The Calm Before the Storm

As Will and Jack reached the gates of the school, both glad that this day had gone by without a major problem. The loud shout of Freddie came up from behind them.

“Hey! New kid!” Freddie shouted from behind the two brothers; Jack didn’t need to turn around to know that it was him. He did stop, and so did Will. Well, this was going to be a test of the brotherly bond between them.

“Yeah.” Jack said and watched the crowd gather. He saw both Noah and Joe towards the right. They both looked at him like it was his funeral.

“You haven’t apologised for what you said to me at lunch.” Freddie said as he walked towards him. But at this, Will stepped between them. This act stunned Freddie, his eyes popping that two people would disrespect him in one day. “Move away. I’ll deal with you later, four eyes.”

Will looked through his tinted glasses, then took them off.

“Back off man.” Will said, wanting to just go home, and get ready to do this whole school thing again tomorrow.

Freddie looked between the brothers at this. Then he smiled at Will.

“Yeah. Your transgression is a lot worse than his.” Freddie said as he lazily pushing Jack to one side so that he and Will stood alone in the entrance way.

“What?” Will asked, both bored and slightly offended at how bad the insult had been, and confused as to what he was supposed to have done, other than stop this ape beat his little brother.

From behind Freddie, two others came up from behind to stand next to their obvious boss.

“Callum says he saw you with my girl.” Freddie said, indicating the bigger of the two bodyguards.

Jack, who had been ready to fight, backed up at the arrival of Freddie’s goon squad. Instead going over to stand with Joseph and Noah.

“You know I’m surprised. When I first saw you with those Elton John glasses, I could have sworn you were a homo. A little queer soy-boy.” Freddie said to guffaws from his cronies, and silence to from the forming crowd.

Will could only smile at the feeble attempts to insult him. He’d heard so much worse.

“You know, Grace- Yeah that’s her name idiot, not girl. She didn’t even mention you. Like you didn’t even exist in her life.” Will said. It was like the now formed crowd had sucked in all the air at this comment. Even Freddie stood stationary, stung by the comment. But eventually the bully managed regained the use of his voice.

“You know who I am homo?” Freddie said, he was smiling now.

Had Will been a student at this school for more than a day, then he’d have known that that was a danger sign.

“Yeah. From what people say. You’re a pig who can’t even buy respect from people years younger than you. So, you coast on the tails of your Daddy. And even that ain’t working anymore.” Will replied, and was pleased to see the older boy’s face go red with embarrassment.

Off to the side, both Joseph and Noah laughed, seemingly before they could stop themselves. Though they did when Freddie glowers at them.

“Really? That’s what people say homo?” Freddie asked in mock tones of sincerity. His gaze looks around at the crowd, and Will saw a few back away. But thankfully, more stood stationary. Though if that was from determination or fear, he wasn’t sure.

Will shrugs.

“Yeah. I don’t think that though, if that means anything.” Will said as he dropped the rucksack he’d had over his shoulder, and placed his left foot onto the ground. “I just think you’re a cunt.”

It wasn’t just the twins laughing now. The entire crowd was at least snickering. And Freddie was left completely surprised, though he now looked ready to kill.

“Okay.” Freddie said seething, and he charged like a wounded bull, which would have taken Will by surprise, if he had not already guessed what his comment would bring, and was able to quickly dodge out of the way, whilst also managing to stick out his leg in order to trip the charging Freddie, who going so fast as he was, was unable to stop himself.

Seeing this, Will pounced, not wanting to wait, and placed his knee into the small of Freddie’s quivering back.

“Give in.” Will said as he pressed down hard.

Freddie grunted, and began to squirm, making Will expend a lot of effort keeping his opponent on the ground.

“Give in.” Will said again.

“No.” Freddie said, his voice muffled from the fact that his face was flat against the wet ground. He began flailing his arms, trying to get in a hit or two.

Will however, grabbed one of the flailing arms, and twisted it up against his back.

“Give. In.” Will said as he pushed the arm into the small of Freddie’s back.

“Fuck you!” Freddie shouted.

