by Bea Paige
Seconds later, I see more people sneaking out of the back entrance of our residential annex. I’m pretty sure I see Red and Bram and some other members of the No Name Crew. Another couple of minutes pass and more kids appear, this time from the HH crew. My breath catches when I see Camden. He looks up at my window and grins. His teeth bright in the darkness.
What the actual fuck?
Knowing I should ignore the temptation to follow the stream of kids breaking curfew, I throw my cigarette butt out of the window and slam it shut. Whatever they’re up to, I don’t want to get involved.
Five minutes later after spotting two familiar girls sneaking out the back entrance, I follow suit and head outside myself, curiosity and a sense of adventure getting the better of me.
“Wait!” I whisper, running to catch up with Pink and Kate. Part of me feels a little pissed off that they didn’t think to invite me to wherever it is that they’re going, but then again I’ve no real right. I’ve turned down their offer of companionship numerous times already today.
“FUCK ME!” Pink screeches as I tap her on the shoulder.
“Shhhhh!” Kate hisses. “Do you want us all to get caught?”
“Mother of freaking God, Asia! You scared the shit out of me!” Pink clutches onto Kate, her free hand pressed against her chest as she struggles to catch her breath.
“Fuck, sorry!” I exclaim. It’s pitch black in the woods and if it wasn’t for the occasional light from a mobile phone (that hasn’t been fucking confiscated) I wouldn’t have seen them at all. “I was having a smoke and I saw you all heading out this way. Where are you going?”
“The Tower,” Kate and Pink respond simultaneously.
“Bobby?” I ask.
“Too fucking wasted on Mary-J. He’s passed out cold. The bastard won’t be waking up any time soon,” Pink explains with a shrug.
“Yeah, I bet,” I retort, knowing exactly who provided him with the stash and why. Trying not to think about Monk and his pack of wolves, I walk in step beside Kate.
“What about those two security guards?”
“They leave at 9pm each day. Bobby is the only adult in charge.” She smothers a laugh at that fact.
“But he’s such a dick. I’m surprised Mr Carmichael hasn’t sacked him already,” I remark. Mr Carmichael doesn’t seem like the type of guy to miss a trick. He must know Bobby is up for bribery, surely?
“You’d think so, right?” Kate responds in agreement. “But maybe Mr Carmichael isn’t as clued up about shit as he makes out.”
“Maybe,” I agree. We fall into companionable silence for a while, holding onto each other as we traverse through the woods. Eventually, curiosity gets the better of me and I break the silence.
“So, what exactly is the Tower?”
In the gloom I can see Pink look at me with excitement. “Apparently it’s where shit that goes down at Oceanside gets settled…!”
“Yeah, I heard Ford wants to challenge Monk,” Kate adds, her eyebrows lifting. She gives me a curious look as if I should know something about it.
“What?” I ask, then swear loudly as I bump into a tree trunk.
“You never did tell us what happened on the field after we left that day,” Kate says. I might not be able to see her clearly, but I know what she’s thinking, and the giggle from Pink tells me she’s thinking the same thing. These girls are nothing but idle gossips, like a pair of curtain twitching nosey parkers. Normally I hate anyone getting all up in my business, but I kinda like that about them. We’re just three girls having friendly banter.
“That’s because nothing happened. We ran around the field, got sweaty, then went inside. That’s it,” I lie, not willing just yet to give them the details of what actually happened. I’m pretty sure they’d be giving me shit for days if I told them that Ford had tackled me to the ground with a raging hard-on. I’d never live it down. My cheeks flush at the memory; it’s just as well it’s so damn dark.
“Hmm, whatever you say,” Pink giggles.
We fall silent again for the next few minutes as we traverse through the forest. I’m on full alert mode, more than ready to deal with Monk should he decide to pounce. But something tells me that Monk and his cronies expect me to be hiding in my bedroom, so I think I’m safe. For now, at least. That’s if he has even come along, given the fact that Camden knocked him out. Perhaps he’s laid out in bed, a couple of sad cases from the HH crew looking after him.
Who knows, I really don’t give a shit.
