Choices at TAC

By Richard Pinkerton

Tucker Pyles has had enough of having to work for his mother, so declares that he is going to get himself fired from every job she sets him up with.

Rex finds himself in serious trouble with the police, when, protecting Vanessa, he puts a guy in hospital.

When Daryl Chambers, Rex's former girlfriend, returns to Te Arawa, Vanessa finds that herself and Rex's relationship might not be as solid as she believed.

Meanwhile, Nadia, Vanessa's jealous and mentally disturbed half-sister is plotting something that will result in big trouble at the school camp.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Richard Pinkerton
• Release date: Nov 2, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370001460

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

Choices at TAC

(Book 12 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 Rex Cassidy Investigators Series

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

Stacey Sweeney

Kristine Edvardsen

Wuraola Ifeniyi

Dabney Farmer

To every kid who never got to be part of the in crowd

CHAPTER 1:

Candy Hearts

Rex Cassidy put his arm around the waist of Vanessa Dante as they awaited their turn to be seated at the Candy Hearts Restaurant. He adored the feeling of her soft, shapely body close to him. Holding her always gave him a warm tingling sensation and he could quite happily remain cuddled up with her all day long. They spent a lot of time like that, particularly at school when a boring lesson was in progress. What better way to kill time than to nestle up close to his own personal goddess, to gaze into her mesmerising, sapphire-blue eyes, to kiss her full sensuous lips and run his hands down her—.

‘Oh, my god, oh my god!’ A waiter stepped up to greet them.

The tall skinny man smiled broadly and looked rather camp with his moustache, soul patch and what Rex was certain was red lipstick. He and Vanessa had come to know him a little, over the last six months as they loved coming to the restaurant. It was one of the most romantic dining establishments in the city of New Plymouth.

‘Darling Vanessa you look absolutely radiant as usual.’ The waiter spoke in an effeminate voice. It was hard for Rex not to like the guy. He was always so enthusiastic and pleased to see them.

‘Hi, Fabian. Nice to see you again,’ Vanessa said.

‘I can’t get over it, every time I see you, you get more and more beautiful. Is that possible? I guess it must be. And Rex... my, my, you look like such a hunk in that outfit. It shows off your muscular chest and biceps. If only you weren’t taken and if only you weren’t only seventeen years old.’

Rex cringed at his comments but smiled anyway. ‘And if only I wasn’t straight. How're things, Fabian?’

‘Marvellous, marvellous, especially after seeing my favourite two customers in all the world. The two of you light up the entire restaurant with your presence and make my job here so much more enjoyable. Please, do follow me and I’ll take you to your table.’

The restaurant had soft lighting and a band playing a gentle melody. A few couples were up on the dance floor moving slowly and intimately to the beat. Each table had its own partitioning in a half-circle around the sides for privacy. Tables were set up with flowers and candles for the perfect romantic liaison.

Fabian led them to a table in the corner that looked out into the gardens at the side of the restaurant. He pulled out their seats for them and they both sat. ‘Is it a special occasion today?’

‘She just filmed her first TV commercial.’

‘Congratulations! Oh, I can’t wait to see it. What’s it for?’

‘A new brand of soft drink. Spangle.’

‘I’ll be keeping my eye open for that. I’ll be able to tell people, see that girl? She comes into my restaurant all the time.’

‘She’s my beautiful princess,’ Rex squeezed her hand from across the table. ‘That’s what I always called her when we were little.’

‘And a princess she is,’ Fabian said. ‘A prince and a princess.’ He stepped back. ‘Ahhhh, you two make such a lovely couple, always so affectionate with one another. I love to see you both up there on the dance floor, holding each other close. Makes me want to jump right into the middle of you.’

Rex cringed again. ‘That would kind of ruin the experience for me.’

‘And me.’ Vanessa laughed.

Fabian sighed. ‘So sad. I would lose my job anyway.’ He laughed. ‘Oh well, That’s life I suppose. I’m happy for you both, I really am and I hope I will always see you two coming here together, loving each other as you do now.’

‘Yeah-huh!’ Vanessa said.

‘You can count on it,’ Rex added. ‘Vanessa will always be my beautiful princess, right, babe.’

‘Absolutely!’

‘Wonderful.’ Fabian grinned. ‘Well, take a look at the menu. I recommend the filet mignon. It will melt in your mouth.'

'Yummers,' Vanessa said.

They placed a drinks order and Fabian left them.

‘So,’ Rex reached across the table and took Vanessa’s hand in his. ‘Here we are again.’ He glanced around. ‘People intrigued by us as usual. A couple as young as us coming to an expensive restaurant like this.’

‘I bet your family has more money than all of them.’

‘Maybe.’

