TWO

CHAPTER TWO

4 years later

“Who fails Mr.Topperman’s class? I mean Literature isn’t the easiest class in the world but no one straight up fails that class”, Susan was saying as they walked out of Lit. Class.

Israel was the unfortunate student who had failed Literature. He and Phoebe were the only two students left in the class; Phoebe, because she was the best at Literature and therefore his favourite, and Israel because he’d failed.

Israel had managed to get away with so much despite his crazy lifestyle. His grades ranged from above average to top class, but he’d never dropped low enough to average scores, let alone failing. And even though Topperman, like all the other teachers, despised Israel,he couldn’t help finding out what had happened.

He walked up to Israel’s seat.

“What happened?” he asked.

“I don’t know”, Israel said.

Mr.Topperman shook his head. “You’re going to have to give me a better answer than that, son.” 

“I said I don’t know. And I’m not your son, so don’t call me that”, Israel responded.

Phoebe stood up. “Mr.Topperman should I go?”

Topperman shook his head. He’d asked her to stay behind. He turned to Phoebe. “Normally I would just flat out fail you. In fact most of the teachers wish I would. But I won’t. You’re going to take a makeup exam. And Phoebe will help you. But...the highest you can get is a B. Consider that reprobation”

Israel saw an opportunity. And even though he didn’t want to use it (Not because he would feel bad) he had to.

He walked over to Phoebe. Phoebe had had a crush on Israel for the better part of a year. And he knew it. He normally stayed away from good girls like Phoebe. For several reasons;one, some of them were boring. Two, some of them were crazy, from being too good for too long. And three, the relationship always ended badly. And this relationship would end. Israel was sure of it.

“Hey Phoebe, what say you about a meeting near the bridge for half an hour of intercourse?”

Phoebe’s face started to turn red and she blushed.

Israel brought his face closer to hers, causing her to move backwards slightly and her lips to part slightly. “Why the hell were you blushing?” he asked. Then he feigned a frown. “Did your mind go to the gutter?” He shook his head.

“Nn, No. I…I, you” she grew speechless and a bit rattled.

“I just thought our first should be near a bridge”, Israel said.

“Our first..?” Phoebe asked frowning, obviously trying and failing not to think dirty thoughts.

“Our first session, our first study session”, Israel said and walked out the door, leaving Phoebe still looking confused.

His best friend, Brad was waiting for him outside. “So you’re going after Phoebe now?” he asked.

“Just until this Literature thing dies down. Then I will move on”, Israel said.

“You better be careful, bro. I hear her father’s in the navy”, Brad said.

Israel laughed. “That doesn’t scare me one bit. What’s the worst he can do? Shoot me? Please.”

“Even so, don’t hurt her too much”, Brad said.

“Why are you talking like this? Are you her brother or…or do you actually like Phoebe?” Israel asked grinning.

“It’s not like that. It’s just she’s one of the innocent ones, you know. You don’t know what she could do. Remember why we wanted to avoid girls like her in the first place?” Brad said.

“Of course, how could I forget?”

It had happened two years ago. A girl had committed suicide after her boyfriend dumped her.  And the boy had had to transfer schools after the incident became public. Although Israel never really talked about it, he felt it was stupid.

“Committing suicide because your boyfriend left you? Didn’t you have a life before he came in?” Israel said to Sam when the news came out. “I mean there are other guys. I’m sorry but this is just dumb.”

Sam looked up from the magazine she was reading. “Girls can be highly emotional. And for them, relationships mean a lot more than well, what you guys use it for.”

Israel rolled his eyes. ‘Oh my God, sis you’re eighteen already. Will it kill you to say the word ‘sex’?”

Sam grinned and went back to reading her paper. “I guess looking at it from the outside, it does seem dumb. But who knows what was going on inside her head? Just make sure you don’t end up like that guy. If a girl commits suicide because of you-”

“-Hold it sis. You don’t get to play that card. It may not be as obvious as mine but your emotional manipulation is grade ‘A’ level. It’s one of those times I’m proud you’re my sister”, he said.

“You’re my brother”, Sam corrected. “I’m older.”

“Whatever.”

 

 

“Phoebe”, her mom called, “where are you going?”

“To the park, Mom. Mr.Topperman asked me to tutor a student in Literature”, Phoebe said.

“Oh ok”, her mother turned around and froze. “Phoebe, who is this student?”

Phoebe said his name with dread. “Israel.”

“He’s going to stand you up”, her mother said.

“No, he won’t. He needs this grade”, Phoebe replied.

Her mother raised an eyebrow. “Oh he does. But he’s going to get far more from you than just good grades by the time he’s done with you. Believe me I know men like him.”

Phoebe’s mother was talking about her deadbeat Dad. They hadn’t heard from him since she’d been born. And her mother in an attempt to protect Phoebe had cast her Uncle as her father. He was the Navy man.

“Mom, why do you always have to bring Dad into the conversation?” Phoebe said growing upset.

“I just want you to be careful. I know he’s a bad boy and he gets you all hot and bothered, but…Don’t be drawn to him like a moth to a flame. If things go badly, you’re the one with a pregnancy and your chances of going to college immediately after high school dashed.”

“That won’t happen, Mom. Besides even if I wanted to you’ve got eyes and ears everywhere. There’s no way I can get anything past you”, Phoebe said.

“You better believe it.”

Phoebe laughed. “Goodbye Mom.”

 

Mariah was sitting cross legged on a bench, pretending to be intently reading a magazine as she watched two girls walk by. Then her cell phone rang. She picked it up.

“Hello?”

“Are you there?” came the disguised voice.

“Where else would I be?”

“Do you have the targets in sight?”

“Target”, Mariah corrected.

“Targets. Your mission has changed. You’re to abduct both of them. If that proves difficult, kill them both. Failure will not be tolerated.” The line went dead.