Excerpt: The Alligator Man II: Crocodile Tears

Tey’s musing meant she wasn’t taking full notice of her surroundings, which had a lot to do with what happened next. Tey had wandered over towards the field events tryouts, and a stray javelin from and inexperienced thrower came sailing toward her. Many eyes around the field picked up on the impending impaling, but not Tey; she was looking the other way.
“WATCH OUT!” was the first thing she heard shouted at her, a young man’s voice, full of warning. Tey stopped and looked around quickly, but still didn’t pick up the danger. She remembered later the sound of heavy footfalls on grass, and then her world turned sideways as she was born to the ground by a heavy body.
Tey shook her head as her eyes refocused, and found herself looking up into the brightest blue eyes she’d ever seen. The eyes belonged to a ruggedly handsome young man, soft, wavy, brown hair, almost gentle eyebrows and longish lashes, moderate length nose covered in the most delightful smattering of freckles, soft-looking full lips, a strong jaw and high cheekbones rounded out his face. He was the most gorgeous young man Tey had ever seen, and he was lying on top of her, looking down with the cutest concerned look she’d ever seen. Her body began to react unbidden, and from the pressure about her thighs, so was his. He seemed to realise this at about the same time, and rolled off her and flowed up into a crouch.
“Sorry about that,” he said, “ah you alright?”
“Ih think so” Tey said, “once mah head stops spinnin’. That was some tackle. Ih suppose youh had a good reason for it, besides lackin’ anah bettah way to get to meet me, that is?” Tey was quite surprised at how cool and together she sounded.
“Um, yeah,” the young man said, “my name’s Quin Flintoff, and I believe I just prevented you from being skewered by a javelin.” Tey glanced behind Quin, and saw the javelin sticking out of the ground. Her face paled slightly and she swallowed hard.
“Um, well thanks,” she said, “my names Tey. Nicetameetcha.” They shook hands, and the contact sent a little shiver of pleasure up Tey’s spine. She also noticed that his iris’s dilated at the same time. Was there something there, or... It was about then that a crowd of teachers and students from the other end of the sports field arrived on the scene. Everyone tried to talk at once, but finally a burly PE teacher waded to the front of the crowd, and looked down on the sprawled couple.
“Quieten down you lot! Now, are youh two alright?” asked the PE teacher. When they both nodded, he seemed to visibly relax.
“An’ just what weah youh doin’ wanderin’ across mah javelin range, young lady?” he asked in an equally burly voice. Tey began to blush as she realised everyone was looking at her, and some of them were realising just who they were looking at.
“Ih’m terribly sorry, um,” Tey stopped when she realised she didn’t know this teacher’s name.
“Mr Cooper,” the burly Mr Cooper offered burlily.
“Well Ih’m sorry I interrupted your sports practice,” Tey said, dusting the grass off her clothes and standing. “Ih was lookin’ ovah the fence an’ thinkin’, an’ didn’t notice tha javelin practice.”
“Well in future, young lady, it would be in youah best interests to keep an eye on what is going on around you,” Mr Cooper lectured her gently. Tey nodded dutifully. “Why if it wasn’t for Quin heah...” Mr Cooper reached down and hauled Quin roughly to his feet – Quin hadn’t stopped admiring Tey from his position on the ground since their handshake – and wrapped a large, hairy arm around the young man’s shoulders, “... youh’d be blonde on a skewer!” There was some good natured laughter at this, and small conversations began to break out at the back of the group. Cooper dropped his arm, not wanting any rumours to start circulating.
“Well thank youh foah youah concern, Mr Cooper, an’ thank youh again, Quin, foah comin’ to mah rescue,” Tey said, and, in what was almost as much of a shock to her as it was a surprise to Quin, she leaned in and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. Her lips, where she’d contacted Quins skin, tingled delightfully, and she saw his iris’s open right up at the contact. This elicited a few whistles and cat calls, and Quin’s surprised look took on a ruddy tinge as he realised he was on the spot.
“Ah yeah, any time, Tey,” he said in a loud voice, to be heard over the rising background voices. On the mention of her name, the crowd went silent, and some people even gasped. Tey suddenly became aware that they’d just collectively realised she was the Tey in the newspaper article. Tey’s heart sank as they all collectively took a step back. All besides Quin, that was. Either he hadn’t read the article, had missed all the gossip, or just didn’t care.
“Well, Tey, youh be sure to watch wheah youh ah wanderin’ in future, and...” Mr Cooper hesitated for a moment – he knew too, “stay safe.” He turned away. “Okay youh lot, grab youah javelins an’ head back to tha throwin’ line. Group two is up, as soon as the field is cleahed.” The students all headed away in small knots and groups, many casting furtive glances at Tey as they headed off. Quin wasn’t quite sure what to do, but the decision was made for him when several jock buddies jogged up and invited him to practice forward passing with them. He gave Tey a quick wave, and jogged away with them.
Tey was amazed by how she felt as she watched Quin’s retreating form. She’d never felt like this before, and it was a revelation to her. She’d spent time around many guys in the past, but none had had this sort of effect. Admittedly she’d never got that close to an available guy – Jeb didn’t count. She would have to see if she could spend some more time with this Quin fellow, but that would have to wait. Realising the moment had passed, Tey sighed and wandered back the way she had come, and straight into the waiting clutches of the Ice Queens.