Twenty seven

Josh didn't get much sleep that night. In fact he was certain he didn't get any at all. Every time he tried to fall asleep Jessie's face kept coming to him and she was disappointed in what he had done. That was enough to haunt Josh for the rest of his life. When his cell was opened he was dismayed to find he wasn't allowed out. Lucy walked in, undid his handcuffs and handed him a bowl of gloopy porridge. "I'm sorry Josh you are not allowed out of here today. You're in solitary confinement for breaking his jaw," she sounded genuinely apologetic. Josh sighed. What was he supposed to do all day on his own in a completely bare room? He had no idea so set about to work trying to digest and swallow the porridge. The porridge was never very well cooked and it tasted like wallpaper paste, which he had eaten when he was six by accident. In fact he wouldn't be surprised if he found out it actually had wallpaper paste in it.

Meanwhile at Elm tree house Mike came into the kitchen where everyone was eating breakfast. Jessie and Harry were trying to feed Jeff but he wasn't eating. "Jessie can you come to the office please?" Mike asked. Everyone stopped talking. Jessie looked up.

"What have I done?" she asked. Mike said nothing so Jessie got up and followed him out of the kitchen and into the office.

"Josh has been involved in a fight with his roommate, Jessie," Mike started. Jessie groaned. "He punched the other kid and broke his jaw. Josh is currently in solitary confinement for the day. You can't see him after school tonight and it will affect his chances of getting parole." Mike looked apologetically at Jessie.

Jessie just blinked. "He broke Daniels jaw?" she asked, incredulous her brother could cause that much damage. "Do we know why?" she asked. Mike shook his head. Jessie could make an astute assumption at what had happened but would have to ask Josh about it when she saw him, now on Wednesday. Jessie sighed again. "Ok thanks Mike," she said and walked out the office. Her last words to Josh had been to not get irritated or to fight Josh and what did he go and do. The opposite of what she said.

Rick was sat waiting for her on the sofa outside the office. "What's up?" he asked.

"Josh," was all Jessie needed to say for Rick to understand something had happened and that she was upset by it. He pulled her into a hug and let her cry on his shoulder. One she'd finished she pulled away. Rick looked at his shoulder.

"Great Jessie, I need to go change my uniform now," he said as he looked at his white shirt which had gone see-through from her tears. She giggled lightly.

"I'm sorry," she said shyly. One night was all it had taken for her and Rick to start acting like love-struck teenagers. She was joking with him and he winked at her and ran upstairs to change his shirt.

"Come on everyone, downstairs now, let's go to school," Gina shouted. There were footsteps and everyone started running out the house, bags being picked up on the way. "Rick, let's go!" she shouted when she hadn't seen Rick walk past. He came down with his shirt on but unbuttoned.

"I'm sorry, do you want me to go to school half dressed?" he said in response, grabbing his blazer that was on the sofa and his school bag. He walked out into the frosty snow covered drive and hopped into the car complaining. "Gosh, it's freezing out there," he said. Everyone was staring at his bare chest. "Alright I haven't finished getting change but so what." Jessie jumped in next to him as Tyler slid the door behind her and Rick started doing his buttons up. He then pulled his tie out his pocket and did it up before throwing his blazer on just as the minibus lurched off the drive. Rick grabbed hold of the seat in front to stop himself from travelling forwards and then put his seatbelt on. The other four in the back were trying hard not to laugh. Elektra couldn't hold it in and she snorted hysterically at the whole thing, setting off Jessie, Faith and Frank. All four were laughing at Rick who was just sat pouting. He wrapped his arm round Jessie and then tickled her side. She squirmed in her seat and laughed.

"Ok, ok, I'll stop," she said through her laughter. Rick stopped tickling her and she composed herself. However the others were still all laughing at both of their misfortune now. Jessie and Rick just glowered. Faith managed to pulled herself together.

"Alright. I've stopped," she said as they pulled up at school and all had to get out. Elektra and Frank were still laughing and once out the minibus, doubled up. The other three just left them to it and walked off while Tee, Carmen and Johnny attempted to stop their laughter. Rick and Jessie went and sat on a school bench to wait for Elektra to join them. While sat there Jessie felt as though someone was watching them. She glanced around and couldn't see anyone.

In a silver car opposite the school a seventeen year old boy was sat reading a paper. He kept glancing up. He'd spotted the girl and was determined to get her but she was with her friend and they were joined by a girl with blue hair. He was prepared to kill but he wasn't prepared to kill innocent bystanders to his victim.

Jessie felt the hairs on the back of her neck, tingle again. "Guys, this is going to sound weird but I feel as though we are being watched," Jessie said quietly. Rick spun round to face her.

"You don't think it could be..." he trailed off. Jessie shook her head.

"no!" she said. "When would he have had the chance?" Jessie asked raising her eyebrows while Elektra glanced round.

"Well apart from that man in the silver car who is reading a paper no-one else could be watching you without you seeing and he's reading, trust me," Elektra told her, her eyes fixed on the silver car carefully.

The boy looked at his paper when he saw the blue haired girl look towards him. He could see over the top of his paper that she was still staring at him. He decided it was too risky. He'd come back after school and find out where she lived.

A/N: Oh dear. Is Jessie's life in danger? Indigo :)