Chapter 1

Westfield High School

Sheffield, England

July, 2043

A slow, steady rain began to fall as the best player for Bootham School fielded the ball in the center of the soccer field. He wiped the rain from his eyes as he slicked his hair back to get a better look at the scoreboard – Westfield 3; Bootham 2.

It was the championship game and Bootham had a little over two minutes to attempt to tie up the game and send it into overtime. It was that or lose. Something that Bootham did not want to do.

There were only two things standing in the way of the Bootham player and the goal. One of them was in his way right now, playing superb defense.

Seventeen year old Mark Savage.

Mark stayed right on top of the Bootham player, as he had most of the game everytime they had the ball. However, the rain had muddied the condition of the field, making his signature defensive moves a little difficult to execute.

The Bootham player faked around Mark and tried to pass off the ball to one of his teamates. Mark managed a fancy spin move and intercepted the ball, which caused a collective gasp from the packed bleachers. No amount of rain was gonna make these spectators leave. The championship was on the line and it was gonna be theirs in less than two minutes.

Mark shook his wet, light brown locks out of his eyes as he volleyed the ball back down the other end of the field between his nimble feet as the clock began to wind down. The roar of the crowd at the taste of victory in its grasp began to swell. However, it was dulled when Mark’s right foot slid on a patch of mud, causing the Bootham defender to intercept the ball and take off towards the Westfield goal.

That’s where Bootham’s other obstacle was standing in its way.

Seventeen year old Trevor Savage

Trevor stood in front of his goal, defending it as if his life depended on it. He stood partially bent over, his elbows almost resting on his knees, as he watched his cousin Mark take off after the Bootham player who stole the ball from him.

Behind the Bootham player, Mark came up like a shot to take his defensive stance, calling out hand signals to his teammates. Mark tried not to distract himself with the increasing roar of the crowd which was getting louder and louder as the seconds ticked off closer to victory.

The Bootham player sensed Mark coming up behind him and passed the ball off diagonally to another teammate who was within scoring distance of the Westfield goal. Trevor kept a sharp eye on both Bootham players. One was positioned on the right, the other on the left. He already allowed Bootham two goals today – two too many as far as he was concerned.

Twenty seconds remained as the two Bootham players jockeyed the ball back and forth several yards from the goal. Mark stayed on one player while senior team captain, Craig Weston, stayed on the other.

Less than ten seconds remained as the Bootham player to the right of Trevor took the ball from his teammate on a lateral kick, then kicked it himself to the left side of the goal.

Since Trevor was on the right side, he lunged his long, lean body over to the left and reached his hands out while in mid-air and grabbed the slick ball with his hands. He tucked the ball protectively against his mid-section, not thinking to put one hand down to break his fall on the soggy ground. He came down hard upon his left shoulder and the only sound he heard above the ecstatic crowd was a crunch.

Pain like he never experienced in his life seared through his left shoulder as he lay on his left side on the ground, the soccer ball never leaving the protectiveness of his body.

His teammates were oblivious to his injury as they ran over to Trevor who saved the game from going into overtime and giving Westfield the long awaited championship they worked so hard for all year.

Mark, being the closest to the goal, pumped his fists wildly in the air as the clock ran down to zero then ran over to his cousin and fell to his knees beside him.

“Bloody fantastic, Trev,” Mark shouted. “You did it, cuz.! We did it!!”

Mark saw Trevor turn his head slowly to face him and saw the unspeakable pain in his deep hazel eyes. “Mark,” he gasped. “My shoulder. I…I think I…….it……oh, God, it hurts!”

The rest of the Westfield team assailed the goal to fall on top of Trevor in a manner of celebration. When Mark saw that something was dreadfully wrong, he put his hand out towards his charging teammates and halted them.

“No! Wait! He’s hurt. Trev’s hurt bad. Go get the coach. And…..get my Uncle Scott in the stands.”

From the bleachers, Dr. Scott Savage stopped cheering and clapping and stared towards the goal where his prone son remained almost motionless on the ground after saving the game. He then felt a tug on his arm and turned towards his brother.

“Scott, Trev’s not getting up,” Tyler said.

Scott then turned to see a Westfield player trot over to the sidelines to get the coach. He then saw the coach turn and scan the bleachers, stopping when he saw Scott. The coached waved Scott to come down.

“Oh God,” Scott murmured as he made his way out of the bleachers.

Tyler called out after him. “Scott, do you want me to come with you?”

Scott turned around. “No, that’s okay. Go on home. I’ll call you later. And, make sure Chels doesn’t find out until I know whats wrong.”

“No problem,” Tyler said as left the bleachers as well. “I’ll make sure Grace doesn’t call her or anything.”

Scott jogged across the muddy field, that he himself had once played upon years ago, and headed towards the goal. The Westfield players began to back away as Trevor’s father, a brilliant sports medicine physician, came through.

Mark stood up from Trevor’s side when he saw his uncle. “Uncle Scott, its his shoulder. He’s hurt really bad.”

Scott bent down next to his son who’s face was contorted with pain. “Trevor…Trevor, what’s wrong? Where does it hurt?”

Trevor’s breath was labored as he continued to wince from the pain, his father’s soothing voice not even providing any comfort.

“Dad,” he choked out. “Dad, my….my shoulder. It…..it…..”

That was the last thing Trevor said before the excruciating pain caused him to black out.

Chapter 2

An ambulance pulled into the emergency area of Shrewsbury Hospital. An attendant in waiting opened up the back doors to see one of their own step out first.

“Oh, Dr. Savage,” one of the attendants said. “What have we got?”

“Its my son Trevor,” Scott replied. “He either broke or separated his shoulder in a game. He’s also unconscious from the pain. Is Dr. Seton on call today?”

“Yes, he is. I’ll have him paged.”

The attendant went inside to page Dr. Seton, an orthopedic specialist, as another one wheeled Trevor out of the ambulance and into the emergency area. Scott stayed by his side, holding his hand, willing him to wake up.

“Trevor,” Scott said, rubbing his hand and arm. “C’mon lad, wake up. I need you awake.”

Just as an emergency room attendant transferred Trevor’s rain-soaked, muddied form from the gurney to a table, he began to stir.

“Uh,” he softly groaned as his right hand immediately grasped his left shoulder. “Uh…..ow!”

Scott pulled his hand away. “No, no Trevor. Don’t touch your shoulder. We’re not sure if its separated or broken.”

“Dad, can’t you tell?” Trevor gasped out.

“No, I can’t. You need a bone specialist in here. Dr. Seton’s on call today. He’s the best here.”

Even as Scott spoke those words, Dr. Seton appeared. “Scott, what is it?”

“Victor, hi,” Scott said. “I hope I didn’t pull you away from anything urgent.”

“Just a late lunch is all. Is….dear Lord, is that Trevor?”

“Yeah. He injured his shoulder stopping a tying goal in the championship game.”

Dr. Seton smiled at Scott then down at Trevor. “I take it that your efforts won the championship, eh lad?”

“Yes, but now my bloody shoulder’s on fire,” Trevor panted.

“Well, lets give you a little something to take the edge off that pain. Scott, any known allergies that I should be aware of?”

“No, none.,” Scott replied.

Dr. Seton gave an order to a nurse who momentarily returned with a shot.

“Now, turn over on your right side lad,” Dr. Seton said.

Trevor looked at the needle in the hand of a hideous looking nurse. Where do you plan on putting that thing?”

“In your bum, lad,” the nurse replied.

Even through the pain, Trevor managed to be sufficiently humiliated. He turned pleading eyes to his father. “Dad!”

Scott tried not to chuckle over his son’s shyness, so much like his own when he was his age. Dr. Seton read between the lines and took the needle from the nurse. “I’ll take care of it.”

The nurse handed the needle over and walked away. Dr. Seton then carefully rolled Trevor on his right side and pulled his soccer shorts down.

“This’ll only sting a bit……”

“Ouch!”

Dr. Seton pumped the Demerol filled needle into Trevor’s backside until it was empty. Removing the needle he carefully rolled Trevor onto his back.

“You’ll be feeling not much of anything in a few moments lad,” Dr. Seton said. “Lets get you up to x-ray and take a look at that shoulder.”

Scott walked by his son’s side as he was wheeled into x-ray. About fifteen minutes later, Dr. Seton had the x-rays.

“Just as I hoped,” Dr. Seton said. “It isn’t broken. Just a separation, which can be just as painful. We’re gonna have to re-set it in the socket and bandage him up good.”

Scott was thankful for the quick-working Demerol that Trevor didn’t have to feel the unbearable pain of having his shoulder repositioned. As he was being bandaged up, Scott went outside into a waiting room so he could use his cell phone.

“’ello?”

“Grace, hi, its Scott.”

“Scott,” Grace exclaimed on the other end. “How’s Trevor? Is he gonna be alright?”

“Yes, he’s gonna be fine. His shoulder isn’t broken, just separated. He’s being mended up now and we should be leaving soon. Do me a favor and call Chelsea to let her know what to expect when he comes home. I know how you mum’s are when it comes to your sons getting knocked around!”

“Yeah, and you weren’t worried, right?” Grace quipped back at her brother-in-law.

Scott couldn’t lie. “Alright, I was. Also, let Ty and Mark know that all’s well.”

“Well, Ty’s been home, but Mark must still be with the team. I’ll let him know, though.”

“Thanks Grace. You’re my favorite sister-in-law, you know.”

“I’m your only sister-in-law sweetie. Bye!”

Scott grinned and clicked off his cell phone. He still couldn’t believe that so many years had passed since him, Tyler and Grace shared turbulent teen years together. Now he and his brother were both married to their high school sweethearts with two children apiece.

He and Chelsea’s daughter, Stephanie, had been plucked out of her sophomore year of university by a modeling scout and was fast becoming one of Europe’s top fashion models. Ty and Grace’s daughter, Abigail, is in the process of giving her parents fits as prepared to enter her thirteenth year.

But, it was their sons, Mark and Trevor, close in age and close in heart, who were stealing the show in Sheffield. Though they were cousins, they were closer than brothers and tighter than any two best friends could be. Their popularity in school and talent on the soccer field made the two of them teenage icons. And their incredible, youthful good looks made made just about every lass sigh whenever they passed by.

Scott was so pleased when Ty decided to leave Canterbury and move back to Sheffield full time. Their father grew up here and so did they. Now their children would be.

Scott put his memories aside and walked back in the room as Dr. Seton was helping Trevor off the table and onto his feet. Scott rushed forward to take him by his right arm.

“Steady there, lad. You’ve got some powerful painkillers in you.”

Trevor turned a silly face to his father, evident that the medication had taken effect. “Mmmm, yeah……no pain dad.”

Dr. Seton gave Scott a prescription for a more mild pain medication to ease him through until his shoulder healed.

“Fortunately it happened the last game of the season, the championship no less, so you’ll have the entire off-season to heal,” Dr. Seton said. “Go home, rest up and celebrate your win, lad. After what you went through, you deserve it.”

“Oh yeah,” Trevor slurred a bit. “I’m gonna celebrate alright. We’re gonna have a party. A biiiiiiiig party with lotsa alcohol and lotsa girls.”

Dr. Seton covered his mouth to contain his laughter as Scott cleared his throat.

“Well, girls are fine, but I’m not so sure about the alcohol,” Scott said. “Then again, forget what I said about the girls. You and that cousin of yours have more hovering over you as it is.”

“Never enough dad,” Trevor giggled. “We’re gonna take right after Uncle Ty and grandpa!”

Trevor then looked at Dr. Seton. “You know my uncle and grandfather were famous rock stars. Had girls all over them. Gonna run in the family!”

Trevor grinned wickedly from the effects of the Demerol as his father pulled him out. “C’mon stud, lets get you home.

As they approached the emergency waiting room, Scott saw a very worried looking Mark sitting there, head down, fingers hooked in the pockets of his jeans.

“Mark? Lad, what are you doing here?”

Mark looked up upon hearing his uncle’s voice. He then saw Trevor, bandaged and wobbly, and hurried over to him.

“Trev…Trev, you okay, cuz?”

Trevor looked up into Mark’s worried face and grinned. “Ooooooh, I’m fiiiiiine,” he slurred out. “Just telling dad about the fab party planned for the weekend.”

Mark turned sheepish eyes to his uncle. “Um…how much did he tell you?”

“More than he probably should,” Scott replied, raising a stern eyebrow at his nephew.

Mark gulped then looked back at Trevor. “Bloody big mouth.”

“Aye, it wasn’t me talking,” Trevor defending himself. “It was the….the……aye dad, whats the name of that kick-ass drug they gave me?”

“Demerol, and watch your language”.

“Yeah, oh yeah…it was the Demerol, Mark. So don’t blame me.”

“Well, since we’re all being so open here,” Mark said, “I thought you might like to know that Emily Prescott is gonna be at the party this weekend and looking sooooo forward to seeing you.”

Trevor blushed in his drug-induced state, which Scott caught on to. “Emily Prescott, hmm?”.

Trevor turned even pinker before turning on Mark. “Bloody big mouth!”

Chapter 3

Twenty minutes later, Scott walked his injured son into the house just as Chelsea came rushing forward.

“Trevor,” she gasped, looking at his left arm in a sling. “Are you okay lad?”

“Ohhhh, just fine mum,” Trevor drawled out. “We won the championship, I’m feeling no pain and….and….oh yeah, big party this weekend!

Chelsea giggled then glanced at her husband. “How much did they give him?”

