I was in Biology the next day with Victoria, the teacher was just about to assign our partners for the biology projects.

"As soon as I list you and your partners, you will spend the rest of the period planning and brainstorming what you'll do for these projects, you can do anything you want as long as it's biology related."

He started to walk around the room with a clipboard, I turned to Victoria, we both crossed our fingers.

"Let it be us, I already have a great idea!" Victoria whispered.

"What?" I whispered.

"Have you heard of Kombucha?"

"What in the-"

The teacher walked to us.

"Victoria and Emma, you're paired up. Victoria told me of her idea a week in advanced, it's fascinating. The project is due in two weeks."

He smiled and walked away. Victoria grinned showing her braces.

"Kombucha is a tea drink, it has to do with biology because not only does it have health benefits, it has to be fermented by storing it somewhere for three weeks, causing a culture of bacteria and yeast to form in it."

"That. Sounds. Gross."

"I know but it's about trusting the process, it's already been stored so all we have to do now is wait. Come to my apartment this weekend and I'll show you what I did ok?"

"Ok."

I admit that I started getting excited about the project.

I walked to the apartment to check on Mum. The door was locked so I knocked.

"Mum, are you here?"

She answered.

"What?"

"Can I come home now?"

"Yes but for a while because my new boyfriend's taking me to Edinburgh for a holiday and of course you'll be staying with your Uncle Bart."

She let me in, she made me a glass of water and one for herself.

"I need something to drink, my withdrawal's kicking in."

"Dry mouth, sore throat, dehydration?"

"Dry mouth sweetheart. I'll be glad to go to Edinburgh, there's a wonderful museum. I didn't know Braveheart was based on a true story! Apparently William Wallace and Robert The Bruce were real people."

How could she not know, it's a part of our British heritage? Drugs sure has fried her brain like chicken.

"How long will you be gone Mum?"

"Just a couple weeks, Edinburgh is just an hour drive from here, he lives there you know."

"Why can't I come with you? I would love to visit a museum."

"School is more important, you can't miss two weeks of school. Me and him are gonna have a romantic time."

"Is he a druggie?"

"He wouldn't dare, with the amazing job he has, the amount of money he gets, he wouldn't dare."

Of course she wants to fuck him for his money. She'll never change.

"You'll have a good time with your uncle...and that ching chong man dog of his."

"His name is Danny and don't call him that!"

"It's true, and he is of the orient right!? Right!"

"Mum-"

"Shut up! You know what, get your ass out, you're leaving early! You love Danny more than me so go and play fetch with him!"

She shoved me to my room, packed the rest of my clothes in a trash bag and sent me out the door.

I banged on the door.

"Mum!?"

No answer.

"You know what, fuck you, fuck your man, fuck your drugs, fuck his money, and fuck my life!" I yelled between bangs.

I stomped out the building.

I arrived at Uncle Bart's place, Georgie or Lefty wasn't there to greet me. I walked to the doorway of the main office, Uncle Bart was screaming at Danny.

"I feed you, I clothe you, put a roof over your head, after all the time I put-"

He slammed his locker after grabbing some first aid material and continued yelling.

"The fucking effort...to make you the man that you are and what thanks do I get, look at me, I look like I been through the first fucking world war, take em downstairs, get em out of my sight!"

"Come on Doghead."

As Danny and Lefty walked away, I walked inside, sighed, and dropped the trash bag on the ground.

"Emma, when did you get here?"

"What happened to you?"

"Danny, that's what, he can be so fucking brainless. Sorry you had to see that darling. What's with the garbage bag?"

"Mum is going out of town with her new man for a couple weeks. He'll be her piggy bank for a bit."

"Like I said yesterday, fuck your mum, she's a druggie who barely worked a day in her life. I should be your guardian, I'm the one who's payin' for your school, I'm always here for you Em."

Georgie peeked in.

"Boss, there's a man here to see ya."

"I'm busy!"

"He says he's got a business proposition for us."

"...Pay em down!"

He slumped down in his seat.

"I'm getting too old for this shit."

He tried to poor alcohol, not rubbing alcohol, the kind of alcohol you drink, on his busted lip.

"Shit, Jesus!"

A slender man with red hair and a receding hairline walked in.

"What do I owe this visit?" Uncle Bart asked.

"I am here to offer a lucrative business proposition."

"How lucrative?"

"Very lucrative."

That man sounded so creepy!

"I'm impressed by what your man did in the jewelry shop today, once a month, I hold a match with the best fighters in all the UK, winner gets a load of money, cold hard cash. Your man would be a shoe in. The next fight is tomorrow morning, be there."

"Or be square," I blurted giggling.

"Who is this lovely mischievous young lady?"

"My niece Emma, her mischievousness runs in the family. Ain't that right Em?"

He nudged me chuckling.

"Sure Uncle Bart."

The man smiled creepily at me, sent shivers down my spine, bad feeling about him. He walked away.

"Do I have to come to the fight?" I asked.

"I'll leave that as an option for you, give Danny some support since you deeply care for him."

"I'll come for Danny, not for the idea of human cock fighting."

"We could benefit from this, I'll give you a small cut for an allowance while your mum's on holiday, she won't have to know."

"That's actually kinda cool of you Uncle Bart, thanks."

I was kinda dreading tomorrow. Could Danny be able to take those fighters?