Chapter 38 – My place (Jacquie’s POV)

I walk to the bedroom and find 4 people.
“Who are you guys?” I ask.
“Apparently the new owners of this place” A guy says.
“Did you kill the paintings in the front room?” I ask.
“Maybe” The same guy says.
I give up no point arguing, I walk down to the front room.
I pick up Gerard’s bags He wouldn’t be coming back here.
I lug 2 of them on my shoulders and carry the other two with my hands I carefully pick up Gerard’s laptop bag and put it over my head. I walk out of the door and begin walking to my place.
I knock my head against the door and Kerrie opens the door.
“What the hell?” she asks.
“Gerard is gonna be staying with us tonight” I say and squeeze around her and walk to my room.
“Why?” she asks.
“He has nowhere to stay,” I say putting his bags down in my room.
“What about his mum’s place?” she asks.
“Had a fight with her” I say.
“Jacquie I don’t think it’s right to be looking after him” she says.
“He is staying with us” I say and walk out my room.
“Okay fine” she says walking into the kitchen.
I walk out the front door.
“Where you going?” she asks me.
“Getting Gerard” I say closing the door.

I walk around yelling out Gerard.
I walk to the shops and I couldn’t find him I started asking people and just got replies of ‘no’ and ‘I don’t know who that is’.


3 hours later…
I was still looking for Gerard My legs ached from walking Well it was nearly 6pm Ray is bound to be home so I walk to Ray’s.
I knock on the door Ray opens it
“Heya” he says cheerfully but then concerned “You look exhausted”
“I know, Gerard’s missing and his mum kicked him out,” I say.
“Oh” he says “Well he is not here”
“Okay can you help me find him?” I ask.
“I guess,” he says.
“We need to get Matt too,” I say.
“Matt won’t have anything to do with Gerard” Ray says.
“He will” I say.
Ray walks into his house and gets a key and puts it into his pocket and closes the door after himself when he leaves.
We walk to Matt’s and knock on the door.
“Hi” Matt’s mother says.
She turns and yells for Matt.
Matt comes to the door.
“Yo” he says.
“Can you help us find Gerard?” I ask.
“No” he says.
“Matt come on, he could be in real danger” I say.
“For you” he says and closes the door after himself.
The three of us look around for Gerard.
“He will be near Sasha’s” Matt says.
“Sasha’s?” Ray asks before I could.
“Yeah the chick from school he had a crush on,” Matt says.
“But he said to me he hated her” Ray says.
“Hell yeah he hates her” Matt says “Wouldn’t you hate a chick who takes sleazy photo’s of herself and her boyfriend and then sends them to you?”
“Apparently that was by accident,” Ray says.
“I doubt it” Matt replies.
“But why would he be hanging around there?” I ask.
“Ricki” Matt says.
“Huh?” Ray says “That gay dude?”
“Yeah” Matt says and begins to walk and Ray and I follow.
“Is Gerard … Bisexual?” Ray asks.
“Don’t think so,” Matt says, “its just Ricki’s Friend Rayanne is the biggest alco this side of the world”
“She is not,” Ray says
“Well no true” Matt says “You're right that Dylan guy was, but still I know you like Rayanna”
“I don’t, I got over her ages ago” Ray replies.
“Sure” Matt says “You still constantly stare at her in English”
“Shut up” Ray says his cheeks were a pink colour obviously confirming what Matt has said.

