Love, loathe, betrayal - a gang story

Chapter 26

"You look great Flo," I hear after the break of my bedroom door, I snap around my cheeks flush with embarrassment as I look Clay in the eye and smile "thank you" I say spinning around in my black lace dress and cream coloured tights. I look down at my leg I still see a large vertical scar down my calf, I cringe looking at it and quickly turn away. That mark will always be a reminder of that night forever. "You almost ready?" He asks breaking me from my thoughts "I just need to change my tights" I mumble taking another look in the mirror in front of me, I run my fingers over the scar "do you mind?" I ask and he nods and shuts the door behind him. I sigh and get darker tights from my draw, curtesy of well, Julia. Rather ironic. I walk out my room without my crutches, I'm happy to say I can finally walk, well limp without them.

"Look at you, nearly running already," Danny chimes playfully and I smile "I wouldn't go that far but yeah I'm getting there." I smile "you look great by the way" he smiles his cheesiest grin "you don't look to bad yourself" he smiles humbly. His black suit and matching tie hangs attractively on his shoulders, his hair slicked to one side and shoes shining from the polish. "The car should be here to pick us up in ten minutes" Jordan interrupts looking equally as handsome. We nod and he walks back over to Seb who's eyes are already red and puffy. "I don't know if I should go to this funeral" I say quietly "oh why not?" Danny asks curiously. "I only met her once and it was only brief at that" I explain "you could still show your respects you don't have to stay long, this is all the family Julia had other than a sister who had nothing to do with her," he explains. I kind of feel guilty for saying I didn't want to go, "I've only been to one funeral and that was a push" I say sadly "was it a family member?" He asks "it was my dad." I reply and his eyes widen "I'm sorry" he says "he was the leader of this gang," I say proudly "yeah I remember Will saying, I haven't been here long and I only met him briefly but he seemed nice though" he says honestly and I have a wholesome smile. "We're you close with Julia?" I ask changing the subject. Danny's eyes soften and he looks down "yeah kinda..." "sorry for your loss" I muster up "we have - had history" he corrects "really?" I ask shock evident in my voice. "We used to date, we went to school together, I really liked her tattoos and pink hair and all" he says looking up recounting it like it was yesterday. "Then Sebastian came along, he was everything I wasn't, he had tattoos, piercings the whole bad boy attitude and I well didn't" he says tears threatening to fall down his red cheeks. "I'm sorry" I all I can say "it's okay, I was stupid to think anything could happen between us, but I liked Seb and I knew he would treat her right so I let her go, I stopped fighting and he won!" He explains I'm a bit shocked at his honesty but thinking other than Clayton, Danny is the least tattooed and pierced with a 'bad boy' demeanour, even the way he dresses is different to most the people I've met in the gang. "You just gave up?" I ask, "I had to he would have won her over anyway and made me look stupid in the process, it was a long time ago now anyway. We were friends for a while that was enough." He shrugs and runs his hand through his hair. "When you told me you said that you 'liked Seb' do you not anymore?" I ask suspiciously "I'm pretty sure I said like" he says anxiously. "You said 'liked' I'm sure," "like," "liked!" I snap playfully emphasising the 'd' "fine! Yes me and Seb were never really on great terms since then but we're fine now honestly" he says convincingly. I raise an eyebrow at him and he shrugs "what? I mean he can be obnoxious, rude, slightly obsessive but nope not a problem with him" he says through gritted teeth. And I laugh. "You hate him don't you Danny?" I say with my hand over my mouth to stop the laughs. I know I shouldn't but I can't help it. "Yep can't stand the bloke!" He says quickly looking down. "It's okay not to like someone you know, how do you go day to day?" I ask "we're civil but but it doesn't change my feelings towards him" I nod in satisfaction "I guess that makes sense," "so if anything it should be me not wanting to be here" he smiles and the pang of guilt hits me again. "Well we can deal with it together?" I suggest "sure." We link arms as the car pulls up and takes us along with extra security to a small graveyard with only a few headstones.

We all stand around a long hole in the ground, people sobbing and saying eulogies. I'm stood between Clay and Danny but I can't help but ask "why aren't their many headstones here?" "It's a Soutas only burial ground" Clay whispers "no one really knows it's here" Danny adds. I can't help but wonder if my dad is buried here I never did find out where he is buried.