Chapter 26

Senior Constable Walsh told Pippa what went down at the old warehouse and the minute she walked out of the door, Kerri got the biggest lecture of her life.

"I specifically told you that you were not to throw that party, Kerri!" Pippa scolded. "Now, I cannot believe that you got arrested!"

"I had a great time, though." Kerri said, bluntly.

"Do you even have a slight tinge of remorse for your actions?" Pippa asked her angrily.

Kerri just snorted a giggle.

"I don't find this funny, Kerri!"

"But I had fun!" Kerri protested.

"This is your last warning, young lady." Pippa said. "If you continue to push the boundaries like this, then I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

"What's that supposed to mean?!" Kerri asked angrily.

"That means the department will send you to another foster home!" Pippa said. "Now, get upstairs to bed please!"

Kerri went upstairs, but instead of going into the bedroom she sleeps in, she went to Jack's room.

"Jack?"

Kerri sneaked over to a sleeping Jack and kissed his lips.

"I love you." she whispered.

"Love you too." Jack said, still sleeping.

Kerri then retreated to her own bedroom.

At Melissa's house, Tiegan and Damian were in the living room watching TV, while Stephanie and Melissa were sound asleep.

"That movie was so good." Tiegan said.

"I liked that movie as well." Damian said.

"That's good."

Tiegan and Damian stared at each other for a few seconds without saying anything.

"Damian, why did you put your arm around me at the cinema?" Tiegan eventually asked him.

Damian started to blush slightly. "Because I like you a lot, Tiegan." he managed to reply.

"I like you too, Damian." Tiegan told him.

"In what way?" Damian asked.

"Love." Tiegan replied.

Damian smiled at Tiegan.

"I do too." he said.

"It sucks that you have to go back to the city tomorrow." Tiegan said.

"You can always visit me." Damian told her.

Tiegan gave Damian a hug and said, "I think that's a great idea."

Damian let out a huge smile.

The next morning, Stephanie doesn't get up until ten o'clock. Melissa soon saw her enter the kitchen.

"You slept in pretty late this morning." Melissa said.

"I was very tired." Stephanie said.

"Steph, I get the feeling that something is wrong." Melissa said, looking concerned.

"I just wish Louis was still here." Stephanie said, now on the verge of tears.

Melissa gave Stephanie a hug.

"I'm sure he and Corey will be watching over us." she said.

Stephanie didn't say anything. She just cried quietly.

"Let it out." Melissa said.

Once Stephanie finished crying, Tiegan poked her head into the guest room.

"Damian's leaving now." she told Melissa and Stephanie.

"Oh." Melissa said.

"I suppose we better say goodbye to him." Stephanie said, sniffing.

The three girls went outside and saw Damian open the driver's door of his car.

"I'll see you girls soon, I guess." Damian told them.

"Bye, Damian." Melissa said, giving Damian a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

Damian then hugged Stephanie and Tiegan before getting into the car.

"See ya." Damian said.

"Bye." the girls said.

Damian then drove off.

Meanwhile, Pippa is in the kitchen getting out tins of meatloaves to take to the diner when a woman comes in.

"Pippa Fletcher?"

Pippa went over to the woman.

"Yes, how can I help you?" she asked.

"I'm Louise Barton, Anne-Marie's mother. I used to be on the P&C." the woman replied.

"Oh, right." Pippa said.

"I need to talk to Kerri Winslow." Louise said.

At that point, Kerri comes downstairs and enters the living room.

"What's up?" she asked.

"Kerri, do you know where Anne-Marie is?" Louise asked her. "She didn't come home from the party last night."

"She could be staying at Sharon's place." Kerri responded.

"I've tried all her friends, even the ones that live in the city." Louise told her. "She hasn't contacted them."

Kerri looks shocked.

NEXT TIME...
- Kerri confides to Jack why she thinks Anne-Marie went missing
- Stephanie and Tiegan cut school to meet up with some friends
- Selina and Sonia get into a fight