Chapter 16

The next morning at breakfast Freddie knew he had to tread carefully, enduring constant evil glares from Robbie he figured he needed to make sure he kept his mouth closed. Once everyone had finished their food they all left the room, leaving Robbie still sat munching away on a piece of toast."What you saw last night was not what you thought it was" Freddie announced out of the blue. "Yeah right, I may be 17 but I ain't stupid" he replied with a laugh, Freddie didn't like his cocky attitude. He felt his knuckles flare up as he tried to fight off punching him but he knew if he did that then he would look guilty.

"You weren't saying that when you woke up next to my girl not so long ago" Freddie retorted.

Robbie's smug expression completely vanished.

"I thought we were gunna forget about that" he said sounding a little worried.

"We will if you keep your mouth shut about what you saw, do I make myself clear?" Freddie said angrily, Robbie allowed a smirk to take over his face. Clearly drumming up a plan in his head.

"What's in it for me then? An extra £20 in my pocket money packet and there you've bought my silence" he said smugly.

Freddie wanted to say no to him, but he couldn't risk it. He knew that if Robbie wanted to then he generally would go and tell everyone just to get back at him. He sighed with frustration and reluctantly agreed to doing what he had asked.

"Alright then, starting this week, if anybody and I mean anybody finds out about any of this then you will be sorry! And I mean it" Freddie said sternly, Robbie had already been at the receiving end of Freddie's fist and judging by the horrified look on his face it had become clear that he didn't want to end up doing the same again.

"That's that covered then" Robbie said as he got up and quickly left the room.

Instantly knowing he had that sorted Freddie began to think up what he would need to do next in order to get Joe back.

Later on in the day Freddie went to The Loft and hoped to catch Grace and demand that she freed Joe and left his family alone, he knew it wouldn't be easy but he thought it was worth a shot. When he approached The Loft the place seemed all locked up and Grace was nowhere in sight, Freddie booted the door open with one single kick. He thought Joe might have been hidden somewhere in the small yet spacious building, now was a good time to completely check the place while he was alone. He looked in all of the rooms carefully stopping in his tracks just in case he found him or was caught. Before he knew it he was onto the last room, the cellar downstairs which stored all the stock in. This was the only room which was locked, it seemed funny to Freddie so he tried to force it open with all of his strength. Not being able to succeed he rushed into the office and looked for a key as he knew there had to be one somewhere.

He was able to thank his lucky stars when he came across the key, smirking to himself with satisfaction as he realised that Grace had probably set out to hide the key somewhere safe from anyone being able to find it. He made his way back to the cellar and nervously trying the key in the lock, after a slight click and a groan from the door it eventually came open, Freddie was shocked at what he saw as the door flew open. Joe was propped against the wall, with both legs sprawled out in front of him. Freddie didn't know if he was unconscious or just sleeping so he tried to rouse him.

Joe stirred and sat up, he looked pleased to see Freddie.

"Alright mate?" Joe said warmly

"Yeah good thanks, are you?" Freddie said as he looked up him up and down to check for any injury.

"Yeah I'm alright thanks, god knows how long she's gunna keep me here, the mad cow" Joe added

"You aren't going to be in here another minute, come on I'm getting you out of here!" Freddie announced.

"I can't leave! Grace specifically said she would go for Lindsey and the others if I left without out her consent" Joe said sounding really scared, Freddie hadn't herd that in his oldest brother before.

"What do you mean?" Freddie enquired instantly wanting to know more so he could somehow find a solution.

"She said if I left this cellar then she would send a nice present to the house! And you and I both know what that woman is capable of" Joe retorted, not meaning to but he needed to make it clear to Freddie. Freddie sighed with frustration, now knowing he couldn't allow Joe to leave because he would never be able to live with himself if anything was to happen to any of the family.

"I don't wanna just leave you here Joe, what can I do?" he said sounding frustrated.

"You can! If it means that everyone is safe" Joe shouted. Freddie shook his head, all of the colour draining from his face. He didn't want to leave Joe but he didn't see the point in arguing.

"I don't wanna do this but it looks like I don't have a choice" he said.

"Please look after everyone, don't tell anyone that you've seen me please" Joe begged.

"I promise" Freddie said as tears formed in his eyes, he didn't fully know why he wanted to cry but it was mainly due to exhaustion and worry. He didn't know if this was goodbye, the way Joe had spoken it sounded as if he would never see or speak to him again.

"I'll see ya late mate" Freddie said as he reluctantly left the cellar the way he had once found it.

"See ya later" Joe said as Freddie closed the door.

Freddie rushed home to try and forget the previous events, he hoped nobody would ask any questions. When he got home, Lindsey was the only one in.

"Oh, hello Freddie" Lindsey said as he joined her in the living room.

"Hello, sorry if I startled you, how come you aren't at work?" Freddie asked

"No you didn't, I was just deep in thought that was all. Oh there was a new student starting today so the boss allowed me to come home a bit earlier" Lindsey said with a smile.

"Not bad then. Wanna go out for something to eat seeing as there's no one to cook tea?" Freddie offered.

"Yeah alright, give me half an hour to have a shower and stuff and I'll be ready" Lindsey said with a smile. While Lindsey went to get ready Freddie waited for her in the living room, he realised how lucky he was to have someone like Lindsey in his life, she lit up his world made him wake up with a smile on his face knowing he would be able to see her beautiful face. Even though she wasn't his girl he knew that one day she would be and he wished and hoped that, that day would come quickly as he was tired of waiting.

"Are we ready then?" Lindsey chirped as she came down the stairs.

"Yeah lets go" Freddie added.

They both left the house and made their way into town.

They spent the evening together, they had a nice meal and went for a few drinks. Before they knew it Freddie and Lindsey were on their way home. It was a cool summer evening, Lindsey had left her jacket at home and was shivering a great amount, Freddie picked up on this and offered her his jacket. She took it simply saying thank you, both had had quite a bit to drink during the night and were pretty cosy with one another neither of them seeming to have a care in the world about it. They both stumbled home, to bed. Freddie tried to make his way to his own room but a soft hand pulled him the opposite way, not resisting the hand he allowed the owner to pull him lovingly into the room both collapsing drunkenly on the bed in front of them. And stayed in that position till the next morning.