Walk on the Wild Side

Chapter 1: Well I Hope We Stay Thick As Thieves.

>< Rowan ><

When my Mum had announced at the dinner table two nights before I went back to school that my big brother, Brody and I were not returning to Hoarcross High School and were moving to the famous and frankly pompous Kingston College, it was fair to say I was a little less ecstatic than Brody and a little more furious.

I had settled happily at Hoarcross High, had my amazing best friends, my gang and I was now being forced to leave, to attend the academy for snobbish assholes. Kingston College was one of Britain's most prestigious boarding schools, consecutively first or second in the league tables for fifteen years. The majority of its pupils were either descendants of royalty or the spawn of billionaires. I wondered how my parents were funding our tuition but before I could ask, I had already stormed out of the house in fury.

I wasn't one to show my feelings but I was so distraught and angry by the news that I collapsed in a back alley somewhere in the small town of Hoarcross and broke down. I called the one person I knew could make me feel better and that I felt I needed to tell the most. I told him where I was and waited, it was clear from the way he sounded so worried at the sound of my sobs that he wouldn't be long and he wasn't. Five minutes later, a figure stood at the end of the alley and stepped towards me.

"Rowan?" He asked and I knew straight away that it was my closest friend, Dean Lancaster. When I squeaked in response he rushed forwards and immediately swept me up into his arms.

"Dean!" I cried against his chest, my tears soaking his t-shirt.

"Ro, what's wrong?" His voice was calming as he stroked my hair but it did little to soothe my tears.

"D-Dean. I'm leaving!" The news caused me to break into a fresh bout of tears and Dean pushed me back by my shoulders so that he could look me in the eye.

"What? What do you mean?" He asked, sounding almost scared.

"I mean, my parents are sending me and Brody to boarding school tomorrow. They only told us today!" I tried to calm myself and took deeper breaths. Dean only looked horrified before yanking me into his arms.

"You know this doesn't change anything, right? I still love you, Rowan." He whispered into my ear gently. My heart leapt and I pecked his lips appreciatively, grinning. He reflected my smile, caressing the back of my neck and planted a kiss on my forehead. The gesture was tender, reminding me of when we dated, six months ago before we had parted as best friends. Nothing could break our friendship. We had been best friends for five years since I moved to Hoarcross and met the school bad ass behind the bike shed and instantly hit it off.

We had been through so much together; drunken nights, smoking, drugs. Dorky sleepovers and bar fights. Sickening rom-com movies and house parties. Us two and our two other best friends, Dakota and Nate, were a team and now that I was leaving, I had nothing.

"I'll get out. I promise. I'll either get myself expelled or I'll run away. All I want is you and Dakota and Nate and the gang." My tone was filled with sincerity and Dean's chocolate brown eyes sparkled with joy in the darkness and he nodded, a smirk on his pink lips.

"I know you will and when you get back, I'll be waiting." He laughed softly and wrapped me in for another hug, the gentle rhythm of his breathing helping to steady my own. All too soon he pulled away and helped me to my feet.

"Come on, let's get you home." He offered me his hand and led me out of the alley. His bike waited for us on the street and without hesitation I climbed on it behind him, without a helmet. Before taking off though he pulled a couple of cigarettes out of the packet in the back pocket of his jeans and offered me one. I gladly took it from him and lit up, inhaling the smoke with pleasure.