THE HOSTEL
UPDATED
16thDecember
The homeless hostel, Amanda House, was the newly purpose built accommodation kitted out from floor to ceiling with all the essential items to live, four three story blocks with five flats in each and an office, situated at the mouth of the cul-de-sac shaped project. Housed 16 – 25 year old's who for whatever reason had found themselves homeless, situated in Birmingham, England, Brad and Holly were responsible for block C and it's residents.
Noah – Flat 2
Noah; the first to move in, came from a rather well to do family, or so he thought, his Mom being a nurse and his Dad a builder by trade, he'd had a happy childhood, but a bit of a hard time at school for being a Jew he soon learned to be proud of who he was. By the time he was in college he sort of worked out that his Dad sold stuff on the side and that tended to bring in more money than their regular jobs. He became homeless when his Dad, informed him the house was hot, gave him some money and told him at 20 it was time for him to make his way in life one day just out the blue.
He was deep in thought about the party that was definitely going to happen later when he heard a car screech to a holt on the forecourt and looked out his window, he'd had the pick of the place and put himself in a prime location he could see everyone coming in or going out, see the local shop, see the bus coming from the stop before and just hop across the road to catch it in time if he needed "Who's that?" he asked nobody still watching as a Blond haired girl came out of a taxi struggling with something off the back seat "Shit" he said, as his party plans sailed when he saw a baby come out as Holly walked towards them obviously going to give her the 2 hour spiel he'd just had
Quinn – Flat 1
Totally not interested in what staff had to say, Quinn's only concern was getting her baby's Dad into the flat. Holly, on learning he was waiting in the taxi, went out to meet him just to read him the visiting rules "Hello" she said as the tall, well built, dark haired black man walked towards her, looking a fair bit older than 19 year old Quinn, with a thuggish look on his face 'looks like trouble' she thought "I've already told Quinn but visiting is between 5pm and 10pm in the future and for stay overs you'll have to give 24 hours' notice" she relayed to him feeling the urge to let him know she'd already caught onto his game
"Nobody tells me when I see my kid" he snapped back
"Shane" Quinn said under her breath, but she was standing too close to Holly for her not to have heard
Quinn's notes said she didn't fare well with authority, following the involvement of Social Services with her now 10 month old daughter when she was born, and the split of her parents had made her even more difficult to live with. She blamed her Mom for the split but her Dad wanted nothing to do with her and openly told her that, sending her over the edge and into the arms of Shane. He was a controlling, possessive bully who got his kicks from telling her how to breath along with everything else and, the world owed him since his father passed when he was 8 years old. Truth they both needed support but for now being together in their dis-functional relationship seemed enough for them.
"Do you need help unpacking?" Holly asked looking at Quinn
"No" Shane said grabbing the key off Quinn and making his way to the building to let himself in
Santana – Flat 3
"Santana's a pleasant young lady" Tony; her worker from her previous project, said to Brad as he passed the paperwork over "she needs to improve on her life skills but other than that she's working, presents well and, although her Mom's Bipolar troubled her when she first came to us some 3 months ago, she seems to have moved away from the thought of it being her life in a few years' time" he added "She's worked well with me but as I said she's just started a new job near here and requested the move for budgeting and she wants to be close to her family, namely some brother, so this seemed like the best of both for her" Tony finished handing over the last of the files, which were as big as a lever arch folder to Brad, he went out to say a few words to Santana and he was gone.
Brad stepped outside the office door when her realised Tony had gone to see the frail, pretty, vulnerable girl her origins mixed maybe Hispanic and something else sitting patiently waiting. He did his usual getting to know you stuff concluding with "Well I'm here to help but, I will come down on you if I see you getting these lovely new flats into a state" he warned her "Okay, let's go do your health and safety stuff in the flat and I'll leave you to get settled in" he finally told her as they got up and walked towards the office door and over to the flat, Brad unsure of exactly how much of his talk she'd taken in "We'll meet up tomorrow to start on your other assessments" he said as he left her at the flat having helped her bring her things in
"Okay" she said looking at the big bag of clothes on the couch waiting to be unpacked "Get to it" she said picking up the bag and throwing it in the bottom of the wardrobe "Done" she said sitting on the bed
Mercy – Flat 4
Mercy sat in the back office with Brad telling her story and crying, she'd come to move into flat 4 but had become upset almost immediately and was taken to a more private room, to speak to her soon to be support worker. "He just hits me for no reason he takes that stuff and he's gone, a totally different person, and I hate him, but I don't you know he's my older brother" she said breaking down again
"Mom and Dad are no better" she said rolling her eyes, "Dad sells dodgy DVD's big time and thinks he's like one of the Cray Brother or something and Mom well, she gets on a flight every 6 months to France brings back dodgy cigarettes and thinks she lives on the edge, but they can't or don't want to see the mess Andrew is making of his life and it hurts you know? I mean how can you have 2 parents and none of them give a shit about what happens to you?" she said crying again "I'm not a weak person you know, I know you think I am because I'm crying but this is like 10 years worth of cry coming out of me, I need to cry until I'm mad" she blurted out laughing
"So what do you want to do now you've got that out the way?" Brad asked when he found a gap in her sob
"Honestly" she said looking at him "I've got a brain I'd like to use it, I'm nearly 21 I want to go to Uni or something first then of course the independent skills I'm hoping to gain more rounding from this place and my job will help with the boredom" she said stopping for thought "I'm determined to change my life for the better" she said finally wiping her eyes "You've just witnessed my last tears for my past and if you see me crying in the future you have my permission to slap me" she laughed
"Right positive talk I love it" Brad sat up in his chair ready for real talk "Can we do this induction now?" he asked
Sam – Flat 5
Sam arrived late evening and sat listening to Brad talking about himself for about 10 minutes "So" he heard, looking up and see Brad looking at him
"Oh my turn to do what I call, em me" he said smiling "I come from a very strict white stiff upper lip family background my Mom ruled me with an iron Bible. I think it was because my Dad did the dirty on her all those years ago, she tried to grow me like a proper man should be, or what she thinks" he smirked "My dad and his trick have done their damned best to fuck my head up always playing games with my Mom and stuff but she's a fighter and I love that about her she always springs back. "I'm dyslexic but I try not to bring that to the table too much" he said almost shyly "And well I'm here because I need to get out from under my Mom, I can see Carrie for men happening all over again if I stay any longer" he laughed
"So with all that happening, what conclusions have you reached?" Brad asked
"Well honestly, if anyone is going to fuck your head up it's your family" he laughed for a short while before getting serious "And the biggest I think is never to mess with people's hearts it's cruel, I don't want to be like my Dad, I'm going to find my woman and stick to her like glue"
"I like it" he said making Sam smile "Let's do the legal stuff and you can get yourself sorted
By the end of the day block C was at full capacity, with a mix of young people from all walks of life pulled together in the name of homelessness for whatever reason.
