Mike had to reward the kids; he knew he had to. He had been given a large amount of money by the council to do so as they had had a pretty great year. Liam getting into the least amount of trouble he had ever been in; Carmen getting her highest grades ever; Lily improving greatly with Poppy and Rosie and their foster parents; Toby helping out at a comic shop; Tee helping out with a farmer; Johnny cleaning record amazingly high; Gus being even more brilliant on the piano than ever; Frank helping out at a old persons home; Sapphire having great art results; Harry helped the police by seeing to much and even Elektra had told the police about her old gang buddies. They needed an reward, something not everyone got – even in a normal home – something that would be suitable for everyone, from Harry to himself; something amazing. Then Mike got the Idea!
Tracy went to put the plate back on the side but she felt it being taken out of her hands, she looked up. There, smiling at her was Liam. "Thanks, but isn't it Tee's turn to help me do the dishes?"
"It is but she's in one of her 'Johnny makes me do everything' moods." Tracy smiled.
"Well thanks Liam… So…" Tracy grinned at him. Liam looked up from drying. "So what?"
"I hear got a pretty good grade…" Liam looked at her urgently. "SHH!"
"What Liam?" Liam looked down sheepishly, then got closer to her and whispered. "Top of my year in the Algebra part of my maths test, top of my class in maths and second in the year; Second in my class at English; third in my class in science; first I my class at P.E and second in my year at Spanish."
"Oh my god Liam that's amazing…"
"It's embarrassing!"
"Liam… They're just grades…" Tracy looked around as she was interrupted. "HA let me guess Liam failed everything but it's ' just because he's too cheeky'" Johnny smirked coming up and snatching a dish out of Liam's hands. "Johnny!" Tracy was shocked. How could Johnny be so mean? "TRAAAACYYYYY!" Gina screamed from upstairs. "I'd better go help!" Tracy said, eyeing the two carefully, she left.
After she had left, Johnny turned to Liam. "So what, did miss your target by an entire level or something?" Liam kept his back straight and replied with a cold "None of your business."
"Oh my God worse… You thicko." Johnny sniggered. Liam glared at him before 'accidentally' lifting out the bucket holding the dirty water in the sink and dumping it on Johnny's head. "I'm so sorry, Johnny!" Liam said, sarcasm oozing out like a tar. Johnny stormed out but banged into Elektra and Sapphire on the way. He smirked turned back to Liam and yelled so the whole house could hear him. "JUST BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT RUBBISH GRADES LIAM O'DONOVAN." As Johnny stormed out Liam heard laughter coming from the playroom. Elektra walked up to him. "Johnny thinks you got bad grades?" Elektra asked, stunned. Liam nodded, Elektra knew what grades he got: They announced top, second and third of year in each subject, also it got announced in class top of their class. Elektra had agreed not to tell anyone as she got First in the year in Spanish and second in Science. Her shape score was also quite high. If Elektra didn't tell on Liam, Liam wouldn't tell on Elektra. Simple.
Sapph came forward. "Why what did you get?" Liam looked up at her. "Doesn't matter." Liam was one of the few knew that if you didn't get up in Sapphire business she wouldn't get up in yours. Sapph nodded and helped Liam finish the plates.
As Liam entered he heard Johnny's voice. "Hey Liam! Remember. 1 + 1= 2!"
"And you remember 3x + 2 = B… ehave." Johnny smirked and leaned on the pool table. Liam walked up to him gently shoved him out the way so he could play pool.
"Liam! Can I talk to you a sec?" Mike called. Liam nodded and walked out. He heard Johnny say "Probably about his grades." He took a ball of Harry and chucked it behind him. Judging by Johnny's 'ow' it hit him. Perfect.
"So Liam… You've been in care all your life." Mike started. "Yes Mike… Well done."
"Have you ever been abroad Liam?" Mike said, ignoring the sarcastic comment. Liam shook his head.
"Good so this will be your first time… I mean err…" Liam sat up. "We're going abroad?" Mike sighed and said. "Look call a house meeting… I'll explain then." Liam nodded and went out.
