Brandon

I am so pissed off with what has happened to Tammy. Anger is burning in my veins, and I want to rip the fucker's head off who did this to her. I'm also really pissed off that Lizzie and I have to skip the Oregon trip. I was damn well looking forward to taking her there and having some special time with her. She does so much for me that I wanted to give her something back. It feels like ages since we've done anything just the two of us, as best friends, that doesn't revolve around the others, school, and practice.

Maybe I need a break. It's been intense. I'm sitting in history class and so far haven't absorbed anything the teacher has said. I rarely do; how I've managed to pass any of the exams for this subject is beyond me. It's really not my thing. To be honest, most of school isn't my thing. Only I want to play football, so I have to suck it up. Denver, on the other hand, is a natural-born student, as are Lizzie and Lilly.

Sure, I used to love school when I was a kid, until it all got way more serious with exams all the time. Then it just became a drag. The teacher is reading an extract about something related to Egypt. See, I told you I hadn't been listening to anything he said. Although Egypt does sound fascinating. I wonder if Lizzie would like to go there; it's a long flight, but we could go during the summer. We don't have to hang around here all the time. Now I'm thinking we could do a summer trip, a proper vacation from everything and our parents.

I can feel Lizzie's eyes on me. She is sitting at the table next to me. She's staring at me and mouthing something. "Are you even paying attention?" I shrug and shake my head. She rolls her eyes.

Denver chucks a ball of paper at my back. I turn round and flick him the finger. This is such a drag. I want to be out of class and getting hold of Ted to find out who the jerk was at the party last night.

Finally, the end-of-class bell rings. It's lunch time. I have no classes later this afternoon; Lizzie does. She has art, and she's really good at it. So good I personally think she ought to be trying to get some of her work into galleries. Even her parents agree with me on that one.

"Fuck me, that was so boring," I say as the four of us pile out of the classroom.

"I heard that, Brandon." Shouts out the teacher. I ignore him; I mean, he's an okay kind of guy. Regular. Straight-laced; I couldn't imagine he ever went out on a school night. He's harmless.

"You'll flunk if you don't pay attention." Lizzie reprimands me. I place an arm around her and pull her into my chest, smelling the fragrance of her coconut shampoo mixed with mango. I love it, I love the smell of my girl. I fluff her hair with my hands.

"Pack it in. You're such a jerk sometimes. I. Am. Not. Doing. Your. Homework." She says, grabs Lilly by the arm, and marches down the corridor towards the end double doors that lead to the recess area and a restaurant on the left.

"Yeah, mate. You need to pay more attention in class." Denver says, pushing me playfully.

"I hate that subject; it's the pits." I shove him back.

"No shoving in the corridor." Says the monitor.

"Get a life." Denver and I both shout back and flick him the finger too.

"That will get you reported." He shouts out like he owns the place.

"So sue me." I say. Denver and I both laugh; it's so frigging ridiculous being told how to behave at our age. I mean, seriously? Lizzie looks back at us as does Lilly.

"You guys are so childish," Lilly says, and Lizzie just gives me that look. It's the one that says grow up, Brandon. I give her my smile, the one that is just for her. Just for my best friend.

The girls continue walking ahead of us as Denver and I talk about practice and college. He's going to the same college as me, and I'm really pleased about that. We play great together, and to be honest, I wasn't looking forward to going to Cali without him and especially going without Lizzie.

Texas is so far away; I know it's only a couple hours or so on the jet, but she'll meet new people, maybe even a guy. Shit. A guy and my Lizzie. My pure and innocent Lizzie. I don't want her to date. Do I? Right, that's not good. Why am I even thinking this? She has the right to date and see guys; it shouldn't bother me as it does. Why am I getting all jealous and hot and bothered just thinking about it? She's my best friend, not my girlfriend.

Denver intrudes on my thoughts. "What are we going to do about the guy that you know. Tammy." He can't say the words, and to be perfectly honest, nor can I. It makes the situation so real.

"Not sure yet; we need to find him first, then give him a good hiding. Make him sorry he ever put a finger on Tammy." I sound brutal because I feel brutal. How anyone could do this to our friend and destroy her already fragile soul is beyond me. It sickens me and I feel the anger rising up again. It's so fierce that I feel like my skin is on fire.

"We need to cut lunch and go and speak with Ted. Do you know if he was in class today? I didn't see him." I say. Denver shrugs his shoulders and knits his eyebrows together as if he's thinking.

"Nah, don't think I did. He's probably still wasted from last night. We could go over to his after school," he says.

"Are you two coming or what?" Lizzie shouts out as she goes through the double doors in front of us.

"Nah, we've got something to do," I shout back, then divert Denver to the right so we can head outside and to the parking area.

"Like what?" She shouts but doesn't come after us.

"Nothing you need to worry about. Go have lunch. I'll catch up with you tonight at yours. I'll be over after practice." I continue to walk with Denver by my side. He knows exactly where we're going.

To see Ted about a man that's going to wish he never set eyes on Tammy last night.