be fun.'

'You can count on my bid,' said Laura.

'What about you, Sheep?' Rex asked. 'You entering?'

Sheep flinched. 'Ooh, I don't know. I would worry nobody would bid for me, man.'

Laura snorted. 'Of course, someone would.'

Sheep turned his eyes to Chelsea. 'Would you bid on me, Chels?'

'Of course, she would,' Jacqui said. 'She's always had a thing for you, haven't you, Chelsea?'

Chelsea cringed and couldn't look Sheep in the eye. She forced a smile in Jacqui's direction. 'Sure, Jacqs. Whatever you say.'

They opened the main gate to the yard and walked along a little cobblestone path to the front doorstep. Laura knocked on the door. They had to wait almost two minutes before the door opened and a tired and rather bedraggled Holly opened it. Her eyes widened.

'Oh my gosh, what are you lot doing here? Shouldn't you - you know - be at school?'

Their short schoolmate had shoulder-length flowing brown hair and although a little ruffled and unbrushed, the waves still shone. Her big brown eyes were full of life, even though she seemed a little pale.

'Geez, Holly, you look terrible,' Laura commented.

'I feel terrible. I've been throwing up all morning.'

'Is it contagious?' asked Jacqui.

'I don't think so. None of my family has gotten sick yet. I'm going to a doctor this afternoon when Mum gets home. Come in. But you'll have to excuse me if I have to rush to the bog to throw up, okay?'

They moved into the main hallway and into the Robinson living room, which was nicely set up, although the furniture was a little worn. Family photographs and the odd painting adorned the walls. A large entertainment system stood in the corner of a room.

Holly sat in an easy chair and groaned, holding her stomach. 'This is such a bummer. Oh, by the way, you just missed Mav. He must have left about ten minutes before you guys arrived.'

'We were wondering where he was,' Laura said.

'Are you going to be alright?' Chelsea asked. 'I'm getting really worried about you.'

'I'll be sweet. It comes and goes. I just get so queasy. I hope I - you know- don't have glandular fever or something like that. I couldn't handle having too much more time off school, especially feeling the way I am.'

'Glandular fever, I hope not,' Laura said. 'They say that comes and goes for years.'

They sat in silence for a few moments before Jacqui blurted out a sudden comment. 'You suck, Holly.'

'Huh?' Holly stared at her.

Chelsea frowned, wondering why Jacqui would say something like that out of the blue to Holly. She could imagine saying to her maybe but not to Holly.

Jacqui laughed. 'Here you are sick and pale but you still look awesome. I look just absolutely terrible when I'm sick.'

'Look great?' Holly smiled. 'Sorry, but when I looked in the mirror this morning, I almost puked and it wasn't because I was feeling queasy.'

'I was thinking the same thing as Jacqui,' Chelsea said.

'Damn straight,' Rex agreed. 'I bet you could never look bad, ever.'

Holly blushed. 'You guys, will you stop trying to cheer me up? I'm feeling awful, I don't want to be cheered up.'

Jacqui stood. 'Don't be such a misery guts. We didn't just skip class for and brave the rain for nothing. What can we do to make you feel better?'

'Huh!' Holly said with a hint of a smile. 'The only thing that would make me feel better is a stomach pump to remove this virus or whatever it is. But okay. Seeing as you're here...'

### CHAPTER 4:  
Rex Riles Upton

Despite Holly's ill health, Rex and his friends had quite a good time joking and playing around, making Holly laugh. The others left early because they didn't want to be late to Mr Upton's computer class but Rex stayed around a little longer and sat with Holly on the couch.

He worried about her.

Over the last few months, he had developed genuine feelings for Holly. As much as he hated to admit it, strong desires were there. Normally he wouldn't have put himself in the situation of being alone with her but he really was concerned. Besides, she was sick, what could happen?

Besides the fact she was sick, they had an agreement.

They had come to it several weeks ago at Rex's 15th birthday bash. They both admitted they had strong feelings for each other but they had both agreed they would not act on those feelings. From then on, they would only ever treat each other as good friends and the feelings they had for each other would remain a secret only they knew about.

Holly wanted to remain faithful to Mav and Rex didn't want to abuse the trust of one of his best pals. Rex and Holly had gone too far that night but it was never going to happen again. From now on, it was friends and friends only.

'You shouldn't be here,' Holly said weakly, playing with the frayed corner of the cushion beside her, 'Not alone with me, like this.'

'I know. But I'm worried about you. Are you going to be okay on your own until your mother gets home?'

She curled a loose bit of cotton around her fingertip. 'I'll be sweet. I'll ring if I need anyone.'

Rex wanted to touch her delicate smooth hand but refrained. He knew the power of his touch and he didn't want to compromise the situation. 'Apart from being sick, are you doing okay?'

She tugged gently at the cotton thread. 'I think so. Things between Mav and I are improving. They're returning to the way they used to be.'

'That's good.'

'It... it doesn't mean I... you know...' She turned her eyes up towards his. '...don't stop thinking of you though... and what we shared that night.'

'I know.'

'I should feel guilty but I think back and I think, _wow_.'

'Yeah. Same here. Part of me wished it hadn't happened but another part of me doesn't mind so much.'

'I feel so bad about it. Not about what happened but how Mav would feel if he knew.'

'He'll never know.'

'I know. He won't. I mean, it's okay, right? We came to an arrangement, right? Mav and I are still together and we will continue to be.'

'Damn straight. We all make mistakes. What matters is it never happens again.'

'Which is...' Her words trailed off. Rex knew what she was going to say. He was thinking it too - that it was a _pity_ it would never happen again and that more couldn't have developed from it.

Rex fought against his emotions. He knew that no matter how much he liked her, he couldn't get involved. It had been the same thing with Chelsea Brown when he'd first come to Te Arawa, that desire for her. He couldn't go through the pain he had gone through over a year earlier, long before he came to Te Arawa. He'd had someone special then too. A relationship he thought would last forever but it hadn't turned out that way. He didn't want to have to lose anyone like that again. It hurt too much.

'Please...' A tear appeared in Holly's eye. 'Just go. I don't think I can handle you being here for much longer. Otherwise, I might... might... _you know_.'

'Sure.' Rex touched her hand. 'Copy that. I should definitely go.' He pushed the thoughts of his former love aside. It was time to be strong again, to be the Rex everyone looked up to and saw as a rock.

She smiled weakly. 'You don't want to be too late for Mr Upton's computer class.'

'No, I guess not.'

Her smile grew stronger.

Rex adored that smile.

As he made his way back to school in the rain, he almost felt sad it had come to this point.

Once he reached Mr Upton's classroom, thoughts of Holly went from his mind. Now came showdown time. Mr Upton was not going to let him arrive late to class without making an issue of it but, of course, being Rex, he wasn't just going to take his teacher's verbal abuse.

'Morning, morning, morning.' Rex stepped through the doorway to the computer classroom. 'Looks like everyone's arrived early today.'

Mr Upton turned around and stared down Rex like an angry bull. _'Cassidy!_ Where the heck have you been?'

'I don't think you want to know that.' Rex walked casually into the room, acting unconcerned at the fury on Mr Upton's cleanly shaven but forbidding face. Upton's square jaw made him appear fearsome to most but Rex was not intimidated. He intended to keep his cool and let him get into a frenzy and ruffle that finely parted hair of his. Upton would get so tongue-tied and muddled he would make himself look like a total eejit. A man as stern and proud as him would suffer for weeks knowing he'd been made to look stupid in front of his class.

'Hey, girls.' Rex smiled at a couple as he passed by Upton. 'Hey, Mav, how ya doing? Missed you this morning.'

Mav smiled but wisely said nothing.

'Cassidy! How dare you turn your back on me when I'm talking to you?'

'Hmm. Talking?' Rex turned around to face his fuming teacher. 'Hells Bells, so far all I've heard you doing is yelling, Uppity.'

' _Uppity?_ You dare walk into my classroom late and _insult me?_ '

'Hmm... let me see...' Rex pondered for a few seconds. ' _Yes_.' He sat at one of the tables and lifted his feet up, plonking them right next to the computer keyboard.

'Get your feet off that desk!' Upton lunged forward, sweeping Rex's feet off the desk with his hand. Rex was prepared for it and with one fluid motion, lifted his feet back up and onto the desk.

Rex leaned back reaching his hands around the back of his head and locking his fingers together. 'So, Mr U, what's on the agenda for this morning? Computer games?'

'Computer ga- Of all the... I've never met a student so impertinent. I want an answer out of you and I want it now. Where were you and why are you late to my class?'

Rex chuckled as Upton's face grew redder. 'Oh dear, oh dear. Let me guess. I'm ten minutes late and I guarantee you've wasted the entire ten minutes going around the classroom yelling at people wanting to know where I was, right?'

Snickers echoed around the classroom.

His teacher tried to speak but nothing came out of his mouth.

Rex found it so difficult to be light-hearted with this teacher. 'Drokk, I could sit here getting chewed out by you for the next three-quarters of an hour, couldn't I? And we wouldn't do any work at all.'

Finally, his teacher spoke. 'You think I'm going to stand here for the next three-quarters of an hour arguing with you, well you are sorely mistaken. Now where were you and why are you late?'

'Okay. Whyyyyy was I late? I was in your office getting it on with one of the senior girls.'

His fellow students burst out laughing but quickly stopped when Upton glared at them.

He turned back to Rex and almost spat, 'You'd better not have been in my office.'

Rex grinned. 'I told you that you didn't want to know.'

Mr Upton slammed the palm of his hand on the desk, but Rex didn't even flinch. 'How did you get in my office?'

'Well at least I'm sure it was your office...' Rex stroked his chin. 'Then again, it might have been Mr Andrews'.'

'How did you get in there?'

'Actually, no, it was your office, yeah, there was an aura of arrogance as if you had only recently been in there.'

Muffled laughter came from the other students as they tried not to laugh aloud lest Upton should turn his anger to them.

Rex continued, 'Come to think of it, there was this overwhelming atmosphere of pomposity too. Yes, it was definitely your office.'

'I will not—' started Upton.

'It was a bit of a passion killer really, so we gave up in the end and trashed the office.'

' _What? You...?_ ENOUGH! I will not take any more of this. You are trying to pull the wool over my eyes. You are trying to make a fool out of me.'

' _Am I_?'

'You bet your bottom dollar you are. If you think I'm going to stand around here wasting time, falling into your little trap of mind games and mindless banter, you are sorely mistaken, my lad. You are messing with the wrong teacher. You think your parents' grants to this school can stop you from being expelled forever? Well once again, you are sorely mistaken. I will make a promise to you, Cassidy. It's over. No more! You will not be allowed to treat your academic betters in this way ever again. Mark my words, I am going to see you expelled from this school. Now get the heck out of my classroom!'

Rex let his feet drop to the floor, rose to his feet and smirked. 'Maybe I'll check out that office after all.'

If he was going to carry on with the joke he might as well take one of the girls with him. He considered Chelsea but knew she was uncomfortable with breaking the rules, so went with one who wouldn't care. He turned to face the gorgeous innocent-like brown eyes of Mandy Evans. 'Want to come?'

Mandy needed no prompting. She leapt to her feet and offered her hand to Rex. 'Lead the way.'

Rex took hold of her hand and advanced towards the door but not before Mandy glanced back at Upton with a smirk of her own.

'Don't you dare leave this classroom, Mandy Evans!'

'Sorry, Mr Uppity. I don't figure I'm going to learn much here today anyway.'

The two departed.

### CHAPTER 5:  
The Golden-Haired Fox

' _Daryl Chambers is a total fox.'_

' _The Golden-Haired Fox Rocks.'_

' _Daryl Chambers has dreamy lips.' 'I kissed them.' 'Now who's dreaming?'_

These were just a few of the things written on various desks in the study room at Matahana College. Daryl Chambers and her friends relaxed in the study room sheltering from the rain that started as soon as lunch began. The teacher had stepped out for a bit, which meant they could talk for a bit instead of studying.

Daryl glanced down at her own desk. It didn't have as much graffiti on as others, but it was fun to read, although some of the things were too X-rated to mention.

'Here's one,' Michelle Reynolds said. 'Daryl's feet must be aching because she runs through my mind all day long.'

The girls giggled hysterically.

'I've heard that one before,' Karen Richards said scornfully as she wrote in her exercise book.

'Don't be jealous, Karen,' Michelle said. 'Just because we haven't found any graffiti mentioning your name yet.'

'We can't all be the most desired girl in school, right, Daryl?' Carol Harding said.

Daryl forced a smile, hoping her friends would not see how miserable she felt.

'Come on, Darr,' Michelle said. 'It will be, okay. No matter where you go, people will adore you.'

Daryl shook her head. 'I'm not interested in being adored. All that gets you are a lot of creeps hitting on you.'

Michelle tapped the end of her ballpoint pen on her desk. 'Hey, you never know. You might find the guy of your dreams in your new town. The ultimate alpha male who puts all other guys to shame.'

Daryl snickered. 'Oh _sure._ I'm gonna move to a town where a guy like that exists. It'll be high school boys I'll be getting to meet. No one like that. And even if he was there, I somehow doubt he's gonna be coming after me.'

'Are you _serious_?' Karen paused from her writing. 'With that amazing hair of yours? I mean it turns heads all the time. Everyone checks you out. Your hair is like strands of gold. Makes me want to clip some and try it sell it. I bet you'd make a fortune if you did.'

'But it's not just because of the hair,' Michelle said. 'You're the full package. Hot bod, flawless skin, model-like facial features-'

'Stop it,' Daryl said. 'I'm not that special. I'm average.'

'Huh! Look at the graffiti on this desk again.' She tapped her pen harder. 'Go on, look! If you think you're just average, then you're clearly kidding yourself.'

'The graffiti doesn't lie, Darr,' Carol said.

'Seriously?' Daryl smirked. 'How about this piece of art here?' She pointed to her own desk. '"Carol Harding is a dyke"'.

The other girls laughed.

Carol, jerked to her feet. 'Where? It better not say that. I am so not a dyke.'

Daryl spoke in a lighthearted tone, 'The graffiti doesn't lie.'

Carol stomped around and peered over Daryl's shoulder. 'Oh my god, it does say that. I am going to _kill_ whoever wrote that.'

Daryl laughed. 'Come on, who cares. We know you're gorgeous.'

The few moments of laughter made her feel slightly better but then the heavy-heartedness returned. 'What's really bothering me is the friends I'm gonna lose because of this. I hate moving. I really hate it and I will have to say goodbye to you guys, ya know? You guys are the best friends I've ever had.'

The girls gazed at her with sadness in their eyes. It almost made Daryl want to cry, that once she left Matahana, she would never be able to see these girls again or for that matter even stay in contact with them.

Karen let out a deep sigh. 'I can't believe you're moving away completely. Can't you stay in Matahana and travel to a different school in another town? There are others you could go to you know and it wouldn't be a huge expense when it comes to transportation. You could easily catch a bus to Dougville each day.'

Daryl winced and shook her head. 'My mother wants me to have a fresh start.' _Fresh_ _starts_ _._ How she tired of them. For once, she wished they could just stay put regardless of the consequences but, no, they could never stay in one place for long. The time always came when they were forced to move.

'I don't get it,' Karen said. 'How could they expel you just for letting down the tires on a teacher's car?'

'Because it caused him to crash,' said Carol.

'He should have noticed the tire was flat before he drove off.'

'He deserved it anyway.' Carol said. 'He's a dirty creep. Why isn't your mother fighting the school to have you stay?'

'Forget it,' Daryl said. 'What's done is done. My mother never liked this school anyway. She never really wanted me here.'

'I don't get it. Why did she send you here in the first place? There are other schools that aren't that far away. Like Dougville.'

'It was the most convenient school. It seemed like a good pick at the time.'

'So, where are you moving to? Not back to Australia, surely?'

'No. But I don't know for sure. Somewhere up north.' She wanted to tell them Te Arawa but she had promised her mother she wouldn't say. It was crucial she didn't.

'You don't know?'

'I don't really care... besides does it matter?

'What are you saying?' Michelle stared at her. 'Of course, it matters. We want to keep in contact with you. Maybe we can visit you if we ever come up there.'

'You can't. Mum won't allow it.'

' _Why_?'

'You know what she's like. She thinks my friends here are bad examples. She blames you and many of the boys for the fact I'm always in trouble. She has forbidden me to keep in contact with you.'

'The bitch,' scowled Carol. 'That is so unfair.'

'You can set up a Facelink profile online,' Michelle said.

'She'll see I have you as friends.'

'Make up a fake one!' Carol said.

'Mum monitors my Internet usage.'

'What, even Email?'

'Especially Email!'

Carol threw her hands up in the air. 'Oh my god. It's like she's a fascist dictator or something. Why do you put up with it?'

Daryl sighed, rested her elbow on the table and propped her head up with her hand. 'I don't have much choice.'

'That is so wrong. What, is she afraid you might end up chatting with some creep online and be lured into something?'

'Yeah... something like that.' Daryl forced a smile.

'Well,' Michelle said. 'What about texting?'

'I don't own a cell phone, remember?'

'Yeah, that's weird,' said Karen, leaning back and folding her arms. 'That your mother won't let you have a cell phone. You'd think she'd want you to have one so she can keep close tabs on you, her being more like Big Brother rather than an actual mother.'

The girls remained quiet for a few seconds as if trying to come up with a different plan to keep in contact.

'You could always resort to extremes,' said Michelle. 'Like snail mail. Actually, _write_ us letters.'

'Yeah... I guess I could do that,' Daryl said. 'She wouldn't know if I posted you stuff but you wouldn't be able to send stuff to me though because she'd see it in the mail.'

Karen groaned. 'This sucks.'

'But... maybe once I make some friends I can have you post mail to them?' She smiled.

'Yeah, do that.'

But she wouldn't and she knew she couldn't. How she hated to give them false hopes. It would be just like it was with her previous friends from other schools. Once she left, she had to cut off contact with them. It was the way it had to be.

'How are the boys going to cope?' Michelle said, trying to lighten the heavy atmosphere. 'The Golden-Haired Fox will be gone. They will have to drool and fall in love with someone else.'

Daryl pushed her painful thoughts aside and managed a smirk. 'I feel sooo sorry for them. Ohh, you know I will miss some of them.'

'Hard to believe you've only been here about six months and you're leaving already,' Carol said. 'Your mum and you seem to move around a lot.'

'Yeah, after my dad died, we started moving around everywhere. My mother can't hold down a job.'

'And you can't keep out of trouble at school.'

'And that.'

'He died in a car crash, right?'

'Yeah.' The pain racked Daryl's heart and she could smile no longer. If only she could tell them the truth, the _real_ truth.

'How old were you at the time?'

'About ten.'

'Carol, don't be so depressing,' Michelle said. 'Let's try not to think about this stuff, okay? Let's enjoy the time we have left with our friend.'

Daryl felt glad she didn't have to dwell on that topic and forced a smile. 'I'm really gonna miss you guys, ya know? You have been the greatest pals.'

'We'll miss you too, Darr.' Michelle smiled back. 'I hope things will work out at the new place you go to.'

'Yeah,' said Karen. 'And this time don't get yourself expelled.'

### CHAPTER 6:  
The Plot Against Rex

Mr Upton arrived at Mr Andrews' office.

It was lunchtime and a bad taste remained in his mouth from the Year-Eleven Computer Studies class. That Cassidy lad had put him in such a foul mood he found it difficult to concentrate on the task of running the class. His mind overflowed with demands he intended to make to Andrews and ideas about having the boy expelled. If Andrews didn't do the job he was paid to do, Upton was prepared to take it higher to the school board of trustees. He was not going to rest until he had that boy out of his school.

'Mr Upton,' Andrews greeted him in a less than cordial manner. Not even a smile appeared on his craggy face, but then, from what Mr Upton had seen of him, he rarely smiled. 'What can I do for you?'

'It's that Rex Cassidy boy,' he growled and sat at the desk. 'I've—'

'Yes, yes, yes, I know what you're going to say. He's a delinquent, a bad example to the other students and never turns up to detentions. He has no respect for you, calls you names, and makes a fool of you in front of your students. I had two boys come in earlier this morning complaining that he threatened them with violence for no good reason.'

Upton glared at the light that reflected off the bald spot on the ageing principal's head. 'So why hasn't he been dealt with? Threatening other students is a serious offence. We could have him expelled over that, couldn't we?'

'If I dragged him in here, all he'd do would be to deny it. Make out he was on one of his crusades to stamp out bullying. It would be his word against their's.'

'So he gets away with it?'

'Not at all. I'm just trying to handle this in a way so that it _can't_ come down to his word against theirs. So that it becomes a charge he's guilty of even if he's not guilty. There are other such incidents that I am trying to do the same with.'

Mr Upton leaned back and folded his arms. The thought of trumping up charges against Rex had its appeal. It would be a way to get back at him. Make him pay for his disrespect. 'How long is this all going to take? Meanwhile, he continues to get away with his behaviour.'

'By heck, I dislike the boy as much as you do and have even more reason to have him expelled.'

Mr Upton snickered. 'How can you have more reason than I? You don't even teach him and from what I understand, it's Mr Harris who deals with him. Either him or Mr Reaper.'

'I have very good reason to want him gon-'

'Do you realise the humiliation I went through when he had that party of his not long ago? I went there to put an end to that debauchery and what did I get for my troubles? Some idiot policeman arresting me before I could even get into the grounds. He thought I was a pervert there spying on them.'

A smirk appeared on the principal's face and he coughed into his hand.

' _You find that amusing?_ I wasn't amused at all. I spent two hours at the police station before I was able to convince them I wasn't prowling. Those useless idiots weren't even interested that there was a party going on with underaged drinking, sex and who knows what else?'

'From what I understand through my sources, the Cassidy lad's party was a well-controlled affair. None of the neighbours made complaints, nor have any parents. I'm sure if the police felt it was out of control, they would have been there.'

Upton snorted. 'Oh, you can't tell me none of that stuff wasn't going on. I would have caught them up to no good if I had the chance.'

Andrews folded his arms. 'Well you didn't, so that was unfortunate.'

'I'm just lucky the police made no charges in the end. I hold Rex Cassidy indirectly responsible for that humiliation though. Can you say that you've been arrested due to the shenanigans of Rex Cassidy?'

'It's not like I haven't suffered humiliation as a result of dealing with Rex. _He_ was the reason I had to... err... leave my last job at Taukauri College.'

Mr Upton raised his eyebrows as Mr Andrews readjusted himself in his chair and fidgeted with his fingers.

'Yes, he was a student there and just like here, his parents paid the school money as a so-called grant. I had him expelled from that school and it came back to bite me in the butt, which is why I have to tread carefully on the matter here. It seems maybe we are both cursed. When I came to this school I found HE was here. Would you call that a curse, sir? Would you say that perhaps God was trying to play a practical joke on me?'

Mr Upton smirked. 'I make no presumptions on what God would or wouldn't do.'

'Well when I started here at TAC, my hair was completely brown. Now grey hairs are sprouting up all over.'

Upton could see some grey amongst the thin brown strands of the principal's hair but had not been at Te Arawa long enough to make a judgement on whether the grey streaks were new, so didn't comment.

'This is like a recurring nightmare for me.'

'Maybe but he was late to my class again this morning.'

'Yes, I am aware of that. I have received a report from another student that he was seen leaving the school grounds with a group of girls.'

'Are we just going to stand by and let him get away with this? He arrived late to my class and blatantly lied about where he had been.'

'That's unusual. He's a lot of things but he doesn't normally lie.'

'What, so you're calling me a liar?'

'Of course, n—'

'He told me... he said... Never mind, I didn't believe it anyway.'

'I've arranged for each of the students involved to be brought to my office after lunch. I want to get to the bottom of this little escapade. Believe me, leaving the school grounds is a serious infringement and Cassidy has been warned many times about it. But Mr Upton, you do realise, this isn't just a simple matter of suspending or expelling the boy?'

'It has to be done. Money or no money, the board of trustees must be made to see that we cannot allow this to continue.'

'I totally agree with you, which is why I am piling up the list of charges, true or untrue. I just need to be careful how I—.'

'We demand the board to take action, that's what we do. If we make threats, the board will have to listen. We could threaten a strike if they don't agree to let us expel the boy.'

'Unfortunately, the problem we have is we need to gather more support. I have tried to convince the board to take action on my own but they don't seem to take me seriously. For one thing, they find it hard to believe that Rex can be such a discipline problem. They want me to find other ways to deal with the lad. What we need is more support amongst the staff.'

' _The staff are morons._ I've never met such a wishy-washy bunch in all my life. I have tried to talk to many of them. Quite a few of them even seem to like the lad. _They take his side._ '

'I know. Nevertheless, they are good teachers. Don't go putting them down.'

'So far, the only teachers I've found who want to have the boy expelled are Mrs Tantic, Mr Reaper and Mr Knot.'

Mr Andrews drummed his fingers on his desk. 'We will need them to address the board. If we pull together, we may be able to get action. Even then, I don't know if that will be enough.'

'What, not even your list of trumped-up... your list of charges against him?'

'We need more than that. We have to gather more support amongst the staff and on top of that, we need more parental support on our side. The board will have to listen and take action if parents make complaints.'

'Surely we should be able to gather support there? I say we target parents with daughters here at the school. We can tell them about Rex and the way he behaves with the girls. They will soon insist he gets the boot.'

'You can't do that. You can't go around telling people that stuff. It's a violation of the privacy act. Not only that but the school could be sued for slander.'

'Slander? But it's all true!'

Andrews shook his head. 'It would be seen as a smear campaign. Defamation of character. That's why I have to be especially careful when it comes to making accusations about certain matters like the claims those boys made this morning.'

'How can we get the support then?'

'We could only talk to parents whose children have been involved in trouble as a result of involvement with Rex. Those parents would certainly have reason to want the boy expelled. I'm confident we can drum up support. From what I understand the parents of Lilla Williams; the head girl were not too happy about her involvement with Rex in the past.'

'What about the parents of some of the girls who spend a lot of time with him during and after school?'

'We can't go ringing them up and finding out. It would be inappropriate and could put us in one of the aforementioned situations. Mr Upton, I want to make it quite clear right now, it will be me and only me talking to parents if I talk to any at all, is that clear?'

'Yes, Mr Andrews.' Upton felt irked by that as he really wanted to be involved in bringing down the Cassidy lad and it seemed he was the ideal man for the job. He was sure that if he could talk to a few parents he would be able to drum up the support they needed right away.

'Hopefully, if we act now we can get action on this quickly.'

* * *

Chelsea's knees felt weak as she knocked on Mr Andrews' door. The voice of the Principal called for her to enter so she hesitantly stepped into the room to find Mr Andrews at his immaculately tidy desk, looking his usual grim self, writing on a piece of paper.

'Sit.' He pointed to a chair without looking up. He continued to scribble things down on his paper.

Chelsea sat on the chair and waited, her heart beating furiously, her body tense. She gazed around the very orderly room. The books on the shelves were perfectly straight and in order from tallest to shortest. The various trophies and ornaments on the top shelf looked like a museum display. The group photographs of current and past staff members were perfectly aligned.

Once Mr Andrews finished with his writing, he turned his eyes to Chelsea. 'Why weren't you at Biology class this morning?'

'I...I...' she stammered, not sure what to say. She wouldn't be the only one being called to the office. If they came up with a different story than her, it would only result in more trouble.

'Best tell me the truth. It will be better for all concerned if you do.'

'I... I was visiting a sick friend.'

'Oh really?' Mr Andrews' eyes narrowed. 'Sounds like a convenient excuse to me.'

'It's true. Holly Robinson. She's been sick lately and well... I decided to go see her before school. She wasn't well, so I stayed around to look after her for a bit. She was in a bad way.'

'Who else went with you?'

'Huh?' She hoped he wouldn't ask her that. She didn't want to risk getting her friends into trouble. Nevertheless, if she left out names, Mr Andrews would find out she was lying to him.

'Who was with you? Give me names and don't lie to me because I will soon find out the truth.'

'Jacqui Donaldson, Rog Shepherd and Laura Stott... and Rex.'

'Cassidy?'

'Yes.' Chelsea hoped desperately she hadn't said the wrong thing but she felt sure he would know who had not been in class that morning and was trying to catch her out. 'We just wanted to make sure Holly was okay. Her mother was at work, she was on her own.'

Mr Andrews tapped his pen on the desk a few times. 'You do know it's against the rules to leave the school during school hours?'

'But it wasn't 9 0'clock. We went over there before school even started.'

'You were already on the school grounds before you left.'

How he knew that Chelsea had no idea.

'Once you arrive at the school grounds, you are deemed to be at school. Therefore, you cannot leave any time without permission from the school.'

She attempted to play dumb. 'I... I didn't know that.'

'You left school knowing you were committing an infringement and were totally aware you were going to miss the first period of the day.'

Chelsea squirmed in her chair but stuck to her guns, being as truthful as she possibly could without throwing her friends under the bus. 'We were worried about our friend. She was on her own.'

'It's not up to you to go gallivanting across town to see her. Her parents are perfectly capable of looking after her. If they decided to leave her at home on her own, they obviously thought she would be fine. Besides, how did you know she would be on her own, anyway? I don't think you did.'

'Her mum works.'

'That's beside the point. Parents can stay home to look after sick children.'

'She'd already taken too many days off work. She couldn't take anymore.'

'If she was that bad, her mother would have stayed. Her staying there was deemed unnecessary. You do realise I will have to notify your parents about this?'

' _What?'_ Chelsea stared at Mr Andrews in horror. 'No! You don't need to do that. I promise I won't do it again.'

'I'm sorry. I have no choice in the matter. Your parents have the right to know. And frankly, if you are going to insist on spending time with Rex Cassidy, well then you will certainly get into trouble again, of that I'm certain.'

'But it wasn't his idea!' Chelsea wanted to tell him it was Jacqui's idea but then she would be guilty of ratting out a friend. Well, a so-called friend anyway.

'So, you're saying he didn't have anything to do with your decision to skip class?'

Indirectly, he did but Chelsea didn't want Andrews to know that. 'We all made the decision together.'

'And what will your parents say when they find out about this?'

Chelsea had no idea. Her mother had never been a great fan of Jacqui but, as far as Rex was concerned, she thought he was marvellous, not that she had ever been given the chance to get to know him. She was only going by that incident at the school dance earlier that year when Rex came to Chelsea's rescue and bailed her out of trouble. God forbid if her parents ever found out that everything they had told them was a lie.

