Arms linked again, the walked together to the house Sue shared with her mother, father and brother. Her brother was two years older than Sue was, and in his final year at the same school as her. Sue's father had moved to Scotland with her brother before Sue followed with her mother, so he had already settled in. She had two other older brothers, but they'd stayed in the US for college... Sue, Amy and Lucy stopped outside the Victorian tenement block to press the entry buzzer since Sue had yet to get her own set of keys. Sue's brother came to the communal door to let them in, since Sue couldn't hear when they unlocked the entry system.

"Hey little sis! How was the first day? Didn't see you all day!"

"Hey, it was okay. I actually managed to make some friends for once!"

Her brother smiled noticing Amy and Lucy for the first time.

"Oh hi! I've seen you two around..."

"Yeah! We've seen you too." Lucy answered, blushing.

"I'm David Thomas; Sue's big brother."

"Amy Neill."

"Lucy Dotson."

"Nice to meet you."

"Yeah, you too." The two of them replied at the same time.

"Well are you gonna let us in David, or are we just gonna have to freeze our asses off?"

"Watch that mouth Sue Thomas - or I will just let you freeze." He replied, playfully.

"Sorry... But it is cold so will you move?"

David stepped out of the way to let the three girls pass and followed behind them. They walked past the kitchen door, Sue yelling a hasty "Hi mom!" Before heading to her room. Amy and Lucy inspected themselves for cuts and bruises in the full-length mirror whilst Sue got changed in the connecting bathroom. When Sue emerged, her bedroom door opened and a black Labrador waltzed through it. Bounding up to her, barking like mad.

"Whoa Pepper! Calm down girl!"

Sue exclaimed, giggling as the dog licked her face frantically. Pepper dropped her front paws off of Sue's shoulders and rolled on the floor, lying on her back so Sue could rub her belly. Pepper was black all over except for the gray specks on her belly, which she got her name from.

"Cute dog, my mum would never let me have one." Lucy told Sue when she looked in her direction.

"Pepper's not just any dog; she's being trained so she can be sort of like my ears."

"Cool." Amy replied, kneeling down to stroke the puppy's soft fur.

After a few moments, Lucy told them that, unless she wanted grounded they had to go. So the three of them made their way back down the hallway, when Sue's mom placed a hand on her shoulder and she turned round to face her.

"Oh, hey mom. I'm just going to Lucy's house with her and Amy."

"Sure, honey. I'll hear about your first day when you get home then..."

Sue smiled and her mother pulled her close for a hug before holding her at arms-length so she could speak.

"What's that smell?"

"What smell mom?" Sue replied, with the most innocent expression she could muster.

"Don't give me that, Sue Thomas, I can smell smoke on you!"

"Oh!" Sue said, "It must be from that science experiment we did after lunch, we were timing how long it took for certain things to burn down... like paper and stuff."

"Oh, okay, well if that's all it is I'll see you later honey."

"Yeah, bye mom."

And with that, Sue, Lucy and Amy left the ground lever flat/apartment, and headed toward the park.

"That was too close!" Amy exclaimed, once they were across the road.

"Yeah, I almost got grounded for a month!"

"She wouldn't ground you that long would she?" Lucy asked

"You don't know my mom!"

They all laughed, and carried on walking in silence until they stopped outside 14 Belmont Street - Lucy's house - and Lucy opened the door to let them all in.

"Lucy, you're late!"

"Sorry, we went to Sue's house first, so she could tell her mum she was coming over."

"And who is Sue?"

Lucy gestured to Sue to come into the living room so she could meet her mom but Sue was staring intently at the paintings along the wall and wasn't aware that Lucy was trying to get her attention. Lucy's mom shook her head, feeling sorry for the young girl who she thought was just shy. Lucy walked over to Sue and placed a hand on her arm.

"Oh sorry! Were you saying something?"

"Yeah, do you want to come in and meet my mum?"

"Okay!" She replied, following Lucy through to the lounge.

"Hey mum, this is Sue."

Sue smiled, and looked away again, feeling very self-conscious.

"Nice to meet you." Lucy's mom said and Lucy had to get her attention again.

"Sorry, what?"

"I said it's nice to meet you, dear." She answered impatiently.

"Mum, Sue's not being ignorant - she can't hear you."

"Oh! I'm so sorry dear, I didn't realize..."

"It's okay."

"Well mum, we're gonna go upstairs."

"Yes, dear, are Amy and Sue staying for dinner."

Lucy looked at Sue who answered with a slight nod, then at Amy who said

"Of course, Mrs. Dotson!"

Then the three of them left to race up the four flights of stairs to Lucy's bedroom at the top of the house. Sue took her cell phone from her backpack and typed in David, tell mom I'm staying at Lucy's for dinner, sending the message to his cell, she put hers in the back pocket of her jeans so she'd know if David replied.

"So, Sue... What year is David in? How old is he?"

"He's almost 18, in 6th year. Why do you want to know?"

"Well he is hot!"

Sue grimaced - this was her brother Amy was talking about! Amy laughed at her reaction, but went on.

"Has he got a date for the Christmas dance?"

"I don't think so, why?"

"Do you think he'd go with?"

"I don't know why don't you ask him?"

"I can't ask him! Why don't you ask him?"

"I'll ask him, save you both the embarrassment."

"Thanks Luce!" They chimed in unison.

"No sweat, so Sue who have you got your eye on?"

"No one!" She answered a bit too quickly, "but I do know Bobby's thinking about asking you."

"Don't change the subject - wait did you say Bobby's gonna ask me to the dance?!"

"Uh huh."

"How'd you know that?"

"I was watching him tell a couple of his friends at lunch before Jack came over."

Thinking of Jack, her cheeks were suddenly tinged pink again.

"Aha! Its Jack you like isn't it? What did he want at lunchtime anyways?"

"He just said sorry for the way his friends were treating me this morning before school started... that's all."

Before Lucy could pry any more, her mother called on them to come and get dinner and afterwards Sue got a text message from David saying Mom said you've to be home by 7.

"I've got to be home for seven, what time is it now?"

"It's six-thirty, we'll walk you home now."

So the three of them grabbed their coats, Sue taking her bag too, and left Lucy's house to walk through the park again. Once the door to Sue's house was closed behind her, Lucy turned to Amy and said,

"Do you think Helen would mind helping us to set her brother up with Sue?"

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