Chapter 32– Chicken? (Jacquie’s POV)

I wake up the room’s pitch black except for a little red light on that I think is the TV stand by button. I go to move but realise someone’s there cuddling me. I guess its Andy, I get the pillow I was laying on and slip it under his head I slowly move away from him and my way to the kitchen running into about 4 chairs along the way. Oh well. I get a glass and get some water, I drink it and put the glass in the sink.
“Man you are one loud bitch Mel,” A sleepy Andrew says.
I turn around.
"never knew I looked like a blonde?” I say
“Oh sorry Babe” he says
“It’s okays” I say.
“So we going back to sleep?” he asks.
“Yeah” I say.
We walk back to the couch and cuddle up and I fall back to sleep.


7.55am…
“Wake up” Is what I hear before I get pushed off the lounge.
I look up its Mel and Tahlia I give them an evil look.
“We have been trying to wake you up for the past … ages” Tahlia says.
“Oh sorry where’s Andrew?” I say my voice slightly croaky.
“He is in his room” Mel says.
“Okays” I say and stand up.
I start to make my way to his bedroom.
“I wouldn’t” Mel says.
“Why?” I say turning around.
“You’ll spoil the surprise” Mel says, it sounded quite sarcastic.
“Umm okay” I say walking away from the room.
“So” Tahlia says.
A smile comes to my face.
“YOU HAVE TO GO TO SCHOOL” I tease.
“Oh shut up,” Tahlia says.
“Yeah just cause…. I got nothing,” Mel says.
I laugh.
“Zing” I say, “Why the hell did I say that?”
“Umm you’re becoming a nerd like Michael?” she says.
“Man what happened again with him?” I ask.
“He got jealous blah blah blah something something something the end, he is annoying and we all hate him” Tahlia says, “the only thing I liked about him was his name started with an M”
“Yeah yeah you liked him,” Mel says.
“What the hell I hated that fuck” Tahlia says.
“I knew you fucked him,” Mel says.
“I WAS REFERING TO HIM AS A FUCK, NOT AS IF I HAD FUCKED HIM GOD YOU’RE SO BLONDE” Tahlia yells.
“Shut up okay not my fault” Mel says.
Andrew walks out his room and slumped down on the couch.
Mel raises an eyebrow then lowers it. She and Tahlia walk back into her room, Probably getting changed I sit next to Andrew.
“So, What’s up?” I ask.
He just smiles at me.
“Tell Me,” I beg.
He still smiles.
“God your damn happy” I say.
He lets out a little giggle.
“Aww girly giggle” I say.
He gives me an evil stare but then goes back to smiling.
“If you don’t tell me what’s up I’m going to … do something,” I say.
He rolls his eyes and kisses me.
He pushes something in my mouth Something small.
He pulls out and is still smiling.
I pull out whatever it is. FUCK ITS AN AWESOME SKULL SILVER RING, man he knows me so well.
“Oh thanks” I say and give him a quick peck “But why all the presents?”
I put the ring on my left hand index finger.
“I just felt like it,” he says.
“Thanks” I say and hug him.
“STOP MAKING OUT ME AND TAHLIA ARE COMING OUT” Mel yells.
Andrew cracks up and so do I.
Mel and Tahlia appear.
“We are going see ya” Tahlia says.
“But it’s…” Andrew says looking at the clock.
“8.30am so yeah we are going” Mel says.
“Make sure you say to Jared I’m sorry I’m not there,” I say
“Sure” Mel says then she and Tahlia hurry out the door.
“Well I should go home” I say getting up.
“Why?” he asks.
“Well soon my mum will call me and be like, coming home soon and yeah its best to be home before then” I reply.
“Okay but I’m coming with you,” He says.
I smile and get my bag I didn’t even change into my pj’s I don’t know why I bothered.
“I gotta change so I’ll be in your sisters room changing, and no you cant watch,” I say with a smile.
I go into Mel’s room and get changed into my clean clothes I put my other clothes into the bag and walk out Andrew’s waiting for me he has the black gift bag from last night that he gave to me.
“Aww thanks” I say “But serious you didn’t have to do that and no more gifts okay”
“Sure” he says.

