I walked into school late today, my hair took a bit of time to straighten and I needed it perfect, I heard a lot of commotion and I walked round back, I saw a load of people stood in a circle and I guessed there was another fight going on, I walked over and saw it was Bolton and the new kid, Paul, I met him when he first came here, it took a bit of time for him to start talking to me but I finally cracked him open, I had no idea why he was fighting Bolton though "You are pathetic man, your pathetic" Bolton said on repeat, Paul snapped and punched him hard in the face
"Now that's more like it" Bolton said holding his cheek for a second, a lot of people started chanting 'fight' and I rolled my eyes, they started fighting again until one of Bolton's friends from the roof shouted that a teacher was coming, everyone split and the boys pulled away just as Mr Lawson turned the corner, they casually walked away like old mates and I followed them "Oi" I said loudly earning both their attention "Ah KC little sis" Bolton said smirking cockily, I punched him in the stomached and he doubled over "That's for fighting, and stop callin me little sis I'm only 2 days younger than you"
I said annoyed, he groaned and stood back up straight, I turned to Paul "Hey" I said pulling him into a hug, he hugged back before we both pulled away "Hya Kace" he said quietly, he was still a little quiet "You punch hard" Bolton said after composing himself, I smiled "Get it from my brother don't I" I said shrugging, he nodded "Pull your skirt down man" he said, I shook my head "Uh uh" I said, he sighed "C'mon please, it annoys me when boys check you out, you're my sister" he begged,
I shook my head again "Fine, but if someone hits on you and they suddenly don't turn up to school the next day then don't blame me" he said backing up, I nodded and he carried on walking.
I was in my English lesson and Miss Koreshi was doing the registration "Paul Langley, Paul" Miss said, he looked distracted by something and it looked like a magazine "Here" he said before going back to the magazine "Karla Benthom" "Yes" "Aleesha Dellam" "Here Miss" "Chelsea Woods" "Uh she's away today" "Thanks Danielle, and Kenya Smilie" Miss said, I groaned "Miss, honestly how many times do I ave to tell yah" I said, I hated my name, that's why I had everyone call me KC "Sorry KC" she said apologetically
"Right, Mr Wilding would like me to remind you about the school musical auditions at lunch time, apparently it's not too late to put you name down" Miss said, she was watching Paul who was very engrossed in his magazine "Paul, bring that magazine here, let's see what's so interesting" she said, he glanced at her then the magazine "Now" she demanded, he sighed and took it up to her "I bet it's a porn mag" Danielle said making me smile "Is it miss?" she asked, Miss opened it and stared "Can I have it back please miss?" Paul asked, she closed it and looked at him
"At the end of the day" she said, he nodded and went back to his seat, the bell rung and I picked up my bag, everyone left and I stalled, just being my usual nosy/curious self "Paul, I don't think you should be bringing things like this into school" Miss said "Why?" he asked shrugging "Well because I don't think it's appropriate" she replied, he said nothing and left the class "KC?" Miss asked, I pulled my bag onto my shoulder and turned to her "Yeah?" I asked "Are you friends with Paul?" she asked hopefully, I nodded "Mhm, why?"
I asked skeptically "Did you notice anything off with him lately?" she asked, I thought before shaking my head "No, not really, I mean, he's quiet n all, but all the new kids are I guess" I replied thinking nothing of it "Okay, do you think you could keep an eye on him for me? Not stalking, just make sure he's okay" she said, I nodded "Yeah alright, shouldn't be hard, he's always with me brother anyways" I said leaving the classroom, I caught up to Paul and turned him round "Can I talk to you?" I asked, he nodded and I took him into a secluded part of the hall
"Are you alright? How's Bolton treatin you?" I asked, he shrugged "I'm fine, he's treatin me fine, why?" he asked confused, I just shrugged innocently "Nothin, just wanna make sure he's not being a git like usual" I replied, he smiled a little "Nah, he's alright" he replied, I nodded "Good, if he does anythin let me know and I'll kill him for you" I said walking out of the spot with him, he nodded and we parted ways.
