CHERUB: Knight

5: Circle

The next day Michael actually got up for school, not bothering with a tie or blazer.

"I'll be back later on if you wanna hang," Michael said, shrugging. "Don't know what this school's like but I'll give it a try."

It rained all morning so there was a wet playtime indoors. George wanted to stretch his legs, but he was left playing draughts with two of the pieces missing after lunch. He was starting to make friends with a boy called Charles, who seemed friendly enough and better yet, had a PlayStation. They were discussing FIFA and making a pyramid out of draught pieces by the end of lunchtime and George wondered if he'd be able to go to Charles' house sometime.

After school he waited as usual for Josh and Javid to arrive, but when they did it was only Javid, and he had a black eye.

"You!" he yelled from halfway down the road, pointing at George. "Little grass, just wait until I get my hands on you."

George immediately twigged that Michael must have given him the black eye and then Javid had put two and two together. He turned on his heel and set off at a sprint in the opposite direction, heading for a gaggle of mums who were there to pick up their kids. It was a fair distance, though, and Javid closed most of the gap by the time George breathlessly pulled up next to them. All of the women gave him suspicious looks, but they were more inclined to sympathy for a nine-year-old in primary school uniform than an older kid who looked rough.

"They've got to leave eventually," Javid said nastily, stamping hard on George's foot. "Then you're mine."

Silently cursing Michael, George decided he might as well get in some licks. "Who gave you the black eye? Was it a girl?"

Javid spat in his direction but didn't reply.

"What about Josh? Too scared?" George knew he was just getting Javid more riled, but he didn't want to seem weak, and if Javid lashed out with adults around he wouldn't be able to deliver such a beating.

"Shut up, you little shit," Javid snarled, grabbing a bunch of George's jumper. "I'm going to knock seven bells out of you just as soon as-"

His sentence was interrupted by one of the teachers storming out of the nearby classroom and giving Javid the evil eye.

"Just what are you doing, young man? I suggest you leave this boy alone and go straight home, or I'll call the head."

"I'm not one of yours," Javid said contemptuously, pointing to the school crest on his blazer. "Does this look like a primary school jumper?"

George noted that Javid was actually wearing a coat over his blazer which had obscured the blazer, but he decided not to comment. Taking his chance, he set off at a sprint towards Scarborough Block, hoping that the teacher would keep Javid from coming after him for long enough.

He only managed to get a few hundred yards and across two roads before Javid caught up, punching him hard in the back. George staggered for a few steps, his heart in his mouth, but caught his balance and ducked into a doorway. It only bought him a couple of seconds, and with hindsight he realised it was stupid because a beating on the street was more likely to draw attention.

Grinning like the Cheshire Cat, Javid stepped after him and tried to grab him around the neck. George squirmed away and gave the older boy a two-handed shove, but Javid kept his grip and pulled George into a headlock.

"Time for pain!" he said with glee, glancing a punch off the side of George's head. It didn't connect with much force, but it cracked him right on the bony part of his head and hurt like the devil.