We walk out of the house and he walks me to my place I give him a kiss out the front of mine and he gives me the black gift bag, I walk to the door and knock He waves at me and I wave back then he walks off. The door opens.
“Hi” Mark says, “Oh it’s you, your mum was about to call”
“Yeah I thought I would get back before then” I say and walk in.
Mum hugs me.
“How are you?” she asks letting go of me.
“Good” I reply.
“What’s with that bag?” Mark asks closing the door.
“Oh Andrew gave me a couple of presents” I say, “I feel bad I didn’t give him anything”
“I thought you were over Mel’s?” Mum asks.
“I was but hello Mel is Andrew’s sister so yeah he was there too,” I say.
“Sex?” She asks.
“No I wouldn’t have sex with Mel or Tahlia they are my friends I don’t like them in that way” I say with a smile.
“Ha ha I meant Andrew,” She says.
“Of course not” I say.
“Okay good” she says.
I walk to my room. I put my bags down I immediately go on the laptop and I check my email. 2 new emails.
I open the first one.

Hello Jacquie,
How are you?
I’m pretty good and my guess to your question YOU!
YAY I’m so happy I’ve missed you.
When are you coming?
From Ray

Hi Ray
I’m great hello I’m seeing you guys again and yeah I’ve missed you too, I’m leaving Aus Monday here so I will be there before I left ha that’s funny hey?
Okays speak to you later
Jacquie

I send it and check the other email.

Hiya,
Really? You're coming back? That’s great I mean wonderful, I’ve missed you heaps. Sorry I was out the other night I would of talked to ya. Yeah when you coming?

Love Gee


Hi,
Yeah I’m coming. I’ve missed you HEAPS!!! I’m leaving here on Monday so yeah see ya then

Love
Jacquie


I send it.
I wasn’t expecting to get an email from Gerard or Ray for that matter, oh well happier now.

I turn off the laptop.
“So what did Andrew get ya?” Mark asks.
I jump.
“Fuck don’t do that,” I say.
“Sorry, and no swearing” he says with a laugh.
“Oh just a couple of things” I say.
“Like?” he asks.
“A shirt, boots, skirt, fishnets, bracelet and this ring” I say showing him the ring on my finger.
“Okay” he says and walks off.
I guess he is telling mum.
He likes to do that a lot.
I laugh to myself and look at the boots he bought me.
Man I love them, so taking them to America.
I lie down on my bed and My phone goes off.
I answer it.

“Hey” I say.
“Hi, wanna come over again?” Andrew asks.
“Well I want to but I seriously need to have a shower” I reply.
“Oh, well I will come over and possibly help you shower” he says with a laugh.
“Oh sure mum seriously wouldn’t leave us alone, let alone let me shower with you” I say.
“Damn” he says, “Well find out if I can at least come over, I don’t care if she keeps checking in on us”
“Fine, I’ll call you back after my shower” I say.
“Okays bye” he says and hangs up.
I get a towel and go for a shower.

15 minutes later…
I had finished my shower and had just gotten dressed when my phone goes off, I check it and it’s a txt from Andrew.

So can I come over?

I find my mum.
“Can Andrew come over?” I ask.
“Why?” she asks.
“Cause I want him to come over” I reply.
“Umm I guess so,” she says.
“Thanks” I say.

Sure come over now

I send to Andrew.
I walk into my room, brush my hair and sit on the couch I watch some TV I flip through the channels not much is on, but I catch the last couple seconds of Disarm by Smashing Pumpkins video clip.

