Outside the auditorium, Paul listened to the trembling and near-to tears Jane – telling him, that LORD STAMFORD WAS THE ALL-FATHER of evil, Asmodeus. She told him for-the-first time, of events that prior to the Battle-of-Egypt…

… which she had ‘not’ shared…

… where she was captured in the dream-realm, by Asmodeus’ soldiers and was ‘taken’ to the Underworld, TO BE-ONE-OF THE EVIL-ONE’S 666 BRIDES – but she was ‘lucky,’ that SIMY saved her.

“Jane, you said, that old-man communicated telepathically, with you just now?”

“What’s ‘that’ word… telepa-…?”

“… he ‘spoke’ to you, in-your-mind…did-he?”

… Paul knew the Jane too possessed the SIMILAR SUPERPOWER, in their-Perth – as she had communicated TELEPATHICALLY IN HIS-MIND before when she transcended as StarGirl.

“Yes-Paul, that’s ‘what’ he did… he said I was lucky to escape the last time… and even his nurse… she was there-too in the Underworld, as his handmaid – and his-translator… because Asmodeus ‘spoke’ in a foreign language.”

Paul shuddered, and he squat-down on the spot… once he was bombarded with the new, and dark-information updates, of the Evil-one … by being ‘trapped’ in this realm, where the Cursed-trio were powerless… and, without any clues…

… as a defensive strategic-plan to fight-back.

“Jane, what do we do-now – do you want to run-away…?”

“No… no, we should ‘not’ run… we should instead persevere to face our deepest fears… even-though, we don’t have ‘our’ superpowers, in Perthland. My-SIMY gave me a good-advice – and told me to put-on a brave-face, and follow ‘her-plans’ in the Underworld – that’s ‘why’ I survived and left the Underworld, as a ‘virgin’ – despite Asmodeus wanted to rape-me, as his child-bride…

“… but…

“… Peter… as an incubus raped… my teen-self…”

Jane was back-being quiet after she ‘shared’ too-much-information of her personal life… and-in silence, she emoted her feelings-of her self-suffering with her tears. Paul noticed ‘that’ – he stood-up…and held both of her hand…

… Jane hugged him tight, and sobbed…

“… we should ‘not’ run, Paul… WE SHOULD BE BRAVE… somehow-and-someway… we will figure-it-out… and beat Asmodeus-again… at his ‘own’ ground…”

“Yes-Jane… we should ‘not’ run…” Paul agreed-softly.

Jane looked into his eyes, while still-embracing…

“… I want to go back to the gym…and ‘pretend’ that nothing-had-happened – so-to see ‘both’ my baby-brother and you… my-beloved boyfriend-perform on-stage…”

Paul smiled… and they both-kissed.

… nearby, Dougie and Zoe hid and saw them kissing. Zoe then-whispered…

“… well-Dougie, he’s kissing her… what are you going to do about it…?”

The disturbed-Dougie sighed, and fumed of the possibilities of losing Jane – to his-rival… who was-also the twin-of-Peter…

-O-

It was 9:31 PM when Jane and Paul finally came back to the gym… holding-hands, walking over to-their-table of the wealthy-students… with Dougie and Zoe looking them, approaching with bad-optics of total-displeasure. They too saw them-sitting, holding hand below the table.

On-the-stage, the Head-Nurse informed Principal Burnell, that it was time for old Lord Stamford to take his meds-and call it a night, and retire at his-hotel. The principal made a public-announcement, that the Founding-Father was leaving…

… in his departure, all of the Stamford-students stood and sang the school’s anthem… to his grand-send-off from the auditorium… Lord Stamford wave-back at them who were cheering, while being pushed-on his wheelchair by the Head-nurse, accompanied by his bodyguards, followed by drones of police-personnel, in charge of the trillionaire’s safety.

Soon, everyone heard the siren, that Lord Stamford had just left-the-building. But his grand-niece, Jezebel Crowley had stayed back – because she was the official judge, to the school’s talent contest, that followed, at 10…

The school’s students-committee-board had hired Perthland’s top-DJ for the evening… and DJ-Feenixpawl who was putting on contemporary and the latest dance music, on the turntables to get the school’s ball party-started.

