Chapter 37
Thank you Candy-Apple14 for reviewing
Thank you C.1.3.L.U.N.4.7 for reviewing, your dream sounds really cool, I guess Johnny/Elektra could happen, but then that would mean the end of Johmima.
Thank you Cookie05 for reviewing
Thank you Camogirl14 for reviewing, the last chapter was set on Tuesday the 10th of December 2013, this chapter is set on the Saturday the 14th December 2013
Jemima looked into the mirror, she looked perfect, not perfect in gorgeous way, more of the squeaky-clean-advertising-school-uniform-for-M&S way, how Melanie liked it.
It was Saturday, 4 days since school had been closed by health and safety. On Thursday a letter had been sent out saying that it would be closed for the remainder of the term.
No one, except for people like Sam and Faith, was complaining. Their Christmas break had been lengthened by 2 weeks, which meant 2 weeks of shopping, bowling, television and food.
And Robbie.
He spent all (school) day at the Dumping Ground before heading home. He never arrived early, and he never left late.
Not that Jemima was timing it or anything.
She heard a car on the gravel, she checked her watch, exactly 9AM.
"Bye Mike," she yelled.
She sprinted out onto the drive, and got into the passenger seat of the silver Mercedes.
"Good morning Jemima," Melanie said,
"morning," Jemima echoed.
Melanie put her foot down, and started to drive back to the flat.
Xxx
Johnny sat in his room, thinking. Trying to work out what Jemima was attempting to achieve.
She had closed school.
But that made NO sense.
Jemima loved school.
His first instinct would be checking her room for plans, but she was Jemima Anderson she probably had her own CCTV, have a way of recognising DNA and she would either do all her planning in her notebook or her head.
Xxx
"Ari," a small voice said.
Arietta looked up from her violin, "Kitty," she said surprised.
The younger, and considerably smaller, girl was watching her. "I'm sorry," she replied quietly.
"For what?" Ari asked,
"for how I acted," Kitty told her, "how I accused you of over reacting, simply because wallowing in my own self pity."
"Who are you? And what have you done to Kitty?" Arietta said jokingly.
"Sorry," Kitty repeated.
"It's fine," Arietta replied, "I've acted badly too, besides we are allowed to make mistakes, we're only human."
"Why don't you hate me?" Kitty asked,
"hate is strong word, and a strong emotion. You just acted like a bitch, so you're not on my hate list, you're on my mildly irritating list."
"But I started the rumours about you,"
"how did you know I'm a lesbian?" Ari questioned,
"I... made it up, to cause more drama," Kitty admitted, Ari just laughed.
"Well I forgive you," Ari told her.
"Everyone else hates me,"
"everyone used to hate Robbie," Arietta reminded her.
Kitty stood up, started to walk towards the door then turned back.
"Ari," she said, turning back, "did you ever have any children?"
Arietta fell silent, "thought so," Kitty said quietly, "and I don't know what happened to you. But I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry about your Dad," Ari replied.
Xxx
Jemima and Melanie sat down at the glass table, they were a silent for a moment.
"Nice touch with the cannabis," Melanie finally said,
"thanks," Jemima replied, "so what are the authorities saying?"
"Well, let's think; food contamination, failure to meet basic health and safety standards, drugs, dangerous levels of Sodium Chloride in cooking," Melanie smiled, "you've done a very good job, it has helped my argument massively."
"How's it coming along?" Jem asked,
"well one my main arguments is how you have been sent to a completely unsatisfactory school, and you have a right to a decent education, and you being refused a better education funded me is a violation of your rights." Melanie explained, she lowered her voice, looking proud of herself, "I reckon you'll be back in your school by January."
Xxx
"It will be fun," Tee told Mike,
"so... who will it be?" Mike questioned,
"from outside of here?" Ari asked, Mike nodded, "Sam and Robbie."
"And it will be all of you?" he asked,
"apart from Harry, Mo but Jody could decide whether she wants to come or not."
Mike considered for a moment, "ok," he said finally.