“Honey, Andrew’s here,” Mum says opening the door.
Andrew walks in.
I get up and hug him.
“Hey” I say letting him go.
“Hiya” he says.
“Okay I’m gonna be in my room getting ready for Kay’s Birthday” Mum says ducking out of the room “Oh yeah Andrew can come too if he wants”
“Oh yeah I forgot it was her birthday party today” I say, “So you wanna come?”
“Sure” Andrew replies.
“Good” I say to Andrew leading him to my room by his hand “You can help me find something to wear”.
We go inside my room and I close the door.
He sits on my bed.
“So” he says.
“Okay one thing that is important is that I’m wearing Jeans” I say getting a pair of plain blue jeans out and a pair of black skinny leg jeans out of the closet “But I’m not sure what ones”
“Skinny legs” He says.
“Okay cool” I say putting the skinny legs on the bed and putting the blue jeans back in the closet “Now a shirt”
“How about that black one with Smashers on it that I got ya?” he says.
Smashers is a nickname he uses for Smashing Pumpkins, some people say it too but mostly him.
“Sure” I say walking to the black gift bag and pulling it out and placing it on the bed “Shoes?”
“Umm black sneakers?” he suggests.
“Sure” I say pulling out two pairs “What pair do you reckon?”
“Umm skull laces, they are cool,” he says.
I place the shoes next to my bed.
“I guess I’m gonna have to get changed too” he says.
“Nah your good how you are” I say sitting next to him.
“But I wanna” he says.
“Really?” I ask.
“Nope” he says laughing.
“Knew it,” I say.
“Yeah I’m that predictable” he says.
“Sure” I say hugging him “But your cuddly so that’s good”
“So when are we going to the party?” he asks.
“Um in a hour I think” I say letting go “So go sit in the living room while I get changed”
“Okay sure” he says walking out of my room, opening and closing the door after him.
I get dressed and put my phone in my jeans I apply some make up and put on a bangle that I got a couple of years ago in Jersey.
I walk out the room and sit with Andrew.
“You look h…” he says but mum walks in “Pretty”.
“Thanks” I say.
Mum walks to the kitchen “Hungry” she asks us.
“Umm kinda” I say.
“Yeah” Andrew replies.
“Okay, want some chips or something little?” Mum asks “Cause Mark is gonna be a bit getting ready”
“Chips would be good” Andrew says.
“Yeah chips please Mum,” I say.
“Sure” Mum says.
She walks back into the room tossing us a pack each of plain chips.
“Thanks” we both say and open our chips.
“So anyone else gonna be there that we know of?” Andrew asks and eats a couple of chips.
“Umm no I don’t think so” I say, “Kay only has one daughter and she is in Europe somewhere and I don’t think she invited anyone of our age”
“Okay” he says.
We continue eating chips and watch some TV until Mark finally comes out.
“Man you take as long as a chick does” Andrew says.
“I take pride in how I look” he says, “Well not really I was bored and I started impersonating Elvis”
“What the hell?” I ask.
“I’m joking,” he says.
“Okay that’s good,” I say.
“Are we going yet?” Mum asks.
“Sure” Mark says.
“Shouldn’t we tell your mum?” I ask Andrew.
“Oh yeah right” he says pulling out his phone.
He pushed a couple of buttons and puts the phone to his ear.
He waits a bit.
“Hi mum” he says.
He waits a bit.
“I’m going to Jacquie’s Mum’s Friend’s Party Is that okay?” he asks.
He waits AGAIN.
“Thanks mum, bye” he say and hangs up.
“I guess you're coming?” Mark says.
“Yep” Andrew replies.

