Life Before You

Chapter Two: Good Friends and Gun Men

Chapter Two- Good Friends and Gun Men

Alex

I walk stealthily, following the dark figure in front of me, staying in the shadows. Heart pounding, adrenaline daring me to continue. My bag is digging into my shoulders, weighing me down.

"Stay." Tom whispers, stopping so abruptly I fall forward into him. He races off round the corner as I stay here, keeping watch. The same old plan everyday- foolproof.

I remove the bag from my back and collapse into the wall, fatigue finally taking over after two days on the go. Sides took me in and that's when I befriended Tom. Since then, Sides has taught us the basics from picking a lock to avoiding security cameras. Of course I feel bad about what I do, my parents taught me that stealing was wrong but how else am I supposed to live?

My parents.

The anger inside causes me to slam my fist against the wall. I just don't get how they could walk away from a 15 year old kid. They only had to wait one more year and I could get a house of my own... But no, they couldn't even do that for their own son. About three letters came from bailiffs asking Mr and Mrs James to pay some taxes and I knew that was bad news. I did what I thought was best at the time- leave the house before the police find me.

Police, I can almost hear the sirens now. I'm not happy with the way my life has turned out, but I guess it could be worse. I could be in prison or even foster care. I don't need a family, I've got a place to sleep, eat and Tom.

Where is Tom?

Scanning my surroundings, I stand up and grab my bag full of loot. I notice something that could be a potential threat; Community Patrol. My breath escapes in short gasps and blood thunders in my temples. I head towards the cross roads, tripping multiple times over my own feet. My hands begin to shake, they always do that when I freak out.

"Excuse me, are you OK?" I turn to see the Community Patrol Officer by my side. This can't be happening. Not with £5,000 of stolen goods in my back pack.

"Y-Yes." I stutter, turning on my heel swaying a little.

"Excuse me sir, what's your name?" Sh*t, this can't be happening. Fake name. Fake name. Fake name.

"Marvin." I say without turning to face him.

"Marvin, have you been drinking or using drugs in the past twelve hours?" He says. I turn around and look into the officers cold eyes.

"No." I grip my bag straps tightly praying for Tom to hurry up and this officer to leave me alone.

"Could you walk from here to that lamppost please in a straight line?"

"Yes." I scowl at his patronising tone.

"That wasn't a question, more an instruction."

"Oh." I stroll to the lamppost and back, clenching my hands the whole way to stop them from shaking. Making sure one foot goes in front of the other.

The Community Police Officer gives me a dry smile and cocks one eyebrow,"Thank you Marvin. What have you got in your bag? It looks quite heavy."

No. Not the bag. Anything but the bag.

"Nothing." I mumble, my shoes becoming the most interesting thing of the moment. I can feel my palms getting sweaty, "Why?"

"Would you mind if I took a look?"

I look around trying to find an escape. Behind me there's a brick wall. In front of me there's a cop. To the left of me there's a shop with its shutters down and as if on cue a car screeches round the corner and comes to a stop just on my right. Tom shoves the passenger door open and I make a bolt for it. I jump over the iron fencing and dive forwards into the car. Tom puts his foot on the accelerator and speeds off down the road screeching round another corner before I've even shut the door.

"Man, what took you so long?" I demand. " That cop wanted to know what was in my bag."

"What did ya say to 'im?" Tom asks barely fazed.

"I didn't." I say rubbing my sore knuckles.

"Sides is gunna be well happy with what we got 'im today."

"You think?" I say staring out of the window, unable to rid the regret from my system.

"What's wrong with you today? Lighten up." Tom taps out a drum beat with his fingers on the steering wheel. Liven up? Why should I liven up? What is there to even be happy about right now.

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After what felt like forever, I recognise the shabby, boarded up apartments as we pull up outside 'home'. I don't need telling twice, I'm halfway down the drive before Tom's even got out of the car.

"What's the rush?" Tom teases, catching up with me.

"Just tired." I try and yawn convincingly but I think Tom has seen right through my act.

"What's up with you? You were fine earlier." Tom opens the door to the terraced house and ushers me in first.

"I've never been better." I sigh. I walk into the house and dump my bag on the floor. I go towards the kitchen thinking about getting a drink and then sitting down but a bony arm slithers around my neck and something is pressed into my temple that I can only imagine is a gun. I hear Tom gasp. Who is this? Sides? Would Sides do this? I try and struggle free but every movement I make is agony. I hear myself gargle at my inability to breathe. The gun digs tighter into my head,

"Marvin, I just saw you on TV."