Her mother had been trying to get Rex to come over for a meal. The last time he had been over at Chelsea's place, he had finally agreed and the date was set for the coming Friday night. As nervous as Chelsea was about that date, it excited her. It was as if she was bringing her boyfriend home, even though he technically wasn't her boyfriend.

It made her worry because if they found out what Rex was really like and the trouble he was often in at school, they would most likely forbid her to see him.

Mr Andrews did not push her to reply to his question. Perhaps, he was satisfied he had put the wind up her sails. 'From your files and what other teachers have told me, you have pretty much been a model student up until this year. I think you need to take a serious look at the people you consort with. I don't think it is doing you any good spending time with these people. It's affecting your school work and it's making you do things you wouldn't normally do.'

'They're my friends. They're important to me. My life has improved with them in it.'

'I'm done arguing. Just try to think about the things I said. You need to take a good look at where you're heading, young lady. You can go now.'

Chelsea rose from her seat, glanced one last time at Mr Andrews and left the office.

### CHAPTER 7:  
Picked Off One by One

Rex was behaving himself for a change.

Okay, he wasn't working but he remained quiet as Mrs Tantic droned on about Matrices to the class. All she got from her students were blank stares. Even the brighter students didn't seem to have a clue what she was going on about. Rex didn't think Matrices were a particularly difficult branch of Mathematics to grasp, it was just that she seemed to have no motivation when it came to teaching.

'Let me put up another one,' she said without emotion in her voice. 'Perhaps if you all pay attention this time, maybe we will get somewhere.'

The 33-year-old fair-haired woman attempted to explain what seemed a simple problem on the whiteboard but most of the class stared with glazed eyes. Rex quite happily doodled away in his Maths book, drawing a portrait of one of the girls a few desks away from him. Mrs Tantic knew what he was doing but said nothing. The girl knew too and kept smiling at him, happy to be his model.

The appearance of Miss Brannigan – one of the office ladies got his attention and not just because she'd called Chelsea to the office. It was always a treat to see the slender brunette but he wondered why Chelsea was being called away.

Miss Brannigan smiled at him. He noticed a twinkle in her eye as she did. That was fine as far as Rex was concerned, just as long as someone like Mrs Tantic didn't start giving him smiles like that.

Chelsea returned to the class about ten minutes later. She peered across at him from her desk, a troubled look in her eyes. It soon became obvious to Rex what that was, when Miss Brannigan returned, this time asking for Laura Stott.

_First Chelsea,_ _now_ _Laura._

A note came his way from Chelsea. It read:

Mr Andrews knows we skipped class. He's making a big issue about it. He thinks you're responsible.

_Hmmm._ He should have guessed.

He wrote a note back.

_Don't worry about it, Chels. There are worse things you can be in trouble for than skipping class. x_ x x

Laura returned ten minutes later, looking relaxed but that was Laura. Her parents were easy-going and probably wouldn't make too much of a deal about her skipping class.

She sat right next to Chelsea and they whispered to each other. Mrs Tantic frowned in their direction, so they stopped whispering but as soon as she turned to continue writing on the board, they resumed.

A minute or so later another note came Rex's way from Laura.

Mr Andrews seems to have a real bee in his bonnet about this one, Rexy baby. I think he's looking to make serious trouble here.

Then from Chelsea.

I'm scared, Rex. Mr Andrews is going to be talking to my parents and Laura's too. If my parents find out, I'm dead. I won't have a social life for the rest of the year! :(

He wrote a return note to Chelsea and Laura. He wished he could text but cell phones were banned from the classrooms.

Don't worry. We'll sort it out. I'll bet that this is all about me, not you girls. ;)

The students who sat between the girls and Rex seemed content to pass notes for them. They were used to it. This sort of thing went on a lot in Maths class due to the deadly dullness of Mrs Tantic's lessons.

Then came Jacqui's turn to be called out.

'Miss Brannigan, what is going on?' Mrs Tantic asked, 'Are you going to be in and out of here all afternoon?'

'Sorry, Principal's orders. He wants one student at a time. Don't shoot me, I'm just the messenger.' She cast a glance over Rex's way and gave him one of her lovely smiles.

_Don't push your luck, lady_ , Rex thought. _Sooner or later others are going to notice who you keep smiling at_.

More notes started coming in his direction.

_We are definitely busted. It's weird, I told Andrews it was Jacqui's idea to cut class_ _but he didn't believe me. He thinks it was your idea. I think he really wants to nail you on this one. xxx_

Laura

I've got a bad feeling about this

Chelsea

Rex wrote a couple of his own notes back.

Laura, yes, it does look like Mr Andrews is up to something. I guess I will find out soon. Don't worry, I can handle him.

x x x

_Chelsea. I don't care what Andrews does or what your parents say, nothing is going to stop me from seeing you. Just you remember that. Even if they lock me up in my own classroom with an adult watching me all day long, it won't make a spot of difference. Even if I did get expelled and had to go to another school, you can guarantee I'll be over to visit you regularly. x_ x x _:D_

A few minutes later, another note came his way. However, this time Mrs Tantic intercepted it. 'That's about enough of that. I'm not dumb. I know some of you have been passing notes instead of doing your work.' She handed the note to one of the students. 'Why don't we find out exactly what this note says?'

'No way!' Chelsea cried out in protest. 'It's private.'

'Well, you will learn to keep your private stuff out of my classroom then, won't you?'

'If we were allowed cell phones we wouldn't need to pass notes.'

'There's no need to pass notes. Maybe this will teach you a lesson. Read it, Jason.

Jason hesitantly opened it up.

'Please don't,' begged Chelsea, cringing. 'Pleeeeeeeese?'

Jason read the note, 'Rexy. You always know what to say to make me feel better. You are such a darling...' Jason snickered. Chelsea covered her head in shame. Rex could see there was a smile on her face. The rest of the class chuckled and giggled.

'Don't read any more!' Chelsea begged.

But her plea fell on deaf ears.

Jason continued, 'If it wasn't for Mrs Titanic and her boring lesson on Mattresses or whatever they are, I'd come over there, jump all over you and-'

' _Okay, okay,_ that's quite enough,' Mrs Tantic declared. 'I don't think we want to hear any more of _that_.' She took the note from him, took a quick glance and it and then tore it to pieces. 'We _definitely_ don't want to hear any more of that.' She gave Chelsea a condescending look. 'Really Chelsea, I'm surprised you would write something like this.'

'The devil made me do it.' She covered her head again.

'I don't want to see any more notes being passed around.'

Chelsea uncovered her head and smiled across at Rex, her cheeks flushed.

Moments later Jacqui arrived back from her meeting. This time Miss Brannigan was there with her and it was inevitable that either Rex's or Sheep's name should be the next on the list. She said it in such a cheerful tone too. 'Rex Cassidy please.'

Rex accompanied Miss Brannigan out into the corridor. She beamed at him as they made their way to the office block. 'How are you?'

'Not bad.'

She gave him a smile. 'What have you been up to this time, huh? I don't know what's going on but Mr Andrews seems to be on a mission.'

'That's what I'm afraid of,' Rex replied as they neared the office block.

'Not just him either. I suspect Mr Upton is involved in this too. He's been doing a lot of whinging and whining lately. Although that's not exactly new. I'm forever having to deal with his crap. He's always making demands and expects me to do everything for him. I wish someone would do something about him, I really do.'

'I wish I could help with that, Miss B.'

She grinned. 'I hope he doesn't cause you any more trouble than what he causes me. Hey, I hear you are going to be the star attraction at the Te Arawa Junior Bachelor Auction in a couple of weeks?'

'I don't know about the star attraction.'

'Too modest. Hmmm. Maybe I might put in a bid myself.'

'That would raise a few eyebrows I'd think.'

'You are probably right. 'They stopped at the door to Mr Andrews' office. 'Well, Rexy. If there's anything I can do to help you out with your problems with Mr Andrews, you know where to find me.'

'Cheers.'

'I'll let you find your way from here.' She winked and left him standing outside Mr Andrews' door. Rex admired her curvaceous rear as it walked sexily out of sight and then turned. He was about to knock but then decided not to.

He simply bowled on in...

### CHAPTER 8:  
A Fate Worse than Mr Harris

It was the moment Tucker Pyles had dreaded all day long.

It was time to go home.

If there was one thing he hated more than getting up in the morning to go to school, it was returning home at the end of the day. The only small mercy given was that he didn't have to endure one of Mr Harris's hellacious Physical Education periods that day, so at least he still had a little energy left in him.

PE had been particularly torturous over the last week or two because the Annual Cross Country was coming up. So, Sergeant Major Harris was making them do practise runs around the course every PE period. Well, it could be worse. Practising for the Cross Country was far less strenuous than some of his other sadistic routines they had to endure. At least Mr Harris couldn't be everywhere on the course shooting paintballs at him with his AK47 Assault rifle. Still, sometimes he preferred Mr Harris to his mother.

He arrived at the doorstep of his house. It was a rundown old place on the outskirts of town. His father was a dairy worker at a factory just down the road. He didn't earn much and it was especially tough trying to support a family whose main goal in life was to eat as much as they possibly could. Both his mother and father were obese, although not quite as large as he was. He didn't see himself as fat though. All that good flab on his arms and around his gut he considered solid muscle. Anyone who said otherwise was looking to get a good ubbering.

'About time you got here,' his mother snarled at him as he walked into the house. She wore a plain blue dress with a badly stained apron over the top which looked more like it had been worn for weeks in a greasy oily garage than in a kitchen. She was short, stumpy and sour-faced, lacking in humour and constantly angry. If Tucker ever did anything right in her eyes, he wouldn't know because she would still have a go at him for something else. 'You're late!'

'Only a couple of minutes,' Tucker said, smelling the aroma of something unidentifiable bubbling away in a huge pot on the stove. The stove was a rusty old thing but it seemed to fit in well with the old wooden benches.

' _Don't be so darn cheeky!'_ His mother clipped him roughly across the ear. 'You're too fond of being cheeky. I ought to clip you across the ear.'

'You just did!' whined Tucker.

He received another swat. 'Don't you get smart with me, you cheeky sod. I won't have it. By curry, I'm getting sick and tired of your attitude. If you're not careful I'll give you a good strapping.'

'Sorry,' whimpered Tucker, rubbing his ear.

'So you jolly well should be. No respect whatsoever. I give birth to you, feed you good meals every day, wipe your backside for you and you still treat your mother like dirt. I don't know why I even bothered having you. You give me nothing but grief.' She gave him yet another clip across the ear.

'Oww! What was that for?'

'Because you're a pillock. I get sick of having to yell at you all the time and giving you slaps around the ear. But no matter how much I try and teach you how to behave, you still don't learn.'

Tucker did his best to let her harsh words wash off him. He usually could but sometimes found it hard. He hovered around the stove trying to work out what was cooking. 'Ubba! What's for tea, Ma?'

'Don't be so darn nosey. Just get out of my way. Carry on like this and you'll only get four helpings today instead of six.' She gave him another swipe across the ear, much to Tucker's mortification.

If it meant he was going to miss out on helpings he did not intend to rile her up further so got out while she was in a good mood.

'Go on, vamoose!' She kicked him in the lower leg. 'Go watch TV with that pillock of a father of yours... Like two jolly peas in a pod you are. Totally useless, the both of you.'

He made his way toward the door when his mother called out after him. 'Where do you think you're going?'

'You told me to go watch TV.'

'Don't be so daft, you lazy buffoon. Get over here and empty the scrap bucket. Lazy sod. Always trying to get out of your chores.' She grabbed and twisted his ear, drawing him closer. 'You're too darn lazy that's your problem. All you ever want to do is sit around watching TV. Well, it's about time you did some work for a change.'

Tucker picked up the small scrap bucket, an old ice cream container, which his mother kept on the bench. There was nothing in there apart from some pieces of brown matter at the bottom. Nothing was ever wasted at the Pyles household. Even the most bruised or rotten parts of vegetables were cooked. There were never any potato peels or eyes, no chopped off ends of beans, no off-cuts from the cabbages or lettuces. With a family with appetites like the Pyles, they couldn't afford to waste anything.

'There's hardly anything in here.'

'Get out there and empty it!' She gave him another hard kick. 'Always making excuses not to do work. Hurry up; you should have emptied it by now.'

He took the scrap bucket and hobbled outside to their garden which was overgrown with weeds. There he emptied it into the compost heap. After returning with the bucket and being yelled at for taking so long, he was finally able to join his father in the lounge, a rather cramped room with a ratty old lounge suite and an old box television set. They had a fireplace but it was never used for its intended purpose. It had become a trash dump for when people were too lazy to take their rubbish out to the bin. Occasionally Tucker's mother forced him or his dad to clear it but usually not until it overflowed.

The walls were bare, except for the portrait above the fireplace of Puss in Boots, their pet cocker spaniel. His father had found it amusing to name him after a cat. Family photographs were relegated to a dusty cabinet top in the corner of the room, pretty much out of sight. Whenever Tucker suggested they put up a family photograph in the centre spot, his mother would laugh and say, 'Why would we want a picture of you fat motley lot up on my wall? Do you want to make our guests sick?'

At least his dad was a decent sort. Like Tucker, he was extremely large, well endowed with Pyles "muscle" and even had the same curly dark hair. He had a double chin, like both Tucker and his mother but generally had a smile, unlike his wife. Tucker and his father usually got along and he didn't have to worry about being shouted at or physically abused by him.

Tucker's dad currently sat in one of the tatty easy chairs with his feet up on the stained wooden coffee table. He wore a grubby white singlet and tight green shorts, his belly sagging out over the front. 'How's it going, Tucker? Manage to get a date with that cute girl you like?'

'Who, Holly?'

'I thought her name was Mandy or something.'

'Oh yeah, Mandy. Nah, Holly's my girl this week.'

Puss nuzzled up to his leg, so he reached down and stroked his head a couple of times. Puss licked his hand in response.

'Can't keep up with all your girlfriends. You have a different one every time I ask.'

' _Huh!'_ His mother's voice echoed from the kitchen. 'The day Tucker gets a girlfriend will be the day this planet gets taken over by invaders from Mars and she'll be one of them!'

Tucker's father ignored her, 'You know there's that bachelor auction coming up in about a week. Why don't you put your name forward for that? If the girls are into you as much as you say, I'm sure you'll get a good price. The money goes to charity and you'll get a free dinner out of it too.'

'I've already put my name forward.' Tucker beamed.

His mother called out from the kitchen, 'Oh for heaven's sake, I can just imagine it. Tucker will be the only one who will actually COST the committee money. They'll have to PAY someone to place a bid on him. Either that or have to pay for the psychological treatment the girl will need after.'

Tucker felt he had to stick up for himself this time and used the same argument he used with Ash and Hew. 'That's not true, Ma. I'll get loads of bids. You'll see. The girls will be clamouring to bid for me.'

'Huh! That'll be the day! More likely, they'll be clamouring to get out of the building to get away from you. I can just imagine it. When they're asking for bids all the women will be keeping their hands under their chairs just in case they get mistaken for having made a bid. Either that or people will be bidding to get you off the stage so the next bachelor can come on.' She let out a cackle of laughter, sounding like a witch out of an old 70's movie or TV show.

Tucker scowled but dared not argue anymore in case he got another slap or a kick. He had to push Puss down as he was trying to climb up onto him and lick his face. 'Down, Puss.'

His mother must have heard him say that. 'Now if Puss were at the bachelor auction you might get lucky. Maybe he'll put a bid on you? Or a bark. Ha ha ha ha ha! It would certainly have to be a dog who made a bid, I'll tell you that for sure.'

Tucker hoped desperately no dogs would bid for him. He wanted to have a beautiful date for the dinner.

His father looked at him sympathetically and spoke in a soft voice. 'Don't worry, pal. Us Pyles men are chick magnets. I know you'll get some high bids coming your way.'

Tucker smiled.

Alas, somehow his mother heard that too. 'Len, stop giving him delusions of grandeur. The sooner he realises that you Pyles men are a bunch of deadbeats, the sooner he'll get used to being one himself.'

Tucker's father rolled his eyes. He flicked the stations on the TV with his remote control, settling on what looked like a detective show. 'So anyway, Tucks. Still having trouble with that bully? What's his name? Cassidy?'

Puss once again attempted to climb up onto Tucker, so he shoved him back down. 'Oh yeah, he's as big an ubbhead as ever. One of these days I'm gonna teach him a lesson.'

'The guy shouldn't be allowed to stay at school. He should be expelled.'

Tucker's mother called out from the kitchen once more, 'Tucker should learn to stand up for himself! Your problem is you're too much of a softy. Letting people push you around all the time.'

'You ought to clobber him one,' his father said. 'I'm sure you're ten times tougher than that ubbhead.'

'Yeah...' Tucker didn't want to talk about Rex. He had to change the subject somehow. 'Anyway, how was work?'

His father drank from a stained coffee mug and planted it back on the table beside him. ' _Don't ask._ I'm getting fed up with the rubbish I have to put up with there. And what do I get for it? A measly pay-packet that barely covers our food bill. It's a good thing your mother works part-time, otherwise, we'd never make ends meet.'

Tucker's mother waddled into the room. 'Speaking of working. I've got something I want to talk to you both about. Come on now. Dinner's ready, we're having it at the table. Hurry up or I'll eat it myself.'

Both Tucker and his father cried out in delight. 'UUUUUUBBAAAAAAA!'

Tucker and his dad bolted into the kitchen and quickly took their chairs at the table. In the middle sat a huge pot and three plates piled high with some green-brown looking stuff, which didn't resemble anything Tucker had ever seen dished out before.

'What the hell is this?' his father asked.

'Never you mind, just eat it! For goodness bloody sake, I slave away in front of a hot stove cooking you good grub and all you can do is insult my cooking?' She took a wooden spoon and attempted to whack Tucker's father across the head with it. He blocked it with his arm and cried out in pain as hot gravy, or whatever it was supposed to be - splashed over his face. She ended up giving him a kick instead. 'Just eat it!'

Tucker prided himself on being an expert when it came to food but on this occasion, he was stumped to identify it. There appeared to be some vegetable matter in there and something that looked a lot like meat. Nevertheless, he wasn't complaining. He was happy to fill his belly and considering how awful it looked, it tasted fine.

'So, what did you want to talk about?' Tucker's dad asked before he gutsed into his meal.

'Jobs,' said Tucker's mother coldly. 'There needs to be some changes around here.'

Tucker's dad gulped down a mouthful. 'Like what?'

'I'm getting fed up with doing all the work. All I ever do is slave away for you two ingrates and for what? Absolutely nothing. Well, that's about to change. I'm quitting my part-time job.'

Tucker's father almost choked on his food and gaped at her, green mush dribbling from his mouth. He finally came to his senses and spoke, 'You can't do that. We wouldn't be able to afford to live without your extra income.'

'We'll get the extra income.'

'How?'

'Tucker will take on an after-school job.'

' _What?'_ Tucker's father stared.

Tucker flinched at the thought. He shook his head, trying to clear the confusion. This had to be a bad dream. As much as having extra pocket money appealed to him, he didn't want to have to work for it.

His mother held a fork of the green-brown mush near her lips. 'It will get him out of the house. We can finally find a use for him. After all, so far, he's been about as useful as a glob of spit in a firefight. Maybe now, he's old enough to pull his weight a bit.' She shovelled it into her mouth.

'Pull my weight?' Tucker stared in horror. He shuddered to think how he would do that. All that solid muscle weight would make the task almost impossible.

She munched on her food as she talked. 'Think about it. Tucker earns his keep, we get to keep our income roughly the same and I get a little more free time to do what I want.'

'Like what?' Tucker's father challenged her. 'Watch the daytime soaps on TV?'

'Mind what you say, you cheeky sod!' She delivered him a vicious thump to the arm, 'Don't talk to me like that, you big galoot. You're lucky to have a woman like me looking after you. Without me, you'd be a nobody. And Tucker, don't you laugh!'

She thumped him too.

' _Oww!_ I wasn't laughing.'

'Don't lie to me, you cheeky sod. You were laughing.' She gave him another thump.

Tucker flinched and as he munched on another mouthful of food, continued to ponder over the horror of having to work when he would rather be relaxing but then he thought about the extra money he could have. There was also the possibility it might lead to a full-time job and then he could quit school. 'You know, it might be cool getting a job. I know what I could do, I could do some acting. Maybe on stage.'

His mother nearly choked on a mouthful of dinner. 'Huh! You on stage? The only stage anyone would want you on would be the first one out of town.' She burst into a cackle of laughter as if she'd come up with the world's most original joke. 'Oh, come on, _laugh!_ What's the matter with you? When I don't want you to laugh, you do and when I genuinely do say something funny all you can do is look at me like a couple of stunned mullets. _Laugh I said!_ '

Both Tucker and his father put on a fake laugh for her benefit.

'That was really funny, Ma,' Tucker said.

'Of course, it jolly well was. I have a sharp wit I do, it's just most of the time it goes straight over your head because you're both a couple of gormless buffoons.'

Tucker engulfed another mouthful.

' _I've got it,'_ Tucker said, determined to think of some job he could do that his mother wouldn't mock him for suggesting. 'I could work over at the garage down the road and fix cars.'

'Huh! Knowing you, you'd probably cause more damage than you mend.'

'Well, what about working at Rob Mason's farm. I could milk cows and drive tractors and do the feeding out and all that stuff.'

'Don't be daft! With you in the cowshed, you'd more than likely curdle the jolly milk and anyone who'd let you loose on a tractor would need to be locked up in a mental hospital. Oh no, Tucker, don't you think anyone's gonna put you in a responsible role such as that. Besides, there's no need for you to go hunting for a job. I already have one lined up for you.'

Tucker paused from eating. 'What is it?'

She delivered Tucker a smirk. 'That will be a surprise, won't it? You will just have to wait until tomorrow night to find out.'

### CHAPTER 9:  
Mr Andrews Stacks the Deck

Mr Andrews hoped he had done the right thing. Suspending Rex Cassidy had been a calculated risk but a worthwhile one. He had already spoken to Rex's parents, who were not happy and threatened to withdraw their funding from the school. Mr Andrews advised them they would have to speak with the board of trustees about it in two weeks' time.

He had spoken to nearly all the parents of the girls involved in the class-cutting incident too. He had made sure he named Rex as the ringleader. He worried a little about Jacqui Donaldson because she insisted it was her idea. He claimed he didn't believe her and that she was just trying to cover for Rex. He had to stand by that claim to make the suspension of Rex justifiable.

He's also presented a list of other infractions to the school board too, including the claims made by the two boys who'd insisted Rex had threatened them with violence. That, along with the other charges on his list, would be difficult to prove but it didn't concern him right now. He just needed fuel to add to the already crackling fire.

He was still uncomfortable over it. He had found out Holly Robinson was indeed sick and the group had been worried about her. Their actions were reasonable under the circumstances. He would have let them off normally.

Rex had been calm over the whole thing. If he was shocked or horrified at being suspended, he hadn't shown it. As usual, the boy started out cocky - full of jokes and silly comments...

'I'm getting a sense of déjà vu about this,' he had said as he leaned back in the chair opposite Andrews. 'The last time something like this happened, a certain school principal ended up losing his job.'

Andrews tapped his pen irritably on his desk. 'For your information, he did not lose his job. He stood down from his job to take advantage of a better opportunity here in Te Arawa.'

Rex snickered. 'You don't think I haven't heard from my friends back at Taukauri, Mr A? I know all about why you stood down. You were pretty much forced out and it was down to the school no longer getting the financial support of my parents because you expelled me. Teachers, parents and board members alike were royally pissed off about it.'

Mr Andrews tried to hide his mortification. It was information he had done his best to keep a secret. He didn't want people in Te Arawa to know he had left Taukauri in disgrace. 'You need to stop listening to silly rumours. Do you really think your fellow students at Taukauri would have an accurate picture of why I left? Seriously? Students aren't privy to that information.'

Rex chuckled. 'You don't know my sources. My parents especially were involved in the whole affair. The school even invited them to bring me back but of course, by then my parents had bought their new house here in Te Arawa and we were already settled in. So, you can quit the crap, Mr Andrews. I'm not stupid. And it seems to me you're once again going over the board's head trying to have me kicked out of school.'

'Well, you are not as smart as you like to think you are.' Andrews smirked. 'You are completely and utterly wrong, lad. I will _not_ be going over the boards head. I am going through the correct channels and I will be meeting with the board about this. Not only that but I will have the support of parents as well. So, no, Rex I am not doing this under my own authority and the school board will have no choice but to expel you once I... and others have stated our cases.'

About then, the jokes and the smug self-assuredness of Rex Cassidy petered away. It gave Mr Andrews a feeling of self-satisfaction himself. Nevertheless, he had still expected more of a reaction. He had hoped maybe Rex would get upset. Then maybe he could have had to forcibly remove him from the office and add even more justification to his suspension. However, Rex remained calm. Frustratingly calm and almost accepting of the verdict. He even left the office without even so much as a scowl.

Andrews found it fun to hear the reactions of some of the girl's parents. As he had hoped, they were full of questions about Rex and Mr Andrews was _forced_ to tell them how he was a bad example to their daughters. He didn't lay it on too thick, or reveal too much detail but he did make it clear there were maybe things going on they weren't aware of.

As expected, he didn't get any immediate show of support but there was definite concern there and he knew he had successfully planted the seeds of doubt in their minds about the boy. He was confident as they probed deeper, they would find out quite a bit about him they didn't like. Mr Andrews would ring them again in a few days to see if he could encourage them to come to the board meeting.

The only parents left to ring were Chelsea Brown's. He was a little sorry he had to ring them, as he didn't think Chelsea was a bad girl. She had just been misled. But it seemed to him her parents were the most likely candidates to get onto his side.

He picked up the phone and started dialling but a knock came at the door. He grunted and put the phone back down. 'Come in!'

His eyes widened when all three of the girls he had spoken to entered the office one after the other.

'What do you three want?' He groaned, knowing full well why they were there.

'Please, Mr Andrews. We have to talk to you,' Chelsea said. 'You can't suspend Rex. It wasn't his fault.'

'It was my idea,' Jacqui declared. 'I told you that. Why are you picking on Rex? It's not fair.'

Mr Andrews frowned. 'It is irrelevant whose fault it was. Rex has received so many chances and so many warnings. Things have gone too far. This straw has broken the camel's back girls. If I were you, I would be thankful I haven't suspended you three too.'

'It's not fair,' Laura piped up. 'You have no right to suspend him.'

'Of course, I have the right. I am the school principal. I must do what is best for this school and you girls. His influence on you is having a negative effect, especially on your schoolwork. Your grades are suffering and it's because of him.'

'That's not true!' Jacqui said.

'We work hard,' Laura insisted. 'We make up for it, we always do.'

'You can't suspend him. This school wouldn't be the same without him,' Chelsea said, tears filling her eyes.

Mr Andrews leaned back in his chair and folded his arms. 'I'm sorry but it's done. And if I have my way he won't be coming back.'

Jacqui kicked one of the chairs sending it sliding sideways. 'You jerk! You are just deliberately trying to have him expelled just because you don't like him. Just because at your old school when he was a student there, you expelled him and lost your job because of it.'

Andrews did his best to keep his cool. 'Jacqui! I will not have you talk to me like that. He's had his chances. Any other school would have suspended him a long time ago. He must go, girls, there is no two ways about it. Now if you don't get out of my office I will change my mind and suspend you all too.'

In some ways, Andrews felt bad for them. Rex had gained many supporters. Nevertheless, Mr Andrews was determined to win this particular war.

A couple of the girls gave him dirty looks as they departed. Jacqui, the last one out, slammed the door.

He picked up the phone and dialled a number. The time had come to talk to the Browns.

He was pleased when Mrs Brown answered the phone.

'Ah, hello, Mrs Brown. This is Doug Andrews here, Principal of Te Arawa College.'

'Oh hello, Mr Andrews. What can I do for you?'

'I'm afraid this is one of those calls I don't like making.'

'Oh no,' came her reply. 'Please don't tell me Chelsea has been skipping class again.'

A warm feeling of confidence came upon him. 'I'm afraid so, Mrs Brown.'

'I don't understand it. Why is she doing that again?'

Andrews leaned back in his chair and placed his feet up on his desk. 'Well, I'm afraid some of the people she keeps company with are not particularly good influences. I must admit, Mrs Brown, it does worry me a little. According to her school record, she started out as a model student but ever since she started keeping company with a particular student, I'm afraid her attitude has changed for the worst.'

'What? Who? Jacqui Donaldson? Rog Shepherd?'

'They can be a handful those two but I'm more concerned about another individual she spends time with.'

'Who?'

Andrews bobbed his toes up and down as if listening to music. 'I don't like to name names but you do have a right to know, after all, you are her parent. But I'm afraid it's a boy she has a particular liking to by the name of Rex Cassidy.'

'Rex? But he is such a nice boy. He was so helpful to my daughter. He really cares about her. He's always been so polite to me and my husband.'

Andrews smirked, and feigned awkwardness, 'Mrs Brown... please don't tell anyone I told you this but I think Rex wants to impress you because he has his eye on your daughter. And well... I'd be worried about that because he is like that with the other girls' parents too. I will let you draw your own conclusions there.'

'What? Are you saying he is using my daughter?'

'I wouldn't want to ever suggest such a thing as I don't know what his motives are but he is friendly with a lot of girls at school. And well, his behaviour with members of the opposite sex is one reason why I am trying to have him expelled.'

' _Expelled?_ Is he really that bad?'

Mr Andrews bobbed his toes a little more. 'Oh, I could tell you a lot of things you would be shocked over but unfortunately, the Privacy Act forbids me from talking to you about this boy's behaviour. I'm sure if you did a little probing, you would find out many things. I'm just worried about Chelsea. I am worried about her being hurt or led astray further.'

'Yes. Now I'm worried too.'

Andrews felt pleased with that. 'You can rest assured I will do all I can to make sure this boy is effectively dealt with but it may not be that easy. The school board are resistant to expulsions and I will have to have all the support I can to have it carried out. Unfortunately, I may not be able to gather enough support. Not unless concerned parents stand up and say something.'

'If what you are saying is true then I will want to do everything I can to have this boy kept away from my daughter.'

Another knock came at the door. Mr Andrews muffled a groan and lowered his feet back to the floor. At least he had said everything he wanted to say and had Mrs Brown right where he wanted her. 'Look, Mrs Brown, I'm sorry but I have another appointment. I'm going to have to go now but please feel free to ring me at any stage about this. I would most definitely like to talk to you about it again anyway.'

'All right, Mr Andrews,' said Mrs Brown, still sounding quite disturbed. 'I will call you again. I need some time to think. You have me worried.'