Mum and Mark sit in the front and Andrew and I sit in the back.
We drive off.
“Has Andrew met Kay before Jacquie?” Mark asks.
“Nope” I say.
“What’s she like?” Andrew asks.
“She's like Mum kinda, except blonde hair and brown eyes” I say.
“Oh okay” Andrew replies.
“By the way Jacquie there’s a girl a bit older than you I want you to meet” Mum says.
“Umm okay” I say.
Andrew and I have a random conversation till we arrive at Kay’s.
We all get out and Mum gets out a present and we walk to the front door.
The door immediately opens and a blast of music and people talking is heard.
“Hi” Mum says hugging Kay who is the person who opened the door “Happy Birthday Babe”
“Thank you” she says and Mum lets go “Come in”
We walk in and Mum hands her the present.
“Thanks” Kay closing the front door and skipping off down the hall and into a room then back without the present.
“Well this looks fun,” Andrew says.
“Okay well everyone is this way” Kay says directing us into a room that looks like a really big entertainment room, but I know it was originally the dining room that had a table that could accommodate 16 comfortably.
“Wow I like what you did to this room” Mum says looking around.
“Yeah thought it was perfect for the party” Kay says.
There were heaps of people, but no familiar faces.
“Jacquie over there is that girl I want you to meet” Mum says pointing to a girl with peroxide blonde hair and blue eyes, with red lipstick and wearing a skimpy red dress.
Andrew taps me.
I look at him.
“Looks like a whore” Andrew says quietly to me.
I laugh I agreed with him.
Mum pulls me towards her and Andrew follows me.
We stop in front of the girl.
“This is Katy, she is 19” Mum says introducing me to her “And this is my daughter Jacquie and her boyfriend Andrew”
Katy smiles “nice to meet you” she says.
“You too” I say.
Mum walks off.
Katy’s smile drops.
“Okay bye emo fuck ups I’m off to talk to that guy” she says and walks over to some random guy.
“See ya slut,” I say but I am drowned out by music.
Andrew laughs.
“At least you can hear me,” I say.
“Told you she was a whore” Andrew says.
“I didn’t doubt you,” I say.
“I know,” he says.
He smiles and takes my hand.
“No need to sound like a pig but I’m fucken starving” Andrew says.
“Okay lets find some grub,” I say with a smile.
We walk around a bit and find Kay.
“Hey Kay wondering…” I say but Kay cuts me off.
“Where a private room is,” she says.
“Umm no” I say.
“Serious need a private room there’s one…” she says but I cut her off.
“No we are looking for food,” I say.
“Okay follow me,” she says.
We follow her through another two room’s that are full of people.
Until we are in yet another crowded room full of people but that is also full of food.
“Thanks Kay and just wondering how many people did you invite?” I ask.
“Umm I dunno heaps, I told people to invite more people as well,” she says and the runs off again.
Andrew and I laugh and walk and get some food.
I grab some white chocolate dipped strawberries, What can I say I can’t resist them?
Andrew grabs a piece of Chocolate cake.
“Man this place is way too crowded” I say.
“Yeah” he says taking a bite of cake.
“Lets search for a quiet room” I say.
We walk out of the room.
We pass through masses of people until we get to the hallway again I put another strawberry in my mouth I open the door of the guest bedroom, We go inside I knew a couple of rooms around the house but not all of them. The house was so big that most times I came here I would find a new room I hadn’t been in.
I sit on the table next to the bed while Andrew sits on the bed.
“I don’t get it you see a bed and a table and you think hmmm I will sit on the table,” he says with a laugh.
“Ehh felt like it” I say eating another strawberry.
“Rebel” he says and finishes his cake.
“Damn straight” I say passing him a strawberry.
He eats it and smiles.
“Why did mum want me to meet a slut?” I ask.
“Maybe to show you that she doesn’t want you to be like that” he replies.
“Yeah or for us to get revenge on her” I say and eat the last strawberry.
An evil smile appears on his face.
“I think that’s exactly what your mum thinks,” he says.
“Good” I say getting up.
We walk out the room and close the door We walk to the “now” entertaining room, The music was louder in there and there was heaps of people dancing and a couple that looked drunk and dancing… if you can call it that.
We spot Katy dancing with the guys she walked over to.
“So what are we gonna do?” Andrew asks.
“Dance” I say.
“Huh?” Andrew asks.
“Okay we dance gradually getting closer then I trip her,” I say.
“Oh good idea” Andrew says.
We dance closely and blend into the crowd We slowly get closer and closer to Katy, She doesn’t even notice us I trip her leg and she falls onto the random guy.
“Damn” I say quietly and we move away quickly but still dancing.
We watch her to see if she saw us.
She seems happy and kisses the guy.
“What the?” Andrew says.
“I don’t know, what do we do now?” I ask.
“Okay we need to look for people around her age here that are somewhat nerdy and definitely lonely, then we say that she likes them and yeah we get like 3 guys to think that and that she will meet them in the hallway in 5 minutes and BANG we have revenge” Andrew says.
“How do we get her to go there though she is with that guy?” I ask.
“Okay we get that random guy to go away for a bit then you get her to go to the hallway by saying… Alan is her in the hallway” Andrew says.
“Who’s Alan?” I ask.
“You know that guy from Neighbours who is a big flirt, he lives around here and well most whores like him and yeah” Andrew replies.
“Oh okay then its not like I watch Neighbours” I say, “How do we get the dude to go?”
“Leave it to me” Andrew says.
We stop dancing and walk up to a 3 nerds, one in the food area, two in the entertaining room and tell them Katy wants to get ‘personal’ with them.