I was walking past the music class and I heard singing, I reversed and looked in to see Miss Hadock on the little stage singing while Mr Wilding was on piano, she was good but I had heard better, I shook my head in amusement and carried on walking, I went outside for a bit to see if I could find either Bolton or Paul, I spotted Bolton playing football with boys so I decided not to disturb him, I decided to look for Paul instead, I saw the cafeteria fire exit opened and I looked inside, I saw Mr Lawson and Paul sat on the table at the far end "Paul, wait here"
Mr Lawson said before leaving, I walked in slowly but me heels made a small noise, Paul spun around and relaxed once he saw me "Ello stranger" I said walking over to him, he nodded in greeting and turned back around, I sat next to him on the table and put my bag behind me "How come you're in here then?" I asked, he stayed quiet and I sighed knowing I would have to crack through again, he had a hand on his stomach and I stood in front of him "Lemme see" I said crossing my arms, he shook his head and I rolled my eyes "Please"
I begged, he stared at me for a minute before lifting his shirt a bit, I could see a bruise forming "Bolton?" I asked a bit angry, he didn't say anything "Paul, please tell me" I said, he shook his head "Fine, but I won't leave this alone" I said grabbing my bag and leaving the hall.
At lunch I was sat at the table on my own, I knew I was being nosy but I couldn't help it, I needed to know what was going on, I was poking my food around with my fork when I noticed Paul at the dinner line, he moved next to Janeece and took something from the counter, he sneakily slid it underneath his tray and walked off while glancing around the room, he put his tray back and left the hall "What?" I asked myself confused, I grabbed my bag and followed him, after a lot of hard following he finally turned into a garden, he unlocked the door and walked in,
I stayed rooted to my spot for a moment, what was I going to do? I couldn't exactly go in and say, 'Hi I followed you at lunch', I would sound like a right stalker, but I needed to know what was going on with him and my brother, I knocked the door and there was no answer, I knocked again, and again, but no one answered, I checked and found the door was open, I slowly walked in and saw Paul's stuff on the banister "Paul?" I asked throwing my bag on there, I went into the first room I saw, I walked in and it was quite dark,
I couldn't see much but I did see something that scared me, it was Paul on the sofa, watching me, with a knife in his hand "You shouldn't be ere KC" he said standing up, I couldn't speak, I was in too much shock, I backed up into the door and it closed on me "I…I had to know what was going on" I said shaking my head, he came closer with the knife still in his hand "I know you care about me, but you're not safe here" he said, he seemed really calm, though I doubt he was "Why?" I asked motioning to the knife "It's for my uncle" he replied
"I don't get it" I said confused "You wouldn't" he snapped sitting on the sofa again, I summoned up enough courage to go over to him "Then help me get it Paul" I said standing right in front of him "My uncle, he hurts me, I can't take it no more, Bolton was helping me learn to fight back, it didn't go well, this is the only way Kace" he explained, I was shocked, he was getting beaten up, and all Bolton was doing was helping him, could've done better though
"This isn't the way to take care of it" I said, he glared a bit "Well who else am I gonna tell? Social services, they never do anything helpful, this is the only way to stop it all!" he shouted standing up, the knife in his hand was making me nervous but I would not back down "It's not though" I said my voice getting louder, I looked down at the floor, my hands were shaking but I couldn't help it, I looked back up and put my hands on his shoulders "This won't help Paul" I whispered shaking my head, he sighed and I rested my forehead on his chest, it was rising and falling making me feel sleepy, I felt a hand on the back of my head and I closed my eyes.
