(35) Arguments

Kerri was the first to wake, stiff and sore. Looking around she saw she was in her own bed, and Jamie was sat at the bottom of it watching her.

"Hey"

"Hey yourself"

"You have some explaining to do young girl" Sherman interjected

"Pops" Kerri sighed

"Don't Pops me, I'm annoyed. You held off the flip four times with witch craft, you helped your friends prevent their flips. You risked your life and theirs. And you willingly linked with others to help them through the flip? What I want to know is how did you hold your own flip at bay while guiding them through?"

"I just did, I don't know how I didn't flip, I just didn't want to so I didn't. How's Tasha? I didn't willingly link, honest, I don't know how it happened, I knew she'd been holding back her flip, but... if I had planned it I would have been more prepared… it wasn't my choice honest" Kerri mumbled

"It's okay Kerri" Jamie soothed seeing how upset Kerri was becoming

"No it not Jamie, don't tell her that it is" Sherman scolded

"Sherman, I don't think this is the time or place, let Kerri rest for now, it doesn't matter how she did it but she helped a young girl through the flip, and I'm sure Kerri would like something to eat" Viv commented

Nodding her head Kerri reached for the nightie she always kept hanging on her bedpost and slipped it over her head.

Stepping into the kitchen Kerri, looked around and saw that Matt Luke and Sophia were sitting at the table, talking about her.

"Hi" Kerri mumbled

"There's a cheesecake if you want some" Viv offered

Smiling Kerri walked over to where Viv had pointed to and picked up the small tray, dipping her finger in the cream.

"How are you feeling Kerri?" Matt asked quietly, he hadn't a clue as to what had happened all hew knew was Kerri was different.

"I'm okay now, a bit sore but I can run it off" Kerri mumble through forkfuls of cheesecake. Her smile only visible in her eyes, as she shovelled forkful after forkful into her mouth, savouring the toffee sauce, the whipped cream and the crunchy biscuit base, her tongue licking her lips softly after each forkful.

"Kerri I need to know how you guided people through their first flip without flipping yourself" Sherman interrupted, he was glad Kerri was okay but he needed an explanation.

"It was hard but I'd just think of my mum and the beach. I don't know how, but I didn't flip, it hurt like hell every time, but sometimes it was the only way."

"How can putting yourself through the agony of the flip with out the release of the change be the only way?" Luke asked

"She saved my sister" Spence explained,

"And my cousin, and she helped other even without linking with them" Caitlyn added, twisting her blonde hair around her fingers.

"I did it to help people, sometimes I wouldn't link up with them fully, just enough to calm them when the pain got too bad. It was different with Tasha though, I wasn't expecting it, so I wasn't prepared." Kerri replied, only crumbs left of the cheesecake. "The relief of helping someone pull through was enough for me"

"You were always compensated though Kezza" Spence laughed

"Yeah kinda, free passes for the trams were always handy; the free cheesecake for a year was the best though." Laughed Kerri, remembering how she went to the small café on campus every day for a slice of cheesecake and a glass of milk.

When Tasha awoke she was glad she wasn't alone, Ruby sat on a small seat near the single bed, sitting up she groaned at the pain.

"It'll ease as soon as you eat something" Ruby said still not looking at Tasha "why didn't you tell me? I thought we were friends, we talked about everything else, I knew about how much you knew; I kept you safe, why couldn't you trust me?"

"I didn't know who to trust, it was you people who sent my mom away, you ruined our lives."

"Your one of us now, you can trust us,"

I know the way things work, my dad is gonna be scared of me, I won't have any friends left at school, I can't date who I choose." Tasha cried "and you're telling me to trust you"

"It's not so bad Tasha honest" Sophia offered "there are advantages; you'll be protected for the rest of your life. You have inherited a huge family, your strength and senses are better now."

"My dad now knows for certain I was never his daughter, everything is messed up, I had plans I was going to go to college. I was going to travel; I wanted to see the world. To see the beach for real and swim in it"

"You still can, I'll call my friends in San Francisco" Kerri offered

Ruby looked up at Kerri in horror she was going to help Tasha leave?

"Yes Ruby, I am, Tasha, I have friends in San Francisco you could go to college their and then you'll be near the beach, and I have friends dotted around the country and some abroad, I'll call in a few favours for you"

"You can't do that Kerri" Ruby pointed out

"I can and I will," Kerri yelled

"We have rules we must follow Kerri. You can't just send a pack member off on a jolly holiday" Sophia replied, almost yelling herself

"Why should she have to stay? She isn't needed here, we have no immediate threats, there's no reason why she must stay!"

"Hello I'm still here" Tasha yelled

"Kerri, Sophia, lets take this downstairs and talk with Viv" Ruby suggested

Storming into the office Viv slammed the door; she was very very pissed off.

"Kerri, who do you think you are?" Viv yelled "I heard you arguing with Ruby, you can't start arguing with pack members just because you think you're right, Ruby holds a high position in this pack and rowing with her is not tolerated. Do you understand?"

"I understand but..."

"No buts Kerri, this matter is not up for discussion, Tasha is a pack member and will stay in Wolf Lake till she finishes school, then and only then will decisions be made about her future career plans. She is only 15, she will stay here in Wolf Lake and attend high school until she graduates is that clear!"

"Yes Viv." Kerri mumbled

"If at 18 Tasha decides to become a teacher, a doctor, or similar, then she will be able to go to college where it is best for her to train, that is an option given to any member of the pack upon their graduation. She will be able to travel a little during her holidays at a college of her choice."

"What about abroad though? Why can't pack member go abroad?"

"We have no safe houses abroad,"

"There is, I know of two in England two in France and one in Italy, there's four in Australia and 3 in New Zealand." Kerri pointed out. "They're part of the Acorn Falls system but they'd put up travellers, they have land to roam on, and you pay them as you would a hotel. Travelling needn't be impossible, all you have to do is make arrangements with the acorns fall school in the place you want to go"

"I will look into it Kerri, but you're still in trouble for arguing with Ruby, I will think of a suitable punishment for you and tell you tonight at dinner, is this understood?"

"Yes Viv,"

"Now go to Ruby and apologise then go to your room"

Nodding quietly Kerri let herself out of the office.

a/n I would like to thank the people who have reviewed so far.

THANK YOU

Reviews are always appreciated even if they are to tell me you don't like where I am taking the story.

And plots ideas you have or events you would like to see happen just let me know by clicking that little button.

Go on you know how,

Love liljo from Geordie land

Xxxx