CHAPTER 5

Wait, what?

What is he doing here?

"So, Delilah" I glanced up from my food and looked over at Mr. Allen "What are you planning on doing in the future?"

I swallowed down my piece of a baby carrot "Well… I haven't completely decided but I want to do something to help people" Mr. Allen tilted his head slightly to the side, so I carried on "Well sir, I want to help young women and girls or in fact anyone that I can. Domestic abuse, rape victims or child abuse".

Mr. Allen gave a slight smile but before he could say anything Mrs. Allen stood up and started hugging me. Between her sobs she started saying "That… is… such a… noble thought. Dear, I'm so proud of you".

I gave a slight giggle and she pulled away "Thank you madam, but I think every girl should keep this thought".

She nodded her head and smiled whilst touching my face "Dear, call me Olivia or if you want to be polite just add aunty".

I started to blush "Yes Olivia aunty".

Olivia aunty went back to her seat and Mr. Allen speaks up "Delilah I've got a friend who runs a hospital and he has a sector specifically for people like that, if you want I can always ask him for you".

"Yes, James uncle. Thank you" I said with a slight nod.

"How about you Asher, what do you want to do in the future?" James uncle said glancing over at Asher.

"Well, sir-" Asher got cut off by James uncle to call him uncle "James uncle, I've thought of doing Accounting and seeing from there , of what part of accounting I want to do" Asher said with such confidence that uncle James seemed extremely impressed.

"Well, Asher you can always work at our company as an internship, how does that sound Robert?" James uncle said glancing between Asher and dad.

"That sounds fantastic James, thank you" Dad said, and Asher just couldn't put his perfect set of teeth away.

***

After dinner everyone split into groups with the dads talking about business together, the mums talking about kids and other stuff, Kane and Asher were talking about their stuff so that left me with Emma (finally figured out Kane's sisters name).

"Your hair is so nice dedah", at the moment Emma was playing with my hair.

"Thank you, Emma and my name, is Delilah" I said turning around to face her.

"I'm sorry Debeba" I was going to correct her but instead I just kissed her cheek and smiled and called it a day.

"What the hell, how you going to say Arthur Shelby is better than John Shelby" Me and Emma look over to see Kane and Asher arguing about peaky blinders. I bring Emma down into my lap, so the constant tugging of my hair doesn't distract me.

"Bro, John wasn't always stuffing things up his nose to feel better" Kane retorted back.

My dumb head clearly had a loose nerve that I couldn't control myself from talking, "You're both right in your own perspectives, but Arthur was more trusted by Tommy which must have a reason and he was suffering from PTSD which explains your reason not to like him Kane but John was more stable in his life".

After my rant they both look at me and shrug their shoulders "yeah, fair point".

Emma turns around in my lap and hugs me whilst saying "you're so clever, I love you".

I giggle and hug her back.

"She's right Delilah, you're very mature… Why don't you, Asher and Kane study together?" Olivia aunty said glancing over at all of us "Kane doesn't study, and I don't want him being lazy affecting his education".

I look over at Asher waiting for him to response and shrugs whilst giving a nod to which I nod back; focusing his attention back on Olivia aunty he says our decision "sure aunty, but I have football lessons after school on some days depending on the rota, so on those days Delilah and Kane can study".

"Ahhh… I'm so happy, thank you so much" Olivia aunty started hugging us both. I snuck a glance over at Kane and it looked like a kid got told that he can't have sweets.

****

The drive home was pretty silent apart from mum adding a comment now and then; "that went well right", "Kane and Emma are so nice" or "James Allen gave both of wonderful opportunities".

I was lying in bed but couldn't sleep, second day of the week and I'll look like a zombie again. Asher has football practise tomorrow so me and Kane must meet each other to study after school but I'm dreading it. The moment I was about to doze off something popped up in my mind…

Ding!

I sit up, that ding the other day was a notification from Kane. Damn it!

I rapidly go on my phone and see that the request is still there. Accept. Ah, now I can try to sleep again.

Ding!

I glance over at my phone and see that Kane has accepted to let me follow him too. I twist to sleep the other way.

Ding!

"Omg, what is it" I whisper whilst sitting up again and check my phone. It was a notification from Kane…

'I don't need your assistance to study, GOT IT!'

What is his actual problem?! What do I say that to that?

Settings.

Wifi off.

Ringer off.

If he's got a problem, then he should tell his parents not me. What the hell! Ugh! I ignored his message then why is it still bothering me.

Sleep Delilah. Sleep.

***

I was almost late to school again in the morning and got shouted at by Asher again. Something is definitely bugging him; I'll ask him at some point during the week when we sit down together. Whilst I was lost in my thoughts walking to the last lesson of the day, I get pulled to a classroom away from the hallway.

I can't make out who it is as my eyes are adjusting to the darkness, so I'm about to scream but a hand covers my mouth. My heart beat increases, I pick up the sound of some students walking past the classroom but before I can bang on the door I hear "stop acting obsessed with me, I don't need your assistance and don't EVER ignore me again".

KANE!

I push him back and slap him, "Don't… For a second… Think… I want… You" you could tell by my voice that I was angry, but he didn't even flinch "There's nothing special about you, got it!"

I walk out and didn't even look back, if he thinks I want him then he's wrong. I walk into my class and thankfully the only class I have with him is maths.