She laughed and squeezed his hand. ‘I’m so lucky to have you. I’m getting way too used to this lavish lifestyle though… being chauffeured around by you, getting expensive presents and dining in fine restaurants. Way too used to it. One of the male models at the commercial shoot today asked me out to lunch at Burger King. My first thought was Burger King? Oh, good grief, you’re gonna have to do better than that, pal.’ She laughed. ‘Am I becoming a snob?’

‘You? No way. Perhaps you’re beginning to realise your true worth. So, what did you say to this mere mortal who dared ask a goddess out for lunch at a fast-food establishment?’

‘I said, Sorry, mate but I don’t do junk food. Then he said, Well, how about a cafe then? and I said, I appreciate it but no thank you. To which he replied, Well, will you go out with me some other time? and I said, Sorry, I don’t do guys either. For a few seconds, he stared at me. Then he said, Are you gay? and I said, 99 %. It worked out well, though because another one of the female models overheard and she asked me out and I went with her to lunch instead. And we’re going to the movies next Saturday night too.’

‘And she knows you have a boyfriend?’

‘I was quite clear on that fact.’

‘Good for you.’ He wondered what the other patrons in the restaurant would think knowing that not only were they two teenagers dining in an expensive restaurant but that they also had an open relationship. Not many people understood that and he definitely wasn’t going to let Fabian the waiter know that.

A short while later, Fabian arrived with their drinks. ‘Here you are, darlings. A glass of grape juice for you, Vanessa and a lemon, lime and bitters for you, Rex. Would you like to place your orders yet?’

‘Oh, sorry, we haven’t even looked at the menu,’ Rex said. ‘Give us a few more minutes.’

‘Please, take your time, take your time. You are both so beautiful and pleasing to the eye, I can fully understand why you want to hold each other’s hands and gaze at each other. Ahhhhhh...’

Fabian departed.

Rex winced. ‘Does that guy have any concept of social awkwardness?’

‘I don’t think so.’ Vanessa laughed. ‘At least he’s a sweetie.’

‘If you say so.’

Not long after, they placed their orders and then went to the dancefloor. The band on stage played slow music so the two cuddled up together with Vanessa resting her head on his upper chest. He loved the feeling of her soft body pressed up against him. They didn’t even have to move their feet, they simply swayed their bodies to the music. If Heaven didn’t include this, he didn’t want to know about it.

* * *

Vanessa ran her hands up Rex’s back and rested her head on his chest. She allowed the music to take her away to another world and for a moment they weren’t there in the restaurant but alone in paradise together. She pulled him tighter, feeling his tall, firm muscular body against her and she sighed with pleasure. She could quite happily stay there all night with him, snuggling him on the dancefloor. Perhaps they would.

She had never felt happier. Her confidence in their relationship grew day by day and it seemed nothing could shake the bond they had. Nothing would pull them apart because their love for one another was so strong. Not even her mother’s warning voice, telling her perfection doesn’t exist, couldn’t sway her from her belief that what Rex and she had was indeed perfect.

‘My darlings, I so, so hate to interrupt but your meals are served.’ Fabian touched Vanessa’s shoulder, a soft touch but one that rudely ripped her from her utopia. The paradise she had travelled to became the interior of the Candy Hearts Restaurant once again.

The two returned to the table where their fine meals awaited them.

‘So, Ness,’ Rex said after swallowing some lamb cutlet. ‘Now Chelsea has left Te Arawa, do you think we might see Mav and Holly patching things up?’

Vanessa pictured their two friends. ‘I don’t know. I kind of think maybe they won’t.’

‘Why do you think that?’

Vanessa paused from her filet mignon. ‘I think Holly has her mind on someone else instead. I think it may stop her from ever getting back with Mav.’

Rex stared past her for a moment, his magnetic deep-blue eyes looking troubled. He sighed. ‘Is she obsessing over me again?’

‘Ahha. Holly doesn’t want to admit it but I see the look in her eyes when she gazes at you. And with the history you two have... I know myself, how damn impossible it is to shake you from under my skin. I couldn’t do it. She probably can’t either.’

Rex gazed at his food and picked at it with his fork. Immediately Vanessa could sense what he was thinking. ‘Don’t you dare blame yourself for that. It’s not your fault.’

‘I should have been stronger. I should never have given in the way I did at my sixteenth birthday party when Holly was upset.’

‘Rex...’ Vanessa reached across the table and clutched his hand. ‘It was a natural thing. You gave her the comfort she needed.’

‘And virtually destroyed the relationship she had with Mav.’

‘Nuh-uh, you didn’t. They got through that.’

‘Did they really?’ Rex lifted his eyes to meet hers. ‘I’m not so sure about that. I think I did irreparable damage.’

‘If any irreparable damage was done, Holly was equally responsible.’

Rex shook his head. ‘No, I broke down her willpower to resist.’

