Love, loathe, betrayal - a gang story

Chapter 23

After finding Will and him saying to keep out the way I decided to try and find Clay, with no hope of that and been told he was on a supply run with some others I had lunch and tried to entertain myself. I kept looking at the message from Jade and decided to reply, my fingers were going faster than my head was thinking and before I know it I'm hobbling out the gate of the compound and meeting Jade round the corner.

"Hey stranger." She says waving from the other side of the street, I wave back and signal for her to sit down. "Don't you live that side of town?" She asks pointing to the opposite direction of where I came from and I think for a second. "Yeah, I'm staying with my brother for a while" I explain "your mothers on the piss again?" She asks with a selfish smile "no, I just am while my legs heals" I try to excuse "why did you want to meet me Jade?" I ask sternly and she shrugs "we're friends arn't we?" I sigh for a minute "I guess" I'm worried I'll say the wrong thing and she'll kick off at me but she seems to be okay "you weren't at school today?" She questions "I stayed here my leg was feeling a bit... bad" I lie twiddling my thumbs "I'm surprised you didn't bring the others with you?" I say changing the subject "nah they all had afterschool detentions." "And you don't?" I ask with a smile "oh haha, I can be good you know." After a little awkward chit chat we decide to walk around the block to stretch our legs. However we saw an unusual sight before us.

"Mr Henderson, hey" Jade cheers when we see him and another woman walking in the street, who I recognise... "girls hey," he says awkwardly avoiding eye contact with me. "This is Alice, my girlfriend" Mr Henderson states finally looking at me, I sense tension and nearly choke on my own words, I know exactly where I recognise her from "Layla's mum right?" I question and she nods "it's lovely to see you again, I bet my cheeky girl has been saying all sorts of twoddle about me right?" I just laugh and try to change the topic I can't believe Mr Henderson is with my best friends mum now. "Alice these are my students Jade and Florence" he gestures to us "you obviously already know Florence" Mr Henderson states awkwardly, we smile and have a moment in silence before I finally decide to speak up "when's that art project due again sir?" "Oh next Thursday, you haven't been at school today?" He asks innocently "I fell again on my leg and it got worse I'm just having a few days off to rest it, I'm getting my daily exercise" I reply nervously. Mr Henderson was always an understanding teacher but if it came to safe guarding I'm almost sure he would snitch but not if I have leverage....

"I have a few more questions on the art project is it alright if I speak to you a minute?" Mr Henderson nods "Alice, Jade get to know each other." Me and Mr Henderson wall a few steps away and he automatically goes tense with nerves "what are you doing?" I ask "I thought you had questions about the art project?" He reply's and I roll my eyes "that's obviously not true, now why are you with Layla's mother?" I snap "I urm well" he stutters "does Layla know?" I ask clenching my jaw, he looks down "that's a no then." I state and he looks guilty "I'm sorry okay, I don't know how to tell her, could you?" He asks like a child wanting a parent to order his food for him. I have a look similar to disgust "absolutely not!" I spit "you a well respected teacher decided to hook up with a 17 year old girl, your student I will add then break her heart by falling for her mother!" I almost shout aware Jade and Alice arnt to far away. "I know, I know I messed up but your not exactly innocent either!" He says in barely a murmur ushering me to be quiet. "And what do you mean by that?" I hiss, he thinks for a moment "your leg is fine, your barely using your crutches and your bunking off school and harassing your art teacher." "Don't turn this around on me now that you know your in shit!" Jade looks at me and mouths for me to hurry up, Alice can't talk for England. "Now your going to call, text, email, send a letter by pigeon for all I care to Layla explaining what's happening and trust me you don't want me to do it." I say sternly and Mr Henderson sighs "do you know how hard that's going to be?" I nod "I would imagine quite hard but your going to explain everything then never talk to her again understand?" "These rolls should be reversed I should be telling me what to do, you grew up so quick!" He says softly "don't start your sob story. I have to get back the next time I see you we speak nothing more if this" he nods "remember you have an exam on the 28th!" He reminds as we walk back to the other two like we'd been talking about it for the last 15 minutes.

I pull my phone out my back pocket and look at the time, "shit it's gone 2pm, I have to be back, nice seeing you again Alice" I wave off ushering Jade to walk the opposite way "Jeez that Alice woman can talk to the high heavens" Jade exaggerates, her black felt high heels clipping the floor as she walks. I know I shouldn't be gallivanting with my friend, ex or not when Julia is stuck with Walter, I sigh "something bothering you?" Jade asks sincerely "oh no don't worry, I just can't be late" I improvise, "why your brother going to smack you or something?" She giggles "no" I say bluntly not exactly finding it funny "I'm joking god." "So how do you feel about a sesh maybe soon?" She asks changing the subject. That's the thing I want to do least right now "I think I'm alright I don't drink much anymore" I say truthfully, she pulls a face "why not it's so fun, the girls should get back together again" she reiterates "I don't think that's a good idea" I say quietly "what do you mean? Just because you can't handle a bit of vodka" she spits, I scrunch my nose at her comment "your a lightweight pussy" "what?" I reply. She doesn't say anything, "I care about my liver" I state "well atleast my mum cares about me!" She articulates out of nowhere and my breath catches in my chest "you don't mean that!" I say almost crying "so what if I do," is all she says, I can feel tears welling in my eyes "why would you say that?" "Because your being a little bitch about it. You know you love our seshes" she chimes "no I don't, the last one ended with me lying in a ditch and you guys not even batting an eyelid!" I explain. "Oh yeah what did happen to you after that?" She chimes like it's nothing, I scowl "you don't even care" "no, no enlighten me," she insists and I sigh "aww look a kitten!" I almost growl at her change of subjects so quickly. Jade picks up a tiny smoky grey kitten, she purrs soothingly and batts her eyelashes as she cuddles up to Jades arm. "She's so cute!" Jade says completely forgetting everything previously said. I have to admit the kitten was stunning but I wasn't going to give her the satisfaction.