The next day, Norah stood outside the classroom, waiting for the teacher to arrive and unlocked the classroom. To add insult to injury, English Literature was the first lesson of the day so she didn't even have time to get a new book. She couldn't carry around her book like that and a replacement book would cost fifty quid. What a stupid waste of money, especially when she was saving up for London.

Just when she thought the immaturity and delinquency of high school kids was behind her (they were all nearly legally adults), the blue, graphic, phallic shape looked back at her in mockery.

She heard a chuckle from behind her. The Italian smartass, she realised, was laughing at her.

"What's so funny?" She turned to him.

"Have you been staring at that dick since yesterday? It's not going away, no matter how much you glare at it."

"True, I've been glaring at the dick in front of me and yet, here you are," she said with a bitter smile.

"Ouch. Fiesty, mio caro."

"How do you say obnoxious pig in Italian?"

"Hey look. I did not touch your book okay?"

"Mm yeah right. If it wasn't you, it was probably one of your idiot friends," Norah said and leaned against the wall with a sigh.

"I don't know. And honestly I don't care. I have better things to do," he said, although the last part wasn't true.

"I doubt that," Norah said. He laughed and shook his head. This girl would always have the last word. He could see her lip almost curled into a smile in response to his laugh. This was the longest conversation they'd ever had.

After a moment, he took out his brand new untouched copy of the book. "Here. Take it. And stop looking so miserable," he shoved his book into her hands and took the defaced copy for himself.

Norah's eyes widened as she ran her hand through the new cover. "Why? Are you sure?"

Rafe shrugged. "I know you have some sort weird love affair with that book."

"No I don't," she muttered but pulled the book closer to her heart. "But you can get into trouble... and you'll have an ugly book."

"I'm already in trouble. And I don't give a shit what my book looks like. Not like it's going to make a difference. Don't understand the contents of the book anyway. It's all religious gibberish to me."

"Thank you," she said, and looked like she was struggling with a thought before speaking up. "Actually, I've got something to help you with that." Her hand disappeared into her school bag. She produced a pack of papers neatly tucked in plastic wallets.

"They're my notes. For the book. I've simplified the content and answered all of the exercise questions. I mean, if my homework helped you last time," she said looking away, a little abashed. "But you don't need to take it if you don't—"

"This is actually exactly what I need," Rafe interrupted her, scanning through the notes. "It's a fair trade," he said as he walked passed her to find his usual seat in the classroom.

Her eyes looked sad and mellow but that tongue was a lash. What an interesting girl, he thought to himself. He enjoyed the banter.

It was the right thing to do, trading books. It meant more to her than it could ever mean to him.

"Nice dick man," Luke commented as he sat down next to Rafe.

"Thanks."

* * *

The sweat and the adrenaline left his body as soon as he stepped into the hot showers. Another game won. They sent those weasels from Ashton School packing with a three-nil win. Football consoled him, the one thing he truly enjoyed. The sport was a passion, and it gave him a rush and the taste of victory. An opportunity to let out his frustration and ire. A moment of freedom. It gave him a feeling of belonging. And football was football, no matter where he was. There was friendly punching and whooping in the locker room. No game finished without some post-game banter about the match, the opponents, the performances, and from time to time, girls.

Rafe's thoughts went back to Norah and the papers she gave him. The book that puzzled and bored him, suddenly made sense and intrigued him. Her revision notes were interesting, meticulous, colour-coded, and simplified the texts, the motifs, and metaphors. The girl should publish revision guides.

And speaking of books.

"Hey, do you know who could've defaced Norah's book?"

Luke shrugged his shoulders as he buttoned his shirt. "Dunno. Why do you care?"

"Because now I'm stuck with a dick on my book. It was a shit move, whoever did it."

Luke shrugged. "She's not exactly popular here."

"Yeah, everyone seems to have a problem with her," Rafe muttered. He wasn't a fan of her either but defacing her favourite book was just stupid.

"It's her who has a problem with everyone else, I think. And you know how nicknames and reputations stick to you in high school like a bad smell. Last year in class, Norah called Hazel a bimbo in front of the whole class because Hazel thought that Venice was short for Venezuela and Hazel made sure to run a proper hate campaign against Norah. I don't know, the girl already came to school with a mission to hate everyone. I dont know what her problem is."

