Spending his final detention for playing hooky; Nate was feeling anxious in having to leave. Despite that he had very little school work; all his teachers did today was hammer the importance of their end of year exams, or as Nate likes to call them mid-term exams. Having to look at mock exam questions did help give him an ideal as to what to study; the problem was, Nate could not focus. All he had on his mind was the recent note found stuffed in his locker. From the same author as before; Nate knew the lingering scent of Jean Talbot all over him would be a clear indication of who ever had their eye on him that he was already spoken for. Yet he never thought that they would leave their phone number for him to call.
****
“God dam it Jean,” Peter growling; “why today? Why do you want to have Nate over tonight?”
“I don’t need to answer to you brother,” Jean helping her father tune up her Shelby cobra; “dad okayed it, that’s all that matters.”
“Dad,” Peter asking; “is this true?”
“I don’t see you looking for a mate,” Leon answering; looking at his son as he wipes the grease off his hands; “your baby sister has found hers. If she wants to bed him over here; who are you to try and argue over it?”
“Besides,” Jean grinning; “we won’t be loud; at least while you’re not here.”
“Jean,” Leon speaking; “don’t torment your brother like that.”
“Dad,” Jean chuckling; “if I truly wanted to torment Peter; “I’d rut with Nate on Peter’s bed.”
“Don’t push it Jean,” Leon looking stern; “and you Peter, nothing is stopping you from going out looking for a willing female to couple with. I suggest you try that.”
****
With Nate finally being let out after serving his final detention; he is about to rush out the door when Principal Andrews stops him.
“Nate, a moment please.”
“Is it important,” Nate asking; “I’m meeting my girlfriend shortly.”
“It is important,” Principal Andrews answering; “while I know you may think you have something important, what I need done takes priority. I am about to head over to the Knight estate to drop of some exam schedules for Frieda. I need you to drop off your brother’s at your house.”
“No can do,” Nate answering; “Eric is over at Frieda’s. As well as Spencer,” Nate smiling; “and I’m about to have a date with Jean Talbot. The same Jean Talbot that is the daughter to the towns were-lion king.”
“So you brother has been over at the Knight Estate,” Principal Andrews looking concerned; during this whole affair with the Elder Council?”
“It’s what I know,” Nate answering; “not much point in asking my parents, they also know and I believe it was at the request of Tachiabana.”
“Okay,” Principal Andrews sighing; “guess that saves me a trip heading over to Spencer’s house as well. But I must say, I hope all this business with the council interrupting the education of my students is at an end.”
Nate doesn’t answer as he watches the principal leave. Waiting for the man to get out of eyesight, Nate runs in the hallway making a beeline to the school parking lot. Getting into his car Nate fires off a text to Jean; ‘heading to your place now. Want to get something to eat?’
Starting the engine; Nate is about to drive off when his phone buzzes with a message.
‘Give me a few minutes to clean up and we’ll head over to place that makes great Korean BBQ.’
Nate smiling as he puts down his phone; Shifting his car into drive he heads off to Jean’s place for the start of his afternoon and evening fun with her.
*****
Brian Walker just arriving home from school; the house phone rings. Curious, Brian picks up the phone.
“Hello?”
“Brian,” a strange voice speaking; “do you recognize my voice?”
“Who is this,” Brian feeling nervous as to how the caller knows who he is.
“It’s your father,” the strange voice saying.
“No your not," Brian answering; “my father was declared dead. So you can’t be him.”
“The last time we spent time together was at the fair,” the strange voice answering; “you won a giraffe at one of those carnival games.”
Brian’s mood soured; the only people who know of that event was him, his mother and his father. And since the voice on the other end is to masculine and his mother Emily was not one to play pranks; Brian picks his next words carefully.
“I don’t know who you are,” Brian speaking; “but my father left me and my mother and saddle us with a mountain of debt. I have neither the patience nor the tolerance to deal with those trying to scam us with a promise to find him or force him to repay what he owes us.”
Brain hangs up the phone before the man can speak. Grabbing a glass and getting water from the faucet; the phone rings again; ignoring it, Brain drinks his water and heads upstairs to get his secret phone. Turning it on to check if any message form Betty has arrived; Brian quickly shifts the phone to silent mode as his regular phone rings. Seeing the id as her mother he answers it.
“Mom,” Brian answering; “is everything all right?”
“I could ask you that,” Emily answering; “I tried calling the home phone but I got no answer. Are you home?”
“Yes,” Brian responding; “and I’m sorry for not answering, I got a strange call from someone claiming to be dad. I hung up on them and thought the phone ringing a second time was him.”
“George called,” Emily swearing; “what did he say?”
“I’m not sure if it was dad mom,” Brian responding; “but he did mention something that only he and us would know.”
“And what was that?”
“The giraffe I won at the fair,” Brian responding; “before he ran off on us.”
“Okay,” Emily answering; “stay on your cellular, Andrew will soon be calling you for your first day on your after school job. If the phone rings again before you leave, let the machine pick it up.”
Brian was about to respond when the house phone rang again. “Mom the phone is ringing.”
“Let the machine get it,” Emily responding; “I’ll deal with it when I get home.”
“Should I let Andrew know,” Brian asking; “Or are you going to tell him?”
“Let Andrew know,” Emily answering; “As well as Rachael Gauldet. But before you leave make yourself a sandwich for supper; I don’t want you to pass out with hunger on your first day.”
“Okay mom,” Brain answering; “I’ll talk to you when I get back. Bye now.” Hanging up his cellphone; Brain heads back down to make himself a sandwich and wait for the wer-mer rep to call.