chapter six
ruckus

...

Cory fiddles with my hand while we lay on our sides on his bed, facing each other.

"Do you think we'll ever get out of here?" I ask quietly, breaking the silence.

He chuckles, "Out of Ackley? No. Not to be the bearer of bad news or anything but Peyton, you are one of the most misbehaved girls in our school. You don't pay attention in class. Now, I'm not saying your not smart, cause you are. But like you ain't learning anything at the moment, and colleges are not going to accept people who did fuck all at school."

Groaning, I throw my head back in annoyance, "You're right. What about you, eh? You reckon you're going somewhere?"

He snorts as if it was stupid of me to even ask, "I'm not smart, like at all. The only thing I'm good at is sport, mainly football," He twirls a few of my rings around.

"Shit, Cory," I sigh sadly, "We aren't getting out of Ackley."

"We will most likely have to retake this year," He lets go of my hands and drops onto his back, "Nothing too bad," He smirks, "C'mere," He pats his chest and I move my head onto it slowly.

"Soppy twat," I tease quietly.

__

"Morning, Peyton."

Narrowing my eyes, I stare at Kevin, who's standing in Cory's doorway. Slowly, I sit up and my eyes scan the room for Cory but he's nowhere to be seen.

"Where's Cory?" I ask.

"Downstairs making you toast," He grumbles almost angrily, "That's your Mum's job, not his. Don't be using him as your slave just because your Mum is done with you."

My jaw drops and I stand up with my face pulled into disgust, "You use him as your slave. Hell, you even abuse Jordan. They are your kids. Don't be so fucking lazy, and do your job as a dad."

"What did you just say to me?" He steps closer and I stand my ground, not moving, my eyes glaring into his.

"I said don't be so fucking lazy." I spit, looking up at his grubby face. It happens very quickly, he slaps me and the next thing I know I'm on the floor from the impact. "What the fuck?" I yell, standing up again, holding my stinging cheek.

"What's going on?" Cory charges into the room, looking between us, eyebrows raised.

"She needs to learn some manners." Kevin snarls, jabbing his finger at me.

"Me? Me?" I scoff, throwing my arms into the air with disbelief, "You just fucking slapped me."

Cory's face drops and his head tilts as he turns his attention fully to his father, "Dad, did you?"

"No," Kev argues, the drunken slur not helping his case, "She's lying!"

My mouth hands open, sighing as I look to Cory, "He said stuff about my mum. I stood up for myself and he slapped me because he knew I was right." He slaps me again, but this time I don't fall, my head just whips to the side. With a loud shout of protest, Cory jumps forward between me and his dad, his hands slamming into his dad's chest roughly.

"Dad!" He shouts as his dad stumbles back into the wall, "What the fuck? Don't fucking touch her!"

"She's going to end up like her mother. I already know it," Kevin snarls harshly before storming out of the room, ruffling his hair.

My heart drops. I have always thought that I'm going to end up like my mum and it kills me when others say so. I tense my jaw, trying to hold back the pathetic tears.

"Are you okay?" Cory grabs my chin and turns my head so he is able look at my bright red cheek, "Fuck. I'm so sorry."

My lip quivers and my eyes become glossy, he quickly notices and pulls me into a hug, causing me to cry quietly into his shoulder.

"I can't believe he fucking touched you," He strokes the back of my head, his fingers imbedded in my hair.

"He's right," I mumble, "I'm going to turn out like her. I'm never gonna get out of here and I'm gonna become her."

"No, no, no. Don't say that," He pulls away and stares into my eyes, hands cupping my cheeks to keep my eyes on his, "Never say that. You won't turn out like her."

I move away from him and go over to my phone, picking it up along with my bag, "I should probably go home."

Cory's eyebrows furrow, "What's wrong? Look if it's my Dad, I'm sorry, he's just—"

"Cory, stop," I come to a stop at his door, whipping around to face him, "Stop defending him. Look at what he's done to Jordan. That kid is scarred. So are you. Yet, you still defend him."

