The Boy With The Thorn In His Side

[monkeysmoke]

Chapter 31 WARNING: some sexual stuff again. Sorry there was no update yesterday, hopefully this extra long one will make up for it!

Chapter 31

As Annie approached the house Aden let her hand fall from his as she walked ahead of him. They had been silent the whole way there, their only communication the simple, unobtrusive warmth and comfort that their hands provided. Suddenly Annie felt that comfort disappear and turned back to face him. He was calmer than he had been when they had set off, but it was an eerie, misplaced calm, that thinly veiled his earlier hysteria.

“Aden?” She questioned insistently, her voice a soft whisper as she stepped back towards him.

“I can’t go in there with you” he told her. He had been looking into the distance but looked down as he spoke to her, his tone apologetic.

She looked at him confused. She could not understand what had happened to him. She had seen the anger in his face as he had prized Axel off of her, he had beaten him with such force that Annie had screamed at him to stop, but he had ignored her. It was only when Axel had stopped resisting that he abruptly fell off of him, and it was as though he had morphed into somebody else. He was gentle, and comforting, and she had felt safe as she fell into him, she had even felt safe as he questioned her. His questions were intimate, blunt, but they were lined up, authoritatively, like an assessment, she had relaxed because he had been in control. Then suddenly he had switched again, crying and shaking at her, unable to cope, and she had to take control of him then. She didn’t understand it, but something in her needed him to still hold her hand.

“I’m not going in there without you” She told him, grabbing his hand again.

Aden stared down at her small hand grabbing his, and felt relief. For some reason the comfort of it was keeping him calm. This time he let her lead him inside, realising he needed the comfort of her hand too.

Irene dropped her mug, letting the coffee spill out into over the tiles, seeping down the cracked paths, the mug shattered in two. “Annie!” She cried running over from the sofa to hg her. She swept her into her arms and held her there tightly. “Where the hell have you been girly?” She asked, shaking them both from side to side. Her tone was angry, but there was a relief to it that was overpowering and made it ok.

Annie welcomed Irene’s embrace, and the force of it made the tears spill down her face again, she let go of Aden’s hand and wrapped herself around Irene.

“Irene” She began, sobbing at her “I’m sorry” She repeated over and over, the words muffled between them.

“Annie?” Irene questioned, her face growing stiff again, she pushed the girl away slightly to inspect her face “What’s wrong love?” She asked an edge of panic to her voice.

Annie took a deep breath between sobs, pushing her hair back out of her face. “I was on the beach, and then it got dark and…” She stumbled, her eyes averting to the ground.

“And…?” Irene prompted, fear rising in her.

“And Axel…” She tried, the sobs overtaking her again

“What about Axel?” Irene asked quickly “Annie?” Irene felt like her lungs were constricting

“Axel came and…” she stuttered, the next words stuck deep inside of her.

“Annie what happened?” Irene asked forcefully, shaking Annie impatiently

Annie looked over her shoulder at Aden, whose own eyes were staring at them, tears running tracks down his face. He didn’t look directly at her, although she could tell he could see her. She could tell he didn’t want to be here, was only here for her, and suddenly the words welled up and spilled out of her “He tried to force himself on me” she said shortly, before falling into Irene again, unable to watch the expressions on her face.

Irene hugged her instinctively; he eyes bulging with shock and hurt and anger

“I’m so sorry Irene” Annie began again.

“Shhh don’t you dare be sorry girly” Irene whispered strongly into her ear, rubbing her back with circular motions, like she would have a baby.

As Irene’s eyes looked up again she suddenly became aware of Aden standing in the doorway, and realised he had been there the whole time.

“What the hell did you do to her?” She yelled at him, still clutching Annie tightly.

Aden, who had been staring at them in a trance, focused his eyes onto Irene, looking at her confusedly. He could tell the noise had come from her, but found it hard to believe the words were directed at him. He had stood and watched the scene unfold before him, but it was as though he wasn’t in it. Ever since Annie let go of his hand he felt as though he had merged into the doorway.

Annie pushed herself away from Irene “No Irene!” She begged “It wasn’t like that!” she insisted desperately “Aden fought him off, he helped me” Her eyes fighting to gain Irene’s attention.

But Irene’s eyes were fixed firmly and angrily on Aden “Yeah I bet he did” She replied sarcastically, an assumption evident in her voice. She brushed past Annie to stand in front of him “This your idea of some sick revenge was it?” She yelled at him accusingly, her eyes raging. “You and Axel get a good kick out of it did you?”

Aden’s eyes looked at her confused “What?” He gripped the doorframe to steady himself, a lump in his throat. He couldn’t believe this was happening all over again, this time he didn’t feel as though he had the energy to fight it.

“No Irene stop it, please, this wasn’t his fault!” Annie was yelling from behind her, but she was being ignored.

Kirsty hung up the phone in the other room, having told Belle and Geoff that Annie was home and safe, but had brought a boy with her. She had come round to Irene to tell her about her new job at the school, but Irene had been panicking about Annie and Kirsty hadn’t the heart to leave her on her own. She had heard snippets of Irene and Annie’s conversation whilst she was on the phone, but other than that a boy was with her, she felt it wise to leave the rest till they actually got home. Hearing Irene’s voice now, she sensed the tension rising and decided to take charge until Belle and Geoff and arrived.

She walked through the kitchen and stepped between Irene and the boy “Hey, hey, I think we all need to calm down” She said, passing looks between the two. As she did so she caught her breath as she realised the boy who stood before her was the same boy who had acted so strangely earlier, at the school. She stared at him a second longer, looking at the tears that stained his face, and suddenly felt a need to protect him.

“Irene” She said calmly “I really don’t think this is what Annie needs right now. Why don’t you take her upstairs, and let her explain what happened?” Kirsty suggested, eyeing her cautiously.

“No way” Irene said determinedly “Not until he explains himself” She demanded, the emotion evident in her voice.

Kirsty’s voice rose up a notch “Irene! Do you really think this is helping Annie?” She asked her, persuading her with her eyes.

Irene’s face remained stern, but her eyes flickered between Kirsty and Aden. Kirsty recognised Irene’s twitch of the mouth and realised she had won, but waited patiently, having the sense to let Irene figure that out first.

“Fine” Irene agreed reluctantly. “But I’ll be having words with you later” She said, her eyes boring into Aden’s, before she began bustling a teary-eyes Annie through the living room and up the stairs.

“Aden is it?” Kirsty asked him, moving her eyes into his line of vision. His face was distant, pained, and tears continued to roll freely down it.

His eyes moved to look at her, acknowledging her presence. He recognised her immediately, from her voice alone. It was the ghost woman from the school.

She positioned herself so she was facing him, allowing herself to look at him properly. His face looked a lot more tired and drained than it had this morning, and he hadn’t looked that good even then. So this was Aden. The Aden Jeffries that Irene couldn’t stand. Usually Kirsty would have accepted Irene’s word as law, but looking at him, she couldn’t. Annie had insisted he hadn’t been a part of this, and looking at him now she believed her. But more than that, she believed him, and he hadn’t said a word to her. She didn’t understand why, but she felt a loyalty to him.

“Aden, Annie, she’s going to be fine, it’s ok” She reassured him gently, trying to guess why he was so distraught.

His face crumpled at her words, and tears rose up and overtook him.

“Hey” she said softly, gently placing a hand on his arm. “It’s ok” She repeated, unsure exactly what else to do.

