It was the next morning after all the drama yesterday, we both went home before school ended, where Marley had to try and explain what happened to our confused mother, let's just say she wasn't happy. I finish getting ready for school when I get a knock at the door, I pick my school bag up walking over, I open it to reveal Marley stood there with a plate of toast in his hand.
"Call this a peace offering" he awkwardly smiles, I send him a little smile back taking the toast "does this mean you forgive me?" He asks, but I shake my head walking past him "what I gave you toast!" He says surprised, following me.
"You can give me all the toast you want, but you still went along and tried to start beef with the toughest guy in school!" I exclaim, turning around to look at him "we've all heard the stories of the horrible things they've done, so you go along and try to fight him!" I shout while turning back around walking down the stairs.
"Oh come on I can handle myself, why are you getting so hung up about this?" He asks, when I don't stop he takes my arm, stopping me himself.
"Because maybe I don't want my brother being taken from me like dad!" I shout, he looks at me for a second then sighs, he goes to take my hand but I move "no, just leave me alone for a while, I'm going to school" I say, walking to the door leaving the house.
I start making my way down the road heading for school, I didn't know him fighting would cause me this much emotion. When we were little, our dad was killed in a robbery, he was just minding his own business one night when a group of thugs went over and attacked him. He was the best person and dad anyone could ask for, but he was taken from us by people like Charlie and his friends, I don't wanna lose my brother the same way.
I hadn't realised I was already walking through the school gates, wow I didn't even think about where I was going, I just went. As I make my way towards the building, I just felt eyes on me, I try to ignore them not liking the attention, while I see Lily and James appear. Immediately, I'm wrapped in a hug by James, followed by Lily wrapping her arms around both of us.
"Thanks guys, you don't know how much I actually needed this hug," I tell them, they both hold me tighter for a second before pulling away.
"You're the topic of many people's conversations," Lily tells me, I just shrug following them into the school "I mean what you did was so badass, you smashed a plate over one of the guys head, then told the leader of the unconfirmed gang what to do!" She exclaims, I just laugh a little shaking my head, I did what I had to for my family.
"I knew no one was gonna break up that fight, so I had to stand up for what was right and like you said, unconfirmed gang" I shrug like it was nothing, but really, I still couldn't get my head around what I did yesterday.
"Don't forget, Mr Jones wants to see you after third period" James reminds me, great I actually did forget about that and I really wasn't in the mood, but I told him I would so I have to, honestly I'm too nice of a person.
The school day went pretty quickly, I had just finished science and was making my way towards Mr Jones's classroom. It didn't take me long to arrive, thankfully the person I had to tutor hadn't arrived either. I wait in the classroom on one of the tables when the door opens, I look up and come face to face with the one and only, Charlie Wilson.
"Miya, this is Charlie the boy I want you to help, now Charlie you can be a tricky person to work with but I hope you'll treat Miya with respect," Mr Jones says, Charlie walks further into the classroom closing the door.
"Oh don't worry sir, I'll treat her with nothing but respect" he smiles, I didn't know if I liked that sentence that just left his lips.
"Great, now I'm about to go to lunch but you two can stay in here, to discuss times and what have you" Mr Jones smiles, he packs up his things and leaves the room.
"Your brother isn't gonna be so happy" Charlie smiles, I just back away from him scared "and I have to say, what you did yesterday was pretty impressive" he continues to smile, as I was taking steps away from him, he was taking more towards me.
"I don't care what my brother will be happy about, and I only did what was right" I finally speak up, but I couldn't walk anymore as my back hit the wall.
"I like a girl who can stand up for herself, which reminds me, we never got to finish our conversation yesterday" he smiles, he was now standing in front of me so I was trapped against the wall.
"You need to stop living in the past, now I'm free to tutor you Wednesday's and Friday's," I say dismissing him, he looks down smiling but I reach over taking a piece of paper "this is my address, I'll see you tomorrow after school," I say, handing him the paper, he takes it where I push passed him starting to leave.
"Again, I like a girl who can who can stand up for herself" he smiles, still standing by the wall.
"And I like a guy who isn't full of himself" I smirk before fully walking out the room, once I was around the corner I put my back against the wall, what the heck keeps happening?
