Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

Alfie

S he was avoiding me. It was obvious from the way I'd spotted her suddenly taking an interest in the gym classes rather than doing her own routine using the machines.

I had to admit that although I stood by my reaction at the party, the gym did seem kinda dull without her around. Without even thinking about it, I'd got used to her company. Now, there was just me and the no pain, no gain sign glowing bright pink on the wall. Something a little like regret stirred in my stomach, but I pushed it down.

I couldn't get involved with anybody. Not in the way she clearly wanted. I was strictly a one night only guy and I'd assumed that everybody knew that. Evidently not.

I pushed harder than ever at the gym, determined to prove a point to my dad that my head absolutely was in the game. But somehow, my body just wouldn't do as I told it, my muscles sluggish and uncoordinated. No matter how much I tried to focus and not think about the party, or worse, returning to college on Monday knowing everybody knew my business, it just wasn't happening. Everybody had been there when she called me a pig.

Great.

I briefly considered trying to cry off sick when my alarm rang on Monday morning but I was useless at faking and Dad would never fall for it. So I dragged myself from bed and took extra care over my appearance. If everybody was going to be staring at me, I might as well give them something decent to look at.

When I made it to college, one of the first things I saw was a flash of a badge that I could have sworn had my name on it. I'd just barely managed to convince myself that I was mistaken when I saw another, and another. And then one with Summer's name on.

What was going on?

During tutor time, it all became clear. It appeared that our very public fight on Friday night had split the college, and instead of minding their own damn business, they'd decided to have badges made. I mean, seriously! So now, everywhere I turned all morning, all I saw was Team Alfie or Team Summer flashing at me from people's chests.

What was wrong with people?

I arrived a couple of minutes late to geography after attempting to avoid all the people sporting badges in the corridor, and slumped into my usual seat next to Tom, who blessedly didn't appear to be wearing a badge.

"Oh, thank god," I let out with a huge sigh. "Finally, some sanity."

He didn't smile, just looked at me with eyes that were ten degrees colder than usual. "What do you mean?" he asked without any real sign of interest.

"You're not wearing one of those stupid badges," I explained as I dragged my equipment from my bag.

He snorted, the sound equal parts bitter and unhappy. "Yeah, well I didn't think it would be politic to wear one, not to mention I can't imagine it's much fun for Summer having everybody wearing them."

"Oh cheers, pal. Guess I'm just meant to be fine with them then?" I replied indignantly. This guy was meant to be my ride or die and here he was, apparently taking the other side.

He shrugged dismissively. "To be honest, bud, after what you did to that poor girl Friday night, you deserve everything you get."

Bristling, I slammed my textbook down on the table and glowered at him. "Are you kidding?"

"Do I look like I'm kidding?"

He did not.

"Well, great. Good to know I can always count on you."

I didn't even bother to grab my stuff off the desk. I just stormed from the room with no idea where I was heading. I stalked my way along corridor after corridor, blind to my surroundings until I cannoned into a solid form and cried out when hot liquid poured right down my front.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry," a mortified voice cried out as I looked down and saw scorching hot coffee soaking its way through my clothes and burning into my skin. "Oh. It's you."

I glanced up, surprised at the change in her tone, and found myself looking directly into the coldest pair of brown eyes I'd ever seen in my life. Evie Burns. And judging by the expression on her face, she was also mad at me. Though, like Tom, she wasn't wearing one of those godforsaken badges.

"Yeah, it's me. Sorry about your coffee or whatever." I scowled and tried to push my way past her, but wound up with her index finger pushing painfully into my chest. God, that girl's nails were long.

" You!"

"Me," I agreed. "Now, can you either find the chase and cut to it, or get your damn fingernail out of my chest?"

"The chase, you arrogant prick, is that now you're here, I feel it's my job as Summer's friend to tell you that you're a waste of space."

"Right. Well. Thanks for that. Are we done here?" Her expression suggested that she was nowhere near done, but I was. More than done.

Brushing her hand clear of my chest, I slid past her and down the corridor, making for the exit at speed. Her voice called loudly after me but the angry ringing in my ears drowned her out nicely.

Once I was clear of the school building, I breathed a little deeper but I had no idea where I was going to go. Home wasn't an option. Dad would literally kill me dead if he knew I was cutting college.

So I went to the only other logical place: the gym, where I spent several hours working Summer fucking Geary and those damn badges out of my head while that stupid bright pink sign tormented me.

No pain, no gain.

Yeah, right.

"Would you like to tell me where exactly you've been?"

My blood ran ice cold as I tried to sneak past the living room and go upstairs, foiled instantly and unsurprisingly by my dad's barking voice.

"The gym," I mumbled back, one foot still on the first step to freedom upstairs.

"And before that?"

"College."

I had no idea why I bothered lying. He clearly already knew I hadn't been there.

He didn't say anything. He just allowed the silence and his bulging, furious face to do the talking for him.

"Fine," I eventually relented. "I cut class. It was a weird day so I went for an intense workout instead. I thought you'd be pleased."

"Do I look pleased to you?"

I shook my head, my eyes shifting to my feet that were still planted and ready for escape.

"This is all because you're too soft on him, you know?" he practically growled, and when I glanced up, he'd rounded on my mum. She was sitting primly in the armchair, as perfectly put together as always, and flinching at the accusing finger he'd shoved in her face.

Whereas my dad was an expert at weaponising silence, my mum had perfected the art of using it to disappear into the background. Not picking a fight with him was always the best way when it came to easing conflict, and nobody knew that better than Mum.

"Where do you think you're going?" he barked when I attempted to use his temporary distraction to head up the stairs for a much-needed shower.

"Uh…"

"Sit. Down!" he commanded, his tone leaving no doubt that he expected to be obeyed. "Clara, put the kettle on. I'm parched."

My mum scurried obediently off to the kitchen to do his bidding while he rounded on me.

"What the hell has got into you, boy?" he snarled. "Your head is all over the place and now you're skipping college. Are you actively trying to destroy your future? You think Premier League football teams take college drop-outs?"

I fought hard to keep my eyeroll internal. He didn't need to see it and figure out that I had zero intention of playing football professionally. That was his dream, not mine.

"It's just a bad week," I admitted when it became clear he wasn't going to let me get away without answering. "I had a thing with a girl and-"

"A girl? You're telling me this bullshit attitude of yours is because of a bit of skirt?"

"I upset her," I replied, my voice almost no more than a whisper.

"It'll be her hormones," he dismissed easily. "Women are simple creatures, my boy. They need to be kept in line and told what they want. Don't you, Clara?" Both my mum and I winced when his hand connected humiliatingly with her backside.

"Right. Yeah. I'll bear it in mind," I said, feeling sick and desperate to hit the shower so I could wash this entire day down the drain. "I, uh… I need to go shower."

Apparently, I'd done enough to convince him I saw things his way as he nodded, his piercing eyes following me to the stairs before he called out to me. "And, son?"

"Yeah?"

"No more allowing girls to affect your life. Understood?"

I lifted my chin in acknowledgement, unable to speak, before legging it upstairs and away from that man and everything he stood for.