17thDecember
Handover
"We need a house meeting" Brad suggested "Get things under control before it goes too far maybe tomorrow" as all the Support Workers stood updating their Manager after the first nights handover
"Yeah sure; it was reported last night that Noah had a party and he's been told at induction" Holly reported rolling her eyes "And don't even get me started about Quinn, her partner hasn't left since she moved in, advice please?" she begged
"You think you got problems I went into Santana's flat this morning and OMG the mess I could not believe that was the brand new flat we gave the girl less than twenty four hours ago I've got some work to do there" Brad said holding his head "Sam's good he's working and at college" he smiled looking at Holly "Plus I have Mercy who I thought was going to be a hell of needy trouble but, she's settled she's working and she's on top of it. I'll have to go to her workplace for meetings she's so busy" he laughed "She won't be able to make a house meeting but I'll let her know what was discussed" he added
So finally all the teams were agreed on their days and plans were made, the next day was agreed for Block C's house meeting to take place, agenda set to discuss house rules, the visitors' policy and the three strikes rule, along with the group starting their life skills.
Noah
"Hey" Noah shouted to the girl walking across the courtyard, as he sat in the forecourt, with his early morning drink in his hand, posing on his push bike, she looked round but carried on walking "Hey" he said again sounding a bit pissed off "I'm talking to you" he added as the girl slowed down "Come here" he almost ordered
"You don't know me, don't talk to me like that" she shouted back
"Sorry" he quickly back tracked "I mean could you come here a minute, please" he asked with a cheeky grin
She started walking towards him smiling at the small victory "What do you want?" she asked shaking her hips and puffing on her cigarette like her life depended on it
"I seen a girl visiting you sharp like oh, long black hair, Jewish looking , skinny and pretty looking, you got her number?" he asked
"No I ain't got her fucking number and I don't know who the fuck you're talking about either" Santana walked off saying angrily
"Hey I'm kidding, I want to know your name" he shouted after her 'Well that went well' he thought as he watched her walking away "You girls are so fucking touchy" he shouted after her as she walked into the block, he didn't see her smiling
"Noah hi" Holly said, coming from nowhere "House meeting tomorrow you must attend" she said handing him the memo
Quinn
"You know it's been nearly a week since you took Marc out for even a walk" Shane informed her as they sat eating their evening meal
"I'll take him after this, I just thought you'd like to spend time with him, plus we just moved in yesterday I'm kind of tired" she replied
"Spend time?" he questioned his angry already coming
"Yeah, you know be with your son" she answered
"I was thinking more on the line of you spending time with our son, all this neglect doesn't make a good mother you know? I mean you're crap at everything else in your life, I thought you'd at least try at this" he said huffing at the end of his comment
"I am trying and the midwife says I'm doing alright" she looked up saying, a cry in her voice "Shay why is it you always try to put me down in everything I do?" she asked
"I don't you're just such a disappointment" he commented sitting back in the couch
"You know if that's the case you can always leave, I can manage alone"
"I've told you I'm not leaving my child with you, if I go, he goes" he spat
"You can't take him from me, he's my son" a cry in her voice
"He's mine too and I have rights and I'd make your life so fucking difficult, you wouldn't know what hit you" he threatened
"I know your sleeping with Lauren" she announced
"So what the hell has that got to do with you?" he asked angry standing up over her "You need to stop before this gets serious" he warned as she cowered away from him seeing the signs
"Just letting you know that I know" she replied "I don't think you understand what being a man, I mean a dad, is all about" she dared to carry on when she saw him drawing back, she knew by now he'd already made up his mind he was going to hit her, she might as well say what she means
"What the fuck do you mean by that?" he asked rushing back towards her
"Well your father and stuff, I don't think you know the first thing about being an active Dad"
"You went for gold?" he asked slapping her across the face "I keep telling you to leave my family, including Lauren out of your mouth" he said slapping her with every other word
"Stop please" she screamed holding her hands up to stop him attacking her face any more
"I wish you'd stop" he said kicking her to the ground as she tried to get up "Breathing that is" he added just before the baby started crying
"Stay there Marc" she shouted, to keep him out of harm's way as Shane walked away from her cutting his eye and sucking air through his teeth. She put her hands out for the baby to go to her and sat there crying for the longest time, she heard the door slam, he'd obviously gone out, minutes later she heard the letterbox knock "Who is it?" she asked
"Holly, I've got a memo for you" she said through the door
"Post it" she called back
"Okay, house meeting tomorrow, you must attend"
"Really?" Quinn said to herself as she wiped blood from her lip
Santana
Santana had been working prior to moving in, now she'd got a new lease on life she didn't have to work like Cinderella any more for her wicked step Mother and her Dad, she did things at her own pace. It had been 24 hours since she'd moved in and she was good. She'd been chirped by some guy in the block earlier and she was walking on clouds "God I'm still sexy" she said to herself as she moved her hips to her own song opening her door to get in. "God I must do this" she said walking over the soda bottle, make up items, clothes and other household items on the floor, to get to her even more clothe littered bedroom. She sat on the bed and looked around breathing hard as she came to the realisation that she needed to make another change somehow,
