Ha ha! My plan worked! I kept you all wondering what happened when they were fifteen, didn't I? Admit it... LOL.
Thanks for your encouragement for my maths test, quonoeye. It was horrible and long and I'm praying I passed.
Anyway, enjoy learning about what happened, the Australia Day they were fifteen!
Flashback
"Happy Australia Day!" thirteen year old Ben Rafter bellowed, running through the house bearing the nation's flag. His best friend, Nick 'Carbo' Karandonis followed, wearing a singlet with the Australian flag printed on it, Stubbies and thongs, green and gold zinc streaked across his face. Although he was proud of his Greek heritage ('I have the blood of Greeks flowing through my veins!') he was an Australian supporter through and through.
"Shut up Ben!" Nathan Rafter cried, shovelling Weet Bix into his mouth.
"You eat like a pig", Rachel said, fixing her singlet. She was wearing a gold singlet and green shorts, a Wallabies beanie atop her blonde head of hair and a Wallabies scarf draped around her neck.
"Very nice", Julie Rafter said, admiring her three children's love for the country they called home. "Jake'll be here in a minute, Rachel".
"I know", Rachel said, dumping her bowl in the sink.
"And remember, we're all going to watch Dad's cricket match, having a family barbecue with everyone, and then we're going down to the harbour to watch the fireworks", Julie reminded them.
The Australia Day cricket match was tradition in their family. As much tradition as spending Christmas with Ted and Louise Taylor, their maternal grandparents, and watching the Sydney to Hobart on Boxing Day. Jake Barton and Rachel had shared birthday cakes since they were two- another tradition.
"Hey!" Jake called, poking his head in the open kitchen window.
"Hey Jake!" Julie said cheerfully, winking at Ben. He choked on thin air, laughing at his older sister.
"Let's go!" Dave announced, piling gear into the car.
"Come on!" Nathan said.
"Maybe he'll hit his first century!" Ben enthused, leaping into the car.
"Mum and Alex are coming, too", Jake added.
"Of course they can come!" Julie said. "They're part of the family!"
"I know". Jake smiled and climbed in after Rachel.
"I had them on the edge of their fold out chairs!" Dave said, hours later.
"We were not, Dad". Ben rolled his eyes, even though he knew as well as anyone they were.
"You were so!" Dave counteracted, throwing a few snags on the barbecue. "Who wants chops?"
"I do!" Nathan called, as Jake tossed the football to Rachel. Dodging her brothers, she threw it back to him. She fell into a chair, giggling, as Ben leaped after Jake, in a pathetic attempt to get the football.
"Yes thanks!" Rita Karandonis (the mother of Carbo and the wife of George) said.
"My first ever century", Dave said proudly. "Ben, hand around beers, please!"
Ben obediently handed around bottles of beer.
As the last of the fireworks erupted over the harbour, Jake leaned over to Rachel and kissed her on the lips. He pulled away, his face flaming red. Rachel looked a little shocked.
"I'm so sorry, Rach", Jake stuttered.
"Don't be". Rachel grinned coyly, and stuck out a hand to help him to his feet. He took it gratefully, his face still burning. Smiling, she dropped his hand and headed back over to where their families were sitting. Alex was leaned against Grace, his thumb in his mouth, smiling sleepily. Ben was lounging around on the rug, poking Nathan in the side. Julie and Dave were on the rug, and Ted and Louise were on fold out chairs. Rita and George were on fold out chairs, as their son joined in the poking of Nathan.
"Mum!" Nathan whined, turning to Julie.
"Leave your brother alone", Julie said boredly.
"Nicholas!" Rita said sharply.
Carbo stopped poking Nathan- when his mother got angry he got scared.
"Come here, Nathan", Louise soothed. She wanted to baby her youngest grandson for as long as he'd let her. Nathan eagerly escaped to the peace of Louise's fold out chair.
Julie glanced over to her smiling fifteen year old daughter and poked her in the side. "What's got you so tickled?" she whispered, a knowing smile on her face. "You look like all your Christmases have come at once!"
"Nothing". Rachel blushed and looked away, not about to say what had just happened.
Julie knew it was nothing. She knew it was something.
And that something went by the name of Jake David Barton.
