N e x t G e n e r a t i o n

“You very well could have destroyed the school to me, Nadine. You’ve never felt unsafe your entire life. I do everyday living in this world. If you don’t understand me cutting out a bystander for my own safety, you’re not as open minded as I thought you were.” Clay took a step back, as well. “I was serious when I said I’m sorry about your brother. I’ve never had a sibling. I’ll never know what it’s like, I won’t pretend to.” And at times, it did justify Nadine’s actions in his mind. But mostly, Clay felt hurt and that overclouded everything else. “I don’t want to keep having this conversation either. Take care.”

Nadine knew he was right. Deep down. She’d lived a life of privilege, never hearing the word no. And yet she’d never used that to help others, not even when she’d grown to care. Still, the word bystander stung, and she swallowed down a lump in her throat. “Glad we agree,” she replied, her voice so soft and timid compared to normal. Then she turned on her heel and walked away, managing to get herself to the bathroom before the tears began to fall.

“You know, Nadine. I think the reason you’re so cross with me is because I’m the only person unafraid to tell you the truth. I could shatter your glass house and you can’t handle that. And I think you need to grow up. I’m sorry about your brother.”

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Nadine could’ve slapped him. She probably would’ve, if she weren’t acutely aware of where they were, the high profile status of the case, the reporters swarming around. “No, Clay. I’m mad at you because you didn’t even give me a chance. You just lumped me in with him.” Her glass house was well and truly shattered, much like the rose tinted glasses with which she’d viewed her brother. Her world, her family, none of it would ever be the same again. It’d been a sharp slap in the face by reality. “You treated me like I was the one who destroyed the school. All because I believed my brother when he told me he had nothing to do with it.” She shook her head. “You’re not sorry at all.” And she didn’t expect him to be. If the situations were reversed, she certainly wouldn’t be. She took a small step back. “I can’t keep having this same conversation with you.”

“I won’t lie, I’ve thought about it.” Clay licked his lips. Somehow being away from the boldest woman he knew had only made him bolder in return. “But I won’t, of course. I’ve never had a sibling.” He didn’t know what it was like.

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“Right. Well if you don’t have anything else to say --” She couldn’t bring herself to look at him, but still she left the opening, there for him to take.

“Ooh, see if they do french fries. With some Thai sauce.” Whatever that was. She wanted it now. “Thanks, A.P.”

“Whatever. Anything but burgers,” Albus warned, standing from the lounge chair. “Hey, ‘Thena, I’m grabbing food for the stoners.” He called to the dark haired girl who swam towards the edge of the pool. “I’ll fetch us something edible, too.”

Athena smiled, that idea being the best she’d heard all day long. “I’ll be out in a few.” Though, she could have swam underneath the dimming sky all night long. And maybe she would.

Clay happened to glance up in time to catch dark hair disappearing into the corridor. Without much thought, Clay began to jog forward. He was glad he’d gone with a suit rather than traditional robes today – it made this action much easier. “Hey,” he said to catch her attention as he caught up to her. Certain it was her, he said it again, “Hey.” 

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Don’t follow, don’t follow. But of course he did. “What, Clay? Come to gloat? Tell me you told me so?”

“I’ll pass,” but Albus looked to Tommy. “Don’t stop on my accord.”

The sun disappeared along the horizon, dusk fast approaching as the joint shrunk in size. “When do we get burgers?”

Albus rolled his eyes, with a snort, “I’m not ordering you burgers in Phuket.”

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Tommy also passed.

Noah, on the other hand, was happy to help Lucy finish the joint. That was until she mentioned food. “Mate.” Noah leant over, clapping a hand on Albus’s shoulder. “You should order for us.”

His mother and their family’s lawyers were giving statements to the press who’d been awaiting this verdict. And while Clay knew in his heart, this is how today would turn out, he had not been ready for it. He wanted to close this chapter badly, but knew it wasn’t so simple. “Sorry,” he muttered underneath his breath, not looking up from his spot in the corridor. Really, he felt glued in place.

Nadine’s eyes snapped up at the sound of Clay’s voice. In her haze, it caught her there. But she couldn’t face him. Certainly not now, probably not ever. So she turned to leave, hopefully before he realised it was her. 

Albus had been taking note of Athena’s behavior for the last few days now. His best friend had sounded stoked about the getaway for weeks now, but as the trip approached, her noticed a sudden dip in her mood. He hadn’t found the opportunity to question her. And the selfish part of him wanted to spend as much time with Tommy, in a foreign country, as he could. They’d be back to their jobs after holiday, no doubt. “Markets for lunch it is. Your precious animals can be afterwards.” He didn’t voice this concern and instead exchanged a look with Tommy. Albus wasn’t huge on animals. He’d owned a ferret at some point and it’d bitten him constantly.

Lucy wasn’t oblivious to Athena acting strange, but didn’t know her enough to know what was up. She understood maybe voicing your problems to boys, one of them your ex-boyfriend, wasn’t always beneficial. Maybe she’d offer girl talk later on, and a joint between the two of them. Lucy didn’t need to offer any peace offerings, but she still felt like she should. “Ooh, ooh, hit it before it goes out,” she warned of her boyfriend, leaning into him. Whatever they did, having Noah there would make it easier.

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Noah took another deep drag, salvaging it just in time. “You sure you two lovebirds don’t want some?” He asked, offering it over.

It was perhaps the hardest day Nadine had ever had to face. The prosecution had built up a case that was impossible for even her to ignore. As evidence after evidence was displayed, witness after witness gave their statement, the rose tinted glasses Nadine wore for her brother cracked, until they shattered completely with the guilty verdict. Whilst she sat there in shock, tears staining her cheeks, she met her brothers eyes and knew. He’d lied to her, used the love she held for him as a shield. She’d been defending a criminal. 

It was her mothers gentle hand on her back that got her out of her seat, and walking out of the halls. Her father went ahead, so the pair of Shafiq women could avoid any press that came their way. That was, until their lawyers came and asked to speak with them, to make arrangements for Axel’s belongings, leaving Nadine wandering alone, her head in the clouds. She didn’t notice there was someone in her path until she walked right into them.

“Absolutely, you will.” It’s where Clay would be, fighting for his mother and everything she’d ever earned. He’d be fighting for squibs alike. Tonight was the bravest he’d ever been. He hoped he hadn’t spent up all of his energy before the trial had even began. He strolled away, forgetting about the peaches. Nadine and her words were the only things he could feel, each thought like a knife.

“I think it’s the smartest thing I’ve said all night,” he shot back. “Are you going with?” Clay was certain Nadine had this man by his blue balls.

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“I am.” Although, he had a feeling he wasn’t going to get what he wanted from Nadine that night. Still, he stayed poised. “It was good to meet you, Clay. I’m sure we’ll see you at the trial.” And with that, he too made his exit.

Clay could only resort to one thing. Albeit childish, he did it anyway. “Hey, blondie,” he remarked toward the man who’d accompanied Nadine tonight. He wondered if this was her only suitor. But it no longer mattered, even if it did make his skin crawl. “Are you a squib?” After a moment, Clay continued, “I didn’t think so.” Apparently, his point had been made in those short few seconds. He was smug, yet disgusted with himself.

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Nadine took a step back, affronted. “Fuck you, Clay,” she spat, turning on her heel and walking away, leaving both men behind before he could have the satisfaction of seeing her tears.

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Albus made room on the lounge chair for Tommy to join both he and Athena on top of it. He glanced around to make sure they were out of view of staff. He didn’t mind breaking a couple of the resort’s rules. Being caught, however, was a different story. He had brushed up on the Muggle laws around the Island, at least, and knew his rights. “What’s the plan for tomorrow? Athena can’t shut up about the monkeys, but I want to go to the street market. It’s only open on Sundays.”

“How much money do you plan on dropping this trip? Your allowance been upped?” Lucy cracked a joke at Albus’ expense, happily inhaling the weed. “I don’t care what we do.” In actuality, she cared a lot. She felt the need to be prepared for whatever the day brought and hated the last minute plans. Maybe she should speak up about it. “Isn’t there an elephant sanctuary on the Island?”

“Green Elephant Sanctuary Park,” Athena muttered, raising from her seat on the longue chair. She let the bathing suit cover fall from her shoulders, kicking off her sandals in the process, too. She cleared her throat, speaking up louder now, “Monkeys, elephants, shopping. Whatever makes everyone happy.” And then she turned, diving into the pool and away from her friends.

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Whilst Tommy settled down next to Albus, Noah moved to wrap his arm around Lucy’s shoulders. He knew how he felt, being in this new place that was bound to be crowded and full of the unknown. He had a feeling she was having similar doubts of her own. “Alright, well,” he tried not to let his eyes follow Athena into the pool. “We can figure out which is best at what time of day. Go to the markets for lunch.”

“What you don’t understand, Nadine,” and perhaps, what he said next, was one of the hardest things he’d ever mustered up, “is that I am afraid to know you, or your family. I’m afraid of what I will discover.” He’d never discarded her, no. He’d saved himself. It was all an act of survival. Seeing her cry now, was a punch to the gut. He hated that he cared. “I don’t like the person you were and I don’t like who you are.”

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“You don’t get to make statements like that,” she snapped. She was angry now, and anger born of hurt was some of the harshest of all. “Because you obviously didn’t know me then, and you certainly don’t now, if you think there’s anything to discover.” Especially, when she’d been more herself with him than she was with anyone.

But how was he to know the moments when she sat alone with in her room, with no distractions, when it was that much harder to convince herself of her brothers innocence. Of the nights she’d try to fall asleep and see the rubble of that school, the way the guilt twisted in her. That even though she didn’t want to entertain the thought that perhaps she had given Axel the connection he needed, it came when she was feeling her most vulnerable. No, she thought fiercely, he knew nothing.