sporting legends and supermodels. He pulled out a Geography textbook, before turning back to face me. “Anyway, glad we caught you. What are you doing tonight?’
My social calendar was a shameful block of white.
“Um, nothing really, was going to chill. How come?” I asked.
Elliot leaned in close, like he was about to share a secret. “Some of the footie lads are heading to Bakoo tonight. Gonna be sweet mate. Loads of fit birds. What you saying?”
I paused, processing the invitation. I literally couldn’t remember the last time someone other than Tim had asked me to do something outside of School. Now I was being invited to a social interaction, with the football guys. This was a big deal.
“Sounds good,” I said.
“Cool, so we’re meeting at the Pheasant at nine for a couple of pints then heading down after. Make sure you wear shoes and a shirt or you won’t get in yeah?” The bell rang for class and Richard slammed his locker shut and spun the combination. “Can I bring some people?” I asked as they were leaving. “Sure mate, the more the merrier,” said Elliot “See you tonight.” We parted ways and I headed for English with my spirits climbing even higher. I knew exactly who I was going to ask.
“I can’t, I’m sorry,” Gabriella said as she took her seat next to me in English. “I’ve got a family thing I can’t get out of.” My emotions crashed like the Hindenburg. It was amazing how much of an effect she could have on me. “No worries,” I mumbled, trying to act like it didn’t matter. I flipped open my folder and scribbled the date. “How about Saturday?” she asked. My heart tripped up. “Sorry?”
“Why don’t we do something together on Saturday instead? Like go into Central London maybe?” She gave a mischievous grin and nudged me. “If you’re not too hung over that is.”
It took me all of about 3 milliseconds to agree that it sounded like a brilliant idea.
“Great, I’ll pick you up from yours about twelveish.”
My hand instinctively pressed against the car keys nestled in my jacket pocket. Maybe this was an opportunity to impress her. “Let me pick you up instead. Where do you live?”
Gabriella went silent for a second. “I’ve got some errands to run in the morning, so you can grab me from outside that chip shop at twelve. That’s okay right?” She gave me a look that suggested this was as good a compromise as she was willing to make.
I nodded with a smile just as Mr Hanley wheezed his large frame into the classroom and deposited his gelatinous mass onto the chair. “Okay settle down people. Let’s get this story underway.”
As if my thoughts of a run in with Terry had tempted fate, he appeared at the end of the school day. Mikey and I were chatting away as we descended the main steps. I’d just finished telling him about my social invitations for the weekend. He congratulated me and confessed that he could now go to a friend’s house party guilt free.
“Watch out for the neighbours,” I warned with a smile. “If they’re anything like ours, the police will be there within ten minutes.”
“Bloody curtain twitchers” he said, and we both laughed.
It was then that I heard my name being bellowed in the fading light. I turned towards the main gates, where the noise came from. Other people milling about stopped to look too.
I saw a thundering mass of fury marching its way towards me.
As soon as I realised who it was, I felt the rage bubble in my stomach like someone had turned up the heat. Mikey gripped my arm and stared at me. “Leave it Alex, he’s scum.”
I shook his hand off, speaking through gritted teeth. “This bastard has been making my life hell for too long.”
“Oi Eden I want a word wiv you!” Terry growled as he neared. The electric crackle of an impending fight gathered the observers into a crowd.
“I’ve got your back,” Mikey whispered.
Warmed for a second by his allegiance, I shook my head regardless and nudged him behind me. “This is a problem I need to deal with by myself.”
“EDEN-”
“What do you want Terry?” I said as calmly as I could manage when he finally reached me. The air was invaded with the foul stench of stale cigarettes. Terry was clearly very angry. His eyebrows dipped into a dark V. Lips pulled into a cracked little line. Hands coiled into tight fists. He was working himself up into a rage. Unfortunately for him, I was fuelling a rage of my own.
He pointed a finger at me, which I had to resist snapping off right then and there. “You tried to act like the big man with TJ…big mistake.” He grinned, exposing his nicotine stained teeth. “You think that having a little pansy makeover and some new friends is gonna stop me from kicking the crap out of you?” There were at least forty people watching now. None dared to move for fear of affecting the outcome of the confrontation. “Oh just do one Terry!” barked Mikey, folding his arms across his chest. “Shut it, or I’ll batter you too!” Mikey moved forward. “Come on then! I’m not scared of you!” I gently pushed him back for the second time.
Looking at Terry, my hatred overflowed into every pore of my body. My skin bristled with it. In front of me stood the bully who’d made me scared to come to school. The man who’d humiliated me and made it unacceptable to be my friend. For no reason, he had singled me out above all others and made my life a living hell. And to top it off, he had the audacity to threaten Mikey, my half…no my brother.
Enough was enough.
But unlike Terry I was reasonable. Trying to control the anger in my voice, I spoke loud enough for everyone to hear. “I think Mikey has a good point. If you walk away, that’s the end of it all. You leave me alone and I’ll leave you alone. Otherwise what happens next is down to you.”
Terry laughed. A dark, dirty noise, which rumbled from his chest then exploded into the air. He tilted his head back and I watched as his body shook from it. When he finished he wiped a pretend tear from his eye. “I’m sorry but that was too funny”. His eyes narrowed. “You’re going to wish you were dead mate.”
I cast one last look at Mikey, who gave a shrug which clearly meant ‘Screw it, kick his head in.’
And with that Terry exploded a fist towards me. Without thinking, I put my hand out palm first. The two connected with a fleshy slap. His hand jerked to a stop like a dart in a wall. Terry’s eyes bulged as he realised what had happened. He tried to yank his fist back, but I held on — my grip as tight as a lion’s jaw on a gazelle’s neck.
“This is the hand you like to hit people with, isn’t it?” I said through gritted teeth.
I stared right into his eyes as I squeezed against his fist as hard as I could. The air was filled with a sound similar to dry twigs snapping, followed by an inhuman scream. Terry’s bones crumbled like old biscuits.
The crowd gasped.
He dropped to his knees, frantically clawing at my closed fist in a futile attempt to prise my steel fingers from his shattered hand. I yanked him up and kneed him in the stomach just hard enough to wind him, like he’d done to me so many times before. Grunting, he folded over and I switched my grip from his crushed hand and seized him by the collar, wrapping the other around the base of his jacket.
“Not so fun being on the receiving end is it?” I spat into his ear.
With a tug, I lifted him right off his feet and spun around. Nearby were rows of bikes padlocked to a low rail. I ran forward and ground to a halt, launching Terry at the bikes. He sailed through the air and clattered against them head first. Bully and bikes collapsed into a pile of spokes and gears. Terry made a whining sound and rolled about on the heap, cupping his broken hand.
My breath was ragged as I stared unbelieving at the scene in front of me.
I just beat up Terry.
All eyes were on me. I breathed out hard and when I spoke, my voice was shaking. “You all saw right? He started this.”
There were murmurs of agreement from the crowd as people woke up from their roles as observing statues. Someone shouted “he deserved it!” from within the masses. With a shaking finger, I pointed at a young kid with a Mohawk and un-tucked shirt. “You got a mobile phone?” He nodded. “Okay, call an ambulance. I’m going home.”
