I woke up to the doorbell ringing and followed Tee, Johnny and Tracy downstairs, yawning and straightening out my pyjamas. (.com/cgi/set?id=41896342)
"Get in there!" A gruff voice said and a boy was practically thrown inside.
"Leave him alone!" Tracy said.
"What is going on?"
"You!" Carmen said grabbing the boy roughly.
"Carmen!"
"Hes the boy who stole all my stuff at BurneyWood" She yelled.
"And he's the care worker who did nothing about it!"
I walked into the kitchen and sat beside Liam tucking into my breakfast.
"But why dont you know how long they're gonna stay for?" Gus asked Mike.
"Because we dont know how bad the fire damage is yet" Mike explained.
"I hope Burneywood was burnt to bits" Liam said.
"I wish Tyler had gone up in flames too" Carmen grumbled.
"Carmen!" I said shocked.
"Wait till he nicks your stuff and then tell me about it" She said.
We all gave her a look.
"What? If it isnt glued down, im telling you, he will have it"
She barely finished her sentence before we all rushed to our rooms.
I hid all my valuble stuff and then decided to get ready and dressed. (.com/cgi/set?id=41897328)
I then went into the kitchen to find Tracy looking annoyed.
"Yeah and proud of it" She said.
They carried on their conversation then Dennis realised i was stood there.
"She looks a bit old to be in care" He said. "How old are you?"
"Im 17" I said.
"Shouldnt you have moved out?"
"Why should i? I've lived here my whole life" I said.
"We like to think of Mia as an extra care worker. She helps with the younger kids" Mike said.
"Im not the only 17 year old here either. There's two more!" I said.
"Lets crack on with the paperwork, shall we?"
"Welcome to the world of pain that is Dennisville" Rick Barber said and i followed him into the living room where he started a game of pool with Liam and Frank.
I sat on the windowsill and watched, Liam sending a wink my way every five minutes.
Liam O'Donovan is my boyfriend of a year and a bit. He's also a carekid.
Lizanne, a girl from Burneywood walked in and smiled at us all.
"Can i play?"
Johnny and Frank were transfixed on her.
"I have Tyler, Rick and Kitty's name. I NEED to know yours" Gus said.
"Why?"
"I want to add you to my list in my notebook."
"What if i dont want you to?"
"Why wouldnt you?"
"Maybe im a spy"
"You'd still have a name"
"What's your name?"
"Gus Carmicheal, whats yours?"
"He wont give up until hes got it" Johnny said.
"Yeah, you might as well tell him" I added.
"Its Lizanne, with a L I Z A, two Ns and an E" She said.
"And what's your last name?" Gus asked.
"Right! Which one of you skanky Burnywoodies has stolen half of my shampoo" Carmen said and i rolled my eyes at her dramaticness.
"It was you, wasnt it?" She snapped at Tyler.
"Catch me smelling like a girl" Tyler snapped back.
"Calm down Carmen" Frank said.
"Erm, you dont know what its like, you werent there!" She bit back.
"Starting to feel like i was, the way you keep going on about it" Liam said.
She then stormed out, yelling to Gina.
I watched as Lizanne started flirting with Johnny, admitting to using her shampoo.
"I miss Tobes" Elektra said as she walked in.
Toby got fostered a few months back.
"And to think you didnt like him when you first got here" I laughed.
I walked upstairs and heard Liam's voice coming from the bathroom.
"No, no. No one's going to believe us if they see that lot down the bog" Liam said.
"Cmon" Frank said.
"In there. You've got to learn from the masters, boy" He said.
"What are you doing?" I said with an eyebrow raised.
"Oh hey babe" He said.
"Foaming volcano?"
He nodded grinning.
"If i use that toilet, the three of you are dead" I said.
"If you killed me, you wouldnt be able to survive!" Liam said dramatically.
"If you ruined my clothes, i think id manage" I said pecking his lips and walking away slightly.
"She your girlfriend?" Tyler asked.
"Yeah." Liam said.