“A big ol’ shot of Demerol in the arse,” Scott replied. “Good thing too. If he wasn’t drugged up when Dr. Seton repositioned his shoulder, you would’ve heard him scream bloody murder all the way from the hospital.”

“Well, I’m glad I wasn’t there,” Chelsea said. “Tyler said he was lying on the ground motionless for a while. That would’ve stopped my heart for sure. Although, I would’ve loved to see the game. We had too many children today and not enough adults at the daycare so I couldn’t leave. Being the owner, I had to stay.”

“Don’t worry luv,” Scott said. “The school had it professionally taped for. Now…let me help him up the stairs.”

Before Scott turned towards the stairs with Trevor, Chelsea ran her fingers through her son’s dark blonde hair.

“Are you hungry lad? Do you want me to fix you something before you lie down?”

Trevor shook his head. “N….no, mum. Not too hungry. Feel too good!”

He ended his sentence with a snicker as Scott rolled his eyes and helped him up the stairs. Since Trevor hadn’t cleaned up since the game, Scott helped him into the bathroom so he could undress and shower. As soon as Trevor was safely in the shower, Scott went into his room and got him a clean t-shirt and pair of shorts. He then waited until he heard the shower turn off and Trevor come out, just in case he got woozy in the shower and fell.

When Ty came into his room with a towel around his waist, Scott went up to him. “Better?”

“Yeah, a little,” Trevor replied. “Feels good to be clean, though I had a hard time keeping the bandage dry.”

“Well, dry off and get dressed. I’ve got some clean ace bandages in my office.”

Scott came back into Trevor’s room to find him lying in his bed on his right side in just a pair of shorts. He was half asleep, but Scott had to change the wet bandage. He sat him up and began to unwrap the wet bandage then quickly rewrapped it tight.

Since it hurt Trevor to lift his arm, he couldn’t put a t-shirt on so Scott got him a short sleeved buttoned one out of his closet and helped his arms into it and left it unbuttoned.

Trevor then lay back down and was asleep in an instant. Scott stood above him, staring at his youthful, handsome face. He hadn’t tended to him this much since he was a wee lad, but he didn’t mind. He was so proud of Trevor in ways he couldn’t define.

True, Scott loved Stephanie just as much. She was his daugher after all – his princess. But he regretted missing out on the first five years of her life when he had no idea of her existance. That was something he wished he could have back and do all over again, if only to not have gone through the anguish of what happened to his beloved Chelsea all those missing years. He had never believed in fate, but it was fate that brought them back together after a five year separation.

He’ll never doubt fate again.

But, when Trevor was born, he realized what he had missed with Stephanie. From the moment he came screaming out of his mum’s womb, he felt unabashed pride and unconditional love soar through him. In a span of a few moments, he had Trevor’s entire life planned out.

And now, here he was, seventeen years old, handsome, bright, popular and a mega-talented goalie to boot. He was a perfect mix of his parents with Scott’s dark blonde hair and quaint shyness and Chelsea’s hazel eyes and even temperment.

If he were any prouder, he’d bust!

With one last look, he left the bedroom and closed the door. He decended the stairs to the kitchen, went up behind his wife and put his arms around her. Chelsea turned to gaze into the face of the man she had loved since he was a fifteen year old lad.

“Everything okay up there?”

“Fine. He may be hurting when he wakes up from the shot wearing off, but Dr. Seton gave him a prescription for something milder. He really gave his all today, Chelsea. You should’ve seen him. He wanted that championship no matter what the cost, even breaking his own body.”

“Well, I hope it doesn’t have to go that far the next time,” Chelsea stated.

“Pros can get pretty rough sometimes,” Scott said with a twinkle in his eye.

“Yeah, well this isn’t the pros, Scott. Its only high school.”

“Trevor’s not gonna be in high school forever,” Scott said. “He’ll be entering his last year in the fall.”

Chelsea turned all the way to face her husband. “What are you getting at Scott?”

“Well, I saw several mysterious looking chaps in the stands today with clipboards, studying the game and making notes.”

Chelsea’s eyes widened as she put her hand to her mouth. “Scott, you don’t mean…….?”

“Yep. Scouts.”

Chapter 4

Several blocks away, Mark pulled his Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo, his seventeeth birthday gift from his dad, into the garage and entered the house. Grace was tending to dinner baking in the oven as he came in.

“You just getting home from the game, Mark? You’ve been gone for so long.”

“No mum. I just came from the hospital. As soon as I showered and changed after the game, I headed over to Shrewsbury. That’s where the ambulance took Trev. I just wanted to make sure he was okay. All the lads were worried about him.”

“And you the most, as usual,” Grace said with a smirk.

Mark smirked back. “Well, he is my partner in crime, after all. Not many other lads at school can keep up with me.”

“You mean, put up with you,” came tart voice from behind.

Mark put his hands on his hips and turned an arrogant stance to his twelve year old sister, Abigail. “Bugger off, you little twit,” Mark shot back.

“Mark, watch it,” Grace chided her son.

“Yeah Mark, watch it,” Abby mimicked.

“And I’ll hear no more from you either, Miss Abby, understood?” Grace quickly corrected her daughter. “I will not put up with smart remarks from either one of you. As a matter of fact, congratulate your brother. They won their division championship today.”

“Oooh, now his ego definitely won’t fit in this house,” Abby sneaked out.

Mark started after Abby before Grace intercepted him.

“Abby! Enough,” Grace said. “I’ll cancel that little shopping trip Saturday if I hear that sassy mouth of yours one more time.”

“Alright, sorry. Mum, don’t cancel please. I need some new clothes. Everything’s either too short or too….tight.”

Mark saw an opportunity to tease his pesty sister. “Well, nothing can’t be too tight up top. You don’t have any tits yet.”

“Mark Randall!”

That voice belonged to Ty who walked in on that comment. Now Ty understood why his father used his first and middle name when he was pissed. However, before he could scold Mark, Abby had a few choice words for him too.

“Yeah, well, at least I’m not up half the night wankering my brains out!”

Mark was appalled. “You bloody little wench!”

Grace almost choked. “Abigail Paige! That does it. Upstairs, now! I don’t want to see you till dinner. And, forget about Saturday.”

“But mum….” Abby whined.

“No buts. I warned you. We’ll reschedule when you’ve learned to curb your tongue. Now go.”

Abby turned evil eyes to Mark before she turned on her heel and huffed up the stairs. Mark cracked his knuckles.

“Dad, just let me smack that smart little flap of hers just once!”

Ty looked at his son. “And who, pray tell, is gonna smack yours?”

“I’m sorry dad, but she asks for it.”

“Mark, she’s 12 and testing her limits with her 17 year old brother. Mind you, you weren’t exactly an angel at that age either.”

Mark twinkled his sparkling green eyes which he inherited from his mum. “But I am now, right?”

Ty grinned right back at him. “No where’s near! Now…where’ve you been? I thought you were coming straight home.”

“I stopped to see Trev at the hospital. Just to make sure he was okay.”

“Uncle Scott called and said it was only a separation. He should be much better by the weekend. I uh…understand there’s a big party this weekend.”

“Um, yeah. At Craig’s house. Big pool party for the team.”

“Plenty of lasses there?”

“Ohhhh, yeah.”

“And drop?”

Mark blew out a breath and rolled his eyes. “Let me guess. Uncle Scott told you that?”

“Actually your cousin blurted it out,” Ty said with enthusiasm. “Seems you can learn a lot from someone under the influence of Demerol.”

“Dad, its not what you think. Craig’s parents are gonna be there, but, you know….sometimes…someone may show up with a little something to liven things up, ya know?”

Ty looked over at Grace, who met his smirk with one of her own. “Oh, do I ever know,” Ty drawled out, remembering when a flask of vodka was smuggled into Grace’s 15^th birthday party so long ago.

“Mark, I can’t control what other kids do, but I will not have you smuggle alcohol into a party. Kids get drunk, then drive and it’ll all be our fault. Understand.”

“Yes, I understand. Guess I’ll just have to settle for the girls then,” Mark said with a grin.

“I’d say that was the lesser of the two evils, but now I’m not so sure,” Ty replied.

“Me neither,” Mark replied, with a mischievous twinkle in his green eyes.

“Go make yourself useful before dinner lad,” Ty said, swatting him on the back.

“Think I’ll go downstairs to my ‘sanctuary’ and let off some steam,” Mark said, heading towards the basement door.

“Don’t leave the door to the room open, Mark,” Grace reminded him. “Its only soundproof when the door is closed.”

Mark saluted his mum then headed downstairs to the family’s finished entertainment room.

When the door closed, Grace turned to Ty. “Think his little way of ‘letting off steam’ is gonna turn into something?”

Ty shrugged. “Who knows? Anything’s possible. After all, he is my son! By the way, did I get an e-mail from Kevin?”

“Yeah, I printed it out and put it on your desk. So, who’s this new band?”

“Oh, someone he’s been keeping a sharp eye on. He thinks I should take a trip out there to catch their gig. Thinks they’re worth signing.”

“Kevin thinks every band he hears is worth signing,” Grace mused. “I swear he’s like some old lady who takes in strays.”

“Well that’s why we created Crossfire Records, Grace. To give young bands a chance when the big labels won’t listen. Besides, his insticts are usually right. Out of the 25 acts we’ve signed, 13 have gone onto multi-platinum success. Not bad. Besides, that’s for Kev and I to worry about. You, my dear, take care of the administrative and management stuff, you know….the stuff we can’t be bothered with.”

“So, you gonna go and check them out?”

“Maybe next week. I’d love to have you come with me, but I don’t think Abby and Mark should be left alone. At least not together! I’m afraid they might kill each other.”

“She’s beginning to push buttons Ty,” Grace said. “Its normal for her age. Hell, I remember doing that!”

“Yeah, but I think she’d be more responsible if we went away. Now Mark…..he’s another story. I’m sure as soon as we pull out of the driveway, this house would turn into one big party. We’d come home to a mess and…..lacy underthings probably stewn about!”

Grace gave her husband a sly look. “Well, like you said. He is your son!”

**********************************************

Down in the basement, Mark entered a separate room that he labeled his ‘sanctuary’. It was a small room that his father had built for him that practically screamed ‘teenage lad’. There was a small couch and a wall mounted color telly as well as a shelf containing a state of the art CD player with various CD’s scattered about.

The walls were covered with posters of his favorite soccer players, bands and the latest and hottest swimsuit and lingerie models. But the centerpiece of the well insulated room was what stood in the middle of the carpeted floor – his customized Pearl drum kit.

He sat on the stool and grabbed a fresh pair of Zildjian brand drumsticks, a gift from his great uncle Rick. He then turned to his tape machine that had programmed dozens of his favorite songs with the drum tracks all taken out.

When he turned, he quickly glanced at the two posters that were behind him – his two favorite.

One was of his dad’s band, Crossfire. His eyes especially wandered to the bass player, Mark Shepard, and the drummer, Randy Spencer, for whom he was named after.

However, it was Randy’s instrument that he had a longtime love for. Even though Mark considered it a hobby to unwind and indulge his passion for music, his father had this special soundproof room built so he could wail away without disturbing the rest of the house.

Mark then looked at the poster next to Crossfire’s – a classic collectable that was encased in protective glass. It was a poster of his grandfather’s band, Def Leppard, from their Pyromania days back in 1983, that was signed by all the band members. Both posters were a reminder of where his love for music came from.

He turned the tape machine on and selected a song. As the music began, Mark expertly came in on cue with the drums and wondered, as he always did, if this was more than just a hobby.

Chapter 5

The next morning, Trevor opened his eyes only to be greeted by a throbbing soreness in his left shoulder. He carefully rolled out of bed and made his way to the bathroom to find his prescription.

He then went downstairs to find his mum in the kitchen. Chelsea immediately went over to him and cupped the side of his head with her hand.

“How you feeling there, lad?”

“Sore, but not as bad as yesterday. I’ve got my pain medication, but I think I should eat something first.”

“You haven’t eaten anything since before the game yesterday. You must be famished.”

“I am, but the Demerol made me too sick to my stomach yesterday to eat.”

“Hmm, are you still too sick for pecan-banana pancakes?”

Trevor grinned at his mum. “Bloody no! I’d love those.”

“Well, it’s the least I can do, considering you saved the game from going into overtime yesterday. We’re very proud of you, Trevor.”

Trevor glanced down and blushed, a trait he inherited from his father and grandfather. “Thanks mum, but it was a team effort. Mark played the best I’ve ever seen. He scored one of Westfield’s 3 goals too.”

Just then Scott came into the kitchen, dressed in black trousers, white dress shirt and a black, gray and red silk tie. Chelsea’s eyes raked her handsome husband with appreciation. Even though she had known him since she was 15, he still took her breath away, even at 41 years old.

“Off to the hospital?”

“No, gotta take the tram into the London clinic,” Scott said. “I have an appointment with Simon Farrell.”

Trevor’s eyes almost fell out. “Simon Farrell? The Simon Farrell? The goalie for Manchester United?”

“The one and only,” Scott said. “He blew his knee out a few weeks ago and we’re gonna discuss some treatments.”

“I remember seeing that game,” Trevor remembered with a shudder. “I saw how his foot got stuck in the ground while his leg twisted and his kneecap………ugh, I don’t want to think about it.”

“Kinda makes what happened to you yesterday seem mild, hmm?” Scott asked.

“Yeah, I guess I’m lucky. Hopefully, he’ll recover. That guy is a mega goalie. I practically know all his moves and strategies.”