Tee, Tyler and Ari, high-fived.
"But only if you go food shopping with Tracy."
Xxx
"Did you ask for payment?" Melanie questioned,
"no," Jemima exclaimed, "I rescued them from a lift, I wasn't babysitting their cat."
"Well did you sue the shopping centre?"
"No. They gave us 200 quid each, to keep us quiet,"
"you should have sued," Melanie told her, "you could have made more money."
"Well I wasn't the one trapped in the lift, I had no excuse to sue and I reckon breaking into an elevator wouldn't be particularly highly regarded in court," Jemima pointed out, "anyway we have bigger things to worry about. Like getting me back in my school, and I don't mean St George's."
Xxx
"Pringles, marshmallows, mini eggs, chocolate, cookies," Tyler recited, almost as if it was a religious mantra, as he chucked the food into the trolley.
"They sell mini eggs in December!" Arietta exclaimed, "I thought they were an Easter thing."
"Welcome to England, the shops always selling for events 6 months in the future," Tracy said.
Xxx
Rick, Tyler and Frank were carrying blankets, food and mattresses up to the attic. Arietta had gone to inform, and Tee had been left to tell Robbie.
She had gotten the address off Ari, and she found herself standing outside the detached house.
She walked up to the blue door, with peeling paint. She took a deep breath before knocking.
She stood waiting, and waiting. She was about to turn away when the door flew open.
"What do you want?" a tall muscled man barked,
"does Robbie live here?" Tee replied,
"yes," the man snapped.
"Could I talk to him?" she asked,
"what about?"
"We are having a group sleepover tonight, we wanted Robbie to join us," Tee said.
"At your house?"
"Yes,"
"where do you live?"
"I live at Elmtree house,"
"the children's home?!" Robbie's dad looked disgusted,
"yes."
"I will think about it," he said, before slamming the door in Tee's face.
Xxx
"That makes no sense," Melanie declared,
"precisely," Jemima said grinning, "if it is totally nonsensical, no one could ever decipher it."
"You should be working for MI5, with those coding skills."
"Bit below me," the Welsh girl stated, "I could do so much better."
"You got that right Jemima Anderson."
Xxx
"ROBBIE!" He yelled, his teenage son scampered down the stairs.
"Yes Dad," he replied,
"a girl from the care home was asking for you," his Dad stated,
"who?" Robbie asked, "Ari."
"I didn't get her name, but that is irrelevant. Why are you hanging out with that sort of scum?"
"They're not scum, they're my friends and if you don't let me go, then they'll suspect something is wrong and they'll send the social round," Robbie said, playing on his Father's biggest fear.
His Dad responded by pushing him to the ground.
"And if the social come round, then they'll see what's wrong. You and that whore," Robbie's dad, pointed at his wife, who was standing wide eyed in the doorway. She scuttled into the kitchen, back to cooking lunch.
Robbie pulled himself from the ground, but his Dad kicked him back down before walking into the kitchen. And slamming the door behind him.
Xxx
"Are you staying for lunch Arietta?" Aldo asked,
"unfortunately I'm not," Ari replied,
"Arietta was just inviting me round for a sleepover," Sam explained,
"ooh," he said, his wife elbowed him.
"It's not like that," Sam told him,
"it isn't," Arietta agreed, "it's a group thing."
"But not like that," Sam hastily said, as her Grandparents laughed at how flustered she had become in such a short time. "Grandma! Nonno!" she exclaimed.
"See ya later Sam," Ari yelled, laughing.
Xxx
"This is gonna be awesome," Tyler declared,
"you got that right mate," Rick agreed.
Amazingly Mike, Gina and Tracy were completely on side, and Mike had even agreed to order in pizza, as long as they promised to look after the younger ones.
The attic was filled with mattresses, and blankets, and sleeping bags and food. Fairy lights were strung up everywhere.
Xxx
"See you soon," Melanie said, "I'll phone as soon as I've got news."
"Bye," Jemima replied, she walked inside where she was immediately ambushed by Tee.
"We're having a sleepover," Tee told her, "everyone in the attic."
