I Knew You Were Trouble

Oli’s POV

Hours later I’m finally able to leave my little brother’s side. He’s calmed down a lot but he was still in abit of a state, so I left him with Nicholls to comfort him whilst I make my way upstairs to my room to deal with Josh.

I sigh heavily when I think of Josh.

Fuck, I can’t believe I hit him. Rather brutally too. The look on his face when I did it… fuck, it made me feel physically sick and for the first time in my whole entire life, I felt ashamed that I hurt somebody.

I’m Oliver fucking Sykes, I hurt people all the time, I basically torture and murder people for a living and I never feel a single ounce of guilt for any of them.

But Josh. Fuck, Josh made me see the monster that I truly am. He stared back at me with those beautiful blue eyes which were filled with so much fear, begging me to stop but I still went on and hurt him more! I’m such a sick bastard.

I don’t know what came over me. I was angry, really fucking angry at him for upsetting Tom, for bringing up my mother, for going against the one thing I asked of him. I’m not used to people answering me back or going against my word because they know the price they’ll pay but Josh. Josh is completely innocent to it, he has no idea and I should have known that but yet I let my temper take over me and I fucking hit him!

I hit him when I promised him I wouldn’t do anything like that again after when I strangled him. But of course, Oliver Sykes don’t keep promises and I just beat the shit out the ones that mean the most to me.

I’m so fucked up.

And worse, I locked him up as if he’s some sort of animal. But we were angry and I just wanted to get away from him before I did further damage to ho him.

I hope he doesn’t hate me. He has every right to and he should but I hope he’s doesn’t. He’s the only one that takes me away from the dark stuff.

When I turn the corner, I don’t know what got to me first; the smell of weed or the music coming from my bedroom.

I jog down the end of the hall to my room and quickly unlock the door. When I open it the anger comes rushing back and I’m furious at the state of my room.

I scan my room for the little shit responsible for it all but my eyes fall upon my chest of drawers, revealing that Josh had found my drug stash.

My eyes grow wide when I see numerous pills scattered all over the floor along side my syringes and the white powdered substance which I knew was cocaine.

I look up and see Josh lying on the floor on top of all the mess with the balcony doors wide open. My heart sinks when all the worse stuff fills my mind..

Oh shit, Josh!

I run over to his body and examine his state. His eyes were closed shut with a spliff in one hand and his phone clutched in the other, playing a Blink 182 song I’ve never heard of before.

“Josh?” I call over the music but he doesn’t hear me.

I bend down and take his phone out of his hand and stop the music. I shake him gently to wake him.

He groans and his eyes flicker open as his head lolls to the side. I’m met with bloodshot eyes and wide pupils.

“Shit, your pupils are huge.”

He must have smoked a shit load. Josh smiles a wide high smile at me when he discovers my appearance.

“What have you taken?” I order sternly but he doesn’t answer me which only irritates me further.

“Seriously, what the fuck have you taken?” I say harshly and he holds up the spliff.

“Just this.” He croaks.

I sigh in relief knowing he’s only smoked weed and nothing else but I snatch the spliff out of his hand.

“Ow, don’t be mean, you dick.” He moans.

“Enough with your shit talking mouth J.”

I snap at him and he pouts. I was trying so hard not to lose my temper with him again but he was making it so damn difficult.

I bring the spliff to my own lips and inhale, knowing this will calm me.

“Good ain’t it?” he grins.

“Of course it is it’s my own.” I grin back exhaling out the smoke from my mouth.

I stare down at him in adoration, he doesn’t seem to utterly hate me but I’m sure when he comes down from his high he will.

“Right, now get up and tidy my room ‘cause we’re going to a party.”

“Who’s party?”

“A dear friend’s, so you better be on your best behaviour, do you understand me?” I tell him.

“Yes sir.” he mocks doing the stupid salute sign with his hands.

I stand up and pull my tank top over my head and see Josh biting down on his lip staring up at me, basically undressing me with his eyes. I can’t help but smile, he’s extremely horny when he’s high.