He looked at the face that gazed at him, and knew it. There was something in that reminded him so strongly of his mother, the voice, the eyes, and the flowing brown hair. He felt as though he were 6 years old again. Ever since Annie’s hand had left his he had been mesmerised by the sight of Irene comforting her. Watching them the events of the past few days finally hit him with an intensity he couldn’t escape from, and he realised why he couldn’t face his father anymore. Annie could let go of his hand because she had Irene there ready to catch her, but he couldn’t because his father wasn’t there. He knew and he hadn’t been there. He needed his mother as strongly as Annie, but she wasn’t here, and looking at Kirsty’s face now, he wished so badly that she was.

Suddenly something inside of him snapped, he looked at her and couldn’t pretend anymore. “It’s not ok” he told her, suddenly his body was heaving with the weight and force of the sobs that overtook him. He fell into her as he felt this huge aching pain erupt through his body. He grabbed the back of her, holding her tightly to him, and let himself go, no longer in control of the emotion that crashed through him.

Kirsty stood there for a moment, shocked by his reaction, but then she felt him grip her from behind; she felt his tense body soften as he became weak from the emotions within him and this sudden urgency to look after him rose up within her. She didn’t even try to understand where it had come from; instead she cradled him in her arms, stroking the back of his head as he breathed her in.

She didn’t speak; she didn’t feel it was necessary to. She just stood there holding him, feeling the grief pour out of him. She heard words stagger out of his mouth quietly into the space between them “it’s not ok. He knew what was happening to me and he ignored it, that’s not ok” She didn’t respond, just continued to hold him there “How could he let that happen to me? He came into my room every night and he never stopped him. He just SAT there” Aden’s voice started to rise in high pitched notes of hysteria.

Kirsty remained silent, piecing the information together in her mind, a wave of sadness descended on her as she latched on to what he meant “Who did?” she asked, her tone that of one a mother would use to a child.

Aden seemed to calm at her words, his voice levelling again, although he still gripped onto her firmly “My dad. My granddad” He took a deep breath to steady himself “He would come in, and make us do stuff for him, and he knew, and never said a word” As the words released from him he felt the weight of them lift off of him and he loosened his hold on her, although keeping his arms in place, breathing her in.

Suddenly a voice called from the other side of the house

“Annie!” Geoff called as he crashed through the entrance to the living room, followed speedily by Belle and Roman. At the sight of the familiar faces Aden and Kirsty snapped back into themselves and drew apart. Kirsty turned to face them as Aden shielded himself from them with his body, wiping the tears away with his arm.

Geoff, oblivious to the awkwardness that began to swell inside the kitchen, continued “Where’s Annie?” He asked quickly, his voice still panicked.

Kirsty shifted herself about, avoiding Aden “She’s upstairs with Irene Geoff, she’s fine” but before she could finish the sentence he had already darted towards the stairs.

Aden looked up to see Roman and Belle walking towards them “I should go” He said hurriedly, averting his gaze from Kirsty, although that was clearly who his words were directed at.

“Wait, Aden” She called after him, a hand reaching out, as if to magnetically pull him back.

Roman raced past her “Aden!” He yelled out as he rushed out the kitchen door after him.

After a few moments Kirsty turned back and walked into the living room, her mind enveloped in what had just happened. She didn’t notice Belle until she had walked right into her. Belle was just standing in the middle of the room, her arms folded, staring fixedly at her.

[monkeysmoke]

Chapter 32 A short one. Was going to have this bit on the last chapter, but it was getting to be really long and didn't fit right. Hope you all enjoy!

“Aden!” Roman gasped as he finally caught up with him. Recently Roman felt like all he ever did was run around chasing Aden, which wouldn’t’ be so bad if something materialised out of it, but it didn’t. It seemed to be a vicious cycle, a never-ending cat and mouse chase. He grabbed Aden’s arm to stop him from the fast paced stride he was caught up in.

Aden spun round angrily to face him “What do you want?” He had been startled by Roman’s appearance at Irene’s house, and was feeling vulnerable after what had just happened with Kirsty. At the time he hadn’t been able to stop himself; the information had just climbed out of him, desperate for freedom. Now he was kicking himself, why had he told her those things? He didn’t even know her, now she was probably going to tell everyone.

“What’s going on?” Roman asked, genuinely wanting an answer. He had been looking for both Aden and Annie, but never had he expected that they would both be together, and by from what he could gather, something bad had happened. Events were starting to link up, but none of it made any sense to him.

“Nothing! Nothing’s going on” Aden snapped at him, willing him to disappear. What was Roman even doing here anyway?

“What are you even doing here?” He asked him, echoing his previous thought.

Roman struggled with an answer, his reasoning about work no longer sounding viable “I could ask you the same question” He responded as he mustered up a proper answer. He saw Aden’s face scrunch up in annoyance and grabbed his arm again to stop him from leaving “I was helping to look for Annie” he added finally, he figured it was partially true.

“Well she’s found” Aden stated bitterly, thinking back to Irene’s motherly embrace. He didn’t want to hate Annie, but everything about her made him feel so horrible it was easier than liking her sometimes.

“Yeah she is. So you want to tell me what happened?” Roman persisted, his voice still heavy from running. He knew from the way Aden was acting and from the atmosphere as they entered the house, that there was more to it

Aden felt a fire rising in his belly “I told you nothing!” he said abruptly “Why would you think something happened?” He added, daring Roman to go on.

Roman sighed, he hadn’t meant for it to sound accusatory. “I’m not suggesting you did anything Aden I’m just asking what you’re doing here” He tried to explain.

“Yeah right-o, you think I did something to her” Aden yelled at him, Irene’s comments from earlier itching at him.

“I assure you Aden, I don’t. I didn’t think it before, and I don’t think it now.” he assured, raising his palms up to reinforce his statement.

Aden relaxed slightly. He knew of all the people, Roman probably did believe him. It was just everyone else who was the problem. He was beginning to realise that his innocence before meant nothing. People still thought him capable and that was bad enough. “Yeah well, you’re the only one” He told him self-pityingly, walking over to rest on the wooden fence that outlined the path. He gazed out at the ocean again. The ocean had been witness to everything, it knew every intimate detail. He wondered how many others secrets got hidden underneath it.

Roman watched him relax slightly “So what did happen?” He asked, strolling over to stand next to him.

“Axel attacked her” He stated bluntly, his voice void of any emotion

Roman was shocked by it “You mean he…?”

Aden jumped in; unable to listen to Roman fiddle about with the idea “He tried to force himself on her” He challenged Roman with his eyes, forcing him to acknowledge the fact

“Did he…?” Roman trailed, his face discoloured.

“No” Aden stated, looking away from him again “He didn’t get that far”

“Why? What happened?” Roman questioned quietly, leaning on the fence for support

“I caught him” He said painfully, wincing away from the memory of it.

“Caught him where?” Roman interrogated.

“Down by the beach”

Roman pondered on the scene for a moment, relieved that Annie was ok, before coming back to Aden. “What were you doing down there?”

Aden shrugged him off “Just felt like taking a walk before going home”

Roman sighed. He couldn’t play the cat and mouse game forever “Aden, please don’t lie to me.”

Aden frowned at him before facing the other way “I’m not” he lied casually

“Aden, I know you haven’t been sleeping at home alright?” He admitted gently.

Aden felt vulnerable, what was Roman spying on him for “And how would you know that?” He asked accusingly

“Aden, first I find you passed out by the front of your house, the next day Miles says he saw you sleeping on the beach, and I know this isn’t about the HIV test anymore, because you got the all clear, so what’s going on?” He badgered, staring him down.

