Back Home To The Hills
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Chapter 10
"Joey!" He turned, there was Mary, looking quite beautiful despite the pretty obvious fact that she had just run a while.
"Hey Mary, you alright?" he asked.
"Um, yeah. Listen, Joey, I know we had plans to get together this weekend, but, um, the twins are kinda having a sixteenth birthday party again, and I have a whole list of chores at home, and it all needs to be finished by the party. Plus whatever else Dominique thinks up over the course of the week." Mary looked so disappointed, and Joey got the feeling that she was more upset about this than he was, and, to be honest, he couldn't blame her. She never said so, but he was pretty sure that whenever they were together was the only time she could relax.
"You need some help or a getaway plan?" asked Joey.
"No Dominique will ground me for the next century if I get help," answered Mary. "A getaway plan does sound nice though."
"Hey, that's fine," Joey assured her. "And . . . did you say they were turning sixteen . . . again?"
"And probably next year too," Mary sighed. She rubbed her temples with her fingertips in an effort to stave off the headache.
"Is there any way I can help?"
Mary shook her head, hair fanning over one shoulder. "I don't want you to get in trouble with your parents or anything."
"I really don't care. I want to help."
"You mean that?" she looked up at Joey with hopeful eyes.
"Yes. Just tell me what I can do."
Mary sucked on her lip as if thinking hard. "Well . . ."
Joey waited patiently as Mary made a show of thinking.
"There's the shopping," she answered.
"I wish I'd never asked," he groaned.
"Oh I wish I meant shopping as in clothes shopping I mean grocery shopping," said Mary.
"Grocery shopping I'm down with that," smiled Joey.
"What is this place?" Joey asked, looking around the store, as Mary grabbed items from the shelves.
"Bartonies, you know, I think Dominique likes this place just because of how far it is from the house, so she can shout when I don't make it home it ten minutes."
"Hm . . ." Joey said. "What do-"
"Look out!" Mary grabbed him and pulled him down behind one of the small shelves.
"What?"
Peering out from behind the shelf, Mary watched the person she was trying to avoid picked up a bag of lettuce. Joey peered over her shoulder. It was Natalia.
"Oh . . ." Joey said quietly. "I don't suppose this place has a back door or anything?" The front door was well in Natalia's line of sight.
"Um . . . there's an employee's door I've used a few times," Mary muttered as she shifted through the stuff in the shopping basket. "And I think we have enough stuff . . . I just have to buy it. The problem is . . . well, the check-out is near the door."
Joey glanced back at Natalia, who was looking through a bunch of low-calorie junk. "If we put our hoods up and keep our backs to her I don't think she'll notice us," he suggested, tugging his up over his head.
"It might work," answered Mary, tugging her hood over her head.
By some miracle they made it though the check out with out Natalia seeing them. However when they were exiting the door they heard her calling 'Joey'.
"Act like you haven't heard her," answered Joey, picking up his pace.
"Right behind you," answered Mary, dropping the bags in the back of his convertible, before hopping into the passenger seat.
Fortunately for them Natalia had to go though the check out and once she was outside the couple had already peeled out of the car park – almost at top speed.
"Where to know?" asked Joey.
"Elegates," answered Mary, directing him.
Within minutes the couple entered Elegate's and the colours and smells just hit Joey. It seemed to him a very homely place.
"No one I know goes here," answered Mary. "We should be ok."
"Ah Mary hello good to see you again. How are you?" asked Mr Elegate.
"I'm fine thanks," answered Mary.
"And you are?" asked Mr Elegate, to Joey.
"He likes to know his customers!" called Mary, as she dashed around the shop.
"Joey," answered Joey.
Within ten minutes the shopping was completed and Mary was on her way to her home. With Joey dropping her off down the street, he hated how they had to hide that fact that they were friends – despite the fact everyone knew – and dating. However it was all in the name of Mary's safety.
Sneaking in with Mary, Joey went into her room as she proceeded around the outside and in though the front door heading for the kitchen.
"Mary!" barked Dominique.
"Yes," answered Mary.
"I have professionals coming to cook and serve tonight. I don't need you messing anything up go stay at Yami's or whatever her name is," ordered Dominique.
"Ok," answered Mary.
"Now," added Dominique, reaching for her usual bottle of choice – vodka.
"I'm going," answered Mary, shooting out of the room.
"I'm free!" she exclaimed, as she rushed into her room.
"What?" asked Joey, sitting up in the chair he had been slouching in.
"I'm free for the night she's getting professionals in so I don't screw anything up," answered Mary, grabbing a bag. "She told me to go stay at Tami's."
"But obviously your not going to do that?" asked Joey.
"I don't know it's been a few days since I slept over there," answered Mary. "But no I'm not unless Tami gets wind of it which she could."
