The Girl in the Middle

A whole new world

*Amber*

The school is amazing and I love staying here. Not to speak ill of the apartment, but the School is in much better condition and I feel safe.

Tom's predecessor had managed to make a practical and comfortable base without slackening on the security. There is guards at the gate and again at the main entrance at all hours of the day. Tom and Drew has their rooms on the first floor, were they also have offices, school rooms and the dining hall. On the second and third floor there are sleeping halls for the rest of the members. Should someone happen to get by the guards at the gate and the front door they would need to get by Tom and Drew before getting to the other members.

The basement is in three levels. They first two has training facilities, divided into several room and halls. The lowest level is for storage.

Tom also has his on swimming hall, two outdoor paintball arenas, a shooting range, an obstacle courses, a playground and a giant vegetable garden. Everything tucked in safely behind the walls.

A little less than half of Tom's members is kids and women, they aren't active in the gang. They don't have the knowledge or the skills to defend themselves against enemies like Zombie, but inside the school grounds they are safe.

Tom is more like a king of his own little kingdom, than a leader of a gang. He has close to 1000 people under him. And everyone seems to love and respect him, despite many of them being older than him. I have to admit that I am impressed by his accomplishments.

Tom has taken advantage of Clay being away to start me on my training. Or actually he has started me on playing games. On his orders I spent most of my time playing football with the kids outside the school. As all the kids from the underworld spent their days under Tom's protection, having lessons with teachers, there are a lot of them to play against.

To me as an outsider, Tom kind of seem like the unofficial King of the entire underworld, but I am aware that there is a lot of things I don't understand about the power strukture here.

I also play tennis against Tom or Mike and fought through the obstacle courses against the youngest of the teenage boys, often feeling utterly humiliated.

This is how I have spent the last eight days when Kattie arrives. It is a relief being able to leave the games with a good excuse. Even if the kids don't laugh at me, I find it rather embarrassing. Especially since it show just how bad my stamina is.

"Sorry I have just abandoned you with Tom". Kattie tells me. "I should be more involved in your training myself".

"It's okay. Tom has been nice enough to me". I shrug. Honestly I haven't really needed her. "With Clay in jail and Michael still recovering you have had a lot to care for".

"You can say that again". Kattie sigh. "Michael and KC talked me into letting Hope start selling. I hate the idea of her being so involved that she is out selling drugs".

"Drugs ?" I feel the colour drain from my face. "Is that what you are selling ?" Why hadn't I thought about that any sooner ? Why hadn't anyone told me ? Honestly I don't know much about drugs, except for them being dangerous.

"I totally get your reaction, but it's good money and we need money. Clay is stubborn as hell, he don't want to listen to ideas about finding another way of living". Kattie didn't seem happy about it.

"Even if it lands him in jail ?" I say, knowing that I sound rather indignant.

I hated the idea. Drugs seems like such a bad thing to be involved in. I mean I know it is none of my business, but it do make me see Ben in a different light. It's like I suddenly realise that the guy that makes my pulse raise when he looks at me is actual a real criminal.

"We have to take the risk or we can't afford to take care of everyone in the gang". Kattie shrugged slightly. "Down here we have to fend for ourselves to survive".

I look around, comparing the School to Clay's apartment. "Tom don't sell drugs and not to sound snobbish, but he seems to do a lot better, I mean looking at this place".

"No, Tom don't sell drugs. He sells weapons and medicine. He is sitting on the two most important trades of the underworld. So yeah, he has it made". Kattie says and I can't really read her expression.

I scratch my neck. "I hope it is okay for me to ask. It's just something Michael said and well.. is there something going on between you and Tom ?"

"No.. not really". She is biting her thumb. "Me and Tom go way back. We grew up together. He was the first boy I kissed, the first who.. well he was pretty much my first everything. But it's complicated. Tom is complicated".

She looks on the kids playing, changing the subject. "Hey, what do you say to a little trip to the park ?"

"That would be great". I say with a smile. It's about time I get outside Tom's safe walls, for my first trip out into the underworld and the real life.