Chris gets a text so switches his attention back to his phone, but he finds himself sneaking looks at Jamie. He can't figure the guy out. He seems shy, but he wasn't afraid to confront a group of guys or to ask Chris a question that could start a fight.

Kelly, Cassy, and Sarah come back all smiling and sit down together between Chris and Jamie.

"Aren't you burning up?" Cassy asks her brother.

"Bit," Jamie answers without taking his eyes off his book.

Cassy rolls her eyes. "Then take off your shirt, dope."

"Boys," Kelly adds with a laugh.

"You'll be cooler," Sarah says timidly.

Jamie puts his book down and starts removing his shirt. Chris wonders if he's doing it to keep Sarah happy. She's at least eighteen. It wouldn't be out of line for Jamie to like her. He's been her hero today, but Chris feels a pang of jealousy, and it's not over Sarah, as pretty as she is.

Chris clenches his jaw when Jamie's shirt comes off. He doesn't have the kind of body Chris expected of a drama student, but he guesses that's his own prejudice talking. Jamie isn't huge and buff. He's lean but all muscle, and his back is covered in tattoos: a flock of bats on one side and a raven sitting on a clock in the other. They're amazingly detailed, and Chris is glad he's not the only one staring.

Kelly breaks the silence. "Oh, wow. Cassy never said you had ink."

"Do you have any more?" Sarah asks, and Chris can't help having the same curiosity, probably for the same reason.

"A few," Jamie says, going back to his book. He doesn't seem to notice the way Sarah looks at him.

"He's not showing those," Cassy adds, and Jamie nods.

"Didn't you say your parents wouldn't let you get a tattoo?" Kelly asks Cassy.

"Not till I'm eighteen, like he was." Cassy sighs.

"Nice artwork," Chris offers, because it is, and he doesn't want to be at odds with Jamie just because he's a high bookworm, drama club kid, and Chris is a football player, one of the popular kids.

"Thanks." Jamie nods, but Chris can see a trace of surprise on his face.

"Chris has a tattoo," Kelly says with clear glee.

"Where?" Sarah and Cassy ask at the same time and then laugh, but Chris can see them all looking at his bare unmarked chest and back and lower legs.

"No comment," Chris says, looking down at his phone as a way to hide.

"Is it naughty?" Sarah suddenly seems more interested, giving him the same interested look as she'd given Jamie, but Chris isn't getting involved. Sarah's a pretty girl, but Chris doesn't want to fight with Jamie over her if the other man is interested.

"It's on his ass," Kelly announced, and Cassy snorts a laugh.

Chris groans. "Thanks, Kelly."

"That's what little sisters are for."

"What's it of?" Sarah asks.

"Why your butt?" Cassy adds.

Chris sighs. "My team mascot. We all got it, and I didn't want my parents to see. Besides it's not very cool. It's a dolphin."

The girls giggle, but Jamie doesn't react, and Chris feels confused. He can't work out what kind of guy Jamie is. He just knows he's attracted to him.