Thomas held his hands up. “Guilty as charged.”

  “What happened at the New Year’s Eve party then for Darren to be attacked in the first place?” Bobby asked.

  Mason sighed before he held his head down in shame.

  “Darren and I brought drugs to the New Year’s Eve party and we were distributing them.”

  There was the odd few gasps and slight whispers from the neighbours. Even Fearne was shocked by this news.

  “Wait a minute.” Michael said, as he stood up, “So, you and Darren distribute drugs at a party, Darren gets attacked and then I get attacked for no reason? Clearly this is a facade to cover your tracks and frame one of us for your lawbreaking.”

  “What?” Mason asked.

  “It makes perfect sense to me.” Thomas said, as he stood up, “We’ve all been feeling the sympathy for Darren and it now turns out that him and his best friend were selling people what could be their last hit just to earn a few extra bucks? Doesn't your office job pay you enough, Mason?”

  “I don’t know who you think you're kicking off at. You came to me begging to buy drugs off me.”

  “What?” Nicole screeched as she stood up.

  “You’re fucking lying.” Thomas scoffed.

  “Oh, yeah. I’d lie about something to make me look even more of a dickhead than I do already.”

  Michael couldn't hold his urges back any longer. He smacked Mason in the right side of his jaw causing him to stumble backwards.

  “Hey!” Joseph shouted as he rushed over.

  Nicole immediately escorted Michael outside. Alexander and a smug looking Thomas followed.

  Mason wiped the blood from his jaw before he and Joseph decided to leave the pub through the back door, to avoid passing the Hardings.

  “I can’t believe you took drugs, Thomas. I am so ashamed of you.” Nicole said.

  “I’m sorry, okay?”

  “A fake apology isn't good enough this time, Thomas. You’re grounded until at least after the summer holidays.” Michael said as he ran his fingertips over his pulsing knuckle.

  Alexander let out a gentle smirk to the fact that his brother was finally getting disciplined.

  Chapter Seven

  That night, a thunderstorm started to sneak into the neighbourhood. Mason had gone to visit Darren again to tell him about the events that happened at the Swan.

  “What have you done?” Darren asked in shock.

  “I had to tell them about the drugs distribution. It was probably not the most intelligent thing that I’ve done…”

  “You’re right with that one.”

  “I think your attackers motive is related to the events that happened at the New Year’s Eve party.”

  “Even though I think that it was a really stupid idea to tell our neighbours about the New Year’s Eve party trouble, it could have proven useful. Who do you think attacked me and maybe even Michael?”

  “Honestly? I think that Michael and Thomas are the attackers.”

  “You what?”

  “It makes perfect sense. Thomas bought drugs from us on New Year’s Eve and when I neglected to supply him again, he decided to attack one of us. Michael didn't get defensive and punch me just because he was protecting one of his sons. It was because they are working together. I’m not sure why they're doing this though. I need to figure that part out.”

  “I’m not sure if you're right, Mason. But, if you are, you need to start digging around for clues as quickly as possible.”

  Mason hummed and exhaled a long sigh.

  Since Michael and Nicole got the snacks for the summer barbecue party each year, Fearne took the responsibility of arranging the music for the whole evening. Fearne didn't really find this that difficult but the main two songs that were the most important was the introduction and the finale.

  Fearne hummed the lyrics to Tainted Love in her head as she had a bottle of red wine on the go and was contemplating opening a second bottle. Angelica had offered to take the role of the music arrangement for this year, and said that she’d heartily understand if Fearne wanted to skip this years summer barbecue party but, Fearne insisted that she was going to continue with the celebrations.

  After downing the last drop of her first bottle of red wine, Fearne made her way into the kitchen. She placed the empty bottle on the counter, near the back door, and immediately picked up the next bottle. She pressed down on the back doors handle to make sure that it was definitely locked, even though she’d locked and checked it nine times already, before she headed back into the living room.

  “La, la, la, la.” She hummed as she slummed onto her cream sofa.

  She reached for the tv remote when a pebble hit one of her living room windows.

  “I am going to kill those kids!” Fearne growled as she pulled herself off the sofa.

  Unlocking the door quickly and storming outside into the thunderstorm, with her glass of red wine in hand, Fearne stood on her porch to see that there was not a single soul on the street.

  “Thomas? Alexander?” She asked out but there was no reply.

  Fearne turned back around to head inside when a stone hit the right side of the house. She jumped and dropped her glass onto the floor.

  “Oh, shit!”

  She was more interested about spilling her gorgeous red wine than being targeted by a stone. Her blonde hair swayed over her left shoulder quickly as she turned around to see that there was still no-one in the street at all.

