be two hundred and fifty pages in already, but he was mired in the low seventies and couldn't concentrate because he expected Kerry to knock at any minute.
But he was having doubts by the time he reached page 106 and when a knock finally came, it was a triple.
Lauren??James yelled, as his sistert long blonde hair dangled inside the door.
Na-haa,?Lauren smiled, pointing at James as she stepped into the room. Tour face is well red. Kerry said she gave you a good stinging.?
James slid his bookmark in and straightened himself up. Tou saw Kerry? Is she coming over??
Doubt it,?Lauren said. Ehet just been up in my room getting help with her maths homework.?
Tou little traitor,?James gasped. That did you do that for? I'll way better at maths than you.?
Ehet in a right mood with you, James. And I might not be as good at maths as you, but I still get all As and I'll ahead of Kerry. Anyway, it serves you right for cracking a sexist joke.?
Ehak told the joke, I barely laughed.?
Thatever,?Lauren shrugged. Tou and Kerry are such drama queens. ItEl be hands all over each other again by tomorrow.?
Eo, did you just come here to gloat about me getting slapped??
Lauren grinned. Came to ask a favour, actually.?
Eounds ominous.?
Lauren sat on the edge of the bed. Tou know Kirsten McVicar??
James shook his head.
Tes you do, James. She was at my birthday party. Shet Bethanyt friend, but shet a year younger. She was wearing those black tights with the green spots on??
Sah,?James said. Tour mates all talk the same crap and you're always swapping clothes. Whyt it matter anyway??
Kirsten dropped out of basic training last week. And you know Bethanyt brother Jake is doing his training as well??
James nodded. Nowt the little dude getting on??
Kirsten says Jaket struggling. Het only just turned ten. Het sprained his thumb and het not exactly huge for his age, so het having a hard time carrying his pack on long runs and stuff.?
Bity,?James said. T hope Jake doesn't fail. Het a bit full of himself at times, but棐
Bot calling kettle if ever I heard it,?Lauren interrupted. Anyway, me and Bethany made up a plan to give Jake a boost. We want to take him a little pick-me-up package. You know, chocolate bars for energy, dry boots and underwear, a padded strap to make carrying his pack easier.?
James looked shocked. Lauren, you can't just waltz into the basic training compound. The gates are alarmed and theret barbed wire and surveillance cameras everywhere.?
Me and Bethany have it all worked out, but we could do with someone older coming with us.?
So, no, no!?James laughed. Don't look at me. WeEl get hammered if we're caught. Jaket a nice little kid, but heEl just have to suffer through basic training, same as we all did.?
Blease, James.?
Besides, why do you care? I mean, I can see Bethany would want to risk her neck for her little brother, but you? Ire never heard you say a good word about Jake. You battered him that time he blocked your toilet up with popcorn.?
Bethanyt my best friend. I'll doing it for her.?
Nang on,?James gasped, as his face lit up with realisation. Tou're not doing this for Jake at all. Lover boyt in training as well, isn't he? You're doing this for Rat.?
So,?Lauren gasped. T mean, Rat is Jaket training partner. But het not my boyfriend.?
Look Lauren, I know youre got the hots for Rat, but I'll on top of everything now. All my homework is up to date and my grades aren't bad. I must have spent a thousand hours running punishment laps and scrubbing toilets since I came to CHERUB. I'll not sticking my neck out for anyone unless itt life and death.?
T thought you might say that,?Lauren grinned. Eo IEl have to call in the favour.?
That favour? I don't owe you squat.?
James felt his heart jolt as Lauren gave him her evil smirk. Her face had altered since she was a toddler, but that expression hadn't changed a bit. It was the look she used to get right before jamming an ice-cream cornet in your face. It was the look she had when she broke the video and told their mum she saw James do it ?
慠emember last year, when we were in Idaho??Lauren said airily. 慠emember cheating on Kerry with a girl called Becky??
James nodded grimly.
T never told anyone; but, I mean, that information could slip out at any time and Kerry would kick your arse. So, I just