"He's my dad!" Cory's voice raises.

"I know, Cory. I know who he is," I head down the stairs with him close on my heels, "You don't see me defending my Mum after she hit Jacob!"

"She did what?"

I pause on the bottom step, my hand resting on the end of the banister whilst I silently curse at myself for saying too much.

"She did what?" He repeats, moving down a few more stairs when I don't move.

I bite my lip, "She drank too much and got violent. I wasn't there to help him," I step down and his hand curls around my wrist, spinning me around to him.

"Why didn't you tell me?" His brows are pulled together in concern, "She might hurt you, Peyton. I need to know things like that."

"You don't need to know. Plus, you're already dealing with so much," I point around the house and down the hallway to the kitchen where I know Kevin's probably eavesdropping.

"So are you," Cory moves closer, "Peyton, I care about you and I want you to be safe."

I sigh, "Cory, our lives are fucked. Abusive parent 1 and 2, younger brothers who we struggle to help. We just have to go with it. But, your Dad needs to be sorted. Knock some sense into him because deep down he's a good man. I wish I could do the same to Mum but she's long gone."

He shakes his head, "Peyton—"

I turn swiftly and pull his front door open, glancing over my shoulder at him for a moment, "See you at school, Cory."

"Peyton!" He yells as I slam the door shut.

I walk down the path from his door to his front garden gate before pushing through it and starting the walk to school. I take deep breaths as I trudge along the pavement, squeezing my eyes shut to recollect my sanity.

I make it to school eventually, mascara marks down my face and I rub at them roughly with the sleeve of my school blazer. I shove past a few other students, struggling towards the front doors. I ignore the calls from behind the reception desk as I head straight through the school to isolation, not missing how everyone stares at me as I pass.

"Peyton? Are you okay, sweetheart?" Miss Keane asks as I trek into isolation.

The other kids in there turn their heads at me as I throw my bag roughly to the floor by the chair at the end of the row.

"I'm fine, Miss." I mutter, sliding down on the chair and folding my arms on the desk and dropping my head to rest on them.

__

You're not supposed to get let out during lunchtime if you're in isolation, but I could tell Miss Sheane only let me go because she didn't want to spend any longer than she needed to in that tiny room.

I roughly throw my orange tray down on the table beside Missy, causing her and Nas to jump.

"Hey, Peyton," They both smile up at me in unison and I grunt in reply.

"You okay?" Missy nudges me with her shoulder.

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm good." I force a gentle smile onto my face, but it soon drops when she returns her gaze to Naz.

Across the canteen I can see Cory sat next to Dan and the rest of his mates. Every now and then he'll look over, and each time I make a point to be staring back at him. I watch as Jordan pushes into the dinner line and start some dumb argument with Zain so I leave my two chatting best friends to go sort him out.

"White privilege, that is," Zain snaps, sliding his tray along, scowling at the boy in front of him.

Behind the food, Miss Paracha looks over the heads of the students at me desperately and I nod with a small smile of sympathy before stepping towards the youngest Wilson brother.

"Jordan, get to the back," I push his shoulders, nodding my head to the back of the queue.

He groans, "Alright. Alright. Get off." He shakes me away and stands opposite Chloe, Hayley and Nazia.

"Hi, Peytonnn." Hayley smiles, pulling me between her and Nazia.

"Hey, Peyyyy." Nadia choruses.

"Hey, Hayleyyyyy. Hey, Naziaaaa." I copy their girly tones, rolling my eyes as they laugh.

"Alright, girls?" Cory walks through, looking Chloe up and down and clearly trying to ignore me.

"Hey, Cory." Chloe blushes.

"Hey, Cory," I mimic quietly, my eyes never leaving Cory, who continues to ignore my existence.

"He's a dog," Nazia tells Chloe, "He'll go for anything, him. The only person I've ever seen him truly interested in is Peyton."