Up ahead a group of people are gathering just at the edge of the copse of trees. We head towards them then follow as they start walking across the field that lies beyond the woods. Now that we’re out in the open, the full moon and night sky scattered with stars light our way. In the semi-darkness I can see Camden up ahead. He’s talking to one of the girls in Monk’s crew, I mean his crew, I guess. She’s laughing at something he’s saying and for some reason the attention he’s giving her pisses me off. I scowl, simultaneously wanting to attack the girl he’s with for no other reason than the fact her laugh is grating on my last nerve, and give her a thumbs up for even attempting to entertain the arsehole.
“Who’s that?” Pink asks, pointing to Camden. “He’s tall, dark and handsome. If I weren’t into girls I’d totally do him.”
“That is trouble with a capital T. He arrived earlier today. I saw him talking to one of the security guards; they seemed to know each other. Bad aura if you ask me,” Kate responds, frowning.
Pink laughs. “This is a reform school for a bunch of fucked up kids, Kate. Who doesn’t have a bad aura?”
“You for a start,” Kate retorts. She turns to look at me. “And Asia, though I suspect she’d rather we think she did.”
“Shut up,” I respond, hiding my smile behind a frown. I eye Camden who right at that moment decides to glance over his shoulder. He looks about, then smirks when he sees me. Dick.
“You met him already?” Kate asks, never missing a beat.
“You could say that,” I reply, not willing to elaborate.
Pink pulls away from Kate and traverses around us until she falls into step beside me. “You’re a dark horse, ain’t ya, Asia? You gonna tell us what the deal is with Mr H.O.T, or are we going to have to beg?”
“Mr H.O.T?”
“Yeah, Handful of Trouble.”
I can’t help but laugh at that. “Later. Let’s see if we get through tonight first.”
“Why? You think we won’t?” Kate pipes up, looking concerned all of a sudden.
Way to go Asia, dousing the fun with your positivity. I internally roll my eyes at myself. Sometimes I need to just stop being such a Negative Nancy. “We’ll be fine. Look, just so you know I’m a glass half-empty kind of girl. I prepare for the worst. Every time.”
“Nothing wrong with that. Besides, I’m a glass half-full kind of girl, so we balance perfectly,” Pink says, a tinkly laugh following her statement.
“I’m neither. So, where does that leave us?” Kate pipes up.
“Pretty evened out, I’d say,” I respond.
“Or fucked,” she retorts with a wry grin.
“Or fucked,” I repeat.
This time we all crack up laughing. After the evening I’ve had it feels good to laugh.
Less than ten minutes later we find ourselves standing at the top of a hill that leads down to a stretch of beach away from the main promenade in Hastings. In the distance I can hear the commotion of a Saturday night filled with revellers, but right here the pebbled beach meets the sea with a gentle slope and the sound of the waves lapping against the shore.
“It’s the sea!” Pink yells, letting go of my arm and running towards the water. Her laughter is warm and genuine. She’s like a child at Christmas. I must admit, were I as easygoing as Pink I might’ve joined in her glee. As it is, I’m still wound up tight from everything that happened earlier. Plus, I’m more intrigued by the stone circular building that Camden and the rest of the students of Oceanside
have just disappeared into.
“Hey, Pink, over there,” I say, motioning towards the building. She runs up to join us, a stupid grin on her pretty face.
“Anyone would’ve thought you’ve never seen the sea before,” Kate says with a chuckle.
“I haven’t,” Pink shrugs, not in the least bit bothered by the fact. “How ‘bout you, Asia?”
I stop, breathing in the briny air and stare at the moonlight reflected in the darkness of the sea. “No, only on television,” I admit.
“Shit, sorry,” Kate says, pulling a face.
“What are you sorry for, girl? Not your fault our parents were obviously total fuck-ups,” Pink says, almost cheerily.
Fuck-ups. She got that right.
“If you’re coming in, you’d better get over here now. Doors lock in five,” a familiar voice says.
“Sonny!” Pink shouts, skipping over to greet him. He’s leaning against the stone wall hidden in a little alcove. I’m pretty sure he’s been watching us and listening to our conversation this whole time. Great, now he knows that this is the first time I’ve ever seen the sea and stood on a damn beach. Perfect.
