Author's note: Faiyre, Gemma's sister, is expanded upon from a couple of chapters ago (she's also become one of my favourite characters along with Nicole and Jesse :D). R&R please.
"So, what was he like?" Faiyre asked her mother, buttering her toast.
"He was nice," she replied with a ghost of a smile, "Really nice."
"Nice? You got off with someone who was nice? Score…" she said sarcastically.
"I wish you'd stop talking like that. I didn't 'get off with him', we just had a meal and a walk and a chat-"
"And a snog."
"Faiyre!"
"Well, you did! I heard you singing last night, don't deny it!"
Gemma skipped into the room, sat down at the table and poured herself an orange juice.
"What's up with you?" Faiyre asked.
"Nothing," Gemma replied innocently. Faiyre studied her younger sister carefully.
"Mum?" she said after a while, "Could Gemma and I leave for school a little early today? I, er, promised to meet Michael."
"OK then. Have a good day."
Faiyre dragged Gemma out into the corridor.
"Ow! Faiyre, that was my skin!" Gemma moaned.
"I don't care, I just want to know where you went last night."
"I…I didn't go anywhere last night…don't know, don't know what you're talking about."
"Don't lie to me, Gem. I heard you sneak out."
"Oh, you want to talk about lying? How is Michael?"
"Shut up," Faiyre growled.
"Are you ever gonna tell Mum that you broke up over a month ago?"
"I will! When the time's right. You know how she gets, I don't want anything to worry her. Which is why you shouldn't be wandering around in the middle of the night. Where did you go?"
"Just…out."
"Out?"
Gemma nodded slowly.
"Gem, did you meet up with someone?"
Gemma nodded slowly.
"A boy…?"
Gemma nodded slowly.
"Oh my God! My baby sister has a boyfriend!"
"Faiyre, keep it down!" Gemma hissed urgently.
Faiyre clamped her hand over her mouth to stop from screaming and jumped up and down, finally hugging Gemma tightly.
"Get off!" Gemma complained, "I can't breathe!"
"Sorry. So what's his name?" Faiyre said, kneeling by Gemma.
"Er, Arnold."
"Arnold? That's a bit…19th century, but, whatever."
"Faiyre, I think you've got it a bit wrong. Arnold isn't my boyfriend."
"What?"
"He's not my boyfriend, he's just a friend."
"Oh. So…who is your boyfriend?"
"I don't have a boyfriend!"
"Oh," Faiyre said sadly, "Well, how do you know this Arnold guy then? Is he in your class?"
"No. He doesn't go to school."
"Ooh, bit of a rebel is he?"
Gemma laughed at the thought of Rimmer head to toe in leather, smoking and scaring off little children who went near him, "Hardly!"
"So why doesn't he go to school?"
"He left school ages ago!"
"What?" Faiyre's expression was suddenly frighteningly serious, "Gemma, how old is he?"
"I dunno. About…thirty-ish I guess."
"Oh my God, Gemma, I do not want you going anywhere near him. You don't know what he'll do!"
Gemma laughed again, "You're talking like he's some sort of paedo or something!"
"You never know!"
"I know he'd never hurt me. He's just not that sort of person."
"Gemma, please-"
"How can a man who helps a little girl with her maths homework at one in the morning be bad?"
"Maths homework?"
"Yes! And he didn't even want to let me in!"
"But he did."
"Only because I forced him! Faiyre, I know he can help me. I trust him more than I've ever trusted anyone, even you and Mum."
"You don't even know him!"
Gemma paused and soaked up this comment.
"Actually," she said slowly, "I think I know him better than anyone ever has."