She loved nice things, she worked a 9 to 5 job which paid alright and her looks had got her a very well to do football player not really a professional but, the only way was up for him and she was clinging on for dear life. They'd finally slept together and afterwards he announced he was taking her to meet his sister next weekend so, she needed something super stylish for the occasion. He was going to pick her up from home, he definitely wasn't getting into the flat she thought looking around as she heard her doorbell ring "Who is it?" she shouted
"It's Brad" she started to frantically pick items up off the floor
"I'm coming" she shouted back running around, throwing things into the bedroom, before she got to the door
"I've already seen the state of your flat, if that's what you're hiding" he said as she appeared at the door
"I'm dedicating Sunday to it, I've just had work and stuff I'm going to do it honestly" she said smiling as he stood waiting to be invited in
"Santana I'm concerned you may need some extra support in relation to the issues we discussed yesterday, I know you think different but, the condition of your flat tells me, that despite what you think, there is a cry for help going on here" he looked around the living room having found the one semi-safe spot to rest his feet
"Really I don't need professional help, I'll tell the truth, I've just started going out with this footballer guy and he's a bit demanding on my time, I'll sort it" she almost shouted in panic
"See now where's that coming from?" he asked at the raised voice she was using on him
"You coming in here telling me I'm not coping, I cope, very well actually, I'm a bit pissed at my so called parents right now and I'm just not going to conform and clean up that's all but I know how to do it, and it will get done"
"Okay how's work?" he asked, hearing the situation could get out of hand, and he was lone working right now
"I'm still working, I've got a meet the family thing next weekend so I'll be doing more hours to get some bills together to get that Gucci dress I saw, wicked" she smiled
"Okay here's the deal I'll give you until 4 pm tomorrow to clean this up and I'll come back to check, if it's not done you'll be getting a warning" he said reaching her door "Oh" he turned back saying "I came to give you this it's about your house meeting tomorrow at 6 pm you'll have to attend" he said handing her the memo before leaving.
Mercy
Mercy was at her Job in the day, she'd paid her rent out of her savings, her flat was just as clean as she'd been given it and she'd made it homely, she was having her lunch break when her mobile rang "Hi Brad" she smiled down the phone "I think I need to move out" she told him "I'm paying an extortionate amount of rent and the noise in there last night kept me up I had to come to work for a rest" she laughed
"I'll look into that but just called to say, we're having a house meeting to deal with stuff like that tomorrow you need to attend" he informed her "It's at 6 pm and I know you like to get in and settle but it's once every week otherwise we're on your back" he laughed
"Okay"
"So house of Mom and Dad, what's happening?"
"I turned a page on that lot and left them where they were, with Christmas coming up I'll need me a new family" she said smiling still
"Find out if anyone else is staying"
"I don't speak to anyone in there everyone seems to be in strife, one girls is getting proper battered, there's a guy I call Marijuana baby downstairs he is constantly smoking; the smell" she laughed "And then there's Miss catwalk I call her, I've seen her through the window, she dresses great but the smell coming from her flat is disgusting" she said seriously
"So what about eye candy?" he asked
"What that woman batterer, she can keep him he might be nice on the outside but he's a rotten apple really"
"I thought he just worked and kept himself to himself?"
"Who Shane?" Mercy asked "I don't even speak to him and I know his damn name, he's an animal" she said narrowing her eyes with despise "And that poor baby sees everything"
"No; I shouldn't say any more" he laughed
"Oh I'm not interested anyway, my priority is finding my own place, how can you be homeless and be looking for a man?"
"Easy but I'm glad your focused" he said "When you come back you can sign these notes I'm writing as we speak, I'm leaving them for you so just ask staff; Later" he said before closing the call
"Bye"
Sam – Flat 5
"So you want me to report on living in hell" Sam laughed as he sat down in the office "This place is crazy" he said swinging on the back legs of his chair as he sat in the office "I had to have a day off today because I got no sleep last night what with the herbalist and his friends cars revving like crazy all night, then psycho daddy with the drip of a weak girl he batters day and night while that crying baby just stands watching I assume and last but not least footballers wanna be coming in with loud music this morning showing off at having a footballer for a boyfriend I'd laugh if I wasn't so damn tired" he said with a forced smile
"Sorry about that and we are going to deal with it, we're having a house meeting tomorrow you'll need to attend" Brad told him apologetically
"No can do, sorry it's my Dad's birthday the day after, he's having an eat up tomorrow and everyone jumps to attention for that, I have to be with the family for the day, I've already booked it off work and college"
"You'll get a letter to attend the next one and I'll need to see you the early part of next week to fill you in on what was said and agreed" he smiled "So other than the gripes how's things?"
