Since the night of their kiss, Ryan had been gone. He’d disappeared, was dead for all she knew! He wasn’t at The Ring on Friday, nor over the weekend, or Monday. Jaz didn’t want to admit how empty it seemed at The Ring without him, and if she admitted the truth she was worried about him. Had something happened at the club? Was the message a new mission? Did he meet with some bad guys? Or was he avoiding her because of the kiss?
But Pax was home, finally The Ring might feel less vacant. A little voice in her head also said that maybe today Ryan would be there too.
Jaz texted Anna back, I wanna go now! and got just one word back. Wait.
She had one more class to sit through, Damn it.
‘Off with the fairies again, Jaz,’ laughed Minka from in front of her. Jaz smiled back sweetly.
‘I’m just imagining Taylor wearing his sexy tie that matches my dress for the ball. So who are you going with, Minka?’
Minka swung around to face the front but Jaz caught the fall in her face. Helen, one of Minka’s friends who was sitting beside her turned to Jaz. ‘She’s going with a uni guy, he plays football for the Dockers.’
Helen pulled a ‘so there’ face and shifted back in her chair.
Like I care, thought Jaz. But trust Minka to find a replacement that she thought was better.
*
‘Jaz can’t we slow…down…please,’ said Anna breathlessly.
‘Oh alright, but I’m already carrying your bag too. You need to get more exercise.’
Anna slowed to a walk and put her hands on her hips. ‘The only exercise I want is with my tongue at the ball. I, unlike some people I know, haven’t even had a kiss yet.’
Jaz smiled. ‘Don’t worry you’re not missing much. Wait till it’s with someone you really like, then it’s ten times better.’ Jaz had had a few boyfriends over the years, nothing major. They were just keen so she went along with them but really, she’d still always wanted Taylor. She figured kissing him would be worth the wait. Would it be like kissing Ryan? Like fireworks and instant ecstasy?
‘Come on Anna, I can see The Ring, let’s run the last bit.’ Jaz picked up to a jog as she heard Anna groan, but she was soon puffing alongside her.
They both ran into The Ring, eyes darting around the room looking for Pax. Jaz ditched their bags by the front desk as they headed towards the office.
‘Is that a herd of elephants I hear?’ said Pax, meeting them at the door.
‘Pax,’ they squealed and threw their arms around him, nearly bowling him over.
He kissed their cheeks and Jaz took a deep breath, smelling cinnamon coffee and something different. It was like melted plastic and ink.
‘So where were you this time?’ Anna asked. ‘Were you overseas at some exotic location?’
‘Were you in Bali? You like Bali,’ said Jaz.
‘Nope, you’re both wrong.’ He let them go, stepped back into his office and brought out two wrapped square parcels.
Jaz tore hers open and stared at a water painting full of bright colours of a sunset. ‘Wow, thanks Pax. Did you do these?’ He nodded sheepishly.
‘Oh, I get it,’ said Anna. ‘Bright colours, water and something about landscapes, that’s what you said.’
‘I was doing a course on waterpainting. Do you like them?’
‘Yes,’ they both agreed.
‘I’m going to hang mine in my change room, so I’ll see it every day.’ Jaz grabbed her school bag and headed off. As she changed, she studied the picture. In the corner on the tree trunk was a little squiggle that looked like a signature, only it wasn’t Pax’s signature. Maybe he bought these ones as he didn’t think his own were good enough? Oh well, it didn’t matter, it’s the thought that counts.
Jaz joined Anna and Pax back in the office. He had made a coffee for them all and bought some apple slice from the bakery around the corner.
‘Yum, I’m so hungry. Jaz had me run all the way here, can you believe it. I’m so exhausted,’ sighed Anna before taking a huge bite from her slice.
Jaz laughed and Pax gave her a sly wink. Pax told them a little about his holiday; it was all a bit vague, and then Anna told him about their trips to the firing range. ‘Oh, and Jaz has been busy with this guy Ryan too.’
Pax raised his eyebrow. ‘A fella?’
Jaz shook her head. ‘No, he’s just a friend. Actually Pax, he said he knows you but I’ve never seen him at The Ring before. His name is Ryan Fletcher, does it ring a bell?’
Pax choked on his slice and coughed out a cloud of icing sugar across his lap. ‘Sorry, got pastry stuck in my throat. Hmm, yeah, I think I remember him,’ he managed between mouthfuls. ‘So who’s taking who to the ball? I seem to remember that was coming up?’