Imogen walked into the canteen and looked around for Connor. She smiled, seeing him talking to Kevin and she walked over. She did notice that Dynasty was nowhere to be seen, so she took her phone out sending a quick message to her asking where she was. She wasn't really expecting a response, but she was worried about her friend. She walked over to get her food before she walked over and took her seat next to Connor, catching part of the conversation. She shook her head, not even pretending to know or understand anything Kevin was telling Connor.
Connor turned his head as he felt someone sit next to him and he gave her a smile. "What kept you?"
"Just a queue." Imogen gave him what she hoped was her most convincing smile and she returned to her food.
Connor looked to Kevin, he couldn't understand why it was now Imogen's turn to act strangely. He shook it off for the time being as their conversation continued.
Outside, Barry was still trying to reason with Steve-O. "Why is this important?"
"Cause he grassed us up, he won't get away with it." Was Steve-O's answer.
"If you 'urt 'er you 'urt our Dyn. The girls are like sisters, they're best mates, mum thinks the world of 'er." Barry told him. "An' I know you love Dyn and don't wanna see her upset. So just leave 'er, yeah? We'll find somethin' else to get Mulgrew with, just not Imogen. Cause it won't be just 'im you hurt."
"Yeah...Carol'd skin me alive if I got one of 'er own an' she knew about it." Steve-O said. "'Ow is Kacey?" He added with a sickening smile.
Barry grimaced.
"Still thinks she's a lad?"
"No." Barry looked to him and walked away just as Dynasty exited the school. She looked around her before walking over to Steve-O.
Back in the canteen, Connor stood with Imogen and they both took their trays to put them away.
"Imogen?"
She looked up at his voice. "Yeah?"
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing." She shrugged and sighed when she saw the look he gave. "Alright... but don't go mad?" She asked. "I was gonna go get our marriage certificate back..."
"Imogen I told you to leave it, it's over now. What was you going to tell me when you didn't come back till later?"
Imogen sighed. "I know... I know I'm sorry."
Connor shook his head and hugged her tightly to him. He loved her stubborn, determined streak but sometimes it infuriated him at the same time. "Don't do that again okay?"
"Okay I promise." She said softly, hugging him back. She stepped away to look for Dynasty after a few moments.
"She never turned up for food." Connor told her when he saw what she was doing.
Imogen sighed softly and took out her phone, sending her friend a message asking her where she was.
Connor lead Imogen back to their seats, and within seconds of her sitting down, she received a message back. Imogen looked at the message confused. It was from Dynasty's phone, but something seemed off with the way the message was written. She handed the phone to Connor.
Connor took the phone, read the message and gave a slight shrug. What was he meant to do? What could she do? The message had read; 'Gone for a walk to clear my head, don't come looking for me babes x'. Even he had to admit that something wasn't right. He handed the phone back to her. "Talk to her later or something?" he suggested.
Imogen nodded silently, but inside she worried for her friend. Eventually she typed out a reply and sent it.
"Aw look babes, look like your mate ain't that worried after all." Steve-O taunted, looking as the message came through. "All she's put is 'Okay, I'll speak to you later.' Some mate she is, eh?"
Dynasty winced a little, the cruel tone cutting through her. She knew damn well if Imogen knew where she was and what was happening she would help her. "Are we goin' or not?" she asked quietly, opening the car door. She was about to get in when a voice stopped her by calling her name. Inside she was grateful for the voice.
"And where do you think you are going, Miss Barry?"
Even if it was Mr Budgen.
"I don't feel well, sir. Me boyfriend's takin' me 'ome." She spoke, knowing if she told the truth then Steve-O would hurt her more.
"And I suppose you have a note from the school nurse, and your mother has been informed?" Grantley questioned, not believing the girl for a moment. In her time at Waterloo Road he'd seen her grow as a person, she was more intelligent than her high maintenance appearance let on, and she was as compassionate as she was loyal to those around her. But this worried him.
"Course, sir." Dynasty shrugged, starting to get into the car again.
"Let me see then." Grantley told her.
"Look, old man, her mum's waitin' for her, I need to get her back." Steve-O said.
"Then I'm sure she won't mind her being a minute later because a teacher is making sure she is authorised to leave school premesis."
Dynasty sighed and shut the car door and calmly walked over to him, having to stop herself from running straight past him into the safety of the school. She waited into she was close enough to him to whisper without being overheard before taking her chance of getting help.. "Take me to see Mr Clarkson… please sir." She spoke quietly, going into her bag acting as though she were looking for the note that wasn't there. "I can't find it, sir!" she said louder, making sure Steve-O didn't catch on to what she was about to do.