"Flat's good, work, college all under control, I can pay my bills, thanks for that rota thing you left me last night, by the way, keeps me focused"
"Anything else to report?"
"No well... yeah" he said looking puzzled "I saw a guy in the building, real late last night, he asked me if someone called Mercy lived here, said he was her brother, I didn't know anyone of that name so I told him no and made sure he left"
"It's best to report things like that straight away to staff in the future just in case"
"He looked proper angry like she was in for it if he caught her, I thought she might have been an under aged visitor to our resident herbalist, I'd have loved to have sent him there" he laughed "What times the meeting?" he asked "I might have some things to say myself"
"It's at 6 pm, you gonna come?"
"I might" he smiled as he got up to leave the office
18thDecember
The House Meeting
"So what's this actually about then?" Noah asked as he rocked on the chair his feet on the table
"It's basically about your lucrative weed business and her being battered these past two mornings" Santana piped up as the staff looked at each other
"No it's about noise at night, the state of some of the flats, what's happening for Christmas and an introduction to some Life Skills stuff, main agenda item being tightening up on house rules" Holly announced
"No she was right" Mercy butted in "It's about his marijuana farming and night activities" she pointed at Noah "Mike Tyson's Mrs over there keeping everyone up at night" she nodded over at Quinn "But she missed her car door banging when she comes back from her cat walk" she said pointing at Santana
"I don't have a marijuana farm" Noah said angry faced
"And I'm not on the cat walk" Santana replied just as angry
"Well don't you dare say your boy ain't beating you because we all hear that shit on a regular" Mercy said cutting her eye at the battered girl
"Okay, Okay let's get some order here" Holly shouted over the noise
"Names" Brad shouted "If you want to share" he added as Sam walked through the door
"Am I late" he asked looking at Brad
"No come in, grab a seat"
Sam looked around the room and strategically picked his seat "Hi" he said as he looked around the room when he sat down, positioning himself so he could easily see everyone in the room
"We were just about to say names for those of us that wanted to" Brad updated him
"Oh okay" Sam replied
"Well I'm Santana, I've seen you before" she said pointing at Noah with a smile "I live at flat 3"
"I'm Noah, yep I've seen you two before" he said pointing at Santana and Quinn "But not you two" he said pointing at Sam and Mercy "Flat 2"
"Quinn" she said "I live in flat 1 and yes my boyfriend, who I wished could be an ex, does hit me regularly" she said almost proud
"Sam, I live at flat 5 I'm like the quiet one" he said laughing "I've seen you before" he said pointing at Santana "From the back jumping in and out of cars at ungodly hours in the morning; heard you" he said pointing at Quinn "And heard your boys all night" he smiled at Noah "But I've not seen you" he lingeringly looked at Mercy saying
"Mercy I live at flat 4 and I've never seen you before either" she looked back at him before adding" and I'd say I'm the quiet one" she giggled catching Sam's attention "And like Sam" she said with attitude "I've seen you guys out and around but not to talk to" she mentioned her eyes finishing up on Sam
"So the agenda items noise, state of flats, Christmas and new life skills programme" Brad announced
"I accept the noise bit Shane won't just fuck off and leave me alone he's a bully, he's even over at mine now because if I go out with the baby he thinks I won't come back and, in honesty, he might be right, I hate him"
"I thought it was some kind of kinky shit you know, some girls like that shit" Noah said laughing
"How does anyone like being hit?" Sam asked "You put up with it because you can't do better, but when you can, you do" he said obviously talking from bitter experience
"I'm sorry Quinn but I don't know how you put up with it, surely your child should be the priority in all this?" Santana asked "Talking from bitter experience" she whispered at the end
"Because if I make a move I lose my child, he lost his Dad when he was 8 years old and it's turned him into this bitter, heartless bastard do you really think I want the same for my kid?"