At this, Will hoisted the arm upwards. He knew how far he could push upwards from personal experience, and he just hoped that the big fucker wouldn’t call his bluff. But the way that Freddie was continuing to struggle, he would clearly have to make his point clearer.

“Give in. Or I swear to god that I’ll fucking break it.” Will said in a whisper that carried across the stoney silence of the schoolyard.

“No!” Freddie shouted.

“Fine” Will said as he gave a tug upwards. And that got the desired result: a pitiful whimper from Freddie that was more damaging to his reputation than either anything anyone could say to him or a broken arm ever was.

“I’ll fucking kill you!” Freddie shouted almost immediately after the whimper, trying and failing to gain some of that reputation back.

Will, now breathless, decided to give the bully one more chance. “Give. In. Now.” Will said, gasping for air like he was underwater.

One more hoist was enough though. And Freddie began to howl. Then came the inevitable.

“I give in!” Freddie shouted, hitting the floor with his free hand.

Will let out a sigh of relief. Though he did not let his grip loosen. He was going to have some fun now that the bully had capitulated.

“Say you’re an ugly pile of shit.” Will said, and the crowd around began to laugh again.

“I’m an ugly pile of shit.” Freddie mumbled into the ground.

“Louder!” Will demanded. He was not going to let this opportunity go to waste.

“I’m an ugly pile of shit!” Freddie shouted to the crowd’s jubilation. All apart from Freddie’s buddies, who looked embarrassed at anything other than their flailing leader.

“And that you’ll kiss my feet whenever you see me.” Will said now properly smiling.

“And that I’ll kiss your feet whenever I see you!” Freddie shouted back.

Will paused, breathing heavily and wondering how far he could push it. Then decided to quit whilst he was ahead.

“Good enough.” Will said as he got up, and quickly backed up towards the crowd, continuing to breath in short bursts. Keeping Freddie down had taken a lot of effort. And he was sure that the bully was not going to take his humiliation lying down, and would look for revenge fast.

For his part. Freddie got up and looked around at the now silent crowd. Nobody met his eyes, most were looking at Will like he was some kind of god.

Will though was not done yet.

“Anyone else got a problem with me or him.” Will said pointing at Jack. Nobody in the crowd responded to this. “Good.” Will finished, slinging his rucksack over his shoulder, and headed out the school gates.

Jack didn’t say a word to his brother all the way home. Which was all find with Will, he wanted the peace and quiet more than anything, the only thing he wanted more, was to get the hell out of this town. He didn’t belong here, he knew that; his teachers knew that; all the other kids seemed to know that as well. All of this, due to one man,

Reaching his, no, his mum’s old room, it wasn’t and never would be his room, Will slumped down onto the bed.

“How was school?” Will looked up to see his Mum standing in the doorway. In his rush to get up here, he must have walked right passed her.

Will only shrugged. What the hell did that mean. School was school. It was never going to be fantastic.

“Yeah. I hated it too when I went there.” Alicia said, not that this improved Will’s mood.

The school itself wasn’t the problem. It was just one small part of a much bigger situation that would inevitably break apart when his Dad would find them. His Mum might be fool enough to think she’d escaped him, but Will wasn’t.

“Mum. I wanna go back.” Will said, he’d been holding that in ever since he first arrived at school that morning. Despite what he had told his little brother, he knew that his Dad was here. His Mum’s plan had failed, and he wanted to get out whilst he was ahead of this.

Alicia stopped stunned, looking at Will.

“Will. I wish we could but…” Alicia started, but her eldest interrupted her.

“Look I talked to Arch, he told me I could stay with him and his folks.” Will said quickly before she could come up with her usual reasons as to why they had to stay together. He’d gotten the text a few days ago. He had given a noncommittal answer, but he wouldn’t hesitate to agree if he thought that this plan, just like all the other ones, would fail.

Alicia gets up quickly, and grabs Will’s arms.

“I know you miss your friends William. But that’s no excuse to make rash decisions.” Alicia said as she forced Will to look at her.

“R-rash?” Will said dumbfounded. “Mum. You’ve been making rash decisions ever since we left home. I mean. We leave for Auntie Jo’s, and just as I start to make some friends there, we’re on the move again.” He struggles to get free of his mother’s increasingly iron grip, but eventually he manages it, reaching himself free. “How long are we going to be on the run for. I mean. For all we know Dad could be at the door tonight. And we’ll be running away yet again.”

