Chapter Two- Fall Prom Day

Will sat in the midst of chaos, squealing girls and exasperated guys. He looked around at the madness and thanked his lucky stars he wasn't going to the Fall Prom. Marian had been talking none stop with Djaq and Eve about hair and dresses and make up, while the lads had been talking, albeit rather quietly, about kissing technique.

"It's all about where you place your hands. I'm telling you."

"Not being funny Robin, but that's bullshit. It's about what you do with your tongue. Good tongue technique can drive a girl wild." Allan looked over at Djaq and blew her a kiss. She blushed faintly and turned back to her conversation with the girls.

"Well, this is all rather confusing." Much tilted back in his chair and glanced around the room. "Will help me out here, please."

"Huh?" Will looked round. "Sorry wasn't listening. What?"

"Kissing. Tongue or hands, which is most important?"

"Neither." they all looked confused now. "It's about everything being spontaneous, unplanned, real."

"Deep, real deep. A word Scarlet, now." Gisborne was standing behind Will, stupid smirk on his face. He turned and left the common room, while Will struggled to his feet.

"Back in a bit guys." he hobbled out after Guy, dreading what he was going to say.

"Take your time, don't worry about me." Gisborne smirked as Will moved as fast as he could on his crutches. "I guess Carter did a better job than I gave him credit for."

"Look what did you want? I have things to do." Will leant heavily on his crutches.

"You know exactly what I want. And now that I've got it, there's no reason for me to keep your little secret, unless..."

"Unless what?" Will was pissed off now. What the Hell gave Guy the right to treat him like this?

"Less of the attitude. Unless you tell Robin and your little gang," Guy laughed. "I'll tell the whole of the sixth form that you live in a care home because your dad hit you."

"He didn't hit me, and I'm only there until he gets a new job. You wouldn't dare tell anyone anyway, you don't have the guts." Will doubled over as Gisborne punched him in the stomach. He walked away, chuckling quietly as Will collapsed to the floor, his fringe flopping into his eyes, which were damp with fresh tears of pain.

"Will, oh my God, are you alright?" Djaq, Eve and Marian ran over and picked him up. "What happened?"

"Nothing, I tripped on my way back in. I'm fine." he brushed them off and turned to carry on back into the common room.

"What did Guy say?" Marian was glaring at him.

"It's not important."

"He's the reason you're not going to the Prom tonight isn't he? Last week you kept saying that it was gunna be great, and then on Monday you tell us you're not going. What's he said?"

"I told you, nothing important. And I just don't want to go to the Prom, not on crutches anyway." and not without a date he added silently.

"Whatever. Something's wrong with you Will Scarlet, and I want to know what it is. If you won't tell me, I'll just find someone who knows." Marian turned on her heel and waltzed off to the canteen, where the other two girls were waiting for her.

Will slowly went back into the common room and sat down opposite Robin and Allan, who were now punching each other. Much had disappeared somewhere, in search of food no doubt.

"Sup Will?" Robin nodded in his direction. "So you gunna talk to Charm this weekend?"

Will shook his head. "Don't think so. Unless she comes out Saturday night."

"Saturday night?" Allan was puzzled, "what's happening Saturday night?"

"The back to school party at Vaisey's. We go every year. And I'm getting rid of these things tomorrow morning." he gestured the crutches.

"Oh shit, yeah the party tomorrow." Allan slapped his head with his hand. "Fuck. Soz mate but Me and Djaq are double dating with Robin and Marian tomorrow night."

"Make that triple dating mate. I invited Much and Eve along as well." Robin high fived Allan.

"Ok don't worry. I mean it's no big. Just a party."

"Good glad you're cool with it. We're going into town, want anything?" they turned and left before he had the chance to respond.

"No didn't want anything. Thanks tho." Will muttered to himself angrily. They just ditched him, for girls.

"Come to Vaisey's party with me tomorrow night?" Charm sat down next to him and pouted. "Please."

"What about Gisborne? Isn't he your boyfriend?"

"No, silly." she giggled. "He only asked me to the Fall Prom tonight."

"Anyway no thanks. I'm not going. No one else is. They're all going on a group date." Will rolled his eyes as Gisborne shouted to Charm. "I think he wants you. Go. I can cope with walking a whole three foot to the canteen for lunch." He stood up and tried to walk to the dining room, but found his way blocked by Carter and Guy.