Aden looked at him for a moment. He didn’t know why he had been unable to stop his secrets spilling out onto a complete stranger, and yet he still couldn’t tell Roman, the one person he knew actually looked out for him. He looked at him for a moment, willing the words back, but none came. Frustrated at the lack of control he had over himself he turned away

“Whoa wait a minute, OK, wait” Roman said, grabbing him and pulling him back a third time, leaving social boundaries behind “ok you don’t have to tell me” Roman said, realising how closed Aden was being with him at the moment, it was highly unlikely he would tell him anything right now.

Aden restrained himself from adding that he didn’t have to do anything, realising how childish it would sound. Instead he stood there, his face drawn in, not giving anything away.

Roman, realising he had Aden’s attention, continued “Look, my offer, of a spare room, it’s yours ok? I promise, you don’t have to tell me anything, but please, don’t sleep out here again?” Roman pleaded with him.

Aden remained silent, staring at the ground. His pride refusing to accept what his body desperately craved; a warm bed to fall into.

Roman took Aden’s silence as an agreement and, putting his arm round Aden’s back, used it to gesture which way they should walk.

Aden allowed himself to be lead by Roman, relieved at the opportunity to put this sorry day to an end. “I didn’t have anything to do with it you know?” He declared defensively, staring at the ground as there feet passed over it.

“I know” Roman replied, realising that that bit of information was as close as Aden would probably get to saying thank you.

[monkeysmoke]

Chapter 33

Kirsty looked at the girl before her. Belle had always been pretty distant towards her. She hadn’t liked how Irene had lied to her about who Ollie was, she felt like she had been betrayed, like Irene had not trusted her with the information, and she blamed Kirsty for it. It was obvious that Kirsty was like a daughter to Irene, which struck a chord of jealousy in Belle, who had always considered her relationship with Irene as something special. She had always felt like her bond to Irene was stronger than Annie or Geoff’s because she had been there longer, and because they had each other. She and Irene were the parents and Annie and Geoff were the kids. She had always secretly loved talking about things her and Irene had done before Annie and Geoff were around. Now Kirsty was here, telling bigger, greater stories about a time before her, and it made her feel unimportant. For some reason seeing Kirsty there hugging Aden made her feel shoved to the sidelines again, and brought all the jealous feelings to the front of her mind.

“What was that about?” Belle asked her, confused.

Kirsty tried to look casual, shrugging the comment off “Beats me” she said, brushing past her towards the stairs.

“I saw you hugging him. Why? What’s happened?” There was an unpleasantness that subtly underlined her voice, she hadn’t liked how Kirsty had tried to trick her. She didn’t trust her. It seemed that every time she turned around Kirsty was trying to cover something up, pull the wool over her eyes.

Kirsty turned back to her, realising she had seen more than Kirsty thought she had and raised a hand up beside her as she struggled to answer the question.

“Something happened on the beach and I really think you need to speak to Annie about it” She explained, although she knew now that wasn’t what was going on with Aden.

Belle was irritated by being told what to do. However the mention of Annie’s name over-clouded it. “What happened on the beach?” She asked, worry etching her voice.

“Please, we should go and see Annie” Kirsty insisted, gesturing to the stairs, before turning her whole body in the same direction.

Belle, still slightly irritated and determined to show her importance, barged past Kirsty with a small shove so she could ascend the stairs first.

Geoff’s voice echoed out into the corridor “You have to tell the police Annie! This is serious” Belle darted into the room “Tell the police what?” she asked fearfully. The three of them looked up at her, and saw Kirsty’s face looming behind her.

Irene spoke past Belle, to Kirsty, which irritated her further. “Where’s Aden? I want to have a word with him”

Kirsty sighed “He’s gone Irene” she admitted, feeling she had let her down. She knew Irene’s feelings towards the boy, but she couldn’t feel the same way, and she also couldn’t tell her why.

“I don’t believe this!” Irene began, rising off the bed, where she had perched next to a huddled up Annie.

Annie grabbed her arm “No! Irene I told you he had nothing to do with it!” She cried again.

“Nothing to do with what?” Belle demanded, she felt like she was being ignored.

“Axel tried to rape Annie!” Geoff yelled out. She looked over to him. He was pacing around by the side of the bed, agitated, unable to sit still. “And Aden helped him set it up” He claimed angrily.

“No Geoff! He didn’t!” Annie pleaded. Why wasn’t anyone listening to her?

“So you keep saying love” Irene said, finally acknowledging her “But don’t you think it’s a little bit of a coincidence that just after you drop the charges against him Axel, his best friend, attacks you, and he just happens to be there” Irene asked her cynically. A part of her still saw Annie as this naïve child, and believed she could be easily fooled.

“No Irene!” Annie persisted, tears of frustration lining he eyes “He had nothing to do with this. There is no way he did!” She repeated, thinking back to his expression earlier before they had walked in. She kicked herself, why had she made him come in with her. He must have realised what would happen. How can she have not seen this coming?

“Irene” Kirsty interrupted calmly “I think maybe Annie’s right.” She suggested, feeling a need to defend him.

“I don’t know Annie” Geoff added “This sounds like the sort of revenge Aden might take” he reasoned, his own dealings with Aden haunting his memory.

“I’m sorry love but I think Geoff’s right on this one” Irene added, cradling an arm around Annie’s supportively as she sat back next to her on the bed.

“No Irene I’m telling you” Annie cried into her “you didn’t see him on the beach. He was so angry at Axel, he really hurt him”

Geoff folded his arms, unconvinced “Probably all part of the act”

“No Geoff it wasn’t” she told him angrily, before turning her attention back towards Irene “You saw him down there Irene! You saw what he looked like” She told her, determined she would convince her. Geoff was bound to think the worst of Aden, but Annie saw Irene as the voice of reason, and she needed her to believe her.

“Well, now you come to mention it he was a bit shaken up” She thought out loud. A doubt trickled its way into her mind. Thinking about it clearly, now the shock had worn off, Aden had brought her back here. Why would he do that if he were involved? She looked down at Annie’s face, and felt wave of guilt rise through her. If Annie was right, and Aden had in fact helped her, then this was the second time she’d wrongly accused him. She pulled Annie closer to her and tried to distract the thought.

“Annie, are you sure you don’t want to report this love? What if he does it to somebody else?” Irene told her cautiously.

“Irene, like the police will believe me now anyway” She told her, forcing the tears away, along with the thought that she had brought this on herself.

“Which is exactly what Aden and Axel would have planned” Geoff piped in, convincing himself.

Irene gave Geoff a threatening look which silenced him, before turning back to Annie “Annie love, this is not your fault. I don’t care what you’ve done, no one deserves something like this do you understand?” She told her, grabbing Annie’s chin, forcing her to look her in the eyes. Annie couldn’t speak, the words lodged in her throat. So she nodded instead.

Belle and Kirsty stood in the doorway, both of them deep in thought.

Belle was letting the information seep into her brain, which was difficult considering the differing opinions of what actually happened. Her gut instinct told her Aden hadn’t been a part of this. That it was a big messed up coincidence. But she knew when she thought about it, it made sense for Geoff and Irene to be wary. So why wasn’t she? She thought back to Roman’s reaction after she relayed what Kirsty had said on the phone. He had been eager for news on Aden’s whereabouts. But why? Why was he always running around after him? She stared at Annie, wondering if the girl would ever be the same now. Something about her had shifted since they had last spoke. Annie was more in tune to what other people were saying, like she had woken up to something. Then she stared at Kirsty, who had moved forward at some point and was now standing beside her. There was something she knew that she wasn’t letting on. She had hugged Aden downstairs, and defended him, so she must think he is innocent. But why? There was this big question that was forming in her mind, each new event making it more prominent, but she never got any closer to an answer.