Grantley gave her a look of understanding as she looked through her bag. "Well then you'd better get yourself to the Head's office then."
"But-"
"Now, Miss Barry. And you, off school premesis before I contact the police."
Dynasty gave him a grateful smile before walking back into the school just as the bell went, followed by the old teacher.
Steve-O glared before getting straight into the car and slamming the door shut. He hit the steering wheel in frustration before driving off.
"He's plannin' somethin' sir… I dunno what but it involves me an' me mate, Imogen." Dynasty said before she could stop herself.
Grantley remained unmoved, but carried on walking until he reached Tom's classroom, knocking the door before entering. "Mr Clarkson, could I borrow you for a moment, please."
"Can't it wait, I'm just getting the class settled." Tom looked to his oldest friend and in that moment he knew something was wrong. "Right, you lot just sit quietly for a minute, I won't be long."
"And we'll need Miss Stewart as well." Grantley said.
Connor looked up in confusion before gently nudging his wife who was writing something down.
Imogen looked as Connor did this. "What?" she asked and looked as Connor tilted his head slightly.
"Imogen could you come with us?" Tom asked, looking at her.
Imogen grew confused as she stood up. "What's going on?" she asked.
"Just come with us." Tom said, leading her out of the room and shutting the door behind them.
"Dynasty? What's-" Imogen was stopped by Tom.
"Get to the pastoral care office you two." He told the girls.
Dynasty instinctively gripped hold of Imogen's arm as the two walked, and Imogen knew then that something was very wrong.
"I think we may need extra help. The girls are in a bit of trouble it would seem." Grantley spoke as the girls were out of earshot.
"Let me guess. This Steve-O character." Tom sighed. "Why what did she say?"he asked as the two walked.
"She said he was planning something and was going to hurt her and Imogen." Grantley answered.
Tom stopped in his tracks. "Did she say anything else?"
Grantley shook his head.
"Right… well… do you want to come with me or cover my class?" Tom asked.
"I'll cover your class. I've got some marking to do I may as well get it done while that horrible lot get on with their work."
Tom smiled. "Right well they're on Macbeth. Just get them to do their worksheets or something." He said and carried on walking while Grantley walked back to Tom's classroom.
Imogen and Dynasty were sat on the chairs, talking to each other when Tom walked into the room.
"Right, Dynasty, I think it's time you told me what exactly is going on." He told her, looking at both girls before taking his seat in front of them.
Imogen looked to her friend as she took a deep breath.
Dynasty avoided Imogen's eyes and she looked at the floor. "it's… it's me fella sir…"
Tom nodded. "I guessed that much, mate, but what's happening? Cause you've not been yourself for a while since he's been back."
"I know… I'm sorry…"
"Why are you sorry?"Tom asked.
"Cause if I'd have gone with him he wouldn't wanna hurt Im…" Dynasty sighed heavily.
Imogen's eyes grew wide. "Why me?" she asked, then it clicked into place. "Oh…" she bit her lip. Connor had finally got away and she'd refused to go with him at lunch.
"Oh what?" Tom looked to Imogen.
"I think I know why… he urm… he had something of mine and Connor's and I wanted to get it back… but Barry warned me against it so I never went."
"Is that all?" Tom asked.
"No… Connor owed him money for a pick-up and cause Connor went to Mr Byrne and he paid it off for him, Steve-O's probably annoyed with that too…"
Tom gave a huge sigh and put his head in his hand.
Both girls shared a look and Dynasty bit her lip. "Y'see… the thing with Steve-O… 'E don't know when to give up." She started. "'E won't stop till 'e's got exactly what 'e wants. And… and that's mainly me. An' now Imogen…"
Tom looked at them both again. "What the hell have you got yourselves into." Was all he could muster up to say.
Imogen looked to the floor. "What do we do?"
"Well you know what I'm about to say, Imogen." Tom looked to her.
"No, sir you can't." Dynasty looked panicked.
"We don't have much of a choice, Dynasty, your's and Imogen's safety is at stake here. We can't keep you under surveillance. And what if he does something else? Where nobody can control what happens to either of you, what if something happens."
Dynasty sighed, looking to the floor.
"He's right, Dynasty… Barry won't be there all the time an' your mum'll go mad at him if she hears all this…"
"An' Connor and Kevin?" Dynasty looked to her.
"What are they gonna do? You saw them against him." Imogen spoke.
Dynasty sighed again. She didn't have much of a choice.
