Youngblood

Chapter 14

Jack's POV

I'm confused. What's going on? I wasn't myself back there in the ice-cream parlour. I just saw AJ and... I was gone. That's never happened to me before.

I walk home, thinking about every step I take. I'm not going to be able to stop thinking about this all night. And then my parents and Conor and Anna will start questioning me. Oh boy, I'm in for a long night.

I unlock the door to my house and push it open, heading inside and collapsing on the sofa. Conor arrives and sits down next to me.

"What's up Jack?" Conor asks.

"Nothing," I lie.

"I'm your brother, I can tell when something's up," Conor smiles. "So go on then Jack, spill."

I pause. I don't really want to have to tell Conor, because I don't know myself. He can't force me to spill, surely? I look up at him.

"Seriously Conor," I say. "It's nothing."

And with that I pick myself off the sofa and head upstairs, shutting the door to my room. I just wish I knew what was going on.

Dianne's POV

It's Monday. Although for me, it isn't a bad thing. Last night was boring. I got home and my mum said hello to me and that was all I got out of her for the whole evening. I just wish she knew that work wasn't everything. What will she do when she retires? Actually, scrap that. There's no way my mum will ever retire.

I get ready for school quickly and head off, swinging my bag onto my shoulders and heading for the bus. I grab my usual spot at the back and wait for Oli, Byron and Joe to get on.

"Morning," Joe says, sitting next to me and putting an arm around my shoulders.

"Morning," I say.

"What was up with Jack yesterday?" Byron asks. "He wasn't himself."

"It's like AJ hypnotised him," Oli says. "But without doing hypnosis."

"You don't think..." Oli trails off.

"Think what?" I ask.

"That Jack's bisexual, do you?"

I think about it. That would make sense.

"We should ask Conor and Anna today if Jack's mentioned anything," Byron says.

"Obviously it would be totally ok if he was," Joe says. "But do you think he would've told us?"

Oli sighs and slides further down the seat of the bus. We talk about it for the rest of the journey, then when we get to school, we walk fast to see if the Maynards have arrived. They all have, and Joe sits down next to Jack.

"Everything alright?" Joe asks.

"Yeah, why?" Jack questions. Either he's actually confused, or he's doing a good job of faking it. Maybe we were overreacting.

"No reason," Joe says. "You just seemed a bit off yesterday. Distracted."

"I was just feeling a bit ill. I'm better now," Jack responds. That could be it. But maybe I'm being too naïve? Do we look further into this? Before I have time to debate in my head any further, the bell goes, and we all head off to our form groups.

Joe's POV

Break arrives and we all meet up by the benches again, except Jack isn't there.

"Where's Jack?" I ask, putting an arm around Dianne.

"I don't know," Josh says. "He followed me out of lesson and then... disappeared."

"Conor, Anna," I start, facing the two siblings. "Did you notice anything strange about Jack yesterday?"

"He was acting a bit off," Anna agrees.

"When I asked him what was wrong he said it was nothing and ran off to his room," Conor sighs. "I just hope he's alright."

"Why do you ask?" Anna adds.

"Yesterday at the ice-cream parlour he seemed a bit distracted," I say, and I explain to everyone what happened.

"He could be bi?" Lauren suggests.

"That's what we were thinking," Oli says. "But we don't know."

"And Jack hasn't mentioned anything at home? Amy asks. Amy, Lauren and Chloe are all here, but luckily Katya is nowhere to be seen. I just hope she doesn't speak to Dianne again.

"Nope," Conor says. At that point, Jack comes up to us.

"Everything good?" I ask.

"Yeah," Jack says. "I just went to my locker."

I can't tell if he's telling the truth or not.

The bell goes and we head off to our separate lessons. I spend majority of the two periods thinking about Jack. It could be something completely different. He could be getting bullied or hurt or anything.

The bell goes for lunch and I wait for Dianne and the others, but when we get back to the benches, I see Katya there.

"Oh really," I sigh. "Back off."

"But Joe don't you understand? You could do so much better than her!" Katya exclaims. "I mean, just look at her. Why would anyone want to be near her?"

"How dare you say that?" I shout. Chloe and Amy put their arms around Dianne. I go to attack Katya, but Josh pulls me back, but then all of a sudden he lets go.

It takes all the boys to stop me and Josh going for Katya, but then she just smirks and strolls off. I hug Dianne and let her cry into me.

"It's ok," I coo. "I promise, we'll keep you safe. Don't listen to her.

"Thank you," Dianne sobs.

"Guys," Josh starts. "I just got a flashback of when I was attacked."

"Right," Mikey says.

"It was Katya."

A/N: Hope you're liking this fanfic so far! Let me know your opinions xx