TAC Boot Camp

  * * *

  Interval… and Trent Nord sat on a bench on his own in a relatively private area on the edge of the grounds around by the school hall. He’s been spending a lot of time there lately just reading and hoping to avoid Rex. His luck would run out sooner or later, he knew that, but the longer he could spend with his blood on the inside of his body the better.

  ‘Hello, Nord. I’ve been looking for you.’

  When Trent saw who it was, he nearly had a heart attack. Rex stood there, staring down at him, no expression on his face. A chill ran down Trent’s spine and he realised that his time was up. It was time to pay the piper.

  ‘You and I need to have a little talk.’ Rex sat down beside Trent.

  Trent knew that it was now or never. He had to make an appeal. He had to try to put things right before Rex became violent. ‘Rex, you gotta believe me, it was an accident. I didn’t mean to touch Vanessa there, I was pushed, honestly I was pushed!’

  ‘Relax.’

  Trent sat upright and stared at Rex.

  The huge senior chuckled. Was that a maniacal laugh? No, it was laughter of amusement.

  ‘I didn’t mean to…’ Trent whimpered.

  ‘I know you didn’t. Vanessa knows too.’

  ‘You know?’

  ‘Yes. From what I hear from Wal, a few people have been trying to terrify you with stories about me.’

  ‘The stories? They’re not true?’

  ‘Well they may have been exaggerated, but they are true. I do tend to get a little… over protective of Vanessa. But I’m not gonna take my wrath out on someone who’s innocent.’

  ‘So, you’re not after my guts for garters?’

  ‘Nah!’ Rex laughed. ‘You’re worrying about nothing.’

  Trent could feel a tremendous weight lift from his shoulder. He even found himself smiling. ‘Oh man, that is such a relief!’

  ‘You’ve really been that scared?’

  ‘Scared? I’ve been terrified. That Wal, he totally freaks me out. As for you, I’ve been so scared. I’ve been trying to avoid you for days. I was sure you were going to tear me apart.’

  ‘That bad, huh?’

  ‘Yes!’

  ‘I told Wal to give you a hard time, sounds like he got a bit carried away.’

  ‘Tucker Pyles didn’t help.’

  ‘Oh yeah. Well you gotta realise with Tucker, he tends to live in a bit of a fantasy world and let’s just say he’s not my greatest fan. Wal told me you had been royally duped by him and that he made him pay you back every sent.’

  ‘Yeah, he did. I guess he’s not so bad.’

  ‘Wal?’ Rex chuckled. ‘His bark is worse than his bite. As for Tucker, if you have any trouble with him, you just come and see me, ok? I’ll sort him out.’

  ‘Ok, Rex. Thanks.’

  Rex patted him on the back, arose and walked away.

  Trent leant back and breathed a deep sigh of relief. ‘I guess Te Arawa College won’t be so bad after all.’