Liam, Tyler and Frank were peering around the corner and whoever was their victim made them panic as they were in my room all of a sudden.
"Maybe we should help him" Frank said as Elektra's yells echoed through the hole building.
"How's he gonna learn if we do everything for him?"
"Oh yeah"
"Ill pretend i have neither seen nor heard anything" I said.
"Thanks babe" Liam said.
I rolled my eyes and concentrated on the book i was reading as i heard them leave.
10 minutes later..
I heard Carmen scream then fireworks go off and i ran outside and joined Gina and everyone else.
"You're bang out of order you are" Liam said to Carmen lacing his fingers with mine.
We were all called to the living room and Mike was annoyed to say the least.
"Nobody has anything to say? Fine. You dont want to own up in public. Do you know what? I get that. But one of you has Johnny's money. And if its not on my desk in the next 10 minutes.." Mike was cut off by Dennis.
"No, no. You dont give them 10 minutes to hide it somewhere else. We're searching your rooms"
"I dont think so! You are not going in my room" I shouted.
"Now!" He said and we all went up to our rooms.
I sat on my bed and listened to the noises of Gus yelling.
"Who put glue in my shampoo?" Carmen yelled and we all burst out of our rooms to find her.
I covered my mouth so she wouldnt see me fighting back laughter.
"I am never, ever going to get this out of my hair and i want to know who did this!"
I saw everyone else start to gather.
"Come on then, own up, because im going to find out who it is and then.."
She was cut off by everyone bursting out laughing.
"Shut up! Its not funny!"
"Oh but it is!" I laughed.
Everyone was either shouting, laughing or arguing now.
Everyone shut up when Tracy screamed and tumbled down the stairs.
"Oh my god!" I said.
"What's going on?" Sapphire said, walking in.
We were now all gathered in the living room again.
"They'll have to get rid of her" Liam said.
"Harsh!" Tyler exclaimed.
"I do feel sorry for Tracy but that could have been me" Tee said and i rubbed her arm.
"Kitty only goes off if someone touches her" Rick said.
"Well, im not going near her" Frank said.
"No, you shouldnt have to live with a head case like that" Sapphire said.
"She's not a head case! Do you still even get a say? You dont even live here!" Rick said.
Mike then walked in and we all looked up at him.
"Gina's just phoned from the hospital. Tracy has a badly sprained wrist, but, at least its not broken" He said then Johnny and Dennis walked in.
"We havent found Johnny's money yet, so we're going to give you one last chance before we phone the police"
"Thats a waste of time with no evidence" Dennis said and i rolled my eyes.
"They wont do anything and we'll get left with a load of paperwork"
"Its only fair to Johnny" Mike said.
"Well, hes lost 200 quid, there are 10 kids here. We're taking a fiver off everyone's allowance over the next four months" Dennis said.
We then all started complaining, not that we could be heard since we were talking over each other.
"Find his money, keep yours!" Dennis said. "And this place is closed until further notice"
I huffed and followed Liam up to his room.
Everyone soon gathered in here as well.
"So, what are we gonna do?"
Carmen and Tyler then walked in and found a seat.
"So, what are we gonna do about the lock out?"
"We could stage a protest" Frank said.
"Last time, Lily fell off the roof" Gus said.
"We could barricade ourselves in the basement" Carmen offered.
"No, last time i had to stop them ringing the police" I said.
"Well, you Burnywooders know him best. What would you do?" Liam said.
"Nothing" Rick said.
"Nothing?" Sapphire said.
"We could obviously do something!" Carmen said.
"Rick's right. If you fight him, itll make things worse. Thats how he ran Burnywood" Lizanne said.
"No wonder someone set fire to the place" I said.
"Look, there must be a way of standing up to him" Saph' said.
Then, the door opened and Dennis walked in.
"Oh, council of war, is it?" He said.
"Come on, lets break it up"
"There's no law against hanging out with each other" Saph said.
"There is if i say so. Isnt it time you went home?"