Jane and Paul left the table, to dress-up for the evening-ball. Dougie and Zoe glared at them leaving the gym-again, holding-hands.

-O-

Jane slipped-on her Zara black-party dress, which her mummy bought the other-day. Looking at the mirror, she felt sexy…

… she wanted to dress-up for Paul Walker that evening.

She applied her cosmetics – after she was taught the basic, by the salesgirl. Jane heard the toilet-flushed, at the rear – the stall-door opened, and it was Jezebel Crowley…

… the wealthy socialite-beauty, came-over to wash her hands – Jane was in full-alert on ‘what’ she was dealing-with – whether she was a she-demon ‘shape-shifter,’ or one of Asmodeus’ ‘child-brides’… who…

… had-then stuck a conversation with her…

“Hi, I’m Belle…”

“I know ‘who’ you are, Belle – you sat-in ‘our’ classroom, during History lesson.”

Jezebel chucked… looking at the reflection, of Jane applying her lipstick.

“I ‘know’ you too, Jane… you are Peter’s ex…”

Jane did ‘not’ respond, while brushing-on blusher, on her cheeks…

“Who are you dating now – Paul or Douglas? Even poor-Petey still had some ‘feelings’ for you, as he can’t ‘let-you-go’ – well-Swinger, ‘who’ are you actually dating?”

“My love-life is ‘none’ of your business!”

… Jezebel laughed aloud, seeing a pissed-off Jane leaving.

“Jane, can I ‘have’ Peter?”

“Sure-you can ‘have’ him – since you’ve ‘hooked’ him-swallowing you ‘whole,’ all hook-line-and-sinker.”

The irked, Jane slammed the bathroom-door to the sound of her loud-laughter, still-heard in the corridor outside…

… after that ‘swinger-accusation,’ SHE FELT ‘DISHONEST’ – and decided ‘not’ to wear the expensive gift-necklace in the evening-ball, which she had received from Dougie’s mother – and have-IT RETURNED BACK…

Jane waited outside the Boy’s Room, a moment – and heard an announcement that 'Popobawa' was coming on the stage… Jane knocked the bathroom door…

“Paul! Paul!”

He came to the door, in-between styling his hair… and saw Jane handing a pink-enveloped greeting-card… he was ‘lost’ of words… blown-away, by the dress she wore…

“… this is for you-Paul, and – and come-quick… Samuel is going on-stage…”

... Paul saw her hurrying back to the gym. He closed the door and opened the envelope, smiling at the card with-lots-of hearts, with cartoon characters of Bugs Bunny with a blonde Lola Bunny, piggy-backing on-him…

... and his own heart-melted, as…

… he read the content – although it had some spelling-mistakes and bad-handwriting, but his starred-eyes ‘corrected’ his girlfriend’s mistakes… it was good-attempt for an ‘ex-blind-girl.’

He felt weak-in-the knees, and short-of-breath, reading…

Beloved Paul,

I’ll be your forever

Please take us home

xoxo

J.W.

Paul slowly nodded to the message, as he understood ‘what’ she meant… he put the card into his back-pack. Seeing-himself at the mirror, and got back to the task-at-hand…

… and for ‘now’ to ‘win’ the dance-contest for his-Jane.

-O-

As Jane headed to her table, she was greeted by loud wolf-whistles from nearby senior-tables. Dougie and Zoe noticed her black figure-hugging, dress, as she came-over, with her 3-deadlocked-hair in pink-ribbons, bouncing on-its-own, as she prance-walked, in her high-heels...

… seated-Dougie saw her ample-cleavages – but ‘not,’ the white-gold necklace above her dolled-up face… but, he complemented anyway…

“Jane… you look very beautiful…”

She grinned sheepishly, before responding… and she sat…

“… thank you-Doug.”