We then walk back to Katy and her ‘guy’.
“Hey dude, Kay is looking for you something about needing help, she is over there” Andrew says pointing to a room.
“Okay thanks” Andrew and the guy walk off.
“So did you hear Alan from Neighbours is here?” I ask.
“Oh my gosh really he is like hot” She says, “Where is he?”
“Oh in the hallway” I say.
“Okay move emo,” she says pushing me out of the way.
I follow her to the hallway.
Just like Andrew had planned the 3 nerds were there They looked to be bickering, They all saw Katy and started trying to chat her up, One of them plants a kiss straight on her lips.
But she doesn’t resist she actually starts kissing him back Man she is such a whore.
Andrew walks in with the guy.
You should have seen the guys face.
“YOU SLUT” The guy says walking up to her.
Katy stops.
Katy, the nerds and the guy are all yelling at each other. Andrew and I admire our work and walk out of the room.
"Man we are good" Andrew says
"Yep that would be us,” I say.
We both laugh.
We walk back to the buffet, get a plate and put plain chips and topped it with some wasabi.
“You Miss wasabi have a weird taste in food,” Andrew says.
“Thank you” I say grabing a handful and eating it.
He grabs a handful and eats it too.
We walk off through the people and run into Mum.
“You two have only been eating haven’t you” Mum says happily.
“Yeah that and…” Andrew says and then looks at me “Dancing”
We both laugh.
Mum raises and eyebrow then lowers it and smiles.
“Where’s Mark?” I ask.
“Eating” mum, says pointing to him eating what looked to be a doughnut.
Andrew and I laugh and walk off.
We finish off the chips and walk to the kitchen and drop off the plate Then we walk back to the entertaining room and dance a little.
“Serious I suck at dancing” I say “Mum made me do it in New Jersey”
“Well I think you’re a good dancer” Andrew says to me.
“Yeah you have to say that” I say.
“Well you’re an… okay dancer,” he says.
I laugh.
“You got that right,” I say.
We go back to dancing. We see a quite an awful sight, Katy full on making out with the nerd she was kissing before We also see the guy she was with before we killed their little ‘fling’.
“We should go see if he is okay,” I say.
“Yeah” Andrew says.
We walk over to him.
His eyes were red and puffy.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
“Fine” he says.
“You sure?” I ask.
“Yeah, I knew she was no good” he says crossing his arms “My fault shouldn’t have tried”
“Well anyways what’s your name?” I ask.
“Nate” he says.
“Well hi Nate I’m Jacquie and this is my boyfriend Andrew” I say.
“Hi” Andrew says.
“Yo” Nate replies.
“So how old are you?” I ask.
“18 you?” Nate asks.
“17” Andrew and I reply.
“Okay cool” Nate says.
“So” I say not being able to think of anything to say.
“Yeah, I hear you guys were emo’s” Nate says.
“Nah, Goths” Andrew says.
“Okay, Katy said you were ‘freaky emo people’ and fuck have you noticed when she ever says something that has a 'p' or 's' in it how much spit comes flying out of her mouth, I mean I was gonna get an umbrella if she didn’t stop talking” Nate says.
“Yeah I did notice that” I say.
Andrew nods.
“Well I better be going, I’m skateboarding with some mate” Nate says.
“Okay cool, I guess you skateboard then” I say.
“Yeah, you?” Nate asks.
“Well occasionally, I don’t do a lot of tricks though” I say.
“I do too but not a tricker either” Andrew says.
“Wanna join me?” Nate asks.
“Sure where?” I ask.
“Just down the street, you know the park” Nate replies.
“We don’t have any boards,” Andrew says.
“Eh you can borrow 1 of mine” Nate says.
“We will meet you there” I say.
“Okay later” Nate says.
“Later” Andrew says.
Nate walks off.
“Why are we meeting him there?” Andrew asks me “Can’t we just go there?”
“Mum would want to know,” I say.
“Fine” Andrew says rolling his eyes.
We walk around look for my mum.
We find her talking to Kay and couple of other people with Mark.
“Mum going skating promise we will be back later bye” I say.
“Why not stay?” Kay says before mum can say no.
“Well its just … not our age group” I say thinking of the 1st excuse that could come to mind.
“Okay off you go then” Kay says.
Mum looks at Kay and Kay shrugs.
We walk off before anyone could change his or her mind.
We run off down the street to the park.
We spot Nate and he spots us.
“Yo” Nate says.
“Hi” Andrew says but I’m too busy watching people grind on the rails and do tricks.
“I see you want to try” Nate says to me.
“I just skate I don’t do tricks” I say.
“Robbo will teach ya something” Nate says “What about you Andrew?”
“Yeah sure I’ll try and fail miserably,” Andrew says with a laugh.
“Okay have a negative attitude that won’t help” Nate says “YO ROBBO”
A skater comes flying past and stops right in front on me He looks at me then looks at Nate.
“You called,” he says in a rather disturbing voice.
“Yes these two are … as tricked then Simon” Nate says.
“Did you say Simon?” I ask
“Yeah, You know him?” Nate asks.
“Yeah, well we know a Simon who is a wannabe jock that tries to hang with us” Andrew says.
“Yep that’s Sim man,” Robbo says with an evil laugh.
“Umm no offence, are you possessed or something?” I ask
“Devil skater” Nate says.
“What?” Andrew asks.
“He thinks he is possessed,” Nate says.
“I fucken am” Robbo says angrily.
“Okay dude you are” Nate says “Geez”
“Good” Robbo says with an evil smile.
A shiver goes down my spine.
“Anyways teach them something,” Nate says.
“Sure” Robbo says “Dancer?”
“That’s gay” Nate says.
“But easy” Robbo says.
“Yeah but they can both coast so teach them something … good” Nate says, “Anyway be back need to piss”
Nate walks off.
Robbo gets on a board and grinds a bench and comes back.
“Okay I got it, Ollie” Robbo says “Cause that will probably the best at the moment”.
“Man they are like sad though,” Andrew groans.
“Yes but you should learn them” Robbo says.


