am I putting myself through this? Then after the ride, you get off and youte buzzing. You want to run straight around to the back of the queue to have another go.?
James nodded. Lhen I got back from my last mission, they told me I had to spend a few months catching up with schoolwork. I was so gutted.?
i couldnt imagine leaving CHERUB and going back to being normal,?Dave said. it must be so boring having nothing in your life except school, homework and a few mates.?
Torry I didnt slow the car down when you told me to. I was being a tit.?
Dave shrugged. i guess we all make mistakes. Ite certainly made my share.?
Lhate the dumbest thing youte ever done on a mission??
Lood question,?Dave laughed. Theree been a few. You know I nearly got kicked out of CHERUB after that mission with Janet Byrne??
Lhye that??
Dave made a bulge over his stomach using his hand. James kicked his feet out of the water and burst out laughing.
Oh that,?James giggled. Lanete totally hot. I cant believe you got her pregnant.?
The idea of Dave having a kid was funny, but James mostly laughed out of relief that Dave didnt seem to be holding a grudge over the car wreck.
ite not a joke, you know,?Lauren said bitterly, suddenly looming over the side of the pool. Lanete my Spanish tutor. She cried in her room for days worrying about what to do.?
James couldnt control his giggling, so Lauren whipped him across the back with the dried-out palm stalk.
That hurt,?James whined, as he scrambled out of range towards the deep end of the pool.
Lood,?Lauren yelled, as she hurled the palm away and stormed towards the house. Houte both sexist pigs.?
James made sure Lauren wasnt coming back out before settling down beside Dave again.
in a few years?time, some poor guy is gonna get a crush on your little sister and you cant help but feel sorry for him.?
Heah,?James nodded, as he rubbed the red mark across his back. Ill girls are nuts.?
*
Lauren came into James?room at 5 a.m. on Thursday morning. Already dressed, she flicked her brothere ear to wake him up.
Lohn says yout better get your worthless butt moving.?
James scratched his head as he sat up. Lauren had barely spoken to him since the crash, so he was pleased when she leaned in and wrapped her arms around his sweaty back.
Lhate that in aid of??James grinned.
Try not to do anything too stupid on the mission, eh? You might be an idiot, but youte the only brother Ite got.?
James laughed. Lauren felt a twinge of guilt as her index finger ran over the scratch where shet whacked him the afternoon before. it making a nice cooked breakfast for everyone,?she said softly.
James was shocked when he got out of the shower and walked through to the kitchen. Lauren looked composed as she slid a trio of perfectly browned pancakes on to a plate, while bacon and scrambled eggs sizzled over the gas hob.
i remember you cooking when Mum was alive,?James gasped. Burned bits stuck to the pan and mess over the cabinets. When did you get so good at it??
i did a few cookery classes on campus.?
Houte getting so mature,?James said. Houte always surprising me and you never seem to ask me for help and advice like you used to.?
Lauren started to laugh.
Lhat??James asked.
Rothing,?Lauren sniggered. ite juste She paused to let out a snorting noise. The thought of asking you for advice. Youte not exactly Mr Maturity, are you??
James was wounded. it mature,?he said defensively.
if you say so, bro??Lauren snickered.
James didnt get a chance to push the argument, because there was a white car pulling up on the driveway.
The Arizona police car sprang up like it was letting out a sigh, as Marvin Teller hoisted himself out of the drivere door and sited his cowboy hat on his head. Todaye suit was custard yellow, with white leather boots.
Marvin walked around to the trunk and reached inside. James felt a nasty pang of reality when Marvin lifted out two sets of bright orange overalls and swung a body chain over each shoulder.
Everyone gathered around the table to eat breakfast. Dave, John and Marvin raved about Laurene cooking and tucked away seconds; but James could only manage a few bites.
His stomach was turning somersaults. He ran upstairs to the toilet and retched a couple of times, but didnt bring anything up. All the stuff James had learned about the dangers inside prison was really getting to him. He splashed