A lightbulb went off over Scott’s head as he looked at his watch. “Tell you what. If you can be ready in a half hour you can ride into London with me and you can meet him.”

Trevor shot up from his chair and took off for the stairs in an instant. When Chelsea heard the upstairs bathroom door close and the sound of the shower, she glanced at her husband.

“I don’t think I ever saw him move that fast!” Chelsea exclaimed. “Not to mention, he’s actually gonna forego pecan-banana pancakes!”

“Well, we are talking Simon Farrell, his hero,” Scott replied. “I think meeting the goalie of his dreams takes priority over his favorite breakfast.”

“Do you think seeing Simon with that devestating injury will discourage him at all?”

“No, but I think it’ll give him a more realistic view of the pros,” Scott said. “If he can separate his shoulder in a high school game, then he can be hurt just as badly in the pros.”

Chelsea shuddered. “God, Scott, don’t even mention it!”

“Could be worse,” Scott mused. “He coulld be playing American football.”

“Perish the thought!” Chelsea said, horrified.

Just then, there was a knock on the kitchen door. Looking out the window, Chelsea saw that it was Mark and waved him in.

“Hi Aunt Chelsea, Uncle Scott,” Mark said upon entering. “I left some of my things at the school yesterday and I was on my way to pick them up. Thought I’d stop by and see how Trev was.”

No sooner than Mark asked that, Trevor came bounding down the stairs in a pair of jeans, sneakers and a white, short sleeved shirt that was untucked and barely buttoned. His dark blonde hair was still damp from his ultra-fast shower. Mark looked at him amazed.

“You heal bloody quick!”

“Are you kidding? My shoulder’s on fire, but who cares? I’m gonna meet Simon Farrell today. Dad’s meeting him in London today about his knee injury and I’m going with him.”

Mark was dumbstruck. “Get out! Oh man, he’s a mega player, not to mention that you practically worship the guy.”

“He’s the reason I wanted to be a goalie,” Trevor said. “I can’t wait to meet him. I got to get his autograph.”

“Well, finish fastening your clothes so we can leave,” Scott said.

“Wait,” Chelsea said. “Trevor, have a muffin or something so you can take your pills.”

“Oh, yeah…right,” Trevor said as he wolfed down a blueberry muffin then took two of his pain meds with a glass or orange juice. “Ready!”

“Trevor, you still have to take it easy,” Scott reminded him. “Remember, your shoulder was yanked out of the socket.”

Chelsea squeezed her eyes shut. “Scott, please stop saying that.”

“Oh, he’ll be fine Aunt Chelsea,” Mark said with a handsome grin. “Anyway, if he’s still in pain for the party on Saturday, I’m sure there’ll be something or…..someone there to make him feel better!”

Trevor turned warning eyes to Mark. “Will you shut your bloody big trap about that?”

Scott smirked. “Ah, yes. What was that lass’ name again? Emily Prescott?”

Trevor gave Mark the look of death, all the while beginning to blush.

Chelsea looked at her son. “Emily? What happened to Kristin?”

Mark answered for him. “Oh, she’s been history for a while Aunt Chelsea. Although, she’s been in denial over it. Emily transferred to Westfield the beginning of the year and Trev’s had his eye on her ever since, but he couldn’t make a move since Kristin was hanging onto him like a leech.”

Trevor stared down Mark. “Are you finished?”

“I could go on,” Mark answered with glee.

“Yeah, we could go on about your girlfriends,” Trevor sassed back.

“Gladly,” Mark replied shamlessly.

Chelsea crinkled her brow in thought. “Aren’t you seeing…what’s her name….Sherry…or is it Cheryl?”

“Both actually,” Mark proudly announced. “But they’re history too.”

“What happened?” Chelsea asked.

Mark bit hit lip and looked a little guilty. “Um…..one found out about the other!”

Scott rolled his eyes with a grin. “You lads need a Palm Pilot to keep up with your girlfriends!’ He then caught the time on the clock. “Lets go Trevor. We’ve got a tram to catch.”

Trevor high-fived Mark with his good arm. “I’m off to meet my idol.”

“I’m off to find a new playmate,” Mark replied. “Later.”

Chapter 6

Trevor sat in his father’s office in his London based clinic reading a sports magazine while listening to his portable CD player. The soreness in his left shoulder was causing him discomfort, but the thought of meeting Simon Farrell seemed to dull it. That and seeing Emily Prescott this weekend.

Ever since she transferred to Westfield at the beginning of the year, he was enraptured. Whenever he passed her in the hall or spotted her in one of his classes, he longed to try to strike up a chat with her. But with Kristin’s claws being firmly sunk into his skin, he never took advantage of an opportunity.

But, he finally had to tell Kristin that it was over. Not that they had much of a relationship in the first place, except for the one very overheated snogging session in Kristin’s bedroom which led to Trevor waving ‘bye-bye’ to his precious virginity. After that, she had become possessive and jealous, something he could no longer deal with.

Now that he was officially free, he planned on not wasting anymore time in getting to know Emily.

Trevor was so into his thoughts, that he didn’t see his father come in. When he finally did look up, he looked right past his father to the man behind him dressed in a FIFA sweatshirt, navy blue sweatpants and balancing on a cane. It was Simon Farrell. Goalie extrodinaire.

Trevor closed his magazine and pulled his earphones out as he kept his fascinated gaze on Simon while standing up.

“Simon, this is my son Trevor, whom I can safely say is your biggest fan,” Scott said.

Simon held out his hand. “Pleased to meet you lad, not to mention that I’m flattered.”

Trevor was completely starry-eyed as he shook Simon’s hand. “Mr. Farrell, I…..”

“No, please. Call me Simon.”

“Simon,” Trevor repeated. “Believe me, the pleasure’s all mine. I think you’re a super mega goalie. I’ve yet to see anyone else who has moves like yours.”

Simon puffed up a bit and grinned. “Well, thank you so much Trevor. I may need you as my personal cheerleader when it comes time for me to prove to Manchester that I’ll be as good as new after this injury.”

“How is it?” Trevor asked. “That is….if you don’t mind my asking.”

“Well, all I can do is hope that the treatment your father and I discussed will work. I shredded my knee pretty bad. Time will tell.”

Trevor looked a little somber over the news. He knew that injuries can happen to anyone – he should know!

“I understand that you’re nursing an injury yourself lad,” Simon continued. “Your shoulder?”

Trevor touched his left shoulder lightly. “Um, yeah. I separated it. However, when it happened I heard a crunch and thought I broke it for sure.”

“Well, fortunately its only separated,” Simon replied. “How’d you do it?”

Trevor’s natural shyness took over as he glanced towards the floor. “Well…..”

“Tell him the truth, lad,” Scott urged.

“Well, I made this wicked lunge to prevent a game tying goal in our championship game. I grabbed the ball and didn’t put my hand down to prevent my fall. I came right down on my shoulder.”

“Ah, I see. How is it now?”

“It’s a throbbing, dull ache, but not as painful as when it first happened.”

“Well, it sounds as if you saved the game, Trevor,” Simon stated. “And with that shoulder of yours all bandaged up, I guess its safe to say that you’ll be having the lasses fawn all over you. Nothing like a wounded hero.”

Trevor’s cheeks sufficiently pinkened. “Yeah, well I guess you should know all about that Simon. I happen to know that a lot of your fans are female.”

Now it was Simon’s turn to blush. “I suppose, but…..there are downsides to that lad. Professional soccer isn’t all glory, recognition. If you’re ever afforded the opportunity, wonderful. But, in the meantime, put your energy into your education because you may need it to fall back on.”

Trevor nodded, appreciating the advice, but also wondering if there was a hidden message behind it. Simon then turned to Scott.

“Well, Dr. Savage, I guess I should get going. Thank you again for all you’ve done. I’ll keep you updated on the progress.”

“Oh, wait.” Trevor said, going back to his magazine and flipping the pages. When he came across an action shot taken of Simon from his last game, he ripped it out and handed it to him with a pen.

“Please, I must have your autograph,” he practically begged.

Simon gladly took the picture and signed his name to it with the pen. “Here you go lad. Take care of that shoulder, and good luck next season. And…in school.”

“Thank you Simon. I hope all goes well with your knee. I’ll be awaiting your return to Manchester.”

Simon then shook Trevor’s hand before turning to leave. Scott found himself alone with his son. “Happy?”

“You have no idea!” Trevor replied. “But….his negativity about a career in soccer bothered me a bit.”

“Well, I don’t think it was about the sport, but the pitfalls that comes with it. I don’t know how well you follow his personal life, but he’s in the middle of a divorce right now.”

“Wow, no, I didn’t know that,” Trevor replied. “I wonder if its because of his career?”

“Well, lets just say that he does have a lot of female fans and, well, it can cause problems,” Scott said. “Listen, I’ve got one more appointment. After that, lets get some lunch in the centre then head back home.”

“Brilliant.”

Scott left and Trevor put his earphones back in. As he listened to his music, he secretly wonder what it would be like to have female fans following him all over.

Chapter 7

Mark rolled his Jeep into the Westfield High School parking lot and trotted inside to get some of his he left in his locker. After stuffing them in a bag, he back out, rounding the corner by the administration office. He noticed the light on, even though school had ended for the summer

Just as he passed the door, it opened, almost hitting him in the face.

“Blimey, watch out,” he called out. “You almost hit…….”

Mark’s speech was halted at the sight of a pair of mesmerizing gray-green eyes attached to a face so lovely that his jaw actually dropped.

The girl took one look at Mark and pretty much had the same reaction.

“I’m…I’m sorry,” she said in a sweet voice. “I didn’t know anyone was in the school.”

“Well, I could say the same thing about you,” Mark replied, eyeing her glossy chestnut colored hair that fell past her shoulders.

“Well, actually I’m finishing my senior year here in the fall,” she replied. “I just moved here from Canterbury. I’m here to do my admission papers.”

“Canterbury? I lived there until I was five, I think,” Mark said.

“Yeah, I know all about it,” Tara thought to herself.

“Well, this is fortunate,” Mark said with flirting green eyes. “I’ll look forward to see you. Then again, why wait? Perhaps we can see each other before then?”

The girl blushed behind her grin. “You’re not shy, are you?”

Mark gave her his most intense stare. “What do you think?”

The girl flustered a bit from the youthful sex appeal that seemed to drip from Mark. “I….I’d say not.”

“So, will you consider it?”

“Perhaps,” she replied. “My name’s Tara, by the way.”

Mark held his hand out as she took it. “I’m Mark. Mark Savage.”

All of a sudden, the blush of infatuation on Tara’s face dropped. “Did….did you say Savage?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Pardon me for asking, but…..what’s your dad’s name?”

Mark looked a little puzzled at her question, but then figured out why. “His name is Tyler. Or Ty, as his close friends call him. Let me guess, your parents were probably fans of his band years ago, right?”

“Something like that,” Tara quietly said in a trembling voice.

Mark saw the sudden change in her. “Something wrong?”

“No, nevermind,” she said curtly. “I…I have to go.”

She turned quickly and walked away from him as fast as she could, but Mark dashed after her.

“Hey, wait! What’s the matter?”

Tara turned around and regarded Mark with indifference. “Look, its nothing really. I just have to go. I have a ride waiting for me.”

“Well, can I have your number then? Maybe we can go out over the summer and get to know each other…….”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea anymore,” Tara replied, cutting him off.

Mark was puzzled. “What? Just a moment ago you were considering it. What the hell did I say that changed your mind?”

Tara stopped and turned. “Its not what you said, but who you are, that changed my mind. Sorry, but I really have to go.”

Before Mark could respond, she took off down the hall, through the double doors and outside.

Mark stood there dumbfounded for a moment. Truth be told, he never had a lass diss him like that and he was rightly humbled.

And bothered.

“Who does that wench think she is, saying that and not giving me an opportunity to defend myself,” Mark thought to himself.

With a look of determination, he stalked down the hall and went outside after her, only to see a faint glimpse of her face through a car window as it took off.

Mark stood there for a moment before walking to his Jeep. He got in and looked at the situation in a different light.

“Probably some cold snooty lass who thinks she’s better than everyone,” he reasoned to himself. “There’s more than one fish in the sea. Forget about her Mark!”

*********************

As the car pulled away, Tara tried hard not to look back when she saw Mark Savage appear in the parking lot. It was a good thing she found out who he was before she got too sucked in by those convincing green eyes. Green eyes that reminded her of her brother’s.

“Stay away from him, Tara,” she thought to herself. “It’ll just stir up painful memories that you don’t need. Forget about him!”

Chapter 8

Late Saturday morning, Mark pulled his Jeep up in front of Trevor’s house to pick him up for the party. Already with him were two of their closest mates, Sean and Wesley. When all four lads were piled in the Jeep, Mark took off for the party.

Sean eyed Trevor’s bandaged shoulder and arm in a sling. “So Trev, how’s the shoulder mate?”

“Still hurts, but its more of a dull ache, rather than the blinding pain when it first happened. Then again, I didn’t feel too much once the doctor gave me a shot of Demerol in my arse.”

“Doctor?” Wesley asked. “No pretty nurse?”

“Well, actually a nurse was gonna give it to me, but I just didn’t feel like dropping my shorts in front of her. Anyway, she looked like Mrs. Horton.”

Mark shuddered at the thought of the homely girl’s gym teacher. “Blimey! There’s a sight that’ll deflate your dick anyday!”

“Speaking of which, I hope mine gets to see some action at this party,” Sean mused. “Especially since it’s a pool party.”