2 hours later…
I haven’t exactly perfected ollies but I’m okay at them Andrew on the other hand has got it. Serious he can do them like pro but can’t do flip tricks Oh well.
“Jacquie we have to get back to Kays” Andrew says.
“Oh yeah, Nate are you coming back?” I ask.
“Nah, but I’m pretty sure there is gonna be heaps more people cause as soon as it starts getting dark the party starts at Kay’s” Nate says “Oh Yeah Simon is gonna be there too by the way”
“Why?” Andrew asks.
“He is Kay’s Friend’s Son and yeah he will go” Nate says.
“Damn” I say.
“Yeah he is very… wannabe,” Robbo says.
“Yeah it's annoying” I say.
“Yeah” Nate says.
“Anyways bye” I say.
“Bye” Nate and Robbo say.
Andrew and I walk back to Kay’s.
We could hear the music like 5 blocks away.
“Gosh how loud do they want it?” I ask rhetorically.
The door of the house is wide open.
We walk straight in and it’s a crazy house, everyone dancing, drinking, eating and well, talking.
Mum and Mark are dancing.
We go to the buffet and get some food.
“I think all we pretty much have done today at this party is eat” I say.
“Yeah I know” Andrew says taking a bite of a sausage roll.
I go to take a bite of a piece of cake when …
“Hi guys” Someone says.
We look at who said it its Simon.
I almost choke on the unfully bitten piece of cake.
“Hi” Andrew moans.
“Wow didn’t think you guys would be here,” Simon says.
“Yeah” Andrew says.
I swallow the bite I nearly choked on.
“So are you here with anyone else?” I ask.
“Yeah my mum and dad” he says.
Andrew rolls his eyes and finishes off his sausage roll.
“Let go dance Jacquie” Andrew says.
“Sure” I say.
I eat the rest of the cake quickly cause I knew he didn’t wanna be near Simon much longer and neither did I.
We walk to the entertaining room and dance together.
Simon follows us and tries to join in, but Andrew makes it a very close slow dance. Simon backs off a bit.
It was kinda weird slow dancing to such a fast pop song.



