London Belongs to the Alchemist (Class Heroes Book 4) Page 18

“You don’t want to mess with us,” James warned. “There’s as many people who don’t like you as follow you. The difference is, we’re all friends.”

  “What’s happening here?” asked Miss Ngawa, Sam’s Biology teacher, who had just arrived on the scene.

  “Nothing, miss,” said Sam, hoping she sounded guileless. “Funny accident, really. Mark wanted some of my Pepsi, but when he opened it, it just exploded all over his face and trousers. We were just laughing about it.”

  “Yes, well, I’m sure the head prefect has got better things to do than stand around here playing silly games, haven’t you Mark?”

  “Yes, miss,” muttered Foster, not even looking at the teacher.

  “Aren’t you giving a presentation to the governors after school tonight?”

  “Yes, miss.”

  “Well, you’d better change your trousers before then. That’s hardly going to create a good impression is it?”

  “Be a bit of a stain on the school image wouldn’t it, miss?” added James, with a straight face. “An unsightly mark, you might say.”

  Mark Foster snarled like an animal.

  “Yes, thank you James,” said Miss Ngawa. “Lunchtime is nearly over, so I suggest you all get yourselves back inside.”

  Sam, James, Nina and Steve filed back into the school together.

  “Leave it to me to save the day,” boasted James.

  “Seriously?” scoffed Sam. “You just swanned in at the end for all the glory. I’d done all the hard work.”

  James laughed, but he held Sam back as the others entered the school.

  “We’ll catch you guys up,” he said to Steve and Nina. “I just need to talk to Sam about something.”

  Nina obviously didn’t want to be apart from the group, and held on to Steve’s arm, something he seemed quite happy with.

  “Did you see how Foster and his gang had that wild look in their eyes?” asked James. “There is something wrong with them. Do you think it’s ’cos of Super D?”

  “Must be. Remember what I told you before about Simon Brown and his friend when they robbed that post office near Nan and Grandad’s house?”

  “When the friend had a heart attack?”

  “Yes. Well, both Simon and the friend were sweating, and they were like, wired. Hyped up. Sir Michael said that only people under 25 could take Super D because anyone older might just keel over and die. But what if Foster has been taking Super D for a while? Maybe long term, they’re all going to have heart attacks?”

  “Same goes for Al,” pointed out James. “You have to warn him.”

  “I’ve already tried.”

  “But he’s like us. He already has a power. What’s going to happen to him if he uses Super D as well?”

  That was a good point. Sam hadn’t thought of that. Would Al be safer using Super D because of his ability? Or was it more likely to overload his system?

  “Sam, you’ve got to stop Al from taking that drug. He could kill himself and half this school.”

  Chapter 30

  After school, Sam insisted that Nina let Dad give her a lift home, which he was happy to do.

  Once Nina had been dropped off, Sam and James filled Dad in on the bullying that was going on at the school. Dad was outraged and said he was going to make a point of contacting the head teacher as soon as they got home.

  “You can’t tell the Head about Super D though, Dad,” pointed out James.

  “I don’t intend to. But I will be letting him know that the head boy is a bully and a thief.”

  They got home. Sam went straight to her bedroom to look for her phone. She dumped her bag on her bed and looked around the room. Her dresser was overflowing with perfumes, sprays, soaps and jewellery boxes.

  She picked her denim skirt off the floor, then a white T-shirt and finally found her phone under a pair of discarded leggings. How had it ended up there?

  She checked her messages.

  Three from an unknown number. Looking at the texts, it wasn’t difficult to work out who they were from. One was about paying tax, so there was the clue that it was Foster. Then the threat and the reference to Nina. The most recent one was:

  ‘ur gonna regret what you did. U don’t know what’s coming.’

  Sam considered this. In theory, she had nothing to fear from Foster. But she kept thinking back to the animal-like savagery that was a side-effect of Super D. It made Sam think of nature documentaries and how cunning some animals are when it comes to catching their prey.

  Her heart leaped when she saw a fourth message. This one was from Al.

