Chapter 30

April 10, 1996.

Early the next morning, Kerri and Jack sneaked out of Pippa's house before anyone else woke up. Today was going to be the day that Helen James would be arriving to collect Kerri and take her to another foster home. Jack didn't understand why Pippa had to ask Kerri to leave, but he was determined not to let Kerri be sent away. He loved her too much for that.

"Where are we going?" Jack asked her, as he put his backpack over his shoulder.

"The city." Kerri replied.

"I just hope that Pippa doesn't catch us." Jack said. "Anyway, she can't break us up!"

"Exactly." Kerri told him. "I know a great place where we can stay."

"Where?" Jack asked. "A youth refuge?"

"No, silly." Kerri laughed. "I got this friend named Nuala, who has been kind enough to let us stay at her place."

"Cool." Jack said.

Kerri and Jack headed straight to the bus shelter and waited five minutes until the bus arrived. They ended up getting off at Yabbie Creek train station and waited for a train to take them into the city.

"What's this Nuala chick like?" Jack asked.

"Nuala and I go way back." Kerri replied. "She went to Civic High."

"Steph might know her, then." Jack said.

"Stephanie was Miss Popular at Civic High." Kerri responded. "Everyone wanted to be her friend."

"Including you."

"Yes, including me." Kerri said, smiling.

The train soon arrived. Both Jack and Kerri found seats upstairs and sat down.

"I love you." Jack said.

"I love you too." Kerri said.

They then started to kiss.

At Pippa's house, the family are having breakfast when Sally and Tiegan notice that Jack and Kerri are missing.

"Where's Jack?" Tiegan asked.

"Kerri's not at breakfast as well." Sally said.

"I'm sure they're upstairs." Shannon said to them.

"Playing tonsil hockey." Sam laughed.

"Sam, that's disgusting!" Tiegan said.

Pippa comes downstairs.

"Have any of you seen Jack and Kerri?" Pippa asked them.

"Not since last night." Tiegan replied.

"Because I just went into his room and found that his wallet, backpack and other items are gone." Pippa told them.

"What about Kerri?" Shannon asked Pippa.

"Kerri's suitcase and her belongings are gone too." Pippa replied through thin lips.

"They've run away!" Sally said angrily.

Pippa went over to the phone and started to dial a number.

"What are you doing?" Tiegan asked.

"I'm ringing Mrs James." Pippa responded. "I think it's about time I let her know what's going on."

The other foster children looked worried.

When Tiegan met Stephanie at school, she informed her of what was happening.

"Kerri and Jack took off?"

"Yes." Tiegan replied.

"I bet Pippa is worried sick." Stephanie said.

"I think she's more furious than worried sick." Tiegan said. "Kerri was very disrespectful towards Irene yesterday."

"Kerri thinks she can do what she wants and not listen to any authority figures." Stephanie said. "That's one of the reasons she got asked to leave George and Mary's house."

"Was she rude to them?" Tiegan asked her.

"Just very opinionated." Stephanie replied.

Their conversation was interrupted when they heard Sonia poke fun at Chloe once again.

"It's the junkie loser!" Sonia sneered.

"OI!" Tiegan yelled. "Leave Chloe alone!"

"Sticking your nose into my business again, Tiegan?!" Sonia snapped.

"I thought you would've learnt your lesson yesterday after getting a piece of chocolate cake smashed into your face!" Stephanie said angrily.

Some students who were walking past started laughing.

"It's not funny!" Sonia shouted.

"You're just a scrag, Sonia." Tiegan told her. "Now, rack off!"

Sonia's face turned bright red, but she didn't say anything. Instead, she just stormed off.

"You okay, Chloe?" Stephanie asked her.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Chloe replied.

Tiegan went over to Chloe and hugged her.

Later that morning, Kerri and Jack arrived at at a derelict terrace house in the city.

"This is where Nuala lives?" Jack asked Kerri.

"Yeah."

Kerri knocked on the door. A woman answered the door.

"What do you want?!" she asked angrily.

"Is Nuala home?"

"Still asleep." the woman replied coolly.

"Listen, love." Kerri told her bluntly. "Nuala invited us here."

Taken aback by Kerri's attitude, the woman let them inside. At that moment, Nuala walked out from the hallway.

"Hello, Kerri." Nuala said.

"It's so good to see you." Kerri said, hugging her old friend. "Thanks for letting me and Jack stay here."

"No worries, hun." Nuala responded.

"I'm going out." the woman said to Nuala before leaving the house.

"Okay, Bridget." Nuala replied.

"Who's she?" Jack asked Nuala.

"Just my roomie." Nuala responded.

"She was quite rude to me." Kerri told her.

"Don't worry about Bridget." Nuala said. "She's like that with everyone."

"Where are we sleeping?"

Nuala showed Kerri and Jack to the guest bedroom.

"I'll leave you two to get settled in." Nuala told them before closing the door.

"This is awesome!" Jack said.

"Tell me about it." Kerri said.

The two then started kissing.

Selina hardly spoke to anyone all morning at school. By lunchtime, Stephanie was concerned and decided to talk to her about it.

"Selina, is something bothering you?" Stephanie asked her.

"I don't want to talk about it." Selina replied.

"That's okay." Stephanie said. "But if you ever need to talk to someone, I'm here for you."

"Jerome's moving away." Selina said.

"I'm so sorry." Stephanie said, looking sad.

"He's moving to the Gold Coast in a few weeks." Selina continued. "I think our relationship is going to end."

"That sucks."

Selina began to cry. "I sure could use a hug right now."

"Oh, Selina." Stephanie said sadly.

Stephanie hugged Selina as she continued to cry.

NEXT TIME...
- Helen James meets up with Pippa to discuss Kerri's behaviour
- Kerri and Jack's romance heats up
- Tiegan is threatened with her life by Sonia
- A depressed Selina lashes out at Irene