“I’m getting in the shower and by the time I get out I want my room to be spotless.” I tell him and walk into my bathroom leaving him on the floor.

~~

I walk out of the bathroom and frown when I see Josh hadn’t tidied up the mess he made nor was he in the room when I searched for him either.

I groan in annoyance and quickly dried myself off and changed into some black ripped skinny jeans and a shirt before leaving my room in search of a very high Josh.

I lean over the banisters and call out to Lee.

“Have you seen Josh?”

“Not since this morning.” He says.

I groan in response and march down the long corridor to find him.

He could be wondering around anywhere and I didn’t want him poking his nose in places where it didn’t belong.

I was about to shout out for him but that’s when I heard the sound of laughter faintly in the far end of the house.

I follow the sound of his laughter, the sound becoming louder and louder until I stagger upon his body. I’m surprise by what I see.

Josh was spread out like a starfish on the floor in fits of laughter.

I slowly walk over and stand over him, noticing a fresh cut swelling and forming into a bruise in the corner of his eye. His porcelain skin becoming a daunting colour of black and blue, the colours of violence and abused which were all down to me. I felt sick knowing I had hurt him like this, I didn’t mean to and now I’ve left my violent mark all my only sun light.

I stared down at him lost in thought, he still hadn’t notice my presences, being in a hysterical fit of laughter which he hadn’t calmed down from yet.

I analysis his position on the floor and see he was lying opposite the large window at the end of the house which looked out on the back garden.

I put Josh, the window and the bruise on his eye together and my eyes widen when I figured out what must have happened.

“Please tell me you didn’t jump off the window ledge?”

“I wanted to fly with the birds but I guess there was a wall in the way.” He pants through his laughter.

I drag a hand down my face in frustration, oh boy.

“Come on J, get up.” I reach down but he quickly drapes his arms over his face and shuffles away from me.

“Don’t hit me!” he begs.

“I’m not going to hit you.” I say softly yet I felt offended.

I frown and step back annoyed with myself at what he’s just admitted. I didn’t mean to hurt him, it was an accident. I was angry and upset and I don’t know what came over me but I snapped.

“Just get up. We’re going.”

“I don’t want to go.” He whines.

“Tough, you’re going. Now get up from the floor and don’t make me tell you again.” I scold. It was like having a three year old.

He sits up, crossing his arms over his chest pouting and glaring at me like a spoilt child but I just roll my eyes at his immature behaviour.

“I don’t have time for this, come on!” I order and walk away from him.

I finally managed to get Josh out of the house where everyone was waiting inside Nicholls jeep apart from Jordan who was leaning against it waiting for us.

He glances to me and then back at Josh giving him a look of concern when he comes into his full view.

“Are you alright Josh?”

“I’m super doper.” Josh smiles over enthusiastically. He was still high as a kite.

I watch Jordan step forward to examine Josh’s face carefully.

“I think I should take a proper look at that cut on your head mate.”

“Oh for fuck sake. He’s fine Jordan, just get in the god damn car!” I yell.

I hated all this ridiculous fussing. It was just a bloody cut, the kid needs to man up.

Jordan knew me too well not to answer me back when I was in a mood like this and just do as I tell him.

We climb into Nicholls’s jeep which the guys have decided to hot box while they were waiting for us. I pull Josh into my lap as there wasn’t anywhere for him to sit. I feel him try to shuffle away from me but I hold him tighter so he knew to stay put and just slump himself against the window.

~~

Josh’s POV

We pull up in front of a house which is also in the middle of nowhere, much like Oli’s or should I say Horizon’s?

We get out of the jeep and I jump down from Oli’s lap from the car door and wobble as I lose my balance. Not sure if I just lost my footing or the fact that I’ve consumed a shit load more weed on the car journey here.

Oli grabs hold of my arm and saves me from falling to the floor. I look at him and he stares back at me with a stern but concerned look.

