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Chapter 8

Most the Baker kids were sitting at the table eating their breakfast, it was Saturday and they were back to school on Monday.

"I hope you've all done any school work which is due in for after the holidays?" Kate said as she laid down a plate full of toast on the table and everyone's hands reached forward to grab a slice.

They all mumbled back an answer most saying that they didn't have any or it wasn't an issue it would get done before Monday.

Jessica yawned as she sat down at the table.

"Aw you feeling better today?" Kate said.

"Yeah loads better thanks," Jessica smiled.

"That's great then," Kate replied.

"Quick recovery then?" Kim said. She had always doubted she was ever ill.

"Yeah it was," Jessica replied.

"Any plans for today Jess?" Sarah asked.

"Nope you?" Jessica replied.

"No I don't know what I'm doing yet," Sarah replied.

"Jess I thought we were going to the library to get stated on work for next term, you know so we're ahead of the game," Kim reminded Jessica.

Jessica sighed, "Assed with that to be honest, can't we just work at the same rate as the rest of the class, we've been ahead for years now, maybe it would be good to just work along with everyone else for a change". Kim was shocked at Jessica's reply along with everyone else at the table. Jessica was so brainy and loved being known for her brains and always loved being one step ahead of the class but now she just didn't seem to care.

Kim looked at Jessica in disgust, "What?" Jessica said.

"What is up with you, you've not being yourself at all, actually you've not been yourself the whole summer," Kim said.

"I am myself. Just because I'm sick of being ahead of the class all the time and spending my time in the library I just want to have a bit of fun," Jessica replied, "You're only young once!"

"Whatever!" Kim said, "I'll just go myself or I'll call Carly or someone to come with me," Kim said as she put her empty plate up beside the sink and left the room to get her stuff to go to the library.

"You do that then, but why you would want to go with her I don't know," Jessica replied. Kim knew Jessica really didn't like Carly, but she knew if she went with her it would really annoy Jessica more.

Everyone else at the table looked on awkwardly and didn't know quite what to say. They were use to Kim and Jessica getting along really well and spending all their time together so it was really strange for everyone to see them falling out.

Jessica sat slouched in her chair as she finished her breakfast ignoring the awkward silence and everyone looking at her.

Sarah and Jake got up at the same time and left the table, "oh my god," Sarah said, "that was like so uncomfortable to watch, their twins and best friends and ok they have tiny arguments about things all the time, but nothing like that and I know it wasn't a big argument or nothing. I've seen loads worse in my life but that is the biggest argument I've ever seen between them to though".

"I know, there seems to have been something not quite right between them for a while now," Jake replied, "it's like they're growing apart."

The more they thought about it the more they realised that they were growing apart. They had their own rooms now. After Lorraine and Charlie moved out, it meant there were two free rooms so that meant Jessica and Kim could have their own room and also Kyle and Nigel. Both set of twins stayed together up until about February this year, when Jessica and Kim decided they wanted their own rooms. As it felt as though there wasn't enough space so Jessica had moved into Lorraine's old room.

As they were walking up the stairs Kim was coming down, "You ok?" Sarah asked.

"Yeah I'm fine," Kim replied as she hurried down trying to avoid conversation.

Jake and Sarah exchanged a look of worry; they knew this was bad and that this was just the beginning.

The day passed quickly and by the time the whole family sat down for their evening meal, Jessica and Kim seemed to be talking. Just little conversation and neither of them seemed to try and make much conversation, but still they tried to stay out of each other's way and not cause any more arguments.

Jessica sat in her room on her own all night and only emerged once to get a drink of juice. She really didn't know what was going on with her and she knew she would usually love to go to the library and get a head start, but now she didn't care and she was fed up of always being the brainy one and spending all her time studying. She knew she was only young once and wanted to have fun.

She picked up her phone and tried calling Elliot he was the only one she felt as though she could talk to and tell these things too. There was no answer this was the fifth time she had called him today and every time there was no answer. She has also tried texting him but no reply, leaving him a message on facebook but still no reply. Jessica was really starting to feel like Elliot was ignoring her again and after yesterday she thought they had sorted everything out.

It was late now and everyone else was asleep in bed, Jessica was still up and on her laptop. Her laptop lit up as she noticed she had mail on facebook from Elliot.