“Didn’t know you were coming,” she says, slapping him on the back.
He grins. “Believe me, when I come, you’ll know about it.”
Pink laughs, Kate groans, and I roll my eyes.
“Come on. Let’s get inside,” he says, yanking open the door.
“Oh, my fucking God, do you hear what I hear?” Pink says, as the sound of Grime music filters out of the iron door. “It’s a flippin’ club! NO WAY!” She squeals, shoving past Sonny, and heads inside. Kate puffs out her cheeks, giving me an ‘oh-shit-this-is-going-to-be-a-long-night’ look, then follows her inside. I move forward, about to enter, when Sonny grabs me by the arm. “You okay?” he asks, dipping his head so he can look into my eyes. He’s doing that concerned thing again, the same as he did on the sports field the other day.
“Why wouldn’t I be?” I retort, squirming a little under his scrutiny.
“Monk’s in there. So is Camden and Ford.”
“You’ve met him then?”
“I’ve met him. I make it my business to know who my fellow students are,” he says with quote fingers.
“Criminals, you can say it you know. It’s not a dirty word.”
“Criminals then. Just so you know, this night is going to get a little crazy. Ford is gunning for Monk. So am I.”
“Why?”
“Because the motherfucker tried to hurt you, Asia. That’s why.”
“How did you…” I begin, but my words falter as he removes his hand from my arm and cups my cheek. He looks at me intently, heaving out a sigh. Great, not only does he know that I’ve never seen the damn sea, but now he’s heard of my humiliation too. I wonder who told him, Monk? Camden? One of the other pricks who was involved tonight maybe?
“For my part, I’m sorry I wasn’t there.”
“News sure does travel fast. I bet everyone is having a right laugh at my expense,” I say.
“Travel fast? What do you mean?”
It’s only then I realise that Sonny’s talking about the incident on the sports field, not what went down tonight. Fuck.
“Absolutely nothing. Don’t worry about it.”
“Asia, if there’s something else…” A muscle ticks in his jaw as his eyes search mine.
I shove his hand away. “There’s nothing else, okay?!”
Sonny nods tightly, but I can tell he doesn’t believe me. “You shouldn’t have had to deal with that prick alone,” he says after a beat.
“Don’t sweat it. You don’t owe me shit, and that’s the way I like.”
Sonny frowns, shifting back. “Sure,” he mutters.
In this light, his eyes are less of a baby-blue and more of a midnight sapphire, as dark and as deep as the ocean behind us, and full of hidden depths. Now look at me, fucking waxing lyrical over some boy and his baby-blues. Jesus, someone get me a drink.
“Are we going in then or what?” I snap.
“After you,” Sonny says opening the door, but he doesn’t stop looking at me like he knows I have something to hide.
“Very gentlemanly,” I offer, as we step into a wall of heat and noise.
20
Inside the Tower there’s a makeshift DJ booth set up in one corner, the equipment powered by a generator. Strings of fairy lights are hanging from several beams that criss-cross above our heads, as well as some random flashing neon lights giving off a cool club vibe. I’m actually mildly impressed.
To the left of me and built into the wall is a wooden staircase that curves upwards towards the roof. If I look up I can see all the way up, any other floors this building might’ve had are long gone. On one side of the circular room is a portion of flooring that has fallen away with another couple of beams of wood crossing it that looks like a makeshift bridge of sorts. Below there’s a ten-foot drop. Not high enough to kill, but high enough to injure should someone happen to fall into it awkwardly. Fortunately, that part of the building has been sectioned off with an iron railing, preventing drunk teenagers from tumbling into the hole and doing severe damage to themselves. I make a mental note not to get too close to that particular area, especially since Monk is here.
Speaking of which… I search the crowd. It doesn’t take me long to spot him. He’s in the corner of the room, sporting a dark purple bruise on his face. I can’t help but smile. Good. I hope it fucking hurts.
“You want me to get you a drink?” Sonny shouts over the music, successfully drawing my attention away from Monk and the six guys he’s surrounded by, the same guys who hounded me earlier. Fucktards.
“They actually have alcohol here? How?” I shout back.
