Nowhere Plans

Re-write of the final scene in Tracy Beaker Returns series 2 episode 1 from Sapphire's POV. I don't own. Enjoy!

We filed out of the cellar with our heads in the air, all of us- Johnny, Tee, Carmen, Frank, Toby, Gus, Liam and me. Harry, hiding behind Gina's legs, jumped out and followed us through the corridor, out of the door and into the sunlight. Our packed bags were lined up in a row. We all picked ours up and Mike directed us each into a car.

"By, Saph," said Tee brightly- how she could be so cheerful in this situation was beyond me.

"Yeah, you take of yourself now," I told her. She grinned at me and Johnny put his arm around her as they headed towards their car.

"Sapphire, you'll be with Carmen," Mike said, heading over to me. Well, could be worse, I thought.

"Mike, where are we going?" asked Carmen. Mike cleared his throat and didn't reply.

"Mike…?"

He sighed. "Burnywood. Look, I'm sorry kids, I really am, but-"

"Oh, that's fine Mike. Yeah, that's fine. Just remind us to fight for you when they try and give you the sack, alright?" I snapped.

This whole project, Beaker's big let's-not-get-us-shut-down scheme, the reason Lily was not in hospital with God knows what broken, was so we didn't have to go to Burnywood. And now, when the going had got tough, Mike had given in. We always say "No one cares about Dumping Ground kids," and people say "Of course they do, you're no different to anyone else,". Well, this proved that theory wrong good and proper, didn't it?

I was distracted from my fuming thoughts by the arrival of Harry (and Jeff) at my side.

"Bye Sapphire," Harry said, his head cocked to one side. I picked him up and patted his blond head.

"Goodbye Harry. Be good won't you? You be a good boy, yeah?"

He nodded and pushed his precious giraffe into my face.

"Jeff says Goodbye as well,"

"Bye Jeff,"

I kissed them both on the cheek and set Harry down. I ruffled his hair one last time before Mike ushered him into a car.

Liam swung his bag on his back and approached me. I didn't need to see the expression in his face to know what he was going to do. Liam wouldn't let anyone take him away without putting up a fight. I glanced around to check that Carmen wasn't listening and whispered to Liam, "You're not gonna stick this, are you?"

"Pack me off to some temporary foster care? I'd like to see them try,"he grinned. "I'll get off as soon as I can," he added in a more serious tone.

"Where you gonna go?"

"I don' know. Anywhere. Everywhere. Wherever I end up,"

"You're mental,"

"Maybe,"

There was an awkward pause while we both tried to think of something appropriate to say

"You'll probably be havin' a better time than me, tough," I said finally.

"Where you off to then?"

"Burnywood,"

His mouth fell open in a prefect, comical O shape."No,".

"Honestly. Me and Carmen and gonna have a seriously fun time there,"

"Carmen too? How's she gonna survive there? Oh, Saph…"

"We can hack it. We'll be a team. It's Mike I'm most angry at, he's given up on us right when we needed him the most,"

Liam ran a hand thought his short brown hair. "Saph?" he said

"Yeah…?"

"Come with me,"

"What? Are you mental?"

"I mean it. Why not? The two of us, on the run. We'll take Carmen, too, if we have to. Come on," he smiled. I had always quite liked his smile. "It'll be a laugh,"

"Liam...you're a dreamer. You're an idealist. And, yeah, some of your ideas work but… welcome to the real world,"

He looked down dejectedly, his cat-like eyes blinking rapidly. Around us, the car park was emptying.

"Come on, Saph," said Mike, striding past me, "Time to go,"

I sighed. "Take care of yourself, Liam," I said softly, touching his arm.

"Yeah, you too. See you, mate,"

There was a pause before Liam abruptly reached forward and pulled me too him in a hug. I wrapped my arms around him and held him tight, because really, underneath all his bravado and cheek and cockiness, he was a little boy with nowhere to go.

What's that old song about the Nowhere Man making all his Nowhere Plans for Nobody? I've never liked old songs but in that moment I understood its meaning perfectly.

Blinking back tears, I whispered, "Try and stay out of trouble,"

"How many times have I heard that before?" he replied, choking a little. Whether it was on a laugh or a sob I'm not sure.

I pulled away from him and said,

"Good luck Liam,"

"You'll need it," he assured me.

I headed towards the that was waiting for me, but, at the last moment, I turned back and kissed Liam on the cheek.

He looked surprised, then smiled at me. There was no more need for words. I picked up my suitcase and followed Carmen into the car.

As the door shut and we pulled away, I saw a figure head over towards the wall, spring onto it, and drop down onto the other side.

"Good luck Liam," I mumbled for the second time, and I wondered if I'd ever see him again.

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