Hey Jess sorry I never replied to your texts I had no credit and I kept missing your calls and I've only just logged on to here to notice I have mail from you, so no I'm not ignoring you. Yeah I'm fine thanks you? And sorry I would have liked to have done something today but it's a bit late now I guess sorry

Elliot xxxx

Jessica smiled as she read through it and was happy to know Elliot wasn't ignoring her. She replied to him saying that it was ok and that she really wanted to speak to him and could they meet up some time soon.

She sat staring at the laptop screen but Elliot never replied to her facebook mail. She tried to kid herself that Elliot wasn't still being off with her but he was and now when she really needed someone to talk to he wasn't there. Jessica soon fell asleep with her laptop still on waiting for a reply from Elliot.

The sun began to rise as the night turned into day, and everyone started to rise from their beds in the Baker's household. It was the last day of summer vacation and everyone seemed quite down to be back at school tomorrow.

As Jessica left her room in the morning she bumped into Kim in the hallway. The both stopped and stood still. Kim bit her lip before breaking the silence, "Look Jessica I don't want to argue with you".

Jessica smiled a little, "Me neither I'm so sorry," She said as she run over and gave her a hug.

"I could barley sleep last night, me and you never argue," Kim said.

"I know I'm sorry, I suppose I don't know, I just don't feel the need this year to be in head of the class and everything, no idea why to be honest," Jessica said as she looked down at the floor.

"It's okay I suppose I understand," Kim said even though she didn't exactly understand the sudden change in her sister's behaviour.

They walked down to the kitchen together and entered the room laughing. Everyone else noticed they were speaking.

"Looks like they've sorted things out then," Mike said.

"Just as well I really couldn't be bother with all that if they weren't speaking," Henry added.

"Me neither," Jake agreed.

"I know it's hard enough having five sisters even harder having to live with two of them falling out," Henry said.

"Tell me about it," Mark giggled, "Girls are so complicated, boys are so much easier, we argue but we make up and don't hold grudges where as girls practically fall out for live".

"Yeah it's weird that," Mike said, "I just hope that they argue and make up and not hold grudges for life".

"Morning everyone," Kate said as she walked into the kitchen.

"Morning," they all replied.

Tom followed in several seconds later, "Morning dad," Mike said.

"Morning all," Tom replied.

Kate started to make everyone's breakfast as she complained that everyone is old enough to make they're own breakfast and doesn't have to wait for her to get up and do it, but she said this most days but no one seemed to listen.

"Right I hope you're all organised for going back to school tomorrow now," Kate said as she placed a plate of toast onto the table and hands came from every direction grabbing a piece.

"Yeah," Mark mumbled back.

"Well you better all be," Kate replied, "and remember it's the Murtaugh's first day at your school so be nice to them and look out for them because they don't know anyone else".

"Yeah we will mom," Jessica replied.

The phone rang, "Hello," Tom said as he answered.

Everyone looked on as Tom agreed with whoever was on the phone before ending the conversation with yeah that's great see you soon.

"Who was that?" Kate asked.

"Jimmy, they're coming round later so the kids can tell them about what they're schools like because they're use to private schools so it will be quite different for them," Tom replied.

"Here why are they coming to our school and not some posh private one?" Mike asked.

"Well I asked Jimmy and he said that's what the kids wanted," Tom answered.

"God he really seems to have changed, wander how long that will last," Mark said.

Everyone sat around watching TV until the Murtaugh's arrived. All the kids went off and hung around while Tom, Kate, Jimmy and Serena talked in the living room.

Jake and Elliot went out the back and sat on the step outside talking, "You looking forward to starting at our school tomorrow?"

"Hmm, yeah I suppose," Elliot replied.

"Maybe you'll be in mine and Sarah's class?" Jake said, even though Sarah was older than Jake there was only nine and a half months between them so they were in the same school year.

"Yeah that would be pretty good if we were in the same class though," Elliot agreed.

Sarah, Becky, Kim, Jessica, Robin and Lisa were all sitting in Kim's room hanging out having just some girly time.

"So is there lots of hotties at school then?" Becky asked.

"Yeah there is a few, but our school defiantly lacks in hotties," Sarah replied.

"Ooh gutted there was no hotties at all at our last school because we went to a girl's only school so looking forward to having some boys around at school," Becky smiled.

"Well Scott Wilson is gorgeous but he's three years older than us though Becky, but you'll know it's him when you see him trust me," Jessica said.

"So are you two's in the same year as me then?" Becky asked.

"Yeah we are," Kim replied.

"So how old is everyone in your family?" Becky asked.

