"Well. He terrifies me," Jack says as he walks into school. This large figure of a new kid hanging around some of the more aggressive students at the school. News travelled that the canteen had been completely trashed overnight and the more normal students are frustrated than confused. "A gang, really? I knew there was one of those where I lived but couldn't tell you a thing about them. Spray painted their logo but that's about it. I've been here 5 minutes and we've got spray painted tags in school. It's a bit GTA: San Andreas," says Jack.
He doesn't take the threat of gang warfare too seriously before Andi takes him to the side. "This could be those guys from a couple weeks ago. Don't say anything. You know what he did," Andi says with slight fear in her voice. "I know. I was there too," Jack says as he returns to a conversation involving Mr Chalk about the tag on the wall near the lockers. The Dale Sken Crew. Then it was explained a 'sken' was a gun. The tall, new kid from earlier with the kid who explained it with an obvious hand gesture.
English with returning deputy head Mr Clarkson was normal for a lesson here. "I probably think the worst of some people but that tall kid definitely scares me. New kid, with the kid who knows what a 'sken' is," Jack says to the group of people he's around including people named Phoenix and Denzil. Phoenix seemed to know something about them but never explained beyond name only. "Who's the kid with the new boy?" Jack asks knowing he might get something out of it. "Kyle Stack. He went away for a couple months. Nobody knows why. Could have been police. Could have been bunking. We don't know," responds Phoenix. The only person who seemed to know anything about this group. "And nothing about the other one?" Jack asks as everybody else shakes his head.
During break, the fire alarm goes. Instead of the terrifying alarm, it was a a long ring. It could have been easily confused for a broken bell but it was quickly explained. They head out suspiciously close to the school. The same school which has already been on fire in recent years and heading closer to the gates would have made much more sense.
When it's finally explained as a false alarm, it's explained we're doing "community service" as Grantley put it. "Trashed would have been cleaner," Jack mentions as they enter. "The same tag as earlier. I guess they're the local gang?" Jack finally asks. Phoenix nods his head. "How far do they go? What's their border?" Jack asks out of curiosity, wondering if it could be them. "To keep it simple, this side of the railway," Phoenix replies slowly. Doing his worst poker face with a dustpan and brush, Jack replies with slight fear. "Let me guess, drugs?" He asks with a quick nod from Phoenix as he notes Budgeon coming this way.
The rest of the cleanup is fairly quick and they're let out slightly early for lunch. Surprised they're let out of class until news reaches us about Mr Chalk's classroom being trashed. Jack edges Andi to the side slowly. Wanting to make sure nobody around can hear them. Putting his hands on her shoulders softly to not scare her too much. "These guys could be the same from a couple weeks ago. If you see them, make sure you're not seen. Tell me. I'll do the same. Anything urgent, text me if you can't speak," Jack says with clear urgency and fear in his voice.
Heading to Mr Chalk's classroom along with a few others, Jack looks through the window. Again, pointing out the same tag on the wall. "They're here. The hoax fire alarm might have been them," Jack puts out there in a thought of putting the pieces together before the congregation is dispersed and sent away for lunch. "I can't see an end to this," Jack prophesises knowing there must be members in the school able to retaliate and the school doesn't know.
Heading outside to eat lunch, sat in their usual spot on the side step, Jack finishes his lunch fairly quickly. "This isn't great. I couldn't tell you what the ending is but I can't see any of it ending well. Not from experience, I should say," Jack discusses as it's interrupted by a congregation at the gate before being approached by Mr Chalk. Moving up the steps in the hopes to stay out of their peripheral vision. Seeing them disperse before a dog rushing at Mr Chalk. "Nothing is ending well, here," Jack says with no other thoughts to say.
After lunch, we had Maths with Mr Chalk. Well, should have. On the way, Jack whispers into Andi's ear. "Recoginise any of them?" as Andi shakes her head. "Shame. Too far away," Jack says with a potential out of being recognised by this group. "Don't get yourself caught doing this," Andi says with clear fear in her voice.
Seeing the current extent of the damage makes it real. Nothing is in place, everything trashed. The stickiness of somethingng all over the table. "We're in trouble," Jack says as the scale of disaster is fully realised. "Big trouble. We don't know who they are," Mr Chalk responds with disappointment in his voice. "I've been here three weeks and I've been told about the Rochdale Observer section on this place and now a gang war. What next?" Jack asks in pure disbelief. "You're telling me. I started my teaching career here. Now I'm considering a career change," replies Chalky.
Aside from being told about the new initiatives about gangs, Science was quieter. We didn't get a smashed up room to clean for the third time, today. Immediate action was needed and we're going to need it. They're already here. How they're getting out, Jack doesn't know.
Heading out of school, there's a slight commotion involving Mr Chalk. He approaches one of the English teachers and the police come down and approach her. She seems distressed but being far away, you can't help watch but not close enough to understand why. "We're screwed. I've been here 3 weeks and we have a gang something and a teacher has been arrested. I don't know who that big, new kid is but avoid him," Jack says to Andi. Using the distraction of the arrest to hold a conversation with her.
The big, new kid wasn't seen the next day and the group from lunch hadn't returned. Hopefully, it was just a one day thing but Jack doesn't think so.