Dark Days at TAC

The unbelievable return to school of Rex was on everybody’s lips. Everybody was in shock at how Rex had kissed Holly. Pete had been there when it happened and still felt bamboozled over the entire incident. He’d wanted to speak to Mav about the allegations Holly had made, but the couple disappeared themselves and were not seen again until half way through the first period of the day, when they entered the room late.

  ‘Is everything ok?’ Pete asked Mav when he sat down beside him.

  ‘No,’ Mav replied. ‘Holly really thinks I’ve been seeing Sam, but I haven’t.’

  Jacqui, who sat just in front of them, turned her head. ‘I say let her think what she wants, Mav, you know she always wanted Rex. Why don’t you just let them have each other if that’s what they really want?’

  ‘Just stay out of this Jacqui,’ growled Mav.

  The next time Pete saw Rex again was at the second class of the day. Nobody knew where he had gone to before that, but at least he was there. Rex didn’t make any effort to sit with any of his friends. Instead, he chose to sit with one of the class trouble makers, Ben Tamati.

  ‘Can you believe that?’ Wal said to Pete. ‘I know he’s lost his memory, but what the hell is going on there?’

  Lunch time arrived and Pete was back in detention, along with Wal and Tucker.

  ‘You again,’ Tucker grumbled. ‘How many days are you on detention?’

  ‘Two weeks,’ Pete said cautiously. It seemed Tucker wasn’t aware that it was he and Wal who’d accused him of smoking at the incinerator. He had to be careful not to let that fact slip.

  ‘Same here,’ Tucker said. ‘What for?’

  ‘Swearing at Mr Reaper.’

  ‘You swore at the Reaper?’ Tucker scoffed. ‘Sure you did!’

  ‘I did. Why else would I get two weeks of detentions?’

  Tucker shrugged. Pete couldn’t help but notice Wal smirk in his direction. He made no effort to acknowledge the smirk.

  ‘I see Cassidy’s back,’ grunted Tucker. ‘Looks like you’ve got lucky. Anyway, why isn’t he here in detention?’

  ‘I doubt he even remembers he’s supposed to be on detention.’

  ‘Oh yeah, he remembers all right. He’s just not bothering to turn up like normal. He’s probably off somewhere making out with Vanessa or one of his floozies.’

  Pete delivered him a weird look. It was as if he didn’t realise that Rex was suffering from amnesia.

  There was quite a bit of activity going on in detention that afternoon. Mr Crummer, one of the English teachers was in charge. He also had a secondary task of collecting camp fees from students. As a result, students entered the classroom at regular intervals.

  ‘You didn’t swear at Mr Reaper, Al,’ came the voice of one of the students a few seats behind him.

  Pete turned his head and was less than happy to see Ben Tamati. As if he didn’t have enough hassles with having to deal with Tucker without Ben too. ‘What’s it to you?’

  ‘You wouldn’t have the guts, Al.’

  ‘At least I don’t talk through mine all the time.’ Pete scowled.

  Ben’s eyes turned to a glare. ‘What did you say, punk?’

  ‘Sorry, didn’t hear you, your voice was too muffled.’

  For a moment, Ben gave him the evil eye, but a few chuckles from some of the other students on detention drove him on. ‘You’d better watch your mouth, Cook! You’re on the verge of having it split in two!’

  ‘It’s already split in two. If it wasn’t I wouldn’t be able to talk would I? Of course for you, it wouldn’t matter.’

  ‘That’s it, Cook, keep on digging your own grave, but you better consider a little fact, punk. I made a new friend today and that friend happens to be none other than Rex. So if I were you, I’d be a little worried that I might not have Rex there anymore to back me up.’

  ‘Hey, you two!’ Mr Crummer called out. ‘Keep it quiet over there.’

  Ben’s voice went down to a hiss, ‘Just think about that, Al before you go thinking you have some kind of immunity thanks to Rex.’

  Pete said nothing more. The images of Rex sitting with Ben in class now took on an entirely new ominous meaning. Rex’s amnesia could possibly have more far reaching consequences than he first thought.

  The hour dragged. At least it was a little more interesting with students coming in and out. Mr Crummer had just announced that it was time for him to check their work when a younger student popped his head through the door of the room with an alarmed look on his face. ‘Mr Crummer! There’s a fight going on just outside.’

  Crummer leapt to his feet and hurried out. Pete led a flood of students out too to check out the action. Two year-ten boys were really going at it, fists flying and bodies colliding. Crummer had to get between them both to break up the fight.

  As if to signal the end of the brawl, the school bell rang. Mr Crummer fumed. ‘What the hell do you boys think you’re doing? You’re acting like a couple of pre-schoolers!’ He grabbed both by the arms, but turned at the last moment to speak to Pete and the other detained students. ‘You all better get to class.’

  Pete needed no further prompting. He’d had enough for one lunchtime and didn’t want to hang around the detention room any longer than they had to.

  The furious Mr Crummer dragged both boys off in the direction of the office block, but had only walked several metres then stopped and turned. ‘Damn, the camp fees. You boys go and wait out by the staff room. I’ll be there in a minute and no more fighting or you’ll both be in real strife.’

  Pete watched their teacher as he made a beeline for the detention room and hurried in. Pete strolled to his locker, which happened to be in the same block and retrieved his gear for the next class. When he turned a white faced Mr Crummer staggered out of the detention classroom. ‘The camp fees!’ he barked. ‘They’ve been stolen!’