Alicia watched as the door, wasn’t exactly slammed in her face, but was defiantly closed with enough force to get the same message across. She sighed, and headed to the son that she hoped would be easier. Or at least have the sense to see that she needed this to be easy.

Her younger son’s bedroom door was also closed though. A grimace crossed her face as she remembered walking in on her brother when he’d been busy in his room. Choosing to give her youngest a chance, she knocked and waited before entering.

She was greeted by Jack at the door.

“Oh. Hi Mum.” Jack said. Right there, she immediately knew that her youngest was up to something. The next words out of his mouth would determine whether he’d see sunlight again this year. “Can I go and meet some friends?”

Alicia sighed with relief. That was it, that was all he wanted to ask.

Then it occurred to her. Why was he so shifty then?

“You’ve made friends already then?” Alicia asked as she leaned up against the doorframe in a casual sort of way. But also, a way that told jack that he was not going anywhere until he’d explained further in essence, trying to buy time until she’d found a reason to deny the request without looking like she was doing that.

“Yeah.” Jack said.

Well at least that was something. Will had always had it easier in that department, Alicia knew.

“Where do they live?” Alicia asked.

“About ten minutes away.” Jack replied after a moment.

“Drive or walk?” Alicia pouncing on this minor slip up.

“Walk.” Jack said, shouldering a small rucksack. “They’ve just going to show me the best places to hang out.”

Alicia didn’t like it. Not one bit.

“I thought you wanted me to make friends here?” Jack asked.

Well, he had her there.

“Fine. Be back by ten.” Alicia said, conceding defeat.

“Half ten?” Jack asked tentatively.

“Half nine.” Alicia reprimanded.

“Ten’s good.” Jack said and before Alicia could do anything else, he scurried off down the stairs.

Alicia stood still, amazed that that tactic had worked. From downstairs, the sound of the doorbell rang through the house.

“Jesus Christ Leonard you fucker!” Luke’s voice came barrelling out from the living room. “No mean no. I know you have some problems with that fuckin’ concept!”

Thinking that she should probably go and try and stop her brother from committing an actual murder, Alicia headed down the stairs towards the ever ringing doorbell.

She seemed to have arrived just in time, Luke looked like he was ready to kill someone. “Jesus. Won’t that fucker leave me in peace?”

Abruptly, a sharp knock came from the door. And Luke looked over at her, and accusatory look in his eyes.

“Who else have you told about selling your ex’s stuff too?” Luke asked as Alicia reached the front hall.

Alicia could only shake her head. She’d only talked to Mr Clarke about the items she’d wanted to sell. Unless they had some kind network, she didn’t think this was about her husband’s collection of junk.

“No-one. This ain’t for me.” Alicia said, hoping that this might lower her brother’s blood pressure.

Luke only grunted at this, and headed for the door. Before quickly returning with the police officer that Alicia had met when she’d first returned to the town. The one that had picked a fight with Will. Just like then, the man was in his police uniform.

“Good evening. Are you the parents of William Evans?” Elliot asked, he did not enter the house, but his face told them that that was going to be the next the question.

“I’m his mother, what’s this about?” Alicia asked, looking at her brother, who looked like the momentary anger at Mr Davis was completely gone.

That anger though had seemingly been now passed onto her. Not helped when the Policeman entered the house and walked into the living room, leaving both Alicia and Luke to follow in behind him.

“Well miss, it seems that your son attacked my boy at school today.” Elliot said as he stood by the door and allowed the siblings to sit down.

Alicia could have blown a gasket.

“WILLIAM! GET YOUR ASS DOWN HERE THIS INSTANT!” Alicia bellowed at the top of her lungs. This was just what she didn’t need right now. Smiling she turned back to the Copper, and in a much calmer tone, “There’s got to be some mistake. My boy would not attack anyone.” Before she could scream anymore, the sound of footsteps can be heard, followed quickly by Will. Who stood in the doorway, keeping a safe distance.

