x_project | 2015...

With apolgies to

indiana_j, and well, everyone, because I seem to have come up with a nightmare future here, if you read between the lines...

"Oh for fuck's sake! How bastard stupid is everyone?" Pete ground his cigarette out, and turned back to his keyboard, muttering under his breath.

"No, you do not get to do that in my school. No fucking chance. I'll see the bloody lot of you in my study this afternoon..."

There was a knock at the door.

"It's bloody open!" Pete yelled, not looking round.

"Mom said you had to get away from the computer. She said you'd hurt your eyes if you didn't take a break."

Pete turned round, smiling, to look at the young redhead who'd let herself in, but didn't move away from the computer.

"That's not what she said, is it?"

Rachel giggled. "No, she said 'Tell that useless sassenach that if he doesn't get some fresh air today, I'll use th' special instruments the next time he needs a check-up'". Her imitation of her mother's accent was spot on.

"And what do we say to that?" Pete aked as he used one hand to turn his chair around.

Rachel checked the corridor behind her, looking round conspiratorially.

"Naff off, you addled Scottish baggage, I'll take a break when I'm good and ready!", the pair of them said in unison, laughing.

"Alright, sunshine, if she sent you, she probably means it. I suppose I'd better take a break. What d'you think to keeping me company on a stroll round the grounds?"

The ten-year-old grinned at him impishly as she walked over. "What do I get in exchange?"

Pete rolled his eyes. "You have entirely too many aunts, and every last one of them is a bad infulence, you know. In exchange, I will tell you what happened when your Dad was first introduced to my big sister."

"Deal." Rachel grinned, took hold of the handles of the chair with her mind, and, walking beside him, wheeled Pete out of the room.