Remember: Alex and Aro (boyxboy)

Chapter 4

September 2016, 10 months ago

"So, Mr. Danvers, how would you say your first week has been?" Mr. Smith sits opposite me in the staffroom, making his way through a huge container of tuna and sweetcorn pasta his wife made him.

"I'd say it went well, thank you, Headmaster." I unpack my lunch that I've brought with me. After my distorted cheese and tomato baguette on my first day, I feel obliged to bring my own decent homemade food.

"Any incidents with pupils?" He prompts, giving me a look that says I should probably be saying yes. "Well....there was one child who has been making a few....disruptions in class." I offer, not naming any names though he sits there nodding, as if he knows.

"The Edwards boy." He states without question. I almost choke on my sandwiches, sipping some water from the dispenser. "How did you guess?" I gasp, amazed at his telepathy. He takes a few more mouthfuls of his lunch before continuing. "He comes from a....difficult background." He says carefully, watching my reaction.

"What kind of background do you come from Mr. Danvers?"

My mind goes back to fifteen years before. When I was eleven nearing twelve, it was the last time I ever saw my mother before she....did what she did. It was a summers day, the last time I spent time anywhere near her.

"Mam?" She was a woollen mountain of blankets and jumpers, curled up lazily on the worn sofa. Her overweight form restricting her from hitting me for waking her up, but still has a biting wit about her and a harsh shouting voice that could wake people in neighbouring counties.

"What do you want, you whinging little fuck?" She rears her head, glaring at me as I stand there. "I..I'm hungry Mam." I murmur softly, after searching through every cupboard, fridge and freezer for any sign of food. All that's left is Jodie's protein shakes and Mam's six pack of Foster's beer in the bottom shelf.

"What am I supposed to do about it?" She demands, pulling herself up onto her swollen legs, pushing strands of her hair out of her face. "You're my mother." I whimper softly and she spits on the floor from the taste of tobacco.

I wince. "Mother?!" She shrieks, slowly making her way over to me. "That man that you called Daddy walked out on us and he was your father. Why should I be any better as a parent?" She limps into the kitchen, to retrieve a beer.
"But Mam, it's gone lunchtime! I'm so hungry." I grab my stomach as the stomach pains take over. She slams her plump fist on the counter which makes me jump out of my skin. "Here." She throws her almost empty purse at me.

"Take a fiver and get down the chippy. Stay out of my sight until later." She crawls back onto the sofa, gulping down her beer.

I rush towards the front door, five pound note clutched hard in my hand as if it's the only thing separating me and food. I pull my jacket off the cloak hanger before dashing out the front door, even if it is about 30 degrees outside.

I take off down the street, jacket in one hand, money in the other. As I round the corner, Jodie and her wannabe popstar friends approach me. All fake tan and thick makeup, boys at their heels, gagging for a kiss from the famous Jodie Danvers. Or more.

One of her side bitches notice me first. "Hey, Jodie, isn't that your kid brother?" She points at me with her fake nails. Jodie stops in her walking, the boys almost slamming into each other. "Alex? What are you doing out?" She's dressed in her favourite red skirt and black Madonna t-shirt.

She has her makeup on and is sporting her high heeled stilettos to make her legs look longer. "Mam sent me down the shop." I stick my chin up at her. "For lunch. There ain't nothing in the kitchen." I shrug, turning to go but she grabs a hold of me. "Share some of yer chips with me." She demands, eyes beady.

I try changing the topic. "Yer not 'sposed to be wearing those." I point to her stilettos. Her friends laugh at me. "I'm sixteen, Al. Nearly an adult." She jerks her head towards the direction of our house. "I'll be a better adult than Overweight Olive." She sniggers and her wannabe bitches join in.

"Jodie. Don't say things like that. That's mean. She can't help being a bit fat." I defend. Jodie leans down so her face is hovering over mine. "Chips, Alex." She reminds. "I want some chips." She points to the chip shop, just feet away from where we're standing.

"I don't want to. I'm hungry. You got yer friends to give yer food. I haven't." I wave the five pound note in front of her. "This is for my lunch. Not yours." I rush off towards the chippy before she can say anything else.

"Alex!" She yells after me, stomping in stilettos. "You little shit!"
I relax as I enter the chippy, glad that I have a whole bag of chips for myself. I haven't had hot food in forever. "A small bag of chips and a rissole, please."

I glance out the window and see Jodie marching off towards our house, probably to demand a fiver as well. That was the last time I ever saw her......

"Alex?" Mr. Smith prompts and I jolt, coming straight out of my daydream memory. "Sorry, Headmaster. I um..well. My background is a little....difficult too." I look straight into his eyes.

"Mr. Smith, my mother was a killer. Her victim was my sister, Jodie. She was sixteen, I was eleven."