Chapter 68

Lucy’s POV

“I’ve told them all that we probably won’t be going back out again” Jack says, keeping his eyes locked to his phone.

“Are you coming to mine then?” Conor asks.

I shrug, “Yeah. As long as we get to order Chinese”

He sighs, “Fine. As long as we get to watch Nightmare on Elm Street”

I smile, “As long as we get popcorn and sweets”

“Deal” he smiles. “Come on then”

I get up off the sofa and run upstairs to put on a coat and get my shoes. It’s so cold outside so I even go the extra mile by putting gloves on. I jog back down the stairs and see Jack, Conor and Alex all waiting next to the front door.

“We’re going to the shop first for your stuff” Conor tells me and I frown. “You wanted sweets and shit?”

“Oh right” I nod excitedly and he smiles.

“Come on then!” Jack sighs heavily and practically pushes us all outside. I turn back round to lock it then start to walk to the shop with them all, holding Conor’s hand the whole way because I’m terrified of seeing James again, although it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s in hospital right now. I’m actually happy Conor did what he did.

“I need to show you something when we get in” Conor smirks as we walk into the usual shop.

“What?” I ask, getting excited.

“I’ll show you when we get in” he rolls his eyes before picking up a load of junk food.

As soon as we get back to his house, we dump everything we bought on the table in the living room and Conor practically drags me upstairs. He takes me into his room and sits me at his recording studio and his smile is huge. He presses a load of buttons before putting the headphones on me and playing a tune.

It’s his cover of ‘Breathe' and he’s finished it. I listen carefully throughout the whole song, drumming my fingers on the studio table to the beat.

“Conor, it’s amazing!” I squeal when it’s finished. He takes the giant headphones off me and smiles. “Have you uploaded it yet?”

“I don't know if I want to” he frowns.

“Why? You’re such an amazing singer Conor. There’s nothing to worry about!” I assure him and he nods hesitantly.

“What will everyone at school think though?” he asks worryingly.

“They’ll think you’re an amazing singer and will be extremely jealous of your voice” I say as if it’s obvious and he laughs. “Since when have you been worried about what twats at school think anyway?”

“I’m not. This is just new to me” he shrugs.

“Just be confident about it Conor. That’s how you’ll get famous. And if it helps, you don’t exactly need to share it with people in school. I don’t see why you shouldn’t though. I’d be bragging none stop if I had a voice like yours” I compliment him and he rolls his eyes.

“Enough with the compliments. You’re scaring me” he grins.

“What’s that supposed to mean!?” I act as if I’m offended.

“You usually bully me” he winks, sitting on me on the chair.

“Get off!” I laugh but he stays there. I just roll my eyes and put up with it.

“It’ll take fifteen minutes to upload” he sighs heavily once he’s finished the ‘final touches’ of the video.

“I can’t wait” I smile cheesily and he laughs.

“Do you want a drink while we wait?” he finally stands up off my thighs.

“Yes please” I smirk, looking up at him stretching, a bit of his stomach showing from his risen shirt. He stops stretching and looks down at me, smirking slightly.

“I think you should sleep tonight” he mumbles, sitting on the edge of the big leather seat I’m on, and playing with a bit of my hair.

“Why?” I tease.

“Because I said” he whispers in my ear and leaves kisses down my neck.

“It’s uploaded” I stop him from teasing me. His face shoots towards the screen and he gasps.

“Fuck, I’m shitting it” he bites his nail and I start laughing. “Can we take it down? It has no views Lucy!”

“You’ve just put it on! You have one!”

“THAT’S US YOU DICKHEAD!” he shouts and I burst out laughing at how much of a panic he’s in. “No Lucy, I’m literally shitting it”

“It’ll be fine!” I reassure him. “Are you showing it everyone at school?”

“I don’t know...” he trails off.

“You don’t have an option. Share it” I nod and he sighs.

“Alright” he nods confidently before sharing it.

Within no time, his video has blown up with comments, likes and views and we just sit there smiling proudly at the screen. It’s not literally blown up, but he has a good 70 views, 10 comments and 49 likes. I’m so so so proud of him.

“Told you it would be fine!” I squeal.

“Fuck you”

“You’re practically famous already!”

