Love, loathe, betrayal - a gang story

Chapter 13

"You can't tell anyone though!" I say sternly and he nods "not even the safe guarding people!" "Promise" I add. "Basically I was out one night and someone grabbed me, took me somewhere," I begin my bottom lip trembling. "It's okay take your time," he says which comforts me a little. "I was knocked out and they... you know, they did stuff. They raped me" I say in barely a whisper, Mr Harlow looked shocked and angry. "That person was Me Rivers" I say finally looking him in the eye, he was speechless. "That's why I didn't want to go into his lesson" I'm sobbing now and Mr Harlow hugs me gently "oh my god, I'm so sorry you had to go through that and see him again, I can't believe that happened to you, why can't you tell anyone? this is a big thing to hold on your own Flo" he asks "because he threatened me, my brothers and his friends, I will in my own time but you can't tell anyone!" I plead and Mr Harlow sighs "I'm not sure I can keep this to myself Florence this is a serious thing he can't be working at a school when he's done something like this!" My heart sinks "you can't tell anyone you promised!" I say like a toddler, my voice cracking "I know but I wasn't expecting something like this and I'd this is true Mr Rivers needs to be out of here." Rage building up inside of him "but then he'll know I told you and he might hurt my brother" I protest.

After some back and forth Mr Harlow agrees keep quiet as long as we get Walter Rivers fired, which I was fine with. I'm not entirely sure how he did it but the next day Mr Rivers was nowhere to be seen. I hear rumours as I walk through the corridors: "I heard he stole a few too many whiteboard pens." "I heard he hooked up with another teacher." If only they knew.

I walk up the path on my way home from school to my house when something catches my eye. " a cop car what's that doing there?" I say rhetorically. "Do you think it's your brother? You said he was going out randomly a lot" Layla says from next to me. "I hope not, I better get in and check it out, I'll call you later" I say scurrying off, Layla nods and walked up the street to her house.

I put my keys in the door and my mum is sat on the table with her head in her hands with two police officers, Will was nowhere to be seen, I get a pang nerves and call out to my mum. "Oh hey I didn't hear you come in." My mum reply's, it looks like she's been crying. "Are you okay?" I ask and she nods gesturing for me to sit down, the police officer look at me and I feel intimidated. 'What if Will and the gang got into trouble?' 'Did they find dads killer properly?' Lots of questions fill my head. "We just have a few questions about what happened to you is that okay? We know this must be tough." The cop nearest me asks, "wait, what happened to me?" I ask confused "what you told your school about Walter Rivers?" He reply's and I'm in too much to care about how my mum must have found out. "Oh," is all I say my mum put her arm around me and puts her head on my shoulder. "You could have told me sweetie!" I feel really guilty and feel myself about to cry. I clench my fist at the thought of angry words coming out my mouth to Mr Harlow. "Is it true?" The other officer asks and I nod hesitantly.

After a lot of tears and questions I would rather not answer in front of two strangers and my mother, the cops left. I had to go to the doctors to get checked out because of what happened, it was embarrassing and awkward, I hated every minute of it. I called Leila and told her the police car was just asking questions about a neighbour and if we saw the dog escaped late last night. As much as it was a weight lifted off my shoulders telling Mr Harlow what happened I can't help but think it's going to come back and bite me in the butt.

"Will?" I stutter slowly opening his bedroom door, he is sat at his computer desk looking flustered. "I'm so sorry" I blurt out and he looks at me. "I told you not to tell anyone, now you have the police involved!" Will says his voice rising. I'm stood in his doorway fiddling with my own hands scared to go inside. "I know but I had to, I'm really sorry" I say quietly "damn it Florence I knew you weren't ready for gang life!" He yells banging his hands in his desk. "I'm, no I am just - you don't know what it's like having a weight like that!" I snap back. He sighs looking a lot calmer "I know it must be unbearable and I would do anything to take back what happened to you but you got Walter fired he will know you snitched on him and this could put us all in so much danger!" He explains, I finally walk in, close his door and sit on his bed. "I know I shouldn't have got him fired but he threatened me again" I say looking at my knees "wait what?" Will asks concerned. "I was shocked to see him in my English class and I stormed out and he followed me, grabbed my wrist and twisted my arm and pushed me to the floor that's how I got this graze and a strained shoulder" I explain and Will goes red with rage, he sits next to me. "I'm really sorry you got brought into this." He rubs my back "I'm sorry too I'll tell the gang everything if you want me to" I add taking responsibility. "I already told them." "Do they hate me?" I ask sadly and Will giggles gently "of course not, I ordered extra protection for the compound for the next few days and I don't want you leaving the house without telling me first okay?" He demands "what about school?" I ask "I'll take you and pick you up in the truck" he states "but don't you have stuff to do?" I ask "yeah but you're my little sister, I have to look after you and besides if Walter or any of the Luxes get their hands on you... I'm afraid to say it" he trails off.