I Like Me Better When I'm With You | Ackley Bridge

45|'They're Just Words'

An hour later, I'm stood in Mrs Carter's office again with Riz's parents and my mom. "As you know, I am obliged to report all safeguarding issues to the police."

"The police?" Mr Nawaz asks in disbelief, finding the situation very idiotic.

"Well, yeah, Haylee is still a child." Mrs Carter reminds. "And Riz did get her to perform a sex act on him."

"This is ridiculous." Mr Nawaz rolls his eyes.

"No, you know what is ridiculous?" I ask him rhetorically. "Your lad going after my baby sister when I distinctly told him not to, and then bragging about it to his dippy mates!"

"Will he have a criminal record?" Mrs Nawaz interrupts her husband before he can say anything.

"By all accounts, Haylee consented, so it's unlikely the police will take things further in this instance." Mrs Carter answers, truthfully.

I scoff, "So he just gets away with it?"

"Takes two to tango, Izzy." Mom speaks up.

"Who's side are you on?" I ask her incredulously, and she shrinks back into her chair.

"Your mother's right." Mrs Nawaz comments, finally making eye contact with me. "Chances are your sister offered it up to him on a plate."

"Do you want a smack?" I raise my voice at her. "Or a matching black eye to ya daughter?"

"Shall, we just keep calm, yeah?" Mrs Carter request, joining my side.

"Riz is a good lad." Mr Nawaz states.

"You would say that, wouldn't ya?" I squint at him.

"He was your mate five minutes ago." He points out.

"Yeah, well, that was before he started bad mouthing me sister." I tell him.

"Thank you, Izzy. Let's just stick to the subject at hand, shall we?" Mrs Carter stops me from carrying on. "I think what's important here today is that we all decide what's best to do, to move forward."

"He should be kicked out." I decide.

"Well, that's not gonna happen." Mrs Carter scoffs a laugh.

"I could ground our Haylee, if you like." Mom offers, and I roll my eyes.

"Shut up, Mom." I fold my arms across my chest, "Just cos they've got more money than us, don't mean they're any better. At least I teach our girls manors."

"Right, I think what we can agree on is that Riz and Haylee should be kept apart at all costs, yeah?" Mrs Carter says.

Mr Nawaz scoffs, "Don't worry, I'll make sure of it."

"Great!" Mrs Carter comments with mock enthusiasm. "And while you're there, maybe you could talk to him about objectifying women?"

"Now, just hang on a minute." Mr Nawaz objects.

"Whatever went on between him and Haylee, it doesn't give him the right to boast about it on WhatsApp." Mrs Carter states, and I smirk proudly.

"Right." Mrs Nawaz stands up from her chair impatiently. "Are we done here?"

Mrs Carter holds her hand up to Mrs Nawaz and looks to me, "Izzy?"

"I think you've about covered things." I shrug and glare at the Nawaz's. "But tell Riz that when he comes back to school, he's been suspended from the rugby team until further notice."

"You can't do that!" Mr Nawaz argues, and Mrs Nawaz nods in agreement.

"Oh, but I believe I can." I smirk. "You're talking to the Co-Coach of the Ackley Bridge College Rugby team. And if you two keep being twats, Riz'll be off the team, permanently."