At The School
"Right I wanna full bag search, no child leaves the premises until that knife is back in the kitchen" Jack said "Too late" Miss Koreshi said walking into the office "Somebody's already gone, well two somebody's, Paul Langley and KC Smilie didn't turn up for registration this afternoon" she said "Oh no" Eddie said in realization "Something you wanna tell me?" Jack asked "Um..." Eddie trailed off into an explanation about Paul and what according to Bolton was going on back at his house "But what about KC? She's always a good girl, well as good as the sister of Bolton Smilie can get"
Jack said shaking his head "Well, I told her to keep an eye on him, but I didn't think she'd follow him home" Miss Koreshi said "No, I don't think she knows about him, which means she's in more danger than she knows" Eddie said "Well then I've got to phone the police" Jack said reaching for the phone, Eddie stopped him "Well we don't even know if Paul's got the knife" he said "Well that's not a chance I'm willing to take" Jack replied turning to him "Or if he's willing to use it on his uncle" Eddie pointed out "I couldn't give a stuff about his uncle it's Paul that's a risk"
Jack said going for the phone again and getting stopped by Eddie "Jack listen, Paul's the victim in all this, if the police catch him with a knife then the police have to arrest him" Eddie said "Yes I know…"Jack started but got cut off by Eddie "Look. Earlier on he was on the verge of telling me what's been going on, but he doesn't trust me enough, I think he trusts KC, but if we set the police on him now he'll never trust anyone ever again"
Eddie said "He won't get a chance if he's lyin in a pool of blood" Jack exclaimed "Lads like Paul and Bolton their in crisis and we write off their behavior, say it's just boys bein boys, that's what I did to Paul, I told Jasmine the behavior was to be expected but I was wrong, I just think we've got a chance here, but not if Paul disappears into the criminal justice system. And maybe, we can get there in time to save KC" Eddie said, Jack thought it over before nodding "C'mon" he said pulling on his coat.
With KC
Paul was on the couch with the knife again and I was resting against his legs, I knew there was no getting out of this, he wasn't going to give the knife up, and I wasn't going to leave him alone with his uncle, so I was staying there, while one hand held the knife, the other was playing with my hair, it was very relaxing considering the circumstances, I heard the front door and he flinched, so did I "KC"
Paul said, I turned my head to see him watching the door "Get behind the chair" he demanded, I stood up and shook my head "Do it" he whisper/ shouted, I leaned down and pecked him on the cheek before curling into a ball behind the chair, I heard the door open and close "Paul" I guessed the person was his Uncle Dermot, I was shaking a lot "Paul I know your ere so you might as well come out" I could tell he was related to Paul because of the accent they had
"How many times eh, how many times am I gonna have to drag you back to that school" his uncle said going up the stairs "I warned you what would happen, if you started bunking off again, what did you think eh? That I didn't mean it…" his uncle said coming back down the stairs, I was shaking even more and I had to hide my mouth in my arms so no sound came out "I can tell you that I did, I haven't got all day, to play hide n seek with you and your girlfriend, yeah I did notice the girl bag on the side" I pulled my mouth away and breathe heavily,
a few tears fell down my cheeks "You know what you're doing but you still act like a little shit" his uncle exclaimed, there was a crashing noise and I jumped "Sometimes, I wonder why I bother, I talk and talk, but none of those words go into that stupid little head of yours" he said, I quietly crawled out from behind the chair "It was like this with your mother, no wonder she topped herself" he said coming closer, there was a knock on the door and I let out a breath of relief "Get back KC"
Paul whispered turning to me, I shook my head "No, I ain't gonna let him hurt you" I said crouching and facing him, I heard a bit of shouting come from outside and we both turned to the door, there was a thud noise and it all went quieter, Paul stood up and aimed the knife at the door, he put me behind him with his spare hand and I took hold of it in both of mine "Paul" the person said coming through, it was the head teacher, Mr Rimmer, he was frozen in shock "Put it down" he said, another person came through and it was Mr Lawson "Jack, I'll handle this" he said watching the knife, Mr Rimmer left so that it was just the 3 of us
