The students who left Snookington Sixth Form College had a whole summer to wait for their results. Steve took the time to relax. There were not many jobs available in the village, so he could not earn any money. But he met up with friends and began to go out with the girl who almost got her bag stolen. They went on nights out and watched films at the cinema when she was not working in a bar job. Steve was enjoying the break and wanted to keep his distance from Gronk. But he heard some news which made him angry. Groate had been hanging around the bar where Steve’s girlfriend worked and asked her on a date. She refused, but Steve could not let this go. If it was not Gronk, then Groate would try to barge a way into his life. They were pushing buttons for a reaction. And this time they were going to get one. Steve was going to have it out with them.
Two evenings later, Steve walked over to the bar where his girlfriend worked. But he did not go inside. Looking over to his right, he saw a tall tree in a thicket. He walked over and parted the foliage. Moving inside, he leant against the tree and waited. The sky rumbled overhead. Dark clouds gathered. Before long, rain drops fell. Slowly at first, it soon settled into a downpour. Steve pulled the collars of his jacket up and folded his arms. The canopy provided some shelter, but the rain soon penetrated and landed on his shoulders.
He stayed for several hours in the pouring rain on that breezy Sunday evening. Steve was fuming. He had had enough. Staying still, he could see through the windows of the bar. The place was packed and noises of clinking glasses and talking poured into the car park outside. He looked at his watch. It was nearing closing time. Within ten minutes, waves of people trudged through the glistening puddles. Steve leant forward and scanned the groups. It was dark and the only light came from the bar windows.
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