"What happened?" Mrs Carter asks, panicked, looking back and forth between Riz's body on the stretcher and her husband.
Cory stands at my side, his hand tightly held in mine as he panics.
"It was a high tackle." Mr Bell shrugs, carelessly, trying to stay calm.
"N-no, it wasn't my fault." Cory speaks up, shakily. "H-he told me to do it, he told me to wipe him out."
Everyone's attention turns to Mr Bell, "I didn't mean that, Cory!"
"Well, maybe you should've been more specific." I snap at the older man.
"It doesn't matter, we'll-we'll talk about it later. Maybe it's best if you stay here, Steve. Aliyah, you come with me, we'll follow behind them." Mrs Carter decides, walking off the pitch with Nawaz girl, following close behind her.
"It were an accident, sir." Jordan defends his brother, but Mr Bell just stands there in shock.
"Come on, Cor. Let's go home." I say softly, turning to Jordan briefly. "Jordy, you coming?"
"Nah, I've got a meeting about the Socials." He says, and I nod.
"Alright, text if you need anything." I tell him firmly. "Come on, Hales."
The three of us head to the car park in silence. Once we approach Aaron's blue Honda Jazz, I dig through my bag and get the keys out.
We all get inside, Haylee in the back and Cory in the passenger seat, "So who's up for milkshakes and chips?"
The two wordlessly raise their hands, and soon enough, we're on the road and arguing about what we're gonna watch when we get in.
♡♥︎♡
The chips are laid out in greasy paper on top of the table as the three of us lounge about on the sofa, watching Pitch Perfect in our pyjamas.
We're just about to watch the Riff-off when my phone buzzes in my lap. 1 message from Jordy 😋.
Jordy 😋:
Jordy 😋:
Hey, Bella
U busy?
Me:
Just watching telly
Y?
Jordy 😋:
I need u 2 pick me up from somewhere in like 15mins
Me:
Where???
Jordy 😋:
Stepton Street Hostel
Me:
Alr
I'm omw
I sigh, clicking my phone off and standing up to grab the car keys off the side. "Where you going?"
I turn round to look at Cory's slightly panicked face, "I'm just going to pick Jordan up. I'll be back soon."
Although he looks confused, he doesn't say anything else, and I leave to go get him.
♡♥︎♡
Once I arrive at Stepton Street Hostel, I text Jordan to tell him I'm waiting round the back so he can find me.
No more than five minutes later, he walks casually out the back door and gets in the car. "Thanks, Bella. I owe you one."
I nod, "You got all your stuff?"
"Yeah."
"Good, cos you're staying at mine." I hold my hand up when he tries to protest. "Nope, it's been decided. Cory's staying tonight anyway, so it don't really matter."
"What about you're mom?" He asks.
"I meant what I said dis morning." I say. "If we need to find her to keep you around, so be it. You're family, and we look after family."
"You sure?" He checks to make sure if I really want to go through with this.
"100%." I smile and start the car up again. "Now let's get some milkshakes, cos we need a refill back home."
As I'm driving away, I see Mrs Carter run out of the exact door Jordan left and see her watch as I drive away.
"Mrs Carter were just trying to help by sending you here." I tell him. "But I think she don't believe that it's what's best for ya anymore."
"You think?" He questions, and I hum in response, turning to his contemplating expression.
"She cares about us, ya know? They both do."
♡♥︎♡
Me and Jordan walk through the door with milkshakes in hand to see Haylee in the exact same position I left her in but no Cory. "Where's Cory?"
"On the phone." Haylee mumbles, zoning out, watching the finales in Pitch Perfect.
"Here." I hand her a strawberry milkshake, and she perks up slightly, Jordan sitting next to her on the sofa.
"Did he say who it was?" I ask, leaving the keys in the kitchen.
"What?" Haylee asks, confused.
"On the phone." I elaborate. "Did he say who was on the phone?"
"Um, n-"
She's cut off by Cory walking in, chuckling as he hangs up on whoever was on the phone, "Alright, Trouble. Jordan."
"Alright." Jordan says, not sparing him a single glance as he digs into the semi-warm chips.
"Who was that?" I ask, walking over to where Cory stood behind the sofa.
"Aliyah. Well, Riz technically, on Aliyah's phone." He corrects himself.
"Oh yeah? What'd he have to say then?"
"He called me a fat git." Cory chuckles, and I smile at the sight of my happy best friend.
"But he's okay, right?" Haylee asks, wanting to know about her crush's well-being.
"Yeah, yeah, he's good." Cory nods, placing his arm on my shoulders, and I wrap my arms around his waist, sinking into his embrace, feeling a kiss be planted on my head. "Everything's okay."
We ease into a comfortable silence, happy in each other's presence, and glad that everything worked out okay in the end.
However, our silence is abruptly ruined by the door slamming open, gaining all four of our attention. Missy stands their with tear stained cheeks, shivering from the cold night air.
I lean out of Cory's embrace slightly to look at my twin sister in concern, "What Happened, M?"
"Naz hates me!" She cries.
And just as one problem is resolved, another one comes along.
YOU ARE READING
I Like Me Better When I'm With You | Ackley Bridge
Teen FictionIsabella Booth is Missy Booth's twin and Cory Wilson's best friend. Cory and Izzy have been friends for as long as they can remember but last year Izzy and Missy dropped out of school. Cory and Izzy still stayed close and Izzy back at the new school...
