S.O.S

Chapter Seven - Meeting The Squad

"You used Steph?" I yelled. Danny immediately put his palm on my mouth to prevent me from blabbering any further.

"I was going to, but no," he muttered, "I didn't."

I held my gaze at him and grimaced, still could not believe what I just heard. You're such an idiotic dickhole, Danny, you really are, I thought.

"Now you probably think I'm an idiotic dickhole or whatever," shit, how did he know what I was thinking?

"But I didn't mean it, I was forced to. Do you believe me, Janet?"

"I do." I nodded. For the first time in forever, he actually mentioned my name correctly, not replacing it with some kind of swearwords nor insults.

"I have completely no idea what I'm supposed to do now. Robert has finally found me again after years of me avoiding him. I can't let them find Steph, I can't use Steph just like that, she's..." there was a long pause before he finished his sentence, "innocent."

I lowered my gaze and started biting my nail just like I always do when I'm thinking, or nervous, or confuse. I couldn't get the thought of Steph being abused by the gang out of my brain. We never really got along together but still, it was irritating me.

"Have they ever met Steph before?" I asked.

"No," Danny replied, with both of his palms placed on his face, "they haven't."

"So... they..." I dragged his hands down so I was able to stare at his face, "never know what Steph looks like, right?"

Danny nodded, then he grimaced back at my wide eyed 'I got an idea' look, "What do you have in here?" he knocked a side of my head and I smirked.

---

"Holy Baby Jesus, little brat, you can't... shit, I'm not sure I can do that." Danny broke into my room out of nowhere when I was about to close my eyes in peace. It was almost three in the morning, Monday morning to be exact and I'd have school like in 5 hours.

"Fuck it , Danny!" I pissed, "Sure you can! Just trust me for one time okay? Now get the hell out of my fucking room and let me sleep."

Thanked God that he copied my order and immediately shut the door to leave. I was just closing my eyes for less than one second when somebody knocked on my door again.

I grumbled, "Jesus, Danny, what else?" I half yelled at him considering the rest of the residents were soundly sleeping.

He opened the door slightly but didn't reveal his look. He whispered, "Thank you."

He closed the door back without expecting me to reply. I could hear his footsteps walking away from the door. I smirked.

---

Danny and I haven't talked to each other during the Monday. He left before I went to school, which wasn't usual for him. Fred came to pick Steph up earlier, so I took the bus by myself.

Steph asked me about the fight Fred and I got into. I was kind of shocked, there was no way I could tell her the whole story, she was too... I don't know, happy? Drown in love? Shit.

"Are you and my boyfie, like... cool? Cause I'm not planning on seeing you busting his face again."

Sighed. He was actually the one who busted me on the goddamn face, whore. "No, I mean, yea we're cool."

---

Danny: O'Reilly's. Now.

8:54 PM

Ew, I cringed as I read his text message. Since when did Danny hang in such hidious, tacky pub like that? Ooh.

I was walking down the shortcut alley, just a few inches away to get to O'Reilly's when a group of guys got into my way. My eyes scanned every single one of their faces, I could't recognize any one of those strangers.

"So," a red haired guy appeared from behind them, broke through the blockade of the squad, dragging one other guy next to him whose face I could easily recognize, "Danny's dearest little sister?"

Yes, I told Danny that I was going to be his fake sister for Robert.

"Janet Winston." I faked my lastname as well to equalize Danny's, and yes, we have different lastnames.

"Robert. Just Robert." he offered his hand for me to shake.

I know, I thought. I gazed at his hand for a moment, gosh it was obnoxious. His skin was even paler than mine, his veins protruding all around his hand. I could also see some cuts and bruises, probably drug injection marks. I shook it anyway.

"Nice to meet you, Miss Winston," he pushed Danny away from him and held me by my shoulder. He stinked, smell of alcohol in his breath, cigarette smoke, and more of unpleasing scents mixed, lingered on his old, probably months of unwashed denim vest. One other guy of his was left behind, keeping Danny from chasing us while Robert took me away.

"Get your filthy hands off her, jackass!" he shouted.

I tried to look back just to tell him I was okay but I couldn't. Some tall guys behind him blocked my sight, and Robert was kind of slightly pushing me with his arm placed on my shoulder. He led me to an old empty abandoned guesthouse at the other alley, some guys and two girls had been there earlier before we did.

"Mates," he called to have their attention, "introducing Janet Winston, the precious little sister of our long lost friend, Danny."

They all smiled at me but I didn't smirk an inch. Some of them invited me to have a sit with them. Well, they didn't seem to be as violent as Danny told me about, no wonder he was easily tempted to join in the group at the first place.

"Look, guys. I'd really love to stay, you guys seem really nice, but I have to go now. Danny's mom is gonna kill us if we get home late at night." I tried to make an excuse, "I mean our mom." Shit.

"Why so soon?" one of the girls frowned.

"I umm... She's just been a little strict lately so... You know what," can't believe I really said that, "I'll come back again some other time, okay? I know where to find you, so... I'll see you later?"

I saw Robert tightened his jaw when he was just about to block my way out.

"Robert, it was my pleasure to meet you. So..."

"Friday night at 8?" he smirked and raised an eyebrow. What a dickhead, I thought.

"Friday night it is."

I finally made my way out of that damn place and met Danny at the end of the street with one other guy. He stared at me suspiciously.

"That's cool dude, Danny and I are going home. I'll see you later?"

He didn't respond me but he finally let go of Danny. I scanned all edges of his face, identifying if there were any bruises the guy got him.

"I'm fine, okay?" Danny said, feeling uncomfortable of me looking at his face, "how about you? Did that scumbag hurt you?"

"I'm fine, okay?" I imitated his tone.

"Fuck you, little rat." he sped up his walk and left me following him from behind.

"Tell you what," he turned his back to meet my gaze. He held both of my shoulder and pushed me against a graffiti wall we just passed by, "never, ever in your life you come back to that goddamn place. Avoid this motherfucking street as possible as you can."

His voice was firm and his grey eyeballs were staring me right in my dark eyes. My tongue stiffed, he never cared that much to me in his entire life.

"Just stay alive, understand?" he continued.

"Geez, Danny what do you think he would do to me? Of course I'll stay alive." I shrugged his hands off and walked away, but he pulled my shirt back.

"He can do anything he wants to, he's not as good as you think he is." Danny said and I could see his eyebrows frowned.

"I know, big brother, I'm not that naïve. Thanks for caring." I emphasized as I called him 'big brother.'

He didn't reply, he turned his back and walked away.