"House meeting guys!" Liam said, when entering the playroom. Johnny sniggered. "Well done Liam, you can say 3 words!" Johnny sarcastically clapped. Liam leapt at him, catching him of guard, pushing him to the ground. Using something he learnt at Burnywood, he managed to trap Johnny underneath him but Johnny kicked his leg and managed to get on top of Liam. Liam elbowed him in the stomach and as Johnny gasped for air he flipped him on his back and trapped but he got punched in the eye. He felt it sting and got flipped on to his back. He expected another punch but received none. He felt someone grabbed his arms and pull him back. He opened his good eye… Tracy had Johnny and Mike had him.
"That's it… House meeting later guys!" Mike yelled to everyone who was watching… Which was Everyone! "Come on you two." He dragged Liam and Tracy dragged Johnny into the office and sat them down. "Now, would any of you like to tell me what was going on back there?" Mike spat angrily.
"Nope we're good!" Liam grinned cheekily but Johnny answered. "Liam flew at me and knocked me down, he started it and I was just fighting back!" Liam rolled his eyes. "Liam! That's it you are on a sanction and I'm docking you 10 pounds from your allowance!" Liam lost it.
"SURE, JUDGE WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE YOU HEAR MY SIDE OF THE STORY! But of course it's me! It's not like I matter, not like I have feelings. Yeah, lets make sure I live in a living hell." Liam stormed out, making sure he broke everything and made the loudest noise ever. He faintly heard Mike calling his name… He slammed his bedroom door shut. Pushing his bed in front of the door.
"Liam." He had heard Mike, Gina and Tracy voice outside his door but he didn't come out. It had been an hour since he had barricaded himself in his bedroom. He had refused to listen to anyone. But there was the unmistakable voice of Johnny Taylor. The reason he was in here. "What do you want?" Liam snarled.
"I… Just came to say sorry, Liam… It was wrong and I told Mike what really happened… How I was mean and teased you… Liam… You should have said something… I mean you got good grades?"
Johnny couldn't think of what else to say. He had never seen Liam like this before. "Liam… I'm really sorry mate… Liam?" Liam didn't answer. "Liam!" Johnny said louder, knocking on the door. No answer. "Liam!" Johnny yelled. He tried to open the door… Surprisingly it worked. Liam wasn't there. "LIAM!"
"Dude, get out of my room!" Johnny turned around; there was Liam, eating a chocolate bar. Johnny looked at his shoes. "Sorry… For everything…" Liam nodded and patted Johnny shoulder. "Did you climb out the window?" Johnny asked as they left.
"Of course!"
Mike bumped into them on their way downstairs. "Are you guys friends now?" They nodded. "Good, your punishment Liam is a sanction… Same as Johnny, ok? Can I see you in the office, Liam?" Liam rolled his eyes but nodded.
"Liam… I am really sorry, I automatically judged what happened on Johnny said. It was wrong I am very, truly sorry." Liam rolled his eyes. "It's just your record…" That's when everything came clear. "Oh so you never believing me, it's all because I kept getting into fights with Edward Finnigan?" Liam yelled.
"But Liam you always did start the fights and…"
"No I didn't. Plus I was 8 or 9 and it was Burnywood! That boy was 15, vicious and cruel… Everyone was scared of him so they stood up for. I haven't started a fight for nothing… ever and I've never started a fight since then till I hit Johnny! So whenever I get nicked it must always be MY fault?" Mike looked at him.
"I guess it must seem that way and I'm sorry. Now have you done yelling at me?" Liam nodded "Good! Now how's your eye?" Liam had forgotten about his eye.
"Good Johnny hits like a girl anyway."
Later his black eye was nearly gone and Mike had called them into tea. Sapphire had been trying to finish painting but Mike had made her jump and smudge it. She ranted to Mike for ages, much to the amusement of the other kids. When they finally sat down Mike coughed to get everyone's attention. "Ok, as a few of you know… The council gave me some money to reward you with… Now I thought I'd get you something big with it… Instead of something long-term. Anyway so I got a holiday!" Everyone cheered but Mike hadn't finished yet. "To Orlando Florida in the USA!" The sound was deafening.
Every tucked in to Tracy's horrid cooking but were to Happy to complain… "This tastes disgusting!" Cried Elektra… Nearly everyone. "Ok guys! Here are the details:
We leave in 1 week! We are going for 5 weeks and have rented the whole of this small hotel with a swimming pool! And we've got 4 week long passes to Disney, Universal, Busch gardens, Wet & Wild and Sea World!" Everyone cheered. It was going to be great!