10.30pm…
The party is still going at its max, Andrew and I managed to sneak a couple of drinks We drank them fast which made it go straight to our heads. So we were acting like total dickheads. But no one really noticed except Simon but he didn’t care he went off home, I’m guessing he can’t handle loud music. The drinks wore off a bit later on Pretty much that’s all we have done, well that and eat. Mark is holding mum up as they walk over to us.
“So you guys good to go home?” Mark asks.
I look at Andrew and he nods.
“Yep” I say.
We find Kay and say bye and leave the party.
Mark drives us home and I can’t help but admire how pretty the city looks at night.
“City Bitch” Andrew says and then covers his mouth obviously forgetting Mum and Mark were in the car.
But mum is too pissed to notice and Mark is too busy driving the car.
I crack up laughing which now gets Marks attention.
“What?” he asks.
“Nothing, just realising how deaf people are?” I say and Andrew laughs.
“You don’t mean me do you?” Mark asks.
“Oh no” I say sarcastically.
“Okay good then” Mark says oblivious to my sarcastic-ness.
I give a little laugh and look back out the window.
It looks prettier and prettier as you get closer to the centre of the city. I mean New York was way brighter but here it had the perfect lighting, none of it over done. I liked it here but still it didn’t feel like home to me, I liked the feeling of being well … unsafe New Jersey was exactly how I liked it, unsafe. You could be walking down the street casually one minute and then the next found dead in the lake. Most nights you would hear gunshots and nearly everyday you would see a cop car, if you didn’t see it you heard it, I guess it was the whole adrenaline rush I liked. I remember once when Gerard and I were walking to Ray’s, some guy jumped out of the bushes and held a gun to Gerard It scared the shit outta me and all I remember was the urge to kick the gun and run like hell. That’s what I did, and Gerard and I ran as fast as we could to a shop and went in and acted as normal as possible. That was the smartest thing you could do if you were getting away from a mugger, because the all clerks in New Jersey had guns But in Sydney there was less crime. Part of me seriously liked it but the other longed for a gun to be pointed in my direction I knew it sounded stupid, but the sheer thrill of being in trouble just seemed to make me happy.
“Umm Jacquie you getting out?"Someone says outside the car.
I realize I’m home… well where I lived, never could I think this was home I get out of the car and Andrew brings me into a warm loving embrace.
“What the hell is this for?” I ask hugging him back.
“You totally blacked out” he says, “Mark and your mum are already inside”
“How long?” I ask.
“A couple of minutes” He says letting go of me.
“Oh, sorry I was just thinking” I say closing the car door and walking into the house Andrew follows.
“What about?” Andrew asks.
“Nothing” I say flopping onto the couch.
“Me?” Andrew asks.
“Nah serious it’s nothing” I say.
“Really?” He asks.
“If I told you what I was thinking you would think it’s stupid, so really it’s nothing” I say.
“Okay” he says and looks at the clock “Shit I better go home”
I look at the clock it’s 11pm.
“I’ll walk with you,” I say getting up.
“No.cause then you will have to walk back by yourself” he says jumping up.
“It’s fine,” I say walking to the door with him.
“Anything could happen … you … you could be held at knife point” Andrew says.
“I would love that,” I say under my breath.
“What?” he asks.
“Nothing” I say “I’m coming with you Okay”
I say opening the door.
“Bye Mark,walking Andrew home” I yell and close the door after Andrew and I before Mark could object.
Andrew looks at me as if I’m insane or something.
“What?as if mum is gonna reply in her state” I say.
“No it’s just… Never mind” he says turning around.
We walk to Andrew’s and when we get to his front door I give him a kiss and the porch light flicks on.
“I hope you have sensor lights,” I say.
“Nope” Andrew says.
The door opens up.
I expect to see Andrew’s mum but no it’s Mel.
“Fuck you two are so loud"Mel says sleepily.
“Mum sleeping?” Andrew asks.