Xxx
An hour later, everyone apart from Robbie was sitting surrounded by blankets in the attic.
Erin was wearing a top, that skimmed over her body, defining the soft curve of her stomach.
So defining that Ari couldn't look away, and she was gradually feeling worse and worse.
Finally she buried her face in Sam's shoulder, "I can't do this," she whispered, Sam looked round and saw what was causing Ari the problem.
"Are you sure your not cold?" Sam asked Erin,
"I'm fine," Erin replied,
"is Ari ok?" Kitty asked, Sam paused, before stroking Ari's hair.
"She's just tired," the blonde said in explanation.
Xxx
Mike and Gina were sat downstairs, they had given Tracy the evening off when the doorbell rang.
"The pizza was quick," Mike said, checking his watch.
He went to the front door, and found Robbie and his Dad waiting outside.
"The girl said he has been invited to a sleepover," his Dad stated,
"yes," Mike replied, "hello, I'm Mike Milligan, head care worker of Elmtree house," he extended his hand, Robbie's dad didn't shake it.
"I'll pick you up at 10," he said, then he stormed off.
"Please come in Robbie," Mike said, Robbie smiled gratefully.
"Was that the pizza?" Sam asked, running down the stairs. Ari in tow.
"Robbie!" Arietta exclaimed, hugging her best friend. "We thought you weren't coming."
"My Dad changed his mind last minute," he told them.
"Let's go up," Sam declared.
They went up the first set of stairs, "actually I need the toilet," Robbie said,
"I'll show you where it is," Ari replied, "and you can get changed at the same time."
Xxx
"Robbie's here," Sam told everyone, as she entered the attic, "he's gone to get changed." She mock shivered, "god it's freezing in here, I don't understand how you're not frozen Erin."
Erin paused, suddenly starting to feel cold and pulled on a hoodie. Making her baby bump invisible.
Sam smiled in jubilation, Ari would now feel better.
Xxx
"I'm surprised my Dad let me come," Robbie told Ari,
"I was surprised too," she admitted, "I think he terrified Tee, when she asked you to come. Eww... nasty bruise,"
Robbie looked at his shoulder surprised, almost as if he hadn't noticed the huge purple bruise.
"Dad pushed me over, I collided with the post at the bottom of the stairs."
Arietta said nothing, Robbie understand her silence and pulled on his hoodie to hide the bruise.
Xxx
The pizza was long finished, and people were chatting.
Mike knocked on the door,
"Mo, Harry, Jody, bed time,"
"but..." Jody whined, "I'm only a year younger than Tee, Tyler and Bailey."
"Well you could stay up there, but then you'd be too tired for the Christmas biscuit fair..." Mike didn't have to say any more, Jody had already sprinted down the stairs.
When Mo and Harry finally disappeared, and Mike was gone, the classic sleepover game came up.
"Truth and dare," Erin declared, Sam groaned, remembering having to kiss Johnny, even though he clearly liked Jemima.
"Arietta," someone said,
"truth," Ari decided.
"How long have you gone without showering?"
"About 9 years," she told them grinning, "we didn't have a shower, when I lived in China."
"Tyler," she picked,
"dare," he said immediately,
"I dare you to speak in rhyme for the rest of the evening," she replied.
"What?!" he exclaimed, he paused, "pot. Rick," he said, "dick."
The circle started laughing,
"dare," Rick replied,
"I dare you to make up a rap, a crap rap, about Erin," he paused thinking for a rhyme with Erin, "berrin."
"And wear Sam's snapback at the same time," Ari said.
Xxx
"I hate you," Rick told them, he was wearing gold jewellery (borrowed from Ari) and Sam's snapback, and he was being filmed by Johnny.
"Erin is ma babe, and we like to go a ravin'
All around da town, do ya know what am I sayin'
She's P to the E to the N to the G, and I'm gonna buy her a diamond ring
We will walk around da town, and all you bitchez will get on the ground
Cos she is hot, and you are not. Now, let us take a selfie."
