"Jade!" Ruby exclaimed running over to her eldest sister.
"Hey there Ruby Cakes!" Jade said brushing Ruby's hair away from her face. "Rubes you've got yourself a fever there hon."
"She's got bronchitis or something like that, I took her to the ER, but the woman said she needed a parent or guardian to sign for the meds. So I have her a fake phone number and we left."
Jade threw her arms around Opal. "Its okay now babe, I'm here."
"I found us somewhere to stay for tonight." Opal said beckoning for her sisters to follow. Jade bent down lifting Ruby into her arms before following Opal.
"Jeez Opal, how much further?" Jade asked after they had been walking for ten minutes.
"Not much, I promise. Just come quickly."
A few minutes later they arrived at the abandoned store. Jade, Opal and Ruby got in through a broken window round the back.
"I'm impressed sis, this is pretty nice….for a dump." Jade laughed.
Opal put her hands on her hips. "It's not funny Jade, we've had nowhere decent to stay since you went two weeks ago. Where the hell have you been?"
"I told you I went to California to find Mom."
"Did you find her?" Ruby asked looking hopefully up at her eldest sister.
Jade took Ruby's face in her hands and shook her head. "We don't need her anyway Ruby Cakes, she's never done anything to help us." Jade opened up the big bag that she had been carrying. She started unpacking blankets and clean clothes, then she pulled out food; tin cans and bags of chips, candy and right at the bottom was money.
"Where did you get all this from?" Opal asked in amazement.
"Here and there." Jade gave Ruby a bag of chips. "Just don't ask questions Opal. We've got food, we've got money, we're good."
"For now we've got it, but its gonna run out sooner or later." Opal said.
"You've always gotta think ahead, ruin the moment. we're okay for now and I'll think of something when the time comes."
Opal started to arrange the blankets out to sleep on. "That's the thing Jade you won't, then you go for days and we have to make do."
"This time is different I promise." Jade say down on the blankets and beckoned for Opal and Ruby to sit either side of her. Ruby went over and slipped right underneath the covers, laying her head on the pillow she practically fell asleep straight away.
"She's sick Jade and its only going to get worse. I think we should call Mrs. O'Leary." Opal said sitting next to her little sister.
"Mrs. O'Leary! No way, she's the whole reason Mom left in the first place." Jade shouted defensively.
Mrs. O'Leary was their old neighbor, she used to constantly complain to the police and social services about them. But nothing was ever followed up, because as far as everyone could see they were all looked after properly, and their home life was stable. But things were really good until the week before their Mom decided to leave. Then everything was turned upside down. Jade, Opal and Ruby stopped going to school and they slowly began to run out of money. But as far as Jade was concerned right now they were doing just fine.
Opal grabbed her sisters by the arm pulling her into another of the rooms, away from Ruby. "Newsflash Jade! Mom never left because of Mrs. O'Leary, she left because the only person she cared about was herself." Opal yelled.
"What do you know? Your 11, I remember a lot more that you do. Mom used to talk to me. She told me all about what Mrs. O'Leary used to say about her, and about us. Yeah that's right, she used to call us and Mom all sorts of names. Mom was driven out by her, that stupid old woman." Jade sat down and rested her head in her hands. "There's so much you don't even understand, so don't try and act like you're the older sister Opal. Your 11 and you worry way to much." Jade's tone of voice had changed, she was sick of shouting.
"I have too, you never seem to worry about anything. Like you said, I'm only 11 but I'm going to be 12 next week. Plus if I didn't think logically we'd never accomplish anything. You're the oldest Jade, your 16 it should be your job."
Jade got up and pulled her sister into a tight hug. "Y'know your problem Opal, your too smart for your own good."
Opal laughed. They both made their way back to the room where their sister was sleeping.
"Things will be better in the morning. Promise." Jade said before they both settled down to sleep.
"Crap!" Carter said as he saw the time, he quickly jumped up out of Abby's bed. "Abby quick get up it's 7:30am."
A disgruntled Abby turned over before realizing what Carter said and sitting bolt up right. "Jesus Christ, we're going to be so late."
Abby and Carter both got up and rushed into the bathroom.
"You did what?" Susan exclaimed.
"Keep your voice down." Abby laughed. "It was a kind of a spur of the moment thing."
Susan tried to stop herself from laughing as a big grin spread across her face. "I knew there was something funny going on with you too, you've been weird with each other for a while now."
"Yeah I know, but I hope things work out. Otherwise they'll be ever weirder between us."
"Its that why you were late in this morning?" Susan picked up another chart and walked alongside Abby as they made their way to exam three.
"Yes. We only overslept."
"Oh my god! I am so happy for you Abby, you two are made for each other."
As Abby walked into exam three she stood in the door way as she saw two familiar faces, plus an extra one. A young blonde girl, who looked considerably tidier that the other two.
"That's the lady from before." Ruby whispered to Jade, as she gripped tighter onto her arm.
Abby got closer. "I see you back then." She said softly. Opal just stared at her scuffed shoes. "Are you their guardian?" Abby asked looking at Jade.
"Umm…Ye..Yes. Yes I am." She replied sitting up straight.
"Its okay Susan, I've got it from here." Abby said, she took the chart from her friend. Susan gave Abby a puzzled look before leaving.
"Okay well first I'm going to need names." Abby smiled.
"I'm Jade and this is…"
"Opal and Ruby. I remember. Could I get your last name?"
"It's Brown." Jade replied.
"Okay, I take it you're here about Ruby's cough again?"
Ruby slowly lifted her head and nodded. Abby smiled and lifted the tiny girl from her sisters lap and placed her on the gurney next to Opal. "Okay I'm just going to place this stethoscope on your back to have a listen. Okay?" Ruby nodded her head. Abby warmed it up. Before placing in it on her back. "You remember what to do?"
Ruby nodded her head and slowly breathed in and out.
"Okay Jade, I think Ruby has a chest infection…"
"What? I thought you said it was bronchitis before?" Jade exclaimed.
"Yes I thought that's what she had before, but I think its more of a chest infection now. I'm going to give her some antibiotics and if it hasn't cleared up in a few days either come back here or go to your doctor." Abby scribbled onto a prescription. "Can I ask how old you are?"
"I'm 20." Jade said. It was obvious that she was lying, but Abby wanted to help them. Plus she knew if she could gain their trust she would see them again.
"Okay, well if you'd like to sign here" Abby said handing Jade a pen. "Thank you. And here you go." She handed Jade the prescription.
Jade quickly ushered her two sisters out of the exam room, and they quickly scurried off.
"What's the deal with them?" Susan asked as Abby came out.
"I don't know. But I intend on finding out. At least now I have some names to go on." Abby smiled waving the piece of paper with their names on.
"Oh my god Jade, how can you get away with being 20?" Opal asked laughing.
"Guess I look older than you think I do!. Told you things would be better in the morning, didn't I!" Jade laughed. "Anyway come on lets get this prescription to the pharmacy! And get Ruby Cakes here all better."