He ended the call and felt satisfied.

Another knock came at the door this time a little louder. 'Alright, alright, come in!'

It was Miss Brannigan and with her was a young teenaged girl whose most distinguishing feature was her bright golden hair. He had never seen hair like it before in his life. Not only that but she had the face to go with it: striking green eyes, full lips and a rounded chin. He almost felt ashamed of himself for staring at her; after all, she was only a child.

He pulled himself together and smiled pleasantly. 'Why, hello there,'

'This is Daryl Chambers, Mr Andrews. She starts here today.'

'Of course, Daryl! I should have guessed. Where is your mother? She should be here.'

Daryl's flittered her eyes around the office. 'She's at a job interview. She told me to come in on my own.'

'That's a pity. She should have been here. But never mind, I guess we can do this without her. Thank you, Miss Brannigan, I will handle things from here.'

### CHAPTER 10:  
Welcoming in the New Girl

All was quiet in Mrs Tantic's Maths class that day. The atmosphere was heavy and Chelsea and her classmates sat quietly at their desks. There were few smiles and nothing in the way of idle chatter like there usually was. Whenever Mrs Tantic asked a question, nobody bothered to answer. The only person who seemed in high spirits was Tucker Pyles.

Chelsea couldn't believe Rex had been suspended. She was having a tough time holding back tears and came close to going to sickbay to claim she wasn't feeling well.

Sheep, who sat next to her, leaned across and spoke to her softly. 'Hey, Chels. Don't worry. Everything will be okay.'

She didn't reply. She didn't feel like talking to him.

He reached out and touched her arm. 'You know, it's not like he was dedicated to you or anything, so you don't need to feel as though you owe him anything.'

That comment irked her greatly. Sure, what Sheep said about Rex not being dedicated to her was true, but Rex had done more for her than anyone could have imagined. He'd boosted her self-esteem big time. He'd made her realise she was worth something and that she was desirable.

Miss Brannigan arrived at the door. For a second Chelsea thought maybe she was going to be called to Mr Andrews' office again. She breathed a quiet sigh of relief when she saw a new student standing behind her.

'Hi, Mrs Tantic. Your newest student has arrived. Meet Daryl Chambers.'

'Ah, Daryl. Come on in please.' Miss Tantic smiled. 'Good to have you with us.'

Chelsea noticed the way the boys stopped what they were doing to stare at the new girl. Chelsea couldn't blame them. As well as her golden hair, she had a figure guys drooled over.

'Class...' Mrs Tantic said. 'This is Daryl. I'm sure you will all make her feel welcome. Daryl, why don't you go sit over there?' She pointed to the vacant desk where Rex normally sat.

'That's Rex's desk,' one of the other girls said sadly.

'I'm sorry, Lisa. He's no longer with us. Daryl can sit there.'

Daryl hesitated. She then walked over and slowly sat at the desk. She glanced around at the faces, not smiling. Her eyes met Chelsea and as hard as it was for Chelsea to do, she forced a smile. Daryl smiled back.

'Daryl,' Mrs Tantic said. 'Today we're doing revision on Matrices. Well actually, we're going over what we covered yesterday as most of the class are still struggling with this subject. Do you know Matrices?'

'No.' Daryl squirmed in her seat. She fiddled with her pencil case and her eyes flickered around at her surroundings.

'Never mind. You'll soon learn what they are. We will be studying Matrices for the next week or so.'

Several of Chelsea's classmates groaned. She wasn't impressed herself but remained silent, fiddling with her pen.

'They're not that difficult.' Mrs Tantic glanced around the classroom. She sighed. 'Please. You are all taking this way too hard. It's not like you will never see him again, is it?'

The silence continued. Despite what Rex had said in his note to Chelsea the day before, she still worried. What if Rex's parents moved him to another school? They might move out of town like they had when he was expelled from his previous school.

'Come now.' Mrs Tantic went to the whiteboard and drew up two arrays of numbers on the board. 'Who can add these two matrixes together?' She turned to look at the class.

Nobody raised their hands. Nobody even called out.

'Chelsea? Can you?'

Chelsea shook her head and looked down at her pen. She didn't even want to try.

'Won't you at least try, Chelsea?'

She shook her head again and refused to look up.

Mrs Tantic sighed in frustration once again. 'It was _only_ a suspension. He'll be back in a few weeks.'

'No, he won't,' Laura piped up. 'Not if Mr Andrews and you have your way.'

'What do you mean _me_?'

Laura huffed. 'We all know how much you hate Rex and want him expelled.'

'I don't hate Rex.'

' _Whatever._ ' Laura scowled.

'It's true! I don't hate him. I don't hate any of my students.'

Chelsea piped up. 'But you are going to try and have him expelled, aren't you?'

Will Ullman, one of the class tough guys and good friend of Rex, spoke up, 'Yeah, you can't tell us you aren't right behind it.'

Mrs Tantic stood straight. 'I don't believe this! For one thing, you are all jumping to conclusions. For another thing, I would be quite within my rights to want him expelled. He is a law unto himself.'

'He does your job for you,' one classmate said in a coarse manner.

'What do you mean he does my job for me?'

'He explains things far better than you do. We have trouble with maths and he helps us. When he explains it, it makes sense.'

Mrs Tanic reeled. She paced across the room and then back. She turned her eyes back to the student who had spoken. 'Are you criticizing the way I teach?'

Silence, once again, reigned supreme.

'I can't believe that.' Mrs Tantic brow furrowed. Her voice became a little shaky now and it sounded pained, 'Come now, I try my best. Students like Rex make my job impossible.'

Again, no one replied.

She glanced from one student to the other in disbelief. She then calmly put her marker pen back on her desk, turned and walked out of the classroom.

For several moments, they sat in stunned silence. Chelsea had seen her storm out of the class in a huff several times but this time it was different. She had _not_ blown her stack and had _not_ screamed at them.

Normally chatter would have commenced immediately after she left. There would have been much joking and laughter but still, no one spoke. They exchanged quizzical looks with each other, not quite sure what to say.

In the end, Tucker opened his big mouth. ' _Wooo_ , Mrs Titanic's lost it, huh?' He burst out laughing.

'Just shut up, Tucker, you butthead!' Jacqui ordered.

Others voiced their agreement.

For a moment, it looked as though he _was_ going to shut up but then he rose to his feet, his face darkening. 'Get ubbed!' He glared at Jacqui with venom. 'Who's gonna stop me, huh? Rex isn't around to back you up, is he? Looks like Cassidy isn't the king of this school no more.'

'Tucker, _can it_.' Rick Maverick said. 'Don't start with that ruddy crap again. _Damn_ , I would have thought you had learnt your lesson by now.'

Tucker climbed from his chair and moved swiftly over to Mav's desk. Mav rose to his feet to meet him. Fortunately, for Mav, the burly Will Ullman or Wal as he was known, stood and moved up beside Mav.

'Watch it, Pyles!'

At that moment, two other boys arose. Ash and Hew.

Now it seemed as though there was going to be a standoff. If a fight broke out now, Wal and Mav would certainly come off worse.

Some of the bolder boys stood to their feet too. And then another, Vin. But he moved up beside Tucker and his two hoods.

Chelsea stiffened, dread filling her body. Surely this was not going to happen right here in class?

Tucker lunged at Wal but Wal shoved him back sending him crashing into a desk behind him. Ash and Hew moved forward, but then the new girl, who sat right in the middle of it all, jerked to her feet and slammed her chair aside, causing a bang and a crash.

' _My god_ , what the _heck_ is going on here? Are you guys crazy?' Her eyes were wide and her feminine frame trembled. She sent a back hand slap to the arm of Wal. She did the same to Tucker. 'Just stop it!'

Both Wal and Tucker stared at her, open-jawed.

' _What kind of school is this_? What the heck is going on here? _A_ _re you_ _all_ _mad_?'

Nobody spoke. Chelsea wondered what was going through her head. Perhaps she would have reacted similarly to what was going on if she was new. However, she doubted she'd have the guts to stand in the middle of it like that.

Daryl glared around the class. 'Have I come to a school full of _psychos_?'

Nobody replied. They stared at her speechless, including Tucker and his friends.

'At first, I thought someone had died, I could understand that but some guy getting suspended? Why has everyone gone nuts over that? _Geeze!_ '

Chelsea's pulse raced but she felt like she needed to back up what the Daryl had said. She stood too and anxiously faced Tucker and his three allies. 'She's right... this is crazy. You guys have to stop. Please, Tucker. Don't do this, not now.'

Tucker glared at her for a few seconds but then his shoulders relaxed. Joe, Ash and Vin still had staunch looks on their faces but their expressions softened when they saw the other guys back down. Wal returned to his desk slowly and so did the others.

Tucker smirked and returned to position, followed by his heavies.

Chelsea breathed easy. She turned her eyes to Daryl who quietly collected her gear from her desk and headed for the exit. Chelsea felt the need to follow her out to try to help her understand the situation. She exited as well and was just in time to see Daryl disappear around the side of the block. She followed her around and found her sitting under the trees, her face buried in her hands.

She walked over and sat next to her.

Daryl glanced up. 'What do you want?' Tears filled her eyes.

'I want to talk to you.'

'Why?' Daryl gripped the books she had on her lap.

'Just to say I'm sorry.'

'Why?'

'About all that stuff back there... look, it's not normally like that. Today has been a crazy day.'

' _Crazy_?' Daryl raised her eyebrow.

Chelsea ran her fingers through her blonde locks. 'I'm not sure what to tell you. Rex... the boy who was suspended... he's important to us. We're his friends. Well most of us are and it was like a shock when we found out.'

Daryl smirked. 'People get suspended.'

'Rex is special. Very special.'

'What's so special about him?'

'Gee, so many things. He's not just another friend.'

'So, he's your boyfriend?'

'Not really... well, sort of... Okay, he's not my boyfriend but he is very important to me and a lot of others here. Everybody is furious about the suspension.'

'Obviously not that fat guy.'

'He's a creep. He's always hated Rex. He's nothing but a bully and now that Rex has gone, he's trying to reassert his dominance.'

Daryl leaned back and let out a long breath. 'Wants to be the top dog, huh?'

Chelsea sighed. 'That's typical of Tucker. Without Rex around, I don't know how we can deal with him.'

'Is he really that bad?'

'Yes. Before Rex came along Tucker was unbearable.'

'Rex must be quite the guy, huh?'

'He is. And with him gone, it's not just going to be Tucker who starts trying to stamp his authority on people. There are others too who didn't like Rex. Without him around, they'll also make themselves unpopular again.'

'You talk as though Rex is some type of crusader who came along and put all bullies in their places.'

'He kind of is. He'll stand up for anyone who gets picked on, even the unpopular kids.'

'Wow. Unreal.'

'You're not kidding.'

'I really have come to a school of crazy people.' She laughed.

It made Chelsea feel good that she did. It meant she had cheered her up in some way. She laughed herself. 'My name's Chelsea by the way.'

She slid her books off her lap onto the bench beside her. 'Daryl... As you know.' She extended her hand.

Chelsea shook it. 'Where are you from?'

'Matamata. From way up North.'

'You have an Aussie accent.'

'Yeah, I know. I'm originally from there. We moved over here when I was seven. Been in Matamata since that time. Eight years.'

'It's still a pretty strong accent.'

'I know. But I'm gradually losing it.'

'Gee, you sure like to move long distances.'

'My mother's new job. Didn't want to leave Matamata but you know how it is.'

Chelsea smiled. She felt glad that Daryl was comfortable enough to talk to her. 'What does your Dad do?'

'My dad?' Daryl asked. She slid her hand back on her books and toyed with the cover of one of them. 'Oh... he died when I was four years old. Drowned in a boating accident.'

Chelsea flinched. After all the hard work she'd done to cheer Daryl up, she'd gone and put her foot in her mouth. 'Oh no, I'm sorry.'

'It's okay. I was so young when he died, and I hardly remember him.'

'Must be tough travelling around with just your mother.'

She turned her eyes and gazed over the building in front of them. 'My mother and I get on great.'

Chelsea got the feeling she didn't want to talk about her mother, so changed the subject. 'That hair of yours, it's amazing, is that your natural hair colour?'

Daryl smiled and turned back to her. 'It certainly is.'

'I notice you turned a lot of heads in there.'

She rolled her eyes. ' _Boys_.'

'You're used to it, huh?'

She smiled and they both cracked up.

'Oh well,' Daryl said, drawing her books back onto her lap. 'I suppose we'd better get back to class.'

'Yeah. Things should have calmed down by now. Hopefully Mrs Titanic will be back.'

A gleam appeared in Daryl's eyes. _'You hope?'_

'Not really.' Chelsea giggled. They both burst out laughing and headed back for the classroom.

### CHAPTER 11:  
Girls with Secrets

After school Chelsea joined a few of her friends to meet up at Holly's place. She seemed to be a lot better today.

'How ya feeling?' Laura asked Holly as the group assembled in her family's lounge.

Her father was still at work and her mother busy out in the garden. Wal, Chelsea and Laura had come from school. Rex had arrived shortly afterwards.

'Much better,' Holly said with a smile as she sat comfortably in one of the easy chairs with her feet up.

'Did you find out what was wrong?' Laura asked.

'Just a recurring bug.' Holly smiled. 'They say it should be gone in a few weeks.'

'A few weeks?' Chelsea stared. 'Does that mean you'll be out of school until then?'

She adjusted the back of her chair by pushing on the armrests. 'Only if it re-establishes itself. I'm expecting to be back at school tomorrow.'

'Gee, I hope it's not contagious.'

'No, someone else would have caught it by now.'

Wal snickered. 'Yes, Mav for one, considering how much tonsil wrestling you two do.'

'Wal!' Holly gave him a dirty look.

The big burly comedian smirked. 'Just jokin', Hol.'

Holly turned her eyes to Rex who sat on the couch with Chelsea and Laura either side of him. 'I still can't get over Andrews suspending you. I mean, it totally sucks big time. Don't they even care about all the money your parents pay the school?'

Rex leaned back on the couch looking completely relaxed. 'Mr Andrews doesn't. He's determined to have me expelled no matter what the cost.'

'What a bummer. That's like - you know - a total travesty. I just can't believe it.'

Rex grinned. 'He's trying to drum up support amongst the staff and parents to speak up against me at the next board meeting.'

'How do you know that?' Laura asked.

'Mr Harris.' Rex sipped on a glass of orange juice. 'He keeps me informed on these things. Apparently, Andrews already has Uppity, the Reaper, Nut and the Titanic disaster ready to sink me.' His deep-blue eyes twinkled merrily.

Chelsea couldn't see any humour in it at all. 'Good lord, they will hang you out to dry. The board will have to expel you.'

Wal intervened, 'Yeah, Nah, that's if they believe them.'

Rex chuckled. 'Well, who knows, they may not. The big thing is money. The board won't want to lose the grant my parents are paying and they'll have to be careful my parents don't sue. Mum and Dad are waiting for one little slip up from Andrews and they will bring in the lawyers. But so far, he's been very careful.'

'Are your parents pissed with you? Laura asked. 'Mine would be. It's not like you're a model student who's done nothing wrong.'

'Mum's often moaning that I need to be a little more discrete when it comes to girls and that I should give less cheek to the teachers. But they're all for me standing up against bullies. Neither Mum nor Dad have taught me to be passive when it comes to injustice. Makes no difference if it's kids or adults.'

'You know those two guys you dealt with who were bullying that year-tenner the other day. They've been telling other people you threatened to punch their lights out-'

Chelsea gasped. 'That is such a lie!'

'I know,' Larua replied. 'There's even talk they told Mr Andrews that. If he believes him, stuff like that might come back to haunt you.'

Chelsea flinched at the thought, but Rex's remained cheerful. 'I would hope he'd not just take their word for it.'

Wal winced. 'He could be stacking up heaps of bogus evidence against you. You might find yourself in the poo if he gets much more support.'

Laura snorted. 'Well, we have to make sure he doesn't get it.'

'There's no way we're going to let them expel you,' Chelsea said. She lifted her glass of juice towards her mouth. 'We'll stage a demonstration at the board meeting. We'll even go on strike and refuse to go to school.' She drank.

Wal grinned. 'Now that's a plan.'

Rex sighed. 'Look, I don't want you guys getting in trouble because of me. If you do something like that, it'll just convince the board, even more, I'm a bad role model.'

Holly huffed. 'There must be something we can do.'

'Well at the moment, I'm not sure. We may have to play things by ear for a bit. Find out what happens. Laura, have your parents been contacted yet?'

'Yes. They said Mr Andrews had rung them and told them about me skipping class with you. Mum was pissed. She said Mr Andrews was worried you were a bad influence on me. But I told her it was a load of crap and Andrews just plain didn't like Rex and that's why he had him suspended.'

'Did she believe you?'

'Yes. I told her the truth, I told her you were a wonderful guy and you care about your friends. I said that Mr Andrews automatically took a disliking to you just because you were rich and your parents paid the school a large grant. And that he had a vendetta against you after what happened at his old school. I told her Mr Andrews saw it as a bribe and that's why he didn't like it. What about you, Chels? Have your parents been called yet?'

'I don't know.' Chelsea squirmed in her chair. 'Not last night, anyway. I'm dreading going home this afternoon though. They're bound to know now. And I don't think they're going to be as understanding as your parents, Laura.'

'Well,' Rex said. 'We'll suss it out, Chels, but come on guys, let's not get depressed over this. I'm not.'

They gradually moved on to other topics. The atmosphere lightened a bit and they exited outside and went for a walk down the road to a nearby park. They ran into Pete Cook and another classmate named Denise. The two joined them as they entered the park, which contained a play area for kids and picnic tables sheltered by willows.

A cool breeze wafted across the freshly mowed grass but the sun had broken through the clouds to provide a little warmth. Chelsea sat alone with Holly on a bench while the others messed around near the kid's play area. Rex pushed Laura and Denise on the swings while Wal competed against Pete, doing pull-ups and other exercises on the monkey bars. When it came to the tests of strength, Wal was superior, but Pete had the agility and was lighter, so was able to fly across the bars as if he really were a monkey, while Wal struggled to get even halfway across.

Chelsea took in a breath full of fresh cool air, taking in the scent of freshly cut grass. 'Are you sure you're okay, Holly?'

'I'm okay. I guess being sick has - you know - brought me down a bit.'

Chelsea sensed something else was wrong so probed for more. 'You sure there's nothing else? Is everything between you and Mav okay?'

Holly's eyes widened. 'Of course. Everything's sweet. Why shouldn't it be?'

'Oh... just that you two had some problems there for a little while. I wondered whether everything had been sorted out.'

'Everything was sorted out,' she said firmly and said nothing more, fixing her eyes on the group at the swings.

Did Chelsea imagine it or was there a tear in her eye?

Holly wiped her eye.

'Holly, what's wrong?' Chelsea asked, now feeling certain something was wrong.

Her voice wavered a bit, 'Nothing. Honestly,'

'Holly.' Chelsea touched her arm. ' _What's wrong_?'

A little anger crept into her friend's voice. 'Everything's fine!' She rose to her feet. 'It's sweet. Come on. I want Rex to push me on the swing. Why should Denise and Laura have all the attention?'

Holly bowled across, pulled herself up onto one of the swings and swung herself. Chelsea sat in one beside her, wondering whether she should push the issue of what was getting her down. There probably wasn't much point anyway. With the others right there, she wasn't likely to open up. Maybe Chelsea needed to talk to her without any of the others around. Somewhere private.

Wal appeared behind her. 'Want me to push you, Chels?'

'Sure, okay, thanks.'

'I hope you didn't get into the poo with your parents for cutting class,' he said in an unusually sensitive manner. Chelsea had rarely seen Wal express any concern for anyone but himself.

'I don't think any amount of hoping is going to get me out of trouble. I just hope Mr Andrews hasn't turned them against Rex. That's what I'm more worried about.'

'That's a worry alright,' replied Wal. 'By the way, that Daryl chick certainly made an impact in Maths class today. She lost it.'

'She was pretty stressed.'

'Where's she from?'

So, that was Wal's game. He wanted to find out about the new girl. Of course, there had to be some ulterior motive for coming over and pushing her on the swing. 'She's originally from Australia but has been in Matamata since moving to New Zealand.'

'Matamata?' Denise spoke up from one of the other swings.

'Matamata _.'_ Holly seemed a little more cheerful now. 'Isn't that your old home town, Denise?'

'Yes. I never saw her at my school. She must have gone there after I left.'

'She says she's lived there since she was seven. Eight years,' Chelsea said.

Denise frowned. 'Really? Strange. I think I would recognise that hair if she had.'

Pete was there now and took some of the pressure off Rex, giving Denise's swing a push to get her going a little higher. 'Surely there must be more than one primary school in or near Matamata?'

Denise glanced back at him. 'Yeah, but there's only one college and I was there for a year. She was never a student there.'

Rex alternated between Holly and Laura. 'Sounds like you might have got your wires crossed, Chels. She must have been from some other town.'

Chelsea knew she had heard Daryl correctly. 'No way. She definitely said Matamata and she definitely said she'd been there since she had come to New Zealand, which was at the age of seven.'

'Wouldn't her Aussie accent be gone by now?' Wal asked.

'I guess not.'

'Strange.' Rex gave Holly an extra big push. 'Sounds like this new girl might have secrets.'

'Why would she lie about something like that?' Pete asked. 'What's the point?'

'Who knows,' Rex said. 'There's usually some good reason... Well, some reason anyway. I guess we may have to wait to find out what that reason is.'

Unfortunately, Chelsea got no further chance to talk to Holly that evening.

It neared dinnertime and she knew she couldn't avoid the inevitable any longer. She had to go home.

### CHAPTER 12:  
Tucker Goes to Work

Tucker had a good day. He felt powerful again. Just like he had at the beginning of the year before the evil shadow of Rex Cassidy cast its gloom on Te Arawa College. Even if Rex did come back to school it wouldn't make any difference because he had _Vin Diesel_ on his side. Ash and Hew alone could put up a good fight against Rex but with Vin added to the mix, he didn't stand a chance. Soon Rex would be grovelling for mercy, just like all those other ubbheads at school.

' _Pyles, stop daydreaming and get back to work!'_

A voice awoke him from his stupor. Not a friendly voice either. It was one he had taken an instant disliking.

'Yes, boss!' Tucker quickly got to work wiping down a table.

The job his mother had cruelly arranged for him had to be one of the worst jobs anyone could have; Wiping tables and doing dishes at one of the cafés in the middle of town. Only a couple of the tables were currently occupied. One by a middle-aged man and another by a couple of girls from school. It certainly wasn't a fancy café but the food was good and reasonably priced.

Tucker despised doing dishes and he hated wiping down tables even though there were only ten of them in the café. He was sure his mother had deliberately sought out a job like this for him because she knew he hated this sort of stuff. The only good thing was he got to eat leftovers that had gone stale and could no longer be sold.

He sprayed a thick layer of foam onto the table. He then dipped a cloth into a bowl of soapy water, pulled it out and wiped the table down leaving streaks of water and foam as he went.

'Drokk man, why don't you squeeze it first?' came a familiar voice. However, this time, it wasn't his boss. It was someone he liked even less than his boss - Rex.

'Hey!' Tucker growled, wondering where he'd come from. He hadn't noticed him enter the café. 'I'll do my job, you do yours.' He felt he had no reason to be polite to Rex, especially knowing he needn't fear him anymore.

'Chill out, Tucker, I was just trying to help.'

Perhaps Rex had heard about Vin and decided to treat him with respect in case he got a trouncing. Maybe he was trying to butter Tucker up a bit, so he wouldn't take his wrath out on him. Nevertheless, no amount of buttering up was ever going to make Tucker show him mercy.

Rex spoke up again. 'What the hell are you doing here cleaning tables anyway?'

'I work here!'

'Come again?'

'I _work_ here!'

A wry smile appeared on Rex's face. 'You're kidding.'

'Hey, some of us earn our money. Some of us aren't freeloaders who were born with a silver spoon in our mouths.' Tucker knew he was being bold and without his friends around, he was in a vulnerable position. But then again, it had to be safe, after all, he was at work and there were adults around. Rex surely wouldn't risk a confrontation there.

Rex narrowed his eyes. 'Don't push your luck. Just because I'm suspended from school, doesn't mean you can start throwing your weight around, got it?'

Tucker felt a familiar chill run down his spine.

'Don't forget, I still live in this neighbourhood and I still hear what's going on at school. If I were you, I'd keep my nose squeaky clean. Maybe use some of that excess soap to do the job.'

Without another word, Rex moved away.

Tucker continued to mop his table, watching with ire as Rex ordered some food from the counter and left the café. At least he was gone. He obviously wasn't there to make Tucker's life miserable. Not that time anyway.

Tucker finished wiping down the table. Well, at least he considered it done, despite the pools of water and wet streaks remaining. He eyed the two girls from school and moved to a table closer to them, a table that didn't need wiping and proceeded to wipe it.

He could just make out what they said.

'That bachelor auction is going to be cool,' he heard one say.

The second sipped on a milkshake. 'I reckon. From what I hear just about every girl in the school is going to be bidding on Rex Cassidy.'

'Well, only one will get him.'

Tucker rolled his eyes. Everywhere he went; it seemed Rex was the topic of conversation. He was getting sick of hearing about the guy.

'I doubt I'll have the money to compete with some of those other girls.'

'Me neither. I hardly get any pocket money as it is. I'll be lucky if I can bid ten bucks.'

'I bet someone like Jacqui Donaldson or Chelsea Brown ends up getting the highest bid.'

'Wouldn't surprise me. That Chelsea is so lucky. She gets so much of his attention.'

The two munched on some hot chips.

'Hey,' said the first. 'Did you hear about what happened at the school dance last term? The one where she had that makeover and hooked up with Rex for the first time?'

'No what?'

'Apparently, Chelsea was forbidden to go.'

'But she went.'

'Yes but apparently she and her friends came up with a plan to fool her parents into thinking she was somewhere else.'

Tucker listened harder. He was always open to listening to juicy gossip.

'You're kidding?'

'Nope. They came up with some elaborate plan to make her parents think this imaginary woman was bullying her and that she had gone to New Plymouth. Well anyway, her parents must have got wise because they turned up at the school while the dance was on.'

'No way!'

'It's true. Chelsea was there with Rex. They continued with the charade and apparently, Rex told them he had stopped this imaginary woman from taking Chelsea to New Plymouth and had brought her back to school. He convinced her parents he was about to take her back home.'

'They believed him?'

'Yes! Chelsea and Rex had them believing he was a hero.'

'Wow! That's unbelievable. I'm amazed they didn't find out the truth.'

'I know. But you know Rex. He could convince anyone of anything.'

Tucker did not get to hear any more of the conversation as the door to the café opened and another customer entered. This one he noticed as she was female and her golden hair automatically caught his eye.

'Hi, Daryl,' he said as she walked in.

When she saw him, her eyes grew wide and she glanced back at the door as if contemplating going back out. In the end, she turned and smiled weakly. 'Hi.'

'You're Daryl, right?'

'Yes, that's right.'

'Daryl? The new girl at school?'

'Yes!'

'Your hair is ubbery.'

'What? Are you making fun of me?'

'No! It's ubbery. Cool.'

'Oh... thanks.' She gave him a weird look then spoke again. 'Do you work here?'

'You bet I do.' A bright thought occurred to him and he couldn't help himself. 'In fact, I own this here fine establishment.'

'You _own_ it?'

It was unusual for him to get to talk to a girl as fine as Daryl, as they usually told him to get lost, so he intended to impress her as much as he could before she put him in that same category. 'You bet. I'm considered a shrewd businessman around these here parts.' He waved a wet cloth in the air, sending soapy water splattering onto the table of the other customer – the middle-aged man. Tucker ignored the dirty look he got. 'Once I make a bit of money from this place I intend to open up a restaurant.'

' _Really?_ Well if you own this place, why are you wiping down tables? Or should I say mopping them down.' She eyed the table he'd just cleaned.

'Hey, I may own this place but I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty. I believe if you're going to be a leader, you have to lead by example. I want my staff to see I'm not afraid to lower myself to their level. I'm not so high and mighty I can't rub shoulders with the common folk once and a while. You know, get down in the dirt with the scum as it were.'

Her expression didn't change but her tone of voice did, 'Boy you talk a lot of BS.'

'Huh?' Tucker drew back and stared at her. He thought things had been going so well with this conversation.

'You are unreal.'

'Well, most people think I'm pretty amazing,' he said, desperately trying to improve his image in her eyes. 'I recommend you turn up at the bachelor auction in just over a week from now. I'm the star attraction. I'm sure you'll want to put in a bid. Win me and you get to join me for a free dinner and dance the following night.'

Daryl smirked. 'I dare say that will be the first auction I've been to where the bids go down rather than up?'

'I recommend you draw out your life savings. I won't be going cheap.'

She shook her head. 'You are _soooo_ living in a dream world.' With that, she turned and headed in the direction of the counter.

Tucker stood there for a moment wondering why she had walked away. He was sure he'd impressed her. Bewildered, he sighed deeply and continued to work, however, the new girl was way too fine not to keep watching. If Tucker had ever seen a perfect woman, she was it. He watched as she ordered something from the café menu and went to sit at a vacant table. He wondered why she was in the café alone ordering a meal when surely her parents would be arranging a meal for her back at home. It seemed a little strange.

The door to the café opened, tearing his attention from the gold-haired beauty. In walked Mr Upton, still in his suit from school that day. _That was all he needed._ First, he had to deal with his most hated enemy at school and now he had to deal with the most hated teacher in the school.

'Hello, Tucker,' Mr Upton said in an unusually friendly manner as he pulled a wallet out of his pocket. 'Working here now, are you?'

'Yes, sir. Earning some extra money to help my parents.'

He turned his eyes up from his wallet. 'You are working to help support your family?'

'Yes, sir.'

He fingered some notes in his wallet, as if checking how much he had. 'I'm impressed. There aren't too many young people today who would take on a part-time job to help their parents financially. Very commendable, lad.'

'Thanks.' Tucker could hardly believe Mr Upton was being so friendly towards him.

'Tell me...' Mr Upton closed his wallet, pocketed it and stepped closer to him. He lowered his voice a little. 'What do you think about Rex Cassidy?'

'He's an ubbhead! I mean, he's a total jerk.'

'Yes, I didn't think you liked him very much. I dare say you are quite happy about his suspension?'

'You bet I am.'

'That's what I figured. I dare say you'd like to see him gone for good?'