“What? I was on…” Will started, but he stopped at the sight of her livid face.

“Get in here now, and sit down.” Alicia almost hissed. They needed to keep a low profile here, and now her own children were attracting the attention of law enforcement.

Thankfully, Will did as he was told, and sat gingerly down on the sofa’s furthest seat from Alicia who looked and breathed like a rabid beast.

“Would you like to explain why there is a policeman here, William?” Alicia asked, it was bad enough having to deal with her immature younger brother. She would not deal with the same behaviour from her son.

“No?” Will said, his shoulders were hunched over though, a sure sign that the boy was lying. She knew his tells. She just didn’t know the reason behind the lie.

“Tell him then.” Alicia said, turning her eyes on the Officer, who nodded.

“Well William. My boy said that you and he had a fight at school today.” Elliot said, huffing out his large chest imperiously.

This whole situation normally would have made Alicia laugh. The only problem was that the person interrogating her son had the power to throw him in jail. Or worse, alert her husband to where they were if he decided that he needed both parents here.

It was now Will’s turn to look furious.

“If you mean that he attacked me first and I defended myself. Then yeah, we had a fight.” Will replied.

Alicia looked over at Elliot, who now looked a lot less imperious, clearly this was news to him as well. But that didn’t mean she was going to let the man off the hook.

“Is that true?” Alicia asked, feeling the old anger rise up let again that evening.

Before the officer could answer, Will did, as Elliot seemed like he was capable of nothing but stuttering and stammering at that moment.

“Yeah. Just after he said I was gay because my glasses, the glasses that I have to wear because I’m dyslexic,” Will said, and the Policeman looked even more guilty at that. “He said that they looked just like Elton John’s. Said that meant that I must also be a little queer boy too.”

“I-I-I-” Elliot spluttered. It could not have been plainer that this was not what he’d expected then he’d come bursting in here.

“Want to know that he also threatened to beat the shit out of my little brother too. Who’s twelve by the way.” Will said standing up, and looking a lot more impressive than the Policeman right now. “That’s the other reason why I fought your cunt of a son.”

This was news to Alicia, who let the damn burst.

“GET OUT!” Alicia screamed, and grabbing the nearest cushion, she hurled the item at Elliot, who was already backing out of the room. “And tell your ingrate of a son that if he ever comes near any of my family again, then you’ll all be sorry!”

“R-r-right.” Elliot nodded quickly, he headed, or more appropriately bolted for the door.

Once he was left, Alicia turned to her eldest. “Will, I’m so sorry.”

But Will was clearly not having any of the apology, and he rounded on her. “No Mum! You always suspect the worst when it’s me.” With that, Will stormed back up the stairs to his new and unwanted room. And Alicia slumps down into the armchair.

“What am I going to with him?” Alicia asked exasperated, and looked over at her brother for answers.

Luke looked up at her.

“Oh. Am I allowed to speak now?” Luke replied sarcastically.

“Luke. Don’t push me right now.” Alicia said holding up a threatening finger, the last thing she needed was her new landlord acting like a child.

“Well. There’s always schools for troubled youths.” Luke said smiling, but stopped at the look that Alicia gave him. “He’s not wrong though. Oliver will come here now that he knows that you’ve left Jo’s.” Luke said, getting the hint that she was in no mood for jokes.

“What are we going to do? When he gets here.” Alicia asked.

There follows a pause, where all Alicia can do, is nervously tug at her nails. She hadn’t done that since Joe had told her that Oliver was coming for her.

“That little psychopath doesn’t scare me. Let him come.” Luke said smiling as he lounges back in the sofa. Alicia knew that her brother had never seen why she was scared of the pathetic little weasel, he’d never been despite being almost ten years younger than both of them. “But Will is right. I’m here now. And will be until March. But what happens after that Alicia. Come the spring I’m going to be here about once every week, if that.”

“Maybe he’ll forget about us by then.” Alicia said with no real conviction, walking towards the door. “Alright fine,” she continued at the pained look on her brother’s face. “I don’t know. I’m just living day to day right now.”

As Alicia left the room, she didn’t notice her brother grab his wrist in pain.