New Year at TAC

* * *

  Sheep couldn’t believe the revelations he had just heard. New reasons began to occur to him why Rex was so reluctant to have anything to do with her. However, right now they were just a little stunned about Vanessa’s sudden departure.

  ‘Someone should go talk to her,’ suggested Ginge.

  ‘No. She needs to be alone for a bit,’ Chelsea said.

  Sheep studied the expression on Tucker’s fat face. His eyes were wide with horror as if he hadn’t expected Vanessa to react the way she did, but that was typical of him, he was clueless. ‘Tucker, you complete and utter moron!’

  ‘Get the hell out of here, Pyles!’ growled Wal. ‘You’re an ass!’

  There were murmurs of agreement and more calls for Tucker to leave.

  ‘You’re a loudmouth moron and you’ll always be one! Sod off before I smash your useless excuse for brains out.’

  There were more mutterings of agreement.

  ‘Hey, it’s not my fault if she talks so loud I can hear her from the other room!’

  ‘Quit the crap Tucker and just get lost!’ Mav glared.

  ‘But what about my foo…’

  ‘Just go! Before you get a boot up your ridiculously flabby ass!’

  They all watched in irritation as a distraught Tucker grabbed his bag and hurried away.

  ‘I can’t believe that guy,’ Sheep said. ‘Does he actually know what to do with his foot, rather than shoving it in his mouth?’

  ‘I don’t think so,’ Ginge said.

  ‘But still. Those were some revelations.’

  ‘Well we don’t know why she tried to end her life. It could be for numerous reasons.’

  ‘True.’

  ‘Someone ought to go tell Rex.’ Ginge peered along the beach at the rocks. They could see Rex and Mandy about 400 metres along the beach, sitting on a rock together.

  ‘I’ll go,’ Sheep volunteered.

  He jogged across the sand, but had to take extra care once he reached the rocks. He leapt from one to the other and was about to jump onto an extra big white one, but stopped at the last moment, teetering on the rock he was on.

  That was no white rock. It was the huge carcass of some kind of shark judging by the shape of it, a hammerhead.

  He diverted his way around it and drew closer to Rex and Mandy. ‘Rex! We have trouble.’

  Rex leapt to his feet to meet him. ‘What?’

  ‘Vanessa, man.’

  Rex’s eyed widened and he jerked his eyes to peer back down the beach. ‘What? Is she ok?’ Urgency filled his tone.

  ‘She’s done a runner.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘That idiot Pyles revealed some stuff he shouldn’t have known.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘That’s she’s gay and tried to commit suicide.’

  Rex’s expression didn’t change. ‘How did Tucker know that stuff?’

  ‘He listened in on a conversation she had at the gym.’

  ‘Shit!’ Rex flinched.

  ‘She was really upset and took off.’

  Rex sighed. ‘I’m not surprised. Ok, which way did she go?’

  Sheep pointed to the river.

  ‘Ok, I’ll see if I can find her.’

  Rex didn’t wait around for anything else to be said. He ran off across the rocks, striding from one to the other as quickly as possible. He was heading straight for the carcass of the shark and Sheep was about to yell out, but he leaped over it in one huge bound.

  Sheep turned back to Mandy who gazed at him. ‘She tried to commit suicide?’

  ‘Apparently.’

  ‘Wow. I wonder why. I knew she was gay though.’

  ‘How do you know?’

  ‘She kissed me.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Right on the lips.’

  ‘Wow, did you tell Rex that?’

  ‘Yes, just a few minutes ago.’

  ‘What did he say?’

  ‘“Ha”, he said, “She’s really something, isn’t she?”’

  Sheep stared at her in disbelief. ‘What? He doesn’t mind?’

  ‘No. Apparently not. He’s quite fine about it.’

  ‘Well then that’s obviously not the reason they’re not talking then.’

  ‘No. I think it’s something more deep-seeded. Maybe it’s got something to do with the suicide attempt?’

  ‘Maybe. Come on, let’s get back.’

  They made their way back across the rocks, going nowhere near the shark carcass this time. Sheep shuddered at the thought of having nearly jumped right on top of the thing.

  Rex had already disappeared into the bushes by the time they got back to the party site. He hadn’t even passed by the others but had headed straight along the shoreline. There was no time to talk more about Vanessa though, as a large group of boys appeared on the beach, coming from the main road.

  ‘Who’s that lot?’ Sheep asked.

  Mandy’s eyes widened. ‘It’s Dale and his friends.’

  ‘Oh, oh,’ Ginge spoke up. ‘Looks like we’ve got ourselves some gatecrashers.’

  CHAPTER 22:

  Evil Intentions