Heroes at TAC

By Richard Pinkerton

Snobby Craig McLeod is on a campaign to have Mr Harris fired from Te Arawa College. Can Rex Cassidy prevent that from happening while at the same time trying to protect Daryl Chambers from her abusive father?

Holly Robinson is troubled over the terrible news she must deliver to her boyfriend Rick Maverick. Can she find the courage to tell him or will he find it out through other means?
Tough guy Will Ullman (Wal) finally gets himself a girlfriend. However, it seems she may not like him as much as he thinks.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Richard Pinkerton
• Release date: Oct 30, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370247196

Richard Pinkerton

I am in my early 50s and have been writing now since I was 12. I prefer to write light-hearted drama but have written a little fantasy horror and science fiction too.I have an entire series of high school novels (19 of them so far) set in New Zealand (The Mob from TAC series), which I will gradually publish if there is a demand.I prefer to use a mix of quirky and outrageous characters you would never come across in reality and also your every day Joes.My writings are aimed at teenagers mainly, but also young adults.I have also written a series of detective novelettes, most of which can be found on my website. The majority require work, to be able to be published here, mainly due to copyright issues.Please do leave feedback or contact me if you want to know more about my books.

Book preview

Heroes at TAC

(Book 4 in the Mob from TAC series)

Published by Richard Pinkerton at Smashwords

Copyright 2021 Richard Pinkerton

Other books by Richard Pinkerton

Dead End High

Dead End Town

Time Warped

The Mob from TAC series

1 - The Mob from TAC

2 – Mismatched at TAC

3 - Trouble at TAC

4 – Heroes at TAC

5 - Scheming at TAC

6 - Murder at TAC

7 - New Year at TAC

8 - Challenges at TAC

9 - Boot Camp at TAC

10 - Dark Days at TAC

11 - Jealously at TAC

12 - Choices at TAC

13 - Redemption at TAC

14 - Vendettas at TAC

15 - Aberrations at TAC

16 - Final Year at TAC

17 – Conspiracy at TAC

18 – Godly People at TAC

19 – Sabotage at TAC

20 – Distrust at TAC

21 – Competition at TAC

So Long, TAC

Acknowledgements

Katherine Lato

Paige

Benjamina Bennett

To Neil

Who, like many of my old high school buddies,

had to put up with me talking about my books.

CHAPTER 1:

Anxious Moments for the Reaper

‘He’ll be here soon. I guarantee it.’

‘You’re dreaming, Reaper. There’s no way your boy is going to beat Honeyfield.’

‘You don’t know my boy.’

‘Well, your boy still hasn’t put in an appearance yet.’

‘He will, I tell you, he will.’

Mr Reaper, Te Arawa College’s deputy principal, had been confident right up until that moment.

Now he worried.

It was the regional cross-country taking place at Opanake College. He stood with a group at the finish line, gazing across the sports field to where the frontrunners would emerge. It was an overcast day, but the rain had held off and it looked like it would for the rest of the afternoon.

Reaper had expected Rex Cassidy to finish the race by now but there was no sign of him. The boy was making him look foolish in front of his colleagues; teachers from competing schools. Of course, it was typical of Cassidy to make him look bad. He was deliberately slacking off, simply to annoy him.

Te Arawa College had never done well in the cross-country in the past. None of their athletes had what it took but ever since Rex had come to Te Arawa College, he had broken the school records in almost every athletic event he had competed in thus far. He was of far superior fitness to any other student in the school, or for that matter, in the region. Rex could whip the ass of any runner, in any high school, anywhere.

The Reaper, as he was known to students, prided himself on the fact he instilled fear into them. All he had to do was appear and all students would immediately step into line. Well everyone except Rex. That boy didn’t fear him and enjoyed taking digs at him whenever he could. Nevertheless, right now, Rex was his golden boy. He was the one who was going to win the Inter-School Cross-Country for Te Arawa College. He was going to claim the prestigious Senior Boys trophy. Okay, he wasn’t a senior but he was running against the seniors.

‘Sixteen years old.’ One of the other teachers snickered. ‘And you say he’s your best athlete? That can’t say much for your seniors.’

‘His name’s Rex Cassidy,’ Mr Reaper said.