  ‘Can’t wait to see u. Going to come over to ur house tonight, about 5:30? Where do u live?’

  Sam’s head went fuzzy. He was coming here! She temporarily forgot that she had difficult questions to ask him about Mark Foster and Super D, because actually she was really excited just to be seeing him again. The week-long curfew was really dragging. She texted him the address. He replied that he was already on his way.

  Sam often didn’t bother to change out of her school uniform in the evening, but today she leapt up and hurriedly started looking through her wardrobe for something suitable to wear. Nothing too dressy, but something chic and sophisticated, while at the same time looking like she hadn’t made too much effort. She wished she was like Lolly, just effortlessly beautiful. She settled on a cream, strappy top and slipped it over her head. She was just pulling on her black skinny jeans when Lolly breezed into the room.

  “Hey, will you stop doing that, you idiot!” stormed Sam, still riled by the bathroom incident earlier. “I was getting changed.”

  “Into all your clothes?” asked Lolly, indicating the rejected choices dotted around the bed and the floor. “Do you want me to call the police? I think you’ve been burgled.”

  “What do you want?” asked Sam, crossly, as she finished getting ready. She wanted to paint her toenails in peace. Lolly might at least say she looked nice.

  Lolly lay gracefully across Sam’s bed. She picked up Sam’s phone.

  “You found it, I see.”

  “Yes, I—”. Sam stopped. “How do you know I’d lost it?”

  “Because I took it. Sorry,” replied Lolly, without sounding remotely apologetic.

  “What?!” Sam snatched the phone out of Lolly’s hand. Lolly sighed.

  “My need was greater than yours. I haven’t broken it, or looked at your private messages or anything, I promise.”

  And there was no way Sam believed that. She was livid. Sharing the house with Lolly was impossible.

  “You’ve got it back, so there’s no problem is there? I just needed to contact Al and I knew you had his number.”

  “Why?” demanded Sam, suddenly more concerned that Lolly was contacting Al than about the theft. “What did you need to talk to him about? Have you seen him?”

  “I have. I just needed his help. To cut a very long story short, nobody needs to worry about Nicky Cairo anymore. I’ve paid him off, end of story.”

  “And Al helped you with that?”

  “I promised Al that I’d let him answer your questions, personally. He’s coming over, isn’t he?”

  Sam was fuming. It was so aggravating to have Lolly be part of, well, whatever this might be with Al.

  “I told Roger and Yvonne that he would come over. They’re anxious to meet him. See ya later. Cool jeans. You look nice.”

  And with that Lolly sauntered out.

  Sam didn’t know what to think about Lolly anymore.

  ***

  The doorbell rang at five forty. By that point, Sam was hopping up and down every few seconds. She answered the door. Al stood on the threshold, wearing a buttoned-up, two-toned, dark blue and grey cardigan. Sam noticed a small Armani logo on the right sleeve. He wore blue jeans, smarter than the last time she had seen him, but with a big Armani belt. He was smiling and he looked amazing. He also looked modest and preppy, like he wanted to make a good impression on Mum and Dad.

  “Come on in,” said Sam,
shyly, unable to be angry at him.

  He kissed her on the cheek as he entered the house and Sam felt like she was floating on air.

  ***

  The magic air was getting a little thin 20 minutes later. Sam longed just to spend some time on her own with Al, but he had introduced himself to Mum and Dad and was now answering their polite, but probing, questions.

  In fairness to him, he was being perfect boyfriend material. He was smart, presentable, polite, and charming. Mum and Dad both seemed to like him.

  Lolly had already told them that it was Al who was running the parties and had the power to replicate stuff. But nobody had yet mentioned that Al was creating cocaine and Super D, the latter of which had now found its way into school. Sooner or later, there was going to be a discussion about drugs. Sam was on tenterhooks.

  Lolly helped Mum cook dinner and kept out of Al’s way, which was at least something. Lolly clearly had no idea how to cook, but she was happy to take instruction. Sam had feared that she would muscle in and show off in front of Al, but she kept a low profile.