"What do you think you're doing talking to my girlfriend, Scarlet?" Guy put his face so close to Will's their noses were touching.

"She's not your girlfriend Gisborne."

"Not yet." he spat in Will's face and backed away laughing. "Carter, why don't you take the boy for a walk, teach him some manners?"

"Sounds fun." a glint of evil flashed in Carter's eyes, and Will felt himself swallow hard. "This way." he grabbed Will's arm and dragged him outside, ignorant of the fact that Will's crutches were lying on the floor and that Will was limping and struggling to keep up.

Carter dragged Will right out of the school gates and down the road to the park. It was secluded and surrounded by trees. The only people who ever came here were horny teenagers from the sixth form who needed a hidden place to have some fun, and obviously Carter when he wanted to teach someone a lesson.

Without warning he turned on Will and slammed his knee into Will's groin. As Will fell, he plunged his fist into his kidneys, and then swiftly into his face. Carter carried on pummelling him until he lay still on the grass. By this point Will's face was a mass of blood from his now broken nose and split lip, and he could sit up without crying in pain, which amused Carter no end. He pulled Will up into a sitting position and laughed as the tears poured down his face.

"Aw poor Will. What's up? No one come to save you? Shame." Carter cackled in a demented manor. "Come fight back."

"No, I'm better than that."

"Whatever. You'll break eventually. Trust me." Carter gave him one last kick in the side before turning round and heading back to school. "Have fun making your own way back Scarlet."

XxXxX

Eve ran into the common room and picked up the crutches.

"Where the fuck is he? Something has happened and I bet Gisborne is behind this." Marian muttered angrily. This was so unlike Will, he was always so sensible.

Carter sauntered back into the room at that point and winked at Eve, who smiled back at him.

"Evelyn Roberts don't you even consider going anywhere near him. Not now that you have so successfully got Much on your arm." Djaq's words caused her to blush.

"I wouldn't, but d'ya think he could have had something to do with Will? I mean it was him that did Will's leg the other week." She spoke quietly but forcefully.

"Why don't you go and find out Eve? He seems to like you." Marian giggled.

"Shut up. I'm not going anywhere near him. I might catch something." the girls dissolved into a fit of uncontrollable laughter.

"What's so funny?" Robin wrapped his arms around Marian's waist and kissed her on the cheek. "Where's Will?"

"Nothing and we don't know." Marian returned the kiss, pouting as Robin unwrapped his arms from her waist and ran out of the common room. "Damn him sometimes."

Robin ran down the road outside the school shouting Will's name. He knew where Gisborne and Carter went when they beat people up, but he had to make sure Will wasn't still at school. Upon getting no response he left the grounds. Running as fast as he could to the park.

Will heard Robin calling his name, but had no energy left to respond. Every move he made sent pain coursing through his body. His knee was throbbing and his eye was swollen so badly he couldn't see out of it.

"Will, oh my God. Who did this to you? Who the fuck did this to you? Talk to me. Fucking talk to me."

"I dunno. I didn't see them. They jumped me."

"Don't bullshit me. It was Gisborne or Carter wasn't it? I'll fucking kill them." Robin helped Will to his feet, and looked at him closely. "We need to get you to a doctor fast. Your nose is fucking broken. Bastards."

"I'm fine really. I'll get my dad to take me to the doctor's tonight. Honestly. You go back to school and I'll get him to come and pick me up from here."

Robin looked at his friend again before turning and heading bak to the school. Now he was really worried, it was unlike Will to refuse help, and to skip school for that matter. Will waited until Robin had completely left the park before pulling his mobile phone out of his bag.

"Jessica, it's Will. Can you come and pick me up, from the quay in half an hour? Please Jessica, please. You have to. I'm a mess. Someone beat me up and I have to see a doctor. Please. Quarter of hour! Thank you. See you there." he snapped the phone shut and began to hobble down to the quay.

By the time he arrived, Jessica, his Social worker, was waiting for him in her car.

"William Scarlet, what on earth am I going to do with you? This is the third time I've had to come and pick you up in less than two weeks. Look at the state of you. Oh well get in and I'll take you to Doctor Rees."

Will climbed in the car and closed his eyes as Jessica pulled off, letting the radio drown out the sound of her constant complaints. Just shut up for fuck's sake. I know I'm a disappointment to everyone. I heard it from my father, I don't need to hear it from you too.


R&R please. Hope this is better than the first chapter.

Much Love

SxBx