Chapter Twelve - First Football Match and Bad News
The inter school five a side football competition had started a few week before hand. The outlaws had their first game against a group of year 9 and 10 who named themselves the Gremlins. The outlaws spend some time each day training. Robin was the striker and self-optioned captain of the team. Allan and Djaq were the midfielders. Will was the defender and John was the gold keeper. Much watched them glade he was nor taking part in this. Much was dreading when they would have to play against the Black knights. That was only asking for trouble – trouble they didn't need.
They also spend part of the weekend in the park training for the game. They try to play outside during break and lunch at school – it was harder the field was no off limits unless for PE. After school was impossible as now it got darker earlier. So weekends were the best time to train.
School had been mostly uneventful – apart from random notes post in the outlaws lockers and a few insults shared the rival with the Black Knights were at an all-time low. "So are you all ready for Friday?" asked Much. Friday morning was the match between the Outlaws and the Gremlins. An early win would have been ideal for them.
"As ready as we can be," said Robin
A year seven come to them. It one they recognize who hang out with Tom. This year seven tapped Allan on the shoulder and whispered something in is ear before running off. Allan stood up looking annoyed. "Where are you going?" asked John
"I have to stop my brother from doing something stupid," said Allan rushing off looking like he wanted to punch something.
"What do you reckon Tom has done now?" asked Much watching Allan go.
Robin shrugged "Who's knows." he said. Only a few months since Tom started secondary school he seemed to of gotten in more trouble than the outlaws had got in so far this year. "Maybe he calm down soon," he added. Sometime the year seven try to act older and cooler now they were in secondary school - Tom was one of those ones. One who got too big for his boots.
Allan appeared again just before the bell at the end of lunch rang. "He stolen a teacher's laptop," said Allan "It wouldn't been as bad if they haven't checked his locker as well…."
"What was there?" asked Will
"People's phone, wallets, that kind of thing," said Allan "And then they checked mine as well… can you believe it?" Allan shook his head is disgust.
"Well, your history isn't clean." Pointed out Much. Allan glared at him and Much fell silent.
"So what going to happen?" asked Robin
"The school said put him in dentation everyday till the Christmas holidays." Said Allan "And they might be connecting the police…" Allan looked more upset by the idea the police getting involved than his brother committing a crime. "And, we really don't want the social on our case again."
"Well, if they do called the police -my dad might take it – then it might not be that bad," said Robin at once.
"This is my family you are talking about Rob," said Allan darkly "We're not exactly model citizens are we? My old man is in prison, my mum is just about coping, and we live in a rough area….. The police won't care what's happens to us…. In fact they properly expect us to get sent to prison before we are twenty." Allan punch a locker "fact it - people are waiting for us to screw up..."
"But it's Tom who will be in trouble. Not you." Said Much
Allan shook his head, "It doesn't work like that," The Police had gave Tom a warning and Allan made Tom swear he will get into no more trouble. Tom said he wouldn't but Allan didn't believe him.
…
Friday come the outlaws got changed for the match.
"We can do this," said Robin confidently as they got ready to leave the changing rooms.
They walked into the field. And soon the game begin with one of the PE teachers as referee. It was a fun game and Robin got the first goal quickly. Then one of the Gremlins scored. Then Djaq manged to score. John saved one. Then just before the final whisper Robin scored one last time.
"We should celebrate tomorrow," said Robin "Pizza around mine," Robin felt good about himself. And felt good for the coming month. What could go wrong?
….
The next day, Robin was waiting for his friends to arrive. John was the first to arrive looking grim "I thought you were coming here with Will." Said Robin
John paused for a moment, "Will's not going out today…."
"He's hasn't got a reaction to something again?" asked Robin because that was the most likely reason for Will not being there.
"No…it's nothing like that," said John. He paused for a moment "Will, his dad and Luke have to leave their flat. The flat was linked to his dad's work….and now he's not working….." John trailed off,
"Wait – what! Surely they can't do that?" said Robin at once. Robin was sure they was a law or something about that. He didn't even realise this could of happen to them. he didn't realised they had been in danger of losing the flat . Robin seen things on the TV about people being kicked out of their homes but it didn't happen to people he knew.
"Well they just did," said John
"So….where are they going to go?" asked Robin
"They got into a shelter." Said John "It's one room for all three of them and have to share bathroom and kitchen with everyone else there."
"How did you find out about this?" asked Robin at once – thinking that Allan would have been the one who would of found out about this first.
"Will's dad asked my dad for help moving everything." Said John "I mean – they are trying to sell some stuff and my parents let them storage somethings in the garden shed…." John trailed off again, he had to help them pack and sort things out. It had no been easy to watch and he didn't know how much help he had been.
"They could have stayed that my house," said Robin "We got room…"
"That what my parents told them that too," said John "But, I think they don't want to intrude on anyone else. And they all very independent….." John paused for an moment again.
"Do the other know?" asked Robin
John shook his head. "Will said we could tell them if we want, - I don't think he wants too. he said he want to be left alone for a while."
The other were upset when they got the news. And no one felt like celebrating their win But they tried too. "I going to phone him," said Allan picking up his phone "He can stop sulking and come and see us..."
Djaq shook her head "Allan, he been with his family now - they need him more than us right now."
Allan didn't listen to Djaq, "I know Will," he said and walked out of the room to phone his best friend up. He come back a few moments later, "I'll going to meet up with him tomorrow," he said "And he has order us to eat pizza,"
"Well," said Much "On a good side - they have a roof over their heads." Much wanted to try and see the good side of all thing. "And we won the first game, and we manged a week without getting a fight with the black knights…"
"Much, shut up."
….
"I need to talk to you." Said Robin's dad as he come in to the kitchen the next day as Robin was beginning to clean up the mess his and his friends made the day before.
"What about?" asked Robin thinking this may have something or do with Will and his family – or even something to do with Allan. Had Tom gotten himself in some kind of trouble again – Maybe both Tom and Allan had gotten in trouble and his dad wanted to ask Robin about it.
"It's about you're friend Roy."
Robin paused for a moment and knew this wasn't good news. Roy didn't even lived in Nottingham anymore. "What about Roy?" asked Robin
Robin's dad looked upset. "Roy's been involved in a fight and he was stabbed…."
Robin didn't know about think or say. He wasn't expect that "Is he alright?" asked Robin thinking that Roy would be. Roy was hot-headed, stubborn, and strong. He would be alright.
"He didn't make it," said Robin's dad.
Robin felt empty. "I going to my room," he said getting up and went to his room and lay on his bed. How could this happen? How could this happen to Roy? He was perferly fine last time they saw him. Full of life. Did the other know? Robin lay on his bed lost in his own thoughts.
