Ms. Caroline Jones was writing about the life and times of William Shakespeare on the blackboard. Her English class had been studying ‘Romeo and Juliet’ so she was providing them with some background information. As usual, Karl, Simon, Chris and David sat in the front row of desks, diligently copying the notes into their folders. Each of these students came prepared and ready to work for every lesson. Caroline looked forward to taking up their work and reading their insights.

The back row was her concern. There was seldom anything about this group of students that she looked forward to.

For the third time that lesson, she turned and spoke sharply to the new student who had arrived only two days earlier.

‘Will you stop talking and please do some work!’ she implored him.

The teenager looked at her with something like amusement in his remarkably blue eyes. He picked up his pen and exaggeratedly poised it over his paper. Ms. Jones sighed as she resumed writing on the board. At least the handsome newcomer had pretended to follow her instruction. A number of the boys in her class barely acknowledged her when she spoke to them. Caroline had hoped this new kid was going to be less work than the four worst trouble-makers in her English class. He had transferred from another school. Apparently he was estranged from his parents and lived with his older brother who had become his legal guardian. Any sympathy Caroline had initially felt for him had disappeared when he had instantly fallen in with the ‘bad seeds’ in her class. He had been nothing but difficult since the moment he had arrived.

Suddenly a crash accompanied by laughter came from the back of the room. Turning, Caroline saw Alex Jackson (or AJ as he was known to the others) and the new student wrestling on the floor.

‘That’s it!’ Caroline exclaimed in exasperation. ‘Alex and Joe! Go straight to the office!’

The two boys continued to laugh, collected their books, and sauntered out. As he left the classroom, Joe Hardy made sure the English teacher was looking directly at him when he blew her a cheeky kiss.