The rest of the day was uneventful except for when mum turned up at English period. She'd totally embarrassed me in front of my friends by dragging me out of class to go to the principal's office.
Liam had seen how upset mum had been and how edgy I was when I returned. I could tell that he wanted to know what had gone down.
I wasn't in the mood to answer any questions so when the school bell rang ending the last period I headed off without him.
"Hey Jamie, wait up!" Liam yelled running to stop me from riding off on my bike. "Walk with me to Girls Grammar; it's on your way home. I'm meeting up with Katie and Jade. I'll introduce you if you like? Jade is Katie's best friend; I've known her ever since she moved into our street years ago. It would be great if we could all be friends."
I was in a hurry to get home; ever since mum had turned up at school I'd been thinking about that strange old man she'd confronted the principal about. I wish now that I hadn't told her how he'd been trying to give me some weird charm, she'd been freaking out ever since.
Come to think of it...mum had just read dad's novel when she'd made me describe him in minute detail, had dad written about the old man?
I jumped on my bike, I had to get home and finish reading dad's novel. However Liam wasn't going to be brushed off and continued harassing me. .
"Come on Jamie, hop off your bike and walk with us to the turnoff to the village. You can ask the girls about Chloe who you've been mooning about all day, she's in their form."
"Geez Liam, will you stop pestering me then? And I can't stay long okay! I have to get home." sighing with frustration I gave in and hopped off my bike.
"No problem! Hey Jamie, what's with your mother and the principal?" Liam asked casually trying not to sound nosey as he walked beside me. "Why did old Marty haul you out of class?"
"I don't know Liam mum gets crazy sometimes. She had some weird idea that the old man who hangs around school was going to take off with me or something."
"You mean that old codger who keeps offering kids some sort of weird symbol?" Liam asked surprised.
"Yep that's the one! He tried to force me yesterday to take it. Do you know who he is Liam?" I asked casually not wanting Liam to think that I was taking it seriously
"I wouldn't take any notice of him Jamie, he's been doing the same thing for zonks! He's sort of odd, crazy...you know, like in the head. Just ignore him he's tried to give me that thing many times." Liam replied offhandedly.
"Really? Well maybe you're right. Mr. Martin told mum the same thing. He said the old mans harmless. Except I'm not too sure that she believed him. When mum told him about the old curio shop where she'd bought stuff from an old man that fitted his description he acted funny".
"What did old Marty say?" Liam asked his voice raised a notch or two.
"Well you know, that's the weird part. Mr. Martin said that the old shop mum was talking about had been closed down for years."
"What? Where did your mum say it was?" Liam asked intrigued, he loved a mystery.
"She didn't."
"Well then how did old Marty know what shop she was talking about?" Liam asked hardly able to contain his curiosity.
"I don't know Liam!" I replied, exasperated with his continued questioning. "Both mum and the principal were acting really weird about it! Anyway I was sent back to class then."
"Hey Jamie, I've a great idea! How about we meet up later and cruise around the town on our bikes. Maybe we can find it." Liam declared spoiling for adventure.
"Come on Jamie, it'd be cool!" he implored.
"Sorry Liam, maybe tomorrow. I've got something I have to do this arvo." I replied firmly trying to fob him off.
"Okay that's cool!" Liam replied disgruntled. "Anyway Jamie, don't worry about your mum. It'll all blow over. I remember how my mum reacted when she found out about the old guy pestering me. She's cool about it now because she thinks that Mr. Martin got the old codger to stay away from the school. I haven't told her that he still keeps hanging around. Any way I actually feel sorry for the old dero. I think he's just lonely. He lives alone you know... in that creepy old mansion you are obsessed with."
"Wow! Are you serious? I thought it was deserted!"
"Don't get your knickers in a knot Jamie.... it's out of bounds. No one ever goes there". Liam declared offhandedly.
I turned and looked up at the menacing Braden mansion nestled among the trees on the cliff above the school thinking of what dad had written in his diary. Had he known that the old man lived there?
"Jamie stop looking at that old ruin, come on get a move on!" Liam insisted pulling on my bike.
"Hey, there they are now! You can ask them about Chloe Jamie." Liam declared teasingly.
Liam waved happily to the girls waiting by the creek dividing our high schools and ran to meet them. I looked at my watch, I had to hurry, mum would be home soon and I wouldn't get a chance to read dad's novel.
Impatiently I flung my bag over my shoulder and followed ignoring the school sign forbidding entry to Girls Grammar.
Soon the manicured school grounds gave way to unruly scrub and I struggled to push my bike along the narrow beaten track that led down to the old dilapidated wooden bridge spanning the creek.
Thorny bushes growing between its many missing planks tore at my jeans as nervously I tried to ignore the rustling of snakes slithering below.
Warily I stepped off the old creaking bridge and forced my bike through the long grass tangling in its wheels to where Liam and the girls waited in the shadows of a huge willow tree.
Gagging from the foul smell coming from the creek I wondered why on earth they would choose to meet here each day after school.
"Come on slow poke!" Liam yelled impatiently. I looked up and for a moment thought I saw someone hiding in the bushes nearby.
Taken back I stumbled in the long grass and nearly fell into the creek. Feeling awkward and clumsy I tried to hide my embarrassment but the girls curious stares made me self-conscious and tongued tied.
"Hey Jamie you look like a scared rabbit! I don't believe it, James 'The Brave', is scared of girls!" Liam laughed teasingly as I blushed uncontrollably. I wished that I could just disappear.
