The Ones Left Behind
So you are aware that CHERUB agents help the government and carry out missions that can help thousands or millions of people in the long term, but what about the devastation they leave behind? What about Junior Moore, in CHERUB: Class A (a.k.a. The Mission), a boy who had his father taken away, and truly believes that James Adams is his friend. This story delves deeper into the 'victims' of the CHERUB operations. The children whose lives are torn apart by children who are doing 'good'. The ones left behind.
KISSES
Lauren Adams walked over to her target, Tom Bourne. He snaked his arm round her waist. The mission briefing had stated that 13-year-old Lauren must at least 'befriend' Tom, the son of a huge cannabis dealer. Lauren was perfectly happy to do a whole lot more. Tom was effortlessly good looking, as well as being intelligent and thoughtful. He made her laugh even more than Rat did. True, it did make her feel guilty, getting so close to him, as she would be leaving soon, and Tom would probably end up with his father behind bars. As awful as she did feel, it was all worth it for the electric current her heart gave out when she looked at him. His dark hair flopped over his dark eyes, and he smiled a perfect smile at her before they walked off. They were going to his house tonight, a perfect excuse to have a nose around and plant some listening devices in his father's main office.
Tom lived with his parents Michael and Lucy Bourne in a huge Victorian house on Marina Lawns. It was within short walking distance from the comprehensive school Lauren was temporarily attending. The size of the house was a clear give away that he was very well-off. Little did his classmates know, Tom's father was one of the biggest faces in UK drug dealing. He had to change his mobile number constantly, had hundreds of people, including children, working for him, and was constantly under watch from British Intelligence. Michael Bourne knew very well that they were on his tail, but he had no idea that his only child's new friend was one of them, planting cameras and photocopying documents in his house.
Lauren did a quick survey of the house as she entered. She found out after 'looking for the toilet' that Michael Bourne was working in his office, and Lucy was chatting with girlfriends in a huge living room, drinking wine and eating olives. This meant that she had no chance of getting any work done that evening. For the first time in a hard working CHERUB career, she honestly didn't care. She was pleased in fact. She and Tom spent two hours lying on his bed listening to The Fratellis album and talking about everything. Except it wasn't. Lauren couldn't tell him everything.
'So, you think you might have to go back to London soon?' Tom whispered, rolling over so he was looking Lauren in the eye.
'Mmm... I think so yeah. I don't want to though. I want to stay, you know, I, like it here.' Lauren said, speaking every word of truth.
'With me?' Tom questioned. Lauren hoped he wanted to hear what she was going to say.
'Yes' she admitted, looking into his deep chocolate eyes. This boy was the son, the flesh and blood of a very bad man, who had broken the law, and continued to do so every day. But surely that didn't make him bad himself? Lauren realised how unfair life actually was. She wished she could tell him everything, about her brother, about the death of her mum, about CHERUB. But she couldn't. And his life was going to be torn to pieces because of her.
'I don't want you to leave, either' Tom said, reaching out and proceeding to fiddle with Lauren's blond hair. 'I won't just miss you, but you're the only real friend I have. I'll be by myself again once you've left.'
Tom didn't mix well with the other kids at school. They didn't dare beat him up; he was tall and he wasn't geeky; but all of the year 9s ignored him because of his posh accent, and the fact he actually tried in lessons. It had bothered him until he met Lauren, but now he didn't need anyone else. His father never gave a damn about him, he was too busy running his dodgy imports company, and his mother just left him alone; she was happier getting eyebrow waxes and drinking pink wine with her lady-who-lunch friends.
Tom had always been well behaved. He was always healthy, never tried drugs, cigarettes or alcohol despite his close proximity to them, and he never ended up in fights. He didn't fit in at all.
Tom rolled over and kissed Lauren on the lips several times; she was in a blissful happiness. She was woken from it with a jolt. Her phone vibrated in her pocket, and she jumped up from the bed. She flipped it open. CHLOE BLAKE CALLING the display read. Lauren searched for an excuse to leave. She gave up on good excuses and used the first one in her head.
'My mum says I need to go home now. No excuses.' Lauren tried.
'Right now? That sucks.' Tom said. He pecked Lauren on the cheek. 'Bye.' He said, sliding his hands into the pockets of his pants.
'See you tomorrow.' Lauren said, hoping that she actually would see him again. She wasn't sure. MI5 thought they had all the information they needed now. The mission was almost finished. She flipped her phone back down, rejecting the call, and slipped it into her pocket. She stood up on her toes, looped her arms round his neck and ferociously kissed Tom. She knew that this was the end, and she fancied him to bits. He joined in and locked his arms round Lauren's waist. It was a good job that both of his parents were downstairs, or they might be slightly worried about the odd noises coming from Tom's room. Lauren wanted him to know that they wouldn't see each other ever again. But she didn't want to leave all her explanations now. It would be better to leave without a trace, or he might try to find her. They continued snogging like crazy, and ended up with Tom's fingers entwined in Lauren's hair, and her hands slipped into Tom's back pockets. The door burst open suddenly, leaving Tom and Lauren gazing into the eyes of a huge, laughing man.