“Oh mate, and Jessica Bishop’s gonna be there,” Wesley groaned. “Just the thought of her in a bikini’s gonna give me a day-long boner.”

“No problem, Wes,” Trevor said. “Just think of Mrs. Horton. That should keep it down!”

“Seems like you may be taking that advice Trev,” Wesley said. “Especially since Emily Prescott’s gonna be there. You’ve had the hots for her since day one. And now that Kristin’s out of the picture, you can pursue her.”

“Trev, I still can’t believe you ditched her,” Sean said. “She was mega-fine.”

“Guess once she made you a man, you had no use for her anymore, right cuz?” Mark quipped.

Trevor punched Mark in the arm. “That’s not true. I just didn’t expect it to happen that way so fast. But, blimey, her parents weren’t home and she had pinned to her bed with her tongue down my throat and, before I knew it, she was shoving a condom in my hand. What the bloody hell was I supposed to say?”

“How about…’thank you God’,” Sean snickered.

Trevor grinned. “Yeah well, don’t get me wrong…it was flippin’ fantastic, but she thought she owned me afterwards. She practically told the entire junior class what we did.”

“Yeah, well if it wasn’t for her, I never would’ve found out,” Mark said. “Lads are supposed to kiss and tell, Trev, especially when it involves their first shag! Besides, we promised each other when we were younger that when it happened, we’d tell each other. Hell, I was on the phone with you the next day after I bonked Sherry!”

“Cuz, if you really had your way, you would’ve been on the phone with me while you were coming! And besides….it was Cheryl.”

“Oh…..yeah, right,” Mark sheepisly said with a grin.

“No wonder they’re history,” Sean said. “You couldn’t even keep them straight. Probably screamed out Sherry’s name when you were shagging Cheryl.”

Wesley shook his head. “Crikey Mark, you and Trev just step right in it! Just give it a rest so Sean and I can have a chance.”

“Well, I’ve got my sights set on Emily,” Trevor said. “Its Mark you gotta worry about. He’s hell-bent on finding summer companionship.”

“Yeah, and I almost thought I found it when I stopped at school a few days ago.,” Mark said.

“What do you mean, almost?” Sean asked. “Losing your touch before you’re eighteen, mate?”

“No, its not that,” Mark stated. “She was a strange wench. Bloody beautiful, but strange. I ran into her while I went back to clean out my locker. She was coming out of the office where she was signing up for the fall. She moved here from Canterbury, believe it or not. I struck up a chat with her and she seemed interested, but as soon as I told her my name she clammed up.”

“Hmmm, maybe your reputation with lasses reached her tender little ears as soon as she stepped foot in Sheffield,” Wesley surmised.

“Yeah, well screw her! I’m sure I’ll spot someone at the party that’ll offer me some type of carnal fun today.”

Sean put an imaginary mic up to his mouth. “Attention! Attention all fathers in Sheffield. Lock up your daughters immediately. Mark Savage is on the prowl!”

Mark reached his hand back to swat at Sean, just as he pulled up to the party.

Chapter 9

The championship celebration for Westfield High’s soccer team was underway as Mark and Trevor made their way into the backyard with Sean and Wesley close behind.

The party’s host, senior team captain Craig Weston, goodnaturedly threw up his hands as they walked in.

“Okay mates,” Craig loudly announced. “The Savage cousin’s have arrived. The party can now officially begin!”

Trevor rolled his eyes and blushed as Mark puffed his chest with pride. Sean shoved Craig in the arm. “Aye, what about me and Wes, matie?”

Craig jokingly shoved him back. “Well when you blokes either make a game winning save or score at least one goal per game, then I might consider it!”

“Aye, maybe its best you don’t announce me,” Wesley said. “My eyes spot the lovely Jessica Bishop so I think I’ll just sneak up and surprise her. Maybe it’ll cause her top to fall off!”

Wesley grabbed something to drink and went off to seek more amusing activities. Craig then turned to Trevor, noticing his sling and his bandaged left shoulder, which was visible under his FIFA tank.

“Aw, are you really hurt that bad, Trev? Or are you just being a poser to get attention from the lasses?”

“Perhaps I should’ve brought my x-ray to show you just how much of a ‘poser’ I really am,” Trevor shot back. “I separated the blasted thing.”

Craig put an arm around Trevor. “Well, perhaps we can convince some lass to kiss it and make it better.”

“If that were the case, he probably would’ve showed up with his pecker bandaged,” Mark jibed. “Anyway, if Trev’s looking for sympathy, he won’t have to look too far. Seems the object of his affection is sitting on the edge of the pool cooling off her toes.”

Trevor looked over and saw Emily Prescott swirling her tanned legs in the pool water as she sat at the edge. Even though he was several yards away, Trevor could make out her firm little breasts contained by her fitted white tank top. He felt himself stir in his shorts and he immediately pictured Mrs. Horton! But Emily looked so fresh, so innocent and so hot at the same time that it didn’t help.

He kept his eyes on her until she looked up and spotted him looking at her. She offered him a shy, lovely smile before another lass sat down beside her, blocking his view.

Trevor shook the cobwebs from his brain and got himself something cold to drink – fast! Mark saw this and didn’t pass up an attempt to rib his cousin.

“Whats the matter Trev? Thoughts of the girls gym teacher not working?”

Trevor gave Mark and evil stare. “How’d you like your shoulder separated?”

**************************************

Over by the pool, Emily Prescott’s vision of Trevor Savage was disappointingly blocked by one of her girlfriends. When she tried to crane her head around her, her girlfriend turned to see what was so interesting.

“See something you like, Em?”

“You could say that Morgan,” Emily replied.

“Didn’t take long for you two to scope each other out,” Morgan said. “Give him some time, he just got here. Once he’s done pounding his chest with all the other lads I think he’ll make his move.”

“I don’t know, he seems awfully shy sometimes,” Emily said.

“That’s only in the beginning. Once he gets warmed up, he becomes a shameless flirt just like Mark.”

“Mark,” came a sarcastic voice from the sun chair behind them.

Emily turned around towards the chair. “I heard that Tara. Do you know something I don’t?”

“If only you did,” Tara thought to herself. “Your mum kept it from you all these years.”

“Nothing except the usual,” Tara replied, careful not to let her true feelings show. “I’ve heard enough about him at Tapton. Plus you can’t even open the bloody Sheffield Star without reading what heros he and that cousin of his is.”

“What are you gonna do, fault him for being talented? Tara, stop being so paranoid. He’s just a lad.”

“With a reputation that I don’t want to become part of, thank you very much,” Tara confessed. “And…for your information Em, Trevor’s isn’t any better.”

“Somehow I don’t think they’d intentionally hurt a lass’ feelings,” Emily told her.

“Whatever,” Tara murmured.

“Well, he did break up with Kristen after they slept together.,” Morgan said

Emily rolled her eyes. “Tara, I know all about the sordid details, not to mention Trevor not taking too kindly to her blabbing it to the whole school.”

“Really? I would think a lad would be on top of a building with a bullhorn announcing it himself,” Tara said sarcastically. “Anyway, it doesn’t matter. Look Em, if you want to be pursued by Trevor Savage, then there’s nothing I can do to stop you. Just as long as that cousin of his stays clear of me.”

“I don’t know Tara. I think you really should give Mark the benefit of the doubt. I mean, they’re cousins and we’re cousins. It would be kinda cool if the four of us got on famously.”

“Oooooh, kissing cousins!” Morgan giggled.

“I don’t want to give Mark Savage anything, thank you,” Tara replied.

“He has more than enough as it is, the rich, spoiled lad!”

“Well, good luck trying to steer clear of Mark today at the party, Tara. Especially since I see him craning his neck in your direction.”

Chapter 10

Mark looked over at the lass by the pool. He then nudged Craig. “Aye, who’s that lass on the sun chair behind Emily? She looks kinda familiar.”

Craig looked in Mark’s direction and saw who he was referring to. “Ah, I believe her name is Tara. She’s Emily’s cousin. She’ll be attending Westfield in the fall..”

Mark continued to stare at the lovely, dark haired lass before recognition caused him to choke. “Did…did you say her name was Tara?”

“Yeah, why?”

Mark turned narrowed eyes to his mates. “Why? I’ll tell you why? She’s the bitch who blew me off at school a few days ago, that’s why?”

Craig laughed. “Blew you off in a bad way or……in a good way?”

Mark swatted him in the shoulder. “Stuff it! I should march on over there and tell that little snit just what I really think of her.”

“Calm down cuz,” Trevor said. “You’re letting your pride get in the way. There’s plenty other’s here to choose from.”

“Yeah, but you know what they say Trev,” Sean added. “You always want what you can’t have. Guess Tara didn’t fall for Mark’s irresistable charm and now he’s miffed!”

“Who wants her?” Mark said appalled. “Bloody wench. I wouldn’t waste my time. Trev’s right….she’s not the only lass here. However, if the opportunity presents itself, I wouldn’t mind telling her off for the other day.”

“Mark, don’t go ruining anything for me and Emily by mouthing off to her cousin,” Trevor said. “Just be cool.”

“Don’t worry,” Mark said, slinging an arm around Trevor. “If the lovely wench and I just happen to come face to face, I”ll handle it with tact, okay?”

“I’ll believe that when I see it,” Trevor said. “Well, I’m starving. I’m gonna get myself something to eat.”

“What about Emily?”

“Mark, I just got here. I’m not like you. Plus, I don’t want to seem desperate. I’ll talk to her today.”

“Don’t forget to get her number,” Sean reminded.

“Will you blokes stuff it,” Trevor said before stalking off to the food table.

As Mark watched Trevor take off, his eyes glanced back to Tara, who had disappeared from her chair. Mark shrugged, telling himself not to care, as he went to go say hi to some of his other mates.

He turned and saw Tara getting a can of pop out of a nearby cooler. The teenage male pride in him wouldn’t let him let this be. He casually made his way over to the cooler just as Tara looked up.

“We meet again, I see,” Mark said with a hint of sarcasm.

Tara looked up into Mark’s mischievous green eyes and tried to hold her ground. “Um, yes I guess we do.”

Mark folded his arms and stared her down, trying to remain unaffected by her unique gray-green eyes. “You know, I think that was bloody rude of you taking off on me like you did the other day. The least you could’ve done was let me defend myself.”

Tara would not be intimidated. “Well, I’m sorry that I insulted you and hurt you’re little feelings. However, I’m still not interested.”

“Ouch!” Mark said with mock hurt. “Look, we obviously got off to the wrong foot. Lets start all over again.”

Mark took her hand and brought it to his lips and mocked a bow. “Please to meet you, lass. I’m Mark Savage.”

Before he could kiss her hand, Tara yanked it away. “I already told you…I know who you are. And, forgive me if this offends you, but I really don’t want anything to do with you.”

Mark was beginning to get frustrated as well as angry. “How is it that you already know me if you just moved here?”

Tara looked for something believable to say other than the truth. “Fine. If you must know, you seem to have quite a reputation. You’re nothing but a strutting, swaggering, full-of-yourself rich lad who thinks that no lass can resist. And that cousin of yours is probably no better.”

Mark’s tone got a little hot. “Don’t go bringing Trevor into this, especially since he’s not here to defend himself. And besides, I’m not rich…my dad is.”

“Don’t remind me,” Tara thought.

“Also…… I’m not gonna lie to you and say that I don’t enjoy a lass’ attention. What lad doesn’t?”

“Its not that,” Tara tried to reason as his green eyes were beginning to suck her in again. “Its just…..I’m not in the mood to have my heart broken, okay? If my cousin Emily is willing to risk her heart to Trevor, then that’s her business. Mine is staying safely where it is. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to rejoin my friends. Is that enough warning for you? I don’t want you think that I’m just taking off!”

Mark changed his strategy and leaned in a little closer to her. “You know,” he said in a husky tone. “Sarcasm doesn’t look good on a beautiful lass such as yourself.”

Tara was taken aback by his compliment, given in a voice that sent a chill up her spine and an even warmer feeling in a very forbidden place.

“Get out of there Tara,” her mind screamed. “Get out before you won’t be able to resist. That’s what he’s known for. That’s what his father was known for. And…so was your brother, God rest his soul.”

Tara gathered her bearings and met his gorgeous green eyes with her own. “Flattery may work on the other lasses, but not me. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I ask that you please leave me alone.”

With that, Tara brushed past him and went back to reclaim her spot by the pool. Mark stood there dumbfounded, even as he watched her perfect little bottom in a pair of khaki cotton shorts walk away from him. He ran his fingers through his tousled light brown hair in frustration, as the sight of her lovely face and tight little body had his own wired.

He bent down and grabbed a can of pop out of the cooler, desperate to dissuade the heat of his body. “Bloody little wench,” he murmured.

Mark then thought about Sean said about wanting what you can’t have.

“You want me to leave you alone, Tara?” he thought to himself. “Well, you can forget about it! I’m gonna find out just what’s up with you.”

Chapter 11

An hour or so later held a can of pop in his hand that was in a sling, while he polished off the remains of a second cheeseburger with the other. Just then, he saw Wesley come over to him, holding something conspicuously under his shirt.

“Aye, that Jessica Bishop is naughtier than she looks,” Wesley winked as he pulled out a small thermos out from under his shirt. “She snuck some whiskey from her parents house and brought it here. I’m just gonna casually go around and see who wants a shot.”

“Wes, just make sure Mark doesn’t have any,” Trevor said. “He’s driving, remember.”

‘No problem. Anyway, you need it more. Here, take a shot. You’ll need it to get up the nerve to talk to Emily.”