Everyone saw the auditorium going-dark and even the stage… with only a single spotlight from above, that shone… with the MC announcing the school’s very-own popular-rapper, Samuel ‘Popobawa’ Jaheem, the African-vampire…

… the seated students roared, standing-up and clapping – to see a long-cloaked, Black-tween, making his grand-entrance, by ‘flying’ by suspended-wires, from backstage to the spotlight… he landed like-Batman… and in-cue, he was rapping to the music-beat, as he did impressive introduction-verse…

… the stage light-up bright… revealing Popobawa had 4 backup hip-hop dancers, who-all delighted the audience even-more… with their choreographed-dance moves…

In the dark, FUBU hood-Paul… dressed like b-boy Eminem, came and sat beside the excited-Jane, whose brother was performing on-stage.

He was tongue-tied at her-Beauty, that struck-out in dim… smelling her sweet-scented perfume, as she held his hand, and squeezed it…

… together-they were ‘into’ Jaheem’s talented showmanship… Paul noticed the 4 dancers – who-were Samuel’s cocky-girlfriend, Akatendeka was on stage with his ‘classmate,’ the mean-spirited Alicia Wong… with Ken Chan, who was her biker-boyfriend. Paul doesn’t know who the other 4th White hip-hop-dancer was… and he was also good…

… Paul noticed they had good-dancing talents-and-skills, besides their ‘bad-attitudes’…

In the middle of the song, DJ Feenixpawl stopped spinning the music-beat – and Popobawa vocalized his B-box impressive-talent… the whole auditorium went-wild, seeing the dancer’s ‘individual’ breakdance movements to Samuel’s throaty-rhythm, in synchronicity, for the next 2-whole minutes...

… the deejay came back, with the-beat, and Popobawa finished his song’s outstanding finale, with his-dancers – to receive a standing ovation, for their magnificent showmanship.

Next was dance-competition – Paul was nervous-to-the-bone, after witnessing the high-standards of skill displayed just now, by Popobawa’s dancers, who had dedicated to their longer-practices. Jane sensed ‘that’ in Paul’s tensed looks, and whispered to him…

“… Paul, go-there, and be Nike – ‘just-do-it’…”

The blur Paul nodded slowly. Jane kissed his cheek, leaving a lipstick mark, for good-luck … and, Paul picked-up, his courage to walk-up to the school’s event-organizers. The deejay was entertaining the crowd with the latest hip-hop music-spins, for everyone to stay in the mood-vibe…

… the gay-teacher, Mr Bruce Spencer… who taught Arts-and-Craft was in-charge with the dance-contest, as he gathered the contestants – with 4-of-5 signed-on to the entries, with someone dropping-out at the last-minute…

… Paul saw 2 of Popobawa’s dancers, were-also in the all-Boys knockout dance-contest – he would be-competing was with Ken Chan and the other White-dancer of just-now… the other 4th was a tween, Filipino, with dyed blonde-hair – looking Superbad… wearing a lot of thick and long gold-chains…

… Peter sitting beside Jezebel Crowley, who was to judge the dance-competition – instantly dislike the Filipino-tween…and just like Terry Donavan the racist, he mumbled to himself…

‘… what’s with bloody-Asians dyeing their hair blonde, like the rest of us…’

… that reminded of Lola, who did the same – and his father of this-realm fell for her and married her – and ‘spawned’ Peter’s step-siblings.

-O-

Paul was the 2nd contestant, to go on stage…

… the MC introduced Ken Chan, as the first entry, who danced-and-bopped to Run-DMC’s ‘Walk This Way’ – and he also in-cooperated his martial-arts Kung-Pow routine moves, to his dance…

… Paul had a tummy-of-raging-butterflies, seeing Ken Chan, fresh-out of Popobawa’s earlier magnificent-show – was now-getting audiences’ approval, with cheers and applause, as he danced-and-strut away…

The MC soon introduced Paul wearing a-hat, to the stage – and he went-up with his LED lighted-runners. He danced to Michael Jackson’s ‘Billie Jean’ with his own-spin moves, of ‘the running-man, the-Humpty, and the-butterfly.’ The students, along with his-Jane...

... loved how the over-weight Paul’s popping body moved so-slick and smooth… in his-prop shoes, that gave him an extra-advantage in showmanship.

<><>

MEANWHILE, IN FRONT OF THE STAMFORD HOTEL, stood hundreds of protesting environmental activists, who were – dissatisfied with Lord Stamford’s investment into their economy’s by BUILDING A NUCLEAR POWERPLANT, to produce nuclear-missiles for Perthland, to join the rest-of-the superpowers, in the world’s arms-race.

