Not Set In Stone

Inconsistencies

After what she had seen and heard the day before, Lizzie's opinion on you was of uncertainty. At school she hears so many bad things about you that involve the group you associate with and then the trouble you get up to, but then with what she saw during the meet up with the gang showed that you almost seek validation; you took pride from being praised and even accepted a task of shoplifting even though you were on thin ice with the law. It made Lizzie wonder what more there was to this whole situation, but then came the next morning at school.

Your arrival through the school gates sparked a lot of conversation. For starters your face was all bruised with a black eye from the "induction" of Tyrone the day before, Lizzie still couldn't believe that the way to introduce people was to beat each other up, but was that the only reason? Well your face definitely sparked conversation as some students muttered about you getting into another fight apparently.

"Christ, how does he even take it? It'd be impressive if it wasn't so messed up" one student said but Lizzie was apparently the only one to notice the way you were walking, a limp in your step as you walked by. You gave a sideways glance, recognising her from the day before and gave a look that told her to stay away from you in no uncertain terms. But really it all peaked her curiosity more as she wondered if you did try to go along with the job you were given the day before, she did call the police to say something may happen and she believed it would deter you but you didn't seem to hold any respect for the law to begin with. Would the police really scare you away?

That was all in the morning; it was later in the day when Lizzie found out something else. She was walking down a corridor where she once again ran into you, in the literal sense as well, which led to you both falling on the floor. You cursed at the impact before looking up to tell Lizzie to watch where she was going but saw her staring at your ankle.

You slowly looked to see your ankle was exposed and there was a gash in your skin. Seeing Lizzie staring at your wound made you stand up and hide it as she asked what happened but you told her to mind her own business, that it didn't concern her but for her to watch where she was going next time. You tried to leave but Lizzie stopped you as she quickly stood up and spoke again, saying something that she shouldn't have as it gave away just how long she had been following the day before.

"I didn't see any knives or any attacks to your ankles when you were fighting that guy" she said and you paused, turning back to face her as she covered her mouth. "How long were you following me for?" You asked and Lizzie knew she had no way out of having to explain so she admitted that she followed you since school ended, that she saw a lot that hints you weren't as bad as people make you out to be.

"You don't know anything about me, you don't know what you saw, you don't even know me so I'll tell you now to just stay the hell away from me! The people I hang around aren't people you want to mess with" you spoke in a low voice before again going to leave only for Lizzie's mouth to run again as she said how the people you hang around with only use you to commit the crimes they don't want to. Again you were brought to a halt at this as Lizzie's words made you realise something.

Slowly, you turned to face her again with a sceptical look in your eyes. "There shouldn't have been any police there, did you grass on me?" You spat as you fully spun to face her and Lizzie held up her hands to say that she just thought it would deter you. You were on thin ice with the police, very thin ice so you had to be careful not to get in trouble. That was her excuse; she was just trying to help you.

"Well I didn't ask for your help, I don't want your help, I don't even know who the fuck you are so stay away from me! I caught my leg on a jagged piece of a fence trying to get away from the police because of you!" You hissed as you made sure your wound wasn't visible. But Lizzie didn't leave it there; "you actually went through with the job? Even with the risk?" She questioned as you narrowed your eyes.

"What I do is nothing that concerns you, stay the hell away from me" you spoke lowly before turning around and walking away, leaving Lizzie where she was standing as you barged past some students who were staring. You were reckless, a danger to yourself really if you still went through with jobs when there were dangers, but why were you so insistent on it? You told Lizzie very firmly for her to stay out of your business and stay away from you but will she listen? No, there is just too much to this than what's on the surface. There was something more to you and for some reason it peaked her interest.

And so it came to the end of the day and yet again Lizzie followed you to where your group meets up, making sure she was much more discrete this time as she watched you discuss with the leader how it may have gone down with a hitch but you did do what he asked. You handed J.C three bottles of alcohol, saying that you may have gotten more had the police not been there.

"Well it's enough for now, you did good" J.C praised and you grinned before it fell as you were told to head home for the day, your expression turning to confusion as you asked why that was. "Surely I should be able to stay after I get the beer, right?" You asked but was told that if the police are watching you then it could bring them to the doorstep. "Just let the heat cool a bit and you can stay for longer, don't be a stranger or anything, you're one of my most loyal guys so I ain't kicking you out, you're a valued member of the group, just let things calm a little, alright?" J.C spoke, saying the right words in calling you a "valued member" of the group even if it was a little disappointing that you had to go.

But you did as you were told, leaving the meet up place and started to make your way home. Lizzie was in two minds of what to do; follow you or stay and listen to what else was said by J.C. She chose to follow you in the end and you soon arrived to your house where you stood outside for a moment, hand on the doorknob as you saw the silhouette of someone through the window which made you grumble.

Lizzie was hidden around the corner as she watched before the soft noise of a cat meowing was heard, you and Lizzie looking to see a cat jump on the wall near your door. It was a cute, blue-based caramel Tabby which mewled quietly as it looked to you.

Lizzie looked at you, wondering if you were going to scare it off but was surprised as she saw a soft smile on your lips as you stepped to the cat. "Hey there, buddy" you spoke gently as you reached a hand to pet the cat on the head, it nuzzled against your hand as it purred before looking up at you. It looked to see your bruised up face and you chuckled, saying it was nothing as you had a small conversation with the feline which let you pet it for a little longer before you decided you should head inside.

"Well, run along little fella, this is no place for a cat, a dangerous thug you know?" You laughed a little before shaking your head as you stepped back, the cat hopping off the wall and brushing around your leg as if asking to come with you and you laughed. "No can do, can't have pets" you said before lifting the cat back onto the wall where it hopped down on the other side and left.

Lizzie watched from her hiding place as you smiled a little more before turning back to the door to your house and letting your face steel again before you entered the house. She didn't stay for too long after that, taking a moment to ponder on what it was she just witnessed with the interaction with the cat. That was not the behaviour of someone who was a violent thug, neither was the fact you seemed to be seeking validation from your peers. Lizzie was right when she thought there was more to this whole thing, she was right to keep tailing you.

There were just too many inconsistencies.