"Not yet"
"Did his social worker give you permission to visit?" Dennis said pointing at Harry.
"I used to live here. Mike said its ok"
"Yeah, well im his boss and i say its not" Dennis said.
"You're nasty" Harry said.
"And you're out" He pointed at Sapphire. "And the rest of you, come on!"
I groaned and got up, smiling at Liam who gave a half-smile back, stuffing his hands in his pocket.
That was the end of the day for everyone, we all just sorta went to bed.
Next day..
It was around 10am when the fire alarm went off.
"Slowly, girls come on" Gina said leading us all outside.
"Is this a drill?" Tee asked.
"It wasnt at Burnywood" Rick said.
"All our stuffs up there!"
"Over there, come on"
Liam grabbed Tyler as i followed him out.
"This had better be a joke" Liam said.
"I didnt do nothing" Tyler said.
I pulled Liam over to the grass along with Frank.
"Just go on, go on" Gina ushered us.
"Right!" Dennis yelled and Liam pulled me closer.
"Who set off the fire alarm?" He roared.
"Me" Elektra said raising her arm.
"I just thought i should let you know that the attic is on fire" She said.
"Where's Harry?" Gina said and i looked around and Liam tightened his grip on my waist.
"He has a den in the attic" Tyler said and Tracy ran off, back inside.
Mike came around the corner with Harry and i let out a sigh of relief.
"Have we got everybody?" Mike asked and Harry walked over and i picked him up, resting him on my hip.
"You scared us Harry" I said and Liam ruffled his hair.
"Where's Gus?" Gina said.
"Where's Tracy?" Mike said.
"He was there!" Dennis said.
"Wait there!" He then yelled, running back in.
I put Harry down and Liam wrapped me into a hug.
Tracy, Gus and Dennis all came back out.
"You shouldnt have grabbed him like that" Tracy shot at Dennis.
"Why? You'd have just let him burn?" Dennis shot back.
"But all our stuff is up there" Tee said.
"Get back!" Dennis said pushing her backwards, making her fall to the ground.
"Ow!"
"What happened?" Johnny asked.
"He pushed me." She said as she stood up.
"You alright?" I asked her.
"Yeah"
"I didnt touch her. Silly girl slipped in the mud" I shot a glare at Dennis knowing he was lying.
"Its been raining all night. What do you expect?"
I shivered, my clothes not the best outfit to be stood outside in the cold. (.com/cgi/set?id=41900592)
We were eventually allowed back in and we hung around for a while.
I was sat in the living room whilst Frank and Liam played pool then Lizanne walked in.
"Hey guys, how are you doing?" She asked the boys.
"Alright" Frank said, obviously smitten over the blonde bimbo.
"Frank, its your shot" Liam said.
"Come on, ten minutes till Dennis kicks us out"
"It wont take long. Look, im sorry to ask, but i really need to borrow some cash" Lizanne said.
"No. Hey, you're right! It didnt take long" Liam said looking at Lizanne, annoyed.
"Please, My mum's supposed to be getting out of hospital and ive run out of credit on my mobile" She said.
"Then use the cash that you nicked from Johnny" I said.
"It wasnt me!" She snapped at me.
"Frank, its your shot" Liam repeated.
"You believe me, dont you, Frank?" She said.
"Yeah. You didnt end up calling us up" Frank said and i shook my head.
"Thanks, Frank. I owe you a big one" She then kissed his cheek and sauntered out.
"What are you doing? You're menna be a scammer not a mark" Liam said.
"I know"
"Seriously, shes a user, mate. Bad news" Liam said trying to drill it into him.
"Shes alright" Frank said.
I got up and followed Lizanne.
"Can i help you?"
"Yeah. Just because Frank has Cerebral Palsy, it doesnt mean you can use him like that!"
"I really have to call my mum. I dont know what you're on about" She said.
I was sat on the stairs when Gus and Tracy walked over.
"Where were you between 8:57 and 10:31?" Gus asked.
