Love, loathe, betrayal - a gang story

Chapter 24

Suddenly Jade starts sneezing, the silvery grey coloured kitten springs out of her arms and curls up next to my feet, I can't help but thank karma for that one. I bend down slightly to stroke the kitten while Jade is still in a sneezing fit. "Florence, Florence!" I hear from behind me, I scrunch my eyes shut "Clay..." "what are you doing here?" He asks viscously sounding genuinely angry "I'm so sorry Clay I was heading back now I swear..." I start to defend "your gonna be in so much trouble if Will finds out you know that right?" He says through gritted teeth "why are you here?" I ask carefully "looking for you, with no sign of  you at the compound my first thought was Walter but when everything else was untouched I thought you might have left, you had me so worried Flo!" Clay explains embracing me in a hug best he could from my crutches. "I'm really sorry, I should have told you" "come on let's get you back before anyone finds out you were gone, who's is the cat?"  He asks guiding me the other way "who's this sexy beast then Flo?" Jade returns from her upheaval "my brothers mate, he is taking me home now." I state "who's that?" Clay asks unsure of the situation "Jade stop, I'm going now" I sigh "alright, alright catch you later?" I say nothing and walk with Clay, the kitten keeps brushing against my leg "so who's is the cat?" He repeats "I don't know it just kinda came over to us." "It looks like a stray..." he finalises "yeah probably."

"So why did you leave the compound? That girl Jade - the name rings a bell" Clay investigates "she's the girl who made me drink all that vodka that time, the one I told you about" I remind him "oh yeah, I thought you were cutting ties with her?" He asks concerned "I am just, well I don't know" I stutter. After walking a couple of blocks, the cat is still following us. Clayton doesn't push for an answer about Jade probably sensing my uncomfortableness. "You you know you don't have to protect me, I can look after myself" I blurt out from nowhere still calm though. "Your part of a gang now Florence you're safe nowhere!" He chuckles, I stay silent for a minute "and besides why wouldn't I want to protect you?" He says his eyes softening, I look up at him quickly and just smile at his kind words. "Thank you" is all I can manage. "That cat is pretty persistent huh?" Clay giggles, I stopped to bend down and pick the kitchen up, she purrs and snuggles into my jumper. I feel a few drops of rain on my cheeks and I look up to the sky, The angry grey clouds staring back at me. There is a huge crack of thunder above me and the grey kitten jolts in my arms, the rain comes down every year as we make a mad dash for the nearby shop. "Impeccable timing" I murmur a bit annoyed that my feet are getting soaked. "Bring the cat quick!" Clay says rashly I instantly put the cat in Clays arms and go as fast as I can with my still crippled leg. I had the urge to protect the cat.

We got into a corner shop just as the heavens opened even more than I thought was possible. My wet hair dripping onto my chest making my previously grey shirt into a deep grey/black colour. "Where do you reckon the cat lives?" I ask "it has no collar so no tellin" Clay says shaking his head to get the stray water droplets off his fluffy chestnut hair "do you mind?" I chuckle as water hits my already wet face "sorry," he giggles "I mean your wet already?" He shrugs playfully. "Sorry no animals in the store" the shop keeper says from behind us. We turn around to look at a short Indian bloke - probably mid 40's "sorry, she'll keep hold of it we'll go as soon as the rain calms down" Clay pleads sweetly and the man thinks for a minute "sorry no can do the cat must leave" we both sigh and walk towards the exit. "My car isn't that far I'll take the cat and put it in the car and drive to the doors and collect you?" Before I can disagree and tell him he's being too kind he is taking the little kitten from my arms and wrapping her in his leather jacket and dashing out the door. I smile at the shop owner awkwardly.

True to his words Clay is at the front of the shop minutes later, I get into his car and he passes me the cat. "What are you gonna name her?" I'm confused for a minute before I reply "She's not mine I don't want to name her and get too attached" I say honestly "she's too young to be out she obviously doesn't have a good home, if a home at all." It would make sense but I feel bad for taking something that isn't mine. "Besides if you let her go now she's too far from home she won't know her way back and it's too cold for her, she's shivering as it is" Clay explains "I just feel bad you know?" I detest. "I tell you what, we keep her for 24 hours and look at missing pet sites and put posters around town and if someone appeals she goes home if not we keep her?" I think for a minute and gaze out the front window heavy raindrops batting the window aggressively, "deal" I finalise "why you do adamant we keep her?" I ask he grips on the steering wheel slightly. "To keep you busy and stop you running off again" he chuckles "I am really sorry about that by the way" he relaxes "as long as you understand the severity of the situation and know to never ignore Wills orders again, all is forgiven. You weren't hurt so no one needs to know" I put my free hand on top of one of his "thank you" he smiles "it's okay Flo." "Are you okay?" I ask and Clayton tenses again "yeah why?" He says accusingly "you just seem...tense?" I ask "I'm fine" he reply's simply "are you sure?" I push "yes goddamit Florence I'm fine!" He snaps and I flinch shocked with my sudden outburst of rage "I'm sorry I didn't mean to snap" he says quietly and I gulp and look at my knees, something is bothering him.