First Time

35

Aiden

The last person I expect to see when I walk out of the school gates after detention is Emily. She is sitting on a wall by herself across the road, scrolling through her phone.

So much for Serumen keeping an eye on her.

"Emily, what the hell are you doing here?" I ask as I run across the road to meet her.

"I'm waiting for you."

"Why? Where's..."

"Don't worry, I sent your babysitter home," she replies.

"Who?"

"Aiden, what's going on with you?"

"Me? Nothing. Why?"

"I just think..."

"Look Emily, I'd love to stay and chat, but I have to get going. Where are you off to?"

Her brows crease before she jumps off the wall and picks up her bag. Oh fuck me, what did I say wrong now?

"I just have somewhere important to go today."

"Ok, I'll see you later then."

"Let me walk you to wherever you're going."

"No," she replies firmly, "I'm fine."

Her tone tells me otherwise.

"Whoa, hold on," I pull her back before she can walk away.

"What did you want to say?" I ask, holding her face in my hands and looking into her eyes.

"I just wanted to talk to you about something."

"Can we talk tomorrow? You'll have my full attention I promise. I really have to do something today."

"Ok then, we'll talk tomorrow," she replies, her voice softening.

"Good," I give her a quick kiss on the lips, "Now, where am I walking you to?"

***

Bang! Bang! Bang!

No answer.

The dirty curtains twitch. Someone is definitely in. I bang on the door even louder.

I wait a while again then decide to give it one last knock. I raise my fist in the air and before I touch the door, the locks and latches clink and the door flings open.

Mo looks down at me with a massive blunt hanging off his lip.

"No way! No fucking way! Aiden, my G. What you doing here fam? You had me thinking the pigs were at my door and you know I don't eat bacon" he grins as we perform our handshake.

I shake my head, sniggering.

"Nah, it's not the pigs. Where's Kyle?"

"He's in there. Kyle!" he calls back inside the house.

"What?" Kyle's dopey voice comes from inside the house.

"Come look who came back from the dead," Mo laughs.

Kyle comes to the door stumbling over his own feet.

"Yo, look, it's Aiden," Mo pushes him towards the door to see me.

"Fuck me! I'm seeing things. Is that really you Aiden?" Kyle slurs.

His eyes are bloodshot and he looks disturbingly alert.

"In the flesh," I shrug.

"So, they let you back out into society, did they?" Mo chuckles.

"Good behaviour and all that," I reply.

"How long you been out for?"

"Few months."

Mo nods, sticking out his bottom lip. Something he does a lot when he is suspicious or his mind is thinking of something sinister.

"You heard from James?" he asks.

"Nope. Wasn't allowed to see him," I reply doing my best to hide the shiver that his name sends through me.

"You wanna come in for a drink or a spliff?" Kyle asks.

"Nah, I'm alright. This is just a quick link up," I say.

"That means he needs a favour," Mo rats me out.

"I just need a rattle," I say.

Mo gives me a knowing smirk.

"Who?"

"I'll send you his insta."

"Why?"

"He's fucking with me and someone I care about."

"What did he do?"

"He tried to light me up."

"Oh shit! You good bro?" Mo laughs.

"Well, I'm not a ghost am I?"

"I swear you have more lives that any cat I know," Kyle shakes his head.

"Alright bro, we'll take care of it," Mo assures me as we bump fists.

"But listen boys, real talk, I need my hands clean. I'm on probation. No fuck ups."

"No sweat. It will be quick and clean."

"Alright, cheers man," I nod.

"No worries bro."

"Alright, link up again soon," I say and turn to walk away.

"Wait!" Mo calls out after me, "Who got caught in the crossfire?"

"No one important," I say.

"No one important but you came to us for help?"

"Nothing to do with her, it's just an ego thing."

"Her?"

Oh fuck. I know better than to tell these guys about Emily. We may be cool, but the last thing I want is for them to have any sort of leverage over me.

"Them."

"Her or them?"

"Does it matter?"

Mo eyes suspiciously, his bottom lip folded outwards.

"Nah, it doesn't matter. I'll text you when it's done."

"No, don't," I say, "Just post something on insta. Can't have anything on my phone, just in case."

"Alright. Safe bro. Hope you and "them" are good yeah."

I give them the peace sign and walk away. I look back to make sure I'm not being followed and take the long way home just in case.

I don't regret what I've just done or what is about to happen. Kieran has to fucking learn not to mess with me again. But for some reason, a dark cloud hangs over me and I get an unsettling feeling in my stomach. Like this would come back to haunt me and that I'm going to have to look out for Emily even more.

Oh well, it's too late now. Shit's about to go down.