The heads of a couple of girls turned in his direction. They were positioned at desks, waiting for the first runners to arrive, so they could record their times and positions in the books.

One of the female teachers from Inglewood scratched her cheek thoughtfully. ‘That name’s familiar.’

‘Possibly.’ Mr Reaper gazed across the green fields. ‘He has a following with the girls all over the area. Would you believe he finished our course in 20 minutes the other week? He beat our best senior boy, Andrew Schumacker, by a full half-hour.’

‘Schumacker?’ one of the teachers from Waitara said. ‘I remember that kid from last year. Second fastest time in the Regionals.’

Reaper smiled proudly. ‘That’s him.’ He was the only runner that featured for Te Arawa last year.

‘Beaten only by our Mark Honeyfield,’ said the teacher Reaper had been arguing with. ‘My money is on Honeyfield again this year. He’s better and faster than ever.’

Reaper held his head high. ‘He won’t beat Cassidy.’

‘We’ve got a kid named Dickens,’ said the Opanake delegate, sipping coffee from a polystyrene cup. ‘He broke our school records this year.’

Mr Reaper checked his watch for what must have been the hundredth time. ‘Cassidy will be here any time now. He’ll beat all the seniors home, guaranteed.’

‘You said that five minutes ago but there’s no sign of him yet,’ said the New Plymouth delegate.

‘He’ll be here.’

One of the girls at one of the nearby desks spoke up, ‘Excuse me, sir…’

The Reaper presumed she was from another school as he didn’t recognise her. ‘Yes?’

‘Is Rex Cassidy the guy who won most of the senior events at the regional athletics last term?’

‘That’s him.’ Reaper nodded, not particularly interested in talking to the girl, but he had to be polite.

‘He is such a hottie,’ the girl said.

‘Oh, that boy,’ Opanake said and paused to sip from his cup. ‘I remember him. Boy, was he fast. But that was athletics. Long-distance running and standard athletics are two totally different animals.’

‘You wait.’ Reaper smirked. ‘Cassidy will blitz the field.’ He gazed hopefully across the playing fields. He fidgeted. There was a fence at the end of the field with a stile, which the runners would climb over to make the final run home. There was no sign of anyone. ‘He must have sprained an ankle or something.’ He rubbed his fingers through his dark bushy beard in irritation.

‘Maybe he’s not all you’ve made him out to be?’ New Plymouth said.

Reaper ignored the snide comment. ‘I don’t get it. He should have been here by now. There are students stationed around the course to make sure no one gets lost, aren’t there?’

‘Of course,’ said Opanake.’

‘Your lad had better get here soon,’ New Plymouth said. ‘The first of the senior boys will be due through shortly.’

‘Oh, oh, looks like we’ve got an injury…’ Opanake said. ‘One of your girls, I think, Reaper.’

Mr Reaper flinched. It was one of the junior girls, Destiny Donaldson, one he had expected good things from.

She hobbled towards them.

‘You okay, Destiny?’

The blue-eyed brunette groaned. ‘I’ve sprained my ankle. There was a pothole and my foot went into it. It hurts like heck.’

Reaper winced. ‘That is a pity. We’ll get the first aid person to have a look at you in a minute. Sit on one of the chairs here. Such a shame about your ankle. I was expecting you to do well.’

Destiny sat on a chair. She was a pretty girl with full lips and a rounded chin. Perhaps even prettier than her older sister, Jacqui. ‘I’m so hacked off. I was right up in the leading pack too when it happened.’

‘I don’t suppose you came across Rex there during the race?’ He certainly hoped she hadn’t, as the senior boys had been the first to start. If she had seen him, it would have meant something had gone wrong.

‘Yes, I did.’

Mr Reaper grimaced. ‘No, no, please tell me you didn’t. Was he injured? Tired out? Anything like that?’

‘No.’

Reaper straightened. ‘What was he up to then?’ It had to be something because there was no way he would have fallen back so far otherwise.

‘He was making out.’

Mr Reaper reeled. ‘What are you talking about, girl? Making out? Are you pulling my leg? Because if you are, I don’t appreciate it.’

‘One of the marker girls. A dark-skinned one. African I think. Had beautiful braided hair.’

‘That will be Meryl Macy,’ said Opanake. ‘This is some kind of joke, right? Making out?’

