The sprinklers popped up and began watering the dark, green lawn as Tasha pulled out of the paved driveway and onto the road. Simon called out from the back seat, the leather squelched under him as he leant forward. ‘Mum, don’t forget I have my computer lessons with Dad after school, I need to be on time please.’
‘I won’t forget darling. How about you Jasmine, do you want a ride to Pax’s today?’ asked Tasha, keeping her eyes firmly on the road ahead.
‘No thanks, Mum. I don’t mind the walk, warms me up before my work-out.’
Tasha sighed, ‘I do worry about you walking down there. It’s not the best part of town.’
‘Com’on, Mum. I’m old enough to take care of myself, you know that. Why don’t you come down for a work-out? It’s been ages since we’ve sparred together…and Pax keeps saying he hasn’t caught up with you for so long!’ Pax ran The Ring. It was the gym that she always went to, which just happened to be in a seedy part of the suburb.
Tasha risked a long glance at her daughter. ‘I know, darling. I’ll try to make it one day so you can beat me up, yet again. But I’m so out of touch with all that now. Work keeps me busy at the law firm.’
Jaz slouched in the front seat as she swallowed her mother’s excuse. She’d been coming to the gym less and less and Jaz missed her. It was her mum who introduced her to the gym, before Jaz could even walk, spending every afternoon there teaching her martial arts like her life depended on it. But these days her mum’s job and social calendar kept her pretty busy. She had turned into the rich wife, just like all the other ones in their area.
Jaz stared out the tinted window watching the two-storey houses flash by. Her pulse started to throb in her neck as Taylor’s house was coming up. Their red SUV appeared first, still stationary in the wide, circular, paved driveway, Taylor’s mustang beside it. Craning her neck she watched the large, jarrah double doors but they didn’t open; maybe he was already in the car.
‘Would you like us to go back so you can get a better look at Lover Boy?’ Simon teased.
Jaz swung around so fast, her hand flying, but Simon had been ready, hiding behind his school bag, but the force she’d used caused his bag to slam into his face.
‘Mum, Jaz got me in the face,’ he whined.
‘Jasmine, I wish you would behave,’ Tasha said, hardly flinching.
‘He’s baiting me.’
‘And you are falling for it.’
Jaz crossed her arms and Simon slunk back into the leather seat. They travelled in silence until Jaz and Simon gladly climbed out and went through the large metal gates of St Christian College.
‘Bye kids,’ Tasha yelled through the car window. Simon said goodbye while Jaz just raised her hand in a half wave and took off along the pathway, her hair flying behind her.
‘Hey Jazzy, over here.’
Anna Johnson, best buddy in the world, waited by a shady lilac tree that grew in the corner of a large manicured lawn, in front of the towering, brick school. Teenagers ambled past heading into the building, while others gathered outside waiting for friends. Anna must have something to tell her, as she always twirled her hair when she was trying to contain herself. Jaz threw her bag down on the lawn as she joined Anna on the wooden seat.
Jaz took a deep breath before turning to Anna. ‘Go on, spit it, I can see you’re dying to tell me something!’
Anna’s soft green eyes brimmed with excitement and the small freckles on her delicate face highlighted her fair skin. ‘You’ll never guess what happened this morning?’ she teased, finally releasing her hair from her nervous fingers.
‘Um…you hacked into the school’s computer again to see what grade you got in English?’
‘Don’t be a knob! No, I got here early as Mum had to get to work but you know who was here, sitting right here on this very spot?’ Anna was practically bouncing on the seat.
‘Calm down, anyone walking past would think you were trying out for the drama club. Honestly, that’s the last impression we want to give.’
Anna rolled her eyes while Jaz smiled.
‘Ricky was? Really? Did he say anything, did you talk to him?’ Jaz pressured her for the details.
‘Well no…but he might have if I had gotten close enough,’ said Anna with her standard cheeriness.
Anna may be the brightest person she knew, but she could also be so clueless. ‘Anna! Tell me you talked to him…did you chicken out?’ Jaz rested her arms on Anna’s shoulders and shook her, already guessing the answer.
‘Well yeah, I was kinda scared.’
‘You git! He was probably waiting for you; maybe he was making a move.’