Clash

I sat at the window, watching people walk by and it was surprisingly calming. I was actually enjoying myself, as I listened to my music when I noticed someone sitting next to me, apparently trying to get my attention. I focused on him and pulled out one of my earbuds. “Can I help you?” I asked him politely because I really didn’t know him. “I would like to talk to you about some recent violence that happened here.” He was looking at me really sharp, as if he was studying me. I put my mask in place and tried to look confused.

“Not sure what you are talking about.” I said sounding confused. “I’m sorry my name is Colin Mackenzie.” He stretched out his hand for me to shake and I felt my hand move, I shook his hand. “I’m Anna.” I said back but he already knew that. “Do you know anything about the gang activity?” I gaped at him, in the hope he thought I didn’t know what he was talking about. “I don’t know what you are talking about.” I heard myself say and that’s when I knew what he was. He was probably from the FBI or whatever they have in England to track criminal things. “Now now Anna, you know exactly what I’m talking about.” I pulled up one eye brow as his smirk slowly turned into a frown.

“I’m sure I don’t know, what you’re on about sir.” I stayed calm somehow. “So if you will excuse me, I have to go to college.” I got up and grabbed my coffee cup when he grabbed my arm, rather harsh. “Don’t lie to me Anna, I know you are head of one of the gangs.” That’s when I started to laugh making people stare at me, as if I was a lunatic. “I’m not sure what you took but I suggest you check in to a mental hospital because you’re sounding crazy and now please excuse me.” I ripped my arm from his hold and walked out of the store and I didn’t stop until I was safely in my classroom.

I had to warn Harry and my own gang members about this guy but how was I going to do that, when Olly walked in. My first class was music class and when he saw me, he actually smiled at me. “Anna, welcome back.” I smiled at him and that’s when it hit me, I had to tell him so he could tell the others and I had to ask him for phone numbers. “Anna?” I got pulled back into class when I heard him say my name. “I’m sorry what did you ask?” he shook his head disappointed. “Please pay attention miss Lewis.” He said and the way he said it was giving me chills but not the right ones. “I’m sorry mr. Murs, what did you say?” I asked him again and my fellow classmates giggled or chuckled behind their hands. “Will you do us the honor to play something on the piano?” I felt myself nod and as I took a seat behind the piano, I suddenly felt insecure because what if someone heard from Bradley’s gang, I could feel my fingers freeze up and as I looked at Olly he quickly walked over.

“What’s wrong?” he whispered. “What if, you know someone from Bradley’s gang is here?” I asked quietly and that’s when he grabbed my hands. “I can assure you, that you’re perfectly safe, I made sure of that.” He told me and I felt a weight lift up from my chest but before I placed my hands on the key’s I grabbed his hands a bit tighter. “Olly, the FBI is in town, will you please tell everyone?” I asked him and he nodded looking slightly alarmed.

“Why don’t you inform them?” He asked again. “I don’t have your phone number any longer because I had to throw my phone away, as they were tracking it.” I quickly explained. He believed me and promised me to send me the numbers of everyone, so I could get in contact if necessary. When I was feeling more calm I put my fingers on the key’s and I started to play one of the older pieces. I normally would play a movie track but today I felt like playing something old. When I was finished people were clapping for me and this was how the next few days went.

I even started to make some new friends, which was weird but I loved it because they all led simple life’s, without any serious action. I actually could focus on college and I loved every single minute of it. I was aware of the fact that Colin was shadowing me, as if I was going to do something stupid and Bradley was also lurking around in the shadows, just like Harry but than again Harry and Bradley were a package deal so that wasn’t weird. One of the girls I was befriending, was from Holland and she was really nice and a great singer, we were actually working on a piece, which made us always linger at college so we could practice because I still didn’t really trust anyone enough to bring them home with me.

“Poppy, do you want something with your coffee?” I heard Julia ask and I quickly nodded because she always brought something delicious with her and as I was typing away for an essay on “Mary queen of Scots” I felt the air shift and I instantly knew who it was. “Poppy.” Was all he said and as I looked up from my work I stared into the brown eyes of Bradley but he was again smiling at me. “Bradley.” I forced myself to smile back at him and I instantly looked around to see if Harry was here and he was, chatting to Julia, who was mesmerized by him and that bothered me more then I was willing to admit. “I wanted to ask you something.” He said but something was off with his voice, he was saying it in a threatening way and it made me think of that night in his house when he almost killed me.

“What do you want to know?” I asked politely and I had an inkling what he was going to ask me but I kept smiling, pretending I didn’t hear the threat in his voice. “Do you know Colin Mackenzie?” I felt myself nod when he suddenly grabbed my hands, my heart skipped a beat but this time out of fear and as I looked at Julia, I saw that Harry had turned his attention to us, while Julia kept chatting away. “I met him a few days ago, why?” I shrugged making it sound as if I wasn’t sure why he was asking about him.

