Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Vendettas at TAC
    Vendettas at TAC
    Vendettas at TAC
    Ebook213 pages3 hours

    Vendettas at TAC

    By Richard Pinkerton

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    Ben Tamati is back in town and everyone knows he has a vendetta against Rex Cassidy. But just how far will he go to exact revenge? A heck of a lot further than anyone thinks and only Rog Shepherd realises this.

    Vanessa Dante has beat out Carla Munroe to get the lead female role in the annual school production. But just what lengths is Carla willing to go to, to ensure Vanessa is unable to perform?

    Holly Robinson decides she likes the new athlete to the school, Byron Hastings. However, it seems that he is out simply to break hearts and ultimately has his eye on Vanessa. Will Rick Maverick stand by and allow his ex to be taken advantage of?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRichard Pinkerton
    Release dateNov 6, 2016
    ISBN9781370670055
    Vendettas at TAC
    Author

    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.

    Read more from Richard Pinkerton

    Related to Vendettas at TAC

    Related ebooks

    YA Humor For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    Related categories

    Reviews for Vendettas at TAC

    0 ratings

    0 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      Vendettas at TAC - Richard Pinkerton

      Vendettas at TAC

      (Book 14 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

      Joyce Phillips

      John Hinkle

      Katherine Lato

      Ron Magnusholm

      Stacey Sweeney

      Vijay Kumar Kerji

      CHAPTER 1:

      It’s the Word

      ‘Rex? What are you doing?’

      Rex tried to disengage from Vanessa, but she kept sucking on his lips. And how could he pull away from the most beautiful girl in the world, at least in his eyes and certainly in many others too? She looked cute in her 50s-style dress, not to mention hot, but then she looked hot in almost anything she wore, even the plain grey school uniform.

      He straightened his leather jacket as he stood on the school stage set up like a 50’s ice cream parlour. They had a projected backdrop and several props to add authentication, including an old jukebox and pinball machine. He turned to Mr Franklin, the director of the show. ‘Sorry, Mr F. Got carried away.’

      ‘Come on, the final kissing scene isn’t until nearer the end and even then, it was never in the script, especially not spiced up as you wanted it.’

      Vanessa spoke up. ‘I think we need extra kissing scenes and maybe even a bedroom scene.’

      Mr Franklin folded his arms and glared at them both.

      Rex liked the guy. Sure, he was a little old-fashioned but he was a reasonable fellow who Rex usually got along with. His thinning hair had little colour left and he always did a combover to hide his bald spot but it did little good.

      ‘Come on, you two. We're three days from opening night. Don’t start all this on me now. I’m beginning to wonder whether I made the right decision giving you two these roles. I’m worried you’re going to try on something like this during the live performances.’

      Rex chuckled. ‘No. You can count on me, Mr F.’

      ‘I better be able to. Remember what is happening in these scenes. Danny is torn between his love for Sandy and maintaining his reputation, amongst his friends, as the womanizing Greaser.’

      Rex jerked his sagging collar back up. ‘Yeah, I get that but there’s one major plot hole in this entire thing. Any guy, who had a chick like Sandy, wouldn’t be behaving as Danny is. He’d be parading her about as his girl. He wouldn’t give a crap about what his mates thought. He’d be the envy of them. He wouldn’t be pretending she means nothing to him. Either Danny is a closet homosexual or a complete and utter eejit.’

      Mr Franklin let out a deep sigh. ‘Yes, well remember, Sandy is not Vanessa. Sandy is Sandy. She is not the perfect woman, she has flaws.’

      Rex turned to admire Vanessa's flawless skin, round chin and full glossy lips. ‘You raise a valid point.’

      ‘If it was Vanessa, I could safely say we’d have a completely different story to the one we have. Danny would not be behaving like a jerk as he is. However, it's not Vanessa, therefore, you have to forget this is her in front of you. You have to imagine she’s Olivia Newton-John instead.’

      ‘Ah… yes…’ Rex squinted at Vanessa for a few seconds and then put on a mock frown. ‘Sorry, it’s not working.’

      She giggled.

      Mr Franklin paced backwards and forwards in front of them. ‘You’ll have to try. It’s all part of being a good actor... believing you are someone else, in a different place, with different people.’ The tall, skinny director swung around to face Vanessa. ‘And Vanessa, this goes for you too. This is not Rex but an uncouth lout who, before he met you, had little respect for women. I expect you to stay in character too. No more fooling about.’

      ‘Of course not.’ Vanessa smiled sweetly, sweeping aside her long dark hair.

