The Weekend - Completed

Chapter 22

As I scanned the near deserted street looking for James I recognised a couple of the lads from the rugby team standing in the shadows of the dark shuttered shops. I waved my greeting but they didn't acknowledge my presence, I wondered if they'd even noticed me as their attentions were all drawn to something on the other side of the road. Usually obnoxiously loud and over bearing they had gone very quiet and from their hidden vantage point they were watching some kind of raucous across the street. I followed their mesmerised eyes to a group of youths in a semi-circle surrounding something, entrapping it. A sick foreboding sensation engulfed me and I knew instantly there was something very wrong happening.

"You fucking dirty queer" one shouted and then proceeded to kick at something or someone on the ground, I turned to look at the boys expecting them to do something but they just retreated further into the safety of the darkness. As I incredulously scanned their faces I noticed Chris and Craig, they too were looking at the huddle but as with the others they also had no intentions of stopping it.

The next sound broke my heart, "Please stop" the pained Irish lilt pleaded with the attackers.

"Oh my god that's James" I cried out as realisation flooded my senses, I looked at Chris expecting to see the very same anguish I knew tormented my features, but his face had turned to stone; calm, emotionless stone. I yanked at Chris' arm attempting to wake him from his obvious trance.

"Chris it's James, you've got to help him" I ordered as I grabbed him with both hands and shock him violently into action. Instead of running to his rescue Chris removed my hands and pinned them to my side, and instead of the outrage I'd expected he just looked at me with a horrid sneer of disgust spreading across his face.

Knowing he wasn't going to help instinct took over; if I'd thought for even a second about it fear would have frozen my feet to the pavement. But I reacted before common sense could over-ride the adrenalin surging through my system.

Contorting my body out of his grasp I ran full pelt towards the attackers. I pushed my way through the small group of lads and threw myself down sheltering the cowering, crouched James. The lads took a step back confused by the interruption.

"Get out the way" one warned in his menacing, thick local accent.

"Please leave us alone" I begged through uneven sobs.

"This is your last chance slag, walk away or after we've sorted the faggot out we will take care of you." I could feel the hatred in his tenor. I was so out of my depths I could feel the tears streaming down my face as a turned to hold James tightly in my arms.

What had I been thinking? Clearly I hadn't bothered thinking at all. Had I honestly deluded myself into believing these homophobic yobs would draw the line at hitting a girl? Or had I been stupid enough to think Chris would have the slightest hint on chivalry and not stand by and watch as I got my head smashed in, oh shit I was in trouble, HUGE trouble.

"Alex, please don't do this, you have to know I'd rather die than have them hurt you" James sobbed and pushed me away from him, I reached out for him but one of the youths grabbed my arms and yanked me out of reach of James. Then holding me out like a trophy yelled

"Hey, I'm going first on the slag." As I struggled to release myself he held on tighter and tighter, sneering as he dug his nails into my arm.

"Okay, so which one of you dead men just called my girlfriend a slag" Daniel's familiar voice broke through their revelry. I was instantly filled with relief and fear. What had I done? Of course I couldn't just do nothing whilst James got beaten to a pulp but I didn't want Daniel getting hurt either, I felt my mouth fill with hot vomit as panic consumed me.