'For sure.'

Mr Upton turned and scanned the café, then faced him again. 'Tell me, young Tucker. You must know a lot of things the teachers don't.'

'I'm pretty intelligent.' Tucker beamed. 'I guess you could say that next to me, most of the teachers at TAC are a bunch of morons... Except for you, that is. You're really smart.'

Upton rolled his eyes. 'I wasn't talking about that. What I meant was you must know many things about Rex the teachers don't. Like the things he gets up to behind their backs.'

'Yeah,' Tucker said... then an evil plan sprung to mind. Perhaps a way to have Rex expelled. 'I know all sorts of stuff about Rex that would make your hair perm. They would have expelled him ages ago if they knew what I knew.'

'Oh really?' The side of Mr Upton's mouth twisted. He pulled out his wallet from his pocket. 'Let me buy you something to eat. I would like to hear about these things.'

'Ubba! You got yourself a deal.'

### CHAPTER 13:  
Chelsea Makes a Stand

Chelsea approached the doorstep of her house with fear and trembling. How she was going to deal with this situation, she had no idea. Rex was coming for dinner that Friday night and she had been so looking forward to it. To her, it was like bringing her boyfriend home but if they refused to allow her to have anything to do with him, then that was the end of that particular dinner date.

She wiped sweaty palms onto her skirt then hesitantly turned the handle of the front door, slowly opened it and stepped inside. She closed it after her, trying to be as quiet as possible so her parents wouldn't hear.

' _Chelsea,_ is that you?'

She sighed deeply. 'Yes, Mum. It's me.'

' _In here please!'_

When Chelsea reached the lounge she saw both her parents sitting in their armchairs looking grim.

'Sit down please,' her father said.

She chose a seat to the side of them so she didn't have to look them in the eye. She hung her head low.

'Why, Chelsea?' her mother asked with disappointment in her voice. 'After the last time too. We thought you had learnt your lesson.'

Chelsea struggled for words, 'We were worried about Holly. We had to see if she was okay.'

'So, you skipped class? Why didn't you just go after school?'

She didn't know how to answer that one. To say she only went because Rex was going would convince her parents he was a bad influence. She considered going as far as to say it was all her idea but that wasn't going to help her cause and Mr Andrews had obviously told her parents otherwise. They would surely believe Mr Andrews over her. There was only one other thing she could say. 'I... I didn't want them to think I was a square.'

'What?' both her parents chimed in.

She forced herself to look at her parents. Her mother was in her late 30s, blonde like Chelsea and slim. Her father was five years older and slightly overweight. 'Mum, Dad, give me a break. All my life I've been a square; unpopular and unaccepted. It's such a drag. I want people to like me and people do now. I didn't do it to be bad. I just wanted my friends to think I'm cool. I'm sick of being a nobody.'

'You are not a nobody!' her mother scolded her.

Chelsea manoeuvred herself in the easy chair, unable to get comfortable. 'To everyone at school I was. You don't understand. Before I cut my hair and did away with my glasses, I _was_ a nobody. I don't want to be like that anymore.'

'So... what? You've become a rebel all of a sudden?' her father asked bitterly.

'No! My friends are good kids. They don't normally do things like that.'

'So, you let them lead you,' her mother said, in a condescending tone. 'You pretend to be someone you're not and then you let them influence you to do a bad thing?'

'I'm not pretending to be someone else. This is me now. I'm sick of being square peg Chelsea. I'm sick of being everyone's little angel. I'm sick of it!'

Her parents' jaws dropped. She was certainly telling it like it was and she realised it must have been sudden for them but she had to make them realise what she had been going through.

'But Chelsea, why allow yourself to give in to peer pressure?' her mother asked. 'You were never one to allow people to shape who you are.'

'No one has pressured me into anything. What you see _is_ me. I'm not just a little kid anymore. I have feelings and I have dreams. I want to be accepted, is there anything wrong with that?'

'No, of course not but have you ever thought maybe you are keeping bad company?'

'No.' She writhed in her chair once more. 'I've seen bad company. My friends are not bad company.'

'Chelsea,' her dad said. 'We've been concerned for some time about the kids you've been hanging out with. Jacqui Donaldson... Rog Shepherd...'

'And now this new boy,' her mother said.

'Rex? But you like Rex!'

'I thought I did. He seemed like a nice genuine boy but I don't think he's a good influence on you. After all, wasn't it his idea to skip class?'

'No, it wasn't! We all made the decision.'

'Someone must have suggested it first.'

'Yes, Jacqui did, not Rex.'

Her mother tapped the arm of her chair a few times. 'That's not what Mr Andrews told us.'

'Mr Andrews is a liar!'

Both her parents gasped.

'Chelsea! How can you call your school principal a liar?'

'Because he is! Because he hates Rex.'

'And why does he hate Rex?'

'Because... because...' She couldn't tell the truth about that. She had to come up with something else. 'Because his parents pay the school a large grant. He sees it as a bribe to keep him in the school and he hates it.'

'Really?' Her mother seemed sceptical. 'A bribe? And why do Rex's parents need to bribe the school to have him kept there?'

Chelsea was digging herself an even deeper hole and she knew it. The questions were becoming tougher and tougher to answer without validating Mr Andrews claims.

'Well? Can you answer that question?'

'But it's not a bribe! It's just a grant.'

'Chelsea, is Rex your boyfriend?'

Chelsea hesitated. They weren't an official couple but she wasn't sure what to tell her parents.

'Well?'

'He's a good friend.'

'How close?'

Chelsea didn't like where this questioning was going. She didn't want to answer at all but knew that wasn't going to be acceptable to her parents.

They watched her, awaiting her answer.

She fidgeted. 'Close. That's all.'

Her mother folded her arms. 'Are we talking intimate close here? Kissing and cuddling and stuff like that?'

She hesitated but couldn't lie. 'Sometimes.'

'Are you two having sex?'

Chelsea felt like all her insides knotted up. She didn't want to admit she had been with a boy in that manner, especially when he wasn't technically her boyfriend. Her parents would only think the worst of her and then begin to wonder whether she was doing the same thing with other boys. Of course, she hadn't and Rex was the only one but how seriously would they take her?

She calmed her nerves and decided, on this occasion, she would have to lie. 'Of course, I haven't. I'm not just gonna get with a guy if he's not my boyfriend.' It pained her to have to make such a declaration when she knew full well it would probably happen again. Nevertheless, her parents had no right to ask such personal questions so deserved not to be told the truth. Even though she was still only fifteen years old, she felt her parents should not get to dictate who she could be with.

'I'm relieved to hear that,' her mother said. 'Because you are way too young to be involved in that sort of relationship, especially if it is being done so casually. Even if he was your steady boyfriend, I hope you would realise sex is not something you rush into.'

'Yeah, yeah, I know, Mum.' Chelsea glared at her and turned partly away from her mother. 'Good lord, can we move on from this topic?'

'No. I have another question. Does Rex have similar friendships with other girls?'

Chelsea squirmed a little more. 'I... I don't know.'

'Come on. Tell the truth here.'

She flinched. 'I suppose so... yes...But it's like I've said before, he's not my boyfriend.'

'So that makes it okay?' her father asked. 'You don't mind him seeing other girls?'

She flashed them a glare but turned her eyes back away immediately. 'Sometimes I do. But there's not much I can do about it, is there?'

'Do you really want to be friends with a boy who's like that? It seems to me he doesn't respect you. That he is just using you.'

' _No_!' Chelsea turned her eyes back to them and maintained her glare this time. 'That's not true! Rex cares about me. He cares about everyone.'

'How can you be so sure?' her mother asked. 'He may want you to think that but it's not necessarily true.'

'It is true!' she said, anger building up. 'He... he cares about me.'

'Really?' Her father eyed her sheepishly.

'I know he does.'

'You are being naïve, Chelsea,' her mother said. 'Mr Andrews has said his relationships with other girls is inappropriate. He even believes there is sex involved.'

Chelsea huffed. 'And how would he know that? Who would tell him?'

'He knows teenagers and he has received reports from others.'

'Oh, come on. You're going by what Mr Andrews has told you and he is biased. _You don't know Rex!_ '

Her mother leaned forward. 'We would have liked to have gotten to know him but he never hangs around long enough. Now that has to make us wonder about him.'

'He's coming for dinner this Friday. You'll get to know him then.'

'I don't think he should come.'

Chelsea recoiled at the thought. 'Please, Mum! Give him a chance. Please don't judge him because of what Mr Andrews has said. It's not fair. You know it's not fair.'

'She does have a point,' her father said reluctantly. 'I think we could get an idea of just how sincere he is if we talk to him ourselves.'

'I don't know,' her mother said. 'I don't know if this boy should be anywhere near our daughter. He has been suspended and may even get expelled. If it's come to that, then the things Mr Andrews is saying must surely be true.'

'But they're not!' Chelsea said. 'Give him a chance to show you what I see in him. Please. He means so much to me.'

'You really have strong feelings for this boy?' her mother asked.

Chelsea paused for a moment and then spoke again. 'I love him,' she said looking at her parents with a straight face. 'I love him so much...'

### CHAPTER 14:  
Mr Upton Applies Pressure

At school, the next day, Mr Upton felt pleased at himself because of his previous night's work. He had found out many things that would be useful in his goal of having the Cassidy lad expelled. With the new information he had, it would surely make Mr Andrew's job of convincing the board of trustees to expel the boy, so much easier.

The thing that truly made him swell with pride was the way he had been able to manipulate the Pyles boy to tell him what he wanted to know. Upton had used his skill with the English language and his own cunning to trick the boy into revealing all sorts of amazing details about Rex Cassidy, things that would horrify teachers and parents alike. With the new information, he had at his fingertips, that delinquent was certainly not going to be allowed back through the gates of Te Arawa College.

It was first thing in the morning. No students had arrived yet as Upton made his way through the corridors towards the staffroom. Another staff member appeared at the end of the corridor and on seeing him, made a beeline for him.

It was Mr Harris - looking as wild as usual, wearing his standard camo pants and green T-shirt. 'Upton, I want a word with you, you toffee-nosed jackass!'

That was typical of Harris, always crass. _No respect for a teacher of Mr Upton's standing._ 'I have no interest in talking to you, Mr Harris.' Upton said, trying to walk around him.

Mr Harris blocked his path. 'Then how about you just listen then, huh? I want you to stop this campaign to have Rex Cassidy expelled.'

'Oh really?' Mr Upton said in his most haughty voice. 'For one thing, I don't have to do anything you say and secondly, I am not the only one who wants that delinquent gone. Why don't you go and talk to Mr Andrews if you have a problem?'

'I already have! The guy's as big a pillock as you are. He has no sense at all. But I know you are on a personal mission to sully the boy's reputation.'

'Huh! Me? I'm the one trying to sully the boy's reputation? I think he's done well enough himself in that department. His reputation is his own doing.'

'Quit the crap, Uppity!' Harris pointed a finger directly at him. 'The boy is one of the best students in this school. Just because you can't handle him, doesn't mean you can-'

'As I said, Mr Harris, I have no interest in talking to you. That boy is nothing but trouble. He has no respect for his teachers, no respect for other students and no respect for rules. He _should_ be expelled.'

' _Gordon Bennett_ , you are totally blind, aren't you, you pompous fool? That boy is an asset to this school. His athletic abilities are incredible. Have you seen the way he-?'

'Sports, sport, sports, that's all you think about, isn't it? Your life revolves around physical exercise, or should I say torturing your students. Life doesn't revolve around physical education, Mr Harris. There are more important things than playing rugby or doing cross-country runs. We are here to educate. We are not here to build the ultimate group of athletes. We're not here to train a deadly squad of soldiers. We are here to-'

'So health and fitness aren't important? You'd rather all our students got fat and unhealthy and died off due to heart disease and diabetes, or end up an overweight jackass like yourself, do you?'

Upton scowled. 'I don't have to stand here listening to your infantile insults.'

'Then listen to this. No, it's not just about his athleticism. The lad is an asset in more ways than that. If you would open your eyes and look, you would see that.'

'All I see is nasty uncouth delinquent who deserves to be kicked out of this school. I will do everything I can to have him expelled and I will try to convince everyone I can to support Mr Andrews.'

'Then you're a pillock. If you went and got yourself some teaching skills, you wouldn't need to go around trying to have our best students expelled.'

'Huh!' scoffed Upton. 'That's fine coming from you, that is... a teacher who needs firearms to keep his students in line. Go harass some other teacher, Mr Harris. I have nothing more to say to you.' With that, he stepped around the PE teacher and kept on walking.

Despite feeling rather irritated by Mr Harris, Upton still felt pleased with himself. He had handled the man very well, even if he said so himself. In the past, it always seemed to be Mr Harris who came out on top but this time it was the other way around. Mr Harris clutched at straws trying to save Rex Cassidy from expulsion and the crazy Englishman knew it.

Upton hadn't gone much further when a female student crossed his path. It was Chelsea Brown and she had a business-like expression. 'Mr Upton, can I talk to you please?'

Mr Upton huffed but couldn't very well tell a student to go away, especially when she was so polite. It was also an unusual thing because most of them avoided him, which was fine as far as he was concerned. He'd rather not have to deal with disrespectful teenagers. 'Can I help you?'

'Mr Upton... I know you are one of the teachers who want Rex Cassidy expelled...'

Upton let out a sigh of frustration but let her continue.

'It's just that we don't think it's fair he's being targeted. He hasn't done anything wrong, not really. He's-'

Upton had heard enough. 'I don't know where you get the idea he hasn't done anything wrong. You know full well the shenanigans he gets up to, especially being one of the girls who he gets up to shenanigans with. You know full well he is disruptive in class, does whatever he likes and never turns up for detentions. You know full well he gets into fights and has no regard for anyone but himself.'

' _That's not true!'_ Chelsea spoke in a louder voice but quickly lowered her tone. 'That's not true, Mr Upton. He cares about people. He does. And... and... Mr Andrews is deliberately trying to stir up trouble just so the school board will expel him.'

'Really?' Mr Upton smirked. 'That sounds like a slanderous statement to me. It seems to me Mr Andrews is doing exactly what he should be doing and that's sorting out a wayward student and going through the correct channels to do it. I'm sorry, young lady, but Mr Cassidy has made his bed and he has to lie in it. What's more, I have absolutely no sympathy for him, especially the way he has treated me. I suggest you take off your rose-coloured glasses and see that boy for what he really is because I am telling you, if you continue to stick up for him, _you_ will end up in trouble yourself. Do you understand me?'

'Mr Upton, if he goes then things are going to get really bad for everyone.'

'And just what do you mean by that?'

'Well bullies for a start. They're gonna make our lives miserable. Especially—'

'Oh, what nonsense! We, the staff, are quite capable of dealing with the negative element when it comes to the students and I find it ironic that you are standing up for a student who is a bully himself.'

' _He's not a bully!'_

'I would watch my tone if I were you, young lady.'

'He hates bullies! He stands up to them, sticking up for people who can't. He-'

'What hogwash! He is not the judge, jury and executioner. He doesn't get to decide who deserves punishment and who doesn't. That is the job of _we_ the staff and I'll have you remember that, young Chelsea. It's OUR job to deal with bullies, not his. He is simply another type of bully, that's all. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have business with which to attend. Out of my way please.'

Chelsea glared at him and looked as though she wanted to say something more but Upton was not interested in hearing it. He stepped around her and continued towards his destination.

He arrived at the Principal's office a few seconds later. The door was open and he poked his head inside. Mr Andrews was on the phone and when he saw Upton, he motioned him in to sit.

He continued to talk on the phone as Upton closed the door behind himself and took a seat. 'Yes, Mrs Williams. That is the boy your son has been talking about...'

_So, he was talking to Lillith William's mother._ Lilla was the head girl and in the past, had been involved with the Cassidy boy in less than appropriate fashion. Upton was surprised Andrews hadn't relieved her of her esteemed position.

'Well yes, Mrs Williams, from what I understand that is true. Mr Reaper told me about that incident and Rod came to the school dance looking for her... Yes, I was aware of a birthday party... Hmmmmm... Yes, I would be very concerned about your daughter being involved with the Cassidy boy...'

He tapped his fingers lightly on the desk as he listened to Mrs Williams before.

'...Well, I can't comment on that, I have no idea, but you know how it is with teenagers. They can get themselves into compromising situations and one thing can lead to another and well, I could only imagine what might have been going on at that party...'

He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. '...Oh, I'm sure your daughter is very sensible and would never do anything like that, but that boy has a way of manipulating people to get what he wants. He is very charismatic and from what I understand, the girls find him hard to resist...'

He opened his eyes and leaned forward again. 'Oh no, not at all, I would never suggest such a thing. If we didn't think your daughter had high moral standards, she would not be head girl. Someone else would be in that role... Of course...'

He took his pen and twirled it around in his fingers. 'Well, it's up to you of course... Yes, talk to her and find out the facts. I don't want to say anything out of line...'

He turned his eyes towards Upton and a sly smile appeared on his face. 'Yes, well I am pushing to have him expelled. Unfortunately, I am having trouble getting support. I need parent support too... Yes... I appreciate... Oh yes, please feel free to ring me any time about this... Good... Alright. Thank you, Mrs Williams... Bye now.'

He paused and then hung up.

'Was that Lilla Williams' mother?' Upton enquired.

'Yes, it was.'

'It sounded positive.'

'It did indeed. Although I must admit, those few parents I have talked to, seem to find it rather hard to believe Rex could be so much trouble. Those who have met him, think he's wonderful.'

'What about the Williams? Do they think he is?'

'It seems their son Rod Williams has had his share of run-ins with Rex and doesn't like him at all. The parents, of course, get conflicting viewpoints. Rod hates him, while Lilla adores him. Nevertheless, I believe I have successfully sown seeds of doubt. I think they are more likely to believe Rod as this point.'

'That's great. So, do we have any formal support yet?'

He tapped his pen on the desk irritably. 'Apart from a few teachers, no, not yet.'

Upton jerked back in his chair and stared at the principal. ' _What?_ Not even one?'

Mr Andrew tapped his pen a few more times. 'I'm working on it. I can't rush it. I have talked to a few and things do look promising. They are all concerned now and are asking questions. I have told them enough to make them dig deeper. I am confident after further conversations, especially with their daughters, they will come to the conclusion he should be expelled and then they will offer their support.'

'How can you be so sure?'

'The girls will unwittingly incriminate him with their devotion to him. What they say will lend credence to what I have said about him.'

'But so far none of them have agreed to support us. Not one!'

'They will. Have patience, Mr Upton.'

Upton couldn't believe how little progress had been made. 'We have to do _more_.'

Andrews sighed and leaned back in his chair. 'What can we do? I have to be very careful about this. Remember what I said about how things went at my previous school when I had to deal with Rex. I didn't go through the correct procedures and it resulted in all sorts of trouble. I don't want that trouble again. I do _not_ want an angry board of trustees.'

'But we have all the reason we need to expel him. Plus that list of offences, like those two boys he bullied and threatened.'

'We still need the board's support. I made the mistake of thinking I was so indispensable I could defy the board at my last school. You will have to be patient.'

'I have more ammunition to use against the boy,' Upton said, deciding to show his hand.

'Really?' Mr Andrews asked, his eyebrow raising. 'You have been doing some detective work?'

Mr Upton smiled smugly. 'Oh yes.'

'And can I take it your sources are reliable?'

'Of course. With the new information I have about this boy, we could probably have him arrested as well as expelled.'

'Really?'

'Yes.'

'Tell me more.'

'Well. For a start, let me tell you about what happened at a certain school dance last term. It involved Rex and Chelsea Brown...'

### CHAPTER 15:  
Wishful Thinking

Chelsea was infuriated with Mr Upton. She wanted to grab him and shake him but she knew there was absolutely nothing she could do. She so much wanted to talk to Rex but when she rang his cell phone the night before, it went to his message box. She hated it when that happened as it probably meant he was with someone. If it was a male friend, that was cool but if it was a female, that would bother her.

It bothered her that it bothered her so much.

She knew where she stood with Rex. She kept telling herself, it was acceptable, that he was allowed to be a single guy, seeing different girls but it still didn't help much.

She wished "Cassidy vs Brown" could be written on the desks and toilet walls as an official statement, not just as a joke or as wishful thinking. It was a tradition at Te Arawa writing comments like that, even if it was on your exercise books or pencil case. She wasn't one to write graffiti on desks and walls but she liked the way couples were paired up and their names were written in that style. It had so many inferences, even if perhaps inappropriate ones.

The tradition had started many years earlier as a result of team sports that happened on Friday afternoons. When teams were rostered to play against each other, it was always Tainui 4 vs Tokomaru 3 or Arawa 5 vs Aotea 2. Someone decided it would be cool to replace team colours with student names and so the tradition was born.

'Hi, Chelsea!'

She had been so busy rummaging through her locker she hadn't noticed Dennis O'Grady come up beside her.

'Hi, Dog. What's new?' she asked pleasantly. She always felt uncomfortable calling him that, but then everybody did and Dennis told her once he liked the nickname.

Her Maori classmate replied, 'Dreading PE this morning. Mr Harris is going to make us do the cross country run again.'

'I can't believe that. You guys have been practising that run since summer. We girls have only just started training for it.'

'Be thankful the Sergeant Major doesn't teach you girls.'

'I am.' She resumed searching her locker for next period's books but paused to face him as he spoke again.

'I'll say one thing. I'm about twenty times fitter now than I was at the beginning of the year.'

'I can believe _that_.'

Just then, Sheep arrived on the scene. 'Get in behind, Dog!' He pushed his way in to get to his locker. He then proceeded to ignore him completely and turned to face Chelsea. 'How ya going, Chels?'

'Pretty good.' She didn't like the way he'd shoved Dog aside but then that was typical of him.

Sheep smirked as he watched Dog collect his gear and leave. He turned back to Chelsea. 'Enough of his drooling, huh? Dog drool... never liked it much.'

Chelsea shook her head. 'What do you mean drooling?'

'If he was drooling any more, they'd be collecting it in barrels and sending it to Canterbury to irrigate the plains.'

She turned back to her locker to resume her search. 'I'm still not with you, Sheep.' She found the book she was looking for and pulled it out.

'Can't you see he fancies you?' Sheep scowled. 'He's always looking at you in class.'

This was indeed news to her. She had noticed some boys watching her but never Dog. She turned and closed her locker. 'No way. Dog doesn't fancy me.'

'Its puppy love I think.'

'Sheep, quit it!' She laughed and gave him a friendly thump to the shoulder with her free hand.

'It's true, it's true. He never stops talking about you when you're not around.'

'No way.'

He delivered her a scintillating smile, one she'd rarely seen directed at her in the past, before she had her makeover but one she found handsome.

'He does,' Sheep insisted. 'But he knows he doesn't stand a chance. Not when there are other guys around who do make him look like a dog. Guys like me.' He winked.

'I know I get noticed a lot more than what I used to but it's not like guys are lining up to invite me out on dates.'

'Only because they think you're out of their league.'

Chelsea rolled her eyes. 'They do not.'

'They do! They look at you as one of the hot chicks who they wouldn't stand a chance with.'

It seemed too absurd to Chelsea to be true. 'You can quit with the BS, Sheep. I know you're simply trying to flatter me.'

'It's true! I'm telling you! And some of them still think you're Rex's girl.'

'They do?' The idea delighted her. If only it were true.

'Yep. Most guys are too scared to ask you out. They either think you're out of their league or Rex will pound the stuffing out of them.'

'But he wouldn't.'

'I know he wouldn't. He's a great guy but hey, it's all cool by me, if that's what they want to think. It means I have less competition.'

She eyed him dubiously. So, he was trying the flattering approach now. The "I've given up smoking" approach didn't work, so it had come to this. She gazed at him for a few seconds.

Sheep touched her arm. 'You may think I'm just flattering you but I mean what I say. And if you went out with me, maybe you'd see it.'

'Sheep, don't.' She pulled away and stepped towards the exit. 'We've already had this conversation. I told you I'm not ready to date anyone.'

Sheep stepped in front of her blocking her path out. 'Yeah, but Chels, we know that's because you still have a thing for Rex. You're hoping he'll decide he wants to be your guy. I guarantee you if he wanted to go steady with you, you'd leap at the chance, wouldn't you?'

Chelsea wasn't prepared to discuss it with him. 'It's not really any of your business, is it?'

Sheep studied her for a few seconds and then nodded. 'Well, Chels... that's up to you but I think you're making a big mistake. Sooner or later someone is gonna come along who Rex really flips for and when that happens, he won't be interested in you anymore. You'll be left on the sidelines along with the other chicks. And when that happens... well... you may regret turning down my offer.' With that, he turned and exited the block.

Chelsea considered his words for a few minutes. It was true, there was no knowing who might come along and steal Rex away from them all. One thing was for sure, Chelsea hadn't done it. That mysterious ex who Rex never talked about still had a lock on his heart. How long could she wait before she gave up on him and moved on?

She stepped outside and came face to face with Daryl.

'Hi, Chelsea.'

'Daryl, hi.'

'So, Chels is there any more news about that guy who got suspended?'

'I saw him last night, after school.'

'He must be pretty freaked out. He must be in deep strife with his parents.'

Chelsea had never seen Rex freak out before. 'He's frustratingly calm about it. Rex rarely loses his cool over anything.'

'Sounds like some guy.'

'He sure is. The rest of us are more worried than he is.'

'He must be cool. Fonzeralli cool.'

' _What_ cool?'

'That's like ultimate cool.'

A masculine voice came from behind, 'Ah but not as cool as me.' The burly Wal stepped up to them, a sparkle in his eyes. He smiled at Daryl.

'Hi, Wal,' Chelsea said.

'So, what are you two hotties doing hanging outside a cruddy old locker block like this.'

'This is Wal,' Chelsea told Daryl. 'You'll have to excuse him, he's always coming up with cheesy old lines like that.'

Daryl smirked. 'He is just a smooth operator, isn't he?'

'Yes, and he piles on the grease too.'

Daryl laughed. 'Or something equally as slimy.'

More of Chelsea's friends arrived. Holly, Mav, Denise and Jacqui.

Holly greeted Daryl cheerfully. 'Hi, I'm Holly,'

Jacqui's manner was a little icier. 'Still think we're all just a bunch of nuts here at TAC?' she asked coldly.

Daryl grinned. 'Sorry about that. I was a little stressed out, being at a new school and not knowing anyone.'

'You might know Denise,' Wal said.

'Yeah,' Denise said. 'You're from Matamata right?'

Daryl stared at her. 'Err... yes.'

'What primary school did you go to?'

'Umm... Matamata Primary.' She fidgeted with her books and pencil case.

'College?'

'Matamata.'

'Funny.' Denise frowned. 'I went to those schools too but never knew you.'

There was an uneasy silence. Daryl shuffled her books around some more. 'I wasn't there long,' she finally said. 'Only a couple of weeks.'

'At both primary and college?' Denise asked her.

'At primary. I would have gone to Matamata College if we had stayed there.'

Chelsea thought that strange indeed. She had told _her_ she had been in Matamata since she was seven. She said nothing though.

'Chelsea said you had been there for eight years.'

Daryl flinched. 'Oh no... not eight years. Sorry, I might have caused a misunderstanding. When I was _eight_ we moved from Australia to Matamata. We were only there for a couple of weeks and then we moved.'

'Ohhhhh. Well, that explains why I don't remember you then. That was years ago.'

Chelsea scratched her head. There had definitely been no misunderstanding. Why would she lie about where she lived previously?

Holly spoke up, 'So, what College did you go to before you came here?'

'Oh... Paeroa. Paeroa College. That's where I came from before here.'

_Now_ _that_ _was_ _a definite lie._ She had clearly told Chelsea Matamata.

'Looks like Chelsea got her facts screwed up,' Holly said.

'Wouldn't surprise me,' Jacqui scoffed.

Daryl stared over at Chelsea and there was a look of concern in her eyes. It was as if she was pleading with her not to say anything. Maybe there was a good reason why she had lied.

'Well....' Chelsea said, still studying Daryl's worried expression. 'Maybe I did get my facts screwed up. I guess I wasn't listening properly. You know, with Rex being suspended and everything, I guess my mind was wandering.'

Daryl delivered her a glorious smile. Chelsea hoped she might reveal why she had lied later.

'Damn, not a good thing when your mind wanders,' Mav piped up, in his usual light-hearted manner. 'That happens to me on a regular basis, and when it does I normally start talking trash. Actually, it always has me wondering just where my mind goes when it does wander. I'd like to think maybe it goes walking through the minds of beautiful women. But more likely it ends up walking around some vacuum somewhere, sort of like Tucker Pyles' head...Not that my mind would ever go wandering anywhere near him.'

Daryl laughed. 'Sounds like your mind's wandering right now.'

'Give her a medal,' Jacqui said sarcastically.

Mav continued, 'Yeah well, my mind doesn't much like hanging around at home. You wouldn't want to hang around there either with the lack of space you have to move. Lying on rocks all day is not comfortable.'

They headed in the direction of their next classes. Chelsea got an opportunity to talk with Holly as they walked. She noticed that she seemed to be a little preoccupied, not joining in with the laughter and jokes. 'You okay, Holly?'

'Sweet.'

'Are you sure?'

'I'm sure.'

'Come on, Holly, I'm your friend. I know something's up.'

Holly sighed. 'Okay, something is bothering me but I can't talk about it at the moment, okay? Just give me a little time.'

'Sure. No problem.' Chelsea really wanted to know but she realised she would have to wait until Holly was ready to talk.

'Mr Andrews rang my parents last night,' Holly said.

Chelsea winced. 'Oh no. What are your parents saying about it?'

'Not much. They know Mav and I are - you know - a couple. They know....' her voice trailed off and she seemed to be deep in thought again.

'What?'

'They know Mav and I are serious...Rex is not an issue.' She said it firmly but then seemed to drift off into thought again. She nearly continued along that path while everyone else peeled off in another direction but quickly came to her senses and moved with them.

'So, Holly, are your parents going to support his expulsion?'

'I don't think so. They know Mav and I are an item. Not me and Rex. Rex is a good guy. He'd never do anything to try and split Mav and me up anyway.'

'No, he wouldn't. But do your parents know that?'

'Yes, I've told them what a great guy Rex is. I don't think they will get involved in this. Well, I hope not anyway.'

'I hope not either.'

'Yo, you chicks talking about me?' Wal stepped up beside them.

'Observant as always, Wal,' Holly said. 'We were talking about who were the most undesirable guys in school. As usual, you topped the list.'

Chelsea laughed. 'I think you will always be at the top of that list.'

