The Mission (8 page)

Jaz glanced up to see Anna and Ricky standing in front of her. They were holding hands, but Ricky was standing back, trying to be invisible.

‘Hi Ricky,’ she said, in her nicest voice. He nodded and half waved back. Was he scared of her? Her reputation wasn’t that bad. Was it?

‘Was that Ryan?’ Anna asked.

‘Um, no. I wish.’ Jaz’s smile fell from her lips.

‘Oh sorry. I didn’t mean to remind you. I’m going home to Ricky’s place. What are you doing now?’ said Anna.

‘I’m going to go to The Ring, as usual.’ Jaz wasn’t ready to mention Marcus yet. Maybe she wouldn’t have to. For now, Jaz wanted to keep it quiet for as long as possible. Things would only get harder when they collided.

‘Okay. Hey, is Tay alright? He hasn’t been replying to my texts.’

‘Yeah, as far as I know. He’s playing basketball with the guys this arvo so he’s probably just preoccupied.’ But Jaz realised he hadn’t replied to any of hers today either.

‘That must be it,’ said Anna as she turned back to Ricky. ‘ See ya, Jaz.’

‘Catch ya tomorrow.’ Anna and Ricky headed to the bus stop, hand in hand.

Jaz checked her watch, a big silver dial on a leather band. Twenty minutes was not long enough to dump her schoolbag at home, change and get to Cottesloe. She’d just have to go as is. Jaz went around the corner to wait for a different bus on the other side of the road and hoped it wasn’t late.

Twenty-five mintues later she found Marcus standing by the large pine tree beside the arch monument with two coffees in his hand. She nearly didn’t recognise him in his school uniform.

‘Hey, sorry I’m late. Bus,’ she said rolling her eyes.

They stood looking at each other for a moment. ‘Glad you made it,’ he said eventually. ‘You look different in uniform.’

‘You too. Scotch College, I see.’ Jaz tugged on his maroon tie with the gold and blue stripe. He also wore a white shirt and school pants. It was weird seeing him like this, and he probably thought the same about her white shirt, black tie and checked skirt.

‘Yep. Saint Christian’s?’ he asked as he handed her a coffee.

She nodded. ‘Thanks.’

‘Come, let’s sit down on the stairs near the beach.’ They walked down a path that sloped towards the ocean. It was quiet here, not like further up the street where the Life Saving Club and the shops of Cottesloe begun. The only thing opposite them here was the small car park and the golf course. It was also overcast, so not many were out enjoying the beach.

Marcus stopped about halfway down the steps and sat on some rocks just off to the side. Jaz put her bag down beside her and joined him, drawing her legs up together. The sand clung to her black tights.

‘I don’t suppose you have my shirt with you?’ he asked with a raised eyebrow.

‘No, sorry. You’re out of luck.’ She laughed.

‘At this point, I don’t think so.’

Jaz quickly took a sip of her coffee as she felt her cheeks grow warm. She glanced at his hair, which was pulled back into a ponytail at the base of his neck. A few long strands had fallen free and moved across his face in the afternoon breeze coming offshore. It was a beautiful spot and the rhythmic sound of the waves over the rocks nearby had a soothing effect on her.

Jaz had pulled her ponytail out on the bus, letting her hair fall down around her shoulders like a sea of black silk. Hopefully he liked long hair.

‘I’m glad you came today, Jaz,’ said Marcus.

‘Me too. I’d do anything for a free coffee.’ She laughed as she tucked her hair behind her ear. ‘So what’s it like going to Scotch with only boys?’

‘Boring,’ he said. ‘Mixed would be heaps better. You would have to fend the guys off at your school, right?’

Jaz almost choked on her coffee. Marcus patted her on the back as she coughed. ‘Oh, you are way off,’ she said. ‘I scare them all.’

‘Get out of here.’

‘No, it’s true.’

‘Don’t believe it for a second.’ He smiled and Jaz felt the honesty in his eyes.

‘What about you?’ Jaz wanted to change the subject. ‘Which one of these houses is yours?’ she said with a wave to the opposite site of the road.

‘Why? You plan on visiting me?’

‘I have to drop your shirt off somewhere. Or maybe I could just post it?’ Marcus was shaking his head before she could finish.

‘No,’ he said seriously. A pink flush appeared on his cheeks. ‘I was thinking you could hand it over on Saturday, over lunch?’

‘Were you now?’ Marcus was a flirt but he wasn’t over the top, more cheeky and fun. It felt nice to have someone’s attention.

‘So, are you free on Saturday?’

‘Maybe,’ she said coyly.

‘You don’t give much away, do you?’ He tilted his head as he studied her.

