Double Trouble novel Chapter 6

"God, you girls are insane." Austin commented, opening up his book. Blythe reached across her desk and ruffled his honey blonde hair until it stuck up in all directions. We all began laughing when Mr Kanca cleared his throat. The room had filled, the teacher had walked in and the lesson was about to begin.

"Everyone get into groups of four," Mr Kanca said after a few minutes of explaining the task ahead. Nahla grinned as she looked at me. There were twenty nine people in this class which meant that there would be six groups of four and one of five, and because Nahla was great with numbers, her hand shot in the air before Mr Kanca could even close his mouth.

"Yes, Miss Puth?"

"There are twenty nine of us. Can the five of us go in the odd number please?"

"I'd prefer it if the class was divided differently to usual. As in - do not just partner up with your friends."

Nahla raised her eyebrows, saw that no one was looking in their direction, and then grinned again at our teacher. "We're fine." She said, making up her own rules. "Thanks anyway."

Mr Kanca sighed but he didn't object. He was a pretty relaxed teacher, anyway. There was a moment's pause, until Nina scraped her chair along the floor, turning it to face Nahla, Blythe and I. Austin followed. Then so did everyone else, scrambling to get into his or her group of four.

The five of us all huddled close together. Austin pulled out a notepad and pen. "I think we should chose the serial killer option."

"Really?" Nina replied, looking at her brother curiously. "There are nine options on the board including The Cold War, 10,000 BC, 9/11 and Abraham Lincoln and you want to do about serial killers?"

"There's this really cool serial killer called Jack the Ripper - English, never been caught, a vast list of suspects including a prince. Don't tell me that isn't a great presentation."

"Aren't all the boys going to vote to do serial killers?" Nahla asked. "I think we should do about Abraham Lincoln."

"You could. You love Daniel Day Lewis." Blythe interjected. "Just because you're obsessed with the new film. I don't think a movie would be a validated resource, either."

I left the four of them to bicker. My mind wondered again to Eric, who in the parking lot had told me to be careful as I left. Be careful. Did he mean that because I was out jogging early in the morning and there would be lots of cars, and I was alone? Did he mean it because I'd bumped into his car, and him the day before - did he think I was clumsy? Or did he mean it because he'd seen Brogan yesterday. He'd seen the faces my brother made when he wasn't happy about something. And Brogan was never happy about someone paying any attention to me, 0r him. If we were inconspicuous, people would not ask questions. My brothers voice niggled in the back of my mind. You don't want people asking questions now do you, Darcy? Whatever the reason behind his words, I wasn't planning on bumping into his very often. I knew my brother, better than anyone. And I knew that by the end of the day, when he returned, he'd banish me from going back to the gallery.

I'd only see Eric again then if I accidently bumped into him again somewhere. And the likelihood of that was actually very slim. Laurel was big enough to keep the two of us apart.

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