I've had enough...
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| Plotting | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| That afternoon Aidan watched Corinne unchain her bike to go home. She was working smoothly, but in the middle of pulling the chain from the bike wheel, she froze for a second before turning around and setting her eyes directly on him. That devilish gleam had not left her stare and she blew him a kiss as she mounted her bike, put on her helmet and rode away. Aidan felt a bit spooked by the way she seemed to know he was watching and exactly where he was. It happened the same way for the next few afternoons, her always knowing where he was. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| He'd gone home on Thursday, avoiding his parents along the way up the narrow stairway, and into the attic room he'd claimed as his own. The walls were covered with posters of various people: bands like Blink 182, Static X, and U2; athletes like Derek Jeter, the Fridge, and the Rock; and of course numerous posters of scantily dressed women. He threw his bag down at his desk by the window and collapsed into bed. His stared at his ceiling and thought about his day. For his first day in a new country and school, it didn't go too badly. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| What can I do to get even with her? he thought. What could possibly piss her off? He thought about the upcoming soccer game. What had Herbert said about their matches? They always lose. Hm, I wonder. He sat up, opened his notebook and took out the number Herbert had given him. It was his home number and Aidan quickly dialed it, soon hearing the double rings so unfamiliar to him. Herbert answered, "Hello?" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Hey, Herb, it's Aidan. I was wondering about the soccer match day after tomorrow?" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Yeah?" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Do many people bet on the match?" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "They used to. Now we all know that our team eats grass, so nobody bothers anymore. Why do you ask?" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What would you say if I wanted to make a wager?" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I'd say you're a daft wanker, that's what I'd say. No one'll take it." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Ah, but if I were to play the dumb American and bet that your team wins I think I might get some takers." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "But why would you want to do that?" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Aidan went silent for a moment, smiling to himself. "Tell me, does Corinne gamble?" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Friday had gone by quickly for Aidan. He hadn't paid any attention in his classes but tried to perfect his plan instead. Saturday had arrived faster than he'd expected which almost made him glad that he'd spent so much time on his plan. He called Herbert to ask him directions to his house so that he could pick him up for the game later that morning. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The only thing that Aidan had thanked his parents for on this fruitless journey to a new country was that they'd brought his pick-up truck for him to drive. He'd been driving it since he'd got his license at sixteen and his parents had bought it for him as a gift. It was even his favorite color -- black. He loved that truck and wasn't going to sell it just because his father had to travel overseas. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| He climbed into his truck and drove -- trying to remember to drive on the left -- over to Herbert's house. The house was nice. It was pretty large -- especially for Scottish homes -- and looked pretty expensive. Herb's loaded! Aidan thought. He must have enough cash to take care of Corinne, but why won't they? Did Corinne refuse charity or was Herbert's family not generous when it comes to kin? Aidan decided not to judge too quickly and walked to the door to ring the bell. He noticed that the door handles in this country were set higher in the doors than back in America -- almost chest level. He couldn't find the doorbell and luckily the knocker wasn't too far from the knob. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Herbert threw open the door and leapt out before Aidan had finished knocking. "Whoa! Herb, don't jump down my throat, I still have to drive you!" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Shh! Don't say anything, just go!" He pushed Aidan down the front steps toward the truck. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Dammit, man! What are you doing?" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Just be quiet and I'll explain at the match!" Herbert whispered. They jumped into the truck and Aidan started the engine, but didn't shift into gear. "Aidan, if you don't drive this car in five seconds, we're both gonna be in deep shite!" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I'll drive if you tell me on the way. Deal?" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "DEAL, DAMMIT!! DRIVE!!" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Aidan shifted and jammed his foot down on the accelerator. The tires squealed as Aidan pulled out in the direction of the soccer field. "Now that we're on the road -- and the left side at that - tell me: what the hell was that all about?!?" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Actually, it was about a lot of things. My parents don't like me going to these matches simply to support their failure. They say it's a waste of money. So I try to sneak out to get to the match without disturbing them. They like to sleep late on weekends." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Doesn't everyone?" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Well, yeah. Anyway. The other part to my stress is that my older brother, Ian, just came back from the Royal Air Force and he's being a total asshole. He's always pressured me as a kid and now that he's in the freaking military he just has to flaunt it even more. He woke up early this morning to catch the match as well, but mostly to do his workout and try to signal that I was leaving while he was being the angel they think he is. I'm glad you showed up when you did." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Your parents are anal. They need to give you some slack so you can become the person you want to be. Independence and individuality is key." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You're sounding like Corinne when people question her fashion sense. Individuality this, follow your own rules that." It's not like she's ever been suppressed by rules in her whole life." Herbert took out his wallet and began counting his money. He seemed to have quite a wad of pound notes. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Aidan wondered to himself. He still wasn't quite used to the changeover from dollars to pounds. He'd heard that there were about one and a half dollars to one pound, meaning 20 pounds was the same as $30. that was a bit of a difference. "Hey, how much would a normal bet on a match be?" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "They can be between 5 pounds and 10 pounds for small timers. Most people bet that much because it can be annoying to lose more than that. People who like higher stakes, though, can go anywhere from 40 pounds to 1000 pounds. I don't think you'd want to gamble that much though. Especially on this game." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "No, 50 pounds should be enough. Just enough to capture some unsuspecting person in my trap." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You're really going to bet Corinne that our team will win? And with that much money? Are you daft?" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Well, the 50 pounds will be to seal the deal. There's another small addition to the wager that makes this plan so special." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Herbert eyed him suspiciously. "What the hell are you planning?" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Oh, it's top secret. No one will know until I make the bet with her. Then all bets are final." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I sure hope you know what the hell you're doing. Her stakes can be lethal. Beware, friend. Beware." | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The rest of the short trip was driven in silence. Aidan continued to deliberate over the final touches on his idea while Herbert counted the rest of his money. He was going to want a bit of food and the entry alone cost a pretty penny. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As they turned into the tiny dirt road that lead to the match, Herbert pointed out that there was no real parking lot, but more of a flat grassy knoll where everyone left their cars. Aidan reached it without much shock. It was a lot like when people would gather for a keg party. (He'd lived near the local college frat houses back in America.) They left the car and went to buy their entry tickets. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| <<<- Previous | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| On to the next chapter! I've had enough... |
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