'You chicks love me really. You wouldn't keep talking about me if you didn't.'

'As if!' Holly said. 'That'll be the day!'

'I see pigs flying girls.'

'In your dreams.'

'And there goes the bell,' Chelsea said as the shrill piercing of the school bell rang. 'That means it's time to wake up and get to class, Wal.'

'Yep.' Holly smiled. 'Dream time is over.'

### CHAPTER 16:  
An Awkward Dinner Date for Rex

Rex felt bored as he lay back in his bed watching a movie from his collection. He had all the luxuries in his spacious bedroom including his own lounge suite and coffee table. He had a high definition television and surround sound, plus a state of the art stereo to play music. He even had a gaming system set up with three different gaming systems but generally had little time to play on it... at least until now.

Generally, he was too busy hanging out with his friends for that type of thing and usually didn't get home until late in the evenings. Now suspended, he had all this free time and no one to spend it with. He would have to wait until after school and the weekends before he could go _hang out._

As for the issue of his impending expulsion, it was out of his hands. Mr Harris was doing everything to convince the other staff to veto Mr Andrews' appeal. His parents had been in contact with their lawyers and had arranged a meeting but from what they there was not a lot they could do. Not unless the school did something inappropriate that might be deemed illegal but so far, Mr Andrews was keeping his nose clean.

Rex's main concern today was the dinner date he had at the Brown's place that evening. He tended to avoid such formal occasions with the parents of his female friends but they had been trying to get him over there for a while. Besides, he knew how much it meant to Chelsea and he wanted to make her happy. He usually looked upon these occasions as an opportunity to impress the girl's parents and it would be no different this time. Well, except that her parents' minds had been poisoned against him. He certainly had his work cut out for him.

It would be in his best interests to do a little investigative work and find out who else Andrews had been talking to. Any calls Andrews made would be journaled on his computer.

He picked up his private phone. He had an idea and felt confident he would be able to get the information he wanted. He would call Miss Brannigan at the school office. She was bound to know what was going on.

Seconds later, he had the attractive administrator on the phone.

'Rex!' She sounded delighted. 'Fancy you ringing here. How can I help you?'

'You know how you told me to call on you if there was anything you could do for me?'

'I certainly do. Anything I can do, I will.'

'Would you be able to give me some information?'

'It depends on what it is.'

'I'd like to know who Mr Andrews has been calling with regards to gaining support for my expulsion.'

'Wow Rex, you are certainly asking a lot. That's private information I can't give out... But for you... seeing as you're so cute, I'll tell you what I know.'

'You rock, Miss Brannigan.'

'But you never got any of this from me, okay?'

'Of course not.'

'As it happens Mr Andrews prefers writing down notes from his calls on paper. Even though he has a computer in his office, he passes them on to me to enter. So, I know about all the calls he's made.'

'Awesome. How are things looking for me?'

'Not too good. Mr Andrews reckons he will be able to get a lot of support to have you expelled. He's rung the parents of all your female friends, including ones who didn't skip class with you.'

'Really?'

'Yes, the Williams's for one. From what he says in his notes, her parents don't have a high opinion of you.'

'Thanks to their son, no doubt.'

'He's also called the Robinsons. The excuse he used was it concerned him there might have been something going on at the Robinson house that Holly's parents weren't aware of.'

Rex smirked. 'Mr Andrews isn't dumb, I'll give him that. That would have given him a golden opportunity to stab me in the back. Looks like I have a lot of damage control to deal with. Anyone else, Miss B?'

'The Phillips, the Lyndseys and the Foleys. He's finding female students whose grades have dropped slightly since you've been here and insinuating it may be a result of their friendships with you. And we're talking about really minor drops in grades. One or two percent. The most was five.'

'That's getting desperate.'

'Maybe, but it might not take much to make a few parents to think you may be the reason for their daughter's shortcomings. Parents will blame anyone they can to avoid having to look at themselves or the attitudes of their own kids. You could be made a scapegoat.'

'True.'

'Mr Andrews is being very careful though. I reckon he's manipulating them so they conclude what he wants them to. If they blame you, it's not because he said it was your fault. He's simply giving them the fuel and the match and letting them light the fire themselves.'

'Sneaky. And he'll probably get away with it too.'

'There might not be much you can do,' she said sympathetically.

Rex stretched his legs out and placed his feet on his coffee table. 'Never say die, Miss B. I'll figure some way to beat this.'

'I hope you do. I'd hate to see you expelled. Although then again, if you weren't a student at this school...' She gave a cheeky laugh, 'Never mind.'

Rex chuckled. 'Okay, I appreciate you talking to me, you're a legend. What you've told me is definitely helpful because now I know the game he's playing. Thanks, heaps.'

'Any time. Maybe I'll see you at the Jubilee celebrations?'

'I'm sure you will. Catch you later.'

'Bye, Rexy.'

As Rex made his way by foot to the Brown house that evening, he pondered on the telephone conversation with Miss Brannigan. He had an ally in her and he would no doubt be able to call on her for assistance again in the future. What bothered him most were the calls Mr Andrews made to some of the parents. Even his parents had agreed Andrews had not done anything illegal. Inappropriate and even questionable but nothing that would warrant legal action on behalf of the Cassidy lawyers.

Even more frustrating for Rex was that the parents of his female friends would now have doubts about him. They would be wondering whether he really was a good influence on their daughters. It would mean Rex would have a lot of work to do to convince them he wasn't as bad as what Mr Andrews indicated.

Rex knocked at the door and a few seconds later it opened. Chelsea greeted him with a big smile. She looked fantastic with a black lace ribbon in her hair and makeup on. She wore a knee-high burgundy coloured cocktail dress, making it look as though they were going out to some swanky restaurant, rather than staying home. It made Rex feel casual, even though he wore dark dress longs and a buttoned satin shirt.

He couldn't tell whether she was nervous. She was probably quite excited because she had wanted Rex to come to dinner at her place for quite some time. However, Rex knew there had to be anxiety there about the meeting, especially after the events of the last few days.

'Rex! Come in.' She took his hand. 'It's about time you arrived.'

'Rex.' Mr Brown greeted him in a friendly manner once they reached the main living area. 'Come on in.'

'Hi, Mr Brown.' Rex extended his hand.

Mr Brown shook it with a smile. 'Good on you for finally taking up our invitation.'

'I've been looking forward to it.' He remained standing, waiting to be offered a seat.

'Take a seat, take a seat.' Mr Brown pointed to the couch.

Rex sat and glanced around the room. It was meticulously tidy, not a spot of dust on anything. The lounge suite was also neat with three matching easy chairs as well as the couch. A smallish flat-screened TV set acted as the centre point for the lounge area. Family portraits adorned the walls, each one showing the family at different ages. A tall wooden bookshelf, almost completely full of books, stood next to the entrance into the dining room.

Chelsea plonked herself beside him on the couch, as close as she could. He thought it a little unwise of her to sit so close, considering her parents were most likely dubious about their relationship but he didn't give her indication of his thoughts.

Mr Brown didn't seem to mind. Mrs Brown, however, on entering the lounge, peered at the two of them through narrow eyes. 'Hello, Rex, good to see you.'

'Hi, Mrs Brown, good to be here.'

'Chelsea, is it really necessary to sit so close? Give the boy some room.'

Chelsea reluctantly shuffled along a tiny bit.

'So, how's school going, Rex?' Mr Brown asked.

He surely knew he had been suspended but Rex wasn't going to challenge him on that. He remained polite and spoke in a sad tone. 'Well, Mr Brown, as much as I'd like to say things are going good, they're not. It seems the principal has taken a disliking to me and wants me out. I'm currently on suspension.'

'Why is that?'

It irritated Rex that he pretended he didn't know but he didn't let on. 'Skipping class. One of our friends was sick and we wanted to make sure she was okay.'

'You _know_ that, Dad,' Chelsea said. 'We were worried about her.'

'And he suspended you for one little infraction like that?' Mr Brown asked, ignoring his daughter.

'He had it in for me before he came to Te Arawa College.'

Mr Brown raised his eyebrows at that comment. Rex had wanted a surprised reaction and he got it.

' _Before_ he came to Te Arawa College?'

'He was my Principal at my last college. Well only for two weeks. He decided he didn't like me and expelled me. He did it all sneakily too and went behind the school board's back. Due to the backlash, he was forced to leave and find a new job. So, you see, when he came to Te Arawa and saw I was a student here, I guess he must have freaked. He clearly blames me for the loss of his other job.'

'I see.'

'But I know that doesn't justify cutting class, so I guess I did deserve the suspension. I don't claim to be the most perfect student in school.'

Mr Brown nodded. 'Seems a bit harsh though. And if it's true what you said and he has a vendetta against you, then it seems he's being unfair.'

Mrs Brown scratched her temple. 'I can't believe a principal would try to have a student expelled just because he didn't like him. Surely he had reasons for trying to expel you at your last school?'

Rex shrugged. 'Like I said. I'm not the world's perfect student. I do things sometimes that upset the teachers. I'm not blaming anyone but myself.'

Mrs Brown's manner softened a little. 'At least you're willing to admit that.'

'My parents are looking at pressing legal action on the school. Let's hope it doesn't have to come to that though.'

Mrs Brown gasped. 'Legal action? My goodness!'

Rex hoped his latest revelation would convince the Browns that Mr Andrews was unfairly victimising him. He wanted them to come to that conclusion themselves though. He would let them muse over his words. 'I hope it all works out okay. I'd hate to leave Te Arawa College. It's great there and the majority of the teachers are excellent.'

'Well...' Mr Brown said. 'What you're telling me certainly change things a little. Makes me wonder whether Mr Andrews is entirely on the level. But still, you certainly aren't denying your behaviour. That can't be ignored by the school.'

To Rex's relief, Mr Brown turned the subject to more casual matters and then it was dinner time. They sat at the dining room table enjoying a meal of casseroled steak and vegetables. Like the lounge, the room was immaculate and there was a beautiful cabinet that housed china and glassware, as well as more photographs and some paintings.

Chelsea's brother Glen was there also. Chelsea herself sat right up close to Rex, as usual, barely giving him enough room to move his elbow. He didn't mind and Mrs Brown said nothing.

Conversation revolved around other topics other than school. Chelsea's parents directed many questions at Rex about his family and where he came from. He was quite happy to answer their questions and did so honestly. They seemed to hang on to his every word and laughed when he joked. They seemed to be warming to him.

Chelsea was all smiles the entire time, which told Rex things were going well.

Once dinner was over, Mrs Brown announced Chelsea and Glen would be helping her with the dishes. Rex volunteered to help, which made Mrs Brown smile but she declined his offer. 'It's alright, Rex. You go with Jim into the lounge, the kids and I will handle it.'

Rex had little doubt it was their plan. Mr Brown was going to give him the third degree and Chelsea's parents wanted them alone when it happened.

Rex and Mr Brown went to the lounge and sat down with a cup of coffee each. As Rex expected, the difficult questions came quickly.

'So, Rex. I'm glad we had this opportunity to sit together and talk. I'd like to ask you some questions if I may...' Then came the exact words Rex had expected. He had seen them said on TV and read them in books - the words every father asked the boyfriend of their daughter at least in the fictional universe... 'What are your intentions with my daughter, Rex? Where do you see this relationship heading? Is there even a relationship or are you leading my Chelsea on? I hear things you know and I've been told you have lots of girlfriends at school.'

Okay, he had asked a whole string of questions but they were ones Rex anticipated and had already formulated answers to in his mind. He paused for a few moments, as if contemplating what he was going to say, and then spoke. 'I care a great deal for Chelsea, Mr Brown. She is very important to me...' He paused again.

'But?'

Rex sipped from his coffee before replying, 'There are no buts. I've never led Chelsea on and I would never intentionally hurt her. I'll be honest; I'm not interested in having a steady girlfriend. I already had one of those once...' He paused for a moment and pictured her in his mind. It was a deliberate pause on his part but one he knew would stir his own emotions and affect him outwardly. He pictured her long dark hair, her rounded chin, her full lips, her flawless skin and... the bright sapphire blue eyes, the same feature he had noticed about Chelsea when he first met her.

He missed her. He missed her so much.

'It's okay, Rex. If it's difficult to talk about, you don't have to.'

Rex turned his gaze to the floor and continued to speak. His voice reflected the pain he felt whenever he thought about her _._ It wasn't put on. It was something he had no control over. 'I don't want to put myself in that situation again... Better to avoid that sort of complication.'

Mr Brown drank from his cup. 'This other girl... she must have meant a lot to you.'

'Damn straight. She meant everything to me. I don't think there's a day goes by where I don't think of her at least once.' That was true too. He raised his eyes to meet Mr Brown's and made a conscious effort to calm his emotions. 'So, to think of replacing her right now? No... As much as I might want to move on, I can't yet. It's true, Mr Brown, I enjoy the company of girls at school but I've never misled any of them, not even Chels. But believe me, she is special to me and I love her a lot. I want her to be happy. If I thought for a moment things were getting too serious, I'd tell her.'

Mr Brown stroked his chin. 'I'm sure you are being sincere, Rex but I'm concerned. It's one thing to have a lot of girlfriends but how far do you take these relationships?'

Rex smiled wryly 'Pretty personal question, Mr Brown.'

Mr Brown held out his coffee cup. 'Let's focus on Chelsea here. How far do you take _this_ relationship? I mean, I don't want to pry but she is my daughter. If you are involved with her, I want to know to what extent. There's a lot of intimacy that goes on between you too. I have seen it and I've heard about it. Just how intimate is what worries me.'

Rex was afraid such a question would arise and he had to tread carefully but, at the same time, maintain complete honesty. 'I understand why you're asking the question, Mr B, she's your daughter and you're concerned for her wellbeing but I don't think it's fair you should ask that, especially seeing as Chelsea is in the other room. I just want you to know I would never dream of doing anything she didn't want to do. I would never manipulate her or trick her.'

Mr Brown nodded, leaned back in his chair and sighed. 'Rex, I'm sure you believe what you're saying but are you sure you're being fair to Chels? Are you sure you're treating any of your lady friends fairly? You can't play around with their feelings. I know that may not be your intention but that may be what you're doing.'

Rex spoke candidly, meaning every word he said, 'Mr B, it always worries me. I don't take anything like that lightly. I know some of the girls feel they're not getting the attention they want and some even get jealous but I'm not sure what I can do, you know? For some reason, they form attachments to me and it's not always my fault. They just do that. Even girls I never talk to seem to gain feelings for me.'

Mr Brown grinned. 'Gee, I wish I had your luck with the girls when I was at school.'

'It can be both a blessing and a curse.' Rex drank some more coffee.

'I can believe that. I dare say there are a lot of dads out there who wouldn't understand.'

'I guess.'

'Well...' He sighed, placed his empty coffee cup on the side table and smiled. 'Hey, Rex, how do you feel about motorbikes?'

Rex was not into cars, trucks and bikes like a lot of his friends but took it as another opportunity to get Mr Brown onto his side and so for the first time he straight out lied. 'I love motorbikes.'

'Well come on out to the garage. You're going to love what I have out there.'

### CHAPTER 17:  
Chelsea Makes a Discovery

Chelsea felt a lot better as she went to school the following Monday. Friday evening had gone better than she had ever imagined it would. Her parents, especially her father, seemed to have a high opinion of Rex now. His parents now thought that maybe Mr Andrews hadn't been as honest with them as they first thought.

At school, Holly was once again absent. Chelsea came across Daryl who sat on her own, at the E Block tree and garden area, where she usually met up with her friends.

Daryl smiled. 'Hi, Chelsea!'

'Hi, Darr.' Chelsea sat beside her. Here was a great opportunity to challenge her about the lies she had told the other day. She hoped Daryl wouldn't get upset or defensive. 'Daryl, why did you lie to me about where you came from? Before coming to Te Arawa.'

The golden-haired beauty squirmed a little. Chelsea wondered whether she was dreaming up some new story or simply didn't know what to say. 'It's difficult,' Daryl replied after a long period of silence. 'And... well, I can't tell you.'

That intrigued Chelsea no end. 'Why not?'

'Because I can't. I'm sorry Chelsea. I want you to be my friend but there are certain things I can't tell you.'

'You never were from Matamata were you?'

'No. I've only been in New Zealand just over a year, but please don't tell anyone. Please.' Daryl squirmed still more and her eyes flittered up to hers. 'Please don't hate me. I could really do with a friend, you know?'

'I don't hate you, I just don't understand, that's all. Why do you need to be so secretive?'

'I can't explain. I'm sorry. So sorry. Please tell me you'll still be my friend. You can trust me and I won't let you down but I can't tell you certain things.'

Chelsea sighed. She couldn't very well push her for details she didn't want to give and it wasn't a good enough reason to reject a person's friendship, especially considering Chelsea liked her and she seemed sweet enough. 'Sure. I want you to be my friend too. I guess it hurts you can't trust me with stuff like that. I wouldn't tell anyone.'

'I'm sure you wouldn't.'

'Okay.' Chelsea wondered what was such a secret she couldn't even say where she had come from, however, she would go along with Daryl's wishes. Maybe once they had developed further trust and become closer friends she would be more willing to open up.

Dog, the guy she had recently found out fancied her, arrived on the scene and greeted them both in a friendly manner, 'Where is everyone?'

'That's a good question,' Chelsea said. 'I guess because Rex isn't around means everyone is doing their own thing.'

' _Unreal,'_ Daryl said. 'This Rex guy seems to have some major impact on everyone here. It seems incredible to me.'

'Rex is quite a guy,' Dog agreed. 'Hey Chels, are you going to the dinner and dance on Saturday night?'

Chelsea hesitated. She had a bad feeling Dog was going to ask her to go with him. As much as she liked Dog, she didn't know whether she wanted to go out with him, yet she didn't want to put him off entirely. She wanted to keep her options open because she was as keen as the other girls to do some bidding at the bachelor auction. If she had a date for the dinner, then she couldn't possibly bid. 'That all depends... on whether I manage to outbid the other girls at the bachelor auction.'

'Oh...' Dog's face fell. 'Who are you going to bid on?'

'Who do you think?'

'Sheep is in the auction.'

'It's Rex I want to bid on. All though I doubt I'll have enough money. We shall have to see.'

'Oh...' His face flushed.

'Are you entering the auction, Dog?'

'Hell no. I'd be as embarrassed as. No one would bid for me.'

'I'm sure someone would.'

'Who?'

'Someone would. You're a cool guy, Dog.'

He smiled. 'Thanks, Chels.'

Another person arrived on the scene and this time it was an unwelcome visitor. Tucker stepped up, his three friends, including Vin Deemis behind him, looking serious and staunch.

'Dog in the auction? As if he'd get any bids. Since when did dogs get put in those types of auctions anyway?'

Chelsea wanted to scowl but settled for narrowing her eyes. 'He's not in the auction. We were just talking about _what if_.'

Dog snickered. 'I'd do better than you, Tucker. You don't seriously think anyone's going to bid for you, do you?'

'Urrrrbarrrrrr!' Tucker growled, menacingly looming over Dog. 'Are you getting cheeky to me, ubbhead?'

'Give it a rest, Tucker. Just because Rex isn't here doesn't mean you can try to intimidate us.'

'That's right, O'Grady, Rex _isn't_ here!' Tucker shoved him, sending him back a step, 'He's not here, so I can do what I like. You can't do anything about it.'

Chelsea tensed up. She glanced at Daryl whose fidgeted as she pulled her books up onto her lap. Her eyes narrowed.

'I'm not afraid of you, Pyles.' Dog glared. 'You're all hot air.'

'Not afraid of me?' Tucker smirked and turned his eyes to his three friends. 'Did you hear that, guys? He reckons he's not afraid of me.'

Ash and Hew stepped up either side of Tucker, as if on cue. They both eyed Dog with evil glares.

Dog backed down. 'Okay, okay, take it easy, dude.'

'Look at him...quaking in his boots,' Tucker growled. 'Who's all hot air, O'Grady? Me or you?'

Dog said nothing.

Tucker grabbed him and glared homicidally into his eyes, 'Who's all hot air, O'Grady? M _e or you_?'

Just when Chelsea thought all was lost for Dog, someone came to his rescue but it was the last person she expected.

'Tucker, you spaz! Who do you think you are? Get your hands off him.' Sheep stepped forward and shoved him. 'You are such a flaming jerk! You can't get away with that, you beggar, I don't care whether Rex is here or not.'

Chelsea almost smiled, delighted Sheep had stepped in to aid Dog. It was unlike Sheep to do anything selfless like that. Maybe he really was trying to be a better person?

Tucker hesitated. It was one thing to bully a guy like Dog but Sheep was a guy who would stand up for himself no matter what. Even Hew and Ash normally wouldn't have messed with a guy like him unless he got in their face.

Hew and Ash's faces darkened but seemed to be waiting for Tucker to give an order.

The boys stood there, giving each other the evils. Vin stepped over to the side blocking off all avenues of escape.

When Sheep turned to face Vin, anxiety crept into his eyes. 'Oh, so Tucker has another hood to do his dirty work for him, huh?'

'That's right, Shepherd, you Ubbhead. And take a look at his teeth! He's gonna eat you for breakfast.'

Chelsea turned her eyes to look at Vin's mouth but the tall newcomer kept it firmly closed, his eyes like shards of ice.

Tucker continued to taunt Sheep and Dog, 'So, you can go running off to Cassidy like a little baby if you want but it ain't gonna do you any good. I'm the top dog in this school again and Cassidy can't do anything about it.'

Dog and Sheep had nowhere to go. Daryl still stared at them and her pencil case slipped from the top of her books. She didn't even seem to notice.

Chelsea didn't know what to do. She could hardly stand up to Tucker herself, even if she had the courage too. Tucker was not beyond bullying a girl either and who knew what Vin was capable of.

Tucker smirked. 'What say we let the new guy dish out the ubbering this time? Come on Diesel. Teach these two ubbheads a lesson.'

Dog and Sheep tried to bolt past Tucker. Ash stopped Dog by shoving him back towards Vin, while Hew blocked off Sheep's retreat.

Vin was quick and brutal. He lay into both boys with fast powerful body blows. Both Sheep and Dog tried to retaliate with punches of their own but Vin was solid and tough and their blows had little effect.

Chelsea stared in horror as Vin beat both Sheep and Dog to the ground before them. They squirmed, groaned, Sheep clutching at his gut while Dog nursed his jaw.

With haughty laughter, Tucker swaggered away. Hew and Ash chuckled a little too and followed. Vin was the last to leave and his expression remained the same as it had earlier, like nothing had happened at all.

Chelsea leapt to her feet and rushed to the sides of both Sheep and Dog. 'Are you guys okay?'

Sheep groaned while all Dog could do was wince.

She glanced at Daryl who still sat there, her mouth agape, her pencil case still on the ground. Chelsea returned to her as Dog and Sheep painfully climbed back to their feet. 'Darr, are you okay? Daryl?'

Daryl blinked and seemed to come to her senses. 'Oh my god, I can't believe that happened.'

'Neither can I.' Satisfied Daryl was alright, she returned to Dog and Sheep. 'Are you guys okay?'

'That son of a bitch,' Dog winced.

'That beggar, Tucker,' Sheep snarled. 'I can't believe he's doing this again. As soon as Rex is out of action, he flaming well goes back to his old ways.'

'Yeah.' Dog scowled. 'But this time he has a new ally.'

'That's what worries me,' Chelsea said. 'Even if Rex returns, there may be nothing he can do about it...'

After school, Chelsea didn't catch her bus home. She wanted to visit Holly. She walked with Daryl and Laura along the street.

'Oh boy, do you think Rex will be able to handle Vin, Chelsea?' Laura asked.

Chelsea hated to think about it but the outlook didn't look good. 'One on one, yes, I'm sure he could, but with Hew and Ash? I doubt it. Rex is great but Hew and Ash together is nearly a match for him. With Vin added, I don't think he has much hope.'

Daryl halted outside a small run-down house with an overgrown front yard. 'This is it for me. I'm home.'

'You live here?' Laura seemed surprised and even a little appalled.

'I'm afraid so. My mother doesn't earn much. This is the best place we could get.'

'Gonna invite us in?'

'No! The place is a mess. I wouldn't want you to see it.'

'Doesn't worry me.'

'It really is a mess.'

Chelsea could see the concern in Daryl's eyes, so came to her rescue. 'Err... I can't stay. I have to get over to Holly's.'

'Okay then,' Laura gave in. 'Well Daryl, we'll see you at school tomorrow, huh?'

'Will do.'

When Chelsea got to the Robinson house, she found Holly in bed but she smiled on her entry.

Chelsea sat on the end of her bed. 'Same illness?'

'Yes, it's such a bummer, I'm throwing up all the time, just like before.'

'I can't believe it's just a recurring bug. Can't the doctor do anything for you?'

'I'm taking antibiotics. I'll get over it. The doctor said I would. But you know, it's hard to say how long it will go on for.'

'You look pale.'

'Dehydration. All this throwing up causes that.'

'Good lord, it must be awful.'

'It is.'

Chelsea wanted to probe for more information but she didn't want to push it in case Holly got upset as she had the previous week.

'Mav wrote me a really sweet get-well letter the other week,' Holly said, 'Want to see it?'

'Isn't it private?'

'It's okay. It's just so sweet. I just wanted to - you know - show someone. It's in the top drawer of my desk. Want to grab it for me?'

'Sure,' Chelsea went over to the drawer in question and opened it up. There was an envelope there and a brochure lying beside it. She was about to take the envelope when the heading on the brochure caught her eye. She stared, stunned for a few moments. Then she picked it up, realizing _why_ Holly had been so sick lately.

When Holly saw the brochure in her hand, she gasped and a look of horror appeared on her face. 'Chelsea! Put that back, it's none of your business.'

'Family planning?' Chelsea said, the words on the cover of the brochure still glaring at her. Chelsea realised that this wasn't just some unusual illness. Holly suffered from morning sickness.

Holly was pregnant.

### CHAPTER 18:  
Bidding Wars

Tucker felt very pleased with himself. Things were returning to the way they were before Rex Cassidy set his vile foot in Te Arawa College. Tucker had regained control. He was the top dog once more.

For most of the week, he had been on the warpath, dealing to those students who had ridiculed him over the last few months and teaching people a lesson that deserved one. He had made sure everyone knew he was back in charge and nobody was going to mess with him. With Ash and Hew by his side and now Vin, he was invincible. Even if Rex did return, he would have no hope against Tucker.

It was Friday night, the night of the bachelor auction. Tucker was due to finish work but he still had a job to do. He was in the kitchen cleaning dishes, the job he hated most in the entire world. He worked as quickly as possible so he could get away in time.

His boss, Don Hawkins spoke up from the other end of the kitchen. 'Take it easy, Tucker, I don't want you smashing any more plates. We've already lost about fifteen of them, thanks to you and you've only been on the job two weeks.'

'Why can't I use the dishwasher?' Tucker grumbled. 'Why have a dishwasher if we never use it?'

'We do use it but there's not enough to warrant an entire load. Besides, if we used the dishwasher all the time, we wouldn't be employing you, would we? Just get on with the job.'

Tucker muttered curses under his breath and washed dishes as quickly as he could. A butter dish slid from his hands due to the excess dishwashing liquid he had put in the sink. There was a smash as the dish hit the floor and shattered into tiny pieces.

' _Pyles!_ I told you to slow down. Darn it, Pyles, you're becoming a liability. Smash anything else and it comes out of your pay, I've had a gut full.'

_Gut?_ _What was that about guts?_ Was he making fun of Tucker's weight? Even at work, his boss mocked him. If he had Ash, Hew and Vin around, that ubbhead wouldn't be making fun of him and he didn't care he was his boss. He was sure his three pals could handle him, even though he was an adult.

He moved across to the dishes he had already washed and grabbed a tea towel. He grabbed another dish from the rack. It immediately slipped out of his hand and hit the floor, shattering.

'Damn it, Pyles! That does it. That's coming out of your pay packet. Clean them up, you idiot.'

Tucker grumbled angrily as he bent over to pick up the pieces. 'Bloody Hawkins. A fascist dictator is what he is. He gets off on making people's lives a misery. That's why he bought this place, so he could hire poor chumps like me and turn them into slaves, getting them to do the dirty jobs for him. Ubbhead.'

Once he had done that, he went back to his drying - wiping them only a little, just to get the suds off them and then placed them back into the cupboards still half wet. When his shift finally ended, he wasted no time getting out of there.

The bachelor auction took place at the town hall and it was only a short walk for Tucker. Once there, he found Vin and Ash. Hew arrived a short time later. Crowds already assembled and sat on forms set out in front of the stage. It looked a lot like a school assembly. It even gave him a bit of a sick feeling in his stomach at the thought.

Tucker and his pals walked nearer to the front where a group of young students sat. 'Get lost, ubbheads,' Tucker growled. 'We're sitting here.'

The young students clambered to their feet and vacated their seats. Tucker's party sat down with drinks and snacks they had picked up from stalls at the back of the hall. He glanced around as people continued to enter. There were many kids from school and plenty of adults. He would have to be careful who he stamped his dominance on, as he didn't want parents giving him hassles.

'I'm glad I decided not to enter this stupid auction,' Hew said. 'Imagine standing up there on stage looking down at everyone knowing you're making a complete drongo of yourself. Humiliation not just in front of an entire school but in front of an entire town.'

'Yeah, well it would be humiliating for you because no one would bid for you,' Tucker said.

Vin spoke up. 'The only one who's going to suffer any humiliation around here is you, Pyles.'

'That's right.' Ash chuckled. 'You're the only one of us stupid enough to put your name forward.'

Hew added, 'Humpty Dumpty is going to take a great fall in front of the whole of Te Arawa.'

Both Hew and Ash laughed, while all Vin did was scowl.

Tucker scowled too. 'What is it with you, Diesel? Don't you ever smile? I've never seen you smile, not even once. Do you even know how to laugh?'

'What's there to laugh about?' Vin said, his expression not changing.

'Not even a smile?' Hew asked.

'If there was anything to smile or laugh about I'd do it.'

Tucker stared at his new ally thoughtfully. Mr Andrews and Mr Upton would smile on the odd occasion. Even his mother smiled sometimes, especially when she was poking fun of him. What was Vin's problem? Surely there had to be something to make him so serious?

'Hey look, Tucks, your mother is here,' Ash announced.

That was _all_ he needed. He hadn't expected her and it would be humiliating to have her in the audience while he was on stage being auctioned off. 'Why did she have to show for?'