The liberal-group wanted the trillionaire to retract the financial-deal, as they don’t trust their Prime Minister John Blake, of the right-wing, was a ‘responsible’ man, to-be given such autonomous power, once powerplant-project came to motion, in their peaceful country.

Wailing sounds of sirens were heard, with police cruisers escorting Lord Stamford’s limousine to the hotel main-entrance – despite the advice of Security-head Todd Sweeney, to take the back-entrance, but Lord Stamford strongly refused the recommendation – stating, he had nothing sinister to hide-behind and wanted to face the protestors, to show that he was ‘doing-good’ by aiding Perthland’s economic-wellbeing.

Scores of black-uniformed Riots-Police behind the barricades were engaged in public-order, in warding-off angry protesters marching forward, armed with placards and abuses. The Riot-squad captain on his loud-hailer screamed-out for the protestors, to stand-back.

The limousine arrived at the hotel-front, and the Head-nurse got out of the town-car with the bodyguards to set the wheelchair for the old-man. While that was going on, a man slipped out the barricade and raced towards the motorcade, and was pursued by several chasing riot-cops…

… Hajji was fast and slippery, and he pulled-out a sawn-barrelled Ruger 10/22 auto-rifle, from his jacket – and fired once, in the stomach of Lord Stamford at a distance…

... with ‘precision’…

… the hitman followed the hit-call orders to the-tee… that the target should ‘survive’ the assassination ordeal… so-that, he wanted his family, to collect the biggest-pay-out, upon his completion of his suicide-mission…

A barrage of bullets hit the Black-man back-and-front, when the police and bodyguards, opened fire at Hajji’s retaliation… he was already ‘dead,’ before he hit the ground. They came-and-saw the dead-man…

… clutching tight to a crumpled family-photograph, in his bloodied fist.

<>

KEN CHAN AND PAUL WALKER WERE THE 2 FINALISTS, from the dance-knockout competition… and the ‘fight’ went on, of the freestyle- dancing, at the SHS auditorium… where DJ Feenixpawl spun medley hit of hip-hop’s new and old…

The Chinese did his dance-routine of his-medley selections of – J. Cole, Ayo & Teo, Pitbull, 50 Cent, Young Thug, Kanye West and Jay-Z… while Paul’s choice was more of old-school, with his preference to Beastie Boys, 2 Pac, LL Cool J., Fat Boys, Wu-Tang Clan and Public Enemy…

On stage, Paul spun-himself like a top, before kicking-up in the air and landing on the floor – to-a leg-split and flipped-over and-breakdanced, and finally spun upside-down on his head…

At the side, on the judges’ table… Peter guffawed, pointed and told Jezebel…

“Look-look it’s Ballerina-Paulie… what a fairy…”

The competition was a tie, as both the contestants were equally talented – even Jezebel could ‘not’ determine the winner… in fairness, she let the SHS students to decide the victor, by their LOUDEST-CHEERS as their winner…

Jezebel called Ken Chan’s name – a 3rd of the Chinese supporters in the gym cheered-aloud, including Peter. Next, she announced Paul Walker’s name – and more than half-of-the-student population, present at the auditorium… including Jane roared back.

-O-

Paul was in-euphoria and jumped on the spot while lifting his hands in the air, punching-up Rocky-like, as he won – while the Chinese gave an evil-glare over, cursing aloud in Hokkien but was drowned-by, the decibel of cheers of Paul’s new-found fans.

He walked forward to receive his award from the Jezebel, who shook his hand vigorously, and noticed lipstick-marks, on his cheek, and complemented…

“… nice-shoes… you done well Paul, and deserve the-win… you’ve ‘made’ Jane-proud… tell-her that, I’d said ‘that’… yes, I’ve ‘met’ your-girlfriend just now – yes, she’s hottie… and you ‘sure’ deserve her!”

Peter saw his twin stepping-down the stage, with his award, in his hand – swarmed by strangers of well-wishers around him, like he was a Rockstar… Peter scoffed…

… by-then, the event-organizers had removed the last of the foldable dinner-table – to vacate the basketball court, into a massive dance-floor. The deejay spun rave-music, and students danced.

