Pretty Boy Psycho

The hour is late when I go to bed. Stayed up chatting to Geordie about anything besides Thunders. Casey only managed an hour of combat practise before turning in. I hope he’s okay. Sleep won’t come because I’m worrying about his state of mind. He keeps refusing food when everyone else eats. Yesterday he was poisoned. Before that he got suspended from a tower block and even further down his lifeline was raped. How do you cope having so many traumatic events happen to you? If I fall asleep, I’m in danger of having full on poor Casey night terrors.

My heart has a mini palpitation as sneaky arms wrap round my stomach from behind. Those night terrors might be void now I’m getting squeezed by the person I was fretting about.

“You seem tense.”

“Surprised by your visit.” I turn to face him. “Actually, I’m concerned-” We’re both talking at the same time. I shut up. Let him speak.

“I don’t think I got chance to tell you how much I enjoyed accompanying you to the noodle bar. Can you believe Geordie had the nerve to ask me if I had a problem with food?”

I can. Instead of voicing my opinion I rub the top of his hurt leg. “How’s your leg?”

“It has felt worse after falling down a slope.”

I stroke his wrists, where rope cut into them, with my thumbs. “And your wrists?”

“Are ninety nine percent healed. They must be if I am able to manage a sabre.”

“Then why are you still awake?”

“Because I missed my pretty boy and seen as he likes hugs thought I’d surprise him with one. Although you seem displeased to see me.”

“I am pleased! It’s just... ”

Casey shifts onto his back. Stares at the ceiling. “You think I’m fat.”

“What? Case, you know I know you’re slim and toned up.”

“Toned is another word for fat.”

“Toned is another word for fit. I wish I had abs like yours.” I poke him in the stomach. He’s like gotta three pack going on. “You know you’ve gotta desirable body too. You get fat feelings some days because a nasty soul did you a great injustice.” I twirl a strand of his fringe round my little finger. “It’s like I know my hair is amazing but there’s days I think it’s too flashy. Sometimes when I’m in the pub these meanies will refer to me as Her. Makes me feel mega crappy then Geordie will turn around and go, hey Al lad you wanna drink? And I’ll feel amazing being a blond pretty boy when a lad like Geordie chose me to be his best friend especially after his former best mate was Danny. What matters most is the attitude of your crew don’t you think? I’m sure Frankie accepts you as you are so no one else should matter.”

Hands clasp hard round my shoulders. “Whoever called you Her I’ll sort them.”

“It’s no biggy, Case. Like I said before I don’t believe you should genderise a person.”

“Maybe that’s how you think but the comment has obviously upset you.” Casey rubs my shoulders then holds me tight. “Not to worry he’ll think twice the next time he tries to degrade you.”

Meaning the next time I visit the pub, he’s going to come along, find this guy, and go all A Clockwork Orange on him. “Please don’t bother. Geordie’s presence keeps him away.”

“And mine will shut him up.”

There’s no arguing. Casey’s gotta reputation for pounding the crap out of homophobes and macho misogynists. Oh, whoa wow this is new. He’s falling to sleep with his arms still round me. Either he’s super exhausted or less claustrophobic around me.

Come morning he’s gone and I didn’t even realise he’d left. In his place is one of his notes.

Al

I have gone flying with Prince. See you later.

Love Casey

Gone flying with Prince! So reckless. It’s morning. Prince can only fly the barrier. They’ll end up being run down. What happened to being on lock down? I can’t even follow him because he’s given me no indication of where he planned to go.

“Is something wrong?” asks Charlie when I slump on the sofa.

“Casey never learns. He’s gone for a jolly flying.”

“He’s probably in Kensington with his friends.”

“Showing off Prince.”

“Don’t worry I think Danny’s in Kensington although he could be in Hackney or at the Black Market or skies knows where else. I didn’t realise he could be so urm...”

“Risqué! Of course. You didn’t think Geordie would choose a good boy to be his back up lad, did you? Those two used to get up to all sorts before attending Cloud High.” I smile. “I think Danny’s finally coming full swing back round to himself after the loss of his family and being conditioned at Cloud High. Where is Geordie?”