Kirsty thought back to Aden. She knew he hadn’t been a party to this. She had started to link up what Annie had been saying with what she knew. It would make sense for him to fly into a rage given what he’d told her. She felt her heart ache for him as she realised he had probably never mentioned it to anyone before, that it was the overwhelming events that had pushed him over the edge. Why had he told her? That’s what she couldn’t grasp. Had it just been because she was there at the time, or was there more to it? That still didn’t explain her feelings towards him though, they were practically strangers, yet she felt this need to defend him.

She stared up at Belle to find that Belle was staring right back at her.

[monkeysmoke]

Chapter 34 – I’ve got the writing bug today, I’m just on a roll! I figured my fic was long overdue some fluff, and i've ignored Miles and Jai the past few chapters so two birds, one stone philosophy!

Anyway to clear things up. In my fic, Aden’s dad (Larry) was not what got Kane arrested. They tracked him down when Ollie got ill because Kirsty refused to risk his life by continuing to run and she’s broken up with Kane because of all the lies about the robberies. She then moved in with Miles as a lodger a week before Jai comes to stay. Phew, hope that makes the fic make more sense.

Chapter 34

Kirsty walked into the caravan park house and sighed, throwing her bag onto the table before flopping onto the sofa.

Miles, having heard the door slam shut, poked his head around the corner from the kitchen. “Kirsty?” he called out, not having seen her.

He jumped back in fright as her head popped up unexpectedly from behind the sofa. As he did so his foot slipped on a toy train that lay on the kitchen floor behind him. “Whoa” he said, stumbling, before falling awkwardly onto the floor, the impact making the ground shake.

Kirsty, who had witnessed the whole thing unfold, but could not see the cause of it from where she was, jumped up off of the sofa. “Miles? Oh my God! Are you ok?” she asked concerned, rushing over to him.

“Ouch” he muttered to himself, before shifting into a more comfortable sitting position on the floor.

As Kirsty stood before him and realised he was ok she burst into a fit of giggles at the sight of him.

Miles looked up at her and smiled in good will “I really must stop using Ollie’s toys to deliver food” he joked, looking up at her.

She smiled at him, and stretched a friendly hand out to help him. “He wasn’t too much trouble for you then?” she asked, pulling him up.

He furrowed his face at her sternly “Well, he’s very fussy about his dinner service is Alf” He told her in a jokingly stern tone.

She laughed, slapping him lightly on the arm “I meant Ollie. You were ok looking after him?” she asked genuinely

He pulled a face of mock shock horror “I was supposed to be looking after Ollie?” he asked her incredulously, putting a hand to his mouth momentarily. When he pulled his hand away he revealed a wicked grin. “He’s in bed, so is Jai” He said seriously, before adding “so is Alf” smiling to himself again at referring to Alf as a child. They walked over to sit on the sofa.

“How is Jai?” Kirsty asked as they sat down beside each other.

Miles placed his feet on the table and rested his head in his hands, “yeah, he’s ok. Or so he tells me. Although he wouldn’t explain why he went swimming in all of his clothes” Miles added, his voice indicating that he was dwelling on his communication problems with Jai.

Kirsty looked at him and felt a pang of guilt. “Miles, if me and Ollie are in the way here, just say, it’s not a problem, we can find somewhere else” She told him sincerely. She didn’t want him to feel he had to say she could stay. Last week he had taken her and Ollie in without question, even though everyone knew her husband was imprisoned and that she had been a liar and on the run. He had been so nice to her, babysitting, he had even helped get her a job at the school. Now he was having all these problems with Jai, and she didn’t want her being here to make things difficult for him.

He sat up straight so he could look at her properly “Kirsty” he said firmly “I like having you and Ollie here, please stay. You’re not in the way, if anything it’s good for Jai having you and Ollie here.” Miles told her, adding secretly to himself that she was the closest thing Jai had to a mother.

She squeezed his hand, smiling at him “Thank you Miles” she said genuinely. They looked at each other, holding the moment a beat too long. Miles, realising how awkward it had become, changed the subject “So, what did Irene say about your new job?”

Kirsty was thrown by the question, having forgotten her reasons for going over to Irene’s in the first place.

“Yeah she was pleased” Kirsty said distractedly. Miles noticed.

”Wow, that good hey?” He joked. When she didn’t smile back he realised there was more to it. “What? What’s up?”

“Oh it wasn’t the job Miles. It was just, when I got there, Annie was missing. Which was why I was gone so long. Sorry.” She added as an afterthought, remembering she’d promised to only be half hour, and that he hadn’t even mentioned how late she had actually been. She smiled at him; he was such a kind man.

Miles was genuinely shocked by the news “Missing? Is she ok? Have they found her?”

“Err yeah they did” Kirsty said, brushing her hair behind her ear. She stared down at the floor, playing with her fingers.

“What? What happened?” he asked, sensing her change in mood.

Kirsty took a moment before speaking. She couldn’t tell him about Aden, even though she really wanted to. It was too private. So she decided to tell him about Annie instead. “A boy tried to attack her on the beach”

“What? Which boy?” Miles asked, agitated. Annie was such a child.

“I don’t know” Kirsty told him shaking her head “Some boy called Axel?” She questioned. Miles was a teacher after all, he might know him.

“Axel?” She looked up and saw the emotion in Mile’s face. Miles remembered overhearing something in one of his lessons, coming from Axel. He had tried to drown it out, figuring it was just gossip. His stomach turned as he realised the true meaning behind the boy’s words.

“It’s ok, he was stopped” Kirsty reassured him “Look Miles I don’t know if I was supposed to tell anyone about this so please, don’t say anything” she asked him. He looked at her and their eyes connected.

Something about her look calmed him “My lips are sealed” he told her, mimicking a zipper going across his lips.

He studied her a moment, there was something else niggling at her that she had held back. He realised there was probably a reason for it, and decided she needed to distract her from it rather than pry it out of her.

“Mrs Phillips” He said in a silly voice.

She looked up at him

“How do you feel about chocolate cake?” he asked her charmingly.

She smiled at him, a warm mushy feeling made her cheeks ache “”What girl doesn’t like chocolate cake?”

“Well” he dragged the word out slowly “then you’re out of luck, because we ate it all” he said quickly, waiting for her reaction.

She saw a glint in his eye and they laughed at each other.

He stood up “Oh ok I lied. We saved you a piece. Come on” He said, pulling her up off of the sofa and leading her towards the kitchen.

They stopped at the toy train that was still on the floor. “Unfortunately our food delivery service is out of order” he said, grimacing at the train, which had lost a wheel as a result of Mile’s treading on it.

She laughed, picking up the toy train and studying the wheel “No, walking is fine. I wouldn’t want you to bust a hip out of place or anything”

Miles put a hand up to his chest and displayed a mocking look of being offended “Was that a dig at my age Mrs Phillips?” he asked her in a half laugh.

“Oh no of course not” she replied unconvincingly, placing the train on the side “I mean, loads of young people drink coco when they go to bed” She said sarcastically. Although secretly she found his nightly routine cute.

“Watch it! “Or I’ll eat this cake all to myself!” He warned, shaking a metal fork at her.