“Well she has been asleep since 7pm but since you guys were so loud I wouldn’t be surprised if she woke up” Mel says and then sleepily walks back inside leaving the door open for Andrew.
I give another kiss to Andrew and he goes inside and closes the door.
I decide to walk the long way home.
Most nights here it was hot and humid but tonight it was freezing. The cold was going straight through my skinny leg jeans and my shirt. I cross my arms hoping I can keep warm I look around, no one in this street looks to be awake There’s no traffic so I walk in the middle of the road.
“This is probably as dangerous as you can get around here,” I say aloud.
“Well no you could still be at Kay’s” A male voice says that makes me jump.
I turn around and see Nate.
“Hiya” I say.
“Hi” he says with a smile “What is a girl like you doing out so late around here?”
“Oh I walked Andrew home,” I say.
“Isn’t that supposed to be the other way around?" he says
Well I guess but I need to do something, I can’t just sit at home,” I say.
“You’re a rebel,” he says.
We start walking down the road.
“Totally” I say.
“So where do you live?” he asks.
“Not very far away, 167 Jane Street” I say.
“Cool, I live in Cyprus Road” he says “Where all the drugies get their doses”
He laughs.
I stop walking.
“What?” he asks turning around and looking at me.
“Is that close to Jane Street” I ask.
“Not really” he says “Why?”
“Oh nothing” I say.
“Your not a drugie” he asks.
“No no, just my mum has had troubles” I say and continue walking.
“Oh” he says joining me.
“Yeah” I say.
We walk for a while in silence until he breaks it.
“Have you every tried?” he asks.
“Huh?” I say.
“Have you tried drugs?” he asks.
“Well I’ve been on anti-depressants and Panadol” I say “But I don’t think that really counts”
“Nah” he says with a laugh.
“You?” I ask.
“Well yeah” he says scratching his head.
Ahh the nervous scratch His was on the back of his head but mine on the other hand was on my neck.
“Ehh I won’t think any less of you,it’s fine,” I say.
He gives a nervous smile.
“Really?” he asks.
“Sure” I say “Hey one of my best friends likes to get drunk whenever he can”
“Okay” he says.
“Okay this is my street see ya later Nate” I say.
“Bye” he says and keeps walking straight.
I walk down my road and knock on the door.
Mark opens the door.
“You took your time I was getting worried,” he says letting me in.
“I took the long way” I say and rub my hands over my cold arms.
I walk inside.
“I would prefer you not do that,” he says closing the door.
“And I prefer to be able to run naked down the street but that is not gonna happen” I say walking to my room.
Did I just say that? Man is it me or am I getting bitchy?
I stop and turn around.
“Sorry” I say.
“It’s okay” he says, “You're tired”
“Yeah that must be it,” I say.
“I guess you should get some sleep” he says “I’m gonna sleep to”
“Okay” I say “See you in the morning”
He nods and walks to his room.
I turn off the light I use me “night vision” to get to my room Also I run into the chair getting there.
I turn on my bedroom light and close the door.
I let my eyes adjust to the light.
I walk over to my laptop and turn it on.
I check my email.

5 emails. Oh I’m popular.
4 are Spam. Okay popular no.
The one left is from Mikey.

So bored… Some chick stole my glasses today and nearly snapped them and then threw them at a tree so now they are scratched. Stupid bitch. I’m getting a new pair tomorrow. Well Gerard has lightened up a fair bit. Which is good I guess. But still seems to refuse to do anything. He has been talking more to us though. Anyways gotta help Frankie with his homework he doesn’t want to do it by himself. Byes

From Mikey


Yeah, I got back from a party not too long ago so I’m not too bored. What a bitch you know you should get your revenge ask Gerard he likes to scheme up stuff :D. It’s goodthat Gerard’s getting better. Maybe he will go back to his old self. Anyways I better go to bedI’m damn tired

Night
Jacquie
I send it and shut down my laptop I change into my pj’s and lie down on my bed and pull the covers over me I sit there for a bit and think about how awesome it will be to see everyone again. I drift off to sleep as soon as I close my eyes.