“Asleep on the roof. There’s little point in his bed. He’ll rarely use it.”

I wonder if Charlie and Danny are drifting apart. I hope not. There has always been a me, Geordie and Danny triangle, Charlie has found difficult to fit into. I fetch Frankenstein off the shelf. Sit on the sofa and start reading out loud, more to Charlie than myself; wanting him to feel less left out. I’m scared we accidentally leave him out sometimes because he doesn’t have our rebellious streak. My reading must be interesting because when I’m done with chapter one, he joins me on the sofa, takes the book from me and reads out chapter two, giving me a rest.

We get halfway through the book before Geordie disturbs us. “Kitchen. I need to tell everyone the top secret plan. Where are Danny and Hillcrest?”

“We don’t know exactly,” says Charlie. “At a guess Kensington.”

I hold our book out to Geordie. “Do you want to read a chapter of Frankenstein to us?”

“Do I hell. How long till they’re home?”

“We know as much as you,” sighs Charlie.

“Today is crucial. They ought to have known that. If we don’t know what’s what we’re screwed. We’ve only gotten till midnight to go...” Geordie trails off as Danny joins us in the lounge holding a pile of blue blazers. “Is Hillcrest with ya?”

“I’ve not seen him. Mate, don’t blow up.”

“That’s a want. What?”

“You need to go to Hackney.”

“No, I frickin’ well don’t.”

“But I sort of said you’d make an appearance. There’re people congregated outside Rose Tower dead excited about Team Geordie getting close to the top at Cloud Association. There’s similar crowds at the Black Market, jubilant about Corey West rising skyward.”

“What the fuck have you done?”

Danny smiles into a katana. “Did what I learnt the other day. Didn’t wait for your instructions to act. If I were you I’d don the Cloudy blazer.”

“We ain’t flaunting our griffons in front of deadbeats.”

“We should. You and Chunk inspire them.” Charlie takes a blazer from Danny.

“Great I inspire deadbeats and Al has a fan club of con artists.”

I take hold of a blazer. “Can we visit the Black Market too?”

“No. Boot down.”

I put my arms round Danny and Charlie and the three of us whine, “please,” at the exact same time.

“Children,” jokes Geordie as he snatches a blue blazer. “We ain’t stopping for hot choccy on the way.”

“How about the way back?” I ask.

“No time. We’ve two hours tops then we’re home getting our plan fixed in your heads. Monday first light I want us all home breathing.”

Zwoom zwoom zwoom.

Oh my days there’s wheels rolling across the roof. I dart outside, down the veranda steps, in time to see Casey soar off the roof. He lands with a wobble but wheels turn. Manages to stay on his board until he rolls to a stop. Totes awesome.

“You’re crazy,” exclaims Geordie.

Casey cranes his head back to the look at the roof halfway between a smile and a frown. “My landing was too bumpy.”

“You stayed on,” I say.

“Barely. More speed is needed. I must go again.”

Prince screes his agreement.

“In your own time.” Geordie thrusts a blue blazer at Casey. “We’re delivering these placards to the basketball court then we’re doing a tour of Hackney and the Black Market, courtesy of...” Geordie stares after Danny who gallops past him on Honey dual wielding his katanas in complex intricate patterns.

“Can he do that in his own time too?” Casey dusts off the blazer. “Blue isn’t my colour. Couldn’t we wear deep red instead?”

“Statement. Wear it. Danny will fly the barrier with ya.”

“No need. Prince knows exactly where you are from below. Get your sunlight.”

I jump onto the steps as Chunk stamps over to us grumbling in his throat. I’m sure he’s getting even bigger. Geordie fist bumps his shoulder blade. “I know big guy we’re leaving. Placards people.” Geordie jumps into the sky before anyone has chance to pass him a few placards to carry. Casey isn’t far behind meaning that leaves me, Danny, and Charlie to do the carrying.

