Abel’s body shuddered a bit as he finally sniffed in the source of his obsession. He couldn’t explain how it happened really, but all of a sudden his mind became calm and he could think properly. Had he just beaten josh Brandon? He hadn’t known the guy was such a pussy. And he’d been scared of him for years. Imagine that. What else had serge said? That he was in detention, and something about the soccer team. Oh well, whatever. At least he’d shown Brandon who was the boss. He washed his hands and came out of the gents.

“Daniels!” Ben Trojan immediately launched his muscular frame on Abel’s back. “You’re the man! You beat Brandon hands down.”

“I guess.” Abel shrugged.

“OMG! There he is!” Anna shouted.

“Who?” her friend asked.

“The guys who gave Josh the beating of his life.”

“That guy?” another friend chirmed in. “does he even school here?”

“What’s his name?” Abby Stevens asked. “i like strength in a man.”

“Abel Daniels. You needed to see how he beat up josh as if it was nothing.”

Soon, a little crowd had gathered around Abel. Macaulay and Alison were coming out of their class. “Is that abel?” Mac asked, shocked.

“Who’s abel?” Alison looked blank.

Mac rolled her eyes. “He’s also a club 17 member.”

Alison snorted. “how did Cambria ever make it into that club anyway? The club’s full of cool people.”

Mac’s eyes widened. “Don’t be silly, Ali. It’s just me, Cammy and abel. Not to brag or anything but I’m the coolest person in the group. Everyone thinks Cammy has dementia and Abel...well...no one even knows who Abel is.”

“Obviously all the cool kids do. And Ben Trojan is singing his praises.” Alison said.

“Abel Daniels beat up josh Brandon.” Anna turned sharply and offered the info.

Mac choked. “What? Impossible.”

“But obviously true. You don’t happen to have his number now, do you Mac?” Alison was looking at Abel like eye candy.

“I’d like it too.” Abby said. “There are so many people around him that i don’t think I’ll ever get around to meeting him up close....and then, i may get cold feet.”

Mac felt like dying. “Cold feet? This is Abel Daniels we’re talking of. ABEL DANIELS! Gosh!” with that she left to buy herself lunch.

The line to buy snacks was ridiculously short because scales had suddenly fallen off everyone’s eyes and people were noticing Abel for the first time. Macaulay didn’t know whether to be happy or sad. She had always prided herself as the best club 17 member. The one with the least life threatening addiction. Now Abel was suddenly popular. Was he on drugs when he beat up josh? She had a good mind to tell everyone but then she remembered that club 17 members were never supposed to tell on each other.

With two people left before it was her turn, Mac seized the opportunity to choose what she wanted in her head. She was really hungry, and lasagne sounded really good right now. But she had to stop at Marks and Spencers on her way home. Just for window shopping of course. And then if she found something she really really liked and needed, she would get it. So no lasagnes till she got more money. A fajita would just have to do for now. Fajita and sprite.

“Hi. I’m Derek Grey.” He towered well above her tall frame and Mac found herself staring up at him. She had always considered herself a person with a boyish frame because at 17 years of age, she already stood at 5 foot 9 inches. This guy had to be at least 6 foot 4. “I’m kind of new here. I know its weird changing school in my final year, but. It’s sort of complicated. I need your unbiased advice though. Should i take plain fish and chips or should i have hot chicken wings instead? I know not everyone makes good fish and chips and i don’t want anything that’ll get my stomach upset.”

Mac tried not to stutter. If she checked up definition of hot in the dictionary, they would probably have a picture of him there with a tag saying: HERE IT IS. “Definitely hot chicken wings. Someone once found worms in his fish.”

“thanks.” He winked at her. Macaulay immediately noticed his chocolate brown eyes and the long lashes that framed it. Was she having a crush at first sight? She hardly ever crushed on anyone. Now suddenly, this stranger!

“What are you having, by the way?” he was looking down at her! The only other boy who was tall enough to look down at her was josh Brandon, and even him had been certified ‘unmanly’ by the skinners and cheerios. “Just a fajita and a can of sprite.”

She heard him tell the sales lady. “Make that chicken wings and chips, a fajita and a can of sprite.” The lady put them on a tray and told him the price. Derek brought out a credit card. Macaulay’s mouth literally fell open. Pretty, hot and rich!

“I’d like to sit with you if you don’t mind. It’s pretty annoying, not knowing anyone.”

“sure.” Mac hoped she sounded convincing. They found a seat easily since almost everyone was still pinning for Abel's attention.

“So, what’s the name?”

Mac noticed that whenever Derek was talking, he made a point of looking the person in the eye. That made her very uneasy. “Macaulay Morris.”

“Macaulay.” He tested the name first, and then added. “Where is everybody? This has got to be the driest high school cafeteria in history.”

“oh no it isn’t usually this way. They’re all getting to know some kid for the first time. Because he beat up josh Brandon.”

“You know, right now, I’m sorry i asked, because I’m totally in the dark with whatever it is you’re saying.”

“Why did you change school then? To here of all places. You know, one of our school students was murdered last week.”

“Oh, i moved because of family issues and stuff. Has the murderer been found?”

“Not at all.” Mac said. “The police are doing their very best.”

Derek snorted. “That’s what they always say but really, they are like those cartoon cops who do nothing but eat doughnuts all day long. Don’t you guys have like snoop dogs in this college?”

“Snoop dog? Isn’t that a rapper?”

“No, Mac. Not snoop dog. Snoop dogs. That’s the name for people who go about acting like detectives in cases like this.”

“oh.” Mac was truly short of words. Why would anyone want to get involved in police business?

“You sound unimpressed.” Derek smiled slightly. He had a dimple! Mac noted.

“Not exactly. Just surprised. Are you a snoop dog?” she asked.

“Actually, i am. I’m going to get behind what happened to Melanie Griffiths. Nice meeting you Macaulay Morris. I hope i get to see more of you in Cosham high.” He stood up and left the table. Macaulay felt irritated with herself for swooning over him like an overfed puppy. She let herself reminisce how his eyes twitched when he spoke and that hot dimple! Just then, the cafeteria started filling with students who had come out of their Abel trance and decided they needed to eat something. Macaulay stopped short on her way out of the cafeteria. In all her swooning and crushing, she had failed to notice something eerie and important about Derek Grey. How had he known Melanie’s name?