5. friends

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friends: (plural noun)
1. a person with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically one exclusive of sexual or family relations.






I didn't sleep well. I've been hit a thousand times during training before but for some reason, I couldn't shake the headache that invades my brain. The bag of my eye stung and my nose throbbed. He didn't break it, I've broken my nose before and it doesn't feel anything like that.

Thank God.

When my phone blasts my alarm ringtone, I cover my face with my pillow. Grunting deeply into the fabric, wishing I could be doing anything today other than going to probation placement.

Shifting through old people's shit, brushing dust off picture frames and ancient furniture. Sweeping glass, scrubbing floors, removing damaged wallpaper.

Ninety-eight hours to go.

I throw the pillow off my face and shut off my alarm, getting myself ready for the day. Thankfully my dad is at work and he shouldn't be back until later, giving me the house for a few hours before I need to leave.

Before heading to the manor, I give myself ten extra minutes in case I am late. I know for a fact Carol will hit the fan if I'm late on my second day. My track record for being on time certainly isn't perfect but I'm working on it. It's part of growing up.

When I arrive, it isn't Carol who greets me. It's the woman from yesterday to sign us out. She gives my eye one glance and huffs out a breath, shaking her head. She's probably dealt with a lot of violent people on probation, getting into fights and not staying out of trouble.

But this is the opposite. Staying at home and I still end up with a black eye.

Ash is dropped off in a black Range Rover, a woman with dark brown hair and thick black sunglasses sits in the driver's seat. He steps out, dressed in the same shitty overalls as me. He barely says goodbye to his mother and avoids my gaze as he approaches the officer.

Carol has her checking up on us, telling us that she won't be here every time but she's going to drop in. Make sure that we are here, making progress and arriving on time.

When she leaves, Ash heads straight into the manor. I follow behind him, neither of us uttering a word. Not that there is a lot to say.

He slides on his gloves and I copy his actions, continuing the sections of the living room we were working on yesterday. I create two piles so I take less trips out to the skip at the front of the house, as I loop around the damaged sofa in the middle of the room, Ash glances up at me.

His eyes linger on my face for a few moments, from my bruised eye to the redness of my nose. I notice his lips twitch like he wants to say something but he refrains and gets back to whatever crap he was sorting.

I tear my eyes away from him and start removing the boxes, dust and discarded wallpaper from the large sofa. My knees bend and I pick up one end, my muscles tensing at the action. Completely underestimating how heavy this thing is. Probably because it's so fucking expensive.

Ash's eyes float to mine and he dusts off his gloves. "Here," he says, approaching the sofa from the other side. He picks it up at his end and I beckon my head to the empty room where we can leave it.

It took up so much of the space, removing it would help us to move around in the room easier. Making cleaning up quicker and more efficient.

When we drop it into the next room, I take one look at the sofa and realise it's fucked. I guess they could salvage some of the material and reuse the structure but it was destroyed beyond physical repair.

I trail my eyes from the sofa to Ash who is standing directly opposite me, his gaze studying my injuries again.

"What happened to your face?" His voice is curious.

"Mind your own business."

My feet carry me back to the living room, turning my back on him completely. I didn't want to talk about it with him or anyone, he doesn't even know me. And sometimes my father isn't even worth speaking about.

Ash follows me and I catch a glimpse of him out of the corner of my eye. His brows raise and he exhales a slow breath. "Whatever, I was just asking."

"Well don't." I snap.

My voice echoes off the empty walls, ringing in my ears at the loudness.

His hands hold up in defence and he pulls his face into an expression that I hate. "Was just making conversation." Now he sounds bored.

"Did I ask you to?" I narrow my eyes at him, the roughness of my tone stretching through the room. He blinks at me once, unbothered. "No, so shut up."

My frustration on the topic is out of control, I know that. I rip my eyes away from his and stalk back to my side of the room, gripping onto a damaged painting and throwing it into the trash pile. Then I examine another.

"Don't have to be a fucking ass about it," Ash grumbles a few moments later.

He picks up a large box and leaves the room, I keep my eyes trained on the back of his head until he's out of view. My shoulders slump painfully, like I've been waiting all morning to get shit off my back. But I never intended for him to be the target.

I'm an asshole. I know that I'm an asshole. I'm just like my father.

He's made me like this, he's made me feel like this and I know it's not fair to take my anger out on other people. The frustration bubbles inside me until I'm at breaking point and I have no other choice but to explode, even when I never meant to be so rude.

It's like I can't help it and the words are vomit, they pass my lips before I think and it degrades me. That I can't think logically for five seconds, to take a breather and ponder my actions before I make them.

The rest of the day goes by in silence, we're signed out on time and Ash leaves before I can even say anything to him. I understand why he doesn't want to hang around or even give me a second look, because I am a fucking dick.

