Jess is at it again. At least I think she is. All these girls keep pointing at me and whispering. I can’t hear what they are saying which is really annoying. All the pointing and whispering goes on before school and then at recess too. By lunchtime I’m ready to go and ask Jess what’s going on.
Then the weirdest thing happens. Lucy James, the most boy-mad girl in the school, comes up to me and says, ‘Ian, Jess wants me to tell you that you’re dumped.’
Dumped? I didn’t even know I was going out with her. Now I’ve broken up with her. How is that even possible? Ranga is laughing. He tries to put a sorry look on his face. ‘Hard luck man,’ he says. ‘Don’t forget we’re here for you.’ He gives James a big nudge. James is struggling not to laugh as well.
I can feel a smile pulling at the corners of my mouth. The more I try to stop it the more a laugh tries to force its way out of my mouth. When it spurts out of my nose I give up and all three of us are laughing our faces off at how stupid the whole thing is.
Lucy stands there looking at us with her mouth hanging open. I get the feeling this is not what she expected. She stares at me for a second then she spins on the spot and stalks back to her mates. Jess is over there looking kind of unhappy which is strange because she’s the one who is supposed to have dumped me.
I hear what Lucy says to them. It is only one word. Gay.
One of the other girls puts an arm around Jess like she’s comforting her and they do that flock of birds thing, turning around all together and walking away.
I’m left standing there wondering what just happened and somewhere deep down I feel like I’ve lost something. It bothers me all afternoon and I make up my mind to try and catch Jess without her friends after school and actually talk to her. She might tell her friends I’m a stalker but I don’t think so.
James, Ranga and I are walking home and we’re just about to go in the deli for an ice-cream when someone shouts, ‘Hey losers!’
I know that voice. It’s that long-haired guy from the skate park. We turn around and he comes walking up to us. He’s got a couple of his mates with him. They’re like a gang and I just know they want to beat me up.
Ranga steps towards them. ‘Leave him alone, Luke. He hasn’t done anything to you.’
Luke sneers. ‘Tell that to someone who cares.’ He shoves Ranga hard. He must be strong because Ranga flies backwards and bangs into the wall. Then he turns to me. ‘Feeling funny now, are you?’
The other two guys are standing either side of me and Luke shoves his face right in front of mine. ‘Let’s start again. What are you looking at?’
‘A pathetic little thug!’ says a grown-up voice, and a huge hand grabs Luke’s shoulder and spins him around. It’s the deli owner.
Just for a second I see the look on Luke’s face. He’s nearly wetting himself with fear. Then I realise that he’s seen me see how gutless he is. He’s really going to hate me now.
The deli owner is like a body builder or something. Ranga once told me that he was a sailor before he bought the deli. Whatever he was, he’s strong. He pushes Luke away like he’s a toy. ‘Piss off, and take your weak mates with you.’
Luke almost looks like he’s going to smart-mouth the deli owner but he doesn’t. He just gives me a death stare and they strut off like they’re tough guys. It would have been funny except they’re much tougher than me and Luke will get me as soon as he has a chance.
‘Are you alright?’ the deli owner asks, but it’s not Ranga or me he’s talking to. It’s James.
James nods. ‘Thank you,’ he says.
The deli owner smiles. ‘No worries. It was a pleasure. I’ve watched those punks throwing their weight around for a while now. It was good to be able to do something about it.’
There’s the ding of a bell from inside the deli and the man spins around. ‘Customer,’ he says. ‘See you boys.’ And he’s off, back into the shop.