‘Fucking wanker,’ I mutter, through gritted teeth. I don’t know exactly what happened between him and Tori, but just the sight of her made it clear that it’s time for him to get what’s coming to him. A split second later, Val’s fist lands in my belly. The pain paralyses me, and the nausea makes me groan as I crumple. Tori screams my name. Val’s knee comes out of the blue, hitting me hard under the chin. The sound as my teeth clash together is so grim I want to boak.
Shit, I didn’t think this through. I have no idea how to fight. In films, it always looks so easy, but it really isn’t. I’m on the floor before I’ve even got started. Once I’ve stopped feeling like I might lose consciousness any second, I see that Louis has pulled Val back. He’s steaming drunk and mad as hell, and this was a fucking mistake. But all I can think of is Tori’s tearstained face and the panic in her eyes. A metallic taste spreads through my mouth. I gag as I pull myself together. The adrenaline makes me raise my arm again as Val tears himself away. I hit him somewhere, something in my hand cracks. I’m on the floor again before I can blink. What did I expect? I never had a chance against Valentine Ward. Not in a fight, not with Tori. Not in this life. Neil and Cillian, his teammates, are trying to hold him back, but there’s no telling what he’ll do next.
I flinch as I hear my name. My first name. It cuts me to the quick, because it’s Tori yelling it. She’s white as a sheet, Eleanor’s holding her up. I only glance her way for a second. Her face is a picture of fear.
Charlie . . .
Her eyes widen, she screams. I whirl around. I don’t see Val’s fist coming.
17
TORI
Fuck.
Fuck.
What the hell have I done? I only realized it was my voice calling his name when he stopped. He heard me and looked my way, confusion, surprise and shock in his eyes. His body is tense, my breath catches. He’s only distracted for a split second but it’s enough for Val to raise his fist.
There’s a suppressed scream as Charlie hits the floor. It comes from me. A punch, Val’s fist in Charlie’s face, and I feel all the blood drain down to my toes. Val wipes his bleeding nose with his forearm.
‘Stop it, stop it!’ My voice is shaking, Eleanor lets go of me. Neil grabs Val’s arm and pulls him aside. There’s a ringing in my ears as I kneel next to Charlie.
He’s propped himself on his elbows and is feeling his nose with one hand. The blood runs down his fingers and pools in the sleeve of his jumper. But his eyes are fixed on me.
‘Shit, I’m so sorry,’ I whisper, as I see his face. Charlie just shakes his head. He looks from me to Val, who’s spitting a little blood onto the floor, as the others pull him further away. ‘Can you stand?’
My heart is thumping as Charlie gathers himself up. He suppresses a groan. I reach for his arm because he’s swaying. I’m not thinking. I just want to get out of here. It feels like I can’t breathe again until everyone’s voices have faded behind us and we’ve made it up the stairs. Charlie clings to the banister and stops. It’s only for a moment, but I see it.
‘Here.’ I dig a tissue out of my pocket and try to pull myself together.
Breathe, Tori. Don’t freak out now. Go through your options and work out what to do next.
Charlie wipes the blood from his face. He’s pale, but I can see the adrenaline still in his eyes – it’ll drop off any moment, though.
‘Look at me,’ I insist. ‘How bad is it?’
‘Not bad,’ he mutters. His voice sounds choked but he’s trying to get himself together.
‘Want to go to the sick bay?’
He’s shaking his head before I even finish the question. ‘No.’
‘Are you sure?’
He hesitates, and I can tell he’s not sure. I hold my breath as a motion sensor comes on further down the hallway.
‘Damn.’ I pull him aside and shove him into a wee niche. How much noise were we making just then? Did anyone hear? The school walls are thick, but the teachers’ flats are in the building opposite.
Charlie groans quietly as I press him against the wall and footsteps come closer. I put my finger to my lips and hold my breath. If anyone catches us like this, and his mum hears that he and Val were fighting, we’re doomed. It’ll be pretty obvious in the daylight tomorrow, judging by Charlie’s face now, but it would still be better not to be caught out here together after wing time.
It’s Ms Cox, the first-form girls’ houseparent, and I breathe again once she’s walked past. Her footsteps fade away and then I feel Charlie’s warm body pressed against mine. I immediately move away.
Distance. Now. Right now.
‘C’mon.’ I take his hand and pull him with me. His nose is no longer bleeding quite so badly by the time we reach his wing. All the same, I finally take in the full extent of the disaster when I turn the light on in his room. He looks dreadful and his jumper is covered with blood.
I shove him into the bathroom where he leans both hands against the washbasin and glances in the mirror.