Trevor looked embarrassed. “No I don’t!”

“Fine,” Wesley said. “So….what are you waiting for? Day’s gonna be over soon.”

Trevor looked over at Emily then back to Wesley. “Alright….give me a shot.”

Trevor winced as the tiny amount of whiskey burned his throat. “Blimey, that’s nasty.”

“Bet it will numb the pain in your shoulder better than those drugs,” Wesley said. “Now…go!”

Wesley shoved Trevor in Emily’s direction. He knew it was now or never. He was thankful that she was still by the pool and alone so he could talk to her in private. Even though he didn’t have a problem getting a lass’ attention, he was still tongue-tied when it came to chatting

He came up behind Emily was sitting on the edge of the pool with one of her legs stretched forward to try to grab an inflated toy with her toes. Her movements made her ponytail holding her shiny, tawny colored hair sway back and forth.

“Emily?” he said in a low voice.

She didn’t hear him and continued to reach for the toy.

“Emily!” he said louder.

Not only did she hear him, but his voice startled her so that it sent her right into the pool up to her waist. Trevor wanted to crawl under a rock and die.

“Oh God…oh my God, Emily, I’m…..God, I’m sorry luv. I….I didn’t mean to startle you.”

Emily turned around in the pool and looked up at Trevors gorgeous, but contrite face. How could she not forgive a face like that?

“Its…its alright Trevor,” she said. “I guess it serves me right trying to grab at that stupid inflatable duck with my foot.”

Since she was in the low end, she walked over to the stairs and came out. Trevor grabbed a towel and went to her.

“Again, I am so sorry,” he said, handing her the towel.

“I know you are. Fortunately, I brought a change of clothes.”

Trevor couldn’t help his eyes from glancing down at her breasts. The chill of the pool water had caused her nipples to harden through her lycra tank.

The sight caused him to harden as well!

Emily looked down too and saw her reaction to the water and gasped. She caught Trevor looking before had a chance to discreetly look away.

“Um….excuse me a moment,” she said as she walked over to a beach bag. She pulled out a t-shirt and threw it over herself then went back to Trevor.

“Sorry, the water was a bit cold.”

“I know, I could tell,” Trevor said, not realizing what he said. “Uh….I mean…..it..it looks cold. And uh….you were uh….shivering.”

Trevor just clamped his mouth shut before he did anymore damage and ruin his chance with Emily. Maybe that shot of whiskey impaired his brain already!

“So, Trevor….how’s your shoulder? I understand that it was only separated.”

Trevor was thankful for the change of subject. “Oh, yeah. Its okay. I still have to keep it stable. The doctor had to re-set it in the socket.”

“Oh, that must’ve hurt,” she said, putting a comforting hand on his arm.

The cool of her hand on his sunwarmed arm sent a chill right up his spine. But it was the look in her pale, golden brown eyes that caused a more pleasurable feeling elsewhere.

“Well, I was given a shot of Demerol at the hospital so I didn’t feel too much of anything,” he replied with a shy look.

“Well, I’m glad you’re okay. And…..I’m glad you were able to make it today,” Emily said.

“Me too,” he replied. “About both things. I’m glad you’re here too. Um…I think you know I’m not seeing Kirstin anymore.”

“Yes, I heard.”

Trevor groaned. “Oh…..just what did you hear?” The last thing Trevor wanted Emily to know was the details of his moment of passion with Kristin that she blabbed all over school.

“Oh…..just that you broke up, is all,” Emily lied, not wanting to embarrass him.

Trevor blew out a relieved breath. “Oh, okay. Um…Emily, I…..well, you know…now that we’ve got two months before we go back to school, I….I was wondering if you’d like to do something over the summer sometimes. You know….maybe a movie…get something to eat…..or both.”

Emily couldn’t hide her smirk over how shy he was, especially since he had no reason to be. She knew that he didn’t have to utter a single word and the lasses would line up. But….he was interested in her and wanted to see her.

“Trevor, I would like that very much. Sounds like fun. Summers can be quite boring in Sheffield sometimes.”

“Well…..maybe this summer won’t have to be,” he said. “Um, listen. I was told that you have a cousin here. That she’s entering Westfield in the fall.”

“Oh yes, Tara. She moved here from Canterbury and is living with my parents and I. She had a very difficult life.”

“Oh…sorry to hear that. Anything you can tell me?”

“Just the usual sad story. Her father took off on her mum when she became pregnant with her. Her mum had her and raised her on her own. But her mum died six months ago so she came to live with us.”

“Wow, that’s so sad. Maybe that’s why she’s so bitter.”

“What do you mean?”

“Oh, well, you see Mark ran into her at school a few days ago when she was there registering. He tried hitting on her but she shot him down.”

“Ah, she didn’t tell me that,” Emily said. “Hmm, perhaps there’s a way I can change her mind. If I can…maybe…you know…the four of us could double.”

“That would be brilliant. So…..um…. can I call you?

Emily nodded before going back over to her beach bag. She tore a piece of paper out of a magazine inside then grabbed a purple pen. She wrote her name and her number then folded the paper. Walking back over to Trevor, she handed it to him.

“Here.”

Trevor took it, brushing his fingers against hers in the process. “Thanks,” he said, putting it in his pocket. “I’ll call you soon. I promise.”

“I’ll look forward to it.”

Just then, Tara came over. “Emily, c’mon. Its almost 3. Your mum needs the car back.”

Emily frowned and turned back to Trevor. “I’m sorry, but I have to leave. My mum lend me the car to come here, but she needs it back by 3. I’m sorry but I have to go.”

“Its okay luv, especially now that I have your number.”

Emily blushed before looking at Tara. “Oh, forgive me. Tara, this is Trevor Savage. Trevor, this is my cousin Tara. She’ll be attending Westfield in the fall.”

“Nice to meet you Tara,” Trevor said. “I understand you met my cousin Mark a few days ago at school.”

“Yes Tara,” Emily said. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because there was nothing to tell, that’s why? I’ll wait for you by the car, okay?”

Tara took off leaving Emily and Trevor bewildered. “You’re right – she is bitter,” Emily said. “Moreso than when she first came to stay with us.”

“Well, good luck trying to make her sweet on Mark.”

“I’ll do my best. Bye Trev.”

“Bye Emily.”

As Emily left, Trevor stood there with a silly look on his face, which was erased when he felt Mark’s arm go around him.

“So?”

“Yes, I got her number. And….I asked her to put in a good word for you with Tara.”

“Thanks cuz. I’d like to find out just what that mystery lass is all about. As for you, what a week you had? Saved the championship game. Survived a separated shoulder. And now…you’ve finally hooked up with Emily, eh? Things couldn’t go any more perfect for ya.”

No sooner than Mark said that, Sean came barrelling up to . “Guess who’s parked out in front of Craig’s house in her car like some crazed stalker?”

“Who?”

“Kristin!”

Chapter 12

Trevor’s face paled. “Blimey, no! Was she invited?”

“Not according to Craig,” Sean replied. “Probably just here to snoop.”

“I told you she was in denial, Trev,” Mark said. “Oh, and wait until she finds out about you and Emily!”

Trevor buried his face in his hands. “Crikey!”

Sean looked at him unsympathetically. “Hmm, got two lasses vying for you attention, eh? It must really suck being you!”

“Maybe she’ll just get bored and take off,” Mark said. “C’mon, lets enjoy the rest of the day.”

By 7:00, mostly everyone left except for Trevor, Mark, Sean and Wesley. They retreated to Craig’s basement to take turns winding down with a few games of snooker. Wesley still had the thermos of whiskey which everyone, except for Mark, polished off until they had a nice little buzz going.

As the four of them were about to leave, Craig noticed a car parked in front of his house.

“Crikey, its Kristin still! Don’t tell me she’s been sitting there all this time?”

Trevor took a deep sigh. “Look, let me just go talk to her and see what she wants.”

“Well, its obvious what she wants,” Mark wiggled his brows. “I wouldn’t get in that car mate. She may take off and kidnap you.”

“Look, I gotta put an end to this,” Trevor said. “Plus, I just don’t want to ignore her either. I don’t want to hurt her feelings or anything. Wait for me in the jeep, hopefully it won’t take long.”

Trevor went outside and, fueled by the whiskey, marched up to Kristin’s car. He saw her smile at him as he made his way over. He opened the car door and got in.

“Kristin, what are you doing here?”

Kristin looked at him with a rehearsed, sad face. “Oh Trevor,” she said in her best, distressed voice. “I…..I wanted to see you. I’m afraid to call, figuring you won’t want to talk to me. I knew you’d be here today. I should’ve been too, you know. Guess I’m on the outside now that we’re broken up.”

Trevor noticed a hint of bitterness in her voice and flinched. Kristin didn’t take their break up well and knew that she’d probably resort to tears and drama to try to convince him to get back together. But, since he didn’t have a mean bone in his body, he turned to Kristin and took her hand.

“Kristin, listen to me. I’m sorry, but I just don’t see it working out for us. I don’t want to hurt you, but I can’t stay in a relationship that I’m not comfortable with anymore. After we were together that afternoon, you went and told the entire school practically. And then you changed. I don’t like the jealousy or possessiveness.”

Krisitn turned on the waterworks. “Trevor, I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry. You’re right – I shouldn’t have told people what we did. I didn’t mean for it to get around. Please forgive me, luv. I…I want another chance. I promise I won’t act like that anymore.”

Trevor hated hurting her, but he also thought of Emily whom he just got a foot in the door with. He didn’t want to ruin anything.

“Luv, I appreciate your apology, but I don’t want to get back together. Please, lets end this civilly, okay?”

Kristin’s carefully, practiced performance dramatically changed. Her eyes narrowed and her lips purshed. “There’s someone else, isn’t there? Its Emily, right?”

Trevor gulped. “What…..h…how did you….?”

“I got word that you were interested in her,” she sharply replied. “And, I just happened to call a friend of mine who was at the party before I came over. She said that you were looking pretty cozy with Emily. Also said that she gave you her number.”

Now Trevor was getting annoyed. This had to stop. “Okay, fine! You’re right, Kristin. I do like Emily and I did get her number. I have nothing to hide. You and I broke up and I’m free to pursue whoever I want.”

Kristin sarcastically rolled her eyes and changed her course. “Well…..if that’s what you want to settle for. Little Miss ‘I’m Gonna Wait till My Wedding Night’ Emily. C’mon, Trev. You’ve had a taste of what its like. You think Emily’s gonna lay down early and easy for you? No! She’ll probably tease you till your ballocks explode. Now……I know what you like and I can give it to you whenever you want it baby.”

With that, Kristin leaned in and kissed his neck. Trevor was about to pull her away, but the effects of the whiskey, combined with the feel of her lips on the sensitive part of his neck, caused his body to stir. It felt too good to stop, but he had to.

“Kristin…please, don’t…..don’t do that,” he stammered, although he did nothing to stop her.

“You sure,” she whispered in his ear before lightly running the tip of her tongue around it. She smiled wickedly when Trevor rewarded her with a satisfied groan of pleasure.

“I didn’t think so Trev,” she huskily whispered again.

She continued to kiss his neck as he involuntarily leaned his head back to give her better access. However, some aspect of his brain was functioning, even as he became painfully hard in his shorts.

“Kristin,” he panted. “Kristin, c’mon. Stop. Okay? This has got to stop.”

“Make me,” she challenged as her hand slid to his lean, muscular thigh. All Trevor could do was breath heavier as the whiskey was clouding his good judgement and good sense.

Kristin then covered his mouth with hers as her wandering hand slid from his thigh to what was straining against the fly of his shorts. Trevor groaned deep at the feel of her squeezing him, which caused her to groan as well.

“Yeah, Trev,” she whispered in his mouth. “I know how you like that. I’ll touch you like that all the time. Please luv…..please stay with me.”

Through an aroused haze, Trevor’s hazel eyes fluttered open. “Kristin….please…c’mon……we…we can’t do this. No more.”

“Tell me to stop then,” she challenged him as her head dipped down to his lap. “Tell me Trev. I’ll do whatever you say.”

Even as Trevor contemplated that, he felt her fingers unfasten his shorts. It was accompanied by the feel of her warm, soft hand grasping his cock.

“Ah, yeah,” he drawled out.

“Do you want me to stop?”

“I…I…” Trevor stammered.

She stroked him teasingly. “Do you?”

“You…..you have to……..” he tried to spit out as he began to grind his hips upward.

“Do you?” she asked one final time before taking him in her mouth.

“Fuck no! Oh God! Dammit, Kristin, don’t stop! God, don’t stop!”

She removed her mouth momentarily. “Didn’t think so,” she said with mischief before continuing to orally pleasure him.

The power of the whiskey and the feeling of Kristin’s mouth sucking him hard completely overtook Trevor’s numb mind and seventeen year old body. He didn’t fight his helpless state. Instead, he gave into it as he dug his fingers in Kristin’s hair as he released himself in her mouth.

Trevor sat there catching his breath as Kristin’s head slithered its way back up. He grasped his chin and turned his head towards her.

“I don’t think Emily would know the first thing about giving a proper blow job.”

Her knowing grin and sarcastic words snapped Trevor back from the afterglow of his orgasm. Everything that just transpired in the course of a few minutes hit him in the face and he was instantly disgusted. Seeing Kristin’s true plan of attack, he took her hand and pulled it off his chin.

“I can’t believe you! I can’t fucking believe you! You planned this, didn’t you?”

