masked

#28

I stood, gaping at him. Perplexed. "What do you mean the truth?

Tobi licked his lips, nervously. "He broke up with you because he had to. And it was killing me inside seeing you so distraught and I couldn't look you in the eye without feeling so overwhelming guilty that I've been keeping this from you."

"Keeping what? Tobi you better tell me what the fuck is going on, right now." I said calmly but my voice still shook.

"Wait, I need everyone here." He grabbed his phone and stabbed in a message that I couldn't see.

I crossed my arms and walked over to the window. Too angry and confused to even look at Tobi, preposterous theories filling my mind. I always knew there had been some history with the guys but how could that possibly link to why Simon left me?

Then there was a knock at the door, I gestured for Tobi to answer it. In walked in Josh, JJ, Vik, Harry and Kayleigh. JJ was glaring at everyone, clearly uncomfortable.

"Kay? Do you know something as well?" I asked, shocked.

She ran over to me and hugged me. "No, Vik briefly explained the situation but he made me promise to not tell you."

The boys took turns to look at each other and then look away. I noticed Josh staring fondly at Tobi, trying to catch his attention.

"Well?" I yelled, making everyone jump slightly. "Is someone going to explain?"

All eyes shifted towards Tobi and he sighed and nodded.

"Five years ago. We were all really good friends, Me, Simon, Josh, Vik and JJ. We were inseparable -" Tobi paused and I noticed how everyone looked down at the floor, affected by his words.

"Josh and I were particularly close, we've known each other practically all our lives as our mums were good friends. All five of us would hang out every day after school and we would take turns in going round each other's houses. Mainly JJ's because he was the first to get an Xbox out of all of us.

Those days were good and we were happy kids but some conflict happened when we started secondary school. See, JJ and Simon started finding excuses not to hang out with us and they would sometimes bunk whole days of school. Suddenly they had loads of money and were buying all the latest gadgets.

All they would tell us is that they got a job. Never specifying on what kind of job. One day, Vik, Josh and I followed to them to wherever they disappeared to so often. It was a massive building, looked like a bank or office building but we never got to go inside.

Some men came to ask us what our business here was and so we lied and said our friends were there. The men said we looked to young to be mixed up in drug dealing and that's when it all made sense.

Simon and JJ were making a shit ton of money by dealing drugs, they were mixed up in some sort of gang. We got really angry and stopped talking to them." Tobi trailed off and looked up at Josh, some communication went on between their eyes.

Josh nodded and continued the story, his gaze firmly fixed on the floor.

"That's when I turned into an absolute dickhead. I wanted in on whatever JJ and Simon were doing, I was jealous that they had been chosen to do this work. So I went back to the building and some guy answered the door. He had the coldest eyes I'd ever seen on a man before, they really pierced through you. Little did I know at the time, he was the most feared street thug around these parts. Dangerous man, he had sources everywhere. I explained to him that I wanted to join the gang but there was a task for me.

I didn't know it was Tobi, I swear to it but I kept on hitting this boy. Until his cries became weaker and blood seeped through his clothes and that's when his hood came down. It was Tobi. I realise now that Eric planned this on purpose, he had a devious way of knowing everything. Tobi was in hospital for weeks and I gained entry to the gang. Eleven years, we had known each other and I did that to him." Josh broke off, his voice becoming thick with emotion.

Tobi continued the story.

"Once you become a part of that life, you can never leave it. Eric knew everything that he could hold against you if you tried to leave. No-one employed by Eric has ever left."

"Except us." JJ spoke up from out of nowhere, surprising everybody. "We left and it was so difficult but eventually it happened and we returned to school and continued our lives as normal. We were so stupid in thinking Eric would never find us because he has, found us again and we are back trapped in his web. Me, Simon and Josh."

"That's why Simon broke up with you, Willow. Eric was threatening all of them and Simon was prepared to do anything to keep you safe." Tobi said, earnestly taking a hold of my hand.

Silence. I had to sit down on the bed to process all of this, it was too much to take in.

"Where do you come into all this, Harry?" I asked, not looking at him.

"Well, I've been friends with Simon for a long time. We didn't go to the same school we were just neighbours. Simon came to me one day, crying and said he had made a terrible mistake and he just wanted his life back. I offered to take his place, so I did a job for Eric and got caught with the drugs on me. Spent a few years in jail. But I promised to always have Simon's back because he always had mine." Harry grimaced.

I shook my head, tears starting to spill over my eyes. "You've all be lying to me, this whole fucking time! Why didn't you just tell me sooner? I've been hurting so much and all of you just let me." I was shaking with anger, "Get out of my room, I need some time to just think about all of this." I yelled, turning away from all of them.

"Wait." I said suddenly. "Josh, go and make things right with Freya, she deserves to know everything."

Josh nodded and bit his lip, looking so miserable.

Everyone left except Harry and I heard the door shut behind them.

"Willow, just know everything Simon did was for you." Harry spoke, ruffling my hair like he always did and then he too left.

I sat with my head in my hands, my head was burning from just thinking about all of this. All I've gotten from this school is agonising pain. I needed to leave. Holidays started in a couple of days but maybe I could leave earlier.

I threw some things into a bag and then went to the office to call my mother.

"Mum, please come and pick me up. I need you." I broke down crying on the phone and wept until my mum came and sat me in her car. Sitting in silence, she knew not to ask me any questions. I wouldn't give her a reply.

[a/n]
yes, a double update for all of you angel beans that read this badly written book.

your comments are the best thing to wake up to, like ever.

hm, simon and willow do not have a cute ship name. Sillow sounds like a disease lmfao.