"Not the same but, this is different, in the wrong way" Sam butted in
"He's right, you need to sort out in your mind what different the right way is, and start making that work for you, if you sit back being scared of what you're going to face, you never will" Mercy said going over to hug her "And I know how difficult that's going to be" she said in her ear making Quinn cry and hold onto her for a while
"I want to leave" she sobbed
"I don't like to sound patronizing but Support Worker standing there, use them" Santana said pointing to Holly and Brad
"That's good advice Santana use us Quinn, but, we still have noise on the project" Brad said remembering his conversations with Mercy and Sam
"That's going to be me and my boys yeah?" Noah asked
"Yep" Sam and Mercy said together looking at each other, Sam smiled at her
"There's a baby in the block too bro and don't say it's not your problem because it is, I'm guessing you wouldn't want your child exposed to drug abuse, use or dealing would you?" Sam asked him
"No but then I wouldn't be looking to have my kid in a hostel either"
"Never say never" Brad said cocking his eye
"Look we all know the daddy ain't respecting but that don't mean we have to walk in his footsteps and not acknowledge a child in our mist and serve to be role models if his dad can't do that right now" Santana said
"Talking about role models" Mercy said pointing her finger around landing on Santana "There are dead people living in your place girl" she said as everyone smirked "No don't even laugh about it, this girl needs help" she said fanning everyone down "You walk about like you're coming off the cat walk and your place smells like rats live in it, what the hell is that about?" she asked
"It's my space"
"Maybe it is, but it's our noses, and that baby's and girl you ain't hurting nobody but yourself living like that" Mercy added with attitude, Santana sulked for a second before defending herself
"They called me Cinderella at home" she blurted out making everyone else turn to look at her
"Cinderella?" Quinn asked shocked
"Yeah I used to clean for punishment the toilets if I was really naughty, with a toothbrush"
"So why was you naughty?" Sam asked
"Naughty to my step Mom was asking for food"
"God sounds like my Mom; giving a proud look, checking a girl out, taking the Lord's name in vain, impure thoughts" Sam reeled off rolling his eyes
"Bible bashers" Mercy commented "At least they believed in something, my parents don't even believe in their frigging kids" she laughed sarcastically "I say parents he's not my Dad just some, well he's not my Dad" she finished remembering she barely knew these people
"Well my parents are my parents and because I have two professional parents those guys that visit me think I'm the bees knees, and I've boasted about that fact for a long while, but what I didn't know was that my Dad's not who he says he is" Noah said looking at his hands "I don't really want to say anything else" he added not looking up
"Okay can we verbally agree then" Brad finally asked clapping his hands together after more conversation "No visitors after 10pm noise off or down at 11pm, call staff if you hear any noise coming from anyone's flat after hours" he ran through
"And Santana needs to clean her flat and get rid of that smell" Mercy added
"Life skills" Holly announced "Guys you got less than 6 months here so you need to get all your life skills signed off by the end of month 2 so that we can do your move on application and get you in your own place before we have to serve you notice for here" she said
"What about those of us that work all the hour's God sends" Santana asked
"Sorry it's mandatory everyone needs to find the time to do this" Brad announced
"We could have a 10pm session at Quinn's for an hour or so 1 or 2 nights a week, make sure woman beater isn't up to anything or gone" Santana suggested
"Yeah good, we could do that" Quinn agreed
"So first one's tomorrow" Noah suggested, everyone nodded again
"I'll come to as many as I can" Mercy told them
"Me too" Sam followed with smiling at her again
"Checking a girl out" Mercy told him, smiling for his face lighting up "I do believe your blushing" she said coyly
"It's these impure thoughts I'm having running through my head about you" he replied laughing as he got up "Are we finished here?" he asked
"Yep minutes will be circulated tomorrow and Sam, thanks for coming I know you had to give stuff up to be here"
"No problem" Sam said stepping off before turning back to ask Mercy "Are you going home?"
"Yeah"
"Come on I'll walk you" he just about finished saying before she was up
"Mercy" Brad shouted 'Homeless' he mouthed laughing when she looked at him, Sam saw him and laughed himself
"Why was he reminding you I was homeless?" he asked when they got outside
"Oh just a conversation we had at my support session" she laughed "So Sam" she said looking at him as they walked across the yard "What do I need to guard myself from with you?"
"Nothing" he laughed "But I feel I've got something to tell you and I guess it's important" he said as they stopped walking "There was a guy in the block late the other night looking for you said he was your brother, looked really mad and stuff but I didn't know you then so I said you didn't live here, sorry about that" he said her face looking like thunder as he spoke "What?" he asked shocked at her expression
"No it's not you Sam it's that fucking brother of mine" she said as he watched her shaking
He panicked "Come with me" he grabbed hold of her arm but she wasn't moving he threw his arm round the back of her shoulders and pulling her out of the spot she'd frozen in, up the stairs to his flat "Sorry Mercy I didn't mean to shock you, what's the deal with your brother?" he asked as he got her inside and sat her down
Sam's Flat
"He gets high on shit and beats the crap out of me, Mom and Dad are so far into their own shit they either don't see or don't care about what's happening with him and, I had to leave to retain my sanity" she blurted out looking up shocked at having told this stranger everything about her family in a minute
Sam seemed to hear what she was thinking because he started talking as soon as she finished "My dad left my Mom for another woman, Mom took to the bible, personally, I think she's fucking mad, but anyway I had to leave before I turned that fucker into a Carrie scene" he said looking at her as she looked up and they both burst out laughing "You just pictured the scene didn't you?" he asked
"With you in a dress" she said laughing harder as he smiled at her laugh
"Deep dark secrets not so deep and dark any more" he said before getting up "Coffee?" he asked
"I'd prefer chocolate if you have it" she replied
"Yeah I have, I thought I was the only one that drunk that stuff over 16 years of age" he laughed eventually emerging with two cups of hot chocolate with a bowl with marsh mellows, can of cream and a bag of sprinkles "This is my treat I give myself now and again but I'm sharing it with you tonight" he almost whispered getting up to go put some music on "I've got to set my indulgence mood" he laughed as 'LUV' by Tory Lanez played on his set
"Is this what you're into?" she asked smiling
"I'm into a lot of genre actually this just happened to have been playing before I left out" he smiled as he dipped his marsh mellows and sucked on them while she watched "I sing a bit too" he said singing bits of the song obviously reeling her in
"Hey I like you already please don't give me sleaze" she laughed
"I thought it was sexy" he laughed going a bit red
"It's sexy alright but we hardly know each other, and the homeless thing Brad talked about was because I said I wasn't looking for anyone because who would be interested in someone that was homeless, he begged to differ" she smiled as she heard his next groove 'Loyalty' by Kendrick Lamar ft Rihanna "What the fuck" she said rocking to his selection "I can hold a tune too we should do something together see if we make sweet music" she smiled as they made small talk and sipped chocolate
"What were you planning on doing for Christmas?" he asked
"Not going home sweet home for a change, too painful and I know Andrew is gunning for me I'm staying here if I can" she said
"If you're here, I'm here too, we could karaoke or sing while I play guitar" he informed her
"You play guitar?"