"Who's Peyton?" Chloe chuckles.

"Me," I spit, waving at her with a sarcastic smile pulled across my cheeks. Jordan smirks at my usual hostility.

"Oh, yeah. Right. Of course," Chloe rolls her eyes, "Plus, I'm not looking to marry him, Raz."

"Don't bother with him," I tell Chloe sincerely, "He's a manwhore."

With furrowed brows, Jordan grabs my wrist and pulls me next to him roughly, "You were at ours last night, sleeping in his bed, and now you're calling him a manwhore. What the fuck happened?"

"Your dad slapped me. That's what happened," I point at the red mark on my cheek, "Then Cory and I had a tiny disagreement, I guess. I'm just in a mood."

At my words, Jordan's eyes widen and he storms over to Cory. He smashes his hands down on the table, catching everyone's attention.

"You let Dad hit Peyton?" Jordan yells, causing my eyes to grow wide and my jaw to drop. Feeling everyone's eyes on me, I throw my head back and cover my face with my hands at Jordan's stupidity.

Cory looks at me then back at his brother.

"Since when were you the one dating her?" Cory sniggers, earning a chuckle form his friends.

"Stop being a prick," Jordan scowls, "Peyton's been a better person to me than you ever have. I'm standing up for her as seen as you let dad fucking hit her!"

Cory stands up and pushes Jordan's shoulders back, sending his younger brother stumbling backwards, "I didn't let him, alright? He just did it! I would of stopped him if I could!"

Jordan scoffs, "Do you even care? This morning you were telling me that you and her were dating? What's happened to that?"

The canteen falls completely silent.

"Shut up, Jord," Cory hisses and pulls his brother roughly out of the canteen by his collar. I follow them out to see Cory holding Jordan against the wall.

"I love her, okay?" Cory snarls, "And I don't know how to tell her? It was hard enough telling her I liked her! I don't need you fucking it up for me, alright? So just—"

"Cory," I try to hide my laugh.

His body stills and a moment later he drops his brother and turns slowly to me, "Peyton. You were not supposed to hear that."

"Well, I did," I smile, "I, uh, I love you too. Shit, I'm gonna gag. That's so gross."

"Wait, what? So you don't-"

"No. I do. It's just it's kinda cringe saying that at school... when my two best friends are behind me."

I can tell they are there as soon as I ran through the doors. They had probably mouthed to Cory that he shouldn't tell me they were there. But I know everything.

"How did you know?" Nas whines.

"Eyes in the back of my head." I say as they hug me, "Why are you hugging me?"

"Because you finally came to your senses and figured out that you love him." Missy mumbles into my shoulder.

"Okay, hugs over." I shrug them off and they giggle before retreating to their lessons.

"I'm so fucking sorry about my Dad. He was out of order." Cory stands over me, pulling me into his chest by my waist.

"It's okay. But, my cheek stings like a bitch."

"Sorry." He apologises, again.

"Well, now everyone knows we're together. Jordan shouted pretty loud."

"I know. Sorry 'bout him."

"Stop apologising and get to lesson. I have isolation, like always."

"I love you." He smiles to him self, happy that he can finally say it with confidence, "See you later."

"I love you too," I chuckle, "Bye."

—

I'm snapped out of my bored trance when I hear muffled shouting from outside the door. Miss Sheane is too focused on her work to notice, so I take this to my advantage. I slip out from my chair, trudging to her desk and leaning down, lowering my voice to not interrupt the other kids in iso, "Miss, could I go to the loo?" I ask.

"Yes, go." She waves her hand, not taking her eyes of her computer.

Quickly, I'm rushing out and I shut the door and run into the hallway where there is a group of boys crowded around two others who are having a scrap, which immediately increases my interest. I roughly push through the audience of tall boys to see who is fighting and I came to halt as my eyes land on the scrapping lads. It's Cory and Riz, of course.