      ‘Remember, Sandy is a good girl, so she’s not the type to throw herself at a guy and make out with him as you did in scene three earlier. And contrary to what you might think should be the case, when they first discover they are at the same school together, Sandy does not jump over Danny, French kissing him.’

      Vanessa appeared pained. ‘Well, they’d been summer lovers during the break, so by rights, she’d be thrilled to see him there in real—'

      ‘It’s not until the final scene when Sandy decides to take a proactive approach to get her man.’

      There was a gleam in Vanessa’s alluring sapphire-blue eyes.

      ‘Sorry,’ she said. ‘I kind of lose control sometimes. I keep seeing Sexy Rexy standing in front of me instead of that uncouth lout, John Travolta.’

      Mr Franklin shook his finger. 'Focus! You hear me? We can't have anything like that happening at the live performances.'

      ‘Loud and clear, Mr Franklin, loud and clear.’ She winked at Rex.

      ‘Hey!’ Mr Franklin growled. ‘What was that wink about? You better not be planning on doing anything stupid during those performances.’

      Vanessa was the picture of innocence. ‘Of course not. You’ve got absolutely nothing to worry about.’

      ‘I don't want... Arrggh, you two are toying with me. I don't need to tell you this stuff as you're both well aware of it. Now can we get on with this dress rehearsal?’

      ‘Anything you say, Mr Franklin.’

      Rex loved teaming up with Vanessa to tease teachers at Te Arawa College. She always knew when to play along and what to say to compliment him and vice versa. They could read each other like a book. On their own, they were formidable but together they were unbeatable.

      After finishing their scene, they headed out back, laughing. Rex took her in his arms and kissed her some more. He drew back to gaze into her eyes. ‘Looks like my plan to make changes to the Grease script hasn’t been too successful.’

      Vanessa kept her eyes trained on his. ‘Well, he agreed to a few changes. Ones that involve us getting a little more intimate on stage.’

      ‘Mmmmm. You know I’m beginning to think we should have our own show. We could make it a private viewing, one nobody else gets to see but us.’

      ‘Ooh, la-la. Another one?’’

      They both laughed.

      Vanessa spoke again, ‘I gotta get ready for the next scene.’

      ‘Let them do it without you.’

      Vanessa delivered him one of her knock-out smiles. ‘Don’t tempt me. I think we’ve tried Mr Franklin’s patience enough for one afternoon.’

      ‘Yeah, I guess you’re right.’

      He let her go and she darted out the side entrance to the girl’s dressing room.

      Rex continued down the corridor but halted when an angry female voice came from the props room a few metres down.

      ‘I can’t believe that cow. This is a big joke to her. She should never have been given the role of Sandy.’

      He recognised the voice of Carla Munro, the jealous year-13 girl who had the role of understudy to Vanessa. It was not Rex’s policy to listen in on conversations but after the dirty tactics Carla had used several weeks earlier in an attempt to cheat Vanessa out of the starring role, he had to listen in. Carla was in the props room and Rex had no idea who she was talking to.

      ‘Did you see her before? All over Rex like a rash. I can see it happening during the live shows too. She’ll turn Grease into a sordid R-rated affair instead of a fun romp through 50s adolescence. She has no self-control. No shame. She is so trashy.'

      Rex leaned against the wall, next to the doorway. Fortunately, the corridor was deserted. Everyone, it seemed, had left apart from himself and the girls in the props room.

      The other girl finally spoke, 'She always seems kind of fashionable to me.' She sounded like another year-13 girl by the name of Wendy - one of the dancers for the show.

      'Oh, you know what I mean.'

      'Can she help it if she's hohhpelessly devohhhted to Rex Cassidy?'

      'Don't even think about singing that song!'

      Wendy began to sing one of the songs from the show but changed the words slightly. 'She's out of her head... hohhhpelessly devohhh...ted to Rehhhhx, hopelessly devohhh...ted to Re— '

      'Shut up! Devoted, my foot. She jumps into bed with every girl she possibly can.'

      'Rex is okay with it. I hear they like to team up together for threesomes.'

      Rex held back a chuckle.

      'I don't want to know!'

      Wendy giggled. 'I even hear rumours Vanessa and Maggie Matthews have a lesbian thing going, even though Maggie's supposedly straight. I guess she must be bi.'

      Carla huffed. 'Will you shut up about that? It's disgusting. Damn it, she is going to ruin the entire show. It should be me playing that role.'

      'You said if you got the part you were going to French kiss Rex during the last performance.'

      'I did not!'

      'Did so!’ said Wendy. Sounds like sour grapes to me.’

      Rex snickered. How would he react if the situation arose? It wouldn’t be difficult to pull away from someone as devious and manipulative as Carla, no matter how physically beautiful she was.