"Yeah, does that turn you on because..."
"Because?" she smiled
"Well I can go all night on that mother" he laughed as his tunes changed and they were listening to 'You da Baddest' by Future ft Nicki Minaj "Sweet" he said bobbing his head to the tune as he ate wet marsh mellows
"Is all this in protest to your Mom's doctrine?"
"I suppose it could be seen like that, but no I genuinely like the music" he said after some consideration "So what are you into?"
"Anything I can sing to, but R&B, Reggae, my Mom likes lovers rock so I've grown up with a bit of that too, My Dad's Roots and Ragga I don't mind the Ragga sometimes when I need to get some anger out and shit but my real love, I've always loved all that old school Soul and R&B you know" she said looking at him for approval
"By old school are you talking like Aretha, Whitney or Beyoncé?"
"All three, and everything in between, as I said anything I can sing" she smiled before finishing her drink "I got to go sort myself out for this life skills thing tomorrow you coming?"
"Yeah 10 o'clock yeah?"
"Yeah see you there" she smiled "Let's put that Christmas thing on the table see if we can get a party going and some dinner or something"
"Yeah for sure, Later" he said as he walked her to the door
Meanwhile elsewhere that evening
"We still having this Life skills thing tomorrow?" Noah asked Holly as they finished talking
"I'm passing the work on to you and you'll be responsible for passing the information on to everyone else, you can use those organising skills for something else for a change" she laughed "If you get stuck just find a member of staff"
"Fair comment" he said smiling "As I said earlier I plan on sort of closing all that night stuff thing down, I hope they'll sort of get it" he looked up quite serious saying
"You're really up for that change stuff we just talked about aren't you?" s
"Yeah, I got my eye on someone,I feel I have to present different for her to take me serious and stuff you know" he smiled "Anyway; I'm going to speak to Quinn in a bit and see if she's cool with still having things in her flat, it can move to mine I don't mind"
"Okay just remember to let everyone know and, good luck with that eye" she said as she closed down the conversation
"Thanks" he said taking the paperwork off her and leaving the office to go find Quinn "Santana!" he shouted across the yard as he saw her entering the block, running over to her when she stopped, "You coming tomorrow?" he asked getting a blank look "Quinn's for life skills"
"Oh yeah I really wanted to go to that, is it tomorrow?"
"Your brain, we just had the conversation about an hour ago in the meeting and don't really want to come girl, make it happen" he smiled
"Is Mercy coming?"
"As far as I know, and I'm going to be there, 10pm" he walked inside telling her
"Okay I'll see you there" she said walking up the stairs praying he was watching her, he was so watching her
19th December
Life skills session
"Hi" Quinn said as they all came to the door together, she stepped aside to let them in "Shay the guys have come for the life skills session I told you about" she said as he turned to look at the crowd coming through the door
"Where you gonna do that, I'm watching TV" he replied
"You can go watch TV somewhere else like your house, and it's happening a few times a week" she replied as he looked at her with fire in his eyes
"Can we go talk?" he asked as everyone stood behind her listening to the conversation
"Here's fine and could you rush it on, you're eating into our study time"
"We can do this later" he stood up saying "I'll see you later" he picking his coat up and flashed it over his shoulder
"You'll need to make that tomorrow because by the time the session finishes we're past curfew" she smiled back as he reached the door took one last look at her and left the flat
"God that felt good" she said smiling at the others
"Good for you" Santana smiled as Mercy gave her a hug
"Okay" Noah said demanding order "Holly's told me what they sort of want so here are the booklets and we need to do five modules each to complete the course with at least 8 hours study on each module" they worked through something that interested them for nearly two hours before Quinn's baby stopped them when he woke up for a bottle or something
"Before we go, Holly also asked me to get everyone to think about doing something for Christmas, I know it's not everyone's cup of tea, but it will be a good bonding exercise for us and if we're going to be almost living together for the next six months we need to get on" Noah told nodding heads
"We were talking about doing some sort of thing for Christmas but we didn't know what" Sam told the group
"One thing for sure I seriously do not want to be with my family" Mercy said making quote marks with her fingers when she said family "Christmas hasn't been good for me for a while" she said looking at Sam
"I think we can all jump on that" Santana told them
"Lets have an alternative Christmas, Call it a rebirth" Sam laughed "5 Days for Christmas" he said "Okay we can do what we want to express ourselves but I'll set the themes"
"I'll sing" Mercy offered
"I will too" Sam smiled
"Will there be a stage?" Santana asked excitement set in
"We can make one" Noah said as every nodded agreement "Okay guys same time, day after tomorrow for life skills and Sam what's the theme for the 5th day?" Noah asked as they left for their own flats
"Release the guilt" he shouted as everyone stopped to look at him "Yes you heard me, the overall theme is rebirth we can't start that until we let go of what's holding us back"
"God that's going to be a deep session, everything's confidential yeah?" Santana asked
"Everything believe me" Sam told them as they left, he walked Mercy upstairs "Will you be alright over there on your own tonight?" he asked as they walked up the stairs, "You can crash at mine if you want, no funny business" he said, holding his hands up laughing