We arrive at a red brick house.
“Go on” Matt says sitting in the gutter.
“What?” I ask.
“Go ask for him” Matt says “You think I’m gonna talk to a gay?”
“Homosexual people are cool and have feelings too you shouldn’t be so god damn judgemental” I say.
Ray and I walk to the front door and I knock.
“Come in doors unlocked” A voice says.
Ray opens the door letting me in first and following me in.
A guy, a girl and Gerard are sitting watching TV.
“How the hell did you find me?” Gerard says jumping up.
“Matt helped” I say.
“Gonna introduce” The guy says.
“Oh this is Jacquie and Ray well you know Ray from Math and English” Gerard says.
“Nice to meet you Jacquie and good to see you again Ray” The guy says “I’m Ricki and that is Rayanne”
“Yo” Rayanne says and goes back to watch TV.
“Hi” I say and look at Ray who was looking at Rayanne.
Surely still crushing on her.
“Umm Gerard you can stay over mine” I say “I got your stuff there”
“Okay” he says and smiles.
“What about us?” Ricki says.
“I don’t think I will want to take 4 bags full of my shit here” Gerard says and looks at me “Did you carry them all the way to your place by yourself?”
“Yeah … slowly” I say.
“Thanks” he says.
“Well I’ll see ya later” I say.
Ricki comes over to me and hugs me.
“I’ll see you later too” he says with a smile and hugs Ray then Gerard.
Rayanne looks at us and goes back to watching TV.
We walk out the door.
“Take your time” Matt says getting up and begins walking.
We join him.
“So Gerard you okay?” I ask him.
“Eh alright” he says
“Shit I didn’t think of where you can sleep” I say.
“Meh anywhere will be fine” he says.
“You can have my bed I’ll sleep on the couch” I say.
“But it’s your bed” he says.
“You're not gonna get cooties” I say.
“No its not that its just I should take the couch” he replies
“Nah I want the couch” I say “I find them comfortable”
“Sure” he says sarcastically.
“Well my house is that way so I shall be leaving” Ray says.
“Bye” I say hugging him.
When I let go of him he makes off to his place.
“Have you got any food at your place?” Gerard asks.
“Umm yeah” I say.
“Can I have something?” he asks.
“Umm sure” I say.
Matt walks faster.
“Matt will be joining us” I say.
“What?” Matt asks and stops walking.
“Come on” I say.
“Tomorrow” he replies.
“No” I say.
“Never” he says
“Fine Tomorrow” I say.
He begins walking again.

We get to my house and Matt walks off without saying bye.
“Geez what’s up with him?” Gerard asks walking to my front door.
“I was gonna ask you” I say.
“Huh” he replies.
I open the door and walk in.
“Man you took your time” Kerrie says.
“Mr Good Hider here has friends in far places” I say walking to my room and going inside.
Gerard joins me.
“Good hider?” he asks.
“I’m tired and stupid leave it” I say with a laugh.
“And pretty” he says leaving the room.
“Simple flirting gets you no where” I reply.
I walk back out.
“Food?” I ask.
“Read my mind” He replies.
I walk into the kitchen.
“Kerrie do you have like pizza” I ask.
“No” she says.
“Can I order some?” I ask.
“But I cooked dinner its in the fridge” she says.
I open the fridge, Leftover… something green.
“Umm Gerard really wants pizza” I say, “We will go out and have some okay”
Gerard walks into the kitchen.
“I don’t mind having… WHOA what is that?” he asks seeing it.
“I have no idea” I whisper to him.
“It’s Casserole” Kerrie smiles.
“I really feel like pizza” Gerard says “It’s sorta like cravings you know like when your pregnant”
“I’ve never had a child Gerard” Kerrie says “But I know what you mean”
“Oh sorry it’s just you’re a women who looks as if she has had a child and…” he says but I pull his arm.
“Bye Kerrie we will be back around 9-ish” I say pulling Gerard to the door.
I close the door behind us.
“A women who looks as if she has had a child?” I ask.
“Sorry she just makes me nervous” he says.
“Sure” I reply and we walk to the pizza shop.

“Okay one Hawaiian Pizza please” I ask.
“Sure $2” the server asks.
I give him $2 and he places down the order.
Gerard and I sit on the bench out the front to wait for our pizza.
“I don’t get it” Gerard says.
“What?” I ask.
“I was always so close to Matt” he says “Now he can’t stand the sight of me”
“Why don’t you try and talk to him?” I suggest “He feels as if you abandoned him”
“How did I abandon him?” Gerard asks angrily.
“You ignored him, he needed your help but you disappeared” I say.
“Sound like a certain girl I know” Gerard mumbles.
“Hey that’s not fair, I had no decision in that and you know I would of stayed if I could” I reply to his comment angrily.
“Really?” he asks calmly getting up and going back into the shop to get the pizza.
It was weird how pizza seemed to be cooked so quick at a shop then at home.
Gerard walks back out with the pizza and we slowly walk back home.
“I don’t get you Gerard” I say quietly.
“Hmm?” he murmurs.
“You know I would have stayed” I say “If I was allowed”
“I know but now if you were allowed to stay you wouldn’t” he says.
“I would stay…maybe … okay I couldn’t because of mum,” I say.
“Yeah but also because of Andrew and possibly Mark” he says getting a slice of pizza out.
“Well yeah Andrew’s my boyfriend but why Mark?” I ask.
“Mark buys you stuff, you fell into the gimmick of him buying you stuff to get you to like him” he says finishing his slice of pizza.
“You really think that?” I ask him.
“Sorta” he says getting out another slice and eating it “You sounded awfully happy when you got the phone and then the laptop”
“Well yeah… damn” I say.
He raises an eyebrow and lowers it and finishes his slice.
“But if I was allowed to stay before I went to Australia I would of, I seriously want you to know that” I say.
“I wish that happened” he says passing me the box “Wanna piece?”
“Sure” I say taking a piece then he took back the box.
I begin eating it.
“So what you going to do with your life?” he asks he says getting another slice.
“I don’t know, maybe an office job in the city” I say.
“Nearly every smart chick says that” he says “All the others say either go go dancers and shit”
“You ask often?’ I ask him.
“Well no” he says and finishes his piece.
I smile at him and finish my piece.
“Want another piece?” he asks.
“No thanks” I say “Better leave some for Jimmy, probably didn’t eat Kerrie’s … casserole contraption”
I laugh.
“Okay I’ll leave him some” he says getting out another piece.
We walk the rest of the way in silence.