On the walk home my phone vibrates in my pocket and I reach in to retrieve it.

Ciara Huntsman

My eyes roll at the screen, swiping my finger to reveal the text.


Hey B, haven't heard from you in a few days. What's been going on with you? I miss you and want to see you badly.


I grunt and lock my phone, placing it back into my pocket. There is absolutely nothing wrong with Ciara, she's pretty, smart, fun and sure as hell horny all the fucking time. But over the last few weeks, things just didn't feel the same.

We aren't in a relationship, the last thing I want is to be tied down to someone. She says we're 'dating', I just go along with it. Our personalities complement each other, she's a good vibe to be around. I just can't shake the feeling I've adapted recently. The dynamic has completely changed and I want to somehow go back but I can't. It's like my body won't let me.

As soon as I get home to an empty house, there is a knock at my door. I place my bag down onto the floor and check to see who it is. I press down onto the handle and swing open the door, my eyes falling on Elijah and Reese, my closest friends from school.

"Hey man," Reese barges in beside me.

Elijah gives me a look before he smiles, I shake it off and step out of the way so he can come inside. "Sup man?"

"Not a lot," I shut the door behind them. "Just got back from probation."

Reese winces automatically, his facial expressions tightening. "Oooooh, shit. How is it?"

I beckon my head up the stairs to my bedroom, not wanting my father to barge in any time soon and order my friends to leave. If they're in my space, then it's fine.

"Yeah fine," I nod before pulling off my overalls and dumping them over the back of my desk chair.

Reese dives onto my bed uninvited and Elijah snorts at his actions. He perches on the edge of the chair and leans over his knees.

"Yeah, fine?" Reese repeats.

"It's as good as you expect it to be, Reese," I tilt my head and grab a pair of sweatpants, pulling them on over my boxers. "It's fucking probation. The hell do you want me to say?"

"Ignore him," Elijah waves him off. "How've you been since court?"

I shrug and slide down to the floor, leaning my back against my wardrobe. "Better than prison, I guess."

"True," Elijah spins in the chair.

"So when are we going out?" Reese pitches in.

I hang my head at his stupid question. "Define 'going out'."

"You know, like out, this summer. Parties, the pub, the club."

Elijah closes his eyes at Reese's density. "He can't fucking go to the club or the pub you idiot, he's on tag. He has a curfew."

"Really?" His face falls in shock.

"Have you ever read the news or watched a fucking criminal TV program?"

"No."

"Explains it," Elijah snorts to himself.

"So nothing fun this summer?" He grimaces from his new discovery.

I swipe a hand down my face and inhale. "I have to be home by nine thirty or I will risk going to prison, I can't go in pubs or clubs or anything with alcohol. Didn't say anything about parties or gatherings, guess it doesn't matter to them as long as I'm home on time."

"That's shit."

My eyes study his expression. Reese and I have been friends since the first day of secondary school, he was loud and confident, I clung to him like glue because it seemed like the right thing to do. My ticket to make friends and become popular so my school experience was bearable. We met Elijah later in Year 10 when we mixed classes for our GCSE's, he's more like me. Reserved and keeps to himself.

A private life is a good life.

Not for Reese who parades around like the sun shines out of his ass. Don't get me wrong he's been a good friend but his obnoxious side can be overpowering sometimes, Elijah and I make sure we ground him from time to time.

He thinks we're living in Beverly Hills, sipping on slightly overpriced red wine and judging people online. We just let him get on with it. I suppose a leopard doesn't change it's spots and in this case, Reese is always going to be that person you have to take a pinch of salt with.

"What's going on with you and Ciara then?" Reese snaps me back into the room.

"Yeah..." Elijah trails off. "I've barely heard you speak about her recently."

"Dunno," I wrap my arms around myself tightly, looking away to the wall. "Just not sure if I'm feeling it anymore."

Reese's mouth falls open and he scoots his ass closer to the edge of the bed, leaning closer like I'm a fucking idiot.

"She bit your dick or something?" His voice bounces off the walls. "Cause if she hasn't done anything like that, I have no fucking clue why you're not interested, man. She's so hot!"

Elijah rolls his eyes. "Spare me the bullshit Reese," he grumbles. "Ciara never wanted you, get over it."

"Fuck off," he shoves two fingers in his direction.

When I think about it, I can't remember the last time I got turned on or even hard when I think about her. Before she'd pop up on my Instagram feed and blood would rush to my crotch in a second, now it's like I don't even get a twitch.

"Let's not talk about Ciara," I dismiss.

"Fine," Reese backtracks and leans onto my bed again. "So you're doing up that manor, right?"

I nod once.

"Why?"