Panting, Paul was finding for Jane… and he found her, with a coke-drink her hand…

“… for you-Pauly, you must be parched…”

“Thanks, you read my mind.”

… somehow, she had ‘read’ his mind, as he was indeed thirsty-and-tired… he then held his award to her…

“Jane, I ‘won’ this for you…”

“I know you-did… thanks-and-congratulations, you were awesome, back there…”

The joyed, Jane kissed his cheek, while-wiping-off her lipstick marks, as he panted and spoke…

“Wow, that Ken Chan… Alicia’s boyfriend ‘really’ could dance... it was a close call, just now…”

He drank-up his coke, noticing the dance-floor in full-fire of-energy, at their annual-ball. From rave, the DJ spun some 80’s pop-tunes, Paul looked at Jane in awe, with the strobe-lightings flashing…

“Come let’s dance.”

“Sorry-Paul, I can’t dance…”

“Why?”

“… remember… I was just a ‘blind-girl 5 days-ago… that’s why…”

“Nonsense…”

He pulled her hand, and they were at the centre of the floor – a dance-number of Dusty Springfield’s ‘I Only Want to Be with You’ played…

“Follow-my lead.” He showed her, and Jane followed.

She was having fun, learning ‘new’ things… just-like, it was only a few months ago, in their-Perth, where his twin, taught her how-to-play tennis for the first time – now, at Perthland, Paul was teaching her how to dance, and was glad it was him, and… ‘not’ Dougie…

… it was fitting, she wore her ‘new’ black-dress, for the ‘right’ boy, whom she desired.

She nearly tripped to-fall, as she wore high-heel, but Paul caught her and they hugged, in the right-moment of the next-song, George Michael’s ‘Careless Whispers’… they melted-into, each-other and slow-danced… at the sound of the sax, at song’s interlude, she whispered…

“Paul, I wish this song would never end…”

“…yea… me too…”

The mesmerized-in the-moment, Paul was startled, by a tap-on his shoulder – they-both saw the tuxedo-dressed-up Douglas Zimmerman, with Zoe behind him…

“Excuse-me Walker, can I dance with ‘my’ girlfriend?”

Jane responded…

“No, you go-dance with Pauly-here – and, I want to dance with Zoe…”

… she held Zoe’s hand, and embraced-her and led-her, like ‘how’ Paul did-earlier. Both the boys looked awkward, to see the girl-on-girl swaying. 5 seconds later, Jane stopped to say…

“Dougie, you know what would be more ‘special’ on Zoe?”

Jane opened her little suede-black purse, TOOK THE WHITE-GOLD NECKLACE from it.

“Zoe, turn-around… and show me your neck.”

“No-Jane – Dougie bought that for-you…”

“Turn-now!” Jane commanded – and Zoe subdued… and Jane hooked the jewellery on to the brunette’s neck. She held Zoe’s shoulder, and said with admiration, in the words, of her-brother…

“You look like a million-dollars, Zoe – don’t you think-so, Dougie… isn’t she ‘special?’”

Douglas Zimmerman gaped his mouth, speechless… Jane grabbed his hand, and placed it on top of top of Zoe's…

“Dougie, you should-be with Zoe, you both WOULD-BE GREAT TOGETHER…”

“… but…wh-what about you?” Dougie mumbled.

“Me? I WANT TO QUIT PLAYING TENNIS, and focus on ‘other’ things…”

“But-Jane, you can’t quit… you are a rising star and even Coach Connery said-so…”

“No, I want to stop playing-tennis altogether, for ‘personal’ reasons… BUT YOU-2… you both are ‘the’ rising-stars if you still train-hard under Steve-and-Amy… who knows, you-all can represent the country, in the mixed-doubles, just like them-the ex-internationals…

“Dougie, she is now #2, you-go personally-guide her, and bring her to my-level – Zoe must win the next Championship… I love you-all…you-too also love-one-another…wish you both the very best for the future.”

Jane let-go both of their hands, and held Paul’s…

“I want to dance some more… come, Paul…”

“What was that all about?”