“You alright?” he asks.

I nod and gently pull my arm out of his grasp, still feeling a little nervous to be around him after the incident we encountered earlier.

He seemed to notice and put his arm around my shoulder and brings me close to his side.

“Don’t be nervous.” He whispers in my ear and I feel a chill go through me.

I don’t really know what’s come over me. Usually weed makes all the anxiety go away and loosens me up and most all, I don’t give a shit but for some reason I seem on edge. I guess I was having a different reaction to the stronger drug.

Oli guides me towards the unknown house and I take it in my surroundings.

The house was big, not as big as Horizon’s and not as closed off to the outside world either, you could see the city in the far distance. It had less security guarding the house to, there wasn’t an 8ft gate protecting the whole house like Horizon’s has. Which kind of made me wonder what was Horizon hiding? Or trying to keep out?

We walk to the front of the house and I noticed a few other cars parked out the front. A part from the obvious loud music coming from the inside of the house and the immense smell of weed, or was that just us? Who knows, but I didn’t know what to expect from this house party. Was it just casual friends or were there other gang members here too? Oli didn’t say exactly…like he tells me anything anyway.

Nicholls rings the door bell and we all stand and wait on the door step for someone to answer.

Jordan turns around with a cheeky grin on his face and puts his hand in his pocket.

“It’s not a real party without a little fun.” He says.

He pulls out a little plastic wallet with colourful pills inside. He pours the pills into the palm of his hand and holds it out for everyone to help themselves.

I stare down at the pills and notice each little circle pill had some sort of funny design on them. I didn’t know what they were but I recognised them because Oli also had them in his drug draw.

Tom reaches for one but Oli hits his hand away.

“None for you.”

“I’ve taken ecstasy before Oliver.” Tom informs.

“I know you have but I’m putting a stop to that right now.”

“You can’t do that!” he whines.

“Sure I can. I just did.” Oli says putting the pill into his mouth and swallowing it and smiling devilish at his little brother.

Tom huffs in annoyance and turns away from him.

“Would you like one?” Oli asks me and I shake my head furiously.

Any other drug terrifies me to be honest. I’ll just stick to smoking weed for now.

“Good boy, I wasn’t going to let you take one anyway.” Oli smirks and I glance at him in confusion. Why ask me then?

The door finally opened, revealing a red head boy whose eyes grew wide when he saw us. He didn’t look any older than me and Tom to be fair.

“You’re here!” he gasps and steps aside, motioning everyone to come inside the house and we do.

“Long time no see Ashby.” Nicholls says and the red head smiles at him.

“Wait here, I’ll go get Austin. I’m sure you’re going to be very happy what we have in store for you guys.” the younger boy says.

He disappears and we all stay standing in the hall way. My eyes scanned the hall, I saw one or two people walk by but none saw us. The music was playing so loud, god knows how anyone could hear each other talk.

The red head returns with a very tall heavily tattooed guy following closely behind him. I instantly feel intimidated by this guy, he’s everything you assume another deadly gang leader would look like until he breaks into a wide friendly smile and fist pumps everyone in Horizon.

“So, four months later you actually decided to show up.” He smiles.

“I told you we would didn’t I, Carlile?”

“You did. It’s nice to see you’re doing well Oliver.”

Oli fist pumps this Austin guy when he approaches and then pulls him into a brotherly hug patting each other on the backs before pulling away. They must be close friends? Not to mention he called him Oliver, I’ve never heard anyone else call him that apart from Tom and the rest of Horizon.

“Who’s the kid Oliver?” he asks looking down at me and then back at Oli with a raised eyebrow.

“This is Josh.”

“Ah I see, so this is the reason you’ve been so ‘busy’.” Austin teases with a cocky smirk on his face.

“Shut up.” Oli frowns removing his arm from around my neck.

“Anyway, your car is out back ready to take home tonight. But before any of that, I have a surprise waiting for you.” Austin straightens himself out and the smile fades from his mouth.

