Run, run Young Blood!

Chapter Three

Once all the first aid equipment had been clear away and Davies had given Patrick a clean T-shirt -as his other was cover in blood- Luce and the other decided to take a hour or two to sleep. None of them had slept since the previous morning and none of them had eaten either. After a lousy supper of toast with butter Luce took to a settee hidden at the back of the room with the metal surgery table while the boys tried to make themselves comfortable on the floor.

Sleep was uneasy and restless for Luce, every now and then she would wake to the sound of snoring coming from the floor and slight moans of pain from where Patrick laid. Nobody had paid attention to the time since they arrived at the house but Luce could tell that it was after dawn by the low sun gleaming through the mucky windows. The guys had agreed that they should leave for London at about 7am, that gave them a couple of hours sleep and time to get what little food they could down them.

Looking at her phone Luce found it was 06:32am. Deciding she would wake the boys up at quarter to Luce walked over to the table Patrick was still laid on watching her as not to step on legs or arms. There was a stray wooden chair at the entrance of the room which pulled over and  placed at the side of the table she had early been stood at. Sitting she quietly scanned Patrick as he laid there sleeping. she did nothing but watch in silence for the next ten minutes. Some would see it as creepy but in her mind it was sweet, a sign of admiration and care.

Luce checked her phone again just as the 4 turned to a 5 showing the time as 06:45am. She slowy rose from her chair and moved to the closest body flopped out on the floor. She knelt and nudged what seemed to be a lifeless body. slowly swaying it's arm on the floor as she whispered "Wake up" in it's ear. After a minute the body moved and turned towards Luce.

"What?" Pete asked in a still asleep voice.

"It's time to get up. It's nearly seven"

"Oh, okay, wake the other and I'll put some toast on then.." The reply seemed forced, like he was drifting back into sleep as he spoke but still Pete stood and sleepily made his way to the tiny kitchen on to the right of the room.

Luce stood again and went round the room waking Joe and Andy just as she had with Pete. After a few minutes they were all in the kitchen eating buttered toast except Patrick who was still sleeping on the metal table.

"I'll go wake Patrick, he needs to eat as well" Luce's voice was small, the strength of her fatigue finally showing after the restless night. She picked up a slice of cold toast and carried it in to the front room where Patrick was sat on the edge of the table. "How do you feel?"

"Lousy, I feel like I've been stabbed.." Patrick said with sarcasm lacing his words.

"Very funny. Here have some toast, you need to eat." She handed the toast over to him, holding it just inches from his body waiting for him to take it.

"Isn't there any cereal?" He asked finally taking the ccold toast from her.

"Only if you want it with sour milk" Luce replied with a slight smile.

"I'll take that as a no then" Patrick said as he sunk his teeth into the bread.

Luce stood and waited, watching as Patric ate. Making ssure he was in too much pain. As he took his last bite Luce asked, "Can you walk?"

Patrick answered by slowly sliding of the table on to his feet and walking carefully but confidently towards her. "Yes, I believe I can." A smile spread across both their faces.

"You guys ready to go?" Joe asked as he entered the room.

"Yeah, we are." Patrick replied for both of them.

The lot of them said goodbye to Davies and thank him for his help. As eeryone else got in the back of the van Joe stopped, only a few inch away from Davies face and softly but clearly said "Remember, never underestimate the people around you, you may just need their help one day." He shot his gaze in the direction of Luce so fast you wouldn't have noticed if you weren't watching for it and then walked away and hopped into the drivers seat, next to him Pete had taken shotgun.

When everyone was in the van and as secure as the could possibly be Joe started the engine. And just in that second a music started playing in the back of the van. Luce pulled her phone from her pocket as Bulletproof Love by Pierce The Veil played through the silence of the van. She looked at the screen. It was an incoming call. She didn't want to answer, not now, not after everything. The called ID read KELSEY. She fumbled with the phone trying to figure out what to do. To answer would mean giving an explaination which Luce herself needed, but to ignore would mean she truly had turned her back on her best friend. After a few seconds she made up her mind.

"Hello?"