      Carla snorted. ‘What do you know? Nothing. It should be me in that part and you know it. If it wasn’t for that idiot Mr Ropata believing that fat moron Tucker Pyles, it would be me.’

      ‘Did Vanessa really punch you and give you that black eye?’

      ‘Yes! Of course. ‘

      Rex gritted his teeth over that lie.

      Çarla huffed. ‘Tucker Pyles is a lying jerk. You know what he’s like.’

      ‘True, but Vanessa’s so cool, calm and collected. She rarely loses her temper. I’ve never heard of her punching anyone.’

      ‘She cracked a guy’s kneecap at Rex’s 17th birthday party!’

      Wendy sighed. ‘That was a gang member who tried to assault her.’

      Rex shuddered at that memory.

      ‘Stop sticking up for her, will you? She’s not as nice as everyone thinks. She’s a dirty, conniving lesbian ho-bag and I’m going to see to it she isn’t going to be in that show.’

      Rex stiffened.

      ‘What are you going to do?’ asked Wendy.

      ‘Never you mind but she won’t be available for the show on Friday night. That’s a promise.’

      Rex’s blood boiled. His protective nature kicked in at the slightest hint of any threat made to his darling. He wanted to barge in there and confront Carla but he had to keep his cool. ‘Idle threats’, he muttered to himself. ‘She’s bitter, that’s all.’ Nevertheless, he suspected Carla might be the type to go through with her threats, especially after she had accused Vanessa of giving her a black eye when another girl had done it.

      ‘No,’ he told himself. ‘She’s a girl. I can’t intimidate a girl.’ He’d keep an eye on her and he’d warn Vanessa. As long as he was around, Carla would have no opportunity to cause her harm. He paused to listen once more but the two girls had shifted the conversation onto unrelated topics, nothing that interested him.

      He continued to the guy’s dressing room and came across a fellow cast member in the process of changing costumes.

      ‘Hey, Rex.’ His name was Brent O’Connell. ‘I reckon the show’s gonna be great. Coming along nicely. Hey, did you hear the news?’

      ‘What news?’

      ‘Ben Tamati is back in town.’

      ‘Great. That’s all we need.’ Rex thought back to how he had been mainly responsible for taking down Ben Tamati and his fellow drug dealers. Not only that but he’d had many run-ins with him before that, putting Ben in his place each time.

      Brent turned to face him with a grim look. ‘I’d watch my back. People have been saying he’s been loitering around near the school grounds. He might be after some payback.’

      ‘Thanks for the heads-up. I’ll be sure to keep an eye out for him.’ Rex went to his gear to prepare for his next scene but what Brent had told him made him uneasy. He could handle Ben if it came down to a one-on-one confrontation, but there was no knowing what he was capable of. He had gang connections and had proven he was willing to go to violent lengths to get what he wanted. It was the safety of his friends, which concerned Rex the most, particularly Vanessa’s.

      Rex breathed a deep sigh. There were problems on the horizon.

      CHAPTER 2:

      Ladies Man

      Rog Shepherd, or Sheep as most people knew him, rested from a tough work out at the local gym. He sat on a bench, breathing heavily after reps on the leg curls machine. He didn't normally come to the gym, especially not at 7:30 am on a weekday. Normally at this time, he was helping his father in the cowshed, however quite a few of his friends went to the gym, so he wanted to be there with them. If he didn't, he'd feel he was missing out on something.

      He scanned the room. Weaselly Pete Cook pumped a miserable 10 KGs up and down above his head at the shoulder press machine. Will Ullman, or Wal as they knew him, proved to be a lot more impressive, bench-pressing huge amounts of weight that even Sheep could not hope to lift. The brawny tough guy seemed to be doing it with little effort.

      Sheep's best pal Ginge took it semi-easy, spotting Rex Cassidy at the barbells. Ginge was a physical type himself but nowhere near as ripped as Rex, who put everybody to shame with his muscular forearms, solid chest and six-pack. This morning though, Rex had a muscle T-shirt on. The amount of weight Rex had on the bars would have impressed even an Olympic weightlifter. It was hard to believe he was only seventeen years old.

      Sheep's main attention belonged to Vanessa Danté at the treadmill and his eyes continually returned to her. How hot she looked in her shorts and sports bra. Hot was an understatement. It was an insult to call a goddess hot. She was so much more than that. He wished she wore something more revealing. Something that showed some cleavage like the Daenerys Targaryen costume she’d worn recently at the school fancy dress ball. He also wished she’d worn something tighter fitting below. A leotard would have been fantastic. But although Vanessa was an extrovert, she was no exhibitionist. It certainly was one

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1