“Yeah, it will be surprising if I make it.” My eyes dropped back towards the floor.
“Well, I’m here for you if you need me.” Standing to his feet. “You’re not alone, Screech. Even when it feels like it.” He walked off, hands in pockets.
I frowned as I called after him, “Why are you even helping me?”
He looked back, a smirk still on his face, “You remind me of someone I failed. So this may be a second chance to make things right.” I sat there for a long time after.
For the first time in ages, I didn’t feel like I was drowning. Maybe I’d even made a friend, if you can call it that.
Later that day, after the bell rang and the school spat out its usual flood of high-pitched voices and backpacks, I got to thegates just in time. Squeeks spotted me before I could call her name. She ran up with a smile too wide for the world she lived in.
“You made it!”
I smiled at her, “Told you I’d be here.”
We walked home slower than usual, avoiding the shortcut to miss Danny’s mates, who sometimes loitered in the back streets. My thoughts flooded with questions I wanted to ask Chester: What happened to him? And why me? What made me so special that he would offer protection?
“I told Mrs Harrison you were a boxer.” Her voice pulling me back from my constant questioning.
I looked at her sideways, not really understanding her statement. “What?”
“Your face,” She replied. “I didn’t want her thinking you got beat up or something.”
I laughed, causing me to hiss from the ache in my skin. “Did you at least tell her I won?”
She scrunched up her face, pulling her rucksack higher onto her shoulders; “Yeah, I told her you kicked their butts.” Mimicking punches in front of her into the air, before turning and catching me in the side with her tiny fist.
“Hey! Watch it.”
A small giggle spilled from her, which quickly faded as we turned the corner onto our street. A phantom dark cloud hung over the house, filling us both with dread as we walked closer.
Upon reaching the house, I told her to go in first. She struggled against the door; being stuck as usual. I forced my palm into it over her head. I couldn’t help the breath I held as we stepped inside. Squeeks dropped her bag to the floor, alerting them of our presence, walking past the living room, heading for the kitchen in hopes we would find some food we could sneak up to our room.
“Who’s that?” My eyes rolled as I heard the familiar dulcet tone of Danny. Part of me hoped he was out with his mates, so I didn’t have to face him. I could feel my skin prickle just at the thought of being near him, anticipating the smug grin he would gain when he saw his handy work decorated on my face.
I didn’t answer, and Squeeks just tucked herself into me, hearing his footsteps get closer as we entered the kitchen.
“Oh, it’s you,” a disgusted curl to his lip as he turned the corner from his back room. His shoulder leaned against the door frame as he watched us search through the cupboards.
“Where have you been hiding?” he asked, his tone lowering as I turned to look at him. “Out.”
He scoffed, taking a step towards me, “With who?”
“No one,” I shrugged as he gently nodded.
I could feel the pit of my stomach churn. Had someone seen me with Chester? Danny had eyes everywhere. I bet it was that fucking shopkeeper, no wonder he didn’t give a toss if people stole shit. He was probably getting a hefty payoff from Danny to keep an eye on things.
If only he knew that watching football was his only concern.
“Well, I’ve got shit for you to do, boy. Don’t go disappearing again, or I’ll make sure you have a matching pair,” a finger pointed towards my eye.
I nodded, turning away from him, reaching for the higher cupboards, hoping to find the biscuits I had stashed there just last week. A slight grin on my face as I pulled them out, handing them to Squeeks. She had found some crisps which looked like they had been there for years, but it would do. I jumped down from the counter when I caught a glimpse of floating paper.
My hands went to my pockets; the number Chester had given me no longer nestled within.
Fuck!
I scrambled to catch it before it hit the floor.