"Dunno, something for the community. Beats me, I just want to do my hours and leave."

"You working with anyone?"

My heart skips a beat when he asks his question. Not that I have anything to hide but no one knows about that secret night we had together.

"Yeah," I finally exhale, not wanting to get caught in a lie later down the road.

"What... like actual dangerous criminals?"

"I'm gonna punch him," Elijah tilts his head towards me, matching my unimpressed expression.

"Please do," I smile sarcastically.

He sits up, raising his palms flat. "What? It's a legitimate question."

"Do you think if he was a dangerous criminal he'd be doing probation, or would he be in prison?"

Reese mimics my tone and rolls his eyes, Elijah stifles a laugh and I do the same.

"So you're with another guy?" Elijah asks this time and I nod.

"Yeah, guess I won't go insane by myself."

"What's he like or is he a total douche?" Reese pitches in.

"No, he's alright," I comment, bending my knees to rest my elbows on them. "He doesn't really look like he should be doing probation though. He's harmless."

Elijah shoots me a look and he flicks up the hood of his jumper. "Harmless? He's doing community service, he must have done something."

I shrug. "He's not your regular offender, put it that way."

"What's he look like?"

"He's gone blonde hair, pretty sure it's dyed though." I lie because I know for a fact it's been dyed. "Fairly tall."

Reese ponders for a second, pressing a finger to his lip. "What did you say his name was again?"

"I didn't." He shoots me a glare and I groan. "His name is Ash."

Then his eyes narrow towards me before he scouts through his phone. "Isn't that, that model guy? I'm sure I saw him at that party we went to a few months ago."

His words drain all the blood from my body, turning my limbs to stone. That party.

"Model guy?" Elijah speaks.

"Yeah," Reese scrolls through his phone before turning the screen around to me. "Isn't this his instagram?"

I take one look at the screen and I already know it's him. Over seventy thousand followers. Shit.

"Yeah," I rasp, hoping they don't catch on.

"You didn't recognise him?"

"No," my voice snaps and I shake off this sudden fear.

The worry of everyone finding out what happened between us.

"Yeah you're right," Reese's voice fills the air again. "Fuck knows what he did, he looks so damn innocent."

Elijah slumps back into the chair and I flick my eyes between them, neither of them picking up on my strange behaviour. Or the fact my skin has probably turned a sickly colour of white.

Reese continues to scroll, I presume through Ash's Instagram. "Do you reckon he's gay?"

"Oh my God," Elijah's hands run over his face, sick to death of Reese's nonsense.

"Look at these pictures, he has to be gay. There is no way he loves the muff."

"You're gonna make me sick," Elijah deadpans and I roll my eyes again.

"Why does it matter?" I grumble.

Reese grins, locking his phone and throwing it to the bed beside him. "I dunno, just kinda funny."

"Not sure how his sexuality is funny," Elijah's voice is stern and cold. "Bodi is right, why does it matter? You fancy him or something?"

My eyes shoot to Reese, a flicker of blush invades his cheeks but he leans back into my pillows and looks up at the ceiling. "Fuck no," he says loudly. "I love pussy. Pussy, pussy, pussy!"

"Sure, sure," Elijah responds sarcastically and it makes me chuckle.

"Whatever," he rolls his eyes dramatically. "Well since we can't go to the pub and stay up late at parties. We can do early bonfires at the beach, get drunk early, party early. Just in time for you to get home, right Bodi?"

"That's the plan," I nod.

There is no way I'll miss out on this summer, even if that means I have to go home early, at least I was out having fun and living my life.

My bedroom door swings open and my father stands in the hall, he eyes my friends. He's met them both plenty of times so it's no big deal that they're here.

"Hi lads," he greets.

"Hey Graham," they both respond.

"As nice as it is to see you guys pay this criminal offender a visit, it's time for you guys to leave so we can train."

They instantly stand from where they've been sitting, knowing not to mess with my father. "Of course," Elijah nods at him. "See you soon Bod."

"Bye man," Reese waves before slipping out of the door and past my dad.

I throw my head back to my wardrobe with a thump, he steps in and eyes me on the floor. "Downstairs in the basement in fifteen minutes." He says shortly before leaving me in my room alone.

My eyes clench and I feel myself begin to crumble, I could have spared the training tonight.



Author's Note
Read up to chapter 13 on Patreon. Link in bio!

Hello my loves, what did we think of this chapter?

What do we think of Bodi's friends?

I adore Elijah but Reese is defo the sort of friend you wanna keep an eye out for

I hope you're all enjoying this story so far!

Hope everyone is well, see you all on the next one!

Love Savanna x

Insta: SavRose.x
Patreon: dreammcatcher
Tik Tok: savanna.rose.x


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