A.N.: Hey guys! Sorry for the delay, school has been crazy and a lot of my weekends have been consumed by traveling. So I've got a nice long one here for you guys.

Just a few more chapters before we (finally) get to the first Jebbie kiss! :D

Now, enjoy long-anticipated drama from the Jasmine side! Just be aware, this is a lot of Jasmine self-pity. Critical feedback is welcome and encouraged!

DJ

Expelled: Jasmine

It had to be a new record. Getting expelled less than two weeks into the new term.

But it meant I was back in Emmerdale. Not that anyone really wanted me there. Well, except Grandpa and Debbie.

"What? No 'welcome home' banner?" I quipped as I climbed out of the car.

Ashley's face contorted in barely-suppressed rage. "Should you really be making smart remarks?"

It certainly was a better alternative to puking like I had been last time. But I certainly wasn't going to apologize for it. Ashley hadn't exactly been cordial when he and Laurel had picked me up from boarding school.

"My darling!" I turned as the deep, thunderous voice came from the doorway to the vicarage. Grinning, I ran forward and into Grandpa's arms.

"How lovely to see you!" He shouted, hugging me tightly. I felt all of the anger and air rush out of me as we embraced. That was Grandpa. He never cared what I got up to so long as I stayed safe. He always made me feel loved, wanted.

"I'm glad someone's happy." I remarked, turning to glare at my uncle.

Grandpa only laughed and dragged me inside, shouting good-naturedly about how dull it had been without me.

I had barely shrugged my coat off and settled down on the couch before the inevitable lecture and interrogation began.

"As if smoking wasn't bad enough but arson." Ashley glanced at Grandpa. "No need to ask where you get that streak from…"

"It wasn't really arson." I defended myself, pulling my legs a little closer to me. The three adults had me surrounded: Ashley baring over me like he was on the stand, Grandpa on my right looking ready to jump in but curious as to my answers and Laurel sitting next to me with her arms folded, biting her lip to stop herself from either grinning or joining Ashley's reprimand, I couldn't tell which.

"Really? So what was it?" Ashley asked in that disappointed, condescending tone so becoming of a vicar.

"it was just…" I stopped myself before I could say anything incriminating. Uneasy, tense silence so common in interrogations descended, broken only by the loud ticking of the clock. "…something that got out of hand, a laugh I guess." I finally said, ducking my head and picking at my nails. I was trying to shut them out as best I could but it wasn't easy with all three of them at once.

Ashley didn't believe me for a second. "A laugh?"

"There must be a reason…" Grandpa asked gently.

I kept my gaze down, fighting back tears. I couldn't let them see me cry, not right now. I shrugged. "Not really."

Ashley shook his head in disbelief. "I really don't know what to say to you anymore."

"Well it's usually 'you're grounded', 'go to your room or both.'" I snapped back. Meekly cowering was going to get me nowhere this time. I'd effectively shattered the good-girl image I'd been saddled with all my life the second I'd raised my hand next to the charred remains of the gymnasium.

"How dare you be so brass-faced!" Ashley shouted.

I fixed him with a hard stare before dropping my gaze back to my nails. Staying strong was harder than I thought. How did Debbie do this all the time?

"What your parents will say when they get home I have no idea…"

My head shot back up so fast at that. "…They're comin' home?" Even Ashley must have caught the hint of hope my voice had acquired.

"They've no choice!" Ashley replied, still heated. "Now their errant daughter's gone off the rails, the world will just have to wait."

He stalked away and I took that cue to retreat up the stairs to 'my' room. Grandpa and Laurel were both watching me a little too closely for my current level of comfort.

Laurel hadn't brought my bags up yet but there were still sheets on the bed from the last time I'd been here.

I fell forward, face-first onto the bed, inhaling deeply. I could smell the lavender laundry soap Laurel always used, a faint whiff of the perfume I'd spilled on the sheets not long after Christmas and even the faintest trace of Debbie's scent from the night she'd spent with us after giving Sarah away.

A genuine grin pressed from my face into the sheets.

It had worked. I was back. And Mom and Dad were finally coming home!

DJ

Sometime later, I had a visit from the only person in this house I could welcome with open arms.

"Against orders!" Grandpa whispered as he tiptoed into my room with cookies and a mug of tea.

I giggled, tossing my magazine aside and sitting up. "Thanks!" I whispered back, taking the mug and plate from him. I'd missed this, me and him causing mischief. From the time I was three until my tenth birthday, Grandpa had been my best friend. Mom and Dad used to let me stay with him on weekends when they were travelling. In those days, the furthest they went was to London. Grandpa had been like a second father to me and a far older-brother who both encouraged me to make trouble and to stay out of it.

He settled down into the chair as I placed the cookies aside and gripped the mug.

"Now," He fixed me with an expectant look. "How about telling me what really happened?"

I paused, unsure if I owed him the truth or not. Grandpa had always taken my side in the past but then again, I'd never done anything this bad before. Would he tell Ashley?

"You've heard." I finally decided on. I busied myself with my tea vainly hoping he would just accept my word for it.

Grandpa saw right through me, as always. "What I heard…" He began. "And what happened are two distinctly different things…"

I looked at him. Did it really matter if they knew I hadn't actually done it? Could he guess why? Maybe. Probably.

I sighed and set my tea down on my lap.

"I took the blame for someone else." I admitted. Well that was the truth. Just not all of it.

Grandpa nodded. "I thought as much."

I shrugged. "shows how much Ashley thinks of me by believing it." He was clearly ready to relate me to corrupt teenagers in any way he could. He really thought Debbie had corrupted me hadn't he?

"But…" Grandpa began. "why say you're guilty when you're not?"

I couldn't hide the truth. Not from him. Even when I wanted to. "To get expelled." I admitted, tears pricking my eyes. "I hate boarding school. I missed you. So much." The excuses just kept spilling out of my mouth but none of them were anywhere close to the root of the reason. But better false reasons than tears.

"Well, why didn't you try telling Ashley how you felt?"

I looked at him in surprise. "You honestly think he'd listen?"

Grandpa grandly dipped his head. "I do, actually."

I'd been gone longer than I thought if Ashley and Grandpa had reached this level of understanding.

"I think you need to give him more credit." Grandpa said gently.

I frowned. "But he's not my father." Ashley could try all he wanted but he held no power over me in the end. If he did, he could have saved me from having to get myself expelled by letting me stay when I had asked last summer.

"Ah, I see." Grandpa said, realization dawning on him. "So this is a way of getting Luke's attention is it?"

I didn't reply to that. I didn't think it was necessary.

DJ

"Expelled!?"

I grinned at Debbie, taking a swig of my cola.

"Yup. Finally free of that place." We'd met up at the café, thrilled to see each other despite it only being a few weeks since I'd said goodbye. Grandpa had very pointedly told me this morning as Ashley, Laurel and Gabby left for church that he was 'dead to the world' when he took his nap. So I'd texted Debbie and here we were.

Debbie was holding a coffee but hadn't taken a single sip from it since I'd arrived. "How'd you manage that?" Debbie couldn't seem to stop smiling. Neither could I. It felt so good to be here with her again.

"Arson." I said proudly, soaking up the attention from her as her jaw practically dropped. "Burned down the gymnasium."

"Oi, you light-pyro!" Debbie said approvingly.

I leaned forward, still grinning like an idiot. "But, that's the point, I didn't do it!" I sat back. "Still, long as I'm here and not there I'll admit to anything."

"You're mad," Debbie told me. "I'm half-dead I'm that bored."

"Aww…" I said in mock sympathy, raising my drink. "Well, now you've got me back…don't have to hang out with Daz."

"Sorry but I think I prefer Daz." Debbie said with a wicked grin.

I swallowed my fresh sip of cola hard. "Cheers." I'd missed this so much. Everyone at boarding school had too many sticks up their ass to get a good tease out of. "You know, if mum and dad persuade Ashley to let me stay, I could be here forever." Debbie and I could hang out like this all the time. Laughing, teasing, making trouble…maybe Daz could tag along occasionally too.

"weirdo." Debbie said in response to my desire to stay. She'd never understood my attraction to Emmerdale. Then again, she'd been here all her life.

"You're the weirdo." I replied then picked up my coat. "right, come on, let's go. This is the first place Ashley will look." We gathered up our things and high-tailed it out of the café, conveniently forgetting to pay. Debbie placed a gentle hand on my back as we made our exit. The tender touch from her surprised me so much that I almost ran into Donna as she entered the café.

"Oh! Where's the fire?" She asked.

"Schooled you!" Debbie shouted over her shoulder, pushing me out the door.

We ran down the street, giggling.

"Oh I've missed this sooooo much!" I told Debbie, taking her hand as we slowed to a walk along the street. She grinned that dopy-happy smile she'd had plastered on her face since I'd showed up.

"What do you wanna do first?" She asked, squeezing my hand once before letting it go.

I shrugged. "Anything. I don't care."

"Booze?" She suggested.

"Bit early."

"We could head out to the pavilion."

I shoved my cold hands in my pockets as a bitter wind sliced by us. "It'll be freezing up there with this wind."

"Seth's shed? You could practice for your next crime."

I slapped her arm. "I didn't start the fire!"

She smirked back. "I'm not convinced. You have been on a bit of a rebellious streak since Christmas."

"Look I…I took the blame for someone else. Not even for a mate. Just to get out of there." The admission made me feel lighter and more confident about the whole thing. It had been the right thing to do. Not only for the poor eighth year who'd started the fire but for me too. It got me my freedom.

Surprisingly, admitting the truth to Debbie took almost no effort. I wasn't afraid of her judgment, of her opinion of me. She made me feel comfortable to be myself. "And it worked. Got my dad's attention. He'll be home soon."

"Cheers."

I smiled. "So how have things been here?"

Debbie shrugged. "Same old. Not much happens." A woman passed us going the opposite way, pausing only to shoot Debbie a look that was by no means friendly.

"The christening thing still not blown over then?" I asked sympathetically.

She didn't answer except for a wry smile and making a rude gesture at the woman's back. I nodded in understanding. It wasn't something people were likely to forget quickly.

"And your dad?"

She raised her chin. "Still the way I like him. Gone." I couldn't help but feel proud and a little bit concerned at how stoic she was being. I knew how much this all bothered her. I wished I could have been here the whole time for her. But now, maybe I could be. We could start by hanging out together again.

We probably would have spent the afternoon together if Ashley hadn't rounded the corner up ahead, looking around. Looking for me.

Debbie saw him too. She grabbed my wrist.

"Come on, we can hide in the Woolpack until he's gone!"

As tempting as it was, I knew it wouldn't last long. We couldn't run forever, as much as we wanted to. Plus, if my parents had called, I wanted to know right away. "He'll look there! Look, I'm sorry, just go!" I said gently, pushing her towards the door. "Ashley wont be happy to know I was hanging out with you." I could tell the statement bothered her but she was still too happy that I was back to let it.

"Alright. Laters!" She pantomimed texting as she ducked into the Woolpack, still smiling.

I forced the happy feeling down and out of sight as Ashley caught sight of me. "Fine, you caught me." I said loudly, shoving my hands in my pockets as he approached. "Grandpa fell asleep and I snuck out."

To my surprise, Ashley said nothing as he reached my side.

"What?" I asked, knowing I was stepping onto fragile ground by provoking him. "No sermons from the vicar today?"

"Jasmine you need to come back with me right now." His voice was very serious, almost like someone had died. All the anger and fight of yesterday had left him, now he just seemed drained, tired.

My heart fluttered unexpectedly in my chest. "Have they called?"

Ashley shook his head. "No. Just…" He jerked his head in the direction of the vicarage. "come back."

He was silent the rest of the way back. But I didn't care, I'd had enough of his lectures. And for all his training as a vicar, Debbie was always and would forever be a better listener than Ashley would.

Laurel was a little too happy when Ashley and I stepped through the door.

"You okay?" She asked cheerfully, chuckling in a disarmingly positive manner. Which was difficult to achieve, given that she was Laurel, the most jovial, genuine person in existence.

I nodded slowly. "Of course I'm okay…"

"I knew no harm would come to her." Grandpa said fondly.

"I was with my friend." I didn't mention that that friend was Debbie, I was sure Ashley would have a thing or two to say about that. "Aren't I allowed any kind of life?"

"Sit down Jasmine," Ashley said in that same serious voice from before, indicating the same spot where he'd lectured me yesterday. "we need to talk."

"I'm all talked out, look if you don't mind, I'd rather go to my room." I wasn't going to be lectured again. I didn't think I could handle any bad news after so much talking with Debbie.

Surprisingly, no one stopped me on my way up the stairs.

As I opened my door, I heard Ashley's smooth voice and Grandpa's gravelly one begin to speak in hushed tones, accompanied occasionally by Laurel's shrill one. But I was too tired to bother listening. Let them talk. As soon as dad got here, he'd force them to let me stay.

If there was one thing dad could be counted on for, it was that he never lost a fight.

I fell onto the bed with a huff. Still, this was odd. Ashley had called them as soon as he'd finished yelling at me yesterday. They should have been in touch by now. Dad rarely went more than two days without finding phone service to check his phone for work.

Why haven't they been in touch yet?

Maybe dad's just in the middle of a big project. I reasoned. Building some community center or some crap like that. Maybe he'd just got caught up and hasn't had a chance to check his phone. They'll be in touch soon. I rolled over and covered my eyes with my arm. They have to be.

DJ

Waking up early wasn't easy. I hadn't slept well as I pondered what Ashley and Grandpa could have been discussing the night before and why Ashley hadn't said anything while walking me home. But rising before the sun was the only way to make sure I would get to see Debbie again. And Ashley couldn't force me to stay in.

"Do you think they will?" Debbie asked me as I boasted about how Ashley couldn't punish me properly without my parent's consent.

"Come home?" I clarified. I nodded. "Yeah. Of course!" They had to, they had no choice. I was in a heap of trouble and not really giving a damn. Mom and dad would have to fly back here and deal with me; never mind whatever work came up. "Debbie," I said to her. "I've been expelled." She said nothing, just looking at me. I felt the smile fall from my face. "Don't you think?"

"Well," Debbie said with a grin. "I've never actually been booted out of boarding school while mummy and daddy are digging holes in Timbuktu."

"Mozambique. " I corrected her. "But right continent."

"But in my experience," Debbie continued, suddenly all mirth gone. "expect to be disappointed." She picked up her mug. "They might just send you to another posh school."

I hadn't considered that. Dad might just forgo coming home entirely and send Uncle Ashley my new address. He wouldn't do that. Would he?

"Hello girls." My head shot up at the familiar voice. Grandpa smiled at Debbie and me. "I've been looking all over for my little run-away." He said cheerfully, putting a hand on my shoulder. "Would you mind if I stole my granddaughter for a little while?" He asked Debbie, leaning down.

Debbie looked at me and I could see her wanting to say no. She was lonely, I realized suddenly. More lonely than me even. I was all she had, her entire family still preferred to think her invisible. Guilt settled in the pit of my stomach. Here I was so concerned about if my parents were going to come home or not that I had barely been caring about Debbie. Yesterday I'd shoved her away because I thought my parents might have called.

I opened my mouth to…what? To apologize? To tell Grandpa 'no thanks, Debbie and I are spending the day together'?

Fortunately, Debbie saved me from making the decision. Debbie shrugged and leaned back in her chair, all traces of loneliness and pain hidden behind that mask she wore around everyone but me. "Sure, whatever. See ya Jas!" She sipped her coffee and smiled gently.

I stood and picked up my coat, still fighting down that guilty feeling. Debbie understood right? This was my family. As I followed Grandpa out the door of the café, I glanced back at Debbie. To my surprise, she was watching me intently, like she was afraid of never seeing me again. I smiled at her as the guilt threatened to overwhelm me. Weakly I waved and held up my phone.

Debbie smiled, the mask vanishing.

Grandpa seemed to notice that I wasn't too happy about leaving. As we headed up the street he put an arm around my shoulder and pulled me close. I couldn't help but smile. Grandpa had always been best at cheering me up.

"So what were you and Ashley and Laurel discussing last night?" I asked.

Grandpa just shrugged. "Only dull, idle chit-chat. Have I ever told you about the first time I burned something down?"

On the short walk home, he told me the story about one of his own arson exploits back in his rebellious days. Before long I was laughing, completely cheered up and most of my guilt about Debbie and curiosity about the conversation last night gone. He even made me forget that he was effectively dragging me back for Ashley's "punishment".

"Look who I bumped into, immersing herself in café culture!" He called as Ashley ran up to us from the vicarage.

"Shall I go straight to my room, or do you want to tell me off first?" I asked him.

To my surprise, he smiled. First time my brashness ever got that reaction… "That wont be necessary." He said. Another surprise. "Have you eaten today?"

"Yes." I replied. "At the café."

"Well, there's plenty more inside if you want it." Ashley said quickly, pointing towards the door.

I paused. "Is there a reason why you're suddenly being nice?" I asked, my voice starting to waver as a potential reason came to me. Ashley didn't reply. "And is there a reason why Grandpa wont tell me what you were talking about last night?" I continued, looking up at Grandpa.

"Why don't we go inside?" Grandpa asked putting his arm around me. "A bit warmer, eh?"

I didn't move. I had to know. "Have they been in touch?" I asked.

"Come on." Ashley said with an uneasy smile, trying to lead me into the vicarage. I wasn't going to sit on that damned couch again.

"I'm absolutely fine where I am, thank you." That single statement seemed to stop both my uncle and my Grandfather cold. Grandpa took his arm off my shoulders.

I shrugged. "So, they've been in touch and…" Ashley looked at Grandpa who also remained silent. They weren't going to say it. Neither of them wanted to tell me what I should have already known.

"…and they're not comin' home, because something really important came up. And they just cant drag themselves away to deal with their annoying daughter, that pretty much it?" I could feel my throat closing up, all my pent up anger at mum and dad bubbling up under the pressure and rising to the surface.

"Now, Jasmine…" Grandpa said gently.

"What Grandpa?" I shouted, turning to face him. "Are you gonna defend them?"

"No! I certainly am not!" He roared. I knew he'd always hated that they did this. But he still did nothing. None of them ever did.

I was alone. The realization made me feel like a tap inside me had been suddenly turned on, releasing a great torrent. Like a release and a source of great pain gushing through me all at once. "Shall I tell you a secret?" There was no point now. Who cared if I had the moral ground or not? "I didn't start that fire in school." Ashley looked at Grandpa. So he had told him. Was there no one I could trust? "I didn't even take the blame to win friends." I continued, the torrent of grief and self-pity spewing from me uncontrollably. "Sadly, it is because I am sick and tired of feeling alone! Bein' here with you, even with you being angry with me is better than feeling like I don't exist." I turned and ran, ashamed at the pity in their eyes. I didn't want their pity. At that moment, I didn't even want someone who could understand.

Mum and dad weren't coming back. What was the point of it all?

DJ

I ran until I could run no more and found myself standing on the bridge by the creek, still fighting back tears. I wasn't going to cry over this. I wasn't. I'd done enough of that every night at school, thinking about just how little mum and dad must think about me.

Was I really that much of a nuisance? Did they really not want me? Yes their work was important but don't I deserve even a speck of their attention? I am their daughter.

Why was it so hard for them to love me or even care about me?

To my surprise, it was Ashley who sought me out.

"Pretty pathetic, hey?" I asked as he leaned on the railing next to me.

"Yes." He agreed. "Not the act. But the fact that you should be driven to it." He wrapped an arm around my shoulders. "You mustn't think that you're alone though. Cause you aren't."

His gentle voice coaxed the tears harder. "Sorry," I said, blinking hard. "Can't help it sometimes."

"I understand." I looked away. "But you can talk to me." He continued, taking his arm away. Even though it made the tears less likely to come, I found I missed the feeling. It had been a long time since I'd been held. "Tell me things. Vicars have to be good listeners, it's one of the rules." I gave him a watery smile, not trusting my voice. "And there's Laurel, if you want to talk to someone…"

"Younger?" I choked out with a smile.

He chuckled. "I was going to say of your own gender, but yes." We laughed. "Laurel and I and Gabby. And your Grandfather, of course."

And Debbie. And Daz.

"We all love and care about you very much."

I pursed my lips, trying not to burst into tears like a three-year old. They did, didn't they? Debbie certainly cared about me more than anyone else she knew even if I was selfish and spoiled. Laurel made no secret of how much she loved having me around. And Grandpa…no one had ever loved me more than him…

I took a deep breath. "So why don't my parents?"

Ashley didn't answer. That was a question I seemed doom never to understand.

"…What's wrong with me?" I could never be good enough for them. Never worth more than one phone call a month and a birthday card once every two years or so.

Ashley didn't answer right away. "Your mother and father," He began. "are very lucky to have you."

Yeah, an afterthought of a daughter who tries so very hard just to get a phone call once in awhile.

"And the fact that they need reminding of this," Ashley continued as I took a shaky breath to fight more tears. "reflects on them, not you."

No one had ever phrased it like that. Like I was the victim not the perpetrator. "Thank you." I said to him. "I do like it here."

Ashley turned to smile at me. "We like having you."

"So why don't I stay?" I asked desperately. "For good! I mean it makes sense, doesn't it?" I didn't like the look on his face. It was the same look he'd had the first time he sent me back to boarding school.

"Your parents have asked that we find you another boarding school," he said "but given the fact that you didn't start that fire…" he continued quickly.

I wasn't going to back down, not this time. What did I have to lose? "I could go locally!" I interrupted. "Hotten Comp. or whatever it's called. I mean it must be good if they've got Daz, walking and talking like a semi-normal human…" Ashley looked away from me, rubbing his face thoughtfully. Trying to figure out how to gently turn me down."Don't I deserve some say?" I pleaded. It was my life, my parents couldn't be bothered to interfere unless dictating from thousands of miles away. "You said yourself, you like havin' me here!" Why couldn't I just stay?

"Jasmine, I'm afraid my hands are rather tied…" Ashley told me.

So that was it. Dad had won another argument. Dad had spoken and Ashley had bent. No one disobeyed my father's wishes. No one was going to speak for me. No one cared what I wanted. I was alone.

"You're just the same as them." I said to Ashley. Just trying to get me out of the way, to keep me tucked away like a book on a shelf. "You don't want me cluttering your life. Well I am so sorry to be such a burden on you all!"

He had no response. Somehow, that was worse than a reprimand. "Nice speech," I choked out. "about loving me and wanting me. Very sincere." I left him there as tears began to roll down my cheeks. I was done.

Ashley called after me. But he didn't chase me. He just didn't care enough. I'd never be more than a piece of baggage. Unwanted in the long run. Left behind.

DJ

Even though I knew it was selfish and pitiful, I went to Debbie. She was the only one who could possibly understand. She knew that pain of not being wanted even more than I did.

Plus she owed me sanctuary after what I'd done when she'd given Sarah away.

Thankfully, Lisa opened the door. If Cain had been there, I don't think he'd have let me bunk up, even just for one night.

Ashley came looking for me but didn't come upstairs. I think Lisa might have told him I didn't want to see him or anyone who wasn't Debbie right now.

I turned away from Debbie's window as Ashley left, rubbing my hands.

"What was that about?" Debbie asked. She was lying in bed, her legs under her covers, watching me.

I shrugged. "Couldn't hear." I threw myself down on Debbie's bed, nearly on top of her legs. "Probably leaving me the fare to Timbuktu."

"Not Mozambique then?"

I scoffed. "No. I'd never dream of bothering my parents."

Debbie just offered me a smiled of understanding. "You know just when I think something good is gonna happen…" I continued. "something rubbish does instead." This was supposed to have worked. By now I should have been settling in to Hotten Comp, teasing Daz about his handwriting.

Debbie made a noise of agreement. "Been there done that."

"Pardon me." I replied, failing to keep spite out of my voice. "I was forgetting you have the monopoly on teen angst…" It wasn't fair that I was lashing out at her. But I just couldn't take this crap anymore.

Debbie sighed but didn't snap back. "We'd be better off on our own." She said after a moment, matter-of-factly.

I nodded. "Agreed."

"I mean it Jas." Debbie said. "What's to stop us going somewhere?"

I looked up at her, surprised by her suggestion. "You and me you mean?"

"Yeah, why not?" She asked, her eyes lighting up. "I could get a job, I don't care what it is as long as it pays alright and…" She smiled at me. "you can find a school you swat."

I smirked at her, touched and offended. "What you'd do that for me?"

"Of course, you're a mate." She said it so bluntly, so effortlessly like it was so obvious. I almost started crying again at that. How was it she could be so generous when I was being so self-centered?

"We could get a flat." Debbie said.

As soon as she said it, it became rooted in my memory and imagination, dominating both. I sighed in content at the picture they conjured. It was beautiful. "That sounds perfect!" I exclaimed, sitting up to face her. "Nobody shouting to 'turn the music down'!"

Debbie leaned in. "We could play whatever we want, as loud as we want!" She told me, making the image stronger.

I nodded. "The Crypts."

"Kanye." She replied.

"Gwen Stefani!" We said together. We fell into a tangled heap on Debbie's bed giggling madly.

We could do it, I reasoned as my mind shot into overdrive. Plenty of kids our age managed to live on their own. I was smart, Debbie was capable of so much. We could support ourselves, live by our own rules, share a large bed in our cramped flat as we blasted our favorite music and sipped booze on weeknights…

I knew that forever, I'd strive for that picture.

I sat up, flushed with a sudden sense of purpose and optimism. "I'm going to go tell Ashley!"

I planted a kiss on Debbie's cheek and rushed to pick up my bag and coat.

"We can start looking tomorrow, I bet some of the shops in Hotten are hiring. There's got to be a few flats open too, I have bus fare to get us…" I stopped rambling as I turned back to face Debbie, struggling into my coat. "What?" Debbie was still sitting on her bed, her hand on her cheek, looking a little dumbfounded. For a second, I wondered if I had pushed her too far. Neither of us had ever kissed the other like that before.

Her eyes were glazed over. "Debs?" Now I was worried. I had just been so happy about the decision and thankful to her for taking me in, listening and helping me cheer up. I hadn't ruined that. Had I?

Debbie shook herself and smiled at me. "Go on then, you freak," She teased. "Go tell Ashley the good news."

I grinned and raced out of her room. If Daz or even Laurel had tried something like that, Debbie would have beaten them silly. I was the only one she'd let get away with showing affection like that. I was the only one she'd even consider sharing a flat with. She'd be willing to support me while I finished my A-levels. She'd do anything for me. The realization brought another warm bubble of pleasure to my chest that dwarfed even the one put there by our decision.

I sprinted past Lisa and raced down the road towards the vicarage. Who cared if my parents never came back? I'd have Debbie. That was all I needed.

DJ

"With Debbie?" Ashley asked, sounding shocked.

Even Laurel looked appalled. What was their problem with her? If anyone even bothered to look past her troubled past and reputation, they'd see one of the bravest most beautiful people I'd ever met.

"How do you think the Dingles will accommodate you?"

I folded my arms tighter and held my stoic face as best I could. From his tone and volume you'd think I'd just announced I was giving up on men, marrying Debbie and moving to India.

"They won't have to. That's not what I meant." I told him. "Debbie and I are going to get our own place." Well now he just looked dumbfounded.

"Hang on a minute darling…" Grandpa began, trying to soothe me but I cut him off.

"No! I'm sorry grandpa, but it's obvious I'm just a nuisance to everyone…" I said with a pointed look at Ashley. "Debbie feels the same at her house so, that's what we're gonna do."

"Jasmine…" Ashley said slowly, taking me by the shoulders. "Sit down and let's talk."

"About what?" Everything had already been said.

"Jasmine, please." Laurel said, picking up Gabby and gesturing at the couch. I sat down in a huff, keeping my arms tightly folded.

"I'd rather you didn't go to live with Debbie." Ashley began. Great start, you never liked her anyway. "I'd rather…" He continued as I opened my mouth to protest. "…we'd all rather you stayed here with us."

"until you find a new boardin' school for me." Keep dad happy and all, never mind my happiness.

"I don't think they take boarders at Hotten Comp." Laurel said.

It took a second for her words to register.

"Although," Ashley said pleasantly. "It must be pretty good if they've got Daz walking and talking like a semi-normal human…"

"Ashley!" Laurel chastised him, but she was smiling as she bumped him.

"So what do you think?" Ashley asked smiling expectantly at me.

I stood up, hardly daring to believe it. "Please tell me I've not misunderstood…" The hope and happiness in my chest were greater than anything I had ever known. I didn't think I'd survive if they were proven wrong.

"No you haven't!" Laurel assured me, barely holding back a laugh of joy.

"You're staying here." Grandpa said. "And if your father wants to argue about it, he can argue with me!"

"With all of us." Ashley agreed. "You've become quite a fixture in our lives and we'd hate to see you leave."

I'd never loved him more than I did right now. "Thank you Ashley." I kissed him on the cheek and threw my arms around him, barely holding back tears of joy. Everything he'd said earlier didn't seem to matter at all. He wanted me here. That was enough for me. I embraced Laurel next, knowing that she'd probably had a lot to do with his decision to let me stay. They both laughed, soaking in my happiness and finding themselves unable to contain it all.

Then I ran over to Grandpa's chair. I kissed him on the cheek and tickled Gabby as Ashley and Laurel whispered and smiled about the changes to come.

For now this would be a perfect arrangement. Almost like a family. A proper family. But someday, Debbie and I would find that place where we could make our own rules. Our own home. Our own family.

And that. That would be heaven.