Paul asked as Jane led him, far away from the newly ‘designated’ couple.

“… just returning a-gift, and setting the record straight…”

“… as in, you broke-up with Dougie…?”

Jane ‘not’ respond, and hung both her hands onto Paul’s neck, and he reciprocated by-holding her hips – Jane quoted the lyrics, of the ‘other’ song-earlier in a sing-song-voice…

“I only want to ‘be’ with you…”

Jane and Paul kissed… the deejay now played Righteous Brother’s ‘Unchained Melody’… and Jane chuckled…

“I know this song… it’s my Mummy’s favourite song, back there – and she used to sing-it, to ‘me’ in the car – and ‘poke’ my hip, to tease-and-annoy me, whenever her B-girl was angry with her…”

“I didn’t know that ‘humorous-side’ of your doctor-mother… I thought she was always serious-type, like my-Mom the police-woman.”

“She has her ‘gentle-moments’… I miss my… real-Mummy back there…”

She whispered, and hugged Paul tighter, and sobbed-softly… Paul shushed her and comforted her…

“… don’t cry…”

They stood still, embracing themselves, and were in the ‘moment’ of togetherness, for the rest of the love-song. The next song, the deejay played was an-upbeat funk…

“My feet are killing me, in this stupid high-heels… Pauly, I want to sit, a moment.”

-O-

Paul led the slightly-limping Jane, from the dance floor to the rows of chairs arranged outside. Paul left her to get them-drinks. Jane kicked off her shoes and was barefoot, and was massaging her calves, and people-watching…

… and-she saw Peter and Jezebel, sharing a bottle of ‘mineral-water’ – little-did Jane knew, it was actually-vodka they both snuck-into the gym, as the alcohol-drink was clear-as-water.

The deejay then played the soundtrack of the movie Dirty-Dancing – and Jezebel and Peter danced aggressively to the music, and that horrified Jane seeing them, grinding-their-groins. Paul came-over with paper-cups of coke and the dismayed Jane asked…

“What kind of dance is this happening in-school… they are humping each-other…?”

Paul laughed at the judgemental-Jane…

“It’s Mambo…based on an 80’s movie – may be your mummy-and-daddy danced like that, when they were young, back then.” Jane guffawed when he said-that and pinched his arm.

“…eww… I hope ‘not’… stop putting ‘those’ thoughts, in my mind.”

Jane and Paul sat-quiet, and drank their coke… watching the sweaty-amour couple dancing, if though they were possessed by the song – they were ‘not’ surprised that any teachers had interfered, with cautioning of their inappropriate, raunchy body-movements – as Jezebel, was the rello-of-the school’s founder. In fact, the students had formed a circle, and cheered the letting-her-hair-down teen-socialite, whom they adore-and-admired…

… who wore a bright red-wig and her sexy golden-gown, with a long-slit at-the-centre, and-spinning around the dance-floor, with her reflective dress… and-then, she kicked-high… putting her high-heeled long-legs, over-on Peter’s shoulder, where he did the ‘grinding.’

Jane’s rumination of her-Perth, if this was the ‘same’ bad-boy – she was in love-with briefly, over there? She had ‘chosen’ him-then because he a handicap-like her…

She was then-sleepy… as it was past her bedtime, she slouched and placed her head, on Paul’s chest…

“Can I ask you a personal question, Paul?” She yawned…

“… huh? Okay… what…?”

“… when over in Perth, we were in the same class… and you sat behind-me, for 2 years… why didn’t you ask me out?”

“well… I always wanted to… but I was too shy to speak to you… I guess you were shy-too… and-then, you were brilliant student, with your SIMY-technology, and I felt inadequate cos’ I’m ‘not’ good enough to get you…”

“So, ‘are’ you are blaming my-SIMY too, back then?” She scoffed.

“Yea, in a way… I saw you ‘operate’ like SIMY to function as a normal-sighted person… while-me, I have to play catch-up in my slow as tortoise-wheelchair, in everything in life – that deterred my self-confidence a lot, in a way…” He sighed.