  Al told them about his father’s exotic fruit shop, which had been in New Cross since the 1970s. It had been opened by Al’s grandfather and passed on to Al’s dad. Al’s grandfather had been in the US Air Force, stationed in Suffolk, the same as Sam’s own grandad. This offered a probable explanation as to how Al had got his powers.

  Her and James’s abilities were inherited. Sam’s grandad had volunteered for some top secret genetic research programme in the 1950s, a collaboration between the UK and US governments. The result of that research was that Grandad had passed on an altered genetic code to Dad, who in turn had passed it on to her and James. When Sam and James had survived the near-death experience of the bus bomb last year, it had somehow switched on the dormant gene and led to the development of their powers. Well, that was how Sir Michael Rosewood had explained it, and he appeared to be an expert on the subject.

  Sir Michael’s own father had been part of that programme and so, evidently, must Al’s grandfather.

  James sat at the kitchen table playing with his iPad. The only thing he was interested in talking to Al about was what football team he supported. Charlton Athletic, apparently, which led to some good-natured but, to Sam, very boring sparring about teams.

  “Charlton?! Those guys need more than superpowers to help them. They need magic.”

  Which brought up the elephant in the room.

  “That’s something we need to talk about,” said Dad. “Dinner is ready, so let’s go through to the dining room and have a conversation about it, shall we?”

  ***

  Mum and Lolly had cooked salmon, one of Sam’s favourites, but she found herself eating without even tasting as she waited for Dad to bring up the issue of superpowers.

  “Do you mind us asking about your ability, Alvin?” he asked.

  “’Course not.” Al retold the story of his injury of last year, and how he could change one substance into another.”

  “But your family don’t know?”

  “That’s right. And I’d appreciate it if none of you told them. No disrespect, Mr Blake, but that’s something for me to tell them when I’m ready.”

  “Sure. But even though I don’t know you or your family, I’d advise you to level with them. Keeping secrets is hard work, and very lonely.”

  The table went quiet, with just the sound of cutlery clinking on crockery.

  “You guys seem pretty cool,” Al admitted. “Sam said you were. That’s why I wanted to come and introduce myself, so you could see what kind of boy likes your daughter.”

  “We appreciate that,” said Mum. “And I’m sure it says a lot about you. But there is the issue of your parties.”

  Uh-oh, thought Sam. Here it comes.

  “What about them?” asked Al, with an edge to his voice.

  “Where to begin? First, there’s drugs there, and in particular, Super Drug,” said Mum.

  “You were young once, weren’t you, Mrs Blake? You never took drugs at a party?”

  Mum smiled politely. Dad put his knife and fork down.

  “You’re 15, Al. Sam is 14,” he said, thickly. “I don’t want her ever to get into that scene, and right now I don’t want her going to your parties.”

  “That’s your decision,” replied Al, confrontationally.

  “Yes, it is. Al, I think you’re a good kid, but I can’t allow you to see Sam while you’re mixed up in the drugs scene.”

  “Hey, wait,” said Sam. “Don’t I get a say in this?”

  Mum placed her hand on Sam’s arm.

  “I’m sorry Sam, but Dad is right.”

  “I ain’t no drug dealer! You got the wrong idea, man,” protested Al, starting to lose his temper.

  “Have I?” challenged Dad.

  “Yeah! I ain’t selling drugs to nobody. I run my parties, people have a good time. Yeah, I can make Super D and I give it out. So what? It empowers people.”

  “You’re making Super D?” said Dad, slowly. “You are?”

  Sam closed her eyes. This was exactly what she had feared. When she opened her eyes, Dad was red in the face. He was making a huge effort to control himself.

  “Leaving aside for the moment how dangerous cocaine and whatever else that’s available at your parties is, Super Drug is a whole different category in itself.”

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about,” said Al, a look of grim defiance on his face.

  Sam was cringing. This was a discussion she wanted to have with Al in private, not around the dinner table in front of the whole family. James looked uncomfortable too, while Lolly keenly tackled her food like she was unaware of the tension.