“I want to know what he said to you and why he talked to you in the first place.” I had to be careful now as this could be really dangerous, I knew that if he found out that I was actually Anna that he would kill me on the spot. “He asked about gang activity but I really didn’t know what he was talking about. It sounded like he had watched too many crime movies.” I shrugged but Bradley narrowed his eyes even more, as if he was looking at me for the first time and I really was hoping that he didn’t recognize me.

“It still doesn’t explain to me, why he asked you about it.” I was making sure I looked confused. “I don’t know that either but I couldn’t help him so I left and that’s the first and last time I talked to him, why is this so important to you?” I pulled my hands from his grasp, which he didn’t notice as he was sunken in thought. “He is after us.” I heard him mumble and I couldn’t help but smile at that. “you know I really have to finish this essay, if you don’t mind of course?” he looked up again and gave me a smile. “I don’t mind if you would go out with me tonight?” I had to swallow the bile that formed in my mouth. I had to stick to my plan though and I nodded. “I’d love to, where do you want to meet up?” I asked him and this made him frown.

“No I will pick you up.” He said but I already shook my head. “I like to be independent, so I really don’t mind to just meet you somewhere.” I told him in a sweet voice and that persuade him. He told me were to meet him and I was happy that it was a busy restaurant, this way he couldn’t do anything or kill me for that matter. The thing that did bother me was the fact that there was a dress code, woman had to dress up, which meant I had to wear a dress and heels and there was no place I could put my gun.

Julia returned to our table with my favorite cake, carrot cake. I looked up to see if Harry was still here and I spotted him whilst he was moving towards the door with Bradley. It was as if he felt me looking because he glanced over his shoulder and gave me a smile. I knew he had told Julia that this was my favorite, which confused me even more. What was his plan?
“I have to cut this study session short because apparently I’m going out.” I told Julia who reacted way to enthusiastic. “Really? Are you going with that hot guy, you were talking to earlier?” I couldn’t help but laugh at what she said because if she would only know than she would never say something like that again. “Yeah, Bradley.” I confirmed and she was just beaming at me and even giving me a thumbs up . This was how my stay had to be from the beginning and I was feeling a bit sad that I couldn’t even be myself with her. I hated that I had to lie to her about my name, I really hated it.

“I better go change then.” I said whilst putting my stuff back in my bag. I got up and grabbed my coat. “Have fun tonight and I want to hear everything tomorrow!” Julia said whilst hugging me. I made my way back to my apartment when a car stopped next to me. I reached for my gun in my bag but let it go when I saw it was Colin. “Get in please.” He asked politely but I could hear the compulsion in his voice.

“Excuse me? I don’t even know you.” I kept walking not expecting him to get out of his car. “I wasn’t asking miss Lewis.” Next thing I know, he is pushing me into the car. “What the fuck is your problem?” I had raised my voice and tried to get out by kicking him in de face but he wasn’t letting go. “Calm down Anna.” He yelled this to me but I wasn’t planning on obeying him anytime soon and that why I grabbed my gun but before I pulled it out, I had a clear moment and that stopped me from blowing my cover.

“What the fuck do you want from me? Do you know that this is kidnapping and if you think I wont sue your ass, then you’re dead wrong.” I said through clenched teeth. He signed to the driver to start the car and here I was trapped in his damn car. “Are you calmed down?” he asked me as if I was a little kid and that only made me angrier. “Calmed down, really who the fuck do you think you are?” I threw back and I watched him shrug. “The reason I asked you in my car is because we need to have a little chat over your friendship with Bradley.” He explained and I already knew that but I didn’t think that he would actually force me into his damn car.

“What do you want to know?” I asked him, acting normal again even though I was raging inside. “What are you to him?” I shrugged. “I don’t know, I haven’t asked him.” I rolled my eyes at him but he grabbed my arm again, this time it did hurt and I couldn’t stop myself when I kicked him hard against his knee, he even moaned from the pain. “Don’t fucking touch me again.” I threatened and he actually let go of my arm.

“You remember our little chat at the beginning of this week?” I nodded because how could I forget. “Yeah you were talking about gangs and I thought you were absolutely crazy and that’s proven now. Maybe you should watch less crime shows.” I said to him which made him narrow his eyes. “Don’t think I’m going to sit here and let you offend me Anna.” He sounded angry which was fine with me, I was really hoping someone would kill him in his sleep, damn bastard. “Than let me go.” I said sounding nonchalant. “I will in a minute. I just want you to stay away from Bradley because he is dangerous.” I had to laugh at that because he was telling me something I had found out myself. “Yes of course but you know what. I can take care of myself Colin, so stop this damn car and let me out.” Too my surprise he actually did.
Before he drove off I grabbed the window making sure he was looking at me. I narrowed my eyes and as we stared at each other, I could see his determination.

“Oh and Colin, stop following me.”

Notes