“Yeah, me and my seventy views” he cheers sarcastically and I start laughing.

“Yeah and that’s only been in ten minutes. And all the comments are lovely!” I smile and he nods. “Conor?”

“What?”

“I’m so, I’m so, I’m so, I’m so, I’m so proud of you” I tease him, quoting Drake. He starts laughing and gives his famous eye roll after it.

-

The following Monday, I shakily make my way to my IT class. Conor’s made Lois and Leila keep an eye out for me in case anything happens but I’m surprised that when I enter class, he isn’t there. I frown and take a seat with Lois and Sam.

“I don’t think he’s in” I frown.

“Just stay with us” she nods. As soon as the teacher arrives, I get pulled out of class by the head teacher and I think I shit a brick.

“It’s alright, you’re not in trouble” he laughs deeply. I follow him to his huge office made up of literally a desk, a chair and a few pictures of school stuff on his walls. “So as you probably know, James isn’t in school today”

“Yeah” I frown.

“James is in hospital, Lucy”

“Oh right” I nod. I’m not surprised at all.

“What do you have to say about that?” he frowns.

“Nothing. I didn’t know him” I shrug. That’s half true I guess.

“Well he told us you visited his house”

“Not by choice” I raise my voice slightly.

“What do you mean?”

“Nothing. He just insisted I come round to do ‘extra work outside of class’” I use air quotes.

“And did you?” he asks and I frown. “Did you do work?”

“Yep” I nod.

“Anything else?”

“Nope” I look out of his window beside me. Why is he asking me all these questions? It took me some confidence to tell Conor he touched me, never mind tell my head teacher.

“Well, do you know why he’s in hospital?”

“I couldn’t care less to be honest” I shrug. I don’t care how harsh this sounds. I fucking hate him.

“Lucy...” he warns me and I sigh heavily. “He said he got beaten up but won’t tell us who. He said you might know”

“Oh” I nod.

“Do you know?”

“How should I know?” I frown. Like I’m going to tell him it was Conor. I bet he already knows who it was, he just wants me to admit it. There’s also that slight possibility that he had an accident since Saturday that had nothing to do with Conor or Alex.

“I don’t know. James said you might”

“Well tell James he’s wrong”

“Lucy, I can’t help you if you’re being like this” he sighs, rubbing his hand over his stubble.

“Who said I need your help?”

“Nobody, ignore me” he shakes his head. “Well he won’t be attending this school anymore. He’s moving to another one because he doesn’t feel comfortable here”

“Really?” I gasp, sounding a little bit excited. I’m over the moon. Play it cool Lucy.

“Yes. Is there something you’re not telling me, Lucy?” he leans on his desk and I just shake my head. “Are you sure you don’t know anything?”

“Positive” I nod. “Can I go now?” I say after a few moments silence.

“Oh, um, yeah sure” he nods furiously, waving me away. I frown again before rising from the spinny, leather chair I was sat on and strolling out of the door. I’m so confused. The bell rings signalling lunch so I immediately make my way into the dinner hall and sit with Lois, Leila, Olivia and Charlotte. I tell them all about what the head teacher just said to me seeing as they all found out about James, and they all look just as confused as I am.

I tell Conor and he’s literally over the moon.

“I told you he was scared of me” Conor laughs with Alex and I just roll my eyes.

“Where was he when you did it?”

“He was at the park” Alex tells me and I nod understandingly.

“Why was he at the park on his own?” I frown. Surely if his friends were there, they would’ve helped James and stopped Conor from almost killing him.

“His friends were there but they just stood and watched. They only helped him when we left” Conor laughs and I gasp.

“That’s embarrassing” I mutter and Conor nods.

-

We start to make our way home from school and Conor’s persuaded me into coming back to his tonight. I can’t be bothered to be honest. I’m so tired.

We arrive at his house and instantly hear screaming in the living room.

“What the fuck?” Conor mumbles. It’s definitely arguing.

“Anna!?” Jack shouts through the house and starts running upstairs. I’m shitting myself right now.

“Conor, I’m scared” I breathe but he just pushes me slightly behind his back.

“Conor!” the person in the living room shouts before letting out another loud scream.

“Fuck” he mutters before running into the living room.

Oh my god.