“Oh I’m sorry” she said teasingly as she tried to grab the fork from him. He went to give it to her, and then pulled it back again. As she went to reach her she stepped closer to him, until there clothes were brushing against each other. She grabbed the hand he held the fork in with her own hand, so they were touching, and they held it there, between them. They stopped moving and gazed at each other, locking each other into the moment this time, daring each other to make the first move.

“Sorry folks” Alf croaked as he shuffled into the kitchen in his dressing gown. Kirsty and Miles drew away from each other instantaneously.

Alf walked past them to the fridge, pretending not to notice as he peered inside. “Just need to make my night time cup of coco before bed” he told them.

Kirsty, who had a hand to her face to cover her blushing cheeks, stifled a laugh with the other hand. Miles stared indignantly at the wall, avoiding all eye contact, although a small smile began to threaten the corners of his mouth.

[monkeysmoke]

Chapter 35 WARNING: Some swearing

Roman knocked lightly on the door to his spare room. He hadn’t wanted to go to work today, but with the way things were at Irene’s house he figured he could hardly refuse to cover her Sunday shift. Still, he wasn’t happy at having to leave Aden. Roman thought back to last night; Aden had remained closed off on the walk back home, and when they arrived he devoured the food Roman made for him, after which he had barely been able to keep his eyes open and Roman had had to suggest he go to bed. He knocked on the door again before opening it a crack and peering inside.

A small ray of early morning sunlight peeked though the curtains illuminating Aden’s sleeping face as he lay on the bed. That was when Roman noticed he was still fully clothed, which he found odd, as he had left him some of his spare clothes. He shrugged it off, putting it down to how tired he had been last night.

Roman cautiously walked over to the bed. He had only come in to wake him and let him know where he was going, so he wouldn’t be confused later on. Otherwise he would have left him to sleep. However as he moved closer to the bed, he became fascinated at watching him sleep. It had been the same with the men he shared an army barracks with, he would wake early and watch them sleep. He knew it was a slightly strange thing to do, but there was something about watching those hard faced men sleep that stripped them of their daytime bravado, and he could finally see them for what they were. It was a similar fascination that held his attention with Aden. He was so self-conscious, so on guard all the time, that watching him sleep stripped him of something, it was as if the Aden that hid himself in the waking world was revealed. It was small things that indicated this, like the piece of duvet he had wedged between his legs. It was a stupid thing to focus on really, a lot of people found it more comfortable sleeping that way, but watching him do it made Roman feel like he knew him better, like he was making progress, even if it was when Aden was unconscious.

“Aden?” He whispered at him, trying to softly alert him to the waking world.

Aden didn’t respond verbally, but he noticed his body tense up. He had drawn his legs up under him, and brought his arms in towards his chest, curling his fingers in. Even his face tightened, scrunching up in resistance.

Aden could here the voice, and knew it was Roman, but it was happening again. The demons, they were playing tricks on his mind, twisting the voice into something it was not. He had left it too long in between sleeps again, and they were holding his eyelids down with barricades.

“Aden?” A voice from the past again. His middle brother this time.

“Aden, you gots ta wake up” The voice pestered at him, pushing his body up. He watched himself rise up off of the hard hospital chairs, his father’s jacket falling off of him, his feet dangling over the linoleum flooring, not able to touch the ground. There was a buzz of activity, his brothers sat on either side of him. His eyes gazed up at his father sleepily. He was standing with a man all dressed in green. The man touched his father’s shoulder, and his father started screaming, falling down onto the floor in hysterics.

“F***!” His eldest brother’s voice screamed out next to him, he turned around, his older brother’s body materialised into his dream, and he watched as it rose up and ran out of the busy waiting room. He could hear his other brother sobbing beside him.

He tried to force the image away, ‘No, I already know this!’ he yelled at himself, but it didn’t make a difference. He was still 6 years old, alone and scared in the cold hospital corridor.

“Aden?” Roman’s voice. He tried to reach out and grab it.

Roman watched as Aden’s body writhed about on the bed. After saying his name the boy had suddenly cried out. A sharp deep cry of pain that cut Roman in two. Then he begun mumbling to himself, indistinguishable, muffled words.

Roman was unsure what to do. He had always heard that it was a mistake to wake someone from sleepwalking, but he couldn’t remember if it was the same for nightmares. He thought it probably was, and tried to wait it out, but another cry from Aden forced him to try again, he couldn’t take it anymore.

“Aden?” He said, his voice stern, strong. Aden bolted upright, his eyes frantically darted around the unfamiliar surroundings, his breathing heavy.

Roman watched him from the side of the bed, giving him a moment to come to.

“Aden’s eyes settled on Roman, and he remembered where he was. He tried to calm himself. He didn’t usually dream about that particular memory. It was usually ones about his grandfather. As he tried to gather himself the memories of yesterday suddenly caught up with him. It must have been Kirsty, with what happened, it must have triggered it off. Aden avoided looking at Roman, irritated by what he had just played witness to.

Roman watched as Aden settled into himself. As the breathing slowed he saw the hard-faced demeanour return to Aden’s features. His face stiffened slightly, his body movements were cagey and thought out. He noticed the red of his cheeks and realised how embarrassing this probably was for him.

“Morning” He said casually, his tone was friendly, but not over the top. Roman figured anything too cheery would feel a little out of place.

“Morning” Aden replied, still avoiding eye contact.

“Look, I’m sorry to wake you mate, but I just wanted to let you know that I’m off to work.” He said, leaning on the chest of drawers to the side of the bed, he folded his arms. “Will you be alright here by yourself?” He asked him.

Aden was surprised by the question. He had taken the first comment as a hint he had to leave. “Uh, yeah” He said, his voice friendlier than before.

“Great” Roman smiled, “Well, look there’s food in the fridge if you’re hungry, and Morag might be milling around later but she usually spends her mornings with Alf” He said, raising himself off the chest of drawers and moving towards the door.

Aden rubbed his temple, feeling really ungrateful. Roman was doing so much for him. He watched as Roman moved towards the door, and heard himself call out after him “Roman?”

Roman turned his head back, raising his eyebrows in response.

“Thanks, for this” He said genuinely, a deeper meaning underlining the words.

Roman’s face fell into a smile. “No problem” he replied, before turning back and exiting the room. As he reached the corridor, where Aden could no longer see him, he stopped momentarily to reflect on the words, smiling to himself. He hadn’t expected that.

[monkeysmoke]

Chapter 36 Another Miles and Kirsty chapter because I really enjoyed writing the other one! (Sorry for going off track again!)

“Whoa, I think that’s enough sugar now matey” Miles said cheerily as he prevented Ollie’s small hand from reaching for the sugar jar for a fifth time. “Anymore and you’ll have diabetes by the time you reach 5” The toddler stared up at the curly haired man next to him in wide eyed wonder before grabbing a spoon and diving into his cornflakes, having quietly accepted defeat with the sugar.

Miles was about to return to his own, heavily sugar coated cereal when he saw Jai appear from the corridor

“Jai, morning, fancy some sugar?” He gestured with his bowl “Or you could be really risqué and have cornflakes instead?” Jai’s face remained motionless, not amused by Miles attempt to joke with him. He sauntered over to the kitchen counter and grabbed an apple before heading towards the front door

“Hey wait, Jai?” Miles called after him quickly.

Jai’s turned slightly to face him.

When Jai didn’t speak Miles decided to question him “Where are you going?”

“Out” Jai stated, as if it was an obvious question.

Miles rose from his seat “Well wait a minute and I’ll come with you” he said quickly.

