Chapter One

Trick

W e've been back to school for a few weeks now after the winter break, and everything is still pretty tense, thanks to the permanent closure of the Pit. We haven't managed to find anything that will work at covering the gap that the Pit has left, so we're pretty much just heading out and breaking up fights when we need to, which is still pretty often.

I'm reasonably hopeful that after a while, things will calm down, and people will just fucking stop it, but it hasn't been that long since shit hit the fan, and we had to admit that we weren't going to be able to bring the Pit back so I'm giving it time. Trev is maintaining his stance of staying out of all of our business transactions and everything illegal, but that's been made much easier for him since the Pit is no longer operational, and we haven't found something to replace it yet, I'm not sure how steadfast in his decision he will remain if we do manage to find something to entertain the masses. He's keeping up to date with everything and still hangs out with us when he can, but his main focus is his schooling and his mom. He doesn't even attend any parties anymore, and he used to love them.

Thankfully, Ryan got the message, and so did his parents. After what Ryan did to those girls was exposed, it was made clear that we knew that his little brother was the one that called the cops on the Pit and put an official end to something that meant a lot to not only our school but Tomlinson as well. They quickly left town with a little bit of help from Billy and his guys, when they finally started doing their fucking job.

Although they'd done what they said they were going to do, and Ryan was no longer an issue for us, people like that don't change, and it became pretty obvious that without us to keep on top of him and make sure he doesn't hurt someone else again, he'd quickly go back to his old habits. So, we made the decision to make sure that it couldn't happen, or at least try our best to make sure that it didn't happen without burying him. We found out where they moved to, which wasn't very difficult at all, and then let our contact at the station know.

He made sure that the local cops in their new town knew about the accusations here, even though they all retracted their statements and were paid off pretty handsomely by Ryan's father. The local cops are watching him like a hawk; the school is watching him like a hawk. He pretty much can't sneeze without someone noticing and questioning him about it. If he steps so much a foot out of line, they'll be on him, and they'll make sure that his parents can't buy anyone out this time.

I get it, I do, I understand why they chose to take the money; they would've been questioned and scrutinized and would have had to relive whatever they went through. So, I understand, and I hope that the beating Jensen gave him and the promise Jensen made, which he later told us about, stays with him for a long time and stops him from returning to his old ways.

I'm pulled out of my thoughts when my phone pings in my pocket, and I shift on my bed to pull it out.

Jensen: I was thinking.

Me: Careful

Jensen: Haha fucker. No, I was thinking that it's been a few months since Ryan was run out of town, he's probably starting to feel safe again.

I raise my eyebrows; that's a pretty crazy coincidence that I was thinking about Ryan and everything that happened, and Jensen messaged me about the same thing.

Me: Yeah, I imagine that he's feeling pretty relaxed and like everything that happened was just a bad dream. What's your point?

Jensen: My point is that we know where he lives, and I think maybe we should send him a little reminder of why he needs to stay in line, or, better yet, pay him a visit.

Me: You mean one of the, we'll follow him not so subtly around his new town for a while, remind him that we exist and that we know exactly where he is. That kind of visit?

Jensen: Exactly. We've got nothing on this weekend, and I'm bored—road trip.

I think about it for a moment; I was just worrying about Ryan reoffending, a bored Jensen is never a good thing, and quite honestly, Jensen is right, we have nothing to do this weekend, and we're all getting a little bit stabby, so going to remind some fucker that we know where he lives, and can easily follow up on our threats sounds like fun. My phone buzzes in my hand again.

Jensen: Dude, come on? You know it's a good idea. It should deter him from trying his old shit in his new town. It's not like we haven't done it before.

Me: Alright, I could scare the shit out of an asshole this weekend. I'll fill the guys in. I'm pretty sure they'll all want to come.

Jensen: Oh, they're definitely going to want to come. Do it in the group chat.

I roll my eyes and don't bother replying. Instead, I open up our group chat and fill the guys in on the plan for this weekend, asking if they want in. Unsurprisingly, they all reply that they do, except for Luc, who doesn't see the message immediately like the others. From what I can remember though, he's got a meal that his father insisted that he attended. Luc didn't really know much; he just knew that it was a business meeting and that his father wanted them to appear like a happy family. The usual shit, really.

Luc tried to get out of it, but it quickly became apparent that it would cause him more hassle to carry on trying to get out of it, than it would to just attend. It's not like his father will cause shit with him in front of this business associate, especially if Luc's father wants to create the image of a happy family.

He'll get in contact as soon as he can, but I can't imagine that he won't want to be involved in going to scare the shit out of Ryan.

My phone rings, and I'm not surprised to see that Cash is calling me, he no doubt wants to go over the plan for the weekend.

"Hey," I say as soon as I pick up.

He grunts in greeting and then asks, "What time was Luc's meal? I don't like it when he doesn't reply."

"I know. I think he's safer in this situation than he would be otherwise," I reply, and then add, answering his question as I check the time, "I think he said the guy was supposed to be arriving at eight, so they'll still be eating now. It will probably be a while before he can check his phone, but we can leave it for another hour and then message again and make sure that he's okay. You and I can head out there if he doesn't reply."

"Yeah, okay." Cash replies, "I just worry. His dad is a fucking cunt, and I know that Luc seems to be handling it better than he was, but that almost worries me more."

I frown; he's just voiced what I've been worrying about, and hearing him say it, too, makes me worry even more.

"I know exactly what you mean, I've been worrying about it too. He's not showing any of his usual signs that he's struggling with something, but I am worried that he's just got better at hiding it from us."

"That's what I've been worrying about too. He used to tell us all the shit his father said, or at least some of it. I think he kept the worst things to himself, but now he doesn't tell us anything. I mean, he didn't even tell us that his father had been on at him again, not until you noticed that there was something up. He wouldn't have told us if you hadn't noticed."

I sigh heavily, "No, he wouldn't have. I just hope he's not starting to believe the shit his father is saying; we know he used to tell him that he was worthless and we didn't really care about him. We told him that was bullshit, but if you're told something enough, you start to believe it."

"Exactly," Cash replies, "but it's Luc, and there's no point questioning him about it because he'll just change the subject, tell us he's okay, and refuse to talk about it anymore."

"I think the best way to deal with it is to keep an eye on him closely, and any sign that he's struggling, or something has happened, then we get the others involved, and we make him talk."