Page 16 of Freestyle (Academy of Stardom 1)

5

Six years ago

Wet through and with my backpack slung over my shoulder, I stand on the pavement on the opposite side of the road and look up at the front door of number fifteen Jackson Street. Rain pours over my skin, plastering my hair to my head and my clothes to my body. My jaw chatters uncontrollably and without looking in a mirror, I know that my lips are blue. It’s taken me thirty minutes to walk here in the pouring rain. Most of that time I spent avoiding any of the hotspots in our estate and kept to the shadows. I’m not a complete idiot. A girl my age out on her own at one in the morning is a prime target for arseholes and predators.

Running away without a plan isn’t easy, or sensible, but I had no choice.

Music pumps out between the gaps in the wooden boards covering every window of the building. Light filters through those same gaps and despite its derelict appearance, there’s plenty of life inside. The Skins don’t bother trying to hide the fact that this is their headquarters. As far as they’re concerned they’re above the law. No one around here fucks with them. Not even the posh nobs who live down the same street. I bet they hate having the Skins as neighbours. Two million-pound houses sit either side, huge iron fences and electric gates a pathetic attempt at blocking the Skins out.

It won’t work.

Rumour has it that Jeb has several of these rich pricks, and the local police chief, in his pocket anyway. If anyone dares to complain about the noise, they’re quickly silenced with violence or the threat of it. Neighbourhood Watch ain’t gonna work around here.

Which really makes me question why, of all places, I’ve found myself here tonight? Maybe Ishouldtry the homeless shelter in central Hackney. It might be another thirty-minute walk in this shitty weather, but it’s got to be better than a squat filled with criminals. Then again, a fourteen-year old kid turning up with two black eyes and bruises on her body is going to raise alarm bells, so perhaps not. Lena and I don’t need social services knocking on our door and digging too deep.

I hate my mum and my brother, but I can’t risk being separated from my sister. Sometimes it’s better the devil you know. I’ll just give it a few days to let the dust settle and then I’ll go back home. Mum won’t send anyone looking for me anyway, and she loves Lena, so there won’t be any issues there.

It’s not like she’ll let anyone hurt her…

Pushing down my rage and ignoring the pang inside my chest at the injustice of it all, I sniff loudly and wipe my nose on the sleeve of my soggy jumper.

I’m strong. I can do this.

But instead of heading over to the house, I lean against the trunk of a large Oak tree and study the building under the cover of its huge branches and thick canopy of leaves that protect me from the rain. Shame it can’t do the same about the cold, though. I’m freezing.

Apart from the boarded-up windows and thick metal door designed to keep squatters out, the house itself is a huge three-story Victorian townhouse with half a dozen steps that lead up to the front door. It’s run down, with tiles missing on the roof, and weeds growing up through the cracks in the driveway, but I can see how beautiful it must have been once. A little love and care, and the place could be as stunning as the other houses on the road. Even in its dilapidated state, you can still see its beauty. I kind of like that. Not everything that glitters is gold, and not everything broken is worthless or without beauty. I don’t know when I got so deep, and I laugh a little at myself.

“Are you just gonna stand there all night, or are you going in?”

I almost jump out of my skin as a guy steps out of the shadowy archway of an alleyway that I hadn’t noticed before now. Fuck, my street smarts are outta whack tonight. Rookie mistake. Though it’s not surprising given what I’ve just been through.

Curling my fist around the strap of my rucksack, I narrow my eyes, ready to swing my bag at him if the need arises. He notices but instead of approaching me like I expect him to do, he pulls back his hoodie and gives me a once over. White blond hair springs out in all directions and he appears ghostly in the bright streetlight that illuminates his skin. Actually he looks like he could’ve stepped out of one of those Twilight movies. I swear his eyes are the lightest blue I’ve ever seen. Even in the dark, they’re shockingly bright.

Definitely a vampire.

I hug myself tighter. He could totally suck me dry and no one would come to my rescue.

“Who did that to you?” he asks, pointing to my black eyes.

“None of your business,” I retort through the chattering of my teeth.

“Was it someone in there?” He points to the house across the road and frowns.

“No.” I shake my head violently, then wince as my eye sockets start to ache.

“Okay. So are you waiting on someone? Shouldn’t a little girl like you be in bed?”

This time he steps closer and I pull my rucksack off my shoulder, readying myself.

“You fucking touch me, and I’ll swing for you!” I warn, gritting my teeth. He might be a good foot taller than me, but I will fight back despite the bruises I wear and the pain in my side when I breathe.

“Hey, I ain’t gonna hurt you. I was just about to head over to the house and noticed you standing here like a drowned rat…. No offense,” he adds hastily.

“That’s a new one,” I retort dryly at the insult.

“I didn’t mean it like that, but there’s no denying you look like shit.”

“Thanks.” I can’t seem to hold back the sarcasm. I’m so over tonight already.

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