“No, that’s ok, I can go by myself” Jai told him, turning towards the door again.

Miles pulled a face at him “Yeah, I had realised that Jai, I just thought I’d try this crazy new concept, where we could do something together?” He raised his hands up at him “I know, I know, its pretty out there” he said mockingly.

Jai was still not amused, in fact Miles comment only made him angrier “Look you’re the one whose always saying I need to go out and make friends, how can I do that with you with me?” he said aggressively, as if it was all Miles’ fault he hadn’t actually made any yet.

Miles sighed, holding his hands up in defeat “Ok, you’re right. That’s cool.” He said sitting back down. As Jai went to leave Miles added, “Just, this time, if you want to go swimming, do you think you could wear a costume?” He suggested, referring to yesterday’s stunt.

Jai stopped momentarily before exiting the house, slamming the door as he went.

Miles sighed down into his cornflakes before looking at the toddler next to him “I’m not too un-cool for you to hang to with as well am I?” He asked him. The toddler looked at Miles as he spoke, but not understanding the words, raised a hand back into the jar and scooped some more sugar onto his cornflakes. Miles, who was resting his chin in his hand, which leant on the table, let out a small laugh.

Kirsty, who had been upstairs changing, clattered down the stairs and slid onto a chair opposite Miles. “Oh Ollie! No! Sweetie you can’t eat this!” She said, inspecting the syrupy flakes in his bowl. “Here” She said, swapping the bowl in front of her and preparing him a less sugary bowl for himself. She looked about her confused, before turning to Miles “I swear I heard Jai come downstairs?” She said, more of a question to his whereabouts.

Miles sighed again before removing his arm from the table and raising himself from the chair to take his bowl to the sink “Yeah, he’s gone out” Miles told her, his voice tinged with disappointment.

“Oh?” she responded, surprised, “I thought you were spending quality time together today?” She asked him as she leaned over the table to tend to Ollie.

“Yeah, I think mine and Jai’s version of quality time differs slightly” He said depressingly as he scraped the leftovers into the bin and placed the bowl in the sink.

Kirsty gave him a sympathetic smile “I think he just needs some time Miles, this is all still pretty new to him” she added reassuringly.

He smiled at her as he walked back over to the table “Thanks Kirsty, but I think its more than that. He’s angry, and I think most of it’s at me.” The wheels in his mind were turning. “I don’t know, there is definitely something wrong he just won’t tell me what it is” He said, opening up to her.

Kirsty looked at him and realised how down he was. It was weird for her to see Miles like this, he was always so outgoing. “Well look, me and Ollie were gonna go to the beach today if you want to come?” She suggested. After everything he had done for her, she wanted to help him however she could.

Miles smiled at her “Its ok, I don’t want to cramp Ollie’s style. I know he wants to impress all the girl toddlers. Can’t do that with an oldie like me around” he joked at her.

Kirsty laughed. “Well, I’ll be there cramping his style anyway. And you know, if he sees anyone he likes then at least we can stand back and he can pretend he’s not with us” She responded cheerily, welcoming him to come with them.

Miles laughed at her then, swayed by her subtle charm. “Well, I can build an impressive sand castle” he reasoned.

“And what toddler isn’t impressed by that?” she asked

“Just toddlers? I thought that might impress some older ladies too?” he joked.

Kirsty laughed at him, softly this time. There was something in his last comment that got to her. It often slipped her mind that she was officially still married. Whereas Miles was single, and free of baggage. She had been convinced something had happened between them yesterday. She began to wonder if it had all been her own imagining, she knew Miles was a sweet guy, and maybe he had only been being nice, and there hadn’t been anything more to it.

“Right” she said brightly, shrugging her thoughts aside “I better get Ollie ready” She said, moving round the table to sweep him up.

Miles watched as she carried Ollie off and out into the corridor. He couldn’t help but feel a tingle whenever he spoke to Kirsty. She was so good natured, so unsure of herself and yet so assertive at the same time. He had willed the connection between them yesterday, everything about it had felt right. But this morning when he saw her with Ollie, he had suddenly remembered she was in fact, a Mrs. A very recent Mrs, and that maybe he had stepped out of line last night. Knowing it might be wrong didn’t stop him from wanting to spend time with her however, and he smiled to himself at the prospect.

[monkeysmoke]

Chapter 37 Very short one

Aden looked at his watch. 11:17am.He had been lying on the bed in Roman’s spare room for the better part of 2 hours, just staring at the ceiling and thinking. He had not been able to get back to sleep since Roman had woken him up earlier, fearing another nightmare. His last one, where he had relived the moment his mother’s death was made official, had really shaken him up. He had become accustomed to the nightly terrors of his grandfather. Sure they were terrifying at the time, but once the initial shock was over and he woke up they became like a deadweight that he carried around with him. He hated them, but he was used to them. The one of his mother’s death stuck with him, terrifying him even now. She had been dead for over a decade now, and the memory of her was a distant faded blur in his mind. But seeing Kirsty yesterday, she had looked just like her. Her very presence stirred the memory of her up in his mind, and he could suddenly remember all these other things that had been lost somewhere in the back of his mind. As he lay there he remembered the time his mother had hugged him after he gave her a mother’s day present; a badly decorated cake. He could remember her tucking him in goodnight on the day of his 6th birthday, telling him how old he was now, retelling stories of when he had been a baby, He could also remember her strapping him in the back of the car before that fateful journey, laughing at his insistence that he could do it himself. But now every time he thought of her, he thought of Kirsty. He cringed as he thought back to what he had told her, how he had acted around her. He had left himself so vulnerable. Knowing he had told her made him angry at her, for having a hold over him.

As he lay there he heard the doorbell ring out loudly, resounding throughout the house. He raised himself off the bed with a groan and shuffled slowly towards the stairs. The doorbell rug out again as he reached the top of the stairs. “Alright I’m coming” he yelled out irritated by the persistence of the person on the other side.

He slowly descended the stairs towards the door, the person on the other side had become really impatient now, continuously pressing the buzzer over and over, and the sound was driving him insane. As Aden opened the door he yelled out at the person on the other side “Alright, ALRIGHT! You can stop now!” He was so busy yelling he hadn’t seen who he had opened the door to. The person on the other side froze at the sight of him.

“Who the hell are you?” They asked each other simultaneously.

[monkeysmoke]

Chapter 38 Taniya K got it one! I couldn't leave her out of it for much longer!!!! Anyway hope you enjoy!

“Well are you gonna make me stand here all day?” She asked impatiently.

His eyes scanned her up and down; A small, blonde girl clad head to toe in designer gear, huge sunglasses covering the better half of her face stood hand on hips before him. When he didn’t respond immediately she pushed past him to the inside, huffing as she did so. Something about her sparked his more cocky side to life.

“Look, if you’re here for a booty call with Roman then you’re out of luck” he told her, a cheeky grin spreading across his face as he watched her glance about the room. He shut the door and leant on the wall next to it, eyeing her.

She continued to examine her surroundings whilst she replied to him “Eww gross, Are you serious?” She asked him, scrunching up her face at the image. She continued to examine the room, turning her attention to the photographs lining the shelf on the far wall.

“Well, what are you here for?” He asked her, his tone more serious.

She grabbed a photo that had been wedged behind a few others, obscured from view and turned to wave it at him “I’m his daughter!” She said indignantly, walking over and shoving the photo into his chest.