I open the door and we go inside.
“Shhh Kerrie’s asleep” Jimmy says quietly appearing and pointing to the lounge.
I nudge Gerard.
“Oh dude we saw what Kerrie cooked and we left you some Pizza” Gerard whispers to Jimmy handing him the box.
“Thanks, serious bleh, if you want to survive here best to avoid Kerrie when she is cooking” Jimmy whispers and gives a little chuckle “Well Gerard since Kerrie has stolen you sleeping spot..”
“My sleeping spot” I interrupt “Gerard was gonna have my bed”
“No I wasn’t” He says quietly.
“Anyways the only thing I can think of is a sleeping bag,” Jimmy says.
“I’ll take it” I say before Gerard.
“Shhh” Jimmy hushing me.
“Sorry” I say quietly.
“I’ll let you decide amongst yourselves” he whispers.
“Me” Gerard replies.
“Anyways Gerard you're gonna have to be in Jacquie’s room either way, also no funny business or else you're out of here” he says directing his comment to Gerard.
“Also same goes for you Jacquie no funny business, your mum certainly wouldn’t appreciate it” he says to me “We are not gonna tell her that Gerard is staying here cause it might freak her out a bit, alright”
“We won’t anyway” I say.
Kerrie moves a little but doesn’t wake up.
“Remember quiet alright” Jimmy says moving to Kerrie’s room and then coming back giving me the sleeping bag.
Gerard and I enter my room and I close the door.
“Whoa your room hasn’t changed a bit … except it’s clean” he says.
“Yeah I know” I say.
“Weird” he says.
“I’m just going to go on my laptop for a bit okay” I say going to my laptop and turning it on.
I check my emails. 1 new email!
“Ooo popular” Gerard says.
“Yeah totally” I reply “But I would appreciate you not looking over my shoulder”
“Right sorry” he says sitting on the bed and lying back.

Heya
How is NJ so far?
Missing you terribly see you soon :D
Love Andy

Hi
It’s alright, seen my friends not much really different just heights J
Missing you too
Love Jacquie

I send my message and turn off my laptop.
I hear a snort and turn around.
“What?” I ask.
“Never mind” he says “You need sleep”
He gets up.
“You’re having the bed” I say.
“Nope you are” he says.
“You are” I say getting up.
“You” he argues.
I push him onto the bed.
“You are” I say.
“Geez” he says “But serious it’s not right for me to have the bed while you get a sleeping bag”
“You’re having the bed” I say.
He gets off the bed again.
“Don’t make me push you down” he says.
Jimmy walks in.
“What are you gonna do to her?” he questions angrily.
“We are arguing about who is getting the bed” I say.
“Oh you get it” he says.
“Why?” I ask.
“Gerard is a gentleman so you get the bed” he says leaving and closing the door.
Gerard smirks at me.
“Gah stupid gentlemen” I say “Anyways I’ll go change in the bathroom”
I walk to the closet and get out my black pj’s and go to the door.
“Get dressed before I get back” I say and go out and close the door behind me.
I go into the bathroom and change into my pj’s. I walk back to my bedroom and knock on the door.
“Come in” Gerard says.
I walk in and he has a pair of pj pants and a plain black shirt.
I put my clothes in the basket next to my bed.
I sit on the bed and look at Gerard.
“What?” he says siting down on the ground “Mum lost the shirt to these”
He looks at what I’m looking at and hides his arms behind his back.
“It’s not like you haven’t done it” he says angrily.
I close my eyes for a minute and open them again.
“You going to bed now?” I ask calmly.
“Yeah” he says moodily.
I get up and turn the light off and get into my bed and pull the covers over myself.
I hear Gerard moving around on the ground next to my bed pulling the sleeping bag over himself.
“Night Gee” I say.
“Night” he says
I close my eyes and fall asleep.