Trevor’s natural, even temper was sorely tried. As much as he was known for being calm and level-headed, Kristin’s motives made his skin crawl, not to mention her hurtful comments towards Emily, who didn’t deserve them.

Kristin was unaffected. “Hey, I gave you the opportunity to stop. You didn’t want to.”

“Of course I didn’t want to Kristin,” he shot back. “Crikey, no lad who’s got a lass sucking him off is gonna tell her to stop! So much for your bloody promise about changing. Goodbye Kristin.”

Trevor opened the car door, got out and slammed it shut. Kristin watched him stalk towards Mark’s jeep as her face contorted with anger.

“Fine Trevor,” she said to herself. “Wait till school starts. Emily doesn’t know who she’s up against.”

Trevor got into the Jeep where Mark, Sean and Wesley were waiting for him. He slammed the door closed and blew out a breath.

“Lets go,” he huffed at Mark.

Mark just stared at him, grinning like an idiot. Trevor finally looked at him.

“What?”

“Your fly’s open,” Mark non-chalantly said.

Trevor looked down, zipped up then buried his flushed face in his hands.

Sean chuckled. “Yep! Like I said earlier Trev. It must suck being you!”

Chapter 13

Trevor arrived home around 8:00pm and found his mum in the family room.

“Hi mum, I’m home.”

Cheslea looked at the clock then back at her son. “Well, you must’ve had a good time,” she said with a bit of a smirk. “How’s your shoulder, lad?”

“Okay, just a bit achy. I’m gonna take a pill then head on up to my room. I’m a bit knackered. Where’s dad?”

“In his office.”

“Okay, night mum.”

Trevor went down the hall and stopped in front of his dad’s office and knocked on the slightly open door before pushing it open all the way.

“Aye dad. Just want to let you know I’m home.”

Scott pulled his glasses off, then dropped his pen before leaning back in his leather swivel chair. “Enjoy yourself lad?”

Trevor tried to block out his close encounter with Kristin and, instead, focused on Emily.

“Yeah, I did,” he said with a blushing grin.

“I take it by the look on your face that you hooked up with Emily,” Scott said knowingly.

“I did. Got her number.”

“That’s my boy! Didn’t think you’d have to try too hard.”

Trevor rolled his eyes with embarrassment. “Oh, stop. Listen, my shoulder’s a little sore so I’m just gonna take one of my pills and crash for the night.”

“Okay. ‘Night, lad.”

“Goodnight,” Trevor said before heading up to his room. He stopped in the bathroom to wash his face and brush his teeth. He then took one of his pain pills then headed to his room. He emptied out the pockets of his shorts and his eyes immediately fell upon the piece of paper with Emily’s phone number. His face instantly warmed at the image of her smile and the rememberance of her soft touch on his arm.

He was starting to get aroused just at the thought of it and ran his hand over his face in frustration to calm himself down. He threw her number on his desk then stripped his clothes off. He put on a pair of Abercrombie and Fitch boxers and nothing else. He turned off the light, flopped into bed on his stomach with his portable CD player and stuck the earphones in his ears.

The blaring rock music in his ears was soon drowned out with thoughts of Emily, which instantly led to thoughts of Kristin and her manipulative little move tonight. Thank God her and her family go on holiday every year at this time and he won’t have to see her until school probably starts up again. He didn’t need her getting in the way of him getting together with Emily over the summer.

He still couldn’t believe that he let Kristin get away with that tonight. But then, he was a seventeen year old lad. You just don’t know the word ‘no’ when you’re that age and a lass is offering to pleasure you in the most exquisite way possible. As soon as she began to kiss his neck and run her hand along his thigh, he was lost, as much as he was disgusted. He knew he shouldn’t have let it get that far, especially since they were broken up and he wanted to pursue Emily. But when Kristin took him in her mouth, everything flew from his brain with the exception of getting off.

“Dammit!” Trevor murmured in frustration as he rolled on his back. His thoughts were causing him to harden and poke into the mattress. He took calming breaths and concentrating on the song he was listening to, but it was no good. It just wouldn’t go down.

“Aw, fuck,” he hissed to himself as he guiltily slipped his hand inside his boxers and stroked himself until he climaxed. He then pulled his earphones out as he shot out of bed to pull his wet, sticky boxers off.

Being a teenage lad certainly did suck sometimes!

Chapter 14

Mark pulled his Jeep in the three car garage then entered the mud room through the connecting door. The house was unusually quiet. He went downstairs to the entertainment room where he found Abby sprawled on the couch chatting incessantly to a girlfriend on the phone about….what else?

“Oh God, Lisa!” Mark heard Abby exclaim on the phone. “How could you possibly think Seth is cuter than Tommy? Tommy is postively to die for! He’s got these amazing blue eyes and the most dazzling smile. I’m practically a puddle when he looks at me.”

Mark couldn’t take it anymore. He just couldn’t pass up the chance.

“Oh….oh Tommy,” he said in a little girl’s voice. “Oh, I think you are just the living end. Oh when you look at me with those big blue eyes I could just die!”

Abby looked up in horror at her eavesdropping older brother. “You bloody wanker!” she shrieked, throwing the receiver down. She then picked up a throw pillow and the telly remote and threw them at him. “Get out of here, Mark! You already cost me a shopping trip with mum!”

Mark dodged the flying objects. “Speaking of which, where are they?”

“I don’t know,” Abby shot back. “Probably in the living room. Why don’t you expend some energy and go look for them yourselves and leave me alone!”

“Little wench,” Mark growled at her. “Maybe I should find this Tommy-chap and warn him to stay away from a shrew like you!”

Abby’s eyes bulged. “You! You better not do anything of the sort Mark. I’ll kill you if you do!”

“Yeah, you and what army of other flat-chested,12 year old girls?”

“Hold on Lisa,” Abby screamed into the phone before taking off after Mark. He shot up the stairs like lightening before she reached him. “Yeah, you better run,” she yelled after him.

Mark laughed to himself all the way into the living room. His parents weren’t there. He checked his father’s office. He wasn’t there either. Perplexed, he went upstairs and passed their bedroom on the way to his room. Their bedroom door was closed and he put an ear to it and heard his parents gasping in the throes of passion.

“Yeah, oh yeah Grace. God, baby, you feel so good.”

“Oh God, Ty faster! Faster and….harder!”

Mark recoiled in absolute disgust and fled to his room. No one wanted to imagine their parents still doing it, especially his own. Sure they were only in their early 40’s, but still!

Mark turned his CD player on in the effort of trying to forget what he just heard. If anything, it only reminded him of what he wasn’t getting. Like clockwork, just the mere thought of it got him hard. But it was the thought of it with Tara that made him almost lose it in his shorts.

“Damn, that lass is gonna haunt me until I find out what she’s about,” he thought to himself. He hoped that things worked out with Trevor and Emily and that he’d put in a good word for him with Tara. Crikey, Mark never had to rely on anyone to get a lass. All he had to do was give then an intense, green-eyed stare and flash his brilliant smile and they were in his hands. But not this one. Sean was right – we always want what we can’t have, and Mark wanted Tara badly!

But something told him that she wasn’t one to toss aside once she was caught. There was something mysterious about her. Something that he was gonan discover no matter how long it took.

Chapter 15

The next morning, Mark came downstairs, freshly showered in a pair of olive green cargo shorts and a Sheffield Wednesday t-shirt. He found his father at the table reading the Sheffield Star, a toasted bagel and cup of tea right next to it. He looked up when he saw his son.

“Aye,” Ty said. “What time did you get in last night?”

“Um, early…..8:00 o’clock,” Mark replied. “I just headed right to my room.”

“Well, you could’ve told your mother and I you were home Mark.”

Mark began to fidget with his words. “Um, well I uh……tried to, but I um…..you guys were in your bedroom.”

Ty raised his eyebrows over his son overhearing him and Grace make love the night before. “Ah, I see. Your mum and I were a little…..busy.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, okay,” Mark cut him off. “I don’t need to hear the details dad.”

“Pipe down sport,” Ty said. “Crikey, its not like your mother and I are fossils. I still got it you know? Remember, I used to be a rock star. Speaking of which, your grandpa Joe is over grandpa Sav’s house. I think you should take the opportunity to kill two birds with one stone and go visit them. Your grandpa Joe will get a kick of that t-shirt.”

“Piss him off is more like it,” Mark mused. “May as well. Got nothing else better to do.”

“Whats wrong?” Ty asked with a grin. “Didn’t pick up the lass of your dreams at the party yesterday?”

“No,” Mark blurted out. “Well, yes and no. I mean, she was there, but she has no interest in me. Can you believe it?”

“Hardly, stud,” Ty chuckled. “What does she look like?”

Mark gave his father a wicked look to which Ty caught on. “That good, aye?”

“Better than good,” Mark replied. “But there’s something weird about her. I think she knows me or….us or something. She’s orginally from Canterbury, so as soon as she found out my last name she got all strange on me.”

“Maybe her family knows of us from Canterbury,” Ty said. “Did you ask her?”

“She wouldn’t give me the chance. She acted like I was public enemy #1 or something.”

“So, you gonna give up on her?”

“No bloody way dad! She just so happens to be cousins with Emily, the lass that Trev’s all hot and heavy over. Hopefully they’ll put in a good word for me so she’ll change her mind.”

“You’re really sweet on her, aren’t you?” Ty said amused.

“No…well, yeah, I mean…..she’s just a bloody mystery.”

“Hmmm, doesn’t have anything to do with wanting something we can’t automatically have now, would it?”

Mark look at his father with his mouth agape, then promptly closed it. It wasn’t like him to wear his feelings on his sleeve.

“Yeah, well….,I’m gonna stop over Trev’s and see if he wants to go see the grandpa’s with me. Later dad.”

Minutes later, Trevor answered the ringing doorbell to find his cousin there.

“Aye, what’s up?”

“I’ve been charged with visiting the grandpa’s today. Grandpa Joe is over Grandpa Sav’s. Wanna come?”

“Sure, why not. I’m bored as hell,” Trevor grumbled.

“What do you mean?” Mark asked. “You’re the one who got a phone number yesterday, while I got dissed. When are you gonna call Emily?”

“Not right now,” Trevor said. “I don’t want to seem to anxious, is all.”

“Or are you just feeling guilty about Kristin giving you a little lip service last night?”

Trevor rolled warning eyes at Mark. “Stuff it, Mark. Don’t bring that up. I’m sick to death over it.”

“You’re sick? I had to come home last night to overhear my parents shagging in their bedroom!”

Trevor winced. “Aw, crikey, no way!”

“Thank God my mum wasn’t home when I came downstairs. I don’t think I’d be able to face her.”

“Oh, I think you’re just jealous because they’re getting more than you,” Trevor said with a wicked grin.

Mark shook his head in disgust. “Blimey Trev, cut it out! Now, do you wanna come to see the grandpa’s or not?”

“Sure.”

Just then, Trevor heard the sound of a key turning in the front door followed by it opening. That was further followed by the sound of a resonant female voice.

“Yoo-hoo, anyone home?”

Trevor ran out in the hall. “Steph? What are you doing here?”

Stephanie Savage, a willowly, yet curvy 5’10 stunning fashion model, sauntered across the hardwood foyer on a pair of long, endless legs. Her runway, perfect body was clad in all white, from the fitted, micro shorts to the mid-riff baring halter that made her tanned skin glow.

“Is that anyway to greet your long, lost sister Trev,” she said giving him a hug and a kiss. Trevor hugged her back, completely unaffected by her stunning beauty. She was, after all, his sister. But, underneath her perfect exterior, lied a brazen wench with a headstrong temper, language that would make a wild soccer fan blush and enough bad habits that she probably hoped Cosmo never get a hold of.

Mark, on the other hand, couldn’t hide his usual teenage reaction.

“Crikey Steph,” he boldly blurted out. “Are you sure you’re my cousin?”

Stephanie put a hand on a haughty hip and gave Mark a dazzle blue-eyed stare. “Mark, even if I weren’t, you wouldn’t stand a bloody chance!”

“And, if you think Tara’s a wench, my sister’s 10 times worse,” Trevor said, before Stephanie nailed him in the left shoulder with her fist. Trevor yelped in pain and almost keeled over.

“Whats wrong with you, sissy boy?” Stephanie asked.

“You popped him in his bad shoulder, that’s what,” Mark replied. “He separated it in the championship game last week.”

Stephanie immediately rubbed her baby brother’s left shoulder. “God, Trev, I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

“Damn, sis, you’ve got some right punch there. I feel sorry for the guy who unfortunately winds up with you for life.”

Stephanie’s perfectly chisled features suddenly looked sheepish as she nervously fingered her glossy dark blonde hair. “Um…well….you can tell him that when you meet him.”

Trevor looked at her quizzically. “What do you mean?”

Stephanie held out her left hand that had a simple gold band on her left finger. “I eloped last week.”

Chapter 16

Trevor’s jaw dropped at his sister’s unexpected announcement. “You what?

“I’m a married woman,” Stephanie happily announced.

“Who’s the guy?”

“His name’s Francesco Trivilani, Frank for short.”

“Hmmm, Irish chap I see,” Mark mused.

“He was born and raised in Naples, Italy. I met him during the Versace show in Milan. He’s a model too.”

“Of course,” Trevor said unaffected.

“Anyway, we’ve known each other a long time, but just got serious the last couple of months. He popped the question out of the blue a month ago. He had no ring, nothing, but I didn’t care. He’s a very private person, kind of a homebody when he’s not off on a shoot, so we balance each other out perfectly.”