He grabbed it and studied the people in it. A slightly younger looking Roman stood proudly, his arm wrapped around a young, brown haired smiley faced girl with braces. He looked up at the trendy, pretty, assertive woman who stood before him and let out a slight laugh “This is you?” He asked incredulously.

She snatched the photo back from him, annoyed by his laughter “Yes!” She snapped at him, walking back over to the shelf. Sweeping her arm across it so the other photos fell to the floor, she repositioned her photo in pride of place. She then stepped back to admire her handiwork, lifting her sunglasses off of her face and resting them on her head.

“Who even are you anyway?” she asked him, turning round to face him again, folding her arms “You’re not, like, my brother or something are you?” She said, wrinkling up her face in disgust.

Aden let out a slight laugh in disbelief “No” he told her, thankfully.

She tilted her head at him considering the possibility “Good” she told him, adding “Because that would have made you’re perving over me really awkward” She stated matter-of-factly, pleased with herself.

He laughed at her again, leaning forward slightly “You wish” he told her, although there was a suggestion that lingered in his voice. A few moments passed before he added “Roman never told me he had a daughter” He had partly said it to himself, trying to get his head round the idea. Although another part of him had realised from how she’d reacted so far, that the comment would annoy her.

“Yeah, well, who even are you anyway?” She said, folding her arms as she walked closer towards him.

He smiled a wicked grin at her before stepping towards her, so their bodies met in the centre of the room, “I’m whoever you want me to be sweetheart” he told her smarmily, brushing her hair away from her face.

She smiled at him, glad of the attention, then bit her bottom lip seductively. Their eyes locked onto each other, when suddenly Morag burst through the door. They remained as they were but turned to face her.

“Aden!” Morag declared brightly, “I see you’ve met Roman’s daughter, Nicole” She said, stepping between them.

“Yeah, we were just getting… acquainted” he told her, leaning back against the wall and folding his arms again. A grin plastered his face.

“I can see that” Morag stated knowingly, her tone displeased.

She turned her attention to Nicole “So, you’re Nicole?” She asked, stretching a hand out to greet her.

Nicole smiled charmingly at her, accepting the handshake “That’s me” She told her brightly.

“Well nice to meet you, I’m Morag. I live with Roman” She told her, her tone serious, as always.

Nicole looked at her in disgust “My God, are you serious? I know my dad likes the older woman but you’re like ancient!” She said in disbelief, oblivious to Morag’s feelings.

Aden let out a laugh from behind them and Morag quickly turned to shoot daggers at him before returning to Nicole “No Nicole, I assure you, our friendship is strictly plutonic, I am just a lodger here.” Not once did a smile pass her lips.

Nicole smiled at her again childishly, raising herself onto tiptoes “Right, well, where is my dad?”

“He’s at the diner, where he works.” Morag told her “I’m sure Aden here won’t mind showing you where that is” She turned to him expectantly.

“Yeah sure” He shrugged, annoyed Morag assumed she could just offer his services out without asking him. He walked out the front door, Nicole following obediently behind him.

Morag watched them go sceptically. As she had come back from her morning with Alf she had seen a yellow convertible pulled up outside the house, with 2 huge suitcases wedged in the back seats. She suspected Roman was going to be in for a bit of a shock today.

[monkeysmoke]

Chapter 39 - Sorry its so late, I hope it was up in time Wrongturntaken! Thanks all you guys for your support!! Glad you're all enjoying it!

Chapter 39

“Annie love, I made ya a cup of tea” Irene called through Annie’s closed bedroom door. She stood there a while, her head against the door, trying to distinguish sounds from inside, when she couldn’t here anything she gave up “Well I’ll just leave it out here love” she told her, placing the mug on the floor before heading downstairs to the living room, where Belle and Geoff were lounging on the sofa.

The two of them were hunched down, wrapped up in dressing gowns, with sombre faces, staring blankly at the TV screen in front of them. They had a bowl of crisps balanced haphazardly between them.

Irene stared at them for a moment, tempted to say something, but something in her gave way and she decided against it, choosing instead to flop into the armchair, joining them. “Well, she won’t talk to me either” She admitted, raising her hands into the air.

Belle and Geoff both averted their gaze momentarily from the TV to Irene, not surprised by her declaration. They had already warned her, but Irene always had to see things first before she could believe them.

“Well, now what do we do?” Geoff asked, looking between them both eagerly. Annie had refused to get the police involved last night, which Irene had insisted was Annie’s choice. However as soon as she had done so Annie had claimed she wanted to be alone, and any further attempt to talk about what happened had been immediately refused. It was now midday the following day and she still hadn’t emerged from her room.

“Well love, other than giving her some more time…” Irene suggested haphazardly

“How much time exactly should we give her Irene? I mean, she hasn’t even told us exactly what he did and didn’t do” Belle said indignantly. Every time any of them had come close to asking how far he had actually got she had clammed up, kicking them out. Now she just refused to see them at all.

“I don’t know love” Irene answered honestly.

Geoff, clearly dissatisfied with the answer, looked up to the ceiling for a better one. Not finding one there either, e sighed and gripped his head with his hands in despair.

Belle’s mind whirred with activity. She had tried to use her sisterly bond with Annie to make her feel comfortable talking about the really intimate details, using her own experience and pointing at magazine articles to try and pinpoint exactly what had or hadn’t happened. But Annie had cottoned on immediately and yelled at her to get out. When Belle said she needed to tell somebody, even if it wasn’t her, she said she had already discussed it once, with Aden, and wasn’t going through it again. “Aden!” Belle muttered to herself, jumping off the seat, spilling the bowl of crisps over Geoff as she ran up the stairs to Annie’s room.

”Belle!” Geoff snapped, brushing crisps off of him.

“Belle?” Irene called out after her, confused.

Belle knocked on Annie’s door impatiently. “Annie?” She repeated, opening the door. As she did so she saw the curtains floating inwards, this drew her attention to the open window behind them. Her eyes darted around the room to discover that Annie wasn’t in it. Belle gaped at the scene for a moment, before slowly making her way back downstairs.

”Belle?” Irene repeated as she came back down. Geoff stared at her expectantly.

Belle stood on the stairs to face them, fiddling with her fingers, unsure what to say.

“Belle? What’s up?” Geoff asked, agitated.

“Annie… she’s gone” She stated, wincing at the reaction her words might have.

“Gone? What do you mean gone?” Irene asked, still not latching on.

“I mean” Belle said, dragging the words out “She’s not in her room”

“How can she not be in her room?” Geoff asked, worried.

“God Geoff, she IS a teenager.” Geoff’s eyes quizzed her and Belle sighed at him “Open windows, drainpipes, knotted bed sheets? It’s not THAT hard to do” She stated, the voice of wisdom.

“People really do that?” He asked her unconvinced.

She shook her head at his innocence. She had always joked that Geoff never stepped a foot out of line, but she didn’t quite grasp how completely clueless he was sometimes.

Geoff’s mind jumped back on track, and he bolted off the sofa. “Well, we’ve got to go find her!” He declared, expecting immediate backup.

“Geoff I really don’t think that’s a good idea” Belle told him

“What?” he asked in disbelief “After yesterday? You’re not even worried?”

“Of course I am!” Belle snapped back sharply, offended by his words. Finding out about Axel had made her feel sick “But Geoff, if Annie’s not scared about going out alone after what happened to her, then we shouldn’t give her reason to be.”

“But Axel’s still out there!” He cried, astounded by her calm.

“Geoff its broad daylight, and he got caught, do you really think he’s going to come after her? Besides, we can’t just lock her up forever; she has to go out sometime”

“But” Geoff persisted jumpily.

