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look at our answers. What a waste of time.
    James leans towards me. He’s got his hand in front of his mouth as though he’s rubbing his chin. His eye looks in danger of being poked out. ‘Hey Sticks,’ he says in a loud whisper.
    O’Brien looks up instantly. ‘James,’ he says, ‘Bequiet! And get your hand away from your face. You don’t fool me for a second.’
    He looks down at his marking again.
    â€˜Sir! Sir!’
    O’Brien looks up again. ‘What is it James?’
    â€˜I need to go.’
    â€˜Go? Go where?’ O’Brien’s forehead furrows.
    James looks down at his legs and then up at O’Brien. He has a please don’t make me say any more look on his face. He does this little nod.
    â€˜Of course! Of course!’ says Mr O’Brien.
    â€˜Sir!’ James says, ‘Can someone come with me, to help?’
    O’Brien looks startled, then worried. I can almost see the cogs of his brain grinding over as he tries to imagine what a person would have to do to help James. I can’t imagine anything myself, at least not anything that I care to think about. Finally he nods, ‘Who would you like?’
    â€˜Can Ian come? He knows what to do.’
    â€˜Certainly,’ says Mr O’Brien, looking slightly relieved.
    As James turns his chair towards me, away from O’Brien, he gets the most excellently wicked smile on his face. ‘So long suckers,’ he whispers and he tries to wink.
    I’m trying not to laugh as I follow James past MrO’Brien who has a concerned look on his face. I hope he doesn’t decide he needs to help because then we’ll be busted. Tension! Then James just thanks him and we’re out. I feel like jumping and clicking my heels together as we walk down the verandah of the science wing. Freedom! But what are we going to do now? There are classes and teachers everywhere.
    â€˜So what now?’ I say.
    â€˜I don’t know. Anything was better than being stuck in there.’
    I laugh. ‘That was cool. I didn’t think you would do something so bad.’
    James looks sideways at me as he rolls down the corridor. ‘Like Ranga would.’
    â€˜Yes,’ I agree. ‘But he’d get caught.’
    James has that wicked look on his face again. ‘I’ve got an advantage.’ He pats the armrest of his chair and gives a bittersweet laugh.
    We end up in the library reading magazines because all the computers are being used. There are a few skateboard magazines, but they’re old and falling apart, with pages cut out because there were pictures or articles the librarian didn’t want us to read. I’ve read them a few times, but Ranga has read them hundreds of times.I reckon his hands have done half the wear and tear on the pages of this one I’m holding. There’s nothing special about it: articles about a new compound for wheels that’s faster and has more grip, different trucks, photos of famous skaters doing tricks and millions of ads. For a kid who can’t concentrate to save his life, Ranga sure studies these. A bomb could go off when he’s reading them and he wouldn’t hear it.
    I’m thinking about getting a book from the fiction section when James whacks me across the arm.
    â€˜Sorry,’ he whispers, and then he slides his eyes sideways and tilts his head like a spy. ‘Over there.’
    There’s another class where he wants me to look. They’re doing research skills with Mrs Dearle. She’s got the smart-board going. It’s something to do with the UN. We’ll be doing that on Thursday. One of the girls at the back gives us a little wave. It’s Jess. I wave back before I even think about it. She smiles. Shit!
    James is grinning at me like an idiot.
    â€˜What?’ I say.
    â€˜She likes you.’
    Lucky for me the siren goes.
    James and I each head to our next class.
    â€˜I’ll see you