[INDENT][COLOR=SLATEGRAY][CENTER][sup][sup][h1][center][img] https://media.architecturaldigest.com/photos/672d4a5b823a46b3d7f713e1/16:9/w_2560%2Cc_limit/GettyImages-1867432941.jpg[/img][/center][b][center][color=black] S T .  D Y M P H N A ‘ S  H O M E[/color]
[color=lightgray]S T .  D Y M P H N A ‘ S  H O M E[/color][/center]
[/b][/h1][/sup][/sup]
[sup][sup][h1][b][center][color=black] F O R  W A Y W A R D  Y O U T H S[/color]
[color=lightgray]F O R  W A Y W A R D  Y O U T H S[/color][/center]
[/b][/h1][/sup][/sup]
[color=silver][sup][i]Joanie[/i][/sup][/color][/CENTER][/color][/INDENT]
The Docks district was waking up around them as the trio made their way through the tight streets and old brick buildings. Delivery vans rolled past, their engines rumbling against the brickwork, and they passed groups of people heading about their day. A pair of dog walkers chatted outside a corner shop. A cyclist weaved through a line of parked cars. Someone swept outside a café, sending the smell of warm bread into the air. The pavement still held the cool of the night, but the sun was already warming the tops of the warehouse roofs, turning the windows into pale gold mirrors. The whole neighbourhood felt like it was stretching its limbs after sleep.

Joanie followed suit. They’d gotten home late last night from the Slats, which maybe hadn’t been the best idea given she was due to start her new job at Old Prue Gables in half an hours time. She was surprised the others had dragged themselves out of bed to join her on her walk in this morning. She had a good group of friends.

Trey was currently mid-way through his rant, which he did every year during the draft season. 

“The Calder Coyotes have lost their minds,” he moaned, hands tucked into his pockets. “Drafting Harker over Quinn? Ridiculous. I could run that team better than half their management.”

“You can barely run your own life.” Mina laughed, rolling her eyes.

“I’d still do a better job,” Trey insisted. “Give me a clipboard and a headset and I’d turn that team around in a week.”

“You can’t even skate!” Mina exclaimed.

Joanie let out a quiet laugh. Watching the two of them bicker was a good distraction, something light to hold onto while her nerves twisted in her stomach. Her hands stayed tucked into her sleeves as her gaze drifted toward the road that led to Marth’s family’s bed and breakfast. The thought of starting there today made her chest flutter.

Mina caught the look on her face.

“Hey. How’re you doing?” She asked, playfully bumping her shoulder.
Joanie hesitated.

[colour=plum]“I’m nervous.”[/colour] She confessed, trying to smile. [color=plum]“You didn’t have to walk me there, though. I appreciate it, but you really didn’t need to.”[/color]

“We wanted to,” Mina said. “It’s a big day.”

Trey nudged her lightly with his elbow from the other side. “And after your shift, we’re getting food. I’m starving already.” 

“You’re always starving,” Mina said.

Joanie breathed out slowly. For a moment, everything felt simple.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out and frowned as she read the name of the sender.

Caleb.

[i]Good luck today. You’ll do amazing.[/i]

Joanie stopped walking as her stomach tightened. He had messaged her a few times since their meeting at Sandra’s the other day, apologising for everything that happened. She had ignored every single one. So how on earth did he know about her new job?

Trey saw her expression change.

“Who’s that?”

Joanie turned the screen so they could see. Mina frowned in response.

“Caleb?” She asked. “What does that asshole want now?”

Joanie locked the phone, shaking her head as she began to move forward again.

[colour=plum]“He keeps messaging. I haven’t replied.”[/colour]

Trey hesitated, then spoke quietly. “I… might know why he texted.”

Joanie froze.

[colour=plum]“What?”[/colour] She asked, turning to look at her friend in confusion.

“I talked to him. Last night.”

“Trey, you didn’t.” Mina gasped, her eyes widening.

“I was worried,” he said. “You’ve been different since Harborlight. And you wouldn’t talk to us. I didn’t know what else to do.”

Joanie’s chest tightened as her pulse jumped.

[colour=plum]“I thought you said you had my back.”[/colour] She exclaimed, her fist tightening slightly. He knew how she felt about Trey. Especially after everything that had happened and everything they had seen. How could he betray her like this? After everything he had said the night before. 

Trey’s expression softened, guilt flickering across his face. “I do. That’s why I messaged him. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

Mina stepped closer to Joanie.

“Trey, she doesn’t need this right before her shift.”

“I know,” he said softly. “I just want her safe.”

Joanie opened her mouth to answer. To tell him she didn’t need protection. But before she could, a voice interrupted her train of thought, cutting across the street.

“Morning, kids.”

They turned.

A battered white van was parked across the road, half in the shade of an old warehouse. Four figures leaned against it, watching them like they had been there long enough to enjoy the conversation.

She recognised the one who spoke immediately from when Trey had pointed him out to her back at Harborlight. It was Detonator Dane, the club’s champion.

“Seems like we’ve stumbled across something fun.” He jeered, rolling a small metal sphere across his knuckles, tapping it lightly as if daring it to ignite.