‘Not intentionally. You can’t help it that girls crave you and melt at your touch. None of this is your fault. You can’t do anything about the way someone feels about you. If Holly’s feelings have been stronger for you than for Mav, you can’t be blamed for that and you can’t help it that you are all in the same circle of friends and you are always around each other.’

‘Copy that, but I still wonder if there was something I could have done to change the way things went.’

‘You were powerless to do anything. Mav and Holly had to sort out things for themselves. And it’s not your fault Mav and Chelsea had an affair.’ She squeezed his hand, fixing her eyes on his. It bothered her that Rex put so much of the blame on the couple’s failed relationship on himself. ‘You can’t be everybody’s hero, Rexy.’

Rex sighed. ‘You’re right. But there must be something we can do to get them back together.’

‘Should we even try though? Why not let them move on? Help them move on?’

‘Perhaps but if Holly is obsessing over me, that’s gonna be kind of difficult.’

‘We need to set her up with a new love.’

Rex rubbed his chin thoughtfully. ‘Any candidates?’

‘I don’t know. Can you think of any guy she would be compatible with?’

‘Not offhand. Holly is very particular and out of all the guys I know at Te Arawa College, I can’t see any of them getting her attention, let alone having a successful relationship with her. Mav is one of a kind.’

‘Can’t argue with you there.’

‘But I think it might be worth a try. There must be someone. Maybe I’ll talk to her and maybe get an impression on who she might like and then we can work at bringing them together. What do you reckon?’

A thrill bubbled up inside her. ‘Could be worth trying. So, I guess that means we’re going to play cupid, huh?’

‘We can sure as hell give it a go.’

‘Hey, we can call ourselves the... I know, Candy Heart Matchmakers.’

Rex laughed. ‘Why not?’

After more dancing, or more realistically, cuddling, and then finishing off with a tasty dessert, the two headed to the gardens outside the restaurant for a little before returning to Te Arawa in Rex’s Mustang Shelby.

It was a cool evening, but pleasant. Crickets chirped as they ambled their way along the path, Rex’s arm around her shoulder and hers around his waist.

‘I’m looking forward to the school camp next week,’ Vanessa said. ‘But after all this fine dining, I’m not sure I’m going to be able to handle camp food.’ She delivered him a cheeky smile.

‘Even if the food’s bad, we’re gonna have a great time. I’m looking forward to it.’

‘Same here. I hope Mr Harris hasn’t devised too many torturous activities for us like he’s been threatening.’

Rex halted and stared into the distance, his eyes wide.

‘What is it?’ Vanessa asked.

He paused for a moment and his eyes squinted. Vanessa couldn’t see what had caught his eye. ‘Can’t be.’ He pulled away from her and grabbed her hand. ‘Come on!’

He hurried forward and she quickened her pace to stay with him. ‘What’s wrong?’

They reached a tall area of rose bushes and circled them to the other side. Rex stopped and stared into the distance.

‘Rex!’ Vanessa became worried. ‘You’re freaking me out.’

Rex continued to scan the park. ‘I saw someone. A woman. Long golden hair. Like real strands of gold. But... no, it can’t be her.’

The description of the golden hair was enough to make Vanessa realise who he was talking about. Daryl Chambers, a girl he had a short-lived relationship with. ‘You think it was Daryl?’

Rex sighed. ‘Nah, can’t have been her. She’s in Australia. But still, that hair. I’ve never seen hair like that except on Daryl and her mother but I guess there must be others like her. I’m gonna take a quick check over there. You wait here, I’ll be right back.’

Vanessa didn’t argue. Rex let go of her hand and ran across the park. She didn’t know what to think. Rex and Daryl had become close when she had been at Te Arawa College. It had been a romance that never quite got the chance to blossom the way it could have because Daryl had to leave the country with her mother. Rex rarely ever talked about her, so Vanessa had always believed he had gotten over her. Judging by his reaction, perhaps he hadn’t?

Seeing Rex had not yet made his return, she sat on a bench near a fountain. However, she froze when a tall athletic figure loomed out from behind a nearby tree. She nearly screamed because it was a familiar face and not one she cared ever to see again. He had short blonde hair and was about twenty years old. He used to bartend at one of the Te Arawa taverns, at least until he was fired. She would never forget his name even if she tried. Rod Williams had caused more than his fair share of trouble for them and others.

The look on his face was one of fierce indignation and he scowled. ‘Hello, Vanessa.’

Vanessa shuddered. ‘What are you doing here? I thought they locked you up?’

He snickered. ‘I’m out on bail, awaiting trial.’ He had been busted for drug dealing and assault. Both Rex’s and Vanessa’s testimonies had helped with that.

‘What do you want?’

Rod lunged forward and grabbed her by the arm. She squealed