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'Carla and Frank kissing in a tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G' Darren sang as he and Carla made there way home from school. News had spread fast about Carla and Frank getting together, and Darren was making the most of it, much to Carla's irritation.

'If you don't shut up Darren, I'm gonna knock you into next week.' Carla growled as they entered the house.

'Fine.' Darren said in a bored tone. He dumped his bag and went upstairs while Carla went into the kitchen to see if there was any food in the house. Darren came back down stairs.

'Have you heard from mum, shes not upstairs.' Carla rolled her eyes. She's proberly on a street corner somewhere.

'No I haven't but she'll be back soon.' Darren opened his mouth to as if to say something, but then shut it.

'What were you going to say?' Carla asked.

'Doesn't matter, just something I heard at school.'

'Please tell me Darren, if you're worried about something you can tell me.'

'Fine, I was talking with this kid, his dad does drugs and he was mouthing off about it, saying that he was like a gangster and all cool. I made some comment about his dad being a fat middle-aged tosser and he came up to me and said stuff about mum. Said she came up to his dad, offering to sleep with him if he gave her stuff.'

Carla sighed and didn't answer. She didn't want to lie but she also didn't want to unload all her problems onto a 11 year old, so she looked down at the floor.

'I know she does drugs but I didn't think that slept around to get them.' Darren said, clearly angry but also a little upset. Carla sat Darren down on the sofa.

'Darren, mum only does...that, so she can for the stuff. You know that I work at the cafe in town, that's to help keep the rent up. But don't blame mum for doing what she does. She got addicted when she was younger, younger than I am now. She still loves us, regardless what she does.'

Darren nodded but didn't say anything.

'How about we go to the chippy for supper? There isn't much in and I think we could to with a treat.' A small smile appered on Darren's face.

'Okay, I'll just go get changed.'

I wonder what people with normal families are doing right now. Carla thought as she followed Darren upstairs to change.

..

'Liam? Can I come in?' Michelle said knocking on her twins bedroom. There was a murmur from inside, which Michelle took as yes. When she walked in she saw Liam sitting up in bed, looking at something on his laptop.

'Hangover gone then?' Michelle said with a smirk on her face.

'Shut it Michelle what if Mum had heard you? You know she doesn't like Carla do you want to add more fuel to the fire?'

Liam's point did make Michelle shut up. Their deeply Catholic, Irish born mother disproved of anything and anybody that came from a different background to the one her and her family lived in. Since Carla lived on what was known as the rough side of town, and in council house she was the last person that she would have wanted to be friends with her children. But since moving to Manchesther when Liam and Michelle where 4 the three of them became close friends in primary school, and had been inseperable ever since.

Michelle chuckled. 'Do you remember her face when you told her that you were going out with Carla?' Liam smiled back

'Yeah she almost had a heart attack. Thank god she likes Maria.'

'How is Maria anyway? I havn't really spoken to her since the beginning of term, is she enjoying working in the salon?'

'She loves it. So got any gossip for me Michelle?'

'No not much. Some year 8 thought it would be a good idea to try and sneak into what he thought was the girls changing room but accidently sneaked into the room full of year 12 and 13 rugby players.'

'Really? What did they do?'

'Rumour has it that someone wrote 'Peeping Tom' on his forehead. In permenate marker.'

'Classic. Anything else?'

'Fights...arguements...teachers shouting at people dossing about...Frank and Carla are going out...someone got caught kissin-'

'Woah, slow down. Carla's going out with Frank?. Since when?'

'Since this afternoon. He asked her to the dance, she said yes. Tony's head looked like it was about to explode.'

'Haha, best warn Frank about Tony otherwise things could get ugly. Peter owes me £10 now.' Michelle punched Liam's arm

'You bet on Carla going out with Frank? Are you really that desperate for money?'

'One, oww that hurt and two we didn't bet on Carla and Frank getting together, I bet that Carla wouldn't be single by the school dance.'

There was a shout from downstairs.

'Kids dinners ready!' Their father shouted. 'Steak and Kidney pie!'

Both teenagers pulled the same face, they hated there mothers Steak and Kidney pie.

..

'Leanne I'm fine.' Peter moaned. He was getting fed up of people fussing over him, he had only broken his ankle! They were walking down the street, well Leanne was walking, Peter was using his crutches.

'I'm just worried that's all. We could have gone round to mine for tea, I don't see the point of going out, it's only a monday night afterall.'

'I am getting sick of staring at the same four walls Lee, I just want to go down to the chippy, it's not like were going all the way to Blackpool.'

Leanne hurried to open the door of the Fish and Chip shop for Peter, and then fussed about him, insisting that he go sit down. To his surprise he saw Carla sitting on her own, so went over to talk to her.

'Room for a little one?' he asked, causing Carla to turn her head.

'Depends. Does your cast count as a person aswell, because you know three's a crowd.' She joked before pulling up a chair for him.

'I'm actually not on my own, Leanne's just getting our food.'

'Well i'm not alone either, Darren just popped to the toilet but if you don't mind him you and Leanne can join us.'

'I'm sure Lee won't mind. How are you anyway?'

'Shouldn't it be me asking that?' She said pointing to his ankle.

'Well since the only thing I've been asked for the past two weeks is ''how are you Peter?'', ''is your leg feeling better?'', ''do you need anything?'', I would rather talk about something else.' Carla laughed.

'I'm alright, Darren's had a bit of a rough day so I thought he could to with a treat.'

'Is he getting bullied?'

'No, it's just stuff at home, basically I've just had tell him about the fact that our mother spends most of her time standing on street corners.' Carla hadn't said much about her life at home to anyone so was as surprised as Peter that she had opened up to him.

'Sorry I shouldn't dump this on you.' Carla noticed Darren coming over to the table.

'Please don't tell anyone about it though, they all think that she is just a benefit mum.' Peter nodded as Darren sat down.

'Are you Frank?' He asked, picking at what was left of his meal.

'No i'm Peter, why did you think I was Frank?'

'Doesn't matter, just thought you were Car's boyfriend. Can we go home?' Darren asked, looking at Carla. She nodded and said bye to Peter before standing up, but before she could leave he grabbed her arm.

'You and Frank? Really?'

'Yeah he asked today, I bet Leanne will tell you about it. Look I gotta go, I'll text you later.' She bent down to give him a hug.

'Thanks for keeping my secret.' she whispered in his ear.

'You're welcome.'

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