They chatted for nearly an hour, everything from school subjects, sports, movies. Marcus would be great boyfriend material, if his parents weren’t possible drug runners. Sadly, she couldn’t have Ryan either because they were both on the same spy team. Life was never easy.

‘You fence, really? Like with swords? That’s different,’ he said.

‘Our school has a fencing team. I like different things. I do martial arts as well.’

‘Ah, that explains your abs.’

‘And yours are from surfing?’ she said, gesturing to the expanse of ocean in front of them. ‘Or skateboarding? I tried doing that flip thing you did on mine and it’s not as easy as it seems.’

Marcus raised his eyebrows and his dimple reappeared. ‘You have a board? Sweet. You’ll have to bring it on Saturday and I’ll show you a few things. I surf as well. Hard not to when you wake up to this every morning.’

‘Yeah, rub it in, why don’t you.’ Jaz rolled up the sleeve on her right arm and showed Marcus her graze. ‘Maybe you could show me how NOT to stack it on a skateboard.’

His hand reached out and caressed her arm gently. ‘Ouch. That’s a good one.’

Jaz didn’t pull away from him. Instead, she enjoyed his warm touch. She didn’t have to pretend. She was enjoying Marcus’s company. Jaz shivered, the breeze off the ocean had turned cold without her realising. The salty air carried the freshness of the approaching night.

‘You’re cold.’ He pulled his hand away reluctantly. ‘Can I drive you home? I take it you don’t have a car, seeing as you took the bus here.’

Jaz pulled her sleeve down and nodded. ‘I’m in the process of saving for one. Hopefully I can get one soon. Mum’s decided to actually help me get something decent. She’s worried I’ll be stranded on the freeway or some seedy suburb with engine trouble. My friend has a classic Mustang and I’d love to get something like that, but Mum will want something more reliable and modern.’

‘Mustang. Nice. A guy friend?’ he asked curiously.

‘Yeah. My best mate Taylor. Him, Anna and I have been best friends since we were kids.’ Marcus seemed pleased with her answer.

‘Come on, my car is just up here. It’s no Mustang, though.’ He stood up and held out his hand. Jaz took it and he hauled her up to her feet, and then he reached for her bag and slung it over his shoulder.

‘Thanks.’ Jaz brushed off the sand, took one last look at the beautiful beach and walked back up the steps to the car park by the road.

She heard the beep of a car unlocking and then saw the lights on the sleek black BMW in front of her. ‘That’s your car?’ It had dark tint and big shiny rims. Jaz loved it.

‘Kind of.’

Marcus put her bag in the back and they got in. The leather seats hugged her body.

‘It’s my dad’s car, well, one of them. He’s always in his Jag, so I get to use this one.’

‘It’s cool. My folks don’t appreciate a good car. I guess Taylor has rubbed off on us girls,’ she said with a laugh.

As he started the car, Imagine Dragons
Radioactive
blared through the speakers. ‘Shit, sorry.’ He turned the volume down and then pulled out of the car park and headed away from Cottesloe. ‘That’s my house there,’ he said pointing to the two-storey with the big fence.

‘Fancy,’ she said, trying to look as if it’s the first time she’d checked out his house.

‘So where to?’

Jaz mind began to spin. Should she let him know her address? If she was supposed to get close to him, become his girlfriend, then he’d expect her to share things like where she lived. He’d want to meet Taylor and Anna, her parents. This thought scared her. Maybe she should have gone with a fake name.

She watched Marcus driving. It was hard to believe he could hurt her, especially when he seemed so normal and nice. Better than nice, even.

Jaz gave him directions to her house and actually felt a little sad when he pulled up out the front.

Marcus whistled. ‘Not bad digs, Jaz. Which room’s yours?’ he said teasingly.

‘Ha, as if I would share that with you. I’ll run up and get your shirt while you’re here?’ she said, and went to leave but he grabbed her hand.

‘No, leave it. Bring it on Saturday. That way I know you have to turn up.’

‘Marcus, you don’t have to worry. I turned up today, didn’t I?’ She gave him a big smile as he let her go. ‘Besides, I really need some skateboard lessons.’

‘Maybe we could swap and you could show me some of your moves?’ He lifted his hands into a karate chop pose. ‘I only know
The Karate Kid
moves,’ he said with a smirk. He started to move his hands in circles. ‘Wax on, wax off.’

Jaz covered her face with her hand. ‘My God, you’re as loony as I am. You’ll fit right in with my friends,’ she said. Jaz got out of the car and leaned in the open window. ‘I’ll see you Sat. Thanks for this afternoon. I had a good time.’