  “I do,” insisted Dad. “It’s dangerous. And I don’t think you appreciate quite what you are doing.”

  “It’s freedom. You got no idea what it’s like out there. You got a nice house in a nice part of London — lucky you! Most people have got nothing, and what they have got is being taken away from them. Super D means they don’t have to take that no more.”

  “Does it?” asked Mum.

  “Yeah, it does. Sam, James and Lolly are special, like me. It’s down to us to help other people.”

  “By giving them drugs?” replied Dad. “By getting them into trouble with the police? By getting them targeted by men like Nicky Cairo?” His volume levels were going up and up.

  “You’re treating Sam and James like they’re kids,” Al snapped.

  “They are kids. Specifically, they are my kids,” said Dad, flatly. “Now I can’t tell you what to do with your life, Al, but I will keep my own children safe. I’m not judging you, but I am warning you. I won’t let you drag Sam and James into your world. I repeat: I won’t let you see Sam all the while you’re running these parties and dishing out drugs. Do I make myself clear?”

  Sam wanted to say something, but she didn’t dare.

  “Ain’t your decision to make!” stormed Al, getting up. “It’s like trying to talk to my dad. You’re from a different generation. Don’t you get it? Everything’s messed up now. You don’t go to school and get a good job. The world ain’t like it was when you was doing some stupid degree and buying a nice house.”

  Sam couldn’t take it any longer.

  “Please. Can everyone just shut up. This is so embarrassing.”

  “I’m sorry, Sam,” said Al, pacing back and forth. “Sorry, everyone. You’re all nice people and I don’t want to be rude. I just don’t think we’ll ever have anything in common. I gotta go.”

  And with a slam of the front door he was gone.

  “Well, thanks very much for that!” Sam shouted at Dad.

  “Sweetheart, sit down,” urged Dad, looking exasperated.

  “Did you have to go on at him about the parties? That was one of the worst moments of my life.”

  “Sam. Finish your dinner, calm down and we’ll talk about it.”

  “I don’t want to talk about it with you. I’m going after him.”r />
  “No you’re not,” ordered Dad.

  “Sam, please don’t do this,” asked Mum, gently.

  “He’s being unreasonable!” shouted Sam, pointing at Dad. “Now I’ll probably never see Al again.”

  “Dad, let Sam go and talk to Al,” James implored.

  “No. Sam, I like the boy, but he’s bad news.”

  Sam had had enough. She didn’t want to listen anymore. She went into the lounge, picked up her phone and dialled Al. No reply. She marched back into the hallway, put her jacket and shoes on, put the phone in her jacket pocket and opened the front door.

  She could hear Dad getting up from the dining-room table.

  “Sam, don’t you dare—”.

  Slam.

  Chapter 31

  Door closed, parent silenced. That was better. Not really thinking straight, Sam got to the end of the driveway and looked left and right. She could just see Al turning the corner onto South Ealing Road. He must be heading for the tube station. She ran after him.

  “Al, wait. Please! Al. Please wait.”

  Al stopped. He looked wound up and surprised to see her.

  “You shouldn’t have followed me. You’ll get in trouble,” he said.

  “I don’t care. I wanted to make sure you were all right. I’m sorry about my dad.”

  Al took a deep breath.

  “Yeah. I’m sorry, too. I like the guy, and he’s your dad, so I didn’t mean to be all in his face. But he’s just like my dad. It’s all work hard, do what you’re told, live by the rules, accept your place in life — and that just isn’t me!”

  “I know it isn’t. I like that about you. Dad was just being… Dad. He’s really old-fashioned about stuff.”

  Al smiled, and Sam could see he was calming down.

  “He probably just doesn’t like the fact you’re not his little girl anymore. It’s hard for them to see us grow up ain’t it?”

  Sam nodded. Now she didn’t know what to say.

  “I can walk you to the station, if you like?” she offered.

  “We could go on somewhere? I could show you some night life?”

  Sam was tempted. But she had defied Dad just by coming out here. He might accept that, but if she then went for a big night out he would probably spontaneously combust, particularly after all that had happened this week.