Page 54 of The Man Upstairs

College went by in a blur. I tried to focus, keeping my plain-faced mask up high while everyone chatted and gossiped around me. I did my lessons, doing my best to concentrate, but the swirl of events back home were prickling my senses. So much to take in… all of it good…

They say good luck comes in threes, and they weren’t lying.

One. Julian was gorgeous and I adored him. I adoredus.I adored the man who was such a saint to me. Two. Scottie was gone, far away, and three, Mum wasn’t torn to pieces. At least not for now.

For once I felt like things were slotting into a world of good fortune. I was savouring every second as I set off on my way home. The dark clouds were giving me a break for once, so I let myself be happy. Life was kind.

I must have been smiling like crazy when Jayden appeared across the street, scoping out everyone walking away from college. I hoped he’d be as pleased as I was that his dad had been granted such an opportunity out of nowhere. But no. He wasn’t. He looked like he wanted me to burst into flames when he marched over, grabbing my elbow and tugging me aside.

“Hey! What the hell’s up?” I asked, but he kept his mouth shut until we were out of view, in the alleyway that led off to the sports field. It took him a few moments to collect himself.

“You already know what the fuck’s up!” he said.

I knew Scottie would be leaving Jayden alone for a bit, but a good opportunity was a good opportunity. There were phones and video calls, after all.

But wait…

There was more to it than that. There must have been. His eyes were raging. But this was none of my business. Not really.

“Jayden, seriously. If this is about your dad moving to Scotland, it’s got nothing to do with me or my mum.”

He looked at me like I was insane.

“You know full well he hasn’t gone to fucking Scotland! Cut the bullshit!”

I didn’t understand. My saucer eyes must have said it all, because he stared at me, trying to dig in deep.

“You’re going to have to explain things,” I said. “Because I don’t have a clue what this is about. As far as I know, your dad told Mum he’s been offered a new job in Scotland this morning, and he’s going right away. More money, great prospects. Tell him not to go, if you want, but that’s between you and him.”

Jayden sneered. “You are kidding, right? Don’t play fucking dumb!”

His rage triggered a flare in return. He was looking at me like I was garbage.

“I’m not playing fucking dumb about anything! What’s the problem here?”

My mind raced through things. Something wasn’t right behind the scenes, and if Scottie had an ulterior motive for fucking off somewhere… if he was being an asshole… if Jayden was blaming me or Mum for not keeping his dad around here…

“Is he fucking someone else?” I asked. “Is Scotland a cover for leaving Mum? Because if it is, he can at least be honest about it. Not leave her hanging on like he’s a true love from a distance. And that’s hardly my fault, is it?”

“HE’S NOT FUCKING SOMEONE ELSE, AND HE’S NOT IN FUCKING SCOTLAND!” Jayden yelled, then cursed to himself and lowered his voice, “He grabbed his stuff this morning in a holdall and fucked off, because he HAD to.”

He looked suspicious again, like I really was playing dumb. But I wasn’t. I was still reeling, my brain trying to catch up with what was going on.

“Why would hehaveto?”

Jayden’s eyes were hot on mine.

“Because someone is out to kill him if he doesn’t.”

“What the–”

The panic was intense, because if someone was out to kill Scottie, what the fuck would that mean for my mum? Was she involved? Was she in danger? Was I?

I couldn’t hold back my own voice, shouting as loudly as Jayden.

“WHAT THE FUCK HAS YOUR DAD BEEN GETTING INVOLVED WITH?!”

“YOU!” he yelled back. “My dad has been getting involved with YOU, Rosie! And that freak of a psycho fuck who lives upstairs!”