‘Me too, Jaz.’

As he drove away, Jaz couldn’t help hoping Saturday came quickly. Talking with someone new was refreshing and exciting. It helped fill the void of missing Anna. For the first time in weeks, Jaz could overcome her desire to go to The Ring to check for a message from Ryan. Instead, she went to get the skateboard for some practise. And it was kind of fun.

Jaz spotted Taylor out the front of the school. His shoulders were slightly hunched, not his normal square strong stance. Minka was beside him talking, maybe she was causing the deflated posture? She always made Jaz feel like ripping her own ears off so she didn’t have to listen to her fake nasally voice.

But as she arrived at his side she realised, from Taylor’s glassy-eyed expression, that he wasn’t hearing a word Minka was saying. Personally, Jaz thought Minka brought that on with everyone.

‘Hey Tay,’ she said touching his arm. ‘Minka.’ That was as close to a ‘hello’ that Jaz could muster.

Minka was the Barbie doll image but with an evil Morticia inside. Her nails resembled talons and her perfect blonde hair would turn into slithering snakes, given half a chance.

‘Hi Jaz,’ said Taylor softly. Minka turned her head away from them as if someone had called her. Jaz was past taking offence to Minka’s bitchy ways.

‘You wanna do something this arvo? Anna’s with Ricky.’ Taylor flinched and Jaz wished she’d kept that last bit of info to herself.

‘We can go out on our boat, or the jetskis, Tay,’ said Minka, who apparently was now involved in their conversation. Minka gave his arm a squeeze. ‘Come on. It will cheer you up. Some of the crew are coming too.’

By crew, Jaz knew she meant her loyal minions and the guys who they thought deserved their attention. But she didn’t know Taylor very well, because when he wasn’t happy the last thing he wanted was a crowd.

‘Na, I’ll think I’ll pass, Minks. I said I’d drive Jaz home anyway,’ said Taylor as he glanced at Jaz.

‘Oh, okay. Well, you just text me if you change your mind.’

Minka would ooze into a pool of maple syrup if she was any sweeter. Maple syrup laced with an acid-eating component, more like it.

Taylor nodded and looped his hand in Jaz’s as they walked to his car, through the crowd of leaving students.

Jaz nudged his shoulder. ‘You okay, Tay? You’ve been a bit quiet lately. Even Anna was worried.’ That got his attention.

‘Really? I didn’t think she knew what happened outside the Ricky atmosphere.’ Taylor saw her expression and lowered his eyes. ‘Sorry, it’s been a weird few days, that’s all.’ Taylor unlocked his car and they threw their bags in the back before getting into the front. ‘You wanna come back to my place for a bit? I don’t feel like doing much but I don’t want to do it alone.’

‘Sure, why not. I have no plans. So tell me, what’s been going on with you?’ Jaz wondered if it was just Anna that was getting to him. Did she dare ask?

Taylor started the car and let out a sigh that would fill a hot air balloon. ‘It’s Dad. He’s been a bit stressed lately and I’m worried.’

‘Oh, in what way?’

‘His fuse is short, he seems scatty and preoccupied.’ He shrugged, pulling onto the main road. ‘I’ve never seen him like this, but he assures me it’s just work getting a bit thick at the moment. I guess its hard work when you’re the Deputy Commissioner of Operations. I guess I forget to stop and think about just what he deals with every day, you know. We go to school and he’s doing all the hard cop stuff.’

‘Yeah, and your dad being at the top would make him accountable for so much. Maybe he just needs a bit of space and time?’

‘That’s what I’m hoping. Anyway, enough about me and my woes. What about you? Who have you been flat out texting in class, and don’t try to deny it. It wasn’t me and wasn’t Anna cos we were all in that class.’

Her heart lurched and her palms felt clammy. Jaz glanced out the window as she decided what to say. Keep it normal. That’s what James had said. Okay then. Turning back to Taylor she smiled. ‘Well, aren’t you just Mr Clever Pants. Anyone tell you you’d make a good cop?’ she said with a laugh.

‘My dad. Constantly,’ he said with a smile. ‘So fess up. Who was he and don’t try and tell me it wasn’t a he. You were smiling and no one smiles in English. Was it Ryan?’

Well, Jaz had been smiling. Now she felt awful. Taylor knew she liked Ryan. What would he think about her and Marcus? ‘No, it wasn’t Ryan. We, well, let’s just say that “we” will never be a “we”.’ Taylor’s concern splashed across his face as he glanced at her. ‘But don’t worry, I’m okay. I’ve actually met this guy, Marcus. He goes to Scotch and he seems nice.’