This conversation was going downhill fast. And though in theory Lizzie liked it when Tucker showed a bit of spirit, it was quite another matter when he was just being objectionable because he knew he was on the wrong.

And he was this time. Completely in the wrong. First of all, he’d played that stupid trick on her to make her look like a fool (That was it! She’d forgotten in the midst of everything else) and then he starts on about her clothes. As if she’d ever worn anything more outrageous than a tight sweater! And now he was heading well beyond the pale.

"I don't look like a bloody slob," he snarled.

“I never said ye do. I said I dinna want ye tae.” Trust him to mess things up.

"And if anyone is trying to run anyone's life, if you! …The whole bloody school knows you think me a dunce!"

“Now just a wee minute, laddie…” Lizzie was finding it progressively harder to keep from pulling her knife on him.

"And they all know you're walking about scheduling my every minute down to when I can take a piss!"

“As if I’d do such a thing!”

"And now you're saying I gotta dress like the damn Prince of Wales himself? …And, for the record," he added, entirely no longer caring about his sandwich, which showed how angry he was, "it weren't just Joel! The whole bloody lot of lads watched you bounce your assets about."

“First of al’..” And then Lizzie stopped. So that was it. He was jealous! You’d think he’d be proud seeing as how he was the only one who ever got close tae seeing those assets up close and personal, but who could understand the workings of a boy’s mind?

“Do ye ken what you sound like?” She asked as reasonably as she could manage. “You sound like somebody who thinks far too much about ye rain sel’.” She tapped her finger nails on the table top.

“Tell me, Tucker, when did I last mention your study schedule? Because ye’ve clearly forgotten, I’ll tell ye: the day I offered it tae you. The day you told me you’d do just fine, and I let it lie. Admittedly, because I thought I’d give you enough rope and see if ye hanged yersel’ but still. I’m glad tae say I was wrong.” She flashed a little smile at him. “Oh! I tell a lie. I asked ye once if it was a help at al’. Ye didn’ae answer as I recall, so I let it go. That was the last time.” She pointed her finger at him, looking down it like the barrel of a gun.

“And when was the last time I asked you about yer homework? The day before yesterday, when I wanted tae know if ye’d have time tae come down here. Tucker, you ask me about my homework more than I do you. But because I made an effort tae help, now I’m some kind of harpy, am I? You think on, laddy. I worry about you. And come tae think on it, why should you care what the boys say? They aren’t me. They aren’t yer mother, who is the one you’ve got tae impress. Not me, Tucker. Ye’ve no got tae impress me. I love you just fine as ye are.” She paused. “And I dinna think ye’r a dunce.Ye don’t apply yersel’ but ye’r no dunce.”

She was calming down now, and felt all the better for it. Silly boy. He just didn’t know when he was well off. Well, she’d show him, though it would take time.

“We started this discussion about you trying tae make a fool of me, and you were the one who brought up how I dress.” She picked up the left over half of his sandwich and took a bite. “You were the one tae bring up my titties, which you think entirely too much about, in my opinion. They’re just breasts, Tucker.” She made a face and put down the sandwich. What on earth was he eating? Shaking her head, she went back on the offensive.

“So don’t go getting’ on yer high horse, because I won’t jump through the hoops fer ye, Tucker. If you think I’ll change the way I dress just tae please you….” She let it hang for a second. “Yer right. That’s just what I’ll do.” After all, she had no intention of showing off her bosom anytime in the near future.

“But fair’s fair.” She smiled at him again, feeling on top of the argument now. “You want me tae keep my boobies covered up? I shall do so. But I’m asking for a quid pro quo. I’m no asking for the Prince of Wales, Tucker. Just for you tae make an effort. You say the boys talk about me? Well, the girls talk about you , too, ye ken. And what they say isn’t al’ that flattering. So think on. I’ll nix the tits, and you pul’ yer socks up.”

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