They turn, the kid with the knife grinning like it’s all a joke. I recognise him from the cages. And he recognises me, judging by the way his grin slips, and I stare back.
‘Did I stutter?’
‘Come on,’ the one beside him mutters, tugging at his sleeve. ‘Let’s get out of here.’
The gang shifts, then peels away, their curses trailing into the night, and I watch them go, jaw tight, fists still balled. Only when they’re swallowed by the dark do I look at the two kids.
‘You better get home,’ I say, ‘before they think to come back.’
The boy nods, his dark-blond hair falling over his face as he bends to pick up a pair of glasses that have been knocked to the floor. He cleans them off on his shirt and blinks up at me. ‘Thanks.’
But it’s the girl who locks me in place: the way she’s staring at me, eyes big and round, and filled with something.
I’ve been looked at with hate, pity, fear, disgust, the kind of respect a fighter like me earns with his fists. But never like this. And whatever the hell it is… it rattles me.
‘I’m Taylor,’ she says, her voice way steadier than it should be after what just went down. She steps forward and slides her small hand into mine. ‘This is Theo.’
Her fingers are soft against my scabby knuckles, but the shock of it rips straight through me – stronger than any right hook I’ve ever taken.
‘Axel,’ I say on autopilot.
She smiles and her whole face lights up, lighting me up with it. My stomach flips and my chest feels like it’s gonna burst.
The lad clears his throat, and I realise I’m still clutching her hand.Idiot. I release her and thrust my fingers through my hair, but they’re still on fire with her.
I guess I should shake the lad’s hand too, but I don’t wanna lose the feel of her.
‘You fancy hanging out?’ she blurts.
The lad scrunches up his face. ‘I’m sure he’s got better things to be doing with his night, Tay.’
He shoves his glasses on, blinking behind the lenses before eyeing me top to toe, every dirt and bloodstained inch. I wait for him to freak. Freak and run.
He doesn’t. Instead, he cocks a brow. ‘Unless you’re hungry?’
‘Hungry?’ I frown.
‘Yeah. My mum runs the best chippy in Hackney if you fancy some?’
‘I haven’t got money,’ I say dumbly, too thrown by his offer to think straight.
‘It’s on the house. We owe you.’
Later, I walk Taylor home from Theo’s to make sure she gets there safely.
Truth is, I can’t bring myself to leave her company just yet.
And it ain’t like I have anywhere else to be.
I don’t know whether it’s the feeling of having a stuffed stomach for the first time ever, the aftereffects of eating a really good hot meal, being in the easy company of Theo and his family, or her. But I’m all warm and kind of fuzzy. Like in a really, really good way.
There’s the buzz of winning a fight, and then there’s this.
And I’ve never felt anything like it.
She pauses at her door, voice hushed as she spies movement through the front window. ‘You best go. It looks like my dad’s home.’
The hairs on my neck prick up at the fear in her voice.