“… while-me, I was ‘WAITING’ FOR YOU TO TALK to me for 2 years – I finally thought… you were ‘NOT’ INTERESTED IN ME, because I’m blind…”

“Noo-Jane, I was always interested in you – you were my ‘first’ choice, all-along… then my twin came along… and you went out with him, right?”

“…well… after 2 years of waiting, I thought you weren’t interested in some ‘blind-school’ – so I went with my ‘second’ choice – his-twin…” She nudged him, with her elbow.

“… but seeing you-both together… made me jealous, you know…?” He confessed.

“Blame yourself, you tortoise…” They both laughed.

“So-much-so, I followed you around…”

“What? You were stalking me?” That surprised Jane.

“… yea, I saw you first-tennis practice, with Peter, far-away, in the west-wing entrance…”

“You-were there? What are you – a Peeping-Tom?”

“Hey, a-Peeping-Tom was someone who watch-you in the Girl’s-room… which I didn’t – I ‘only’ stalked you, in the school corridors….” She nudged him-again, for correcting her.

“… oops-sorry, wrong-labelling… tell me ‘more,’ about your stalking-fantasy, in the tennis court…”

She giggled… felt like Ms Diane King, the student-counsellor, in her-Perth… always ‘digging’ for answers…

“… no, I was ‘not’ there the entire time… when the moment Peter in the court…came-over, and hold-you-close to his body, while he taught you how-to hit-a-racquet, I was boiling-with-envy by-then… and then, walked away…”

Jane ‘pretended’ to be angry at him…

“Pauly, I ‘blame’ you – for ME CHOOSING PETER OVER YOU, and you have ‘caused’ me anguish, pain and sleepless night in tears… what are you going to say about yourself?”

“What am I to say? Maybe-that… love is blind…?”

They both laughed, as Jane punched him, playfully over-and-over for his wittiness – Paul caught both her palms… their eyes met, and they kissed passionately…

… they heard a man passing while clearing-his throat… it was their History-teacher, Mr Alexzander Hull, in his walkabout, checking of teenagers’ present, in the school’s ball… prevention of their teen-raging level of their-hormones.

“Sorry, Sir…” The boy stood-up instantly.

The same History-teacher-who had told him-off the other-day, to focus in class – instead of ‘flirting’ with Jane – after being labelled as a ‘sex-predator,’ on a day earlier…but Mr Hull ignored them, as they both were no-hopers, in his-eyes – as ‘backbenchers’ of his class to even-graduate, with no future ahead of them.

Paul shook his head, and looked at Jane, who was seated and nervously-chuckling, at the close-call, of being caught ‘making-out.’

“Do you want to dance?”

Jane grinned and nodded, and put on her high-heels – and held his guiding-hand, and was back in the centre of the dance floor… rave music played, in full-blast. Jane saw Dougie and Zoe were dancing together and was pleased they had ‘hooked-up.’

Paul was looking ahead at Jezebel – and his twin… who was solo-bopping-and-hopping like crazy-person – like-he was under the influence of some-kind of illegal-substance. Paul was then suspicious when he noticed Vice-Principal Tom Harris walking in the crowded dance-floor… and approached Jezebel. The VP informing something to her-ear… and she followed him, leaving Peter prancing-unaccompanied, in a world of-his-own.

2-minutes later, the music suddenly stopped, and the house-lights came on bright – everyone on the dance-floor was dazed-and-confuse of the why-the party had ended early, before midnight – and everyone grumbled in dissatisfaction.

Everyone heard Principal Burnell voice’s coming from the mic-in the deejay’s booth-stand… her voice-broke and with a sniffling voice she announced…

“ATTENTION ALL-STUDENTS, I HAVE SOME TRAGIC NEWS… OUR FOUNDING-FATHER, LORD STAMFORD WAS SHOT BY AN UNKNOWN GUNMAN, IN FRONT OF HIS HOTEL, JUST NOW… HE HAD BEEN RUSHED TO THE PERTHLAND ROYAL HOSPITAL AND IS IN CRITICAL CONDITION, UNDERGOING SURGERY – EVERYONE… PLEASE PRAY FOR HIM, THAT HE WOULD SURVIVE TONIGHT… AND RECOVER SOON…”

The equally-shocked, were Jane and Paul looked at each other, speechless…