Chapter 32
April 12, 1996
On Friday, Selina was moping around the school corridor waiting for Jerome to arrive. He would be leaving Summer Bay the next day to move up the Gold Coast. Selina barely slept for two days because of how depressed she was.
"Hey babe." Jerome said as he entered the school grounds.
"Oh, hey." Selina said before kissing Jerome on the cheek.
"You look tired."
"I've hardly had any sleep for two days." Selina told him.
"Why?" Jerome asked her.
"Because I'm very depressed." Selina replied.
"If only I had a choice staying in the Bay with you." Jerome said sadly.
"I know."
"It sucks that I'm leaving." Jerome said. "I have to say goodbye to all my friends."
"I'm sure you'll make new friends." Selina said, reassuring him.
"I'll miss you, babe." Jerome said.
"I know."
Selina and Jerome embraced as the school bell sounded.
Meanwhile, Stephanie was having dilemmas of her own. Tiegan noticed something was up almost straight away.
"Steph?"
"Yes?"
"Is everything okay?"
Stephanie sighed before eventually replying, "I'm just thinking that's all."
"About what?" Tiegan asked again.
"About tomorrow." Stephanie admitted. "It's going to be so weird seeing George and Mary again."
"I'm coming with you, remember." Tiegan reminded her friend.
"I'm well aware of that." Stephanie said, laughing lightly.
"Pippa's very tired." Tiegan said. "This whole Kerri situation has really bugged her."
"When did they say Kerri was to go to her new foster family in Tweed Heads?" Stephanie asked.
"Next week." Tiegan replied.
"All I can say is I wish her all the best." Stephanie said.
"How can you think that?" Tiegan asked her.
"I know Kerri has a very wild personality, but she looks up to me as an older sister." Stephanie responded.
"I see." Tiegan said. "We're still sisters from another mister, right?"
"Of course." Stephanie said before her and Tiegan shared a high-five.
Their Ancient History teacher, Miss Andrews, walked in at that point.
"Alright, Year 11. Today, we're going to start on Ancient Egypt. Please turn to Chapter 9 in your textbooks." Miss Andrews instructed.
Stephanie and Tiegan got out their textbooks, ready for the lesson to start.
When Stephanie arrived home from school that afternoon, she found Kelly in the living room.
"Hello." Kelly said.
"Oh, hey." Stephanie said. "I thought you would've been at the hospital."
"I'm working the night shift tonight." Kelly told her.
"Good." Stephanie said. "Because I need to talk to you."
"Sit down."
Stephanie sat next to Kelly on the lounge.
"What did you want to talk about?" Kelly asked Stephanie.
"I'm nervous."
"About?"
"I'm nervous about seeing my old foster parents tomorrow." Stephanie admitted.
"Why?"
"Because I haven't seen them in months."
Kelly frowned slightly before looking at Stephanie. "You have nothing to be nervous about." she said.
"Are you sure?" Stephanie asked her.
"Yes." Kelly replied.
"I'm just glad Tiegan is coming with me." Stephanie said. "I don't think I could visit them on my own."
"Would a hug make you feel better?" Kelly asked.
"I guess." Stephanie replied.
Kelly hugged Stephanie.
"Thank you for listening to me, Kelly." Stephanie told her.
"You're welcome." Kelly responded.
That night, Kerri and Jack are walking the streets of Sydney looking for excitement and fun.
"Timezone was pretty packed tonight." Jack said.
"I reckon." Kerri said.
"I'm very surprised how many people you've seen while we've been out tonight." Jack told her.
"Why are you surprised?" Kerri asked him.
"I didn't know you were that well-known in the city." Jack responded.
"I guess I'm famous." Kerri laughed.
After a while, Kerri and Jack stopped near a nightclub.
"Let's rage." Kerri said.
"We can't get in." Jack reminded her. "We're under-18."
"The magic of fake I.D's." Kerri said, smirking.
"How did you get these?" Jack asked her.
"Nuala helped me." Kerri replied.
"I reckon we won't get in." Jack said.
Kerri and Jack went into the line that was queued outside the door.
"I.D's please." the security guard said to them when they approached him.
Kerri and Jack flashed their I.D's at him.
"Enter." he told them.
Kerri and Jack entered the nightclub.
"That security guy is so stupid." Kerri said to Jack.
"I reckon." Jack said, laughing.
Kerri and Jack spent the rest of the night dancing and having a great time. By the time they left the nightclub, it was nearly midnight.
"This was a night to remember." Kerri said.
"It sure was, babe." Jack said.
Kerri and Jack then started to kiss.
"I love you." Jack said.
"Love you too, babe." Kerri said.
"I don't want to lose you."
"Same here."
Kerri and Jack then kissed again.
The next morning, Selina had just finished breakfast when the back door started knocking. She opened the door and found Jerome standing there with a bouquet of roses.
"Special delivery for my girlfriend." Jerome said.
"Jerome, they're beautiful." Selina said, before placing the roses onto the kitchen table.
"I said goodbye to Stephanie, Tiegan, Shannon and a few of the boys from my rugby team before I left the house. Now, you're lucky last." Jerome said.
"Aw, that's sweet." Selina said.
"I'm really going to miss you, Selina." Jerome said, choking up.
Selina burst into tears.
"I'll miss you too." she sobbed
Selina and Jerome embraced as they both cried.
"Stay in touch." she told him.
"I will, babe." Jerome said to her.
A car horn started honking.
"I have to go now, babe."
"Promise to call me when you get to the Gold Coast." Selina sobbed.
Jerome and Selina leaned towards each other and shared one last kiss.
"Goodbye, babe." Jerome said, sniffing. "Until we meet again."
A tearful Selina stood in the doorway as she watched Jerome get into his father's car.
"Bye." Selina said softly.
Jerome waved goodbye as the car drove off into the distance. Selina went back inside the house and fixed her gaze on the roses that were still lying on the kitchen table.
"It's not fair!"
Selina threw the roses at the back door before she started sobbing loudly.
NEXT TIME...
- Irene becomes concerned about Selina's mental state
- Stephanie visits her old foster parents
- Kerri is livid when she finds out that she has to go to Tweed Heads