“Geoff love” Irene intervened, having listened to both sides. “I hate to admit it, but I think Belle has a point. Scaring her into staying indoors isn’t the answer” She had to force the words out. She knew what she had said was right, but the thought of Annie out alone after last night scared the hell out of her.

Geoff listened to them, but his guts instincts overtook him “No! I’m sorry but you’re wrong!” he told them determinedly. “If you won’t help me look for her I’ll go by myself” he told them angrily, rushing out the door.

“Geoff!” Belle called out after him. Realising it was useless she turned to Irene and flopped back onto the sofa. “Do you think he’s alright?” She asked Irene worriedly.

Irene looked at her with a downbeat expression on her face “I don’t know love. It’s hard enough for me to try and cope with. But Geoff, well, Annie’s his little sister, she’s all he’s got left. I think this has really crushed him”

Belle nodded, deep in thought. A few moments passed before she looked up at Irene again, who was also in her own world “Do you think he realises he’s still in his dressing gown?” She added as an after thought.

Irene raised her eyebrows “Knowing Geoff, he probably won’t give it a second thought” they smiled softly at each other.

“Where do you think Annie went?” Belle asked Irene

“I honestly don’t know love, she probably just needed some time to think” She paused a moment, her brow wrinkling, “What were you going to say to her anyway darl?” Irene asked, resting her face in her hand.

Belle grimaced “You wouldn’t have liked it” she admitted.

“Love, right now I’d just be glad to have her talking again”

Belle drew her legs up under her for comfort “I was going to ask her if she would talk to Aden if I got him here for her” She admitted bluntly, awaiting a negative response from Irene.

“Oh” Irene responded, surprised. “Why on earth would you suggest that love?” Irene asked a judgement evident in her voice.

Belle sat up, using her hands to explain herself “She keeps saying she’s already told him everything, so I just thought she might open up to him. I mean, he was there, so she might feel more comfortable talking about it to him.”

Irene mulled the answer over in her mind a minute, breathing out “Well, I suppose that’s true” she admitted.

“Does that mean you’ve accepted he was innocent?” Belle asked carefully. She knew this was dodgy ground she was treading on.

Irene gave a deep sigh “I guess… If Annie says he wasn’t involved… and Kirsty, lawd knows why, almost busted a gut defending him, then I guess I might have got it wrong. Lawd knows it won’t be the first time!” she said, slamming a hand down on the arm of the chair, frustrated at herself.

The fact that it was Kirsty’s opinion that had swayed her grated on Belle. “You really trust Kirsty don’t you?” Belle asked a hint of disappointment in her voice.

“Well, love, she’s like a daughter to me” Irene explained honestly, thinking back to another time.

“Like me and Annie?” Belle questioned, not understanding.

“Well, kind of, but she never really lived with me as such. She just spent a lot of time here after…” Irene’s mind had drifted off, leaving Belle stranded mid sentence. “Well, that was all a long time ago now” She added finally, raising herself out of the chair.

“What was?” Belle asked her, intrigued.

“Oh nothing… maybe I should go after Geoff” Irene suggested, trying to brush her off.

“No, its ok, I’ll go. Just let me get dressed first” Belle told her, heading to her bedroom, wondering why Irene had become so secretive.

[monkeysmoke]

Chapter 40 - Thank you guys soooo much! As longas there are still fans wanting it I will continue to write!

Annie saw him the moment she rounded the corner and felt the anger rise up within her as she realised what he was about to do.

“I can push you if it’ll help” She snapped as she marched over to him. He was in the exact same position as he had been yesterday, arms stretched out, facing the steep edge of jump rock. He didn’t so much as flinch at her words, just continued to stare calmly ahead of him.

The lack of response only enraged her further. What had happened yesterday had really panicked her, and she had been on edge the rest of the day because of his little stunt. She knew that it was irrational, but a small part of her stemmed what had happened with Axel back to the incident with her and Jai, and it made her want to throttle him.

“Why do you even do it?” She asked sharply, genuinely wanting to know.

“I told you yesterday, it makes me feel alive” He told her calmly.

“Yeah. You. You’re so selfish, what about other people?” She asked confrontationally.

“What about them?” He shot back, standing his ground.

“What you did to me yesterday was way out of line! You could’ve DIED!” She yelled at him in disbelief. She couldn’t believe he couldn’t see the problems with it.

“No, I couldn’t have. Besides it’s none of your business” He yelled back.

“You’re not immortal you know? Just because nothing’s ever happened to you before doesn’t mean it can’t or won’t” She yelled, tears filling her eyes as she realised she was yelling more at herself than at him.

He scrunched up his face at her words disapprovingly “It’s still none of your business” He spat at her.

“Oh no?” She asked him mockingly, folding her arms.

“No, if I want to jump I’ll jump. You can watch or you can go away that’s your choice, it’s got nothing to do with me” He told her stubbornly.

His words made her fists clench in anger. She couldn’t believe how selfish he was. She felt this huge fury from the past few days rise up in her, and before she knew what she was doing she was mimicking him, standing dangerously close to the edge, arms outstretched.

He looked at her with a sideways glance, a flash of worry crossing his face “What are you doing?” He asked her

She closed her eyes and let the wind envelope her. “What’s it to you? I mean, it’s none of your business right? Just because you’re here watching, it doesn’t matter if I jump or not?” She questioned sharply, desperate for a reaction.

“Don’t be stupid” He told her, stepping away from the edge to watch her “get down” he added worriedly.

“No” She replied stubbornly. A part of her had said it to annoy him, to prove a point. But another part of her was starting to realise the appeal. All the worries of last night felt so insignificant up here. He was right, looming this close to death did make her feel strangely alive.

“Annie, please” His voice had changed then, there was a human concern to it “You’re not like me, you might get hurt.” He pleaded.

She laughed at him. She thought he had been joking about being immortal, but she could tell how much he meant it in his voice just then. He really believed what he said. She thought about what he said. She could just step back, and face what had happened last night. Or she could just let go, and see what happened. After all, she thought, people often solved out where they stood with God after a near death experience, didn’t they? Maybe she could solve all her problems.

“Annie” He said seriously, holding a hand out to pull her back, but before he could do it her body fell forward and spun downwards, crashing into the water below.

“ANNIE!” He yelled after her, he stared down at the water, then without thinking, jumped over the cliff face after her.

He felt his body collide with the water, stinging his skin. Then suddenly he was engulfed in the ocean. He opened his eyes and scanned about him, kicking his legs as he searched for her. As he spun around beneath the water he saw her body rise to the surface next to him. Bubbles blew into the water out of his mouth as he sighed with relief at the sight of her, before kicking himself up to the surface.

When he reached the open air he breathed deeply, having forgotten to do so when he dived in after her. As his eyes adjusted to the stinging pain the water left in them, he realised that Annie was laughing hysterically next to him.

He grabbed her by the arms “Annie!” He yelled at her “Annie, are you ok?” he asked hurriedly, shaking her.

“Phew!” She breathed giggling, kicking her legs to keep her afloat “I can see why you like that” she replied, still laughing.

He stared at her, confused, for several seconds, before realising that they were both ok. Then the adrenaline hit him and her laughter became infectious. They both looked up at the height they had just fallen from, still laughing hysterically, together, in the freezing ocean water.

P.S. I am sooooooo sorry for the lack of Aden in this bit and today generally. Do not panic! There will definately be Aden tomorrow, i just haven't decided exactly which angle I'm going take it from yet!