"I'll knock on if I get scared" she laughed
"Okay"
"Okay I've got to go I've got work till the weekend so I'll see you for the theme tribute tomorrow night yeah?" she asked as she made her way to her door, Sam following her and watched as she walked across the landing to her flat and went in "Goodnight" she turned to say with a smile
"Goodnight" Sam said with his cheeky smile on display "Fuck" he said leaning on his door as he closed it, "This girl was sending his hormones reeling, in the best damn way"
20th December
(Five Days to Christmas) Release the Guilt
Handover
"There was some serious movement in regards to Noah's behaviour on site last night" the Night Worker reported "I was genuinely impressed with the way he handled his unwanted visitors"
"What did he do?" Holly asked
"He sort of used the fact that there was a child on site, even quoted the house rules made some long speech about not having anywhere else to go, sharing with them his reality check on his situation"
"Situation?" Brad asked
"Yeah I think it was a big thing for him to admit and even accept that he was in effect homeless, I respect the guy"
"That's really encouraging" Holly smiled
"And Quinn well" he announced as everyone looked on waiting for more revelations "Apparently; according to Santana, kicked Shane out last night for that life skills session, he rung the bell a few times but, to my knowledge he didn't come back so I guess things are looking up for her too"
"Yes" Holly said excitedly clapping her hands
"It's still early days yet" Brad said calming things down
"Did they come to any agreement about Christmas?" she asked "I need to let Ken know"
"He's coming to see you this morning" night staff informed her "Well my shifts done I'll see you all on Friday night" he said leaving the hostel for home
The day was filled with support meetings, work, college and studying for life skills, no sign of noise in block C
Quinn
"Quinn" Santana shouted knocking her door as she made to leave the building late afternoon, she answered the door with the baby in her hand "Did he get back in?"
"He knocked but no, come in" she said letting the door go, as Santana walked in "He's been on the phone, he sounds mega pissed telling me to tell you guys never to come back and stuff" she said sitting down and sitting the baby on her lap
"Is that ..." Santana stopped hearing a knock at one of the doors, getting to be nosy "Noah" she shouted up the corridors, as Sam came through the front door
"What's up?" he asked
"I was looking for Noah" she said with a sigh
"I'll knock his door" Sam told her, doing just that, at the same time Noah appeared at his door
"What's all the damn noise" Mercy came out saying, smiling with Sam as their eyes met "What's up" she said a bit softer
"I don't know Santana needed to speak to Noah and I knocked the door" he told her
"knocked the door or shouted?" Mercy asked
"I knocked the door Santana shouted" he corrected her
"Anyway" Noah stood listening for a while before he realised he didn't know why he was standing there "What's up?" as everyone stood on the landing looking down at Quinn's door at Santana
"Oh" Santana said when she realised she had the floor "Shane's been threatening Quinn over her phone and telling her to stop us from going to hers and stuff can you do anything about that?"
"What, you think I'm the mafia or something?" he asked laughing
"Well you're closet to the door so you can generally see anyone coming in just say no to him or something"
"If I could just ask everyone?" Sam asked as they stood contemplating "Please don't let anyone in the building without knowing them especially if they're not visiting you, people are here for different reasons, running, hiding, scared all sorts can we just watch out for each other like that?"
"Sure" Noah said as everyone else nodded their heads in agreement before returning back to their flats while Sam ran up the stairs to speak to Mercy
"Thanks for saying that down there" she said as he got to their landing "Do you want to come and get a hot drink, I owe you one" she smiled
"I'd love to" he smiled walking towards her door "thought you'd never ask"
Mercy's Flat
"I only have the standard two seat couch no beanbags I'm afraid so we'll have to get up close and personal" she said flickering her eyes at him, making him laugh as he closed the door behind them
"Purple" he said walking in further "Favourite colour I'm guessing" he laughed
"Chocolate I'm guessing" she smiled back "Put some music on if you want, girlie stuff I'm afraid" she said going off into the kitchen as Sam visually searched the room and headed to the pod, pressing play as 'Learn to Let Go' by Kesha blasted out at him
"Oh I was having family time before I went out this morning" she laughed, setting the drinks on the coffee table before going over to the pod to choose another play list and leaving 'Losing' by H.E.R playing as they sat on the couch, talking while drinking their hot drinks
"It seems like an age ago since we last spoke, what you been up to?" he asked
"It's been a day" she laughed "Much the same only I study too so I hardly get any time to myself and I'm up that early in the morning I think only the birds know I'm alive sometimes" she laughed "I broke up today though, so I'll get some sleep in the day for a while thank God" she said rolling her eyes
"I'd like us to make some time, to get to know each other that is, what do you say?"
"I really don't know where I'd find the time Sam" she said looking at her hands holding her mug before putting it on the table "But if I had to, I guess I could make myself find time"
"Would you want to try and find some time to be with me?" he asked putting his mug on the table
"Are you asking me to?"
"I guess I am, will you, spend time with me exclusively I mean?"