Mr Reaper grimaced. It wouldn’t be at all surprising if he had taken time out of his run to get to know one of the marker girls. It was exactly the thing Rex would do. ‘It will be no joke I’m afraid. Are you sure it was him, Destiny?’

‘It was definitely him.’ Destiny grinned and her eyes sparkled. ‘I was kind of envious.’

Mr Reaper huffed. ‘And was that the last you saw of him?’

‘Oh no, he overtook me a few minutes later.’

Reaper breathed a little easier. ‘When was that?’

‘Before I sprained my ankle. About fifteen minutes ago.’

Mr Reaper stiffened and his fears quickly returned. ‘So, he will be way behind the leading seniors. Possibly even behind the intermediate runners.’

‘I guess so.’

Mr Reaper groaned and ran his fingers through his hair.

‘Tough luck, Reaper,’ said Opanake. ‘Maybe you need to train your athletes about priorities.’ He snickered. ‘Leave the fraternizing with pretty girls until after the event.’

This was all he needed, Rex making him look stupid amongst the other teachers, especially after he’d just got done singing his praises. He glanced again at his watch. Normally, Rex was reliable when it came to sports. He took pride in representing the school.

‘Here comes a runner now,’ the delegate for Stratford spoke up.

‘It’s Dickens!’ Opanake exclaimed. ‘Yes!’

‘And Honeyfield right behind him!’ Waitara announced.

Mr Reaper squinted to see who was in the leading pack but couldn’t see Rex there anywhere. The two leaders climbed the stile, neck and neck. Another group of three appeared only a few metres behind. Rex was not among them either. ‘Don’t see him.’

Opanake smirked. ‘Looks like your boy’s a no-show.’

‘I don’t believe it…’ It seemed Rex had let the school down big time and all because he couldn’t resist flirting with members of the opposite sex. It was so darn typical and one of the main reasons he had recently almost been expelled. Didn’t he ever learn his lesson?

‘There’s Schumacker...’ At least one of the Te Arawa boys was amongst the frontrunners.

Two more boys clambered over the stile but still no Rex. It looked grim indeed. The two leaders were now only 800 metres from the finish line and struggled to stay ahead of the field. Even so, it seemed there was little chance of them being caught, especially by Rex.

‘This can’t be.’ Reaper stared in disbelief. ‘Cassidy, how could you do this to me?’

Over the stile bounded another runner.

Mr Reaper jerked upright and gasped, ‘It’s Cassidy!’ His heart almost leapt out of his mouth.

‘Not a chance,’ Opanake scoffed. ‘The leaders are too far ahead...’ But even as he spoke, his voice died.

Rex bolted across the field at a furious pace. It was as if he were running a 100-metre dash and the race had only begun. He flew past the two boys who had been ahead of him and left the second pack, along with Andrew Schumacker, in the dust.

‘My gosh, he’s so fast.’ Inglewood gaped, ‘He looks so fresh.’

The two leaders were on the final 200 metres of the race and seeing Rex closing in, attempted to pick up the pace. They put in everything they had but it wasn’t enough. In seconds, Rex closed the gap and bolted past them in a gust of wind.

A sense of triumph swept over Mr Reaper as the big teen cruised up to the finish line in first place.

He didn’t stop though. He veered sharply to the left and entered the booth containing the most attractive of the female timekeepers. The teachers could only watch dumbfounded as he hardly appeared to be breaking a sweat and seemed to have plenty of breath left to hit on the star-struck girl at the desk. ‘Hi. My name’s Rex. What’s yours?’

The girl gazed at him with starry eyes. ‘I’m Diana.’

The other front-runners stumbled across the finish line and collapsed one after the other.

Mr Reaper sent a big smile in the direction of Rex, but the tall, muscular sixteen-year-old was far too busy talking to the girl at the desk to notice.

‘You’re a real cutie, Diana’ Rex said. ‘I might have to come here a little more often.’

The boy was a charmer there were no doubts about that. His winning smile and handsome deep-blue eyes were enough to turn almost any girl into a stammering fool. Mr Reaper had seen it many times before and this girl at the desk was no different.