"Go, go to Tami's," smiled Joey.
"I don't want to," answered Mary.
"Really if you're not where you meant to be who knows what Dominique might do," answered Joey. "As much as I want to spend the night with you I'm worried about your life."
"Well can some of my things go to yours. You know some personal and valuable things?" asked Mary.
"Sure packed them up," answered Joey. "Hey can I ask you something?"
"Sure," answered Mary, as she began packing up some things into a box.
"Why doesn't Tami know about us?" asked Joey. "I mean you've been her friend for long enough."
"She doesn't know how much I even know you. She doesn't know I went on tour with you. She's knows we're friends though my mother but that's it," answered Mary. "She doesn't really like you."
"She doesn't know me," answered Joey.
"It's because the media have all this hype about you she thinks your just a person. Which you are but that a snotty rich guy," answered Mary. "And that coming back to school is a publicity stunt."
"That it differently is not. My publicist thought it was a bad idea that my fame would plummet," answered Joey.
"That is ridiculous," answered Mary.
A few minutes later they were heading to Joey's car a few boxes piled in there arms. Joey was trying to move Mary into his house, slowly it was working. The car ride to Tami's started and within it minutes it was over, as Joey parked down the street out of view of Tami's window.
"I'll see you soon," smiled Joey.
"I still don't see why I can't stay with you," answered Mary. "Dominique calls my cell if I'm not at home."
"Spend some time with your friend you've been working for Dominique all week or with me," answered Joey.
"I just know I want to go straight to sleep I'm exhausted," yawned Mary.
"Tell you what I'll phone you later," smiled Joey. "Just text me when your settling down."
Mary sighed, nodded and got out of the truck with a kiss and her duffle bag. "Speak to you later."
"Hey," she yawned, into the phone. "I'm my way to yours I'm free for the night."
"Cool," answered Tami. "I'll come open the door your just up the road right?"
"Yes," answered Mary.
Tami was exited to have Mary spending the night . . . again.
"You can't let Dominique control your life! And you aren't anymore!" She'd squealed, practically tackling Mary.
"Yeah, Okay Tami. You can let me breathe now," Mary gasped.
"You'll never guess what my mom got me!" Tami continued, taking Mary's bag and leading her to her room. "A sewing machine! Now I can actually make my own cloths!"
Mary laughed. "Oh, this will be fun."
They spent a couple hours figuring out the patter for a skirt Tami wanted to make.
"Maybe I should have started with something a bit easier." Tami admitted as she looked at the cut-outs of all the different layers. "Nah," she said, and they began pinning the fabric to the patterns.
The sewing was, admittedly, something of a disaster, but they had plenty of fun. They basically laughed themselves silly until they were too tired to keep going.
Settling down now. – Mary.
Seconds later her phoned buzzed.
"Hey," whispered Joey.
"Hey," whispered Mary.
There was silence for a few minutes.
"So," said Mary.
"What?" asked Tami, groggily from her bed.
"Nothing Tami," answered Mary.
"You still wish you where here don't you?" asked Joey.
"I could have been asleep a lot earlier," muttered Mary.
"But?" asked Joey.
"I had a good night," whispered Mary.
"I told you, you would," smiled Joey.
Mary yawned.
"I'll let you go," he whispered.
"No," she murmured.
"You still want to me here don't you?" asked Joey.
"Yes," answered Mary.
"Well I will see you tomorrow," smiled Joey. "Maybe we can move a few more of your things into mine."
Mary glanced at Tami, before getting up and heading into the bathroom.
"Mary you still there?" asked Joey.
"Yeah," she whispered. "You're trying to move me in with you."
"Yeah I am," confirmed Joey. "Dominique doesn't deserve your kindness and sooner or later your going to run yourself down and need somewhere to recover and then to stay."
"I've been doing this for over a year I'm fine," said Mary.
"Mary I love you and I want what's best for you and the best for you is not being in that house. Maybe not at this moment in time but one day you will snap, breakdown or whatever and you'll need to get out," said Joey.
"You love me?" asked Mary.
"Yes, yes I do," smiled Joey.
"Me too," smiled Mary.
"You just want to dance now don't you?" asked Joey.
"You know me so well," laughed Mary.
"Well I am your boyfriend," said Joey.
A knock sounded on the door.
"Mary I need the loo!" shouted Tami, groggily.
Opening the door and stepping out past Tami. Mary headed back to her sleeping bag, phone still clamped to her ear as Joey began to sing down it. By the time Tami came back from the bathroom. Mary was asleep a serene smile on her face and her phone clutched to her chest. And she dreamed of the promise she would see Joey the next day.
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Gabriella Somerfield and musicalgirl4474