JOEY
IT WAS SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2005.
The first day of my second chance at sixth year, and the first day of my second chance at life – according to my therapist, that was.
The truth was my second chance was born two days ago, and being at this school instead of being with my son and girlfriend was killing me. When I stepped through the front doors of the school, the anxiety I was experiencing had little to do with my surroundings and everything to do with the girl I had left alone in the hospital.
I’d been in this position before.
I’d sat at the foot another woman’s bed, watching as she crumbled under the mental anguish that came with giving birth.
I never understood it when it happened to my mother, and I was just as clueless now that it was happening to my girlfriend.
I wanted to make it right. I wanted to turn on my heels and go back to her, but we needed this little deal I had carved out.
It came with perks that I couldn’t afford to turn down.
It came with freedom, and accommodation, and a future that I was banking on for my family.
My family that consisted of Molloy and AJ.
The principal of Tommen couldn’t hide his distaste for me.
He made that perfectly clear.
His mistrust was potent, his wariness even more stifling, as he sat behind his desk and looked down his nose at me.
‘Is he on a methadone program?’ His question, while about me, was directed towards Edel and John who were sitting beside me. ‘Is he receiving regular counseling sessions? Attending an outpatient clinic?’
Swallowing my temper, I let John do the talking for me. After all, the man made a career out of it.
Instead, I balled my hands into fists at my sides and zoned out, only responding when the patriarch of my siblings’ newfound family encouraged me to do so.
Unwelcome.
It was only one word, but the most accurate one I could think up to describe how I felt. I didn’t belong here, not in this school, and not in this uniform.
Still, I held firm and allowed myself to be led by one of the few men in my life that I actually considered to be trustworthy.
In the end, I’d been sent on my way with a timetable and a warning to behave myself.
Like I hadn’t heard that before.
‘I’ve heard about him.”
“He’s bad news.”
“He’s constantly getting into fights over at BCS.”
People whispered when I passed in the hallways.
“Apparently, he’s got a big, fat chip on his shoulder.’
I ignored them all. They couldn’t hurt me. I’d been through too much and had come too damn far to let a few opinions throw me off track.
‘That one has a seriously bad reputation.”
“I heard he got a girl from his last school pregnant.’
‘I’m pretty sure he just got me pregnant by glaring at me.’
‘He’s my brother,’ a familiar voice snapped, and I swung around to find Shannon of all people standing up to a group of girls in the hallway. ‘And you shouldn’t believe everything you hear.’
‘Is he single?’
‘You’re not his type.’
‘What’s his type?’
‘His girlfriend.’
I smirked to myself.
Well, this was a turn up for the books.
She was defending me.
Shaking off their remarks, I winked at my sister before making my way to my first class, arriving later than everyone else because this school was a fucking castle to navigate.
“Are they going to check his blood?” was the first snide comment I was dealt when I walked into Maths. “Because I don’t want any druggies bleeding all over me.”
“He’s probably riddled with HIV,” the girl beside him sneered.
“Trust me when I tell ya, Buckley, that the best part of you ran down your father’s leg,” a familiar voice shot back in defense, and I turned in the direction of where Gibsie was pulling out the empty chair beside him. “And as for your girlfriend, Miss fucking piggy,” he added, narrowing his eyes at the girl snickering beside the prick running his mouth. “I think it’s safe to say the tide wouldn’t take her out.”
“Fuck you, Gibsie.”
“Fuck you?” He threw his head back. “I wouldn’t ride you into battle.”
The entire class erupted in laughter.
“Howdy friend,” Gibsie said with a grin when I dropped into the chair next to his.
Jesus.
“Gibs.”
“Wah-hey! You got my name right.”
“Yeah.” I shrugged. “Well, I figured I better learn it off seeing as I’m stuck with ya until next June.”
“That you are, my friend,” he chuckled, nudging my shoulder with his. “That you are.”
“So, where’s your other half?”
“Claire-bear? She’s in the year below us.”
“No, asshole. Kav.”
“Oh!” Gibsie laughed. “Oh, you mean my other other half. He’s in honors maths.” Frowning, Gibsie muttered, “Cap’s in honors everything.” He chuckled to himself, clearly amused with something he was thinking about, before shaking his head and adding, “Fair bit of a genius is your future brother-in-law.”
