CHERUB: The Syndicate

12: Mingle

It didn't take George long to get into a routine. After getting up early and going for a swim, he'd get through school by mucking around with Riley, then either go back to Riley's house or cycle over to the nearby park to hang out with some of the local kids. He'd made friends with a set of non-identical twins called Laurie and Kev who were a year older than him and had lived in the house opposite George's their whole lives, so they knew everything that went on. The only thing that frustrated George was that the older kids, who were more involved in the illegal stuff that seemed to be happening everywhere, wouldn't trust him and always clammed up when younger kids were nearby. He tried getting to know them by staying out late and being generous with his cash, but all he ever got was the occasional slap for his trouble.

The weather warmed up more as September went on, and it felt weird to George when he thought about it getting colder back in England. Instead of digging out his winter coat he was taking two showers a day and wishing he had more pairs of shorts. ASIS told them to take it slowly and not force anything, so he was happy just going to Riley's house and picking up any rumours he heard from Laurie, who always acted like a big man and boasted about anything he'd heard that was cool.

"There police were round here all day yesterday," Laurie said for the second time, getting a groan of annoyance from his brother. "Apparently it was a drugs bust."

"You've told me about a million other drugs busts and it's always just some old lady's cat in a tree," Kev complained.

"It was only a cat that one time," Laurie said defensively. "Anyway, this time I'm pretty sure. Some of the older guys were talking about it."

The Australian natives were used to the hot weather, but George was knackered from a PE lesson that afternoon at school and couldn't do much except lie on his back on the grass and try not to think about his shirt sticking to his back. "I'm still waiting for the day that they actually have a drugs bust, because it'll be the one time Laurie doesn't hear about it."

Kev laughed but Laurie gave George a dead leg. "When are you gonna introduce me to your sis?"

The only thing George really had going for him was the fact that everyone who'd seen Katie thought she was a total babe and kept asking him about her. It got tiresome quickly, but it was better than being ignored so George normally played along. Today he didn't have the energy, though, so he just shrugged. "Maybe when you stop being a skinny loser."

Kev spoke up before Laurie could lay down any more beats. "Are you free tomorrow night, George? Someone's having a barbie and a party and we have to go. You're not strictly invited, but we could sneak you in easily."

George sat up and shook the grass off his shirt. "Nah, I've gotta go to some work do of my aunt's. Been planned for ages, otherwise I'd just ditch it. A barbie sounds like more fun," he replied, mocking the way the Australian's said barbie.

"I thought you poms might have a tea party to go to," Laurie grinned. "Make sure you take a cake."

"It'll be boring, but what can you do?" George said, looking around. None of the older kids were around and he felt nasty all covered in sweat, so he grabbed his bike. "I'm gonna head home, wanna have a shower."

"Alright," Kev said, slapping him on the back as he jogged past to get his own bike. "Fancy a race?"

George won easily every time against the out-of-shape twins, but he thought it might be a little closer since he was feeling tired. "Let's do it. Laurie, you might as well walk, you'll be miles behind."

Laurie gave him the finger as George jumped onto his bike and pedalled away, legs working hard on the grass. Kev's longer legs gave him an advantage and by the time they were back on the tarmac of the road, he was almost out of sight, but he was going to tire before long and George was faster on the hard surface.