“I hope it’s what I think it is.” Oli asks in a firm tone.

“Come and find out.” Austin nods to the end of the hall and they all follow behind him.

I’m left standing in the hallway not knowing what to do with myself. Do I go with them or not? They sounded serious.

Oli stops walking and turns to the red head.

“Hey Alan, keep an eye on Josh for me will you. He hasn’t been to one of these parties before so I expect you to keep him out of trouble.”

Oli was serious, blunt and cold. His sweet gentle cocky self had completely disappeared and he was now in his deadly gang leader mode. He showed no emotion and that sort of scared me.

“Babysitting duty? You owe me Syko.”

“Your head if anything happens to him.” Oli says and Alan just nods. And then Oli vanishes somewhere to do business… whatever that is.

“Come on, I’ll get you a drink. Looks like you need one.” Alan says and takes me into the kitchen.

There were a few other people in here but I don’t take much notice of them and focus on getting that drink I so desperately needed.

“You have dried blood on your forehead, did you know that?” Alan tells me with an odd look and I frown, reaching a hand up to the cut on my forehead I forgot about.

Alan starts mixing drinks together and takes out a bag of pills from his pocket. My eyes widen, they were ecstasy tablets, just like Jordan’s but they were different colour with different designs on them.

“Help yourself, they will make you feel a lot better than the anxiety you feel now.” He tells me.

He acts like it’s a normal thing to offer a person you’re supposed to be keeping an eye on drugs.

“I’m alright thanks.”

Alan simply shrugs and takes the packet of E and takes one. I glance down at my feet feeling awkward. I’ve been here five minutes and already I’ve been offered ecstasy twice.

I didn’t want to get mixed up into drugs, Oli knows that, I guess he was just testing me when he offered me Jordan’s earlier. He wanted to see if I can say no to them and I can. I’m not addicted to anything.

“So, how does a kid like you wind up hanging around with Oliver?”

I move my glance from the floor back at Alan who was stirring my drink with god knows what and hands it to me.

“The sex is good and so is the weed. Can’t blame a guy for wanting to stay.” I shrug and sip my drink.

I scrunch my nose up in disgust, this drink was vile.

Alan smirks and shakes his head.

“How do you know him?” I ask wanting to make casual conversation.

“I met him through Austin a few years back. Austin is one of the only few who know Syko as Oliver. They grew up in foster care together when they were kids and they stayed in contact long after they left.” He tells me and I almost choke on my drink.

I feel my eyes widen in shock at the unexpected information I’ve just discovered. Oli grew up in foster care? Did he and Tom end up in care when they’re mother died? What happened to they’re dad, couldn’t he take care of them? I had so many questions to ask but Alan wasn’t the appropriate person to ask.

Sure, I bet he could tell me what I wanted to know but I’d feel like I’d be snooping, it wouldn’t be right. To distract myself from asking Alan about Oli’s past I take another swig of my drink and make a noise of disgust.

“What the hell did you put this drink? It tastes… weird.” I frown down into my cup as if the liquid would tell me the ingredients.

“You’re better off not knowing, just drink it and enjoy the after effect.” Alan chuckles and takes a drink of his own.

Well it can’t be that bad if I’m drinking the same as him, right? Oh fuck it. I down most of my drink in one and hold in the gag that so desperately wanted to come up from my throat.

Alan bursts out laughing at me and makes fun of me being a light weight which I just glare at him and cross my arms to my chest in a strop. This red head kid was so annoying, why did I have to be left with him?

I turn my body away from Alan not wanting him to find another excuse to make fun at me and look around at the other people in the kitchen.

My eyes spot a familiar person from the crowd and I break into a smile.

“Jack!” I call out and the tall man with the vibrant red streak in his hair turns around.

“Josh? What the hell are you doing here?” he says, surprised to see me.

“Well it’s nice to see you too. Is Alex here as well?” I ask walking up to him and looking behind him in search of my best friend but see two very large masculine men who I didn’t recognised instead.

