So I'm going to be completely honest and say I've been feeling a little uninspired recently, which is why I want to thank Lexi and LisaT for all of their support recently.
If you didn't know: THE LAST CHAPTER OF ALIVE AND KICKING IS UP. Yup, that's right, it's complete.
A big thank you goes to Waterloo Road 16 for posting two lovely reviews on both Checkmate and Alive and Kicking and giving me a big kick up the backside to get them updated. Thanks chick.
Loveistheprotection – I wasn't entirely sure what the beginning of your review meant lol, but I don't recognise your name so, welcome to our little Checkmate family!
Lastly, Dynasty doesn't have an infection; basically, Katie told Dymasty that she thinks there actually was somebody watching her and Dynasty thinks it's Steve-O, hence the little panic attack type reaction. Sorry if that wasn't clear; I was really tired when I wrote that chapter.
Okay, twenty seven? Is it that already!?
Chapter Twenty Seven
Kevin hoisted his bag securely onto his shoulder as he shoved his afternoon books into his locker.
"All I was saying is that maybe Brontë wasn't as concerned about symbolism and whatever when she was writing it. I mean, she just went off on one. It's a boring book anyway," Connor complained, leaning against his locked beside Kevin.
Kevin chuckled and slammed his locker closed. He fiddled helplessly with the temperamental padlock before turning to Connor.
"Dynasty read the 'Wildfell Hall' one; didn't shut up about it for a week," Kevin recalled, following Connor through the Humanities block towards the English corridor.
"Yeah, well Dynasty doesn't threaten to divorce you every time she gets in a stress."
Connor shook his head at the memory of Imogen's indignant frown and narrowed eyes.
"If there's any plus side to this whole thing it's that Dyn's easier to run away from now when she gets like that. She's scary when-"
Kevin stopped short as a sharp shout interrupted his reasoning.
Barry pushed himself away from the wall, allowing a small redheaded girl to escape his grasp.
"Still stealing first years lunch money?" Kevin challenged, pausing in the empty corridor.
"Mate, we're already late," Connor murmured, "let's just go."
Barry smirked menacingly at Connor and for a moment Kevin was distracted by how similar that expression was to Dynasty's disdainful glare.
"More like debt collection," Barry corrected, eyeing Kevin with dissatisfaction, "but I'm still waiting for you to pay up."
Kevin shrugged and shot a questioning glance at Connor.
"I don't owe you anything, Barry," Kevin replied calmly.
Kevin stood firm as Barry stepped closer, laughing quietly to himself. He shook his head.
"My sister belongs at home, not in that scratty school house with you and those other idiots. You've taken her away from our family, turned her against us, and now I want her back," Barry growled.
His eyes burned darkly.
"She's a person, Barry; I can't just 'give' her back to you. She's not coming back either," Kevin insisted.
He nodded for Connor to follow him as he stepped around Barry warily.
Kevin stumbled to a halt however as Barry's fingers wrapped around his arm in a vice-like grip. He gasped as Barry twisted his body firmly. His back collided with the lockers that lined the wall with a shattering clang. Kevin felt the air rip from his lungs and his back of his head burned from the impact of metal on flesh.
"Get off him," Connor ordered weakly, reaching out a hand towards Barry's shoulder.
However he dropped his arm as Kevin spoke.
"Leave it, Connor," Kevin choked, fighting uselessly against Barry's hold.
He cringed as Barry leaned close, his jaw set.
"You don't get it, do you? Steve-O raped my little sister," Barry hissed. "The last thing our Dynasty needs right now is a weed like you trying to get her into bed every five minutes."
Kevin froze in his struggling, shocked beyond comprehension by Barry's accusation. Fiery anger flooded his veins swiftly, blazing as a furious flame in his stomach. He could feel Barry's grip relaxing as he ceased to fight against him.
Kevin seized his opportunity and forced a rage fueled knee into Barry's thigh.
Barry staggered away from him, backing into a blank faced Connor.
"If that's what you think then where have you been?" Kevin barked. "She waited for you to come, all of you, but you didn't, did you? I'm not the one who's hurt her; that's all you. You, Steve-O and your gun, your mental family; you've all broken her."
Barry didn't hesitate. No sooner had the words left Kevin's mouth, he lunged forwards, his fist raised in preparation.
"What on earth is going on out here?" Miss McFall shrieked, emerging abruptly from her classroom at the far end of the corridor.
Kevin stumbled backward as Connor threw his arms around Barry. With difficulty, he dragged him away from Kevin, ignoring the murderous glint in his eyes.
Barry shrugged away from Connor, his breath coming in shallow puffs.
Miss McFall's worn looking heels clicked along the corridor as she stormed vexedly towards them.
"Now, perhaps one of you boys could give me one good reason why I shouldn't have you all sent to the Cooler for the remainder of the day?"
She raised a sparse, gray eyebrow and pursed her lips at the three silent teenagers.
"No?" she prompted.
Her gaze fell of Kevin, who by now was collecting his bag from the floor where Barry's attack had thrown it.
"Mr Chalk, nothing to say?"
Kevin shook his head resignedly.
"Ask him," he mumbled, waving a hand towards Barry before stalking away.
Christine rubbed her forehead wearily as her classroom door creaked open.
"Sorry, Miss," Kevin muttered as he sank down into his seat.
Christine's gaze strayed to the empty seat beside him and she wondered momentarily whether Dynasty would appreciate another visit from her.
"Well, you're here, I suppose," Christine said seriously.
However as she approached Kevin's desk, she smiled. Christine lay a worksheet down on the desk and dropped her voice to a low whisper, casting her eyes over the class of Year Twelve's briefly.
"How is she?"
Kevin hesitated, also passing his gaze over the class, alert for wandering eyes. He found, however, that his classmates had barely noticed his arrival.
"She's okay. Bored, mostly. Oh, she's doing really well with Katie."
Kevin smiled by a way of saying thank you.
"Good," Christine said softly.
She tapped her finger at the worksheet and lumbered back to her desk heavily, feeling suddenly exhausted by the thoughts of Dynasty Barry, navigating the tumultuous sea of recovery.