  “You better cut this out.” She said to the air.

  There was no reply again. She backed away into her house, leaving the red wine stains and the broken glass on the porch. Right now, she was actually starting to get a little bit spooked out. The door clicked as Fearne locked it once again. She decided to shut all of her curtains straight afterwards. Drinking the whole bottle of wine didn't seem like such a smart idea now. She was starting to think that maybe she was just hearing things with the pebble and stone.

  No sooner had Fearne sat nervously back onto the sofa, her house phone began to ring. She nervously reached over to pick it up.

  “Hello?” She asked nervously.

  “Fearne, it’s Darren. Are you okay?”

  Fearne sighed with relief that it was her boyfriend.

  “Oh, Darren. I’m just a little bit jumpy this evening.”

  “Is everything okay?” His voice was calm and he sounded like he was slightly straining.

  “I thought I heard someone throwing pebbles at the house but there was no-one there. I think my nerves are getting the better of me tonight.”

  “I bet the bottle of red wine hasn't helped you either.” Darren chuckled.

  “How did you know that I’ve been drinking?”

  “Fearne, we’ve been together for six years now. You drink whenever you're by yourself.”

  Fearne inhaled deeply and exhaled for a longer length of time than normal. Her nerves were really getting to her.

  “I’m sorry, Darren. I’m just so jumpy this evening. It’s getting harder with each passing day, not having you here.”

  “I know. But, just hold on tight for a little longer. I’ll be back home before you know it. Just promise me something though before I have to go?”

  “Anything.”

  “Are you locked up safe and sound?”

  Fearne smiled. She knew that Darren couldn't see this but in his hospital bed, she liked to envision that he could tell she was smiling.

  “The house is locked up safe and secure.”

  “Goodnight.”

  “Goodnight.” Fearne smiled and hung up.

  Before she could place the phone back in its holder, it rang again.

  “Darren, I’ve told you…”

  “Your boyfriend still hasn't seen the last of me.” A deep male voice interrupted.

  “Who is this?” Fearne asked as she shot up off the sofa.

  The phone line went dead.

  Chapter Eight

  The next morning, Jenny had nipped out to the supermarket to grab some chocolates for that evening. She and Bobby were planning to slump onto the sofa and binge eat on snacks all night long. Bobby stayed at home to sort through his paperwork that he needed to complete before the summer holidays. He usually intended to work from home but this year, he was a little bit more behind than he would have liked to be. Bobby always made sure that when his work rang him, they did actually ring him on his work phone. Sometimes, they had a habit of ringing his personal mobile phone and Bobby wasn't really one for even going on his mobile phone.

  After a few slow hours, his mobile phone began to ring. He put on his headset and opened his notebook.

  “Good afternoon, I represent Homebird counselling. My name is Bobby. How can I help you?”

  “Hello, Bobby. I am in need of your guidance.”

  “Well, that’s why I’m here,” Bobby jotted something down in his notebook, “how can I help you?”

  “I have a dilemma about something from my past that still haunts me.”

  Bobby inhaled deeply, “You can talk to me. Everything you say is strictly confidential between you and I.”

  “I am glad to hear that, Bobby, because my dilemma actually does involve… you.”

  Bobby continued to write in his notebook before he frowned in confusion.

  “Excuse me?”

  “I am sure you’d like to know how I know about your past, don’t you, Anthony?”

  Bobby’s eyes widened so much, they nearly popped out of his skull. He noticed that this number was calling him on his personal mobile phone.

  He stood up slowly and asked, “Who is this?”

  “I am someone who knows all about your past life, after you failed university, Anthony.”

  Bobby panted heavily and began to slightly shake in panic.

  “My name isn't Anthony. My name is Bobby. Who is this?”

  The phone line went dead.

  Bobby took off his headset and chucked it on the table. He grabbed his personal mobile phone and chucked it in his desk drawer. After slamming the desk drawer shut, Bobby put both of his hands on his head. His fingers trembled and tears filled his eyes in sheer panic.

  Chapter Nine

  Fearne downed her glass of water whilst she was searching the internet. She was researching on any information about attacks in the nearby towns within the past few months. Mainly since around New Year’s Eve, to be on the safe side. There was nothing. She wrapped her brains over and over again about who would attack her boyfriend, Darren, and why?

  Suddenly, the house phone rang. Fearne jumped before she went to pick it up but stopped, when she remembered about her last phone call. She took a deep breath and picked up the ringing phone.

  “Hello?”

  “Hello, Fearne. It’s Nicole.”

  Fearne exhaled with relief.

  “Hi, Nicole. What can I do for you?”

