Young Eco Warrior

This is actually the first chapter of a novel I'm writing for
teenagers, but I think it stands pretty well on its own.

YOUNG ECO WARRIOR

Nathan lay on his bed and gazed at the pages before him. They told him
about standing up and shouting for what he believed in, about making
his voice heard, starting anti-litter campaigns in his local community,
nagging his parents to recycle, writing to his MP about environmental
problems. He turned the page, to a chapter entitled 'Start an
Eco-warriors' Club!'

In the next room, Bella lay on her bed and gazed at the pages before
her. They were glossy and filled with tips on make up, and 10 WAYS TO
GET THE BOY OF YOUR DREAMS! and pictures of beautiful topless male
models.

Nathan's brown eyes suddenly peered at her from over the magazine. She
jumped.

"Knock!" she commanded.

"I did, you didn't hear me."

"Well, you should've knocked again? I might have been naked," she said
with a smirk, trying to shock him.

"If you were naked," he said calmly, "you would have heard me
knock."

She threw a pillow at him. He dodged it and grinned.

"Smartarse. What d'you want."

He held up the book.

"D'you want to be in my eco-warriors' club?"

"Eco-warriors' club?" Bella raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.

"Yeah, it'll be great! I'm going to start an anti litter
campaign."

She sighed and looked down at the magazine. 'If there's one colour to
be seen in this summer it's red-'

"Bella!"

"No."

He hung his head.

"Why?"

"Because it's stupid."

"Don't you care about what's going on in the world?" he asked
plaintively.

She put the magazine down.

"Of course I do, I just don't want to be in your club."

He lifted the book. "But we can make a difference, Bella, we can stop
people messing up the world!"

"Yeah, right. Look, I'm busy, I don't have time for litter campaigning
and all that."

He gazed at her mournfully. Puppy dog eyes. Nathan could win an award
for the most heart-breaking gaze. It was like he'd walked off a poster
for Childline.

"But you used to do this all the time with me."

She picked up the magazine again, and flicked through it
absentmindedly.

"Exactly. Used to. It's kids' stuff, I don't do that sort of thing any
more- and stop looking at me like that! It's no big deal, you can do it
with Tanya."

More mournful gazing from Nathan.

"Please?"

"No! Get out of here, alright?"

He turned and marched out of the door, suddenly angry. But Bella heard
him mutter sulkily as he left.

"Stupid grown-up."

Bella sighed, and turned to the Problem Pages, looking for a problem
called 'we're growing apart and there's nothing I can do. Help!'

Of course, there was none.