“You know, mum’s gonna kill you Steph,” Trevor said. “You stole her one, shining moment to plan her daughter’s wedding.”

“I know, but she’ll understand. If Frank and I had a big fancy wedding, there’d be no privacy. We just upped and eloped one night.”

“So where is he?”

“He’s with his family in Naples, breaking the news to them. We agreed to to it separately, then, if all goes well, everyone will get together to meet. So, no telling mum and dad until I’m ready, okay? By the way, where are they?”

“Mum’s at the daycare and dad went for a jog. He’s off today.”

Just then the front door opened again and in came Scott dressed in a gray t-shirt and blue running shorts.

“Aye Trev,” Scott called out. “Who’s car is that parked….”

“Hi daddy,” Stephanie said all sugary sweet as if she were still his little girl.

Scott perused his 26 year old daughters long, lithe body clad in very little and groaned. “Crikey, Stephanie! Don’t tell me you’re traipsing around Sheffield dressed like that. This isn’t the streets of Paris, you know.”

“Daddy, I’ve worn less than this in that swimsuit shot.”

“Don’t remind me,” Scott chided her. “Your grandfather nearly busted a blood vessel when he saw that. So, what brings you home lass?”

“Go on Steph,” Trevor giggled. “Tell him.”

Stephanie gave her brother a look that could kill before turning sweet blue eyes to her father. “Well, I just finished a photo shoot in Figi and am free for the next month. Thought I’d take this time to visit my family.”

“Speaking of which, Mark and I are headed over to see the grandpa’s. Wanna come with us?”

“Oh, sure….love to see them,” Stephanie said hurriedly.

“Um, could you please put something else on before you see your grandfather,” Scott pleaded. “Especially since your great uncle Joe is there.”

“Daddy, I think you’re confusing him with great uncle Phil who likes ‘em young!”

Scott rolled his eyes over his sassy daughter. “Um, what about tonight? Do you all want to go out?”

“Actually, I’d rather have mum’s cooking.” Stephanie said.

“Good, we can talk and catch up after dinner.” Scott replied.

Stephanie didn’t look ready to spill the beans about her marital state so early. “Um, well daddy, I already have plans for after dinner.”

“What plans?”

Trevor folded his arms and smirked at her. “Yeah sis, what plans? I’m sure mum and dad would love to hear what you’ve been up to!”

Stephanie put her hand on Trevor’s injured shoulder and started to lightly squeeze it. “Don’t you remember little brother,” Stephanie said with a warning tone. “We’re going to the fun fair tonight. I passed it all set up on the way here.”

Stephanie’s eyes pleaded with Trevor, even as she increased the pressure on his shoulder. “Oh, oh yeah the fun fair. Right. Well, I can’t turn down escorting my lovely sister to the fun fair.”

“Me too,” Mark chimed in. “A woman as beautiful as my cousin Stephanie needs two men to protect her from all the sex crazed blokes in Sheffield.”

Scott looked from his children to his nephew and knew something was up, but passed it off. “Whatever. I’ll call your mother at the daycare and let her know you’re here. Now, go change before seeing your grandfather.”

“Yes daddy.”

Chapter 17

A half hour later, Trevor, Mark and Stephanie were entering the elder Savage household. Paige was delighted by the sight of her gorgeous granddaughter.

“Stephanie luv, you’re in town! What a surprise!”

“Yes I am, grandma. I have the next month off.”

Paige then looked at her incredibly handsome grandsons. “And you two. Your father’s haven’t bragged enough about that game last week. How’s your shoulder Trevor?”

“Better grandma, thanks.” Trevor replied.

“So, where are those troublemaking men?” Mark said with a smirk.

“Out on the deck. Your grandpa Joe is the one talking and your grandpa Sav will be listening without any interest, in case you can’t tell them apart.”

Mark headed out through the sliding doors first. At the sound of the door sliding open, Joe turned his face towards it, which lit up at the sight of his grandson.

“There’s the champ,” Joe said with a smile, his dimples still firmly in place after all these years. He slowly got up as Mark went over to him.

“Aye grandpa Joe, how are you?”

“Excellent, considering most men my age are probably six feet under.”

Mark laughed and turned to his grandpa Sav who was asleep in his chair. Joe saw too and huffed.

“Old coot! Can’t even stay awake.”

“I’m awake Joe, I’m just pretending to be asleep so you’d shut up,” Sav said, opening his still, startling blue eyes. He, too, got up, and hugged his grandson.

“How’ve you been sport? I’m sorry I missed the game last week. Bleedin’ bronchitis got the best of me.”

“That’s okay grandpa Sav,” Mark replied. “We’ll have the tape of the game pretty soon. Once I get it, I’ll bring it over and we’ll watch it together.”

Just then, Trevor and Stephanie stepped out into the deck. Joe took one look at Stephanie and got a wicked look on his face.

“Damn, if I was only 60 years younger,” he mused. “This is a treat.”

“Hello Uncle Joe,” Stephanie said, kissing him. “I’m home for a bit.”

Trevor went over to Sav and hugged him. “Aye lad, I heard about that brilliant save you made in the championship game. I can’t wait to see the tape. How’s your shoulder.?”

“Better, thanks grandpa.”

“And I uh…..heard you lads had quite a celebration yesterday,” Joe said.

“Yeah. Big party at the senior captain’s house,” Mark said.

“Hmm, lots of pretty lasses I suppose?” Joe said with a grin.

Stephanie threw her hands up. “Okay, I think I’ll go inside and visit with grandma while the four of you sex maniacs talk about us women in a lewd fashion.”

Stephanie then retreated back into the house. “I don’t know where that one got her temper,” Sav said. “Both Scott and Chelsea are so even tempered.”

“Probably from your wife, mate,” Joe said. “So lads, got any juicy news for a couple of bored, old men?”

“Speak for yourself, mate,” Sav snarled back, before turning back to his grandsons. “So, who are the girlfriends du jour?”

Trevor rolled his eyes and blushed. “Aw, grandpa, c’mon.”

Joe laughed out loud. “Ha! Ain’t no doubt who’s grandson he is. Too shy to kiss and tell, just like you Sav. Now Mark, I know you’re bold like me. C’mon, fess up lad.”

“Well, I’m not seeing Cheryl anymore.”

“I thought it was Sherry?” Joe asked.

“Oh, her too. I was secretly dating both of them, but they kinds both found out.”

“Crikey Sav, these lads have a headstart on outdoing us,” Joe chuckled. “So, any new lass on the horizon Mark?”

“Well, I just met this lass Tara, but she’s giving me quite the chase.”

“Seems the combined, Savage/Elliott charm that he got from his parents doesn’t dazzle her,” Trevor mused.

Mark turned to Trevor with green eyes of steel. “Fine. Why don’t you tell us all how you used your charm on Emily, Trev?”

Sav looked at Trevor with a raised brow. “Emily? What happened to uh…....what was her name….Christine….?”

“Um, Kristin, grandpa,” Trevor corrected.

“Oh yeah, right.”

Joe laughed again. “First it was the eyes. Then it was the hearing. Now it’s the memory. Tell me Sav, is it still functioning ‘south of the border’?.”

Sav’s beautifully aged face looked at Joe with a sneer. “Stuff it, Joe.”

“I still can!”

“In your dreams, old bastard,” Sav sneered.

Trevor and Mark shook their heads. “You guys are so bad,” Trevor said.

“Look who we are” Joe proudly announced.

“Hey grandpa, did dad tell you he took me to meet Simon Farrell?” Trevor said all aglow. “He was treating him for his shredded knee in the London clinic and I rode in with him. I actually talked with the guy and got his autograph. God, what I wouldn’t do to be that guy on the field.”

“Perhaps you will, lad,” Sav reassured him. “Remember, you’re entering your senior year. Lot of scouts are gonna be at the games.”

“Hmm, maybe Mark and I will be picked up together. What do you say to that cuz?”

Mark shrugged. “Oh, I don’t know. I mean, I love soccer. I love watching it and playing it, but I don’t know if I want it as a career. I’d like to think of it as fun, not a responsibility.”

“Any ideas on what you want to do after highschool lad?” Joe asked Mark.

Mark shook his head. “No. None at all. I don’t know what do to. I guess I should start looking into universities, but I just don’t know what to go for.”

“Mark, don’t worry,” Sav said. “Your father went through the same thing. He hadn’t a clue what to major in.”

“Well, he didn’t have to worry about that for long,” Mark said. “He quit university after his first year when he put the band together.”

“Tell me Mark….what do you like to do?” Sav asked.

Mark grinned devilishly. “Well…………!”

Joe let out a loud shout. “Ha! He definitely is our grandson!”

Sav rolled his eyes at Joe before looking back at Mark. “Besides…..that.”

“Honestly grandpa, the one thing that I truly love is playing the drums.”

Sav shook his head back and forth and laughed. “I swear, you’re the son your great uncle Rick never had. Ever since you took up the drums when you were three, he never failed to shove it in our faces. Who knows, maybe there’s a musical future on the horizon for you lad?”

“I don’t know,” Mark said. “I wish I did know for sure. I mean, Trev already knows he wants to play soccer professionally and I’m sure he’ll get scouted.”

“Gee, thanks cuz,” Trevor said.

“I just wish I knew what my future held,” Mark continued.

It would only be a matter of time before both lads knew what their futures held.

Chapter 18

Earlier that evening, Scott, Chelsea, Trevor and Stephanie had dinner together. Stephanie fidgeted from the news she had to eventually tell her parents and Trevor saw it. He kept kicking her under the table to egg her on, but she just kicked him back. A little too hard.

“Ow, that smarted wench!”

Scott looked at him. “Whats wrong with you two?”

Stephanie narrowed her eyes at her brother before he answered. “Just showing her how much I missed her, “ he lied.

Afterwards, Stephanie helped her mum clean up before grabbing Trevor by the arm. “C’mon, lets get out of here. The tension is too much. I need a cigarette bad. Crikey, I wish you were old enough because I need a drink as well.”

“Well, you’ll have to settle for snowcones and candy floss at the fun fair,” Trevor answered.

“Great, just what I need! Sugar to wind me up more than I already am. C’mon, lets go pick up Mark.”

After they left, Chelsea went up to her husband. “Something’s up with her.”

“I’m glad I’m not the only one who thought she was acting strange,” Scott replied. “Whatever it is, she’s using Trevor to avoid us. Why else would she want to willingly go out with her seventeen year old brother and cousin?”

“Well, whatever it is, I think we’ll know about before her little holiday is up,” Chelsea said. “In the meantime, do you notice anything?”

Scott’s eyes glanced around. “No. Should I?”

“You should, Dr. Obvious,” she said with a hint of sweet sarcasm. “An empty house. And I do stress the word empty.”

Scott’s blue eyes narrowed with desire. “Hmm, just what are you suggesting, luv?”

“I’m suggesting that we find out how strong our new kitchen table is!”

*******************************************

At the fun fair, Trevor, Mark and Stephanie walked around for a bit. As with everywhere she went, every male eye, and a few female ones, did triple takes when Stephanie walked by. If it wasn’t because she was recognized from the many magazine covers she’s graced, it was her obvious, supermodel height and beauty that stood out among the crowd.

Stephanie knew she was being stared at, was used to it, but she wasn’t in the mood tonight.

“Crikey, why can’t I just go somewhere where I’m not noticed?” she huffed as she shoved pieces of candy floss in her mouth.

“Oh, I don’t know Steph,” Trevor said with sarcasm. “Maybe the miniscule denim shorts and little tiny shirt has something to do with it.”

Stephanie rolled her eyes at her brother. “Why should it? Half the girls walking around here are dressed like this. It’s the style.”

“Yeah, but not all these girls are as tall as Big Ben,” Mark mused.

Stephanie shot him a dirty look.

“Nor as breathtaking as a perfect, starfilled night,” Mark quickly said, saving himself.

Trevor looked about to hurl. “Oh blimey, that’s lame! You do take after Grandpa Joe!”

“Aye Trev! Mark! What are you blokes doing…….”

Sean and Wesley called out to them from behind, but were immediately halted in their tracks when their eyes fell upon Stephanie, who smirked at their dumbstruck faces.

Trevor reached forward and closed their jaws shut. “Do you mind? You’re getting drool on my new Nike’s.”

Sean began to stammer. “Who…who…….?”

Mark decided to have a little fun at Sean and Wesley’s expense. He looped his arm around Stephanie’s waist and pulled her close. “I got tired of highschool lasses and decided that I wanted a real woman!”

Stephanie elbowed Mark in the ribs and he ‘ooofed’ in response as Trevor cut in.

“Sean, Wes, this is my sister Stephanie. She’s a fashion model, if you haven’t already been able to tell.”

“Supermodel?” Wesley repeated. “Luv, you are a goddess!”

Stephanie twinkled her incredible blue eyes at the smitten teenage lads. “Why thank you, lad,” she cooed.

Trevor winced. “Goddess my arse! If you heard her belch the alphabet after a few pints of ale you wouldn’t think she’d be much of a goddess!”

Stephanie gave her brother the finger. “Bite me, you little prick!”

Trevor then looked at Sean and Wesley. “See, such a lady, isn’t she?” But the two lads looked too lovestruck to hear anything that was being said. Stephanie shook her head and chuckled before shoving the remains of her candy floss at Mark.

“Oh what the hell,” she said, looping an arm through Sean and Wesleys. “How would you lads like to go for a spin on the big wheel with me?”

Sean and Wesley looked about to pass out from excitement. “Uh…uh, yeah, sure,” Sean replied. “L..l..lets go.”