After a long day at school I arrive home, I walk through the door where Marley sat on the sofa. He never went to school today, which in my opinion made him seem weak but I wasn't him. Dumping my bag by the door, I walk to the kitchen for a snack.
"I heard Mr Jones asked you to tutor someone," he says, as I open the fridge I freeze hoping he didn't ask me who it was "so who's the unlucky person?" He asks with a laugh, I take a yoghurt from the fridge walking towards the stairs.
"That has nothing to do with you," I say, starting to make my way up the stairs but he stops me "I'm not telling you so go away," I say, whilst ripping my hand away from his.
"It's someone I don't like isn't it?" He asks, nope it's someone you hate "is it that Tom guy from your maths?" He asks, nope, but you're getting warmer.
I still don't answer him and start to walk up the stairs, the whole way up he was asking me a bunch of guys names.
"It's Charlie Wilson alright!" I shout, finally having enough of him being annoying, he looks taken back as I go to open my door.
"You aren't helping him, he can stay away from you," he says, this annoyed me as I was sick of people telling me what I could and couldn't do.
"This has nothing to do with you, I am tutoring him and you can back off," I say, walking into the room slamming the door behind me.
Why is everyone getting on my nerves lately?!
The next few days have gone by so quickly, Marley finally came back to school but promised our mother that he would stay away from Charlie. Speaking of Charlie I keep passing him in the halls, he just sends me a wink then walks off. But it was now Friday, the day I said I would tutor him. I choose this day as I knew Marley would be at practice, as for our mum she's never home only in the mornings, she's been like that since our dad died. I move all my maths things to the kitchen, the books were all set up waiting as the door begins to knock. Taking a look at the clock, he was half an hour early, I shrug making my way over to the front door. I open it and come face to face with Charlie, he stood there smiling with his school bag over one shoulder. I smile moving aside to let him in, he thanks me making his way into the
The car ride didn't take that long, it was silent though and kind of awkward. I didn't have a clue who was sat in the front seat driving us, which meant I wasn't down for starting a conversation in the back of the car with Charlie. We would look at each other smiling but look away, I don't know if I was reading him wrong but he looked nervous, which seems to be a new emotion for him. We soon pull up at what looked like the beach, maybe it wasn't a good plan to wear a dress, it's always quite windy at the beach. He gets out of the car holding his hand out, I smile taking his hand sliding out of the car. He takes my hand linking it with his, beginning to lead me towards the beach. As we walk I felt the wind begin to pick up, my legs immediately forming goosebumps. As we get closer I notice lights on the sand, as we turn the corner I see a little picnic set up. Did he do all this for me?
We start to make our way off the beach, Charlie was all smilies until a car pulls up. At first glance, I thought it was the car that dropped us off, but the man gets out looking directly at Charlie and me. "Who's your new friend?" He asks, directing his question towards Charlie but doesn't look away from me, Charlie pulls me behind him looking the guy dead in the eye "oh Charlie, there's no need to be like that, I just wanna be friends" he continues, Charlie goes in his pocket pulling something out pointing it at the guy, wait is that a gun?! "This is one person you ain't being friends with, now you're gonna get back in your car and drive away before this is my hand becomes good friends with you" he spits out, fear makes his way through my body where I immediately hold onto Charlie's arm. The guy looks behind Charlie a
We drove for hours, I fell asleep on Charlie somewhere in the journey. When I woke up it was morning, I sit up rubbing my eyes looking out the window. There were just fields everywhere, we were on what looked like an abandoned country lane. Every maybe mile huge houses with gates go by, no way would Charlie own a house like that he's still in school. Near the end of a lane we stop at a huge gate, the driver who I know as Richard, opens his window typing a code in. The gates open where he drives us through, in no time a huge mansion comes into view, I stare confused at it while also turning to Charlie. He just smiles as we pull up outside the house, he gets out stretching for a second before turning to me. "We're here" he smiles, I just look at him weirdly but eventually slide our the car "this is the safest place for us" he smiles, holding my hand to help me out of the car.&nb
After the pizza, I went up to my room alone, not really wanting to be around anyone right now. I sit on the bed with my laptop, I hadn't turned my phone on yet and I was dreading it, I knew how many messages and miss calls there's gonna be. I was watching something on my laptop when the door opens, Charlie smiles walking in closing the door behind him. "I see you're making yourself at home" he smiles, I nod looking back towards my laptop as he sat down, he went to speak but I spoke before he could. "Why did you take an interest in me?" I ask, looking over at him where he sends me a look "I am just a nerd, why would someone like you take an interest in a boring girl like me?" I ask, the thing Morgan said has been playing on my mind, it's also something I didn't know either.
