Breaking the Circle by S. M. Hall Read Free Book Online

‘not sure I fit in anywhere. But at least Evie and Leona accept me for who I am. We’ve been best mates
since junior school, ever since I punched a boy who kept throwing sand in their faces.’ She laughed at the memory. ‘We’ve always done stuff together – picnics, skating,
sleepovers, netball – we were the best netball team, no other school could beat us. Actually, Evie’s brilliant at sport, a good hockey player, but don’t let on I told you.
We’ve got more in common than you might think.’
    Zac nodded. ‘OK. I get it, but you aren’t from round here, are you?’
    ‘Close. I live the other side of the high street.’
    ‘The posh side.’
    ‘I suppose so,’ Maya admitted.
    ‘Other side of the tracks – different world,’ Zac said. He looked suddenly thoughtful, staring out at the rose-scented garden. ‘I grew up in the same street as my
friends, one of them lives next door, but he don’t want to know me now. He’s in a gang, heavy stuff. Things change, I guess.’
    He let go of Maya’s hand and got to his feet. ‘I have to go. My mum worries.’ He squeezed her shoulder. ‘Don’t sit out here, OK? Go inside, drink more
water.’
    For a moment he stood looking down at her. She didn’t want him to go. She wanted to tell him about Gerard, about how he’d threatened her if she didn’t deliver the package of
drugs. It was so tempting to ask him for help, but she had no right to involve him. Gerard was vicious – she’d seen the hate in his eyes – he wouldn’t hesitate to knife Zac
if he tried to interfere.
    Zac smiled and bent close. She thought he was going to kiss her, but instead he ran his fingers lightly over her hair, his fingers brushing her cheek.
    ‘You’re cool,’ he said.
    She handed him his jacket. ‘Good to meet you, Zac.’
    ‘See you soon.’ And he was gone.
    Staring at the almost-full moon that hung above the shadowy trees and bushes, she felt worried and lonely. The night hadn’t turned out at all as she’d expected and she wished she
were going back to her own bedroom, snuggling down in her own bed, instead of sleeping over. The threat from Gerard was real, no doubt about that. She rubbed at her arm where his fingers had dug
into her skin. Tomorrow he was expecting her to deliver the drugs and, of course, she didn’t have them.
    By telling Gerard that she, Maya, had the drugs, Kay had put her in danger. She didn’t doubt what Gerard had told her was true – wherever she went she’d be tracked, anytime,
anywhere, by Gerard or one of his gang. A sick feeling welled in her stomach as she remembered how he’d held the knife blade in front of her face. Was the best thing to tell the police, or
contact Simon, her mum’s deputy – ask him for help? But then, how safe would she be on the street tomorrow, and what would Gerard do to Kay? She needed time to think.
    The best plan was to find Kay before two o’clock tomorrow, get the drugs and deliver them to Gerard. That way he’d be satisfied and he wouldn’t beat Kay up. If she managed that
then she’d have time to think – to plan how to stop Gerard selling drugs around her friends and, more than that, how to stop him dealing completely.
    * * *
    Waking up in the morning, Maya had a raging thirst and her head felt as if it were filled with cotton wool. Stumbling out of her sleeping bag and into the bathroom, she met
Sadie coming up the stairs with bucket in hand.
    ‘Not a pretty sight in there,’ Sadie said. ‘Can you wait while I clean it up?’
    When Maya nodded, her head swirled. She leaned back against the cold painted wall and listened to Sadie, swishing and rattling stuff around in the bathroom, as if she were on another planet. She
was desperate to pee and stood with her legs crossed until finally she heard the toilet flush and Sadie came out.
    ‘I think somebody drank too much last night cos I know it wasn’t my food; nothin’ wrong with my food,’ Sadie declared.
    ‘No,’ Maya