"Well Nigel and Kyle are ten, Mike is twelve in a few weeks so eleven just now, Mark is thirteen, Jessica and Kim are fourteen, Jake is fifteen and so am I and Henry is sixteen and Lorraine is nineteen, Charlie is twenty one and Nora is Twenty three," Sarah replied.

"Your brother's Nigel and Kyle are so cute," Lisa said.

"Yeah but annoying too," Sarah laughed.

"How old are all you?" Kim asked.

"Well Me and Lisa are thirteen nearly fourteen, Kenneth is thirteen, Becky fourteen, Elliot is fifteen, Daniel is eighteen, Calvin is twenty and Ann is twenty-two," Robin answered.

"We're pretty similar then," Sarah replied.

"Yup," Becky said, "It will be good going to school with you guys".

"Yeah it will be," Kim smiled.

"I am way down stairs need to speak to mom about something," Jessica said as she got up and left Kim's room.

"Okay cool," Sarah replied.

Jessica didn't really need to speak to Kate she wanted to speak to Elliot. She went out to the back where Elliot, Jake and now Mike were sitting.

"Hiya guys," she said as she sat on the step next to them.

"Hey," Jake replied slightly unsure as to why Jessica was sitting with them.

Jessica tried to join in on conversation but had no idea what they were talking about. Jake started to get the impression Jessica was wanting to speak to Elliot and since he knew there was something going on, since Elliot appeared to be ignoring Jessica, he signalled to Mike for them to leave.

"Did you get home okay then the other night?" Jessica asked.

"Yeah, did your family have any suspicions about you being ill?" Elliot asked.

"Yeah Kim did she knows I wasn't ill, we fell out yesterday, it was so bad," Jessica said.

"Oh why?" Elliot asked. Jessica went on to tell Elliot how it all started.

"Oh I'm sorry I would have tried to make more of an effort to meet you yesterday if you had told me that, I'm sorry for not being there when you obviously needed someone".

"It's ok you didn't know," Jessica replied, "I just feel like I've total changed recently, I feel like there is no one in my family I can speak to about these things, you're the only one and me and Kim are really growing apart now and I don't know why".

"Just the way you're personalities are I suppose," Elliot said.

"Yeah, but I feel as if it's more my fault because I've changed more she's the same person she's always been but I'm not, I'm not that interested in reading books and going to the library anymore," Jessica said.

She was upset by the thought of not being so close to Kim. They were twins and the relationship they shared was far different from any one else in the family's relationship – apart from Nigel and Kyle as they were twins too. They had grown up sharing everything together and all their experiences together. They had even shared a room up until a couple months ago when they felt they wasn't enough space for the two of them.

"We all change and grow out of things and you can't help it if you do but Kim doesn't. You are your own person and you and Kim are not the same person, you are allowed to be different," Elliot smiled. He knew he hadn't been there much for Jessica obviously when she needed him but he knows she liked him and he likes her and he's scared of falling for her more and ruining their friendship, because he doesn't have a friendship with anyone else the same way he does with Jessica.

"Thanks Elliot, I know but I think everyone else just thinks we have to be one person and not two different people and like all the teachers at school treat us as we're one not two individuals. It's like even in our family, it's like whenever someone describes our family and speaks about us individually everyone would get their separate things said about them. You know like Sarah is the loud, trouble maker of the family and Jake is the skater boarder of the family or whatever, but when it comes to me and Kim or Nigel and Kyle it's just Jessica and Kim are the smart ones and we're never describe individually," Jessica said.

"I know you're an individual person and you're you and don't worry that everyone else thinks. Don't worry about people thinking of you two as a package, you should know all those who really know you, love you and are really close to you see you as individuals. I know you really well but I barley know Kim, but I know her well enough to know you are different and ok you are similar in some way but you are different at the same time," Elliot smiled as he tried to cheer Jessica up.

Jessica smiled, "You really are so nice and always make me feel better," she said.

"Well you were there for me at the lake when no one else was and when I needed someone to talk too, and well now you need someone and I'm here for you now," Elliot knew he owned it to Jessica to be there because she was there for him when everyone else blamed him for Mike running away and the only one who stood by him and the he had to be there when she was having a tough time.

Jimmy started to shout on his kids to tell them they were leaving.

"Well I better go but I'll see you tomorrow at school and you need anything you know just text me or anything and if you need to talk I'll always be there," Elliot said as he stood up to leave.

"Thanks so much," Jessica replied.

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