"Come on mate...its no sweat. They're only girls!" Liam declared offhandedly.
"Jade McTavish and Katie Powers may I present his majesty Sir James Peters, our new guy in town" Liam declared imperiously as he waved his school bag over their heads and bowed.
"Hi Jamie.... you don't mind if I call you Jamie do you?" asked Jade batting her lengthy black eyelashes at me whilst tossing her long black hair flirtatiously over her shoulders.
"Cut it out Jade, you're wasting your time.... James doesn't like girls! "Liam said jokingly.
"Oh come on Liam, leave him alone. Stop teasing, I agree with Jade!" Katie declared. "James is too formal. From now on Sir Knight in Shining Armor I dub thee. Jamie." she said giggling playfully as she mocked Jade by tossing her long curly red hair flirtatiously.
"Okay girls, got all of that flirty stuff out of your system? James...Oh pardon me Mademoiselles, Jamie I mean, wants to ask you something." Liam laughed sarcastically. "And...it's not a date JADE! So stop doing that girlie thing with your hair."
All I could do was stutter like a nincompoop, and embarrassed decided that I'd ask about Chloe another time.
Bored with my inept attempt at conversation the girls thankfully stopped teasing me and began talking about school as we started walking home. However their chit chat turned into squabbling when Jade mentioned a girl named Riley.
Amused I listened as Liam tried to pacify them. Hastily he changed the subject and with great aplomb began to tell Katie and Jade how he reckoned Swasie had me in his sights. However Jade interrupted impatiently.
"I know what you're going to say Liam, Swasie's trying to recruit Jamie. I betcha' he had his cousin, Hunk, his Number 1 Stand-ov
er man follow him around!" Jade declared smugly.
"How did you know that Jade?" Liam asked surprised
"Oh come on Liam everyone knows how Hunk bullies kids into joining Swasie's gang." Jade retorted huffily.
I sighed impatiently hoping Jade would get the message. I really didn't want to talk about what had happened.
I switched off and looked up at the old mansion on the hill wondering what that old man was doing. I was desperate to explore its grounds and see what was behind its ancient door however since mum had read dad's diary I'd been forbidden to go there. It was torture looking at it each day at school; it was so near yet so far.
"Hey Jamie did you get all that?" Jade knew I hadn't been listening. I got the feeling that boys were always doing that to her. However she didn't seem offended.
"What did you say her brother's name was Jade?" Liam asked. Keenly.
"If you let me finish Liam I'll tell you! I was just getting to my point!" Jade replied scathingly. "This girl Riley said her brother Cessiro was a member of the 'Bone Crushers'. How's that?" Jade declared triumphantly.
"Jamie... Hello? Wake up dude, stop daydreaming" Liam insisted shaking me furiously "That's the kid that was hanging around with the 'Bone Crushers' at the toilet blocks today, he's supposed to have the evil eye."
"You guys are out of your minds! What's that supposed to mean? Evil eye! Liam there's no such thing." I laughed at the ridiculous notion. I was far more interested in finding out about that strange old man.
However, Jade wouldn't shut up; talking a hundred miles an hour she rambled on and on about the scary stories this new girl had told her. I was losing interest fast, that was, until she mentioned the Crines.
"Hold it Jade...what did you say? Crines?" Now she had my attention.
"What do you know about them Jade, Liam told me they're a secret society like the 'Klu Klux Clan' is that true?" I asked eagerly.
"Well Jamie, it's like this!" Jade began conspiratorially.
"Oh no! Why did you ask her Jamie? She'll go on for hours!" Katie sighed exasperated.
"Oh put a sock in it Katie! Jamie, ignore her." Jade responded haughtily. "Katie doesn't believe the 'Secret Society of Crines' exists. But according to Riley they do, she said they are aliens and that Swasie is one of them. They all belong to some sinister dark force that Riley says is going to take over the world"
"Nonsense Jade!" Katie interrupted crossly. "Crines, aliens! I don't know why you believe such rubbish. There is no such thing."
"Why just because you say so Katie?" Jade retorted indignantly.
"Come on Jade!' Katie snapped. "Shut up will you? No more! You're being stupid if you believe anything this girl Riley says. You know all of those kids from Braden orphanage are seriously weird.
I never thought I would meet anyone with a greater imagination than you, but Riley really takes the cake. Why would she tell you that her brother is a member of the 'Bone Crushers' if she believes that Swasie is an alien? I'm surprised she didn't tell you that she and her brother are aliens too. She's a bad influence on you Jade. You need to stop hanging on her every word."
I was busting to know more however I stayed silent. I could see that Katie's remarks were upsetting Jade.
"Fine! I'll keep the best part to myself then ...you'd only say that I was imagining it anyway!" Jade declared indignantly stomping her feet for good measure. Pouting she walked ahead stopping only once to shout over her shoulder that she wouldn't say another word until Katie apologized.
I looked tentatively at Liam waiting for him to interject but he said nothing.
At O'Briden Street I said my goodbyes and arranged to meet back at the corner in the morning. I had to find out what else Jade was going to tell us.
As I rode slowly away on my bike I heard Katie poking fun at Jade trying to make her speak to her. Despite everything I had to laugh. Those two were sure great sparring partners.
Liam was right when he said that I would like the girls. Strangely as I had with Liam, I felt a bond with Katie. I don't know if it was because she looked like him with her red curly hair and freckles or whether it was because she was so down to earth. Jade on the other hand was...well, flirty and girly. As much as I liked her something made me unsure of her. Was it simply the way she looked at me?