Jack didn’t seem like his usual laid back friendly self, he seemed serious and concerned. He places his hands on my shoulders and pulls me back to take a proper look at me.

“Keep your voice down and no, he isn’t here and neither should you be.”

“Why not?” I ask confused. Is just a house party right?

“Who did you come here with Josh?”

“He came with Syko.” Alan speaks for me with a look of amusement of his face and Jack’s face falls.

“No.” Jack says fearfully.

“He’s not alone, the whole of Horizon are here they were over due their visit. They headed straight to the back room with Austin to do business and I’m left babysitting the new kid.”

Jack’s face went completely pale and I didn’t understand why. And I send Alan a glare, I have my own voice.

“I can speak for myself you know.” I frown at him but he just rolls his eyes.

“Josh, are you in some sort of trouble? Do you owe them some sort of debt?”

Jack asks bringing my attention back to him. What the hell was he talking about? He was acting so strange and paranoid.

“Chill Jack Cat, they didn’t touch me, Oli’s brother tried to stab me but you can’t blame him really… I did kinda deserve it I guess and Oli did get mad but its okay.” I smile widely and swayed a little to the side. I felt kind of woozy.

“Alex said you haven’t gone back to work since the mugging. And taking in the bruises on your face which now blends in with the ones on your neck, I’m assuming is all down to Syko. Are they holding you hostage? Are they torturing answers out of you?”

Jack was basically interrogating me for answers himself but I couldn’t help but laugh at his reaction. He couldn’t be more wrong.

“You’ve got it all wrong Jack. Oli wouldn’t hurt me, well, he did…but it doesn’t matter ‘cause I don’t think he meant it.” I frown at my own answer. He didn’t mean to hit me did he?

I felt really dizzy all of a sudden but at the same time happy?

“I’m taking you home.” Jack takes hold of my wrist and tugs me towards the kitchen door.

“What? No, I just got here.”

“He has no idea what sort of party he’s at.” Alan snorts and I send him a confused smile.

“Look around you kid. You’re not at your average student house party. There’s a reason Syko asked me to keep an eye on you.”

Alan says and I curiously take a proper look around me.

I see many people in the room but didn’t think anything of it until I see the guns in their back pockets. I gasp in shock and my eyes dart around the entire room and see some guys drug trading, drinking unnecessary amounts of alcohol, some even having heated conversations which could lead to an actual fight and I feel the blood drain from my face when I realise I’m surrounded by gang members?! Holy shit.

“It’s a local gang gathering. Where the gang culture get together from time to time to socialise and trade they’re goods and get some dirty work done.” Alan informs me.

My eyes widen and I look straight at Jack in disbelief.

“You’re in a gang?” I hiss.

“Your friend Jack Cat here is the leader of a gang called ATL.”

“Yeah, thanks a lot Alan.” Jack snarls at him.

“Does Alex know?” I ask.

“Yes but don’t worry about that now. Right now I’m more concerned about getting you out of here and far away from Syko.”

“Good luck with that Barakat, you know Horizon has the countries best track record. You won’t get very far with him.” Alan smirks, enjoying watching Jack squirm.

“Shut up Ashby!” Jack yells, agitated.

“Just saying, it’s your head on the line when Syko finds out it’s you who’s taken him and we all know where that would lead to.” Alan was hinting at something because Jack stopped in his tracks, looking hesitant and scared to continue leaving with me.

“And what about you? You just let me take him?”

Alan shrugs and leans against the kitchen counter and takes a swig of his drink.

“Syko shouldn’t bring his grand prizes to these events if he doesn’t want them taken from him. He should have learnt that from last time.”

I wasn’t paying too much attention to their conversation anymore. I zoned out abit and my head was spinning from the alcohol and my cheeks hurt from having a Cheshire cat smile permanently stuck to my lips.

I’m suddenly snapped out of my dizzily thoughts when I hear people gasps and I’m being shoved behind Jack and my back pushed against the kitchen counter as he protectively hides me behind him.