"Don't speak about her like that!" Cory yells shoving harshly Riz's chest, sending him stumbling back a few steps.

"Why? Are you fucking her as well as my sister? Is she just another one of your fuck buddies!" Riz roars back, retorting with another smack at Cory's chest.

Rolling my eyes, I move forward and stand between the boys holding both of them back with my hands resting on each of their chests.

"Why do I have to break up every fucking fight?" I shout loudly before glaring between the two lads, "Will you boys stop?"

Shouting at the groups of students, Mr Bell pushes Riz away while Mr Simpson holds Cory, who has his jaw clenched so hard and it looks like it's going to break as his eyes continue to burn into Riz furiously.

Slyly, I go to walk away, hoping not to be caught and told off but a yell of men sends me to a halt.

"Peyton, get back here!" Mr Bell shouts.

"But, sir-" I start, whirling around to face him with my totally innocent expression on.

"Peyton." He warns and I slowly slink over to stand opposite him, between the two boys, while they continue to send each other hard glares.

"Now, what's going on?" Mr Bell asks sternly and no one replies and I look up at the two lads in confusion. I don't even know what was going on so I have no answer. The boys still keep quiet for some reason. "No?" Mr Bell speaks again to remind us of his existence.

"Tell him then." I grumble, smacking Cory's arm but he shakes his head.

"Fair enough. You are all in the rugby team." Mr Bell declares simply.

"Rugby?" Cory and I ask at the same time. Cory is astonished, whereas my face is just pulled up in pure disgust.

"But, sir, we're footballers." Cory argues as he points between me and himself and I nod sharply in agreement.

"Or you can be in isolation if you prefer." Mr Bell tilts his head.

"I already am," I contradict with a smirk, holding in a laugh, earning a stern look from Mr Bell and I swallow my humour.

Grumbling curses under his breath, Riz storms off, hitting a locker on his way and Cory huffs moodily beside me.

I continue to stare at Mr Bell in confusion "Sir, I am girl. I'm all from equal rights, and everything, but your rugby team is just boys," I say, "I don't fancy placing with a bunch of lads."

"So? Peyton, don't act like you can't beat up a boy twice your age," His brows raise.

I laugh, realising he's probably right. Even if I couldn't beat a lad twice as old as me, I love to think I can. I say, "Thanks, sir. I'll take that as a compliment."

"That's not me telling you that you should go beat up a boy twice your age. Just making that clear." He points out before walking away with Mr Simpson, both of them mumbling between one another.

"Rugby?" I snarl.

"I know. I can't think of a worst punishment." Cory groans, wiping a hand down his face.

We turn on our heels and begin to walk down the hallways "What were you even fighting about?" I raise an eyebrow at him, while we walk.

"You." He coughs, trying to make it so I don't hear him and his head turns away from me.

"Me?" My brows crease.

"Yeah," Cory swallows thickly before he explains, "He said I was using you as someone to shag and that he was better for you."

I roll my eyes, scoffing, "He's wrong. He's not better. And, to be fair, I wouldn't put it past you to be using me just as someone to shag."

Cory stops at his classroom before grabbing my wrist, "I'm not using you as a shag. I would never, Peyton."

"He said that you were fucking his sister?" I bite my lip anxiously.

"You heard that?"

"Yes, I have ears." I mutter.

"I had asked for his sisters number on the first day of school," He says, "that's all."

"Cory, you better not be lying." I mumble and he shakes his head vigorously before I head back to isolation, leaving him to enter his classroom and most likely get bombarded with questions for his mates.

I slink back down into my seat silently and I can feel Miss Sheane's eyes burning into my back and like I expected, she's soon speaking to me.

"What took you so long, Peyton?" She questions.

I shrugs, not bothering to face her, "There was a small ruckus."

She chuckles, shaking her head, "There always is when you're around."

. . .

updated: 29.8.23 - it makes me ill when i remember how bad this book is