"Is there really any other way?" she smiled looking into his deep eyes getting lost, when she finally found the strength to pull herself out of them her focus landed on his lips and she could see nothing else as her body willed him to take her lips. "What the hell are you doing? why are you moving, are you taking control of this Mercy, what the hell are you... "Wow" she said and she knew that had come out of her mouth 'Did he just touch me? is he touching me OMG he's touching me it feels like God it feels like... Why are your damn eyes closed, why are they clos... and where the hell are you going?' she asked herself as her body started to move towards where she knew Sam was sitting'what are you doing, stop girl... I said stops now "God" she heard herself actually say 'Are these his lips my god I'm on his damn lips and boy does this feel good, you're acting like your some expert at this Miss Jones stop it, I said stop it now, pull away before it's too late, I said pull away now, Now! "Yes, I will" she said as Sam pulled her to him and kissed her back for the longest time, she didn't resist
"Did that seal the deal?" he asked as 'Me and U' by H.I.M came over the airways making them both laugh for a short while before things got serious again and they were making out on the couch in her living room, 'Did that seal the damn deal, were you at the same place I was at boy, this deal is on' she caught herself grabbing his lips again and they went to a place they were obviously comfortable at, as Mercy's mind continued to spiral out of control
"So" she finally opened her eyes saying "Releasing the guilt" she sat up saying, trying to get some focus as her mind was in overdrive and her body was doing alien things, making her feel ready
"Yeah I guess I'll start ….." he said, moving uncomfortably in the couch as the door knocked, Mercy sprung up to answer the door "Hi Guys" she said when she opened it to see Santana and Quinn standing there
"We thought we'd visit" Quinn said, a smirk on her face when she saw a red faced Sam sitting on the couch
"Come in" Mercy said looking sheepishly innocent, giving her seat up, smiling when Sam sat straight and moved himself to the end of the couch "Do you guys want a drink?" she asked heading to the kitchen, Sam smiled for her game, he knew she was almost at no turning back point "We were just about to talk guilt" she shouted through the kitchen door to them
"Oohh" Santana said getting her phone out "Noah's on his way" she shouted back seconds later and soon after Mercy's door knocked again
"Hi Guys" he came in looking around the room "Heard our chat was happening" he said looking at Sam "Release the guilt"
"I haven't got enough milk" Mercy shouted out the kitchen
"I'll get some" Noah shouted turning back out the door
"Or cups" she added
"I'll get some" Quinn shouted getting up with her baby attached to her hip
A short while later they were dragged out of conversation by the commotion going on downstairs "Stay there" Sam said to Mercy running off down the stairs as Santana followed him
"Sam did you hear that?" Noah asked leaving his flat too
Quinn's Flat
Just then they heard a baby crying and both ran to Quinn's to see what was going on, her door burst open and she came diving towards them with baby in hand "What happened?" Sam asked her
"I... I told him to leave and he kicked off" she cried "He's smashing my place up, he said he's taking my baby"
"Go upstairs to Mercy, we'll deal with this" Sam advised her as Noah and he gave each other a serious look
"I'm defending " Noah said as they both looked towards Quinn's flat door and nodded before Noah took the first step in
"What's going on Dude?" Noah asked Shane, when he walked in to see him sitting on the couch with his head in his hands "Why are you stressing your girl and your baby?"
"She's getting on my damn nerves, there's only so much disrespect a man can handle about his wife"he said as Noah and Sam looked at each other puzzled
"Quinn's not your girl?" Sam asked
"No she's my baby's Mom why?"
"Seriously Shane we all hear and know this is peak, so what are you going to do?" Noah asked as he sat on the couch next to him
"I want to leave her, but I need to know my only child's getting looked after, and I don't want no other man up in my shit telling my kid anything"
"Have you told her that?" Sam asked
"She keeps telling me to go, but I ain't confident she can do this, or even that I want to leave my child"
"And what does your wife say about this, situation?" Sam asked he was disgusted but couldn't show it
"Why you think I'm here every night, until something changes she really don't want to know"
"So your treating Quinn badly because what, you need to make a decision?" Sam asked
"I suppose that's it, I don't want to be here, I love my wife but I want my baby" he said punching the couch
"It's up to you to make what you want work boss, I never lived with my Dad growing up, but I know he's my Dad because he was always there you know, my Mom's got her life but that didn't faze him, he had me" Sam said looking at Shane as he spoke "You got to stop this life boss it's not good for your child, it's better to not be there than have it like this"
"Yeah" he said looking at Sam "I think the next time she asks, I'm just going to go, no questions" he said rubbing his hands together before wiping his face down and using his top teeth to hold in his bottom lip "Yeah this has got to stop, I don't love her or mean her any good"
"We need to do something about this place, because the baby will need to come back at some point" Noah said looking around "You gonna help clean this up?"
"Yeah" he said as the three guys set about cleaning the place back up
Quinn was upstairs giving Mercy the story, Santana, fed up with telling her constantly to do the same thing, left and went to her flat before she said something she shouldn't "If that's what you want just tell him, Sam and Noah are there now, say it in front of them and make him leave, ask them to get rid of him if you need to, go on" Mercy said more fed up of hearing her empty threats than anything else
"I will" she said putting the baby down on Mercy's couch and leaving her flat to go tell Shane, Mercy looking on in disbelief that she'd left her child on the couch "Shane" she walked back into the flat saying stunned that a clean up was going on "Can we talk?" she asked
"Do you want me to leave?" he asked
"Yes; but you can see Marc any time you want, I just don't need you staying over any more"
"I'll phone to arrange a time to see him and seriously I won't bother you like this any more, and Q" he said with sorry in his eyes "I'm sorry, I've been letting my shit take over me, and taking it out on you sorry" he said walking up to her "You're a good Mom" he said stepping past her and getting to the door "I'll call when I'm coming to pick up my stuff" he said and left
"Shit what did you guys say?" she asked dropping on the couch unable to believe her fight was over
"He said it, he needed to leave you alone, he didn't mean you any good" Noah said as they threw the cushions back on the couch "What the hell" he looked at Sam saying as they heard breaking glass