'She must be here to make sure you don't get humiliated.' Hew chuckled.

'Yeah. Here to bid on you and save you from looking like a loser.' Ash snickered.

'Can she afford ten cents?' Vin asked. This time he nearly smiled.

'She can, now that Tucker's working,' Hew said.

'Shut the hell up!' Tucker snarled.

His mother spotted him immediately and made a beeline toward him, 'There you are. I thought I'd come and see if you get any bids. I very much doubt it though. Can't imagine any girl wanting to bid for a buffoon like you.'

Tucker didn't reply. He cringed when his mother sat in the same row as he and his friends. It was bad enough she was in the same room, let alone sitting with them. Tucker sat still and quiet. He would be unable to push any other students around while she was here.

The auction began. Tucker didn't take too much notice of the formalities to begin with. One of the jubilee officials, Mr Hanson, stood on stage and welcomed everyone. Twenty-one boys had entered the auction, mainly seniors but Tucker didn't hear any more details. He was too busy munching on a meat pie. He heard Hanson mention something about boys coming up in alphabetical order by surname and then the first boy was announced.

'Roger Arnolds.'

Arnie was a popular figure. He would get some good bids and Tucker was right. He went for a respectable $25, getting a bid from one of the senior girls whom Tucker didn't know.

Another name was called and another boy stepped onto the stage and the bidding resumed.

Tucker found it entertaining to see, which girls bid for whom and how keen they were to get the highest bid. He chuckled and pointed out one girl to his pals. 'Look at her, she really likes him. She's desperate to get the highest bid.'

'I reckon,' Ash said. 'Hey, I haven't seen Myrtle the Turtle yet. If she doesn't show, you might end up getting no bids, Tucker.'

'I'll get heaps of bids. You just watch all those girls go crazy when my name is announced.'

The next name was not one Tucker looked forward to hearing.

'Well, well,' said Mr Hanson. 'Now we come to what most of the girls are saying is the star attraction for tonight. Come on up, Rex Cassidy!'

Tucker scowled at the raucous cheering, whistling and clapping that went on as Rex made his way from the back of the hall up onto the stage. Tucker thought it was a total travesty that Rex should be hailed as the star attraction rather than him. Then again, being the second main attraction was acceptable, he supposed.

Tucker heard Laura Stott speak from behind him. 'How much have you got, Chels?'

'Forty dollars,' replied Chelsea.

'Not enough. I hear Lilla Williams has about sixty dollars and wants to bid for him too.'

'Oh...'

'Looks like you might have to settle for Sheep.'

'Maybe.'

Hands went up before the bidding event started.

Mr Hanson raised his hand in the air. 'Hold on ladies, hold on. We haven't started yet. Do we have a bid for ten dollars?'

'Fifty-five!' shouted out a girl from near the back.

There were long moans from many of the girls.

'Wow,' gasped Mr Hanson. '$55? I dare say we have a winner... Gone to—'

'Seventy dollars!' cried out another female.

Mr Hanson jaw dropped. Even Tucker couldn't believe it. Why would any girl waste that sort of money on a date with an ubbhead like Rex?

'My goodness,' Mr Hanson gasped. 'You girls must be draining out all your sav—'

'One hundred!' cried out another.

There were gasps from everyone in the audience. Tucker looked over to see who it was. _Jacqui Donaldson_. Typical, he should have known it would be her. She had more money than sense.

'110!' came another voice from not far behind Tucker.

He turned and saw it was one of the senior girls, Maggie Morrison. She wasn't particularly attractive, so Tucker hoped she would win.

'120!' Jacqui shouted out.

'120 dollars,' Mr Hanson blurted, as Rex stood next to him with a smile. 'Well, I guess it's all for charity! Do I hear—?'

Maggie raised her hand. '130!'

The bidding war continued, both girls determined to get the highest bid.

'190!' Maggie said as the war continued.

'200!' Jacqui's face turned red, her eyes burning.

'I certainly hope you do have the money,' Mr Hanson said.

'210!' Maggie shouted.

Jacqui's look was homicidal. '220!'

'230!'

Jacqui groaned and sunk back into her seat.

'Well, well.' Mr Hanson smiled. 'It looks like we have a winner. Going once...going twice...'

240!'

This time it wasn't Jacqui. It was another girl from the opposite end of the hall. When Tucker looked over, he could see it was Anita Baker, a junior.

'240? You have 240 dollars?'

'The Anita Baker Syndicate!' Anita called out. She pointed to her friends who sat there with her.

'Well, well. It seems we have an alliance of girls. Although I will tell you now the dinner tickets are for Rex and one lady only.'

'We'll all be there anyway, we all have tickets,' one of the girls with Anita called out.

'Very well. Do I hear 250 from Miss Morrison?'

Maggie Morrison flinched and shook her head slowly.

'It seems we have a winner... or group of winners. The Anita Brown syndicate. For 250 dollars, going once... going twice-'

' _280!'_ came a cry from the back of the hall. A young woman stepped out from behind some chairs and walked forward with cash in her hand. When Tucker saw who it was, he let out a groan of disgust. He had been praying this girl would be there to bid for him later.

' _Daryl_?' Tucker heard Chelsea say, 'But they aren't well off.'

'She must be now,' Laura replied.

'$280 dollars?' Mr Hanson stared. 'And you are?'

'Daryl Chambers.' She stepped up to the front with the money up in the air.

'Well. It seems we have a new highest bid.' Hanson glanced at the Anita Baker syndicate who looked completely defeated. 'Going once to Daryl Chambers for $280. Going twice... _Going three times!_ ' He banged his gavel on the hall podium. 'Sold for $280! Congratulations, Miss Chambers!'

Rex stepped off the stage under a raucous round of applause and beamed at Daryl as she stepped up. She took his hand and they walked away down the middle aisle.

' _Good lord,'_ Chelsea said. 'I can't believe it. I never expected to see Daryl here tonight.'

Laura shook her head. 'She must have a lot of money to throw away... but I guess, for a dinner date with Rex, it's worth it.'

'Well,' said Mr Hanson. 'Moving right along. Our next eligible junior bachelor is...' Tucker's mind drifted away again. He wasn't going to get Daryl as his date for the dinner but there were plenty of other girls still available who hadn't won a bid yet. Jacqui still had a couple of hundred dollars to spend. Then there was Chelsea. She hadn't made any bids yet.

He continued to munch on food and slurp on drinks as one by one, guys went up on stage. The average boy went for around twenty dollars. Tucker counted on higher bids however and even Jacqui Donaldson was unlikely to have enough money to bid for him. There would most likely be large groups of girls forming syndicates so they could make huge bids like Anita Baker did.

Tucker was so deep in thought he didn't even notice his own name called out.

Hew delivered him a vigorous nudge. 'You're up, Tucks.'

'Come on up, Tucker! _'_ Mr Hanson's voice came again. 'Don't be shy.'

This time Tucker came to his senses. He struggled to his feet, dusting crumbs off his clothes. The moment had arrived. It was time to see who his date for the dinner and dance was going to be.

### CHAPTER 19:  
Defying Jacqui

Chelsea sat on her form, disappointed she had not managed to get a bid in for Rex. She still couldn't believe Daryl had placed a bid. Maybe hearing all about him and seeing the gorgeous hunk up there on stage, Daryl couldn't resist it.

As names were called out and boys went up on stage, her mind drifted onto other matters. She thought about Holly and the discovery she had made about her, the night before.

'Good lord, you're pregnant aren't you, Holly?' Chelsea had asked her, after discovering the brochure in her drawer.

At first, Holly had been silent. She had looked at Chelsea with an innocent expression but then she broke down and cried.

'Oh gosh, I don't know what to do, Chels. This is like the worst situation I've ever been in. My life is over. I'm going to have to quit school maybe... or at least pretend I don't have a kid. How am I going to focus on getting skills for a career? And the morning sickness is horrendous. I can't keep anything down. I thought I'd got over it but then it came back again. I hate it!'

Chelsea stroked her shoulder. 'That's awful. I take it your parents know?'

'Of course. My gosh, I can't believe the humiliation. We go to the doctor and Mum is right there when he tells us what the problem is. I almost _died_. I can't look my parents in the face at all.'

'Gee, who else knows?'

'Nobody yet. I can't bear the thought of having to tell people. What will they say?'.

'You haven't told Mav?'

'No, I can't tell him.' She shuddered. Not yet.'

'When will you? He has to know.'

'I don't know... I don't know if I _can_ tell him.'

'But he'll understand. He'll support you. He'd never let you go through this alone.'

'I know.' Tears filled Holly's eyes. 'But I can't tell him... Not yet.'

Chelsea put her arm around her. 'It's okay, Holl. You know I'm here, right? I'll help in any way I can if there's any way I can help.'

Holly looked at her gratefully. 'Thanks, Chels.' She cringed. 'I don't know how people like Jacqui are going to react. She's gonna freak. I can just hear her telling me how stupid I was and why didn't you use protection? And all that. My life is royally freaking screwed.'

'No, it's not, Holly. Don't say that. We all love you, Holly and we'll support you in any way we can. I'm sure Jacqui will too.'

Holly sniffed. 'I sure hope so. There's so much I have to think about. Do I drop out of school?'

'You could do it by correspondence, right?'

'Yes... Mum did say that but I don't want to leave. All my friends are there and I love hanging out with them. I don't want to be stuck at home all the time but I'm gonna have no choice, am I? I'm not gonna be able to go into town with you guys or do fun things with you guys.'

'Of course, you can. Nobody's gonna mind a baby being around.'

'You're freaking kidding, right? You really think Jacqui will be okay with a mother and a crying baby cramping her style?'

'She'll have to be.'

'And there's the thought of everybody knowing. I don't think I want people knowing. It's hard enough, the thought of just our friends knowing but the entire school?' She buried her head in her hands. 'I am so royally screwed, Chelsea...'

'It'll be okay. We'll figure these things out. We will. And everything's gonna be fine.'

Laura nudged Chelsea to her senses as the next name was called. 'Here we go, Chels. This is gonna be a laugh, Tucker's up.'

Tucker made his way up to the stage and once there, stood and faced the audience with a huge grin. Most of the girls had lost interest and talked amongst themselves.

'The only one who's likely to bid for him is Myrtle Turlington,' Chelsea said 'And it doesn't look like she's around.'

' _Alright.'_ Mr Hanson declared. 'Let's start the bidding. Do I hear an opening bid of five dollars?'

All was silent.

Tucker beamed and scanned the room, obviously expecting a bevy of bids.

'I'll take two dollars,' Hanson said. 'Do I hear two dollars?'

Still no bids.

'One dollar?'

All hands were far down and Chelsea figured they were so as not to be mistaken as a bid.

There was stone silence.

'How about _fifty cents_? Do I hear fifty cents?'

The smile on Tucker's face slowly faded. He stared around the hall from one corner to the next. Chelsea almost felt sorry for him but it was his silly fault for entering the auction. Surely, he knew nobody liked him, especially not after his behaviour over the last week or so.

'I'll take twenty cents. Twenty cents for a dinner and dance with Tucker here. Surely there must be one young lady here who will bid, after all, it will be a free dinner.'

Tucker's face dropped still more.

'Alright, I'm going down to ten cents here and that's as low as I'm going... Well, it's as low as I _can_ go. Come on now girls, ten cents. Who will give me a bid for ten cents?'

A hand slowly raised.

A few people gasped and when Chelsea turned to see who it was, she did too. Laughter began to echo throughout the hall. Chelsea did her best to hold her amusement back.

'Sold! For ten cents to... _Mrs Pyles_?'

'Someone had to bid for him!' Mrs Pyles piped up from the front, lowering her hand.

Laughter became louder as everyone else cottoned on to what had happened. Tucker's face turned red and his jaw dropped. Chelsea was certain that no bids would be less humiliating than having your mother bid for you.

Mrs Pyles called out again, 'Imagine how devastating it would be for the fat chump if no one had bid for him? I suppose _now_ I'll have to be his date for the dinner and dance tomorrow night.'

More raucous laughter echoed throughout the hall as the forlorn Tucker stepped down from the stage.

'What a waste of money!' Mrs Pyles barked out. 'He should be paying _me!_ After all, I'll be the one who ends up humiliated.'

The laughter continued for several seconds. Even Chelsea joined in.

Jacqui slipped into their row and sat on the form next to Chelsea. 'Hi, girls.'

'Hi, Jacqs,' Laura opened up a bag of chicken chips. 'I see you got Ginge for $53.'

Jacqui snorted. 'Yeah, and I would have got him a lot cheaper if it wasn't for bloody Wanda Newton.'

'Still seems like a good deal to me.' She offered her some chips.

Jacqui reached in and took a handful. 'It would be if we weren't already friends.'

'And now ladies and gentleman, the next junior bachelor on the list, Rog Shepherd!'

Jacqui nudged Chelsea. 'Here's your chance. Gonna put in a bid?'

She shuffled in her seat. 'Maybe.'

'Hey, Jacqui,' Laura said. 'I hear Dog has his eye on Chelsea.' She chomped on a chip.

' _Puleeeease._ ' Jacqui rolled her eyes. 'That's nothing to brag about.'

'Who's bragging?' Chelsea replied. 'Anyway, he's a nice guy.'

'But come on, Sheep is far superior to him in every way.'

'I wouldn't say that.'

'Do I hear an opening bid of ten dollars?' Mr Hanson asked.

Immediately a hand shot up not far away.

'Do I hear twenty?'

'Go, Chels,' urged Jacqui.

But Chelsea didn't bid.

Another girl put her hand up and a bidding war began. The war was brief and it got as far as 29 dollars before it petered out.

Jacqui poked her in the side. 'Go now!'

Sheep peered down at her from up on the stage as if willing her to bid. She could afford to but something held her back.

'I have 29 dollars. Do I hear another fifty cents? No? I'll close the bidding at 29...'

Sheep stared at her with almost a pleading look. The girl, who had the highest bid so far, was not his type, overweight and not particularly attractive. Nevertheless, Chelsea wondered whether perhaps Sheep needed a lesson in humility.

'Going once, going twice, sold for 29 dollars to Rachel Harrison.'

Sheep cringed and exited the stage.

Jacqui slapped Chelsea lightly across the arm with the back of her hand. 'You fool. Why didn't you make a bid? You missed out on an excellent opportunity.'

'Nah. I'm waiting for someone better to come along.'

'Who? There's virtually no one left worth mentioning.'

The next bachelor was Wal.

Jacqui groaned. 'Oh my god, he actually put himself up for auction? Why he's even bothering, I have no idea. He'll probably go for a similar price as Tucker. Only a real loser would bid for this dork.'

'Do I hear ten dollars, folks?'

A girl raised her hand near the back.

Jacqui rolled her eyes. 'Tracey Hastings. Typical.'

'Do I hear 20 dollars?'

'17 dollars!' called out another girl.

'Ha!' Jacqui scoffed. 'One of the juniors. Now that would really embarrass him if he turned up at the dinner with a junior.'

'18!' called out Tracey Hastings.

There was silence. It seemed no more bids were forthcoming.

'Not surprising,' Jacqui commented. 'Of course, he was going to go cheap.'

'Looks like we have an $18 bid. Do I hear any more? Going once... going—'

'Twenty dollars!' Chelsea shouted out, raising her hand in the air.

Jacqui's jaw dropped and she stared at Chelsea as if she had grown an extra head.

'We have another bid for Twenty! Do I hear 21?'

'21!' called out Tracey

'25!' Chelsea shouted.

'No way!' Jacqui hissed. 'You can't bid for that butthead. Don't be crazy.'

'26!'

'Thirty!' Chelsea called out.

'Thirty from Chelsea Brown. Do I hear another bid?' Mr Hanson eyed Tracey but the girl shook her head in defeat. ' _Sold_ to Chelsea Brown for thirty dollars.'

Chelsea beamed, completely ignoring the mortified look on Jacqui's face. Wal had an even bigger smile as he looked down at her.

Jacqui gasped, 'I do not believe you have just wasted thirty dollars on that wally.'

'Hey, I need a date for the dinner and we're up to the "U"s. Not too much left to choose from.' Chelsea felt pleased with herself. 'Besides he's a nice enough guy.'

'He's a butthead!'

Chelsea didn't quite know why she had placed such a large bid on Wal. It wasn't as if she fancied the guy but although he acted macho she knew, deep down, he had a soft heart. She also liked that she had totally gone against what Jacqui wanted.

Chelsea felt good. Very good indeed.

### CHAPTER 20:  
Mesmerised by the Fox

The bachelor auction was deemed a great success. More money was raised in the senior auction but Rex had not stayed around for that. He was keen on getting to know the stunningly gorgeous girl who had just bid $280 to be his date for the dinner and dance.

Rex marvelled at her hair. The strands were like threads of gold and her eyes were so big and wholesome. There was not one bad feature about her \- she was about as close to perfection as a girl could get. Almost up to the standards of _her_ , in the looks department anyway. _His former love._ He wondered if Daryl was as smart as _her_. If she had that infectious personality _she_ had. But he knew he had to stop comparing. Nobody could ever measure up but, yes, this girl here was something special and Rex felt he was the one who had won this particular bidding war.

They sat outside the hall while the auction proceeded. Rex only knew what he had been told about Daryl, so was happy to sit with her and talk to her, finding out all about her. He found her to be intelligent and personable just as he hoped she'd be.

'Didn't I hear you were from Matamata?' Rex remembered the conversation at the park the previous week.

'Not exactly. I was from there but only for a short time.' The girl squirmed a little. Rex picked up on her discomfort immediately and quickly changed the topic. 'What do you think of Te Arawa so far?'

A smile spread across her lips and she stretched her arms and cupped them at the back of her head. 'A nice little town. People are nice here. Well most of them anyway.'

'Only most?'

'Well, Tucker Pyles gives me the creeps.'

Rex chuckled. 'He tends to do that to people.'

'He's quite scary. Especially with his three friends.'

'Three?' Rex had heard about Vin but wasn't aware of how much of an effect the guy was having on people.

'Yeah. Tucker has _soooo_ managed to get himself powerful allies.'

'Has he been giving you shit?'

'Not me but I did see some stuff... stuff I didn't like. Freaked me out a bit. Him threatening and beating up other students.'

Rex had to hide his irritation at hearing Tucker was back up to his old tricks, so only frowned slightly. ' _Is_ _that_ _so?_ I see I'm going to have to have another word with him.'

Daryl gazed at him with admiring eyes. 'You look like you can look after yourself. Well I hear you can. Black belt in karate?'

'And knowledgeable in some other forms of combat,' Rex said, not wanting to blow his own trumpet too much.

'I like that in a guy - someone who knows how to look after himself... just as long as he never uses his strength against me.'

'Any guy who would is worthless in my books.'

They stared into each other's eyes. There was something about this girl, something mesmerising. He could see much beauty in there but at the same time much pain. What was she hiding? As much as he wanted to know what that was, he didn't want to pry. His intuition told him it wouldn't be right to do so - not then anyway.

'So...' Rex said. 'What made you decide to put in a bid on me tonight? I mean, you don't even know me and you had to pay an awful lot of money. For all you knew, I could be a total asswipe.'

Daryl's eyes sparkled. 'I somehow don't think all those girls would have been clamouring to put in bids for you if you were an asswipe. Even your average bad boy would not get that much positive attention. I've known plenty of great looking guys who may be 10s when it comes to their looks but are so completely up themselves that no girl in their right mind would ever be interested in them. No, the way they look at you and the way they talk about you, you are not one of those.'

'Perhaps what you've heard is just a few girls with crushes building me up to be something I'm not?'

Daryl snickered. 'I've sat through classes of girls being miserable simply because you weren't there. Even an above-average guy doesn't earn that sort of admiration and so far, everything they've said about you has been spot on. When I saw you up on stage, I knew I had to place a bid. In fact...' Her eyes twinkled some more. 'I came specially to place a bid on you.'

'I'm flattered.'

She grinned. 'So will you walk me home tonight, Rex Cassidy? Even though I'm not officially your date until tomorrow night?'

'Of course, I will. It'd be my privilege.'

They continued to sit there some time, talking. She was an enthralling conversationalist. She had him enchanted. She didn't talk much about her past but she was great when it came to her interests and expressing her views on things. She was also eager to learn about him. They bought some food and went for a walk in the town domain. Then they decided it was time to head home.

'I'm afraid our place isn't much to look at,' Daryl said, as they walked along the road. 'Probably nothing like I hear your place is.'

'Don't worry about it. I don't care how well off you are. But you certainly seem to have a lot of money to splash about.'

'Not really. I've been saving money for the last year or so. That was all I had.'

Rex felt guilty. 'You shouldn't have spent all that money on bidding for me.'

'But I didn't spend it on you. The money went to charity.'

'Yeah, but those other girls were about to donate almost as much.'

She slowed to a halt and turned to face him. 'But then I wouldn't have got the date with you, you still wouldn't know I exist and we wouldn't be here now walking along the road together. I think I _sooooo_ got a good deal.'

Rex grinned. 'Oh, you probably would have got your chance.'

'But if you get expelled, maybe not, right?'

'I guess there is that possibility.'

'Do you think you can fight it?'

'Things aren't looking so great right now,' Rex admitted.

'So, what will happen if you _do_ get expelled?'

'I guess I move to a new school.'

'Will you still stay living in Te Arawa?'

'Bound to. My parents only bought the house earlier this year. I'd end up having to commute to New Plymouth and go there but hopefully, that won't happen.'

She gazed at him. 'I hope not either. I know what it's like to move around all the time. I hate it. You end up saying goodbye to friends and then you have to settle into a new school and start all over again. It's worse for me though because...' Her words trailed off and then a troubled look came over her face. 'I just hope we don't have to move away again.'

Rex could see the pain in her eyes but he didn't push her to elaborate. Fortunately, he didn't have to change the subject because she resumed walking and returned to the subject of the auction. 'As for the money, it doesn't matter that it cost me so much to win you, it really didn't. I had nothing else to spend it on anyway.'

Rex figured a teenaged girl would always have something to spend her money on but didn't argue. 'Copy that... I guess.'

They soon arrived at her house and she seemed hesitant to enter the property. 'We needed a place quite quickly. This was the best we could do at short notice and as you can see we haven't had time to clean up the gardens yet... Do you... I don't suppose you'd like to come in?'

Rex wasn't about to turn down such an offer. 'Sure, I'd love to.'

'It's... it's not that flash inside.'

'Don't worry about it. Doesn't look as though anyone's home though.'

'Strange. I expected Mum to be here.'

'No dad?'

'No, he passed away when I was really young.'

'I'm sorry.'

'I hardly remember him anyway, so it doesn't bother me.'

Things were a little nicer in than out but Rex could see they weren't well off. Most of the furniture, although tidy was old, perhaps second hand. The carpets were rather raggedy and some of the wallpaper peeled at the edges. Even though they weren't wealthy, it was clear to him Daryl and her mother had made an effort to make it nice and clean as the metal work sparkled and the woodwork gleamed.

Rex noticed a photograph on the mantelpiece above the fireplace of a young woman. It was quite an old photograph though, possibly ten years old or more, judging by the quality of the colour and the clothes the woman wore.

'That your mum?'

'Yep.'

He picked it up. It seemed strange to Rex it should be so old. It seemed odd it should be there at all considering her mother was supposed to be living there. 'No photographs of your father?'

'No. We prefer not to have them up. It hurts too much, you know.'

Rex hid his surprise at that claim too. 'But weren't you just saying you barely remember him?'

'For my mother, I mean. She really misses him. It still hurts for her to be reminded of him.'

'I can understand that,' Rex said. 'I've been there.' He placed the photograph back on the shelf.

'A parent?'

'Nah... But someone special.'

'Ohhhhh. Someone _special_. You mean...'

Rex chuckled. 'Old girlfriend.'

'You're old enough to have an _old_ girlfriend?'

'Ha! Yeah. Although it wasn't long ago. About a year before I came here.'

'So, what happened?' She then flinched. 'I'm sorry, I don't want to pry. If it's too painful, you don't have to say anything. I mean, I'm not the greatest fan of people asking me personal details about my past either.'

Rex sighed. 'We knew each other when we were really young and were inseparable. Then we didn't see each other for quite a few years. We finally ran into each other again at high school and from there...' He gazed sadly at the wall. He didn't want to say anymore and he didn't want her to think he was still hung up on her. He turned and smiled at her. 'But that's all in the past. You move on, right?'

'Yeah... You sure do.'

She got them a cup of coffee each and sat on the couch. They chatted some more but it wasn't long before it came on to 11:30 pm and Rex, wanting to be a gentleman, decided it was time he should be getting home.

'Why don't you stay? You could stay the night, you know.'

'I don't think your mother would approve, would she?'

'She won't mind. She's pretty liberal, you know.'

'Is she normally out this late?'

'Maybe she's staying somewhere else tonight. She does that sometimes. Maybe she turned up at the senior bachelor auction and _you know_...'

'Can you ring her? Or text her?'

'I'll try but she has a habit of not charging up her phone.'

Rex waited while Daryl attempted to send a message to her mother. She even tried to ring her but only got her voicemail.

She sighed and put down her phone. 'No response.'

'I _should_ go.'

'Don't go.' Daryl touched his arm and she gazed at him longingly. 'It gets lonely as heck here when my mother is out. I don't like being alone.'

'I don't know...' With his recent troubles, he didn't want to risk any more by staying on there. There was no knowing when her mother would show if she did show. He didn't want to get on the wrong side of her so soon. 'I'd like to, I really would but I'd better not.'

'Mum won't be back... I doubt it very much. Not if she's out this late. If her phone still has charge, she's probably turned it off.' Her eyes showed fear and it was if she was anxious to be left there alone.

Maybe what she had told him was the truth and perhaps it wouldn't hurt if he stayed with her until her mother returned.

### CHAPTER 21:  
Drama at the Dinner

Chelsea didn't know whether to look forward to the dinner and dance. She liked Wal, sure, but she began to regret making the bid. She didn't fancy the guy and all she had done was irritate Jacqui.

On the other hand, it would be a lot of fun, regardless of whom she was with. Wal would be good company and would keep her laughing. It would also be hilarious to see Tucker having to dance with his mother.

The dinner was being held at the Te Arawa Domain Event Centre. She had her best dress on, even better than the one she wore when Rex came for dinner. It was a brown party dress she used only for special outings and she had a beautiful island-style necklace to go with it, one her grandmother had brought her when she visited Vanuatu the year before. She had high heel shoes and hoped they wouldn't make it difficult to dance but, then again, she wasn't intending on doing too much dancing with Wal, especially not if it was ballroom type scenario, which she'd been told would be the case.

She met up with Rex before the dinner. Neither of their dates had arrived yet and she was keen to speak to him, 'Rexy!' Her parents were out of earshot otherwise she would never have called him that. 'I can't believe Daryl. I never expected her to show at the auction last night.'

'Quite a surprise all right. I'm shocked I went for so much.'

'$230 more than any of the other guys. And I even heard the highest bid in the senior auctions was $175. By the way, I take it you spent some time with Daryl last night?'

'You could say that. We ended up back at her place.'

Chelsea reminded herself Rex was not her guy and forced a smile.

'By the way, you look awesome. Love that dress.'

'Thanks!' She was rapped he liked the outfit. It was the first time he got to see it. She forced another smile, trying to shake away the thought of him and Daryl alone together at her place. She had to fight back the jealous thoughts and fear that he liked the golden-haired beauty more than her.

'You okay?' Rex aside, touching her arm.

Not wanting Rex to know how envious she felt, she focused on another aspect of the liaison. 'She let you in? She didn't want Laura or me going in there and we were right outside the place.'

'Did you happen to see her mother?'

'No, I've never seen her mother. Wasn't she there when you were there?'

'No. I was there the whole night and didn't see hide nor hair of her.'

'All night?' Chelsea tried to mask the fact it bothered her. She hoped desperately she had done so successfully because she didn't want him to know she was jealous.

Rex nodded.

'And... and her mother never showed at all?'

'Nope.' Rex paused and frowned.

When he frowned like that, Chelsea knew something bothered him. 'What, Rex?'

'I don't know... She's hiding something though. I guess I'm sussing out possibilities.'

'Like what?'

'Has anyone ever met her mother?'

'Not that I know of... Gee, Rex, you don't think she's living in that house on her own, do you?'

'I'm not sure. She tried to ring her mother on her cell but got no reply. For all I know, it might not have even been her number. The picture on her mantelpiece intrigues me the most. It was an old one... of her mother.'

Chelsea pondered on that revelation for a moment. 'She has a picture of her mother on her mantelpiece? Why would she have that there if her mother was living there with her?'

'I wondered the same thing.'

'Could she really be living here in Te Arawa without parents? Is that possible? Surely she couldn't get away with it for long without someone realising.'

'Perhaps that's why she's so secretive about her past.'

Chelsea ran her fingers through her hair. 'Good lord, you think she may be moving from place to place hoping no one will notice?'

'It's possible, I guess. Maybe once people get wise she moves on.'

'But that's crazy. Why would she want to be on her own? And how could she survive financially?'

'Who knows, maybe she has money stashed away somewhere, which is why she has so much to waste on bachelor auctions.'

'But her house is so rundown.'

'True. Perhaps she's frugal. Has to conserve as much money as she possibly can. Make it last for as long as she can.'

'And yet still be able to splash out on the odd bachelor auction from time to time.' Chelsea smiled wryly.

'Ha ha.' Rex shrugged. 'I guess we'd better be careful not to jump to conclusions here.'

'You're right.'

It seemed incredible to Chelsea that a young girl like Daryl could go around with that sort of secret. If it were true, what had become of her parents?

She had no more time to think it over because Wal, all spruced up in new blue denim jeans, white buttoned shirt and a purple tie, arrived.

'Yo, Chelsea, holy shit, you are looking bloody amazing!'

'Thanks, Wal.'

'And all for me?' He smiled cheekily.

'No, I just needed an excuse to wear it, that's all.'

'Ah, I know you really wanted to impress me.'

'That's my purpose in life,' she joked. 'I bought a thousand-dollar dress simply to impress Will Ulman.

Wal's eyes widened. ' _Whoa_ , seriously? A thousand-dollar dress?'

'No, Wal. I'm only kidding. I bought it from the Op shop.'

'How much?'

'Five bucks.'

'Holy sh- That's a five-dollar dress?'

'No, Wal, I was only kidding again.'

Rex, who was still there with them, chuckled. 'I bet it was expensive no matter what, my man. Come on, time to go in. Nearly time for dinner. I wonder where Daryl is.'

