Let's Put the Past Behind Us (Prequel to Forbidden Love)

Chapter 20

“I’m going to see how Nas is” I shouted to my dad and walked out the house before he could say anything about it, I quickly ran round and knocked on the door, “What’re you doin’ here?” Tariq asked when he answered the door “Nice to see you too” I said and walked inside “Kyle texted me last night, told me to come ‘ere said he had something to show me” I told him and walked into the dining room with him, I looked on the table and saw a cardboard box “Guessing that’s it? Where is Kyle anyway?” I asked and leant against the kitchen work top as Tariq shrugged and got a knife, he went over to the box and opened it up “It’s a crossbow” Tariq said and I came over, looking inside the box. We suddenly closed the box up and moved it when Trudi came inside, she spoke to Tariq then walked out when Kyle came in “Jesus Christ Kyle, you forgotten how to use a shower?” I asked as he walked past me, “Been kicked out” he said, I looked at Tariq then over at Kyle “What for?” Tariq asked as Kyle walked into the kitchen and got some food out “Dealing weed. Mum’s gettin’ a bit edgy now the police are sniffing about” Kyle said as he started eating the food he’d got, I looked at him and shook my head then walked back over to where Tariq was stood with the box. “Listen, fam, we’ve got heat” Tariq said and opened the box again when Kyle came over, “Nice, that dealers good” Kyle said as he peered into the box “Oh how did I know” I said, Kyle looked at me and smiled then came over, he bent down to kiss me but I put my hand up to stop him “You stink, Kyle, I ain’t kissing you with bad breath” I said to him and stood up again “Look, it’s payback time” Kyle said and walked back over to Tariq, “Finn Sharkey?” Tariq asked, I looked at them both and sighed before I got up myself and got my own food out the fridge since I hadn’t had time for my own breakfast “We’ve gotta put ‘im in his place, properly scared him. Your kid sister and my girlfriend and even my damn child was nearly burnt alive in that garage” Kyle said and turned to me, I smiled at him and shook my head as I ate some food. I wasn’t listening to anything they were saying until they went to walk out and I followed, Kyle slipped his hand in mine and we walked to school. “Kait, you keep Ronan talking and I’ll put this in the back” Kyle said and dropped my hand; I sighed and walked round and opened Ronan’s door for him “Ronan!” I exclaimed and hugged him tight when he got out “Aw, you alright, Kait? I missed ya” Ronan said and hugged me back before pulling away “Yeah I’m fine, Ro, you?” I asked and we stood talking for a bit until I saw Kyle had put the crossbow in the back “I’ll let you park inside, give us a shout if you need any help yeah?” I said and Ronan walked back round as I went over to Kyle, I hugged him tight and kissed his cheek “Take my key and go back to mine, take a shower and brush ya teeth then bring my key back, I’ll wait by the gate at break time. If you nick ought, I will come after you” I said to Kyle and put my key in his hand “Nice one, I won’t touch a thing, promise” Kyle said, he kissed my cheek then walked off as I went into school and caught up with Tariq. “Josh! Ya back!” I exclaimed when I saw him walk by, he turned around and smiled as I hugged him tight “Hey, congrats, Finn told me” Josh said, I just smiled and hugged him again before letting him go with Lauren as I went with Tariq to get the cross bow out the back of Ronan’s van. I walked inside with Tariq and went with him but walked away again when I saw Scout and walked into assembly with her, we stood with Denzil and then Phoenix when he came inside. “Before we get started, I want you all to know that you’re the most rewarding pupils I’ve had the good fortune to teach” my dad said when he got up on stage “Well this assembly is going to end badly” I said to Scout and she laughed as everyone cheered and clapped like it was some big thing to be praised by the head teacher. “In the short space of time that I’ve been here we’ve faced an all manor of challenges together. But this school’s always come through, thanks to the passion and commitment of it’s staff and the spirit of you lot it’s pupils. Now there’s no easy way to say this but due to factors beyond my control the authority has decided to close the school” my dad said I looked at Scout and Denzil then up at my dad “Did you know about this?” Phoenix asked and I just shook my head no. “What’s gonna happen to us?” Scout asked, stepping forwards. “You’ll be placed at alternative schools in the area” my dad answered “We don’t wanna go anywhere else, we want Waterloo Road” Scout shouted out again and we all cheered in agreement. “This place has made us who we are” “Couldn’t disagree more, it’s you that’s made this place what it is. You’ve made it about hard work. About achievement. About never apologising for who you are. And you must take that epos along with you” my dad said as he stepped down from the stage and walked around us “But you’re the one who always said that education is a gift to be treasured” Trudi said, “And I still believe that” “You made us a promise, sir, a verbal contract remember? We fulfilled our side of the deal, what about you?” Trudi shouted after my dad as he walked away and back onto the stage as we all agreed with Trudi. “We have to look forwards, not back. Now some of you have this prom to look forwards to tonight. I want you all to enjoy it, you’ve worked hard and you deserve it” my dad said, as soon as the bell went my dad walked away and out of the hall. “For fuck sake” I said and ran out after him “Dad!” I called and he turned around “What’s happening to me? To us? Where are we going?” I asked him and he walked over “That woman that you met, Lorraine? She’s offered me a new job as a head teacher at a new school she’s starting…In Scotland” my dad said, I stood there and stared at him “Are you telling me that you’re taking me away from all of this? Away from my friends? My family? To go to Scotland?” I almost shouted at him “I’m sorry” was all he said before he walked away. I stood and glared after him before I walked with Scout to English. “I’m moving to Scotland” I said to her as we were walking then started explaining what my dad had said as we entered the classroom. I took my seat next to Scout at the back of the classroom but none of us were in the mood to work so we didn’t, we’d been in class for half an hour when my dad walked in. “Okay everyone, now the LA was just e-mailed me a list of all the proposed school arrangements” my dad said when he walked in, I sat back in my seat ready to listen to what was happening to everyone else. “Just wanted you to know exactly what your options are. Not leaving you in the lunge” my dad added “Oh that’s good a’ ya” Scout said and leant back in her chair. I’d stopped listening after he’d given Emily her school placement then walked out the classroom when my dad did. I went to the toilet and quickly re did my make up before walking out to see Eugene and his gang walking through the corridor. “What’re you doing here?” I asked and approached Eugene “Looking for Sharkey, you seen him babe” Eugene asked, I folded my arms and looked at him “Get out of here, Eugene” I said to him turned away, I was about to walk away when I pulled backwards “You can come with us, I’m sure Sharkey’ll take a good old beating to save his precious best friend” Eugene said and pretty much dragged me down the corridor, ignoring my shouts to be let go. They pretty much dragged me all the way to Miss Boston’s classroom then dragged me inside “Alright Finn? Ready to take a good hit or do we do it to miss prim here?” Eugene said to Finn and pulled me forwards, I looked over at Tariq and I could see he wanted to come over and help me but I managed to shake my head “Let her go!” Finn shouted “Nice of you to make the right choice” Eugene said and pushed me away, I fell into Tariq’s arms and just hid my face as I heard people shouting, I just guessed that Eugene was beating up Finn. I looked up when I heard them shouting out in the corridor and saw they’d dragged Finn out there, I looked up at Tariq then ran after them “OI!” I heard my dad shout then felt Tariq’s arms around me again as Eugene and his gang eventually left “What happened?” my dad said, coming over to me and Tariq. “Eugene dragged Kaitlin into the classroom, threatened to hurt her if Finn didn’t pay for leaving the gang” Tariq told him, I looked up at my dad, fear in my eyes “Take her down to the nurse” my dad said and I walked with Tariq down the stairs and along the corridor to the nurse.