  “If you wouldn't mind, could you deliver some fruitcakes to me?”

  “Fruitcakes?”

  “Yeah. Angelica rang me earlier to ask me to get her some fruit cakes for the party. I don’t know why she couldn't go and collect some herself but, I didn't have time to question her.”

  “What makes you think that I’ve got any fruit cakes?”

  Nicole chuckled, “I don’t actually know, my darling. I literally just picked up the phone and pressed the first speed dial number that came to my mind.”

  “Okay, no problem. I’ll be over in about ten minutes.”

  Fearne hung up before she wondered, why is she having to deliver to Nicole? She could have just came over to her house.

  After about seven minutes, Fearne had gotten the fruitcakes ready, put her jacket on and popped her black boots on.

  As she headed over the road and five doors down, a figure, in a black cloak, watched Fearne’s every step, until she knocked on Nicole’s front door.

  Nicole invited Fearne inside for a quick cup of coffee. Fearne placed the fruitcakes on the kitchen table. A few minutes later, Nicole placed two cups of coffee on the table.

  Nicole sat down, across from Fearne, before she smiled awkwardly. This was the first time they'd actually had a proper conversation in the history of them both living on Red Street.

  “I’m a sucker for being nosey but, can I ask about Darren? How is he doing?”

  Fearne placed her hand on the top of the coffee cup, feeling the steam sizzle slightly on her hand.

  “He’s doing okay, thank you. I went to see him yesterday.”

  “Do the police still not know who attacked him?”

  “They don’t know anything. I’m trying to find out information myself but, I’m not having much luck.”

  Nicole pouted her lips slightly.

  “Can I ask you a personal question?” Fearne asked before she blew on her coffee.

  Nicole raised her eyebrows and titled her head slightly to her right.

  “How do you control Alexander and Thomas when they act out of hand? I want to become a mother one day and I’m aiming to adopt.”

  “Can’t you have children naturally?”

  “I can but I want to help those children that don’t already have a home. I’m wanting to adopt two boys firstly. But…”

  “You want to know how to make sure that they don’t turn out like my little troublemakers?”

  Fearne chuckled before sipping her coffee.

  “Well, I wouldn't say that personally but… I want to know how to try and control teenage boys.”

  “I wouldn't try and control them. My best advice would be to just let them evolve and figure out their mistakes for themselves.”

  Fearne sighed and sipped her coffee.

  “But, I am ashamed sometimes with my children. They bring a lot of trouble to my house and I’m the one who looks like the fool. Everyone always blames the parents.”

  Unbeknown to Nicole or Fearne, Alexander was listening at the kitchen door. His face looked like he was ravaged with anger but, there was also a slight tear in his eye.

  Thomas had decided to spend some time to himself that afternoon. He thought he'd go for a chilled walk in the nearby park. It was only about a ten minute walk from his street and it was usually packed with dog walkers. But today, there wasn't anybody there at all. This was slightly unusual. Thomas had left his phone in his bedroom because he wanted to be completely alone. There had been quite a few dramas in his life this year. In school, he had been kicked off the football team for getting into a fist fight with one of the players. At home, his father had nearly hit him when he stole over one hundred pounds to try and buy some marijuana. And in his personal life, his girlfriend had dumped him when she discovered that he had been sleeping with one of her best friends. Thomas had long since wanted to reinvent himself to try and become a better person but, he knew for a fact that everyone would only remember the bad things that he’s ever done. They'd never remember a single good thing.

  Thomas sat down on one of the swings. He went forwards and backwards slightly as he stared out at the empty field. After reminiscing over his childhood for a few minutes, a shadow appeared behind Thomas. Sensing a presence behind him, Thomas turned around to have a figure, in a black cloak, lift a butchers knife above his head.

  “Fuck!” Thomas jumped off the swing but he missed landing on his feet, and landed on the ground.

  Thomas turned around quickly, whilst on his back, to have the figure try and stab him. Raising his hands in defence, the figure slashed Thomas’s right hand a few times. Thomas yelled in pain before he managed to kick the figure in the groin. The figure groaned and stumbled backwards. Thomas quickly jumped to his feet before running out of the park. The figure watched Thomas run for the parks main entrance gates.

  Nicole sipped down a nice glass of red wine before placing it on the kitchen counter. Fearne had gone home a while ago now and she had the whole house to herself. Alexander hadn't texted to say where he was, but Nicole was used to her sons going awol, and her husband was out running errand.

  Thomas entered the house, through the back door, and wasn't happy to come across his mother in the kitchen. Nicole looked up and smiled before she frowned when she noticed Thomas’s right hand.

  “Hey, what the hell has happened to your hand?”

 

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