Cindy1897 - Thank you! :)


CHAPTER SIX

The brothers stepped out of the Bullworth grounds, Dan immediately walking over to the bike rack by the gates.

"What are you doing, Dan?"

"Getting my bike, genius. We're going to that prick Tad's house, don't just stand there, climb on."

"I would have thought the P-Prepth would have been at Harrington Houthe? I need to apologithe to all of them and they might not all be at Tad'th houthe."

"If you were cool enough, then you would have heard about the party Tad's throwing. His parents are away, so he's throwing a house-party. Of course, us peasants aren't allowed to come." He sneered. "Not like I'd turn up there anyway, I'd rather give up football than ever be friendly with one of those jackasses."

"You do talk about football a lot… Why don't we get the buth? It'th eathier."

"Oh, does little Thaddy not know how to ride a bike? Hurry up and get on behind me, you freak."

"It'th o-okay, Danny. I'll g-get mine, it'th by the O-Obthervatory."

"Not anymore, it's not."

"Wha-" Thad was stunned into silence by the sight of Lucky gunning down the road towards Bullworth Town, riding his bicycle!

"Damn greatherth! Thtealing my bicycle! Well, I'll get them back for thith! Jutht they wait till I get my yardthtick!"

"Thad, move it! I have football practice later and there's no way Burton will let me play if I'm late. I don't want to be benched." He gestured furiously to behind him, his usual rough tone deepening, his anger at his brother's slowness evident. Thad hunched more into himself and scuttled over to the bike, swinging his leg over and resting his palms onto the sides of the seat. He tucked his legs up so they were off the ground, whilst Dan slowly steered the bike away from the rack and onto the road. He pushed off and quickly picked up speed, Thad clutching onto the seat tighter and tighter each passing second.

"D-Danny, you're going too fatht!"

"No, I'm not! Anyway, you always say about the speed of lightning, so why don't we test it?"

"No, no, no! You're going to kill uth both! Thtop!"

"Shut up. Stop being such a baby! You should have kept better hold of your bike, but because you're such an idiot, you let one of those greaseballs steal it!"

"You're the one pedalling recklethly, we're going to crathh! I'm not an idiot, I have a higher IQ than you, it's been proved!"

"I don't care, nerd. Now, hold on, cause if you fall off, I'm not stopping to come and get you. We're taking a shortcut."

Thad was tempted to scream, but if anyone heard screaming and associated the noise with him, or worse, be witness to him making all that noise, then the rest of his school year would be extra-hellish. The bike whizzed down the 'shortcut', a steep rocky drop that lurched his heart into his throat. They bumped back onto solid gravel and Thad wiggled his fingers under the seat, sweat temporarily marking the spaces the fingers had taken up.

Arriving at Tad's house a few minutes later was miraculous to Thad. No crashes or sustained injuries. He was all in one piece. Swinging his leg over, Thad dusted himself down and peered up at the mansion stood beyond the closed gates. House music pumped from the open windows and laughter could be heard throughout the main section of the mansion.

"I'm surprised those pricks aren't listening to Beethoven or some shit. They preach about being 'posh', but judging from their taste in music, they're just like the rest of us." Dan, leaning his bike against the brick wall bordering the mansion, wrenched open the gates and strode forwards, leaving Thad to blink after him in wonder.

"W-What are you doing?"

Dan waited until he was near the steps leading up to the front door before turning his head round, shooting his brother a cocky smile. "Gatecrashing."

"Danny, wait!"

"Hurry up, wimp! You should be the one banging on the door to get their attention! But because I'm such a nice guy, I'll do it for you." He turned back towards the mansion, walking up the steps and banging his fist hard onto the wooden door.

"OI! TAD! IT'S DAN WILSON! THAD'S HERE TO APOLOGISE!"

The music lowered down a notch, and as Dan retreated down the steps, the front door was pulled open to reveal Tad Spencer, Preps filtering out around him onto the top step.

"Well, if it isn't the peasant who dared to disrespect me! Be warned, Carlson, I would have given you a bloody good beating, but I didn't want to tarnish my brand new boxing gloves."

"Paid for with Daddy's money." Dan mumbled under his breath.

"What was that?"

"Nothing." Dan shrugged his shoulders at Gord. "You must be hearing stuff."

"But I-"

"You heard nothing." Dan snapped in a bitter tone. "Now, can we sort this shit out? I've not got all day."

Thad gulped, his turn in the spotlight. Pacifying Tad was difficult, for he couldn't bribe him to look the other way, as the Spencers were drowning in cash. Materialistic items could be provided, but what did Tad need? He had everything!

Wracking his mind for a solution, Thad snapped his fingers in success. "Ah-ha! I promithe, Tad, that I will clean your entire houthe for a whole month."

"We already have a maid."

Thad waved a hand in dismissal. "Thend her on vacation. I'll do it all."

"Will you have time for that? You Nerds spend an awful lot of time in the Library."

"I-I'll be here, every day after thchool and on weekendth too, if needed!"

Tad frowned momentarily, before smoothing out his facial features into an impassive mask. "Very well. I accept your proposition. Wilson, you and your football team are challenged to a series of boxing matches against the finest boxing team in Bullworth. Do you accept on their behalf?"

"Course," Dan snorted. "We'll crush you."

Tad, taken back at this response, repeated Thad's action, waving them away. "This is private property, you have stated your business, leave now!"

"Calm down, rich boy." Dan rolled his eyes, sneering, whilst his brother stared at him as if he had grown another head. How could Dan act so nonchalant when confronted with verbal threats?! Shaking his head in fear, Thad headed towards the gates, only to stop in shock when something hit him in the back of his head.

Egg yolk splattered over his hair, dripping down into the collar of his jumper. Shuddering in disgust, Thad hunched his shoulders further and spun round to confront his brother.

"DANNY?! WHAT THE HELL?!"

Dan grinned back at him, small case of eggs secured between his hands. "Suits you, Thaddy boy."

"Thcrew you!" Spittle flew from his mouth, rage boiling his blood. Spitting out a curse, Thad turned back around and stomped off to the nearest bus stop, to wait for a bus to take him back to Bullworth Academy.