A Thorn In The Flesh

The Debt

Emily's p.o.v

Tradition is something I take very dear to my heart, it makes me feel sane, like how every year on my mother's birthday my father and I spend the night watching her favorite movie and eating her favorite meal, we do it in remembrance of her. She died when I was twelve right before I was about to start a new school year, she always walked me into school.

Some people find it embarrassing but I always loved it. That year I stood in front of the school and stared at the door. I just couldn't walk in, not on my own. Nathan walked in with me and promised he always would, that was how this tradition started but as usual, a girl is more important than anything. Luckily Zeke was there and we went in together. It hurt more than usual today because I really wanted to tell Nathan something, maybe this is a sign, a sign that I shouldn't talk to him about it yet. 

"Ouch" I wince as I hit my head on the door to the library. Walking and thinking isn't something I'm good at, it's time for lunch but being in the library seems more appealing. I caress the spot on my head that I had just hit and make my way into the library but I suddenly feel a pull on my shirt, there's only one person who does that.

"What do you want? Simon" 

Simon and I used to be friends for a while but for some reason he stopped talking to me, this is the first time in two years that he is speaking to me.

He gestures for me to follow him, which I do, he leads me to a secluded part of the school and I start to regret my decision

"Simon, what are we doing here?" I ask observing the area, it's extremely scanty, there's zero sign of life here

" We have to talk" 

My face scrunches up in confusion 

"Talk about what? We haven't spoken for over two years and suddenly out of the blue, you want us to talk. Boy bye " I try to walk away but he stops me by blocking my path, I move backward.

He takes a threatening step toward me
"Your dad owes my dad"

I shift back again, not liking the feeling of the atmosphere

"Okay"

He takes another step and uses a hand to trap me by the wall.

"Tell him to pay back today or else you're going to have to pay" he snarls. My breathing starts to increase and I shift causing my back to have an impact with the wall. I look up into his eyes and shiver at the seriousness in his stare.

"Don't you think this is unnecessary, our parent's business is none of our business, we should leave them to settle it themselves for the sake of old times "

His other hand grabs my shirt by the collar and he lifts me off my feet. 

 "Forget the old times, they mean nothing to me, just make sure your dad pays his debt. Don't make this harder than it already is" 

I look into his eyes and see that doing this is hard for him, maybe he is being forced by his father, my eyes soften as the pain in his eyes becomes more evident, he notices this and his look becomes extremely cold in an instant. He tightens his grip on my shirt collar making it hard for me to breathe.

I struggle to get his hand off me but he has such a strong hold it's impossible to free myself.

"I get it okay. You can let go of me now" I mutter

"Fine" he lets go of my collar and I fall to the floor, he smirks and walks off. I dust off the back of my skirt as I stand up, my neck hurts, I massage it with one hand and use the other to bring out my phone. I rest my back on the wall and dial my father's number, he picks it up almost immediately.

"What's up Emily, Is something wrong?" 

"Not really. Simon just came up to me and said something about you owing his dad"

He clears his throat a little

"Yeah that's a long story, I'll figure something out and pay him back"

"Is there a way you can get the money by tomorrow?"

"I'm sorry dear except for a miracle there's no way I can get that amount by tomorrow"

"Dad please you have to"

"Honey there's no way"

"You have to. What on earth did you need money for so bad that you had to borrow from his family, you know how brutal they are"

"I didn't want to tell you but things at the office have been slow recently and I haven't been paid for a while, I needed the money for your school fees and to put food on the table. I hope Simon didn't lay a hand on you, if he did there's no limit to what I'll do to them, borrowing money from them doesn't give them the right to hurt you"

My eyes start to well up with tears, I suck them and try to be strong, I had no idea my dad was having financial problems, I'm such a bad daughter.

"Don't worry dad, he didn't touch me, he just happened to mention it while we were chatting. Just keep on working hard. Love you dad"

"Love you too, see you after school"

"Okay dad"

I end the call and stare at my phone, Simon wasn't one to mess with, I know cause those days we were close I had first-hand knowledge of the mean things he did but not once did I think I'd be on the receiving end of his ruthlessness. Just thinking of what he would do to me makes my skin crawl and not in a good way.

I tuck my phone back into my pocket and head back to class, I take a seat and rest my head on my desk. I feel someone sit beside me and I look up, seeing Nathan I rest my head back on the desk. Maybe I should talk to him about it, he might have a solution that doesn't involve me getting picked on. I raise my head once more but before I can say anything to Nathan, he starts a conversation with Emma and they start laughing over something. I turn my head to the other side to talk to Zeke but he is fully engrossed in a sketch he is making.  

I let out a sigh and position my head on the desk once again.