Author's Note: This is my first fan fiction ever, inspired by a comment on my blog (Stendan Watch), suggesting a Hollyoaks spinoff called "Belfast High." That comment gave me the idea to write a story about young Brendan, exploring what made him the dark and complex character he is now. Please, by all means, tell me what you think. I'm new at this and you're feedback would be appreciated. Enjoy!

Chapter One: Power of Persuasion

"Brady!"

I don't really know why I'm sitting in this alleyway by myself. Nothing to do besides, I guess - don't wanna go home, really. Pete's coming up the alley with a bunch of his friends. I run with them too, sometimes, but they only put up with me. That's the problem I always seem to have: too many enemies, not enough friends. Pete's the only one who ever really bothered to get to know me. His ma and my ma were good friends and we stayed with them a while when my dad left us. Peter and I have been friends ever since.

"Brady, a few of us are going to the shops to scope out birds and that, you wanna come?" It's nice of Pete to try to include me. The other guys all think I'm a bit strange.

"Aw, Hamill, Brady don't wanna come. Do ye?" Barry's a dickhead. Massive body, miniscule brain. The guy's built like a bus and goes out of his way to let me know I'm not really part of the gang.

I stare up at his fat, stupid face. I don't really want to go with them, no. But Pete's going, and I'd rather hang with Pete and his stupid friends than mope around town by myself all day. I look at Pete. He knows I don't want to go.

"Why don't you guys just g'on ahead and we'll catch ye up." Pete's country accent makes him the most likeable of the bunch. With a wink and a smile, he's usually able to get a number or two, though most of the girls he chats up can only make out about half of what he's saying.

Barry looks like he's about to say something, then probably realizes that not having Pete winking at the girls increases his chances of getting their attention. Stupid arse doesn't realize it's his fat face and the way he lumbers about spitting everywhere that makes him so damn unappealing.

Barry and the guys lumber off, leaving Pete standing over me in the alley. He puts out his hand, which I accept, and he helps me up. "What're ye doin' here again, Brendan?"

I straighten my jacket. It's an old thing my ma had bought me a few years ago - much too small, but she couldn't really afford to buy me a new one. Well, I guess she could if she'd stop drinkin' so much. Sometimes when Pete and I go down to the shops I see a couple that catch my eye. I've always wanted a leather jacket, like some of the other guys have. It makes you look tough - lets people know they shouldn't mess with you. But I don't have enough money. Pete and I have been working to fix that - buying ciggies and selling 'em to the younger kids at school. It's slow going, though. We've been trying to come up with something more lucrative for weeks - some scam we could pull and what.

"It's a nice day for a little sit-down." He raises his eyebrow at me, and I just shrug my shoulders. "Don't really want to go home, is all."

Pete leans against the opposite wall, picking with his fingernails - it's a habit of his, especially when he's thinking something up. "Me cousin Alan's up for a week or two, stayin' with us n'all. Him and me brother cookin' up somethin' wicked - said we could have a piece if we keep our heads down. You in?"

I grin - Tommy's one of the better scammers on the street. Not often he lets us run with him. "Yeh, sure. Thank ye, by the way. For not draggin' me along with them lot. Not in the mood." I look at him a moment. "Why d'you hang out with those guys?"

Pete shrugs. "You know how it is: when you want something done, you use what you can to your advantage. I'm not stupid, Brendan, they make me sick some times, but what're ye gonna do?" He pauses for a second. "Guys like us have something that guys like them don't have."

"And what's that?"

"The power of persuasion. And I don't mean intimidation, I mean persuasion. Making someone want to do everythin' you ask 'em to." There's fire in Pete's eyes. I see it sometimes when he's cooking up a really good scam. He's right - Pete's not the same as all the other guys - he's meant to go to the top. But me?

"I'm not the same as you, Peter. People don't wanna listen to me, they don't even wanna look at me."

Pete grabs me by the shoulders. "You just don't know the secret yet, Brady. You can charm the socks off of girls, I've seen ya. But blokes are different. You've gotta be tough, Brendan. You just gotta do something so big that everyone'll be scared of you - everyone'll wanna be on your side."