It's been a few weeks since we arrived here, things have been going well, especially with me and Charlie. We've gotten so much closer and I think I'm seeing a totally different side to him, that unfortunately, not many people get to see. The guys have also been so welcoming and kind, well apart from Morgan who still ignores my existence. I mean it was one plate off the head and I don't play sports, which would mean it wasn't very hard, there must be another reason why he doesn't like me. I decided to switch my phone off after the whole Marley voicemail situation, it kept ringing making me want to pick it up but I knew I couldn't. I walk downstairs with Jonah, just laughing about some random things. Jonah is the one that's been nicest to me, most of the guys have but he's gone out of his way to be nice. Who would have thought I'd be comfortable living with a bunch
It was early the next morning, I didn't sleep too well last night as my dad was just running around my head. I haven't allowed myself to think about him since it happened, Marley really went through it so I had to be strong for him, and well the rest of my family. But now I was away from them, I felt like I didn't need to put on that act anymore. I make my way to the kitchen for a drink, but stop abruptly when I reach the door, Morgan was sat at the counter drinking what looked like coffee. He looks up noticing me, his face lighting up. I turn on my heels beginning to walk away, but he calls my name eventually being able to grab my arm. "Miya, please I'm not finished telling you what happened," he says, holding my arm in a tight grip, I rip my arm away continuing my journey away from him.
Jonah hands me a smart looking dress and heels, telling me I have to hurry and get ready but make sure I'm not seen by any of the guys, especially Charlie. Once I was ready and looked somewhat wealthy, I sneak my way down the stairs and past the kitchen, where most of the guys were. Jonah was standing outside the door in a smart suit, as soon as he clocks me I'm pulled out of the house and towards a car. In no time we were racing out the two locked gates, it's the first time I'm leaving them since I arrived. Jonah seems to relax once the house leaves our view, which makes a question come to mind. "Why did I have to hide from the guys?" I ask, looking over at him where he looks at me for a second but turns his attention back to the road. "No one knows we're doing this," he tells me, wait so Charlie doesn't know I've left the house? "But it's
It's been about a month since I spoke with dad, we haven't heard a thing from either parent, but honestly, we don't need them. Charlie, me and the guys all moved into the house with Marley as the house was much too big for him to live in alone, that and there was so many of us squeezing into Charlie's place. Speaking of Charlie, after everything with my family he saw that life was too short and reached out to his. They haven't met in person yet but they talk over the phone a lot, it's made him happy which is all that matters. Today was Marley's big football game, the guys and I were just finding our seats to watch him. Charlie and the guys have started to try and get on with Marley, I mean they kind of have to as they live in his house. Don't get me wrong they do have their moments, but at the end of the day, we all sit down, eat pizza and watch tv. Loud cheers snap me out of thoughts wher
For the whole lesson after that James didn't utter word, Tom on the other hand wouldn't shut up. He was going on about how proud he was of me and how he knew I'd do that one day, I didn't know where that came from in me but I'm kinda glad I did it. Once the lesson was over Tom and I head to English, a lesson Charlie was in and I actually couldn't wait to see him. Tom and I make our way down the hall, my arm linked with his as he went on and on about what happened, by the end I was laughing at him. As we walk into the class Charlie was already there, Tom had to stop off to chat this girl up and wouldn't let me leave, he didn't get her number if you were wondering. Charlie sends me a smile as we walk over to our seats, Lily sends me a smile where I look at Charlie and shrug. I take my seat beside her directly in front of Charlie, Lily immediately smiles as sit down. "I was hoping you'd sit next to me" she smiles,
The next morning went by so quickly, I was kind of nervous to walk into school being completely different. I didn't have anything I normally would, I wasn't in my normal uniform and I didn't have my bag with all my supplies, I didn't even have a pen! As we make our way into the school gates I feel eyes on me, everyone stops and looks at us but mostly me. Charlie looks over at me smiling placing a kiss on my head, I look up at him smiling as he gives my hand he's holding a little squeeze. On our journey further into school, I caught sight of two people, James and Lily were stood there shocked staring at me. I take a look at Charlie who was giving dirty looks to some guy, I make us stop moving to talk to him. "I'll just be a minute" I smile, placing a kiss on his lips before running over to my two friends "Lil-" I start to speak, but I'm wrapped in a tight hug before I could finish my sentence.