Sonny takes my elbow and manoeuvres me through the crowd. I spot Pink and Kate dancing and wave. They wave back, both of them have a bottle of beer in hand. Even Kate’s grinning. Well, at least they’re enjoying themselves.
“This place was originally set up by previous students of Oceanside a few years back when the academy first opened. It’s become the place to be with the local kids in these parts. Not everyone here is from the Academy,” Sonny explains.
“And you know this how?” I’m always so amazed at his knowledge. He’s only been here a couple of days more than me, so how the hell does he know all this stuff?
“I keep my ear to the ground. I ask questions. It’s just the way I am.”
“A nosy bastard, you mean?”
Sonny barks out a laugh. “Pretty much,” he agrees with a shrug.
We head over to a shady looking teenager who’s standing next to a metal tub, not unlike one of those old tin baths people used to wash in years ago. In it are bottles and cans of beer. The cheap stuff granted, but alcohol, nonetheless. He hands over two cans to us without preamble. Sonny snaps back the tab and takes a deep glug. I do the same, trying not to wince at the taste. Disgusting.
“This stuff is like drinking lighter fluid,” he says, reading my mind.
“You can say that again,” I agree, but take another mouthful anyway.
“Want to dance?” he asks me after a beat.
Do I? Do I want to dance with Sonny? I scan the crowd. In one corner I can see Camden still chatting to that girl he was walking with earlier. I think her name is Diamond, but I can’t be certain. She’s in the HH crew and no doubt one of his girls. She looks pretty happy with all the attention, and is pressed flush against him, trailing her fingers down his arm. Any closer to him and she’ll be riding his cock for everyone to see. He’s giving her an encouraging smile. Then, as though he knows he’s being watched, he flicks his gaze to me, grins salaciously before drawing the girl towards him and kissing her roughly. My face heats with… annoyance. Yes that. Definitely that.
It reminds me of the time I first met him when he had his finger buried inside Jade and was practically fucking her in front of everyone at Sasha’s party. I’m beginning to think this guy’s an exhibitioni
st. He gets off on it, I swear. Urgh.
“Well,” Sonny prompts.
Dragging my gaze away from Camden and back to Sonny, I shrug noncommittally.
Sonny cocks his head to the side, frowning. “Is that a yes or a no, Asia?”
“It’s a fine, I’ll dance,” I retort, my gaze flicking back to Camden who’s now shoved the girl up against the wall and is crowding her with his body. Seems like that’s his signature move.
“Come on then,” Sonny says, placing his palm on my lower back, and pushing me gently into the growing crowd of kids. I snatch my gaze away from Camden and look about me. Sonny was right, there are faces here that I don’t recognise at all and most of them are paired up dancing in couples, grinding against one another in time to the music.
Sonny steers me to a spot a little distance away from Kate and Pink, then starts moving to the music. He doesn’t instantly grab me and use this as an opportunity to get into my pants, and honestly, I’m surprised to see that he can actually dance. He kind of loses himself to the beat of the music, closing his eyes, bending his knees and swishing his hips in a seductive way that has me alternating between chewing on my lip ring and swigging back more mouthfuls of the foul tasting beer so that I have a distraction. There’s no way that I want him to have any idea that I think he looks hot right now. No fucking way. His head will expand to gigantic proportions and he’ll never let me forget it.
We dance for a long time, and as the minutes pass the tenseness I’ve been holding evaporates. I let the music and the shitty booze relax me. I’m still furious over what Monk and his cronies tried to do, but I’m not fearful anymore. Nope, my head begins to fill with thoughts of revenge.
Monk has it coming. That much I do know.
“You sure can move, Asia,” Sonny murmurs into my ear as he steps up behind me seamlessly. I can feel the heat of his body warming my already hot back. A bead of sweat rolls down between my shoulder blades as he makes his move. I have a second to decide whether I want to put some distance between us or let him get close. For whatever reason, I choose the latter. Fuck it. When Sonny rests his hands on my hips, I don’t step away. When his palm slides across my waist, I let him inch his fingers beneath my t-shirt. They feel warm and strong and despite my feelings towards him, towards anyone who tries to get close to me, I let him do just that.