Love, loathe, betrayal - a gang story

Chapter 22

"Come on, lets go back to the caravan," he says finally drying his eyes with a scrunched up tissue, the time is a little after 11:30pm, we go back to his caravan and have popcorn and soda to try to take our minds off things, a good comedy should help. I lost my father to the same cruel people and my anger towards them is growing everyday, I also found my fathers lifeless body at the bottom of my stairs with worrying wounds. I think back to my therapist sessions and how much they have actually helped me as much as I didn't think so before, I hadn't been in a while. I miss him every day from the simple things like not burning my chicken nuggets like mum used to, to getting advice and playing football in the garden. I try to push it out my mind before I get upset again.

I gaze up towards Clay who's sat next to me giggling shyly at the TV, his eyes are still red and puffy from his tears, I don't think I've met someone thus collected having gone through something similar. After a while I drift off to a bitter - sweet sleep.

I wake up the next morning still ligged on Claytons sofa, I am resting on his chest his slow breaths moving my head up and down gently. I look over to the small analog clock hung on the wall above the kitchen counter it reads: '9:58am' I groan and wish I could go back to sleep but with that Clay shuffled under me and groans in synchronisation with me. "What time is it?" He asks rubbing his eyes, I sit up and read the clock to him "shoot, I was meant to have a meeting at 10am I have to go!" He says scrambling up and putting his shoes on. "Are you not getting changed?" I ask jokingly. He stops for a minute and he quickly rushes to his room, I giggle and switch the tv back on. "Your more than welcome to stay here Flo..." he says from the bedroom "infact please stay!" He says popping his head round the door shirtless "urm sure, thanks" I stutter blushing at the sight slightly and turning back to the tv. A moment later he scuttles out the door shutting it abruptly giving me a quick smile before he left.

Now alone I decide to look for my phone. I have 2 missed calls and several messages from Layla, another one from Jade and unsurprisingly none from my mum. I call Layla and she picks up after the second ring "hello, where are you? Your mum is worried sick" I scoff at the thought "don't over exaggerate Layla I have no missed calls from her" I laugh. "Well worried sick is a broad term but she asked me where you were that counts right" she reply's and I roll my eyes "I'm with Will, I don't think I'm coming to school today" I add "well no considering it's already break time I gathered, are you okay? What's going on?" She asks anxiously "I'm fine I'm at my brothers place" I lie slightly. "One your brother has a place? And two who was the boy that turned up at your door? Caleb, Clay or something" she says "One yes he does and two Clay is just a friend" I reassure "a friend?" She repeats in a mocking tone "yes a friend!" I laugh "when are you coming back?" She asks "I don't know I'm just hiding out here for a bit, I'm alright just don't tell anyone where I am, if my mum ask I'm with Will and I'm safe okay?" I instruct and she sighs "I don't like this Flo, you're leaving my in the dark" now it's my turn to sigh "I'm sorry I'll explain when I can I promise, my brother is just sorting some stuff out" I try to explain without giving too much away, I hate not telling her the truth but I've been under strict instructions not to! "I understand, stay safe are you listening to me?" I smile "thank you I will" I reply holding the phone close to my ear "I love you," "I love you too." I put the phone down and look at my message from Jade. She is insisting I meet her after school today I don't know how to feel about it though. I think back to what I was told about Walter being Clays father and wondering if Seb knows too.

I ignore Jades message for now and start thinking of some breakfast, I settle on a bowl of fruit granola and some orange juice, I wash up and do a bit of tidying, well as much as my leg would let me.

I then head out to find Will or someone from the mission to see how it went, when I found no one I started getting worried. Shortly after I come across Lucas and wave him over, he is wearing a red t-shirt and baggy jogging bottoms. His sleeve tattoos revealed up his arms. He looks like he's been sweating buckets doing hard labour. "How was last night?" I ask getting straight to the point "not really any news Walter wouldn't negotiate until Clayton was present, we didn't really want to involve him!" Lucas explains "what do we do now?" I ask "Will is doing some more thinking, bless the bloke he's under a lot of stress, I take it you haven't told Clay about Walter?" He asks with hope in his eyes I shake my head "he's clueless" "good let's keep it that way for a while." "Does Seb know?" I ask out of the blue "Walter isn't Sebastians father, they are half brothers from the mum so I don't suppose Walter has any want for him" I nod in satisfaction "that makes sense, do you know where he is now?" I ask "he was in a meeting last time I checked, all part of the 'keeping him busy scheme'" Lucas explains. "I think Will, Jordan and some others are going to result to force if nothing arises in the next few days" Lucas adds. I get a flip in my stomach with the word 'force'. "Do you think everyone will end up okay?" I ask naïvely and his sighs "it's not all fun and games in a gang and not everything goes to plan, why else do you think they are illegal in most places?" He explains "is that a no then?" I ask "I don't know Flo, we just have to hope for the best Walter is a cruel man!" Is all he says.