He stepped over to him. ‘Rex. Where the heck have you been? I expected you in over ten minutes ago.’ Although he was pleased to see Rex win, he wasn’t about to let him get away with his tardiness, especially if he’d been busy socialising with marker girls.

The other teachers simply watched on.

‘Sorry, Mr R. You wouldn’t believe how many cute girls there were at the checkpoints. I had to keep stopping for social chats.’

‘And a lot more besides from what I hear.’ Mr Reaper smiled. ‘You had me bloody worried. It was looking as though I was going to end up with egg on my face. Here was me saying how you were going to blitz the field.’

‘Hey, would I let Te Arawa College down?’ Rex turned and winked at the girl at the desk.

‘Good work, Rex.’

‘Good work?’ The New Plymouth teacher scoffed. ‘That was incredible work. It seems you were telling the truth about this boy.’

Mr Reaper grinned. ‘This is one time when I’m proud to say he’s a pupil at Te Arawa College.’

CHAPTER 2:

Eavesdropper

Holly Robinson was scared. She feared what her friends would think… what everybody in the town would think. She feared going to school and having people look at her funny. Most of all she feared what her boyfriend Rick Maverick would think.

She was pregnant.

So far, only her parents and Chelsea Brown knew. Nevertheless, the time drew nearer to when she would have to reveal the truth to everyone. What would happen then? Would she be able to continue her education at Te Arawa College? Would being a teenaged mother be the end of her social life? Would all her dreams of a career in the tourism industry be dashed? Would Rick Maverick still love her? Would he even want anything to do with her again? What would Mav say when he found out he wasn’t the father but Rex Cassidy was?

‘You know you’re gonna have to tell Rex and Mav soon,’ Chelsea said.

Chelsea was a fair-skinned blonde-haired beauty with sparkling sapphire-blue eyes. It was hard to believe that only a few months earlier she was a plain Jane, wearing glasses with her hair dangling over most of her face. A makeover had changed that and improved her confidence tenfold, as well as causing her to be noticed by a lot more boys.

‘I know I have to,’ Holly said. ‘But it’s so hard. How can I tell Mav? How can I tell him I got with one of his best friends?’ She wanted to pound herself silly, but it was too late now.

‘I don’t know,’ said Chelsea. ‘But come on, it’s not like you set out to betray him. You were upset. You thought he’d cheated on you. Rex consoled you and one thing led to another. I know that’s no excuse, really but you’re not a villain. It was a one-off thing.’

‘It still makes me a cheater.’ Holly cringed. She fiddled with strands of her brown shoulder-length hair. They sat out back of D-Block away from the main walkways. The tennis courts were off to their right, currently empty. The school incinerator was a few meters ahead, billowing smoke. Beyond that was the eastern sports field and a magnificent view of Mt Taranaki. It was still early and no one else was around apart from a couple of students crossing the fields towards the horticulture area to their far left. It was cloudy but enough sun shone through to warm them.

‘I was so upset. And Rex… he was there to comfort me and we were alone upstairs in his parent’s house. I couldn’t resist him. He’s so hot… so sexy... He’s the sort of guy I’ve always wanted. His eyes can draw you in and take you captive, you know what I mean?’

‘Of course I know.’ Chelsea patted her hand. ‘But you can’t beat yourself up over this. You really did think Mav was fooling around with Jacqui behind your back and then you and Rex got caught up in the moment. It was bound to happen, being up there alone with him like that.’

Holly flinched. ‘I feel so awful. I’m happy with Mav. I always have been. I never wanted to betray him, ever. Oh my gosh, when he finds out Rex is the father he’ll be heartbroken. I’ll lose him. He’ll refuse to have anything to do with me. For all I know, even if he believed the baby was his, he might still run a mile. Who would want to be a teenaged father?’

‘Come on, Mav is a lot bigger than that. Sure, he’ll probably be upset at first. He may not talk to you for a while but he loves you. He’ll come around.’

‘After all the other stuff that happened? I don’t think so. You know how broody he was when that creep Jeff Bodine was after me and he thought I fancied him. And when he thought there might be - you know - something going on between Rex and me. The thing is something did go on between Rex and me. I even lied to him and told him nothing had happened. If he finds out Rex is the father, he’ll never forgive me or Rex. He will hate us for it.’

‘I can’t believe that. Mav could never hate you. You made a