Gronk became obsessed with Steve Nobody’s backpack. It was green and khaki, and looked military. But he never left it unattended, not even near the lockers. No matter how close Gronk got, the backpack was always either by Steve Nobody’s feet or on his back. He never even left the zips open to enable a furtive glance inside. It was beginning to annoy the hell out of Gronk. He began to stake out Steve’s movements. It was relatively easy as Gronk was often posing in the College corridors. He missed lessons as standard practice, but now he used his time to recce Steve Nobody’s movements. Gronk dreamed of a high-flying career as a spy. And his secretive observations in the corridors of Snookington Sixth Form College proved to him that career choice was a serious option. In any event, Gronk knew missing lessons enhanced his image and enabled him to hang out with the Posheys.
Gronk wrote down Steve’s movements in a small notebook. Success would be down to preparation, so he recorded which lessons he had and where. During break periods, it seemed his prey either stayed in the canteen or around the lockers. And he was always with friends. Usually one or two, but sometimes a bigger group of about ten congregated. Gronk glowered when it was so obvious Steve had a large group of friends. He was either laughing here or chatting there. It made him reflect on his own friend group, if he could call it that. The only person he really talked to was Barry Groate. They had similar interests, such as image and social advancement. And they both lied to embellish conversations. On good days, really good days, Gronk was on the periphery of Fathead’s gang of Posheys and even chipped into the conversation if an opportunity arose.
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