Chapter Seven- Valentine's Day

The common room was alive with chatter. This year the sixth form were going to be playing Cupid for one another and setting each other up on blind dates. Will was desperate to avoid school at all costs on Valentine's Day, since Djaq, Marian and Eve had spent three days telling him they had found him a perfect match.

The day before Valentine's Day, the 'Cupid Committee' as they had named themselves, had to hand their list of matches to the Head of Sixth Form. The list would be pinned up the following morning.

The gang decided to head to the café after school to chat about the plans for the next day. One of the benefits of the three girls making up more than half of the committee, was that all the couples got paired up with each other. Since Djaq had broken up with Allan on the trip, she had started seeing Carter, to Will's obvious anger.

"Well guys. I gotta go. Got a German essay to write." He laughed.

"You never do school work." Much looked at him, slightly bemused.

"Yeah well it's about three months overdue and they're threatening to withdraw me from the exam." Will shrugged and headed towards the door. "See ya tomorrow."

Will crept back into the house and closed the door as quietly as he possibly could. He tried to tiptoe up the stairs but upon reaching the top, found his path blocked by his uncle.

"Well, well, the wanderer returns. What was it this time? After school detention?"

"N... n... no." he stuttered.

"Then how come I found this," Brett pulled a letter out of his pocket and tossed it at Will. "In your room?"

Will unfolded the letter and read it quickly. It was from the school, they had sent it last week, regarding his constant absences and failure to produce work. They also said they were worried about his sudden change in attitude.

"Why were you in my room?" Brett backhanded him swiftly. "Bastard."

"Don't back chat kiddo. I was getting your washing."

"Bullshit. I do all the washing round here. And the cooking, and cleaning for that matter." Will knew it was stupid to wind him up like this, but he really couldn't help it, sometimes it was too easy. Brett punched him in the ribs.

"Don't pull the martyr act on me. Get to your room this instant."

"You're not my father. You're nothing to me." Will yelped as his uncle slammed fist after fist into his chest and stomach.

Brett dragged him up the stairs and threw him into his room. Will landed awkwardly between the desk and the wardrobe. He yelled out for help as his uncle booted him repeatedly in the side.

After nearly four hours the attack ended. Brett spat on Will and hissed, "get up shithead. I'm hungry. Go make me something to eat." Will tried to heave himself up, but failed. "Get up." He found himself being dragged by his hair towards the stairs and than flung down then, landing heavily on his ankle. "Make me some fucking food."

Will rolled over and pulled himself up. He limped into the kitchen and began to search desperately for food. There was nothing in any of the cupboards. He could hear Brett getting closer and began to panic, where the fuck was all the food, he had only gone shopping yesterday?

"Oh did I forget to tell you that I had some mates round earlier? We're out of everything." Brett cackled, "go buy me some food." He tossed a tenner at Will, who was now leaning on the counter to hold himself up. "I want Chinese. And don't even think about getting yourself anything." Will began to limp to the front door when Brett grabbed his shoulder. "On second thoughts I'll order in, don't trust you not to dome home."

Will sank to his knees, why did his dad have to go away and leave him with Brett? His uncle put the phone back on the hook and kicked Will in the kidneys as he walked past. "Get your lazy ass to bed kid. I need you up at 6 tomorrow to get the washing done before you go to school." Will groaned as he hauled himself to his feet and up the stairs.

XxXxX

Robin watched as Will gently lowered himself into a chair in the common room. He had defiantly been hurt again, he was wincing every time he moved. He was also cradling his ribs and walking with an obvious limp.

He reached over and tapped him on the arm, noticing that the younger boy flinched a little. "You alright?"

"Fine."

A booming voice interrupted them. Mr Broad, the head of sixth form, was waiting to announce the 'Cupid Committee's' couples for the days festivities. "Ladies and Gents the girls in the Cupid Committee have paired everyone up and arranged Valentine's Day activities for you to partake in, in your couples of course. I can reassure you that these pairings will only last one day so don't be scared." everyone laughed politely. "So we have, Robin Locksley and Marian Fitzwater, well I never saw that coming," he added sarcastically. "Much Harrington and Evelyn Roberts. Guy Gisborne and Charmian Ellery. Carter Evans and Djaqueline Gardener. Allan a Dale and Nadine Barker. William Scarlet and Francesca Morris..."

Will's mind began to race, why the fuck had they paired him with Frankie Morris, they hated each other! He looked at the girls and frowned, mouthing 'what were you thinking? She's a dog' at them. To his increasing annoyance they giggled and turned away.

"... the first activity is a date. Proceed to the canteen, where a restaurant awaits you." Everyone stood up to move on and Djaq grabbed Will's arm roughly. He moaned in pain.

"Look just trust us. You and Frankie are perfect for each other." She ran into the canteen after Carter. "Hurry up Will."

Pissed off he went into the canteen and glanced around, the whole placed was decked out in red and pink. It made him want to puke. He was trying to get up the courage to go in when he spotted Francesca sitting at one of the tables, wearing nearly an inch of make up and the tightest top imaginable. Something about the way she looked turned Will's stomach, and before he could stop himself, he turned round and ran to the toilets.

As he left the cubicle, he walked full straight into Guy and Allan. "Sorry dude."

"You will be Scarlet. Trust us, you will be." Allan punched him hard in his stomach, and that was followed swiftly by a kick in legs by Gisborne, which sent Will crashing to the ground.

"My father needs you to work tonight. Straight from school, he'll pick us both up. Oh and don't worry, your uncle's fine with it." he kicked Will hard in the kidneys and then him and Allan left the toilets laughing loudly.

R&R please guys. I want three reviews on this chapter before I post the next one. If anyone has any ideas regarding this story let me know and I'll credit you for them if I include it.

Much Love

SxBx