Rafe laughed. "But Hazel is a bit of a bimbo. She asked about thirty questions in class. Drives me insane."

"Yes but she's hot," Luke said.

Rafe shrugged. Hazel was pretty but very bland. He preferred Amber. Or Amy, the redhead from the year below.

"Jack has some weird lusting hate for Norah. It's creepy," Luke added in a hushed tone.

Rafe looked across at Jack. He was a formidable football player on the field but he also did get the team a couple of red cards because of his vile temper. He was provocative and aggressive. But then again, who was Rafe to judge? He was banished here because he couldn't control his temper properly and constantly got in brawls. The macho in him wondered who'd pummel who in a fight. Jack was slightly taller and bulkier, but the bigger they are the harder they fall...

Rafe packed his stuff and they made their way out. "Who's Benny? Is he Norah's boyfriend?" Rafe asked Luke. The reclusive girl began to intrigue him and he briefly wondered if she had any romantic links to anyone in this school. He found it bizarre how a person could be happy without any social interactions in school, but hey, maybe she was at least getting laid.

It was at that moment Jack overheard them and decided to butt it. "Benjamin Phillips? That faggot isn't into girls," he replied.

The blatant, undisguised homophobia surprised Rafe. Small town folks weren't as open minded as they were in London or did he spend too much time with people in the show biz industry? Sure he wasn't about to take up a rainbow flag in his hands anytime soon, but that was uncalled for. Both of them pretended not to hear the comment and left the changing rooms.

"Why did you even do it?" Luke asked.

"Do what?"

"Switch books with her."

"I don't know, it wasn't a big deal for me. Besides, it was the best thing I did. Look at these awesome notes," Rafe said as he produced the stack of papers that helped him write the first part of his homework. "I've already finished the exercise questions... well I've kind of copied them. But they seriously helped."

"Yeah, I get it. Let me borrow them?"

"No way man."

"Greedy prick. If you're so obsessed with her notes, why don't you get her to tutor you?" Luke suggested as they left the changing rooms.

Rafe stopped mid-stride and looked at Luke as if he'd just an epiphany.

"It was a joke mate," Luke said, as Rafe stared at him intently whilst thinking hard.

"You're a fucking genius, Luke," Rafe breathed out, still frozen in one spot.

Luke scratched his head, looking confused. "But you guys don't get along... and she's weird."

"Who cares? It's not like I'm planning on marrying the girl. She knows her stuff."

"She'll never agree to it probably," Luke said. "She doesn't like you"

Rafe grinned. "Everyone likes me. And no girl has ever said no to me."

"Mate, do you really think anyone will help get your grades up? I mean come on... your heart is just not in it," Luke tried again. "Find someone who'll sit the exams for you and you'll have a fast track back to London."

"Or a fast-track to hell if I get caught," Rafe countered.

Luke looked unconvinced.

"Look, when I was a kid I used to bite my nails," Rafe started, only to get interrupted by Luke's face of disgust. "It was a long time ago. Anyway. It pissed off my nonna so much that she'd beat the crap out of my hands."

"Isn't that child abuse?"

"We're Italian."

"Ok..ay? Are you planning on asking her to smack you around? Because I can spare you the hassle and do it myself," Luke offered and landed a hard punch on Rafe's arm.

"Cazzo!" Rafe hissed, rubbing his arm. "No you dumbass, she's an evil perfectionist. So maybe, just maybe, she'll be able to find a way to teach me. Like with nail biting, I wouldn't have been able to stop on my own. My nonna used a carrot and stick method. So can Norah. She's tough. Maybe she'll get through to me. Or devise a cheating system. Or summon the devil so I can sell my soul for some grades. I don't know. I'm desperate."

"Yeah you are. Well, better catch her soon then. She might be going away for half-term to assassinate someone probably."

Rafe felt elated at his new plan. She already behaved like a teacher, spoke like one and even looked like one. In this small town it was hard to find a tutor, and a good one at that. School teachers proved to be useless.

But Norah could be exactly who he needed.