𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄, original story

seventeen, the familiar face

"I don't know, wear something cute. But not too cute, we don't want Dan wanting you," I'm pretty sure Lily was kicking her feet as she spoke, grinning from ear to ear.

She was introducing me to her boyfriend, Dan. I hadn't wanted to meet him, but apparently he had insisted to meet some of her friends and my name was the first to pop out of her mouth, and since she knew me so well she knew that I wouldn't have plans tonight than that left my Friday night meeting Lily's older boyfriend, who was more of a friend with benefits but exclusive.

Which meant tonight was bound to be awkward.

I shuffled through all of my clothes in my wardrobe, occasionally picking out things and putting them down onto my bed. "I don't know, what about a nice shirt and jeans?"

"That's so basic," Lily said, before humming, "Actually that could work, because if you look basic Dan won't want you,"

"Lils, I don't want your old man," i said, as I tossed a nice top and my favourite pair of jeans onto my bed.

I don't know why she had it in her head I'd want to steal him from her, but I think it stemmed from her insecurity and the fact I didn't have Callum anymore and Lily seemed to think life was boring if you weren't dating someone.

Which explained why her and Anna butted heads more often than not.

I told her goodbye and got changed before heading out of the door and walking towards the small pub we were meeting at.

Once inside, I immediately spotted her and walked over to their table. Lily was wearing a pretty white dress that was very short, yet somehow still looked tasteful on her. On me it would look like I was asking to be railed.

I couldn't see Dan's face because he was on the other side of the table, Lily stood up to give me a hug and say hello before she went to the loo.

I sat down in the chair next to Lily's before looking up and seeing Dan, or rather the man from the other day at school.

"Your the guy..." I didn't realise I had said it out loud and snapped a hand to my mouth.

"Lily doesn't know," was all Dan said, "And she won't know. I saw you the other day, why were you spying on Will?"

"I... I wanted to check up on him. He's been acting weird and mentioned about going to school. I knew it was a teacher training day, so I snuck in to—"

"—I know when your lying, sweetheart," he had a wolfish grin on his face, eyes glinting like moonlight. Dan leant forward, his breath fanning on my face and sending shivers down my spine as he spoke, "Don't lie to me. What were you doing at the school on Tuesday?"

"I'm not answering that," I said it with confidence, the way I used to have to talk to Callum.

Except, this time it was more of a fight or flight response rather than just a response.

Dan raised an eyebrow, he caught Lily coming out of the bathroom and leant back in his chair, "Fair play, darling," he sent me a wink and I almost gagged, luckily I hid it with a cough. "Lily, darling, what were you doing?"

Dan's accent had changed, it was posher, as though he lived in a posh area from London as opposed to being a drug dealer in Norfolk.

Lily laughed, before scooting past me to sit down, as she did so she said, "Having a piss, obvs,"

"Right," Dan muttered to himself mostly, but I managed to catch it by the way his lips moved.

"So, Dan, where do you work?" I asked, trying to play pretend, when Lily was looking at the menu I said, "It must be something thrilling, maybe even a little bit illegal?"

Dan laughed it off, if he was startled it didn't show on his face, "Actually, I'm a lawyer,"

"A lawyer?" I said with mock surprise, to Lily that would sound as though I was actually surprised so I wasn't too worried about her working it out.

"Oh, Dan, tell her about that case with the drug dealers!" Lily practically squealed, to which Dan held her hands, she turned to me and said, "It's so exciting,"

"I can't, darling. Confidential, remember?" Lily huffed like a child, despite not being blonde if you just heard her you'd think she was.

"Course, sorry," Lily muttered, before saying something about going to go get drinks from the bar.

Once she was out of earshot, Dan said, "Trying to out me? Cute," pausing as he watched Lily ordering from the bar, "She doesn't find out, or I'll tell her about your friendship with the detectives son, Henry, was it?"

"Harry," i said through gritted teeth, "And don't try to threaten me,"

Lily then walked over with the drinks — one glass of water and two glasses of Pepsi — before sitting down again and smiling.

The rest of the night was awkward, I barely touched my small side of chips — I felt too uncomfortable to think about eating anything else — because Dan kept making comments that her double entendres.

I had gone to the loo, not to use the toilet but so I could call Harry. He was the only person who wouldn't think I was insane because he was the only one I could trust with this. Ironic, isn't it?

I rang his number and he replied after a few rings, "Hey, what's up?"

"Lily's boyfriend is a drug dealer. The dealer from the school with Will. I thought he looked familiar, and I should've said something. I'm sorry," I blurted out, taking a large breath in after.

"Do you have his full name? I could tell my dad and he'll be at the pub in no time," Harry said it as though it were that easy, as though I could pry Lily from her horrible boyfriend whom of which she thought was some lawyer from London.

"Daniel Larkin," i said, feeling shivers dance up my spine as I spoke it, "He threatened me, and he knows we were at the school. Well, he said he knew I were there but he also mentioned he knew we were friends, tried to threaten me by using you,"

"Look, I'll get Dad to sort it," he then muted himself as he spoke to his Dad, before unmuting himself, "He'll be there in five, you want me to stay on the line with you?"

"No, I need to go and ensure Lily's okay," I put on a bit of lipgloss, making a good reason as to why I took so long in the bathroom.

"Okay, call me later, yeah?" I nodded and hung up, forgetting to reply until it was too late.

I sighed and fixed my hair before grabbing my small bag and leaving the bathroom. When I went to go and sit back down, I noticed a new family were sat on our table... and Lily and Dan were gone.

I immediately fiddled inside my bag, grabbing out my phone and texting Harry,

maddie: they left!! let ur dad know!!

It wouldn't go through. The pub and that area of town had shit signal and wifi. Of course it wouldn't go through, why would it?

Lily and Dan were gone... it only sunk in then that something might've happened to her. That he did something as a threat, a message to me and Harry.

How much did he know? And what was he willing to ensure we kept our mouths shut?