The dumping ground cheered as Rick finished his rap,
"impressive," Tee commented,
"wow," Tyler told them, "bow."
"Were you meant to sound that stupid?" Jemima asked.
Xxx
"Frank, truth or dare?" they asked,
"dare," he replied,
"I dare you to walk in high heels,"
"what?!" Kitty exclaimed,
"where are we going to get heels big enough?" Erin wondered,
"Ari has huge feet," Tee pointed out, "and loads of heels."
Xxx
About fifteen minutes later Frank was finally able to make it to the other side of the room.
"Why does anyone walk in them?" Rick asked,
"because in a male influenced society, men are more likely to help a woman who is wearing ridiculously high heels, and there is a desperate urge to conform to society's idea of beauty."
"So that's why you own at least 12 pairs of high heels," Johnny pointed out,
"the majority of them were my older sister's," Ari told them.
"Robbie, truth or dare," Frank interrupted.
"Dare,"
"I dare you to dress up as a girl."
Xxx
Kitty, Erin, Tee and Arietta, had gone downstairs to help doll Robbie up.
"He's never going to fit in my clothes," Ari stated,
"but you're the tallest," Kitty pointed out,
"and the slimmest," she reminded them, "I'm straight up and down, with a body like a boy. A 9 year old boy. Not a 14 year old boy like Robbie."
"Well it's the shoulders that will be a problem," Kitty pointed out, "not the hips. So let's get him in a school skirt."
Xxx
Half an hour later the 4 girls reappeared, "we would like to introduce you to our dear friend Roberta," Kitty said. Then up the stairs strutted Robbie, wearing a hitched up a school skirt, showing off his legs. Then he was wearing a massively over sized white t-shirt and a huge fluffy black coat. That had been an impulse buy from when Ari was 12.
His lips were painted postbox red, his eyes were heavily outlined and he was wearing a blonde wig.
Johnny wolf whistled.
"Hello Roberta," Tyler said, "hello yob hurter."
People just rolled their eyes at Tyler's bad rhyme.
Xxx
"Sam," Roberta said, flicking her blonde wig so dramatically that it fell off.
"Truth," Sam replied, Roberta paused, thinking.
"Describe the traits of your perfect partner," Jemima said, before Roberta could reply.
Sam stopped, thinking, "kind," she said, looking at the floor, "someone who will confront me, and will tell me if they disagree with me. But will also comfort me, and make me feel special. Crazy," she added, "someone who will be everything to me, someone..."
"haven't you just described Arietta?" Jemima questioned, Sam looked up, her eyes met with Ari.
"She's my best friend for a reason," Sam suddenly declared, "surely it makes sense to pick friends with traits that you like."
"She's got a good point," Faith said, moving on the conversation. Sensing Sam's discomfort.
Xxx
"When will you two admit that you like each other?" Robbie asked Sam and Arietta,
"we've already admitted that," Ari pointed out,
"numerous times," Sam added.
"But will you ever act on your feelings?" he asked them,
"postbox," the two girls told him together.
Xxx
I could take your hand, and lead you through the dance
I could put on a small performance, and call it romance.
I could confess my undenying love for you, underneath the stars.
But that is not who we will be. That is not who we are.
For we have loved, and we have lost. Too many times before,
And the idea of losing you chills me to the core.
I loved the ones I lost, and I don't want to lose you too.
The only way to save you, is to make sure I never love you.
The sun will fade, and sky will grey, if you ever leave my life.
But everyone I love dies, so I have to save your life.
Xxx
It was 2 when they finally turned the light out, and Sam immediately found Ari splayed across her mattress.
"Ari," Sam groaned,
"you love me really," Ari muttered sleepily, snuggling up to the blonde girl.
Xxx
But maybe one day we'll find an exception, and you can be my wife.
This was a quick update to make up for my recent slowness, plus I don't know when I can upload again.
Hope you enjoyed this chapter, even if it was a bit of a filler one, and I apologize for the random poem at the end. I don't know what came over me.
Anyway please review, because I like reviews