Trevor looked at them. “Do I have to hose you two down now or later?”

“Yeah, whatever,” Wesley mindlessly said as he walked off with Stephanie.

Trevor chuckled after them. “What a couple of saps! No bloke can be in that awe of a woman!”

Just then Trevor turned and ran smack into Emily who looked at at him with a glorious smile.

“Trevor,” she nervously said. “Hi.”

“Uh…uh…uh,” was all Trevor could muster.

Chapter 19

Trevor clamped down on his stammering long enough to form some words in his brain.

“Emily, h..hi luv.”

“I didn’t think you lads liked things like this,” Emily said.

“Well, actually I do, but I escorted my sister here who wanted to go.”

“Your sister?”

“Um, yeah, that really tall figure walking towards the big wheel with Sean and Wes.”

Emily looked in that direction and her jaw dropped. “That’s your sister? We were staring at her before. I knew it was her. Savage. Stephanie Savage, the model.”

“That’s her,” Trevor said with a bit of pride. “Um, did you say we?”

“Yeah. I’m here with Tara.” Emily turned to call out to Tara and found her right behind her. “Oh, there you are. Look who’s here.”

Just as Tara looked up, she looked right past Trevor to see Mark standing behind him, finishing off the remains of Stephanie’s candy floss. Her heart pounded a bit upon seeing Mark before she looked away towards Trevor.

“Hi Trevor,” Tara quietly said before looking away.

Trevor saw where she was looking and turned around to see Mark. He then looked back at Emily who just shrugged her shoulders. He had to get these two together somehow.

“Emily luv, would you um…like to take a spin on the big wheel with me?”

Emily’s face lit up a bit. “Oh, sure. I’d love to.” She then looked at Tara. “You don’t mind, do you?”

Tara shook her head, careful to avoid eye contact with Mark. “No, not at all.”

“Well, how about you and Mark coming……”

“No, thank you,” Tara replied, cutting him off.

As Trevor and Emily took off towards the big wheel, Mark regarded Tara. “Well, I guess its obvious, Tara, that you don’t want to be in close quarters with me.”

“I just don’t want to go on any rides, that’s all.”

“Scared of heights….?”

“No!” she shot back.

“Alright, fine. Then um…how’s about we play one of the games? Let me win you a prize?”

“I don’t need you to do anything for me,” Tara bit back.

“What I’d like to do is take you over my knee, you rude wench,” Mark thought to himself. For some reason, the thought of that began to get him excited. He quickly changed gears.

“Fine then. How about I challenge you? The game of your choice. I bet I can beat you. I’ll just win a prize for myself.”

“Oh, you’d look quite the nancy boy walking around the fair with a cute little stuffed animal,” she said.

“Hey, I’m a modern bloke. I don’t have a problem embracing my feminine side.”

“Oh, yeah right,” Tara laughed. “I bet all your soccer mates would love to hear you say that. You’re on, hot shot!”

After several games in which they both tied with wins, Tara walked over to the side of one of the game trailers to tie a loose sneaker lace. Mark stood there holding a stuffed Winnie the Pooh, ugly green alien and soccer ball as he watched her lift a slender, tanned leg on the hitch of the trailer and bend over to tie it. The lusty teenager in him was rampant with thoughts of getting behind her in that position.

“Dammit,” he muttered.

“What?” Tara asked, looking up.

“Nothing.”

Tara finished then went over to Mark to grab her Winnie the Pooh out of his hands.

“Well, thanks for helping me kill time, Mark. I’m gonna go find Emily.”

“Don’t worry, they’ll find us. I’m sure they just lost track of time. They really seem to like each other.”

“I don’t want to wait for them, I want to find Emily because I want to leave,” Tara said a little exasperated.

Mark began to get annoyed. “Blimey, Tara. Am I that much of a bastard that you don’t want to be in my presence? You seem to have the evil agenda against me, for what reason I don’t know, and I don’t think its fair. I’ve never been mean or rude to you, not to mention that I’ve been the perfect gentleman.”

“Oh? You mean you’re usually used to ravishing lasses right away?”

Mark narrowed his eyes at her. “No, I’m not.”

“Face it Mark,” she huffed. “The only reason you’re interested in me is because I don’t fawn all over you like you’re probably used to. Lads like you are only interested in the chase. Once you catch a lass and get your way, you lose interest. So, you know what I’ll do? I’ll satisfy that curiosity of yours so you can finally leave me alone.”

Tara put her hands on his shoulders and flattened him up against the side of the trailer. She then pressed the length of her young, tight body up against his and drew him down for a kiss.

Mark gasped at her sudden move and immediately dropped the stuffed toys to wrap his arms around her waist, just as her tongue entered his mouth.

What started out as a lesson that she wanted to teach him, turned out to be something totally unexpected. She had only kissed a few boys, but they were always sloppy. Mark Savage certainly knew how to kiss. She was so lost in the feeling of his lips and tongue, not to mention the heat from his fingers as it found a bare patch of skin between her crop top and shorts, that she forgot her true intention for wanting to kiss him. Her body took on life of its own as it began to slide back and forth across his. When her bare thigh brushed across the growing hardness behind the fly of his jeans, she gasped and pulled away fast.

Mark stood there still flat against the trailer, breathing heavily, his face flushed and hot. Tara didn’t mean for it to get that far, she just wanted to teach him a lesson. She took a deep breath and got her bearings.

“There! Now you know what I’m like. Imbed it in your brain, because you’ll never have it again.”

Mark’s chest heaved from his excitement as he narrowed his eyes at Tara. “You bloody, fucking tease! I’ve been nice and patient with you since day one, but all you’ve been is a rude, malicious little bitch. You are so fortunate that my parents raised me to respect women, else I’d drag you behind this trailer, push you to your knees and make you finish what you started!”

Mark was rewarded for that little speech with a stinging slap across his face before Tara grabbed her Winnie The Pooh and took off out of the fun fair.

Chapter 20

Trevor and Emily were let off the big wheel, followed by the car containing Stephanie, Sean and Wesley. Stephanie went up to her brother after getting off.

“Well, I’m in luck because I just spotted an ale stand from the top of the big wheel. I need one bad – and a cigarette.”

“Mind if we tag along?” Sean asked for him and Wesley.

Stephanie looked at the two lads and smirked. “Oh, why not? But I warn you lads, hanging around with me may tarnish your reputation.”

“Cool!” Sean exclaimed.

“Fine by me,” Wesley also replied. “I think Jessica Bishop’s walking around here somewhere. I want to get her jealous, making her see what she’s missing out on.”

Stephanie turned sour eyes to Trevor. “This is how low I’ve sunk! I’m a world famous supermodel and I’m squiring two starry-eyed teenage lads around a fun fair so I can get their girlfriend’s jealous.”

“Well, you could go home and tell mum and dad your wonderful news,” Trevor said with a smirk.

“You really are a little prick, Trev,” Stephanie huffed. “C’mon, lads. Lets go turn some heads.”

Stephanie then grabbed each of them by the arm and trudged off. Emily watched them walk away before turning to Trevor.

“Your sister is a hoot! I never would’ve figured her to be so, well, regular. I guess I was blinded by her supermodel status.”

“Oh, she’s worse than regular,” Trevor laughed. “She smokes like a chimney, drinks like a fish and curses like the devil.”

“Its hard to imagine she’s your sister because you seem so different from her,” Emily said. “You seem more quiet, more reserved.”

“I am. I take after my dad. We still don’t know who Steph takes after. Probably my grandma.”

Emily smiled and looked into Trevors gorgeous hazel eyes. Trevor saw the look and began to warm a bit. “Um, Emily I’m….I’m sorry I haven’t called you yet.”

“Trevor, I just gave you my number yesterday,” she replied. “I knew you would when you were ready.”

“Well, um….now that we’re here, I was uh…..wondering if you’d like to to go the music festival Wednesday night at the park. They’ve got several local bands playing that night. I thought maybe we’d go a little early and get something to eat there before the bands come on. What do you say?”

“Sounds like fun. I’d love to.”

“Hey, maybe if Mark and Tara are finally getting along they can come too.”

“That’d be great. Speaking of which, maybe we should go find them.”

As they turned to walk towards the games trailer, they immediately spotted a very angry Mark stalking over to them.

“Uh oh,” Emily said. “He doesn’t look too happy. And Tara’s not with him.”

“Mark, whats wrong?” Trevor asked. “You look about to kill.”

“I am!” he spat out, then looked at Emily. “That cousin of yours, that is.”

Emily gasped. “What happened?”

“She’s a game playing little bitch, that’s what! I’ve been patient with her long enough. One moment we were playing some games, nice and civil. Then the snitty remarks start to fly, then she pushes me up against one of trailer and kisses me, then when I’m about to bloody explode, she pushes herself away. I told her exactly what I thought of her teasing and she slapped me across the face then stormed off. What the hell is wrong with her?”

Emily looked a bit worried. “I don’t know. I tried talking to her after the party yesterday, but she got all weird on me. But, this isn’t like her. She’s never been this hostile. She only started being like this since…since…..”

“Since she met me,” Mark finished.

“Maybe you should try talking to her again,” Trevor said.

“Oh, I’m gonna do more than that,” Emily replied. “Whatever’s bothering her has got to stop before she does herself harm. I don’t care if I have to beat it out of her. I think I better leave and go hunt her down.”

“Okay luv,” Trevor said. “I’ll uh…..see you Wednesday?”

“Looking forward to it.”

Trevor wanted so bad to lean down and give her a quick kiss, but chickened out. Emily walked away, leaving the two lads alone.

“I sure hope Emily isn’t a shrew like her cousin, else you’d probably be better off with Kristin cuz,” Mark snipped. “She’s flippin’ psycho!”

“Something’s just bothering her Mark. Emily will get it out of her. Speaking of which, I’ve got a date with her Wednesday. Going to the music festival.”

“Well, bully for you cuz,” Mark said sarcastically.

Trevor threw his arm around Mark. “C’mon. Lets go find my sister before she does any damage. I’m sure we’ll find out whats going on with Tara.

****************************

Emily’s eyes scanned the sidewalks as she drove down the street until her eyes fell upon a figure up ahead holding a stuffed Winnie The Pooh. She sped up and quickly pulled over, unrolled the electric window on the passengers side.

“Tara, whats going on with you?”

Tara looked at Emily with tear-streaked eyes and just stood there. Emily put the car in park and got out and went to her. She took her by the shoulders and make her face her.

“Tara, c’mon, what’s the matter? This isn’t like you. I’ve left you alone, but I can’t anymore. I’m gonna find out whats wrong if I have to beat it out of you. Please, please tell me.”

Tara began to cry. “It’s a long story. I guess our mum’s kept it from you all these years.”

“Kept what?”

“Lets go to the park and I’ll tell you.”

Chapter 21

Mark slammed the front door of his house as he came inside. He stalked into the kitchen where he almost knocked his father over.

“Hey,” Ty said.

“Hey,” Mark mumbled back. “I’m going down to my sanctuary.”

“Whats wrong Mark?”

Mark put one hand on the doorknob to the downstairs entertainment room and turned to his father. “Women, dad! They’re lunatics! Absolute, bloody, flippin’ lunatics!”

With that, Mark opened the door and disappeared downstairs. When the door closed, Ty chuckled to himself. “Get used to it, lad!”

******************************************

Meanwhile, Trevor pulled Stephanie’s rented car in front of their parent’s house then got out to help his slightly tipsy sister out of the car.

“C’mon, you lush.”

“I’m not drunk,” Stephanie adamantly stated. “I’m just feeling a good buzz.”

They went in the house and went into the family room. Chelsea was in a corner easy chair reading a book while Scott was relaxing on the couch watching the telly.

“We’re home,” Trevor announced.

“Yes we are,” Stephanie giggled. “I actually had a good time. Felt like a little girl. Oh, and Trev here got himself a date for this week. Probably gonna try to get to second base.”

Trevor looked at his sister with daggers then leaned into her ear and quietly hummed the wedding march. Stephanie clamed her mouth shut, but her parents had enough.

“Stephanie, what’s up with you?” Scott asked. “You’ve been acting strange since you got here.”

“Nothing daddy,” she lied. “I’m fine.”

“No you’re not lass,” Chelsea said. “You sound a little tanked to me. Were you drinking?”

“Just some ale at the fair. Mum, I’m 26 years old. Plus, Trev drove home. I’m fine.”

“Stephanie, I’m not stupid,” Chelsea said. “You’re hiding something from us. You know you can tell us anything. What’s wrong?”

“Tell them,” Trevor whispered.

“No,” she whipsered back.

“I heard that,” Scott said. “Tell us what?”

“Go on,” Trevor urged.

“Stop it.”

“Yes,”

“No.”

“What?”

“C’mon!”

“Oh, for bloody Pete’s sake!” she groaned out. “I got married!”

**************************************

“Oh my God Tara,” Emily exclaimed. “You’re right, I never knew any of this. I knew things were difficult for you and your mum, but I never knew the extent of it.”

“Yeah, well know you know the reason why I’ve been acting this way,” Tara replied.

“But its not reason enough for you to take it out on Mark,” Emily said. “Its not his fault. You’ve been mean to him for no reason at all.”

“I know its not his fault,” Tara said on the verge of new tears. “Its just……he’s just a reminder of what my life probably could’ve been like. What I could’ve had. What I didn’t have to struggle for.”

“That’s not a viable reason and you know it,” Emily said. “Tara, you have to apologize to him for tonight. And….you have to tell him.”