This probably took a couple of seconds but my mind was being slow and I scold at Jack for his harsh actions but I’m faced with the back of his leather jacket.

I peek my head around to see what the hell was going on and I see Jack pointing a gun at someone. My eyes follow the gun and they land on the man I absolutely adore most in this world. Oli.
I smile my stupid Cheshire cat smile at him feeling my heart flutter when he smiles back at me.

Oli walks towards us, no signs showing any fear or knowledge of the gun Jack was pointing at him.

“I believe you have something of mine, step aside Barakat.” Oli says fearlessly.

“Like hell.” Jack growls.

“Excuse me?” Oli raised his eyebrow.

“What do you want with him Syko?”

“That isn’t exactly any of your business is it Barakat.”

The two glare at each other.

“Jacckkkkk.” I whine.

I reach out and place my hand on Jack’s shoulder and he turns his head to the side.

“Come on, let me go. Why you being so serious for, this isn’t like you?” I pout waving my hand around, not understanding why he won’t let me go to Oli.

I see Oli quirk an eyebrow at me when I say Jack’s name.

“You’ve got to be kidding, Franceschi knows Barakat? I knew he wasn’t as innocent as he was letting on!” Tom blurts out but Oli raises his hand to silence his outburst.

I shy away back behind Jack, not wanting to cause another fight between me and Tom. One stab to the face is enough for one day.

“I’m going to ask you one more time Barakat, step aside.”

Jack stands his ground and ignores Oli’s warning. I huff, annoyed that I’m stuck against the kitchen counter and I can’t get to my Oli.

“What are you playing at bringing him here? You’ve put him in so much danger.” I hear the fear in Jack’s voice.

Was he really that frightened of me being here? Oli would never let anything happen to me though.

I hear Oli snort.

“As if anyone’s foolish enough to challenge me, apart from you that is.”

“Is that the reason why he’s black and blue, he was foolish enough to speak back to you?”

And what happen next happen way too fast.

Oli punches Jack in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him that he lunges forwards in pain dropping the gun from his grasp. Jack’s men step forward but so do the whole of Horizon and they back down. There were only two of them and five of Horizon, they were out numbered and knew they lost this fight before it begun.

“You’re foolish enough to speak back to me Barakat.” Oli chuckles, glancing down at a choking Jack.

I watch Oli pull back his fist ready to hit him again and I just explode with panic.

“Oli please stop, don’t hurt him!” I yell raising my hands up in a surrender mode to protect Jack. I couldn’t stand and watch him hurt him.

Oli stops what he’s doing and our eyes meet, he glares at me with dark unkind eyes but I send him a pleading look. Everyone in the room was gawking at us wondering if Oli was going to listen to me or not.

He drops his fist and lets out a frustrated growl but still doesn’t keep his eyes off me. I mouth a ‘thank you’ to him and crouch down next to Jack.

“Jack, Oli isn’t going to hurt me. It’s not what you think, I promise you, I’m fine.” I tell him but he shakes his head in responses and coughs out a ‘No’.

“I’m sorry you don’t see what I see Jack.” I whisper and get up from the floor and make my way over to Oli.

I smile stupidly at him and his eyes soften when I wrap my arms around his waist and he instantly slings his arm around my shoulder and holds me close to him.

“Good boy.” He says firmly and I nod shyly at him.

He was angry I know but I also believed he wouldn’t hurt me for this.

I see Jack’s men help me up to his feet and Oli takes it upon himself to say the last word.

“Let this be a warning Barakat. Never stand in the way of what’s mine. You should know that by now.” Oli threatens.

His voice sounded blunt and sinister, almost cruel like. I didn’t like how he sounded at all, that’s not my Oli. He never sounded like that when he spoke to me. I tug at Oli’s shirt hinting for us to leave and he hesitantly steps back from Jack.

He smirks at Jack one last time before leading us out of the kitchen with me glued to his side and he rest of Horizon following on after us.