The Boy With The Thorn In His Side

[monkeysmoke]

Chapter 51

Irene was sat on the sