Chapter 27

April 8, 1996.

On Monday morning, Kerri wakes up and heads straight to Jack's bedroom.

"You're up early." Jack said to Kerri as she walked in.

"So are you." she remarked.

"What did that woman want yesterday?"

Kerri's facial expression changed instantly. "That was Anne-Marie Barton's mother. She came around to tell Pippa and I that Anne-Marie went missing."

"You're joking?!"

"I have a gut feeling that something bad has happened to her." Kerri said.

Jack put his arm around Kerri. "What makes you say that?" he asked.

"After you and Chloe left the party, people were giving Anne-Marie a hard time and she ended up having a major argument with Sharon Thomas." Kerri replied.

"What did they argue about?"

"Sharon kissed Paul Simpson."

"Paul Simpson..." Jack thought out aloud. "Hey, wait a minute! Doesn't Anne-Marie have a crush on him?"

"She did, but Sharon ended up kissing him at the party instead." Kerri said.

"That had to suck." Jack said.

"Anne-Marie basically told Sharon that she hated her and stormed out of the warehouse in tears." Kerri said. "I felt so sorry for her."

"I just hope she's found safe and well." Jack said, pulling Kerri into an embrace.

"Me too." Kerri said, frowning.

When Kerri arrives at Summer Bay High, she goes into the ladies bathroom and finds Sharon smoking a cigarette.

"Shaz, any news on Anne-Marie?" Kerri asked her.

"No." Sharon said quietly.

Kerri looked at Sharon, who's eyes were puffy and red from crying.

"She'll be okay." Kerri said, trying to reassure Sharon.

"Oh, this is all my fault!" Sharon said before breaking down into tears.

Kerri hugged her friend tight.

"This is not your fault." she told Sharon.

"If I hadn't kissed Paul, Annie would still be here." Sharon sobbed.

"Don't blame yourself." Kerri said.

Sharon continued to sob.

Meanwhile, Selina was waiting for Jerome when Sonia Hammond approached her.

"Well, if it isn't the slut of Summer Bay High." Sonia sneered.

"Rack off, Sonia!" Selina snapped at her. "I'm really not in the mood for your bitchiness!"

"It's just a shame that Jerome doesn't see you for the filthy slag that you are!" Sonia gloated, a huge smirk draped across her face.

"You should talk." Selina laughed. "You practically would fall for any guy that comes near you!"

"Take that back, you slut!" Sonia shouted.

"The only slag around here is YOU!" Selina shouted back.

Sonia pushed Selina into the lockers, but Selina was able to use her strength to tackle Sonia to the ground and start slapping her. Soon, several students started chanting 'fight, fight, fight' before Fisher managed to separate the two girls.

"I will not have two students fighting in the school corridors, especially on a Monday morning!" Donald yelled at them. "You can both report to detention during lunch!"

"SHE started it!" Sonia protested.

"I don't care WHO started it!" Donald continued yelling. "Any more nonsense and you can both collect rubbish from the school playground as well!"

Once the bell rang and Fisher ordered everyone into class, Sonia glared at Selina.

"You'll get yours, Roberts!" Sonia snarled.

Selina glared at Sonia as she walked off.

Stephanie and Tiegan decided to ditch school for the day and meet up with two girls from Yabbie Creek High.

"I can't wait to see Jasmine and Sarah." Tiegan said.

"Me too." Stephanie said.

The girls met up with Sarah and Jasmine outside Top Video.

"Hey girls." Jasmine said. "Glad you came."

"Well, we wouldn't cut school for nothing." Tiegan said, laughing.

"Smoke?" Sarah asked Stephanie.

"No thanks." Stephanie replied.

"I'll have one." Tiegan said before taking the cigarette.

"Since when do you smoke?" Stephanie asked her.

"Every so often." Tiegan replied.

"Let's go to Space Place." Jasmine suggested.

"Sounds good to me." Stephanie said.

"The good thing about that place is that it has an outdoor smoking area." Sarah said.

"I agree." Tiegan said.

Stephanie pulled a disgusted face as Tiegan, Jasmine and Sarah started laughing.

When they returned to Summer Bay later that afternoon, Stephanie and Tiegan went straight to Summer Bay House. They saw Kerri in the living room watching TV.

"Tiegan, I'd hide from Pippa if I was you." Kerri warned.

"Why's that?" Tiegan asked her.

"Fisher noticed that you and Steph weren't at school and rang both Pippa and Kelly." Kerri replied.

"Great!" Stephanie said sarcastically.

Just as Stephanie and Tiegan were about to head upstairs, Pippa walked in from the back door.

"Stop right there, please." Pippa said sternly.

Stephanie and Tiegan walked over to Pippa.

"Mr Fisher rang me today in regards to your whereabouts, Tiegan." Pippa said. "Why didn't you go to school?"

"I did." Tiegan lied.

"Tiegan, the last thing I need is you lying to me." Pippa said before she started to smell Tiegan's shirt. "Have you been smoking?!"

"No!"

"Right! You can go straight upstairs and I don't want to see you again for the rest of the day!" Pippa snapped.

Tiegan went straight upstairs.

"Stephanie, you go home." Pippa said to her. "I'm sure Travis and Kelly will have a word with you about today's truancy."

Once Stephanie left the house, Kerri waited until Pippa went upstairs before she took Pippa's car keys out of her handbag.

"Time to go on a joyride." Kerri smirked.

NEXT TIME...
- Stephanie and Tiegan are given detention for their truancy
- Kerri's joyride lands her in trouble
- Has Pippa reached her limit with Kerri's rebellious behaviour?