"I was helping Gina tidy up until half 9 and then i was with Liam. We went downstairs to find Gina when the fire alarm went off" I said.
I jumped back when Gus stuck a camera in my face and snapped a picture.
They left and i went back to my book.
I decided to go chat to Gina in the kitchen.
"Whats Frank and Lizanne talking about?" I muttered to her and she shrugged when Liam walked in.
"Lizanne, can i borrow your phone? I need to make a call" Liam asked.
"You want a favour from me now?"
"Okay, Frank, can i use the credit you paid for?"
"Mate, dont make me take sides" Frank said.
"We wont. Just take it" Lizanne said and Liam took her phone.
"What are you doing?"
"I thought your mum was just getting out of hospital?"
"She is"
"Then why havent you called her?" Liam smirked.
"Why have you made loads of calls to someone called Romeo?"
"My brother. Hes picking her up"
"Course he is" Liam laughed.
"You really want to know? My mum IS getting out of hospital. The psychiatric ward. She's been sectioned again"
"Why didnt you say that before?" Liam asked.
"Being a care kids bad enough. I dont wanna be the care kid with a mental mum"
"You buying any of this?" Liam asked Frank.
"Leave her alone"
"Frank!"
"Its ok"
"So, now you know the truth, do you still like me?" Lizanne asked.
"Liam, come on, leave it" I said.
Frank kissed her cheek and Liam chucked her the phone and followed me from the room.
We found Tee, Carmen and Lily sat in the hall and Liam pulled me over.
"We need to get Frank to realise how much of a scammer that Lizanne is"
"You want our help?" Lily asked and i nodded.
We then devised a plan.
We were all crowded around the office door, listening to Tracy being yelled at by Dennis.
She'd been fired.
Liam squeezed my shoulders and sighed.
We all gathered in the hallway as she left.
"Well, i guess this is goodbye"
"Nah, youll be back, you always are" I said referring to her care kid days.
"I dont know. Ive really messed up this time"
"Come on, you've done worse than that" Liam said.
"Thanks guys, glad to know you're all on my side"
After more drama and finding the cause of the fire, we were sent to our rooms.
30 minutes later..
Me, Carmen, Tee and Lily walked into the living room where Lizanne was straightening her hair.
"Lizanne, can i borrow your new straighteners please?" I asked twirling a strand of blonde curly hair around my finger.
"Get your own" She said.
"We're not all as rich as Liam, you know" Carmen said.
"What do you mean? Liam's not rich" She said.
"That's what he makes out but his uncle is totally minted" Tee said.
"He's always buying stuff for Liam. Gives him cash every month"
"Its true, hes like a total zillionaire!" Carmen exaggerated.
"Right" Lizanne said then Liam walked in.
"You alright girls?" He asked.
"Hey Liam" Me, Tee, Lily and Carmen chorused.
"Hey, Liam" Lizanne said slowly.
"Anyway, we'd better" I stood up.
"See you!" I called.
"See you later" Liam said smirking.
We gathered in the doorway and Carmen started recording.
"So, how's it going with your new boyfriend?" Liam asked.
"If you mean Frank, hes not my boyfriend" Lizanne said.
"Thats not what he said when he called you his girlfriend"
"Frank's really sweet but we're not exclusive or anything" She said checking Liam out.
Why i agreed to this plan, i have no idea.
"Does that mean you're open to other offers?"
She then sauntered over to Liam as he stood up.
"Maybe" She then kissed him on the cheek then Frank appeared.
"Liam!"
"Frank, wait" Lizanne said running after him.
Liam walked over and kissed me then ran after Frank.
An hour later..
I followed Liam outside to where Frank was stood and Lizanne was getting in the car.
"Look, i was just trying to look out for a mate" Liam said.
"I know"
Johnny ran out, gushing about his now found money.
As soon as Dennis left, we went about unlocking everything.
Liam kissed me and tapped my nose with a wink.
"Who wants some food?" He laughed throwing bags of crisps to everyone.