Not until we land at the basketball court with our placards do I remember how egotistical Casey gets when it’s not just me and him. He got here first and is waving his sabre round as though he knows how to use it while students jostle each other to try get closest to his facade.

“We shall defend ourselves from Midnight’s Thunders at our peaceful non-peaceful rally at midnight. The Plaza will hear that we are not afraid.” Casey snatches a placard from Charlie as soon as he lands. “No fear my friends.” He throws the placard to Frankie. “Take them. Make your own. Hold them high.”

Geordie’s, “what the fuck?” is drowned out by no fear chanting students. I get the glare. “Get him under control or I will.”

I tap Casey’s shoulder. “Rein yourself in a bit please.”

“This is a battle. They tried to kill me and experiment on people like you. This is no time for reins. Full force.”

“They’re our peaceful decoy. We don’t drag students into Cloudy business especially when it’s behind Courtney’s back. We’re responsible for their lives.”

“No, they’re responsible for their own lives. They want to help.” Casey points to the hole in the Cloud Barrier I made on descent. “You’re special meaning you won’t last long unless we take away your threat.”

“This shouldn’t be about me.”

“You wanted action. I saw your fierce streak coming through for me as you flicked your switchblades. Don’t you dare let it die while we’re on the brink of getting somewhere.” Casey pushes me into Geordie. “Trust your own plans we’re doing what needs to be done to stand up to a tough bully. The results can be messy. There might be casualties, but you have to-”

“-Stand up to them.” Charlie throws round a few more placards. “No more running to fetch help. Be the help.”

“Skies sake, Charlie’s been brainwashed by Hillcrest,” groans Geordie. He watches how positively riled up the students have gotten then smirks as he takes an armful of my placards from me.

Chunk roars, stretching his wings to their full span.

Me and Danny hand some placards round the back of the crowd, trying to distribute them evenly. There’re more than forty students here. We haven’t enough.

When we’re out of the placards, Geordie motions for us to stand with him. He shunts Casey out his way. Makes a fist. “Hackney lads don’t mess around. It’s me or her. No one threatens my crew ever.” His eyes roll over Casey’s leg which he’s still limping on slightly. “Thanks for backing me up in our turf war. I’ll still do it without you so back out if you’re afraid of confrontation; you’ll probably witness a shit load.” Speech done, Geordie mounts Chunk.

“How articulate.” Casey waves at the students as he gets onto Prince.

I flick my hair and wink as I seat myself on Sunshine.

Danny saunters onto Honey, working a katana, and Charlie gives an intellectual lopsided smile before taking off on Hotaru.

Our final tour spot is Hackney where we land on top of Rose Tower. This is the biggest turn out yet. Most have made their own placards the majority of which read We love Team Geordie. Some even say: We love Geordie.

“A few people really?” Geordie glowers at Danny. “You know I hate this place.” He stoops on the edge of the tower gargoyle style.

“It’s our home patch. You’re the first successful field agent from central Hackney. They were already excited for you I just gave them a nudge.”

“What happened to teamwork?”

“This is teamwork. They have latched onto your name, so we’ll use their excitement to get them moving,” says Charlie.

“You can be devious when you start delving into plans. I imagine you’d have schemed your way to General if you’d gotten into logistics. Right wait here and look intelligent.” Geordie touches both mine and Danny’s shoulders. “Keep up the hair flicking Stylish, and casually work those katanas.” His eyes slide onto Casey. “Keep doing what you do with that ego.”

Attitude. Style. Casual. Intelligent. Ego.

Off flies Geordie in a few fast rings above his crowd. They shout for him sparking a shift in the world. I do hope we are doing the right thing riling all these people up in secret from Cloud Association. When the shouting has died down Chunk slows so he’s gliding.

“We’re gonna change things round Lundune. You can help by giving us a distraction while we get onto The Plaza. A me or her situation. Come midnight I ain’t leaving that Plaza till I’m dead or we’re free from General Midnight’s tyranny.” Chunk slams down onto the roof. “These lads are gonna be my backbone. I can’t get anywhere without them. You’re to remain peaceful out there. Leave whatever else comes to us.”