‘It’s minute,’ Shak said, looking at the injury with contempt.
‘Yeah, but it’s deep,’ James said defensively. ‘I think it almost went through to the bone.’
‘Oh give over,’ Shak giggled. ‘I’ve seen paper cuts worse than that.’
‘Yeah, well,’ James moaned. ‘With an injury like this, I still don’t think I’ll be up to going out on training tonight. Ewart, can you write me an excuse note?’
Ewart shook his head. ‘James, you know the rules. If you think your injury is serious, go and see the nurse on campus and she’ll write one for you.’
‘Come on, Ewart,’ James begged. ‘I bailed you out this morning when you found out Callum was glued to the toilet.’
‘Give over,’ Ewart grinned. ‘You practically begged me to let you come. Didn’t this job already get you out of some physics test? As far as I’m concerned, you’re scheduled for a training exercise tonight, and unless you have a legitimate excuse, you’re going to do it.’
James kicked the back of the passenger seat. ‘Bloody hell,’ he muttered, making sure it wasn’t loud enough for Ewart to hear.
5. EGGS
James got back to campus shortly before seven o’clock, giving him an hour to clean up, change into uniform and down some food. He was already knackered from the mission, and while he knew the adrenalin rush would keep him alert through the overnight training exercise, the loss of a night’s sleep would leave his body out of sync over the upcoming weekend.
Kerry was taking her tray across to scrape when James arrived in the canteen. She’d eaten with Gabrielle and the rest of her team, and they’d clearly been discussing their strategy for the exercise. She gave James a peck on the cheek as she passed by.
‘Good luck tonight, sweetie,’ she said, grinning sarcastically. ‘It’d be so sad if your team ended up finishing with no eggs and getting that punishment run.’
‘What punishment run?’ James asked.
‘Ten kilometres with heavy packs. Sounds like fun, eh?’
‘Really?’ James gasped. ‘Oh man, I don’t know any of this stuff. I tried to get hold of Lauren, but she’s not in her room and her mobile’s off.’
‘You mean to say …’ Kerry giggled, shaking her head. ‘James, have you even met up with all the members of your team yet?’
Kerry looked back at Gabrielle and the three other kids on her team, who were lined up behind her, holding their dinner trays. They exchanged knowing glances and shook their heads.
‘I wouldn’t get too cocky,’ James said, trying to sound like he wasn’t ruffled. ‘Ewart told me some stuff about the egg battle on the drive back and he gave me a few pointers.’
As Kerry’s team filed away, James realised he had to find Lauren fast. If they arrived at the combat training area without having studied the maps and made a plan, they’d get wiped out. He grabbed a burger and fries, sat at the nearest table and started wolfing them down.
‘Yo, bro.’
James was relieved to look over his shoulder and find Lauren, Bethany and Jake heading towards him; but the training exercise went clean out of his mind.
‘Oh my god. What have you done to your head?’
Lauren grinned. ‘Like it?’
‘It’s um … black. I bet Mum’s spinning in her grave.’
Lauren was wounded by James’ remark. ‘Do you really think she’d be upset?’
James sensed he’d hit a nerve and changed tack. ‘Nah, don’t sweat it. Mum would probably be surprised you waited as long as you did. You must have asked her fifty billion times. Just don’t get that nose ring you were after as well.’
Lauren shook her head. ‘We’re not allowed to pierce anything except our ears before we’re sixteen – so does it look OK, or what?’
‘It’s not terrible,’ James shrugged. ‘But most boys prefer blondes you know.’
Lauren looked at Bethany. ‘That’s the best reason I’ve heard yet for dying it black.’
James grinned. ‘I can’t wait until you get your first boyfriend. I’m gonna have so much fun teasing you.’
‘Don’t hold your breath,’ Lauren sneered.
‘So what’s happened to Dana?’ James asked.
Bethany shrugged. ‘Cheesy went back to her room.’
‘Why do they call her Cheesy?’ Jake asked.
‘ ’Cos she doesn’t wash,’ Bethany grinned.
James smiled. ‘She’s not a girly girl and she’s a loner, so some of the others take the mickey. I know she wears scruffy uniform and that, but I’ve sparred with her in the dojo and she smells as fresh as anyone else.’
‘James fancies her,’ Bethany giggled.
Bethany severely got on James’ nerves at times and this was one