Influenced (A Keveridge fanfiction) *EDITING*

20

(Laurence's POV)
I set off once again to the alleyway, and to be fair, I was getting sick of seeing this place. Especially when I had to face someone I hated who'd I'd also done a deal with. Not a good combination.

My footsteps echoed as I stepped down the crumbling steps and back down into the alley. What fun to be back! Not. I heard dramatic coughing and could smell stale smoke as I wandered nearer to the familiar figure of Drew.
"Beveridge? Your back?" the boy wheezed, snapping his head up at me. The stale smoke smell was in fact a cigarette that Drew was smoking, and I'm guessing the coughing was the result of the smoking.
"Smoking's bad for you, Woolnough, especially at your age." I said, dodging his question and tutting.
Drew shrugged. "Nobody can stop me."
"Do your parents know?"
"They're the reason I got into this mess." Drew replied, patting the floor. Mess? What mess?

Drew must have realised what he said because his eyes grew wide and he shook his head rapidly.
"Um...forget I ever said anything...You didn't answer my question anyway." He said, a little nervously.
"What question?" I scoffed.
Drew rolled his eyes. "Why are you here?" He said this in a tone that made me sound like an idiot and as if the question was obvious.
"Oh right...yeah...Drew, I need that money back."
Better to say it there and then to get it over with. It obviously gave Drew a slight confusion, as his eyebrows were raised.
"What do you mean?"
"And you talk to me like I'm stupid," I muttered. "I mean I need that money. Well, Kier does actually."
Drew shrugged. "Well I need it more."
Stubborn much...
"Kier's going to be in trouble if he doesn't get this money." I explained, only to receive Drew shaking his head.
"Well my life will be in trouble if I don't have this money."
Why did Drew always have to talk in riddles. There was always too many questions to be asked when talking to Drew.
"Can you stop talking in riddles? Why do you need this? Why don't you just go home?"
"BECAUSE I CANT GO BACK!" he shouted, making the entire alleyway echo.
"Why not? Drew, just tell me because I need to know."
"You don't need to know! We're not friends!"
"Drew, what's going on?" I asked desperately.
"IM HOMELESS, OKAY?" he snapped, tears suddenly running down his face.
God, here comes the guilt once again!
"Y-you're homeless?"
"Oh don't act so surprised. I didn't go to school, I've been sat here all day and night, I'm a complete mess and I needed that money?"
And then it all came clear. Why I never found Drew. Why he needed the money.
"Oh Drew...I-I'm sorry..." I muttered, giving him a sympathetic smile.
"You weren't to have known. But now you know why I need that money."
I nodded understandingly. Maybe he was more desperate than Kier. Even if I did hate Drew, if he didn't have anything, his whole life could be at stake.
"I understand." I said, although I was desperate to pay Kier back. "I know this sounds cheeky but...could I borrow something just to pay Kier back?"
"Do you actually realise how desperate I am? I need all the money I can get, Beveridge."
"But Kier's desperate too." I said, realising my voice turned into a whine.
"Laurence, you stole that money for a reason. I can't just pay you back now. At least Kier's not homeless, is he?"
I sighed, admitting defeat. Why did Drew have to be so difficult?
"It's you who got yourself into this mess, Laurence. You didn't have to steal from Kier." Drew added.

"L-Laurence?" A soft voice called. I spun round and I swear, my worst nightmare was stood in front of me. Kier stood in front of me, his eyes wide and his mouth in the shape of an 'o'.
"Kier, I-"
Kier ran his hand through his fringe, trying to find something to say. Hopefully he hadn't heard that last bit, he could have been shocked about anything...?
"You heard that?" I asked.
Kier nodded and whispered, "All of it. Unfortunately."
"Ooh looks like you're in bother now, Laurence!" Drew said from behind.
"You can shut up." I muttered, not knowing what to say.
Kier unexpectedly came closer to me and took my hands. "Laurence...why?"
I sighed and squeezed Kier's hands. "I don't know..." was all I could whisper. I didn't want to go into the whole Drew made me do it thing.
"Laur, there must have been a reason. You've never done anything like this before." Kier said calmly.
I shook my head. "I've changed, Kier. You know I have."
Kier sniffed. "And you think it's right to do this?"
"I don't at all. I wasn't...thinking straight."
"Why did you have to change, Laurence?"

Why did I have to change? I don't think I can do this anymore...

"Kier, why aren't you mad at me? Shouldn't you be walking away from me?"
"Because, Laurence, I love you too much. I just want to know, why did you have to change?"
"I'm tired of being the loser. I don't want to do this anymore, Kier." I whispered. To my surprise, Kier hadn't flipped out yet. And to make it even more surprising, Kier started smiling. His hands came up to my face as he cupped it gently.
"Then I'm going to help you."