I stand frozen at the door not daring to turn, I could tell who it was by their voice. Charlie remained behind me with his hand on my back, the door was wide open at this point where my neighbours smile at me, but I couldn't return the smile. "Dad?" I hear Marley ask then he begins to cry along with my mother but I shake my head. "I can't do this" is all I say walking out the house, I hear my dad start calling my name but I don't turn my head even for a second. Charlie unlocks the car where I immediately climb in, out the corner of my eye I see someone running out of the house but I shake my head turning to look at Charlie. He sends me a soft smile turning the car on, before the person could reach my door we were driving away.
We soon arrive at my house, I look at Charlie who parks the car up outside. I still didn't know if this was a good idea, it would make me feel better to have him there but Marley will lose his mind. Before I could speak Charlie shakes his head getting out, he knew what I was gonna say before I even said it! I sigh joining him outside the car, where my family home was stood right in front of me. I just had fear take over my body staring at it, I've never been this scared to walk in this house, actually, I've never been scared to walk in the house. Charlie takes my hand leading me down the path, with every step we took the more nervous I got. When we finally reach the door I just stare at Charlie, I didn't know if I should knock before we walk in. Charlie gestures for me to take the handle answering my question, I nod taking a breath before taking ahold of the handle opening the door. The smell of home fills my no
It's been a few days since Charlie told me what happened, I haven't seen Morgan at all as he's locked himself in his room. Charlie said he had a plan to get us out of here, he told me it was foolproof which I guess means it's good. But if this works I get to go back home to Marley and my mum, where I can ask my mum for the truth and will have to explain to Marley everything that's happened, I'm not looking forward to that. I was taking a midday nap, I mean there was nothing else to do when the door opens causing me to jump. Charlie walks into the room holding a bottle in his hands, he makes his way over to me stroking my hair. "You know I love you right, more than anything," he says, I just nod while he opens the lid of the bottle "then just know this is gonna keep you safe," he says, before he forces whatever liquid was in the bottle from m
I was staring at the ceiling for ages, my dad and what Morgan told me just racing around my mind. My father was always so kind and caring, I know I was only young but he was always so nice to the people he spoke to. But what Tom said back in school kept replying in my mind. "I don't know, you know when some person does a really bad thing, people always say they never thought they'd do anything like that" he points out. That's exactly how I feel now, at the time I thought he was just being weird, but he was right. The door opening snaps me out of my thoughts, where Charlie sends me a smile closing the door behind him. "Wanna talk about what happened?" He asks, taking a seat on the bed beside me, I just shake my head looking down saying it was nothing "nothing, you could h
After our little walk, I decided it was now time to talk to Morgan, I leave Charlie with Richard and Jonah and make my way to Morgan's room. Once I knock on the door I hear shuffling, I went to open the door but it's immediately opened Morgan standing there. He seems to look relieved when he realised it was me, he looks both ways down the hall before dragging me into the room."I know what you're here about and I've finally got all the answers for you," he says, taking a seat at one of his computer desks, he had a few dotted around the room.I move what looked like a hard drive off one of the chairs, before taking a seat looking at him. He opened a draw pulling a folder out handing it to me, I look at the blue folder taking it from him."Darrel was right, your dad was one of t
The drive home was just full of silence, Morgan told me he wanted to get all the information about my dad before he told me, he didn't want to leave anything out or get it wrong. I was now trying to remember the times with my dad, the complete opposite to what I've tried to do these last few years. But every time I'd think about him, it was all happy times not at all what the guy said he was like. Then a memory soon pops into my mind, one I didn't even know I had. I would have been about five years old, Marley was playing football in the back garden while I was reading some book. My dad walks in the house throwing his keys by the door, he makes his way into the living room sending me a little wave, while my mum called his name. He sends me a smile before walking into the kitchen, I turn back to my book but could faintly hear their conversation from the other room.