Against All Odds

Chapter 8

Lucas

*** When Harvey invited me to that party, I wasn't expecting to find a sleazy looking guy almost raping my neighbour.
Charlotte had left the party after her friend had vomited everywhere in the bathroom. Being the good friend she was, she helped her stupidly drunk friend home safely.
That had left me in the corner of the dancefloor, bored out of my mind. Harvey had disappeared upstairs and Lola was flirting with a guy who looked suspiciously like a male version of Charlotte.
I'd over heard someone shout 'major make out session!' That was when I'd noticed the couple gaining a lot of attention.
A boy had a girl pressed against the wall, and my eyes widened when I recognised her as the girl next door.
I was surprised at first, because she didn't seem like this kind of girl.
Then I saw the fear in her eyes and how stiff her body appeared. She didn't want to be in that position, I could tell.
Anger swept through me at the thought of a idiot like him taking advantage of her and, when I saw him undress her with no intention of stopping, I knew I had to put a stop to it.
What pissed me off was how she didn't thank me, she even had the nerve to back up the guy who was groping her. ***

~~~

Lola flicks my ear and I sigh.
"What?" She pouts in annoyance. "You're acting all moody and its boring."
"Did you even notice how much that guy was taking advantage of that girl last night?" I ask, because I know she went to the party but she hasn't even mentioned it.
Lola shrugs like it doesn't really matter which frustrates me. This girl may be my long lost sister but I really don't get on with her. If it wasn't for Dad begging me to spend a day with her I wouldn't be here, listening to Lola whine about how boring I am. So far I've found nothing in common with this girl, yet she's somehow managing to treat me as though she's known me all her life.
"They've never been quite that intimate in front of people before," She decides after a bit of thought. "But they've been dating for months now, I'm sure its nothing they haven't done before."
"Dating?" I repeat in surprise. I can't believe that that girl's dating the twat who clearly doesn't respect her boundaries. Not to mention she's way out of his league.
"Yeah, it was weird to start with but they're like the star couple of year twelve." She states, pushing her diary which she'd been writing in away and huffs. "Now can we focus on my issue please? How am I going to get Leo back?"
Fighting the urge to roll my eyes, I spend the next hour helping my love struck little sister think through romantic things she could do for that guy she liked.
I genuinely thank the gods when my phone goes off and I excuse myself to take the call. Seriously, spending time with a sister shouldn't be that bad should it? I should be happy I'm meeting a family member.
"Hello?" I ask, phone to my ear.
"Hi is this Malcolm Jackson's son?" A formal sounding voice made me pause; could the coppers have found my number? No way, we'd been so careful.
"Who's asking?" I snarl a little too viciously.
"I'm detective Russell." The answer comes honestly and bluntly; the police have found me. "Don't hang up Lucas, our fight is not with you."
"What do you want?" I feel my throat constrict with nerves.
"I think you know the answer to that." Detective Russell replies.
I think things through briefly before speaking.
"You want me to help you bring down my Dad."
There was a pause.
"You're a clever lad Lucas."

~~~

Harvey is tense. Not that I blame him.

"You want me to come with you and meet the police about bringing down your drug dealer Dad?" He clarifies, sighing as he watches me finish my cigarette and chuck it on the floor. "Lucas..."

"You're the closest person I've got to a best mate, I hate to drag you into this but I can't do it alone." I try to persuade him in desperation even though in my heart I know I'll probably regret asking him. Even now I'm beginning to change my mind. "Ah shit. Just forget it."