Inside the building, tables were set out beautifully with tablecloths and flowers. There was a buffet area with a margarine sculpture of a mermaid next to a large punch bowl. Daryl wasn't sure what mermaids had to do with the whole dinner but it looked great. There was a dance floor and a band which were currently playing gentle jazz music. Many people already sat at their tables, enjoying glasses of wine and beer, although the school-aged diners had non-alcoholic beverages like the mermaid punch.

Holly was there with her parents, looking in a lot better health. Unfortunately, Mav had not been able to make it. There were quite a few teachers there, including Mrs Tantic and Mr Reaper.

Wal made some harsh jokes when they saw Tucker and his mother sitting at a table not far from theirs. 'Serve the fat scumbag right. We might have to record some video of him on our phones to put online later.'

'No, Wal, you can't do that. That's cruel, not to mention immoral.'

'It would be a laugh though.'

Chelsea glanced over at a nearby table where Rex sat. Daryl was there now too. They seemed to be engrossed in quiet conversation. Daryl looked stunning in a silky pink skirt and top. Her hair was done up and she looked truly amazing. Chelsea envied her as she laughed and joked with Rex.

Disturbing questions filled her mind. _What if Rex_ _decided_ _Daryl was the girl for him and they became a couple?_ After all, they had spent the night together. It was a thought that disturbed Chelsea greatly and she attempted to push those thoughts from her mind. Daryl was her friend. Even if she did end up with Rex, Chelsea could not allow herself to be bitter. He had the right to choose whom he wanted and there was not a lot she could do to control that.

The evening progressed. They enjoyed wonderful food from the buffet and had a great time. They even tried dancing but neither of them had the knack for it, so they gave up and returned to their table. Wal was good company and for once he wasn't trying to boost his own ego with big stories and making himself sound tough. He was showing her his softer side, talking about things Chelsea wanted to talk about and showing an interest in her. He was being quite a gentleman and offering to get her drinks. Perhaps what Chelsea was experiencing was the real Wal?

It was dessert time when trouble arrived...

* * *

Mr Upton didn't have a ticket for the dinner, mainly because he didn't have a date. He was a single man and found that he never had any luck finding a woman who shared his views on life. He was, however, one of the organisers for the dinner and dance so put in an appearance to see how it was going. That wasn't the only reason, however. He had ulterior motives. He wanted to sort out this business with Rex Cassidy's expulsion once and for all.

_Mr Andrews_ _was_ _useless._

The school principal was still trying to get support from parents and although he was saying all was going to plan and he would have the support by the time of the board meeting that Wednesday night, Mr Upton was not convinced. Upton had information that would surely convince the board to have the boy expelled but when he'd revealed it to Andrews, the incompetent fool didn't seem to want run with it. It was as if he didn't trust him and that made Upton angry.

He had now decided to take matters into his own hands. He would garner the support Andrews had still been unable to get.

He stood outside and breathed in the fresh air, pondering the best approached. He had seen Rex Cassidy inside, flirting and dancing with the new girl Daryl Chambers. It didn't impress him one little bit the way they behaved. _Totally inappropriate._ He would most definitely try to contact the girl's mother and have a word with her.

The dinner was an excellent opportunity to make his move. He wasn't going to make a big announcement in front everyone but he would talk to a few of them. He wanted the girl's parents to know the type of a boy their daughters were spending time with.

He gathered his wits and was about to go inside when a woman in her early 30s with healthy skin and golden hair, arrived.

'Hello sir,' the woman said. 'My name is Daphne Chambers and my daughter goes to Te Arawa College. Her name is Daryl. Would you happen to know her? I asked around and was told there was an event here that involved the school. And something about a bachelor auction.'

Mr Upton eyes widened and he felt a surge of delight. How convenient that Daryl's mother should turn up right at the moment. 'You're Daryl's mother?'

She sighed with what seemed like relief. 'Yes. I take it she's here?'

'Why yes, she is. My name is Frances Upton, I'm a teacher at the college. Perhaps I can assist you. She is right here with one of the lads from school. I am worried, Mrs... Miss...?'

'Miss.'

'Miss Chambers. I'm afraid the lad she is with is a bad influence. I'm very worried about your daughter spending time with him.'

'Really?' A troubled look appeared on the girl's mother's face. 'So why was he in the bachelor auction?'

'Unfortunately, the organisers were not aware of his reputation.'

'Is she in there now with him?'

'I'm afraid so. She spent an absurd amount of money on winning the lad at the bachelor auction last night.'

'Oh, dear. I'm afraid I was out all night and never saw her at all...'

_So, she_ _was_ _a deadbeat mother_. That probably explained a lot, especially considering her daughter was interested in a boy like Rex. 'You never saw her at all?'

'No... I... I know it probably doesn't sound good but Daryl is mature enough to take care of herself but I was worried I hadn't seen her at all today. I came home this morning and she wasn't around.'

'Well if she was with Rex Cassidy, I would be very worried. Goodness knows what they got up to.'

'They're inside?'

'Yes, come with me, I'll take you to them.'

This was working out better than he expected. Here was an opportunity to cause a bit of a scene that would have all the parents taking notice. If he played his cards right, he could make the boy look bad and turn parents against him.

* * *

Rex was enjoying Daryl's company immensely. The more he talked with her, the more he liked her. She was highly intelligent and personable. An enthralling conversationalist. Her amazing beauty made it even easier to be caught up in her. Her face was so perfectly constructed, everything about her demanded close and thorough examination.

His was surprised and concerned when Mr Upton arrived at their table with an unknown woman. When he noticed the lady's hair colouring, he quickly realised who it must be and could see it was the women in Daryl's photograph, just slightly older.

Daryl confirmed it right away. _'Mum.'_

So, she did have one and wasn't living alone. Unless of course, Daryl had run away from home and her mother had only just managed to track her down.

'Daryl.' Her mother looked flustered. 'What are you doing here?'

'I'm on a date, Mum, don't make a scene.'

'You could have texted me to tell me where you were going.'

'You never texted _me_ last night.'

'I'm sorry... my phone had run out of juice by then and things happened on the spur of the moment. I'm sorry, but I am an adult and you're still a teenager. I expect you to let me know where you are at all times.' Her voice wavered. 'And you know you aren't supposed to just take off. I was so scared, I thought something had happened to you.'

'I'm okay, Mum. Rex has been looking after me.'

'Is this Rex?'

'Yes. He's been so sweet to me.'

'You can't just take off like that.' Her mother shuddered. 'Don't ever do that to me again.'

'I'm sorry, Mum.'

Daryl's mum took a few breaths and let out a sigh. She was about to speak again but then realised people were looking at her. 'Well...' she finally said. 'I'll go now. But I'll be back to pick you up, okay?'

'Okay, Mum.'

Mr Upton spoke up, 'Now hold a minute. Are you going to let her stay here with this lad? I guarantee you he has something to do with this sneaking around behind your back. If it wasn't for him, I'm sure your daughter would have obeyed your wishes and made sure you knew where she was going.'

Rex wanted to challenge him right there and then but figured it best not to say anything for the moment. He had to be careful what he said, especially with the other adults around, especially the Browns and of course Daryl's mother.

'It's not Rex's fault,' Daryl said immediately. 'He never made me do anything. I won him at the auction, he's _my_ date.'

Upton spoke in a voice loud enough for those around them to hear. Rex was certain he did it deliberately to draw attention to them. 'I would be dubious about you letting your daughter spend time with this boy. He's a bad influence. He's caused all sorts of problems at Te Arawa College. He will hurt your daughter, believe you me. He will trick her into doing things she wouldn't normally do.'

Rex just stared, as did others from the tables around them. He couldn't believe Mr Upton was making accusations right there in front of everybody. Even the Browns were looking up with surprise. The Robinsons were also all ears.

'For goodness sake, people!' Upton turned around looking at those in hearing distance. He particularly aimed his words at the Browns and the Robinsons. 'Can't you see what this lad is doing? He is manipulating your daughters. He has no respect for them. He uses them for his own pleasure and then he tears their hearts out.' Mr Upton peered directly at the Browns. 'Do you two even realise the lies and deceit he has fed you both? This boy has pulled the wool over your eyes on numerous occasions.'

'What are you talking about?' Mr Brown challenged him.

'The school dance last term. Remember how your daughter went to the dance behind your back? Remember that?'

Rex's blood ran cold. _How could he have known about_ _that_ _?_

'She was being bullied,' Mrs Brown said. 'Some girl named Roberta forced her to go with her to New Plymouth. Rex rescued her from the girl... _Didn't he?_ '

Mr Upton laughed haughtily. 'You believed that cock n bull story? It was all a big _lie_. Rex Cassidy made that up to get her out of trouble.' What came next, Rex would have never expected him to say in a million years 'It was him who _forced_ her to go out behind your backs.' He pointed an accusing finger at Rex, who could only stare his mouth agape. 'That's right! This lad _made_ her go to the dance with him, against her will, with the threat of physical violence if she didn't.'

' _That's a lie_!' Chelsea leapt to her feet. 'You're lying and that's _not true!_ He... he was trying to protect me. He didn't want me to get into trouble.'

The Browns stared horrified backwards and forwards from Chelsea to Rex, and then back to Mr Upton.

Those watching didn't speak. All chat had ceased and all eyes were on Mr Upton.

It was time for Rex to say something in defence of himself. 'You're walking a dangerous line, Mr Upton. You have no idea what you're—'

'Are you threatening me, lad?'

'No threats. Just warning you to be careful what you sa—'

'Is this the type of boy you want your daughters to spend time with?' Upton turned to look around at those who watched. 'This lad makes this girl conjure up a story to her parents and forces her to be his date at the dance. But this is only the tip of the iceberg.'

Mr Upton stepped over to the other tables. 'He tells you what he wants you to hear. He tells your daughters what _they_ want to hear. Oh, you can guarantee he gets what he wants. He can con them into believing anything. You think your daughters are responsible and wouldn't do anything to compromise themselves?' He glanced around the room from parent to parent. 'Don't be naïve... I happen to know something that will shock you all... What I've told you is nothing compared to what I'll tell you now... One of your daughters was pregnant and this boy here is responsible...'

* * *

Chelsea couldn't believe what Mr Upton had just said and that he said it in front of so many people. It boggled her mind that Rex remained so calm.

She noticed movement out of the corner of her eye. It came from the Robinson table. She glanced over and saw Holly heading toward the main entrance, her face pale. Her parents watched her leave with puzzled frowns. Perhaps her morning sickness had kicked back in again but there was something in her eyes that perturbed Chelsea. It almost looked like dread.

Mr Upton stood there with a smirk. He seemed to enjoy being in control and everyone was stone silent, staring at him.

Rex continued to sit still but had a look of disbelief. 'What the _hell are you_ talking about, Mr Upton?'

'Oh yes. He calls me by my real name when other adults are around. You should all hear the names he calls me in school. I wonder what names he calls you behind your backs.' He turned to the Robinsons. 'You all want to know who's pregnant? Well, I should tell you who is _no longer_ pregnant because Rex secretly paid for an abortion!'

'You lying sh...' Rex started to say but his words trailed off.

'Go on, lad, _say it._ Say what you're thinking. Show everyone your true colours.'

Rex said no more. Chelsea wasn't quite sure why. Maybe Upton told the truth or maybe Rex didn't want to create a bad impression amongst the other adults by badmouthing his teacher.

Upton nodded his head and swung around to face some of the other tables. 'Oh yes. He's quiet now but you should see him disrupting the class when I'm trying to teach. He always has some impertinent comment to make.' He moved over to Chelsea's parent's table, 'You want to know who got pregnant?'

Her parents only stared at him.

He turned his eyes to Chelsea, which caused to her to tense up in horror. _Why had he stopped at her table?_

He stepped toward her with a smirk and peered directly at her. 'As if I really need to say anything.' He turned and scanned the faces who stared at him. He pointed to Rex. 'This lad over here is bad news. Keep your daughters away from him.'

He strode out of the room.

For a moment, all was silent. People were still taking in what had been said. Rex ran his fingers through his hair, his eyes glazed. It seemed Mr Upton had thrown him a curveball.

Daryl's mother stood there, her mouth open. She finally came to her senses, 'Daryl. You're coming home now.'

'No!' Daryl said. 'I'm not going anywhere. I don't believe any of that crap. Not after getting to know Rex better last night.'

Rex touched her arm. 'Go. There's no point in hanging around here. This party is over.'

'I don't want to.'

Her mother urged her on. 'Let's go, Daryl. I don't want you subjected to this. This is strife we don't want and we definitely don't need.'

Daryl slowly got up to leave with her mother. Murmurs started up at tables but eyes continually glanced over at Rex who still sat at his table, Mrs Robinson rose to her feet and hurried out. Rex remained where he was for a few moments, before rising to his feet and leaving too.

Chelsea felt exposed and her parents studied her from their table, still digesting what they had just heard.

Wal had been silent the entire time and turned to her. 'Is it true, Chelsea? Were you pregnant?'

'Of course not!' Chelsea jerked to her feet, her emotions in turmoil. She spoke so all could hear. 'It's all a lie! I never got pregnant and I would never dream of having an abortion. That's murder. It didn't happen!' She delivered one angry look at her parents and then stormed out of the room.

### CHAPTER 22:  
Court in Session

The night of the dreaded board meeting. arrived. It was being held in the school hall. Forms were set out in a semi-circle with the board members in the front row and non-board members in the rows behind. The chairman and a couple of the senior board members sat at a table at the front.

Rex sat uneasily in the second row along with his parents as the board discussed general business. The Browns, the Robinsons and the Williams were also there as well as other interested parties, many Rex had never seen before. He wondered how much support Mr Andrews and Mr Upton had gathered.

There were no other students, as they were not permitted to be part of the gathering. He had seen Holly and Chelsea outside earlier but had not been able to speak to them. He had been unable to have a good conversation with any of them lately. He had not heard from Daryl either. She had not answered any of his calls or replied to any of his text messages.

'I should go and see her,' Rex had said to his parents. 'Maybe I can talk to her mother? Get her to see that what old Uppity was saying isn't true.'

'I don't think you should do that,' said his father, a tall man but not athletic like Rex. 'You might upset her. Seems from what you were saying there's something odd going on with Daryl and her mother and it might just pay to let them figure out how they're gonna deal with this on their own. We have no way of knowing if Daphne Chambers is even going to appear at the board meeting.'

'I've tried ringing Daryl's cell and even texting her but I've had no luck.'

'I would say don't even do that right now, son. This is a sensitive situation. I think you need to lay low and wait and see how things pan out. Wait until after the meeting. We can't afford to risk doing anything that might upset our case.'

'Hells bells, this is so frustrating.'

'I know it is but you have to keep a cool head.'

'I can't believe that douchebag, Upton. I'd sure like to know who fed him all that BS.'

'We'll find out,' his dad said. 'He'll have to reveal his sources at the board meeting.'

'But the thing is even though he's twisting a lot of facts, some of the stuff is true. With the mixture of truth amongst the lies, people are gonna believe him.' Rex felt like screaming. 'I can't believe that crap about Chelsea being pregnant. That never happened. I wonder how he could have come up with that shit. Somebody must be feeding it to him unless he had made it up.'

'He won't get away with making it up, I can tell you that,' Rex's dad said. 'Our lawyers will see to that if it comes down to us needing to bring them in.'

'Arggh, I want to smash that douchebag's face in.'

'Don't go losing your temper. You must keep a cool head over this. Don't give anyone any more reason to doubt your integrity.'

'Copy that, Dad.'

Rex didn't see Daryl's mum at the meeting but that didn't mean she wasn't going to show and it certainly didn't mean she approved of him. It intrigued Rex that she had put in an appearance at all at the dinner. The fact she existed meant Daryl's secrets, whatever they were, had nothing to do with her living on her own.

The order of business moved on to Rex's suspension.

Mr Andrews stepped up to a small podium at the front to speak. 'I must admit, I have not been looking forward to his meeting. Unfortunately, we are in a situation here we can't ignore. As you are aware, I suspended Rex here. Now I needn't go into all the things he has done, as his record speaks for itself. You all know about those things, the way he behaves and how he treats some of his teachers. You know he has been involved, numerous times, in fights and his behaviour when it comes to members of the opposite sex is very questionable. I need not continue to talk about these things. Any other student would have been expelled a long time ago. The only reason he has not been expelled is because of the huge grant his parents pay this school. But I think you will have to agree that to refuse to expel a student because of that is unethical and we cannot allow this to continue.'

'There is also a lot of money at stake here,' said Mrs Mitchell, one of the senior board members. 'The school needs that money.'

'The school survived without it before.'

'That's beside the point,' Mrs Johnson said. 'We can do so much with that grant money. We are doing so much with it already.'

'We have gone through all this before in other meetings,' grumbled Mr Willis, the grey-haired Chairman of the board. 'We have already said we will not authorise the expulsion of this student.'

Mr Andrews huffed. 'Yes and that's why I've brought in support from staff and parents.' He pointed to the benches off to the side where the non-board members sat. Rex sat amongst them. 'I have people here who are willing to stand up and address the board in support of the expulsion. You may not be willing to listen to me but you'll have to listen to them.'

Rex's dad rose to his feet. 'May I say something?'

'Yes...err Mr Cassidy?' the chairman said.

'That's me. We also have some people here who would like to take our side. One of those is my lawyer here, Mr Rogers.'

'A lawyer?' The chairman gasped. 'Err... would he like to speak?'

'No,' Mr Cassidy said. 'Let Mr Andrews bring on the prosecution first.'

'This is not a court of law, Mr Cassidy. There is no plaintiff and no defendant.'

'We see it differently.'

The chairman sighed. 'Mr Andrews, you might as well get started but please keep your comments to at most two minutes per person. Who is your first wit— I mean first person you would like to have address us?'

'I'd like to start with our staff member Mr Knott please.'

Mr Knott, Rex's ageing Biology teacher, rose to his feet. He began to speak with a tirade of accusations about Rex. It was nothing Rex hadn't heard before. It was all about his misbehaviour in class, how he sometimes poked fun of what was being taught. It was all the same sort of stuff Mr Andrews had already mentioned and some of the board members yawned. Others tapped their fingers, doodled on notepaper, or gazed at the honour boards on the walls.

Next up was one of the parents. Rex wasn't surprised when Mrs Williams stood up to speak. Her son Rod had never liked Rex and when he had briefly dated his sister Lilla, he had done everything he could to stop them, including turning his parents against Rex.

Mrs Williams began. 'I would like to speak on behalf of myself and my husband. My daughter Lilla has been at this school ever since she was old enough. She has gone through each year as a model student. However, that all changed when Rex Cassidy came to this school. Lilla started to see Rex, even though the college staff advised her not to. Since then she has disobeyed us, sneaked off to see him and even been to wild parties with him.'

That was a definite exaggeration. Rex had invited her to one party and that was his 15th birthday. Apart from a few incidents, it had not been wild, and they had only hung out a few times since then.

'My son, Rod, tried to make her see sense and even went to one of the parties to get her to come home. Rex humiliated my son and physically assaulted him. Now please, this boy cannot possibly be allowed to stay on at this school. He has sullied my daughter's reputation. He uses his fists to get his own way. I do not want him to be anywhere near my daughter. So, I appeal to the board. No, I don't appeal, I demand! You must listen to the parents of this school.'

She sat.

There was silence for a few moments. It caused Rex to writhe in his seat and fume that she could so blatantly blow things out of proportion. He reminded himself she had people like Rod misleading her. It was a pity she didn't take Lilla's opinions a little more seriously than her brother's.

'Alright,' said the chairman. 'How about we hear something from the other side now?'

'I still have others,' Mr Andrews said. 'I have Mr Reaper, Mr Upton, Mrs Tantic, Mr and Mrs Brown and also Mrs Robinson.'

The chairman groaned. 'We're going to be here all night. Let's hear from the other side, then we'll return to your witnesses. Mr Cassidy, I take it you have people here, apart from your lawyer?'

'Indeed,' Mr Cassidy said. 'Mr Harris for a start.'

'Very well. Let's hear from him. Mr Harris, head of the PE department here at Te Arawa College.'

Mr Harris rose to his feet. He was a little more tidily dressed than usual, having done away with his camo pants and khaki army jacket in favour of dress longs and a buttoned shirt. His hair was still untidy though and he had a look of contempt on his face and spoke in an irritated tone.

'It makes me sick that we should be wasting our time here with this farce of a court marsh... _farce of a campaign_. Smear campaign actually. Let's call a spade a spade. As far as I'm concerned, Rex here is a model student. He is smart, he is athletic, and he is a credit to this school. Rex inspires the other students - whether it's on the sports field or in class. Every kid here sees him as a role model. Sure, he may do a few things that anger a few teachers but _so what_? Our sports teams are strong because of him. The only reason why teachers like Nut and Uppity can't handle him is that they have no idea how to control their class. All Uppity can do is yell at his students and verbally abuse them.'

Mr Harris ignored the evil glares he got from Mr Upton and Mr Knot. 'Some teachers here need to take a leaflet out of the book of men like Mr Franklin. He uses Rex as a teaching tool. Don't ask me how he does it but he does. I for one am totally against Rex being expelled as he is too valuable to this school and not just in the area of athletics and sports either...'

He continued to argue his case for a little longer, making mention of a few instances Rex had excelled. He made some more negative comments about certain teacher's abilities to control their students then he sat down.

Mr Upton rose to his feet. 'I totally reject what Mr Harris just said and I object to him calling his fellow staff members names. But of course, that's what I would expect from an uncouth individual like him.'

'Please refrain from the personal insults, Mr Upton,' the chairman ordered.

'What and it's alright for him to call me Uppity? Mr Harris talks as though everything is about physical education. Well, it's not. There are more important things than sport. Sure, Rex Cassidy is an intelligent individual but he should not be allowed to get away with what he does. How dare Mr Harris accuse the likes of Mr Nut... I mean Mr Knot and myself of not being able to control our classes. He talks of me verbally abusing my students but what about his methods? It's like the pot calling the kettle black. At least I don't go shooting my students with paintball gu-'

'Mr Upton, we are here to talk about Rex Cassidy, not Mr Harris's discipline techniques,' the chairman grumbled.

'Sorry. I'm rejecting the claim we don't know how to discipline our students. The fact is we can't discipline them. The board won't allow us to. This lad does not attend detention, he refuses to take any punishment we dish out. The only option we have left is to expel him.'

Upton planted himself back in his chair.

The deputy principal rose to his feet, 'I'd like to speak now.'

'Certainly, Mr Reaper,' the Chairman said.

Mr Reaper took the podium. 'As this evening drew closer, my mind was full of all the accusations I was going to throw in Rex Cassidy's direction. Like everyone before me, except for Mr Harris, I've had my fair share of run-ins with the boy and I can't say I am his greatest fan. However, as I got to thinking I came to some conclusions. Sure, Rex needs to change his behaviour. But you know, I don't think he should be expelled...'

There were a few gasps amongst the staff. Mr Andrews almost fell out of his chair. Mr Upton's face reddened and his eyes bugged. Rex rattled his head. He was sure Mr Reaper was going to do everything in his power to have the board expel him.

'Look back on the time he has been here,' Mr Reaper continued. 'Rex has actually had a positive effect on this school. I looked at some figures and realised that because of him, certain trends have developed. Did you realise, since Rex has been here, incidents of bullying have decreased by 46%? Oh yes, it's true. Everybody knows how much Rex hates bullying. He will track down bullies and straighten them out. Sure, his methods are questionable and in no way, am I supporting vigilante justice... we the teachers are responsible for sorting out bullies... however, we are not always able to do that as in many cases our hands are tied. We are restricted with what we can do about it. One thing is certain though and that's I have far less students in my office these days for bullying. Coincidence? I think not. I believe students are happier and more contented here than ever before. I've heard many stories and I have even seen examples of Rex preventing bullying amongst the students.'

His eyes narrowed and turned to Mr Andrews. 'And when it comes to the list of infractions put before the board, I see on there names of people who have claimed Rex bullied them, threatening them with violence, when in fact it was they that were doing the bullying and Rex was simply coming to the aid of the victim.'

Many of the board members murmured.

Mr Andrews shuffled in his chair and looked everywhere but at Mr Reaper himself.

The Reaper paused for a moment before continuing. 'The other thing I've noticed is his acceptance of other students. Rex is not afraid to be seen with less popular students. He will be friends with anyone, no matter who they are. I see students accepting other students because Rex accepts them. I believe he has a positive effect on his friends and even those he doesn't spend time with. Okay, he may get a little too friendly with the girls, they may even become distracted by him and their grades may slip a little, but I think he has something to offer the school in this area. I don't think we should expel him.'

The deputy principal sat.

Mr Andrews winced.

Mr Upton's mouth was open.

Rex could only marvel. Mr Reaper clearly had way more integrity than the school principal, unable to stand by while people made false charges, like those bullies Rex had attempted to straighten out.

Mrs Tantic rose to her feet. She sniffed and wiped away tears 'I'm sorry. You will have to bear with me a minute. In the last couple of weeks, I've had to take a long hard look at the way I teach. I too had all these ideas about why Rex should be expelled but it was my students who made me realise a few things. They made me z it's not Rex's fault I have so much trouble with him. It's mine...'

Rex's eyebrows rose. So did those of almost everyone in the meeting - even Mr Andrews'.

'I'm afraid I have not been a good teacher. I have failed the students and I have failed myself. You may ask, how? Well, I'll tell you how. I've lost the passion I once had for the job. I've lost the drive to keep my methods fresh. I've become apathetic and no longer put in the effort I should. I was blind. For so long I have been using old ineffective techniques and had not realised how difficult I was making it for my students. They were not learning as much as they should.' She paused briefly and took a couple of deep breaths.

'There was something I noticed but pretended I didn't. I tried to tell myself it wasn't happening... Rex gave assistance to other students in and out of class. What was taking a lot of explaining from me, Rex explained in only a few minutes. Rex will help anyone. If we had more students like him helping other students with their schoolwork, we would be so much better off. It has taken Rex for me to realise I need to change my methods. I should have realised that a long time ago.' She breathed deep and looked around the faces staring at her. 'That's all I have to say.'

She sat.

_Wow,_ thought Rex. He couldn't believe that two of his biggest detractors were now taking his side. It was almost miraculous and it had truly put a spanner in the works of Mr Andrews' campaign. Already two of his people had switched sides at the last moment.

But the "prosecution" was not finished yet.

The chairman of the board turned to Holly's mother. 'Mrs Robinson. Would you like to say your piece?'

Holly's mother made her way up to the platform. 'Well...' she said once there. 'I'm not quite sure what to say. You have all made valid points. Rex does indeed have his good qualities but, for me, it's not about how he treats his teachers or whether he beats up bullies. To me, it's about how he interacts with our daughters. This is hard for me because I know my daughter Holly thinks highly of Rex. She was most upset I was coming here. To tell you the truth, we are dealing with an issue presently and it makes this a volatile situation.' She paused.

Rex wondered what she was going on about but realised he would just have to listen to what she had to say.

'I...I...' she stammered. Then she ran her fingers through her long dark hair and shook her head. 'I ... I'm sorry, I can't do this.' She pulled away from the podium, tears welling up in her eyes. 'I can't talk about this; it's not the right time. Please... All I can say is you must expel this boy. His behaviour with our daughters is totally inappropriate and there are major ramifications if we allow him to stay on. Things have already occurred which should never have happened. I can't say any more.'

She hurried out of the building...

### CHAPTER 23:  
The Reason Why

Chelsea had been sitting outside the school hall ever since the board meeting began. Holly shuffled about on the bench beside her, saying nothing and tapping the seat impatiently.

'It'll be okay, Holly. The Cassidy lawyer is there. I'm sure he'll sort out everything.'

'I don't know if that'll be enough.'

'They have no proof I was ever pregnant. I can't believe Mr Upton would even say those things. He was lying. He lied to everyone. I'd like to know who told him about that little charade at the dance though.'

Holly said nothing.

'Hey, Holly, I've been wanting to ask you. Why did you go rushing out of the dinner while Mr Upton was talking? Was it the morning sickness again? Was the dinner hard to keep down?'

'I was totally freaked. You won't believe how freaked out I was.'

'Why?'

'Just what he was saying. I didn't realise he was talking about you. I thought he was -you know - talking about me.'

Chelsea screwed up her face. 'What do you mean? I don't get it; he was talking about Rex and me, not you.'

'I know...But...oh my gosh, Chelsea, you have got to promise me you won't breathe a word about this to anyone.'

'I promise. I haven't let you down yet, I haven't told anyone you're pregnant. But you should tell Mav. You have to. He needs to know about this.'

'Chelsea, shut up for a sec and let me speak...Damn it, Chelsea, _the baby isn't Mav's_...'

Chelsea froze as the truth dawned on her. She stared at Holly, wide-eyed, wondering if she'd heard correctly but she knew she had. 'Oh, good lord... you mean to tell me...'

'Yes.' Holly began to sob. 'The baby is Rex's!'

Chelsea could only stare as the truth sunk in. 'But... but how? I mean when?'

Holly rose to her feet and turned her head to the sky. 'At his birthday party. It should never have happened. It was a big mistake. I was so upset because I thought Mav had - you know - fallen for Jacqui. Rex was there to comfort me and well - you know - one thing led to another...' She paced around for a bit.

Chelsea ran her fingers through her hair. 'Oh, good lord, I don't believe it. No wonder you freaked when old Uppity started talking about one of us being pregnant to Rex. You thought he was going to reveal your name.'

'Yes.'

'Wow, do your parents know?'

'Yes. I told them last night.' She slumped back down on the bench.

'So, that's why your mother spoke up at the meeting.'

'Yes. She wants him expelled.'

'Oh, no....'

'She said she was going to tell the board what happened.'

'Good lord....'

'I begged her not to. I don't know what to do, Chels. How do I tell Rex? How do I tell Mav?' She sobbed some more.

Chelsea put her arm around her. 'It will be okay.'

'My life is over...'

'No, it isn't.'

'Rex will probably freak. Mav won't want anything to do with me anymore...'

'Oh, Holly... are you sure? I mean both of them... they're good guys and they care about you.'

Holly buried her head in her hands. 'I'm so confused. I am so torn. Mav means the world to me and the last thing I want is to hurt him. When he finds out it's not his, he's going to be so heartbroken. We'll never get through it, we won't.'

'Don't say that. Mav's a reasonable guy and he'll understand the situation.'

Holly looked up at her but with a hard expression. 'Seriously? You really think that? Try to put yourself in his shoes. His girlfriend got with one of his best friends behind his back. You really think he'll understand?'

Chelsea flinched. 'But it was a spur of the moment thing, right? It wasn't planned. And you could just say it was a kneejerk reaction over what was going on between him and Jacqui that night.'

'Oh, come on, Chels. That was a misunderstanding. Mav didn't ask for Jacqui to come onto him. But when it came to me and Rex... Darn it, Chelsea, there's no way I would have resisted and I was as hot for him as he was for me.'

'It's okay, Holly. It's okay. You can't help how you feel.'

'That may be true but do you really think Mav is going to understand?'

'Sure, he may be upset at first but he cares about you. Surely he'll come to grips with it.'

'But the baby is going to be a constant reminder of how I cheated on him and it's certainly not going to stop the way I feel about Rex, is it? Oh gosh, is sucks so much. Rex will never commit to me and Mav will never want to be with me ever again.'

Chelsea flinched. She didn't know what to say to that. All she could do was to continue to be supportive. 'Try not to worry. Things never end up as bad as what you think they're going to. We all make stupid mistakes, especially teenagers, right? Things will sort themselves out, I just know it.' She paused for a moment as another factor niggled at her mind. 'I've got to ask though... whenever Rex and I have been together, we've always used protection. He's very particular about that. Didn't he... this time around?'

'I... I don't remember. No, I don't think he did. It was like a spur of the moment thing. It was like one moment he was comforting me and the next we were doing it and all I could think about was him and being with him and nothing else mattered at that moment...'

Chelsea nodded. It always felt like that with her too but they had always been prepared. It was never something that happened out of the blue as it had in this instance. 'Wh... what did your parents think when they first heard you were pregnant? What did they think of Mav?'

'They like Mav. They were disappointed but....'

'So, then it would be totally unfair of them to victimise Rex, wouldn't it? They were willing to accept Mav as the father but not Rex?'

'They're upset. I don't blame them. It's one thing for it to be Mav, he's my boyfriend but Rex isn't. They think negatively of me and they think negatively about Rex.'

Chelsea leaned back and twirled a strand of her hair with her finger. 'Gee, so, Rex is the scapegoat then?'

'I guess so.'

'So, why don't you talk to your mother? Make her see how unfair she's being.'

'I somehow don't think that will work.'

'You have to try. I mean, I argued with my parents all night long. I told them I'd never been pregnant. I told them Mr Upton was lying. Gee, did I have some explaining to do about that dance incident though. I had to tell them the truth but I wasn't going to let them get away with pinning all the blame on Rex.'

'But yet they're here, aren't they? They're still going to try to have Rex expelled.'

Chelsea lowered her eyes. 'And things had gone so well at the dinner when Rex came to visit. I don't know. I hope they'll change their minds I really do but with your parents its double standards. They were willing to accept Mav as the father but not Rex. That's not fair, they're both great guys.'

The doors to the hall opened before they could say anymore and Holly's mother stepped out. She looked pale.

'What happened, Mum?' Holly asked.

'I couldn't tell them.'

'You mean you didn't give Mr Andrews your support?' Chelsea asked.

'Oh, I did that alright. I just couldn't tell them about... you know, Holly.'

'It's all right, Mum. Chelsea knows. I just told her.'

'Please, Mrs Robinson,' Chelsea said. 'You have to change your mind about Rex. He's a kind caring guy. You were prepared to give Rick the benefit of the doubt, why won't you give Rex it?'

'I'm not prepared to discuss this with you, Chelsea. It's none of your business.'

'Then talk to me, Mum.' Holly said, tears in her eyes again, 'I love Rick like crazy. But I also love Rex too. Please don't do this to him...For me... Please.'

'It's too late, Holly. I've already given my support for his expulsion.'

'Please, Mum. You can go back in there and withdraw your request. Please!'

'I can't.'

'Yes, you can!'

'No. Rex must take responsibilities for his actions. This time he's gone too far. Rex will be expelled and there's nothing you can say or do that will change that...'

### CHAPTER 24:  
Fact and Fiction

Rex sat powerless as the next _witnesses_ were called.

'Mr and Mrs Brown. Would you like to say your piece?' the chairman of the board said.

Mr Brown took the podium. 'This is difficult for me too. I like Rex. I think he's a neat kid but revelations have come to light that have put us in the situation of having to support the request for his expulsion.' He let out a deep breath. 'It seems Rex has lied to us. And yes, our daughter has lied too. However, I'm not convinced he is a habitual liar. I think this was an isolated incident. My wife has insisted we come here tonight and I must stand by her as she is my wife-'

'Get some backbone, Brown!' Mr Harris called out. 'Don't you have your own opinions?'

'Mr Harris please!' the Chairman grunted.

'No!' Mr Harris rose to his feet. 'It's obvious you two have differing opinions on this. Why don't you each have your say and speak your mind.'

Mr Upton rose to his feet, 'Why don't you keep out of this, Harris? You have no right to tell them how they should think.'

'Why don't you shut up, you toffee-nosed git. So far, no one has come up with any good reason why Rex Cassidy should be expelled. Not one good reason.'

'Please gentleman—' the Chairman started.

'No good reasons?' Mr Upton blurted, 'These people here all know what has been going on in this school, the Browns especially. They know what Rex has been doing. He forced their daughter to go to the dance with him and then lied about what really happened. He made up some cock n bull story about some female bully when really it was him. He got their daughter pregnant, for goodness bloody sake!'

' _Whoa, whoa, whoa!'_ The Cassidy lawyer stood up. 'Where's your proof of these allegations?'

'What proof do I need? My sources are reliable. Mr and Mrs Brown, you know this to be true, don't you?'

Mr Brown glared. 'Look, I don't know anything about any pregnancy. Chelsea has denied it and we believe it. I know they made up a story about the dance but I don't believe for a second it's as Mr Upton has said it was.'

'What? Are you calling me a liar?'

'I'm saying you've been misinformed. Sure, there was a cover-up and Rex did lie to us but Chelsea has explained it and it's nothing like you said. Rex did not force my daughter to do anything. What she did was of her own accord and Rex was just trying to get her out of trouble.'

Upton thumped the back of the form in front of him causing the board member on it to jump. ' _Misinformed?_ Why don't you wake up, Brown? Your daughter is pulling the wool over your eyes. She's been corrupted by the Cassidy boy, she's no better than him. A Jezebel!'

Mr Brown slammed his fist down on the podium. _'You take_ _that_ _back!_ How dare you say that about our daughter?'

Mrs Brown rose to her feet. 'Who do you think you are? You don't know our daughter. She's not like that!'

Rex's dad stood too. 'These are slanderous comments. We could sue the school for spreading such rumours. Who are your sources, Upton?'

' _Please, please!_ ' The chairman stood. 'Settle down, gentleman. Mr Upton you are completely out of line. Sit down now!'

Upton shook his finger in the air. 'I will not be silenced! You are letting that lad deceive you. He is manipulating your daughter, can't you see that?'

One of the side doors to the hall opened and Holly and Chelsea entered.

Mrs Robinson came in behind them. 'Girl's, no, come back!'

'You can't expel him!' Chelsea declared. 'It's not fair!'

'Mr Upton is a dirty liar!' Holly snapped, 'He wouldn't know the truth if it came and spat at him in the face.'

'Girls, you should not be in here,' the chairman declared.

'We're not going anywhere. I'm Chelsea Brown.'

'And I'm Holly Robinson.'

'And we think Rex is being victimised. Mr Andrews only wants him expelled because he was forced out of his job at his last school and he blames Rex.'

'That's nonsense,' Mr Andrews said. 'I'm just doing my job. I have to run this school and I have to deal with wayward students the best way I can.'

'You can't expel him,' Holly said. 'He is one of the sweetest, nicest guys in this school and it wouldn't be the same without him. I'll drop out of school if he's expelled.'

'Me too!' Chelsea declared.

'Holly, no!' Mrs Robinson spoke up, 'You don't know what you're saying.'

'You will not drop out of school, Chelsea Brown.' Mrs Brown glared.

'We will!' Holly said, tears in her eyes. 'And Mum, you know I will.'

Mrs Cassidy rose to her feet. 'Enough! I want to say something.'

There was silence. She stepped from her chair and moved towards the podium. Mr Brown stood aside.

'This is ridiculous. Rex is certainly no model student. He may be a handful to his teachers and he may even conduct himself indiscreetly with members of the opposite sex but I want you to know some things about him most of you have no idea about. _These young girls know._ They probably know Rex better than anyone else here. They know what he's like. Ladies and gentlemen of the board, my son has a huge capacity to love. He cares so much about people. He hates to see people suffering. It's true, he can share his love a bit liberally at times but I want to assure you all of this, especially you, Mrs Robinson and the Browns...' Her voice became softer. 'Rex genuinely cares for your daughters. And not just them either. All his other friends too. He will do anything to make them happy. Sometimes you might say he tries too hard and goes too far to show his love but he is the most loving, thoughtful person I have ever come across. He cares. That's all I have to say.' She walked back to her chair and sat.

The room remained silent. Chelsea and Holly stood there quietly. Mrs Robinson seemed lost in thought.

The silence was broken by Mr Upton. 'This is absurd! I've had enough of all this palaver. The boy must be expelled, there are no two ways about it. The boy is violent. I wouldn't even be surprised if he lashed out at a teacher one day. He even threatened me once. The boy forces other students to do what he wants. We can't just stand by and allow that. He....'

'Mr Upton, that is quite enough!' The chairman said angrily, 'You are completely out of line, now sit down and shut up!'

Mr Upton could only stare at him. He opened his mouth, tried to speak then sat back down, his eyes narrowing.

'Emotions are obviously running high here. I think we need to adjourn for a short break. We'll take ten and we'll have a decision made when we come back.'

Rex noticed it was shaping up like a court case. It was like the jury were in deliberation and the verdict of whether Rex was guilty of the charges was being discussed.

While the adults enjoyed a cup of coffee, Rex went to the other end of the hall to talk with Chelsea. Mrs Robinson and Holly came across before he had a chance to talk to her.

'Rex,' said Mrs Robinson, 'I have formally asked the Chairman of the Board to withdraw my support for your expulsion. I think I have been unfair to you.'

'I appreciate that, Mrs Robinson.'

Holly beamed at Rex. 'I think the board will judge in your favour, Rex.'

'I hope so. I don't think Mr Upton helped their cause.'

'We're heading home,' Mrs Robinson said. 'Be sure to give us a call to confirm the outcome.'

'I will.'

'Well,' Chelsea said. 'That was good to hear. I think my Mum and Dad are having second thoughts. They're over there talking to Mr Andrews.

'Andrews doesn't look happy.'

Chelsea giggled. 'No, he doesn't. I think after that last outburst of Mr Upton's, my parents have begun to see what a lying creep he is.'

'I hope so.'

She touched his arm. 'I hope you haven't been trying to ring. My parents took my phone from me.'

'Yes, I have and I figured as much. Don't worry about it. Hello, look who's just turned up. It's Daryl.'

The golden-headed beauty walked towards them and greeted them cheerfully. 'Hi, guys! Is it over? Did you get expelled, Rex Cassidy?'

'The jury is still out. It's good to see you, Darr. I hope you didn't get in too much trouble with your mum.'

'No. She's okay about it. I'm more worried about you. I left my phone somewhere at the dance. I haven't been able to phone you. Have you tried ringing me?'

'Several times.'

'I am so sorry. If only I had your number written down I could have used my mum's phone but I didn't. I was hoping you might come over and see me. I came close to trying to find out where you lived and come and see you myself.

'Sorry, my parents said it was best I didn't see you until the board meeting was over.'

She smiled. 'I'm glad it was a reason like that.'

'I'm glad the reason you never answered my calls and texts was that you'd lost your phone.' Rex grinned. 'I got the impression your mother probably wasn't pleased with me. I thought Mr Upton had probably poisoned her mind. I expected to see her here, gunning for my expulsion.'

'Of course not.' Daryl laughed. 'My mother likes you. I've told her all about you.'

'Really?'

'Yes. She thinks you're quite a guy.'

'Wow. That's good to hear.' Rex felt relief. 'She seemed upset that you had gone off without telling her. And she seemed to want you out of the building pretty darn quick.'

Daryl sighed. 'There's a good reason for that. I want to tell you guys what that is. First of all, I have to be sure I can trust you guys. I think I can but you must promise not to breathe a word of what I'm going to tell you to anyone. It's very important. It's a matter of our personal safety here.'

Rex widened his eyes. ' _Hells bells_ , sounds serious. You can be sure I'll never betray your confidence.'

'And you can count on me too,' Chelsea said.

'The fact is, my father is not dead. He is very much alive and is a violent man. He physically abused both my mother and I—'

Rex scowled. ' _The crud bucket._ ' If there was anything Rex couldn't stand in the entire world, was woman beaters. Those sorts of people were the lowest of the low in his books.

'We have been away from him for a few years now. But he's continuously looking for us, trying to find us.'

'Gee, that must be awful,' Chelsea said. 'It must be hard to avoid him.'

'He tracks us down and when he does we have to move on. That's why we came to New Zealand. Hopefully, he still thinks we're in Australia. But we still have to move from time to time, just to be sure he can't find us.'

'Can't the police do anything?'

'They won't. They keep saying he has to do something before they can arrest him.'

'You can't get a restraining order?'

'My mother didn't press charges when she should have. She let him get away with his abuse. And now unless he does something again, there's nothing we can do. He's threatened to kill my mother. He's determined to track as down. The only choice we have is to keep moving around, trying to avoid him.'

'Good lord,' Chelsea said. 'It must be awful having to move around all over the place and lie to people about where you've come from. I guess you must have to keep your past a secret in case someone slips up and say something they shouldn't.'

'Yes. It's not easy. I hate the moving around. I make good friends and then I have to leave them again. At my last school, I had to make up an excuse to my friends that I'd been expelled. The truth was we had to move but we couldn't have anyone know where I was going. I hate all the secrecy. I hate the sneaking around and I hate that one day further down the track I am going to have to leave here and be forced to lose contact with you guys.'

'Unless someone stands up to the brute of a father of yours,' Rex said.

'If anyone did, they'd probably end up on assault charges. That would be typical of this justice system.'

Chelsea sighed. 'You know, Darr, you won't believe this but for a while there, we thought maybe you were living in that place on your own.'

Daryl laughed. 'You did?'

'Damn straight,' Rex said, 'It seemed this mother of yours was some mysterious individual who didn't exist.'

Daryl laughed again. 'She exists alright. Despite what you might think, her and I have a close bond. She gets worried if I disappear like I did last night. She got a little freaked out though when Mr Upton started ranting and raving. She gets like that when someone makes a scene. She didn't like that I was getting a lot of unwanted attention and prefers we remain as inconspicuous as possible so we don't get noticed.'

'Gee, if that's the case, you and your mother should change your hair colour,' Chelsea said. 'You both stick out like a sore thumb.'

'We may have to if it doesn't work out this time.'

'So, what's with that photograph of your mother you guys keep on your shelf?' Rex asked. 'Seems strange to me, I have pictures of a lot of people in my room but none of myself. It was that pic that made me think your mother was no longer around.'

'Oh, _that_ picture. It was taken overseas many years back. You may have noticed some spectacular European scenery in the background. She went to Switzerland and it was such a great trip for her she keeps that picture on the mantelpiece as a reminder. That's all.'

Rex chucked. 'It all makes sense when you put it like that.'

'Why don't you move to a country further away?' Chelsea asked.

'We don't have the money. Mum gets average jobs and would have trouble getting a work visa.'

'Hey, now I understand why you got so upset in class that day and why you sort of went into shock when Dog and Sheep got beat up.'

'Oh yeah.' Daryl sighed. 'That type of thing freaks me out.'

'Totally understandable after the things you must have gone through.'

'So, you see, guys, you can understand why there are some things I've been reluctant to talk about but I need some friends I can share this stuff with. At the previous schools, I went to, I never told anyone and it drove me crazy. I think I can trust you two.'

'You bet you can.' Rex touched her arm. 'We're here for you if ever you want to talk to us.'

'Thanks.'

'Well.' Rex glanced up noticing people filing back into the hall. 'Looks like the jury has reached their verdict...'

All was silent as the Chairman took his seat at the head of the board. Mr Andrews sat quietly and Mr Upton looked very business-like with a smug smile.

'Well!' Mr Williams said. 'This has been some board meeting. Plenty of drama I must say. Unfortunately, things have taken another twist since we were in deliberation. Mr Rogers, the Cassidy lawyer, has since issued us with papers threatening legal action if we go through with the expulsion. It seems the school is now in danger of being sued for slander and defamation of character.'

There was a brief pause before he continued. Rex noticed the smug smile vanish from Mr Upton's face.

'As it happened the board had made its decision anyway, even before Mr Rogers intervention. It is unfortunate things have come this far. I must say, the board is most disappointed at the behaviour of certain staff members and what is obviously a smear campaign against one of our students. It is, therefore, the boards' decision to reject the motion to have Rex Cassidy expelled. His suspension will be lifted immediately.'

Rex breathed a sigh of relief and all the pressure dropped from around him. He was safe. He could stay at Te Arawa College. There were murmurs of approval and smiles from many of the parents and teachers.

Upton leapt to his feet. 'That is OUTRAGEOUS! This can't be. You must expel the boy. Are you going to let this lad have his way? Are you going to let his lawyer make threats against us?'

Williams sighed. 'Like I said, Mr Upton, the decision was made before Mr Rogers came to see us. And that brings me to the matter of the legal action. Thanks to you getting involved when you shouldn't have and opening your big mouth when you should have kept it shut, we are now facing this legal action. You have been responsible for slandering Rex in public, and that is not on.'

' _Slandering him?_ I told the truth!'

'Your words were based on hearsay.'

'My sources were reliable.'

'Who were your sources? Who told you those lies? They were obvious lies. Chelsea Brown was never pregnant. _Who_ _were_ _your sources, Mr Upton?'_

Mr Upton opened his mouth to speak but then shut it and lowered his eyes to the floor.

'Speak up, Mr Upton!'

He turned his eyes up but only briefly. 'It was...It was Tucker Pyles. He told me those things.'

For a few seconds, there was silence and even Rex was stunned by the revelation. To think that _anyone_ would be gullible enough to believe anything Tucker said. Then all at once, laughter broke forth from those in the room who knew Tucker, including many of the teachers. Rex grinned and shook his head. 'You, stupid eejit, Uppity,' he said softly.

Mr Andrews cleared his throat, his eyes wide with disbelief. ' _Tucker Pyles?_ You took the word of _Tucker Pyles?_ '

Mr Upton's face turned red and he could no longer lift his eyes.

Mr Harris was doing his best to hold back laughter as he spoke, ' _Gordon Bennett_ , you are one prized jackass, Uppity. You are a bigger pillock than I thought you were.'

Mr Williams continued, 'Mr Upton, you have made a major faux pas here. This school is in danger of legal action, thanks to your serious lack of judgement. What do you have to say for yourself?'

'I... I did what I had to do.' Upton declared, turning his head away so he didn't have to look anyone in the eyes. 'Andrews was not getting results. He wasn't playing hard enough. _Someone_ had to do the dirty work.'

'Dirty work indeed.' Mr Williams scowled. 'Now we have to do something to avert legal action. Something to put things right. Therefore, the board has decided that starting from this moment, you Mr Upton have been relieved of teaching duties here at Te Arawa College.'

Mr Upton's jaw dropped and his face paled. This time he stared eye to eye with the chairman. 'You're _firing me?_ '

'Call it what you like, Mr Upton. You are no longer an employee here at Te Arawa College.'

Upton trembled. 'You can't do that to me!'

'Oh yes we can, Mr Upton and we have. You are a liability to us, sir. You were told by Mr Andrews not to get involved in all this and you did. We don't need people like you in this school.'

His eyes bugged. 'I don't believe this! I tried to make this school a better place! I was trying to help the other staff... the students of this school.'

'You had your own agenda, Mr Upton. The only person you were trying to help was yourself. We have had many complaints about the way you treat your students, not to mention the way you treat staff members. We even doubt whether you have the abilities to teach effectively. Our decision stands. You can pack your things and leave. We have no need of you here.'

'Slander! Defamation of character! That's what this is. You can't get away with this!'

'Go now, Mr Upton. I no longer want to hear your voice.'

'You haven't heard the last of this!'

'Yes, I have. Leave now before I have you thrown out.'

### CHAPTER 25:  
Tucker shows his hand

The following day at school, Tucker Pyles was on the warpath. 'I can't believe they didn't expel him!' he said to his three friends as they made their way around the grounds. 'What sort of a school is this anyway...? Letting an ubbhead like him terrorise the town. Get out of the way, Huntington!' He shoved a junior out of his way. 'Where is he? It's about time we taught that ubbhead a lesson for good.'

'Tucker, why don't you leave it, man?' Ash said. 'At least we've got rid of Mr Upton.'

'That's for sure,' Hew agreed. 'If one guy deserved to be booted out of this school, it was him.'

'Look! I'm the top dog in this school,' Tucker grumbled. 'No way am I going to be dropped to the bottom of the pecking order again. We have Vin with us now. We can take Cassidy.'

'Tucker, there's no reason why we need to provoke him,' Hew said. 'Maybe if we leave him alone, he'll have the sense to leave us alone.'

'Cassidy has humiliated me way too much. If it wasn't for him getting all the high bids at the bachelor auction, maybe I would have got some.'

'How do you figure that?' Vin asked.

'It stands to reason. Obviously, the girls got so tired making all those big bids, they were too exhausted to raise their hands when it came to me. They tried, they just couldn't.' Tucker halted. 'There he is. Over there behind that classroom. He's with his friends. Come on.'

'Do you think it's wise, bro?' Ash asked. 'His friends might try to stand up for him.'

'So, we'll give them a good ubbering too. Come on, we've got the power.'

Hew and Ash hesitated. Vin, however, simply shrugged and followed Tucker.

Rex saw them coming and turned to face them with a smile. 'Well, well, well, if it isn't Tucker and his goons. I'm glad you put in an appearance. I hear you made a nuisance of yourself while I've was gone.'

Tucker clenched his fist. 'Can it, Cassidy! I don't have to take cheek from you anymore. I'm just coming to tell you I'm back in control again. This school is mine and you're going to come under my dominion, just like everyone else.' He glanced around at Rex's friends. Chelsea was there. So were Holly, Mav and a few more of Rex's groupies. It sickened Tucker to the stomach to see Daryl too, was amongst them.

Rex chuckled. 'Oh, _I see!_ Sounds like you're getting too big for your boots as usual. Mind you with the weight you're carrying, those boots are going to wear out pretty damn quick.'

'Are you getting smart with me, ubbhead?' Tucker growled, standing straight. Some of Rex's friends shuffled about, from foot to foot, while others watched tentatively. Rex just stood there, his arms folded. Tucker felt satisfaction he at least had most of them spooked. 'You're the one who's getting too big for his boots. I'm tired of you picking on me and making my life hell. Well, now things are gonna change. Now I'm the one who's gonna make your life hell.'

'Oh yeah?' Rex stepped forward. 'And who's going to make my life hell? You, eejit? Or maybe two of your bodyguards. Ash? Hew? Perhaps this new guy? Vin?'

Tucker puffed out his chest and smirked. _'_ How about all three of them? You think you can take all three of them?'

Rex's eyes went from one of Tucker's heavies to the next, a gleam in his eye. 'Maybe, maybe not. But I tell you now, sure, you may pound me to a pulp but I won't go down easy. I guarantee you all four of you will come out with plenty of bumps and bruises. And yes, you too, Tucker.'

He stepped towards Ash. 'How about you, Ash, my man? Do you want to have a go? Get me back for what happened at the dance in the first term. You think you can take me?'

Ash raised his hands slowly into the air and took a step back. 'Nah, nah, she's right. You're cool with me, bro.'

Tucker shuddered and his jaw dropped. ' _What?_ Ash? What are you...?'

Rex stepped across to Tucker's next man. 'What about you, Hew? Do you want to try and make my life a misery? Both you and Ash put up a good fight last time. Maybe Vin will tip the scale this time, right?'

Hew's eyes widened and then he shook his head. 'Hey, Tucker's on his own. I don't want to fight you.'

' _UubbAA!'_ Tucker gaped. 'What are you two playing at? We can all take him. We'll waste him! He's had it. He's finished!'

'Ahha.' Rex moved to face Vin. 'You think you can take me, Vin? Want to try?'

'Waste him, Diesel!' Tucker punched his fist through the air. 'Take him out! Show him what you're made of!'

Vin shuddered. He took a step back.

Tucker's eyes bugged. Was that fear in Vin's eyes? Surely it couldn't be.

'Come on, eejit, you can take me!' Rex jerked forward, swinging his fist through the air but stopped just before it reached Vin's face.

Vin leapt back with a gasp, his eyes wide and his mouth agape. He tripped over and fell to the ground. He scrambled to his feet and backed away several steps. 'Don't hurt me! I... I don't want to fight you.'

Tucker groaned and flinched, seeing his three friends cowering. If only this were some bad dream. Surely it had to be?

Rex studied Vin's expression with a frown before speaking again. 'What's the matter, Vin? Not so tough all of a sudden?'

Vin's legs quivered. 'You win. I don't want to mess with you, man.'

' _We can take him!'_ Tucker appealed, desperation welling inside him. 'All four of us together can put him in his place.'

'Not today, Tucker,' Ash said. 'You're on your own. Let's go, Hew. Coming, Vin?'

'Y...yes...' Vin's knees continued to tremble. His eyes had not left Rex. It was as if he was afraid that at any moment Rex was going to launch an assault for real, but he didn't. Rex just stood there peering at Vin.

Tucker's new ally backed away further. Tucker thought it timely to make his retreat too seeing as his bodyguards were no longer willing to hang around. 'Count yourself lucky this time, Cassidy.'

He was about to turn and walk away when Rex grabbed him by the shirt. 'Not so fast. I haven't finished with you yet.'

All Tucker's bravado left him like a car that had run out of fuel. His three friends also stopped and watched, wide-eyed, from a safe distance. 'I... I ... Hi, Rex, hey I was only kidding about all that stuff earlier. You're the top dog, man. You always have been.'

'Quit the grovelling, douchebag. You have a lot to answer for. For one thing, you've been causing a lot of trouble around this school and you have been making life difficult for some of my friends.'

'Me cause trouble? No way, dude. You know me. I'm not the troublemaking kind \- scout's honour. I've just been fooling around a bit. Having a bit of fun.'

Dog spoke up. 'Fun for you maybe.'

'Hey, Dog, buddy, you know I was only kidding around the other day. But you know Vin, he tends to get a bit carried away sometimes.'

' _Yeah_ right!'

Rex clipped Tucker roughly around the ear. 'You're an eejit, Pyles. Let me make one thing clear: your life this week is going to be a miserable one. I'm going to teach you a lesson for all the trouble you've been causing. But before I do, I also have a bone to pick with you myself.'

'Hey, you can have all the bones, man, you're the top dog remember?'

'You've been talking to Mr Upton, haven't you?'

'About what?'

'You've been telling him lies about Chelsea and me. I don't know how you found out about some of that stuff but I am not impressed.'

Tucker's body tightened even more and his blood pumped faster. He had to come up with something fast. 'Hey, I was just pulling Mr Uphimself's leg. I told him that stuff so he would get in trouble and get fired. I was helping you out, man.' He felt pleased with that and even smiled at Rex in the desperate hope Rex would buy it.

'Well... If that had really been your intention, which anyone would be a fool to believe, you'll be happy to know it worked. Ironically, those things you told him were the reason he got fired. He believed you, the stupid assclown.'

Tucker tried to hide his mortification and let out a nervous laugh. 'So, there ya go, Rex. All went according to plan, bud. You should thank me. I saved you from getting expelled.'

Then to Tucker's surprise, Rex smiled and chuckled. 'I guess in some ways you did.'

Tucker smiled, all though he was far from happy. It was a horrible thought thinking that something he had said to Mr Upton that was intended to help Rex get expelled was the thing that saved him. Nevertheless, at least now he might escape torture from Rex.

'Because I'm a nice guy, Tucker, and I never let a debt go unpaid, I'll tell you what, I'll let you off for that one. I'll forget you talked to Mr Upton and lied to him about me and Chels. I'll forget that you made up a whole heap of BS. That's what a nice forgiving guy I am.'

Tucker reeled and stared hopefully at him. 'I appreciate that, Rex, I really do. It's great that guys like us can come to agreements on stuff, eh? I guess I'll be going now, huh?'

'Not so fast. There's still the issue of your behaviour towards my friends and other students at this school.'

'Hey, Rex, you're a nice guy, you wouldn't want to hold a grudge about that, would you?'

'No, of course not Tucker, _old chum._ '

Tucker breathed a sigh of relief.

'But unfortunately, my friends _do_ hold grudges. And it so happens it's my job to ensure retribution is paid.'

'Oh...' A multitude of butterflies invaded Tucker's stomach and he was sure his blood pressure was about to burst his veins.

'I'll tell you what. For your first detention this week, we'll make it something simple.'

' _Detention?'_

'Damn straight.'

'What do you mean detention? You're not a teacher.'

'A detention every day for the rest of the week. I'm sure you can handle five little detentions, can't you? You're usually on detention anyway.'

Rex's friends stood by with amused looks on their faces and some even laughed. Even Daryl seemed at ease, smiling.

'Okay...' Tucker said dubiously. 'They are only little detentions, right?'

'Of course. I'm sure this first detention should only take the rest of the day to perform.'

Tucker recoiled. 'The whole day?'

'I'm sure you can get it done by then... well if you can't, you can continue it tomorrow and we'll delay the other four detentions.'

Tucker flinched. 'What do I have to do?'

'Hmmmm.' A devious smile appeared on Rex's face. 'I know. I want you to go to every student in this school and kiss their shoe. How about that?'

His friends burst out laughing.

'Nice one Rex,' Mav said.

'UuBBAA! Every single student?'

'Every single student. And if you miss even one, I'll find out about it and you'll have to do it all over again the next day too.'

' _Every_ student?'

'I'd suggest you better get on with it. You're fast running out of daylight hours and you won't get much chance during class.'

'Come on Tucker, get moving!' Mav chortled. 'We'll be keeping an eye on you.'

'UBBAAaaaaaaaa.'

'You might as well start with ours,' Rex said. 'But no taking peeks up girls' skirts, okay, or you'll get another week of detentions.'

'Yes, Rex.' Tucker lowered himself to his knees.

'What's that, Tucker?' Rex glared.

'Yes, sir!'

'That's better. Now start kissing leather.'