"It's okay, we know what's been going on" Mr Lawson said, I hear the sounds of Paul's Uncle outside and his hold on my one hand tightened a little "It's alright, he can't hurt you, not while were here" Mr Lawson said after we both glanced nervously at the door "Why don't you give me the knife?" he asked, Paul shook his head and kept the weapon aimed "Look, Paul, you're not un trouble, not if this stops right now, your safe" Mr Lawson said calmly
"I don't wanna end up like me mum, I had to make it stop" Paul said "I know, but this ain't the way, it's not even your job to make it stop, it's ours, were the grown-ups, and were here now, okay? Hand it over" Eddie said, he reached for the knife but Paul aimed it again "Alright, you don't trust me enough, KC?" Mr Lawson asked looking at me, I nodded and rested my chin on Paul's shoulder "Do you trust me?" I whispered hopefully, he glanced at me through the corner of his eye before nodding
"Then give me the knife, you know I won't hurt you, and I won't leave you, I swear, just let me have it" I said, I slowly dragged my hand down his arm until it reached the hand that held the knife "I won't leave you" I said squeezing his hand a little, he turned it around and held out the knife, I took it and dropped it onto the sofa before pulling him into a tight hug, he hugged back just as tight as me and I let out a sigh of relief, I was facing Mr Lawson and he gave me a small smile that I returned, we all sat down and leant against the wall
"Why didn't you tell anyone what was going on?" Mr Lawson asked from my right "I did" Paul replied from my left "Okay, why didn't you tell someone with more intelligence than Bolton Smilie?" Eddie said, I smiled "There's so much help out there for you Paul, doctors, social services…" Paul cut him off "They never helped mum" he said shaking his head "I bet they tried, look what nearly happened here today, what if Bolton hadn't told me what was going on? What if Louis hadn't told me about the knife?" Mr Lawson "I don't know"
Paul said rubbing his head in frustration, he got up and left the room for a minute and we followed him, I looked out to see the police arresting Paul's uncle, they took off "The police have called in a mental health unit, I told them that Paul's family has a history of Acute Depression" Mr Rimmer said watching them drive off "What about Paul?" Mr Lawson asked "I'll have to call social services, get some emergency foster care" Mr Rimmer replied "Do you wanna go pack a few things?"
Mr Lawson asked Paul, he nodded "Do you want KC to come help you?" Mr Lawson asked, Paul nodded again and I took his hand to lead him upstairs, we got into his room and he threw a few things into a bag while I sat on his bed "Can I ask you somethin Kace?" he asked, I nodded "Why did you follow me home?" he asked confused "Well, I have large curiosity problems, and I was worried about you, I needed to know what was going on, needed to know you were okay"
I explained, he nodded "So, do you like me?" he asked a little more hopeful than I thought, I smiled a little "Yeah I do, dunno why, I don't usually like people straight away" I admitted, he faced me "Really? Is that a good thing or what?" he asked confused again, I chuckled "It's good, but before anything can go further than friends, I need you to get on my brothers good side"
I said reluctantly, he nodded and we both went back downstairs "Alright c'mon, we got somewhere to be getting to" Mr Lawson said "Uh, could you take me back to the school, I'm sure Bolton or mum's throwin a fit" I said amused, Mr Lawson nodded and I got into the car with Paul.
We finally arrived at the school and I opened the car door "Thanks sir" I said getting out, I leaned against the fence for a minute to think over everything "You alright?" I looked behind me to see Mr Lawson leaning against his car "Yeah, just a little shaken up" I replied, he nodded "You know, no one else would've done what you did KC" he said watching the school, I scoffed "What? Followed someone they just met to their house where a psycho uncle was going to beat the crap out of him?" I asked sarcastically "No, you knew something was wrong, and you were very brave to do that, you did all of it to make sure one person was safe" he corrected, I nodded "Yeah, just wish I'd ave known it sooner"
I said guiltily "Well don't worry, better late than never" Mr Lawson said opening his car door "See you later" he said, I nodded and he got into the car, I waved at Paul who was in the back and they took off, I looked at the school again and walked through the gate.
