‘Yeah, sounds great. I’ll get Bags to run the gym this arvo. I’d like to shoot something,’ Jaz said, totally thinking of Minka.
‘Cool, Tay. Sounds like a plan,’ agreed Anna.
‘Great I’ll swing by your place and pick you up.’
Another reason why Taylor was so cool. He had his licence and everyone loved his old blue Mustang.
Minka took this opportunity to step out of the classroom. ‘Oh, hi, Taylor,’ she said sweetly. Jaz reckoned she was waiting for her invitation to the range but it didn’t come. Jaz felt like snorting with laughter at the impatient look on Minka’s made-up face.
‘Hi, Minka. Come on Anna, we better get our seats.’ Taylor directed Anna through as they weaved their way into the classroom Jaz and Minka had last been in. ‘Catch you later.’
‘See you after school,’ Jaz said, more for Minka’s benefit.
Minka grunted and walked off with a click clack of heels. Taylor had never taken her to the range. He had a couple of mates he took once or twice, as boys love that kind of thing. But girl-wise, it was only ever herself and Anna. Seriously, could you imagine Minka holding a gun! She’d likely shoot herself in the foot.
Jaz walked quickly down the corridor to her next class, knowing that she was going to be late. At this moment, she couldn’t care as she was spending the afternoon with Taylor, and even better, it had put Minka’s nose out of joint.
During her next class with Mr Peel, who was always facing his blackboard, she typed out a text to Bags asking if he could run the gym this afternoon.
No probs Jaz
Mr Peel began scratching at the board with his chalk. He was in his late fifties with a big bushy beard and skittish eyes that seemed afraid to face his teenage class. So, taking advantage of Mr Peel’s weird behaviour, she fished her mp3 player from her bag, put on her latest downloaded playlist and shook her hair over her ears…just in case. She picked up her pencil and began to doodle in the top corner of her page as she did some serious dreaming about the best looking guy in school asking her to the ball. But as if Taylor would ask her.
Chapter 10
After school, Jaz was having a dilemma. No, correction, she was having a major meltdown! What the Hell was she going to wear? Jaz walked around her room in her bra and black undies, churning through piles of clothes on her bed and floor. She wanted to look nice for Taylor; maybe this would be the day he’d notice her. Well, you know, notice her as more than just the friend he sees everyday.
She held up a cream leather jacket her mum had got her for Christmas and looked in the full-length mirror. It was a cool jacket. ‘Nup, trying too hard!’ she sighed and threw it over the end of her bed.
Honk, honk. Shit! He’s here already. Jaz dived into the pile on the bed and pulled on a black singlet and black hoodie. She scanned her room and ran to the far side to drag on the pair of grey cargo pants she’d left draped over her computer chair. Crap! Shoes! Oh, and socks. Quickly she yanked open the top drawer on the bedside table, lucky-dipped a pair of black socks before picking up her Doc Martens by her door and running towards the stairs.
Downstairs the house was quiet. Mum and Paul were still at work and Simon was in the computer room, no doubt. With a swipe, she grabbed her house keys off the marble benchtop before heading back to the computer room. She’d gotten the guilts. Mum would spew if anything happened to Simon. While she was at work he was Jaz’s responsibility. Even when she was at the gym, she was the closest to Simon and had to always have her phone on her.
‘Hey, Geek Boy,’ she said as she opened the door. The large room had one wall covered with books and two jarrah desks topped with two huge computers on the other side. Half a computer lay open on a side table, its technical guts on display. Computers! Jaz wasn’t totally computer illiterate, she knew how to check her emails, Facebook and use programs. But Simon, well he could build a new one. That’s why she never liked Anna coming over…her and Simon would start their geek speak and she’d be lost after mainframe.
‘Hey, G.I. Jane,’ Simon replied without taking his eyes away from the computer. Jaz would rather be outside, personally.
‘Tay’s taking us to the range, so if you need anything just call, okay?’
‘Yeah, yeah, I know the drill. Don’t shoot ya self!’
Jaz shut the door and ran outside, dying to see her friends again.
‘Hey, Jazzy!’ smiled Taylor from inside his shiny Mustang. His arm hung out the window, clad in a long-sleeved red t-shirt. He wore his reflective sunnies, even though it was overcast.
Jaz opened the back door and slid across the seat.