Chapter 6

"OK Ezra," a voice boomed from behind them, and both Lydia and Ezra turned behind them. PC Templeton walked up behind them and gave Ezra a firm stare. "Turn your pockets out."

"What?" Ezra asked in surprise.

"Turn your pockets out. I reckon I'll find some controlled substances."

Ezra threw his hands up in exasperation. "And why do you think that?"

The policeman gave a wry smile. "I think you know why."

Ezra groaned and turned out the pockets of his tracksuit that was a couple of tissues, some keys, a wallet containing ten pounds and a few condoms. The policeman patted Ezra down as Ezra taunted him.

Lydia watched in horror, as Ezra was searched and then the policeman not finding anything got up and bade her farewell.

"Oi, fucking come back. Don't I get a fucking apology?"

PC Templeton turned and walked back. "No sonny. You don't get an apology. But you speak to me like that again and you will get arrested. Now I know you are up to no good. And I will catch you. And you will go to prison when I do. You understand?"

Ezra scowled and sneered at the policeman, and PC Templeton walked away.

"What the fuck was all that about?" Ezra asked and Lydia remained silent. She had sat down on the bench while Ezra was being searched and Ezra joined her. She looked across at her friend.

"I do worry about you, you will end up in jail the way you are going."

"I didn't do anything," Ezra whined but she was adamant.

"You will. Even mum says so, she thinks you will waste your life. I'm worried about it."

"I won't. I'm not totally stupid," Ezra countered and Lydia sniggered.

"Well I'll remember that when you are next in court. Christ's sake Ezra you can't even be in the park without being stopped and searched. And what's going to happen when they find drugs on you?"

"They let you off with a little bit," Ezra replied and she took a deep breath.

"They send dealers to prison," she replied coldly and Ezra stared at her. He went to say something but she saw it in his eyes. "Yes Ezra, I know."

"How?"

Lydia bit her fingernails. "I've known you for a long time, Ezra. Since you were four. I remember you pulling the pigtails of all the girls..."

"Except you," Ezra interrupted.

"Except me. Well I stood up to you. I've known you be a little bastard for years and a big bastard for almost as long. But it is getting serious now, dealing in drugs is a big deal. And they will catch you. Eventually. And I don't want you to piss your life away."

Ezra grimaced as Lydia spoke and stared out over the swings. "I am not going to prison. I am not going to piss my life away," he replied calmly. "And you are starting to sound like my fucking mother."

Lydia exhaled sharply and put her hand on his arm. "I am only saying this because I care, Ezra. I just want you to be happy, and out of trouble."

Ezra sucked in and she leaned over to put her head on his shoulder. "OK. I'll stay out of trouble."

"You will stop dealing?" Ezra snorted and Lydia looked at him expectantly. "Ezra?"

"I don't do very much, don't worry about me."

Lydia stopped and grabbed hold of his arm. "Ezra. I gave you my virginity because I thought that underneath you were a decent guy but I don't want to be friends with a drug dealer. You will go to prison, so for me, please, stop."

"OK. I'll stop. Only sell a few hundred's worth a month anyway."

Lydia's eyes widened. "A few hundred's worth? Bloody hell Ezra. You promise me, you'll stop?"

Ezra glowered at her with a deep frown and an annoyed tone. "Yeah, I promise."

"Well lets take a walk home then," Lydia said and Ezra got up and pulled Lydia to her feet. "You know that means telling Beth she can't trade weed for blow jobs," Lydia told him and Ezra stopped.

"Who told you that?"

Lydia laughed. "I know quite a lot about you that you probably wished I didn't."

Ezra walked Lydia home and as the thunderclouds gathered ominously took the short trek back towards his house. The trees would shelter him from any rain and by the time he reached the small village he called home he was still reasonably dry, despite the clouds unleashing a torrent of water onto the land below.

Ezra ambled into the living room and picked up a magazine. His mother and stepfather barely acknowledged his presence, instead they were glued to the television set. Ezra had just slumped down in the chair and opened the magazine when William burst into the lounge and dragged him from the chair.

"You messin' with Susie?" William shouted and Ezra pushed him back.

"Now steady on," Michael uttered and looked at his stepsons.

Ezra sneered at his elder brother. "Says who?"

William took a deep breath, his eyes sparkling with anger. "Did you mess with her?"

Ezra smiled."Yeah, she was very accommodating. Desperate for ... satisfaction."

William took a deep breath and roared at his brother. "What do you know?"

"I know how to give her an orgasm. Several in fact," Ezra goaded him coldly and William's fist smashed into his brothers solar plexus. Ezra was winded from the unexpected attack and as he tried to recover, William struck a fist into his face and he fell against the radiator.

Ezra shouted in pain and William turned to kick him, but his mother stopped him. "I loved her," he wailed. "You told her that I was sleeping with Kelly and I haven't been."

Ezra stumbled to his feet and wiped his face. It was pouring blood and looked at his brother, who was staring at him. He swayed for a moment, and punched him as hard as he could in the ribs, despite a warning from Michael to end the fight.

Michael bundled into Ezra, smearing blood all over his shirt. "Stop it," he bellowed but Ezra ignored him.

"Yeah, well she wanted something you couldn't give her. Desperate she was. I've never seen a girl that wet before," Ezra taunted and William seethed at his brother through furious tears. He turned and left the room.

Tara and Michael both turned to Ezra. "What did you do that for?" Tara asked. "You know they've been dating for five years next week. They were supposed to be going away together to celebrate."

Ezra shrugged. "She was asking for it," he muttered, still not feeling guilty over his transgression.

Michael closed his eyes and yelled at Ezra to "get out of the house" and Ezra grinned and swaggered out of the house and went to the park to contemplate. The rain had stopped and he just needed to get away from his family.

He turned into his road an hour later. He had stolen four gnomes from number six and smashed them, leaving the pieces on the lawn of number eight, and also pushed a boy off his bike in the park. It didn't make him feel any better at all, and decided that he had done enough soul-searching and just wanted to relax in his room.

A crying voice was coming from outside his house and he sauntered round the corner to see Susie wailing at the house. "Will, please. Talk to me."

Ezra grinned. "Oh hello Susie," he said with an inappropriate fondness. "How are you?"

The tearful Susie spun around. "You bastard, Ezra. You nasty little shit," she yelled. "You told me Will was cheating and he wasn't."

Ezra's grin didn't leave his face. "I know. But you were willing to spread your legs for me when I told you."

Tears fell from Susie's face and she wiped her cheek. "How could you be so nasty? He is your brother."

Ezra sniggered. "That's why it so enjoyable," he replied without emotion and stepped over the flowerbed towards the door.

Susie launched herself at him. She might have been slight but threw a volley of punches towards the sixteen year old and Ezra was forced back in surprise onto the manicured lawn. "I hate you. I hate you. I hate you," she screamed, her weak blows barely causing any pain and Ezra blocked them with ease.

Without thinking he grabbed her by the wrists and threw her onto the lawn. Susie shrieked and screamed. Ezra stood over her and she just stared at him, sobbing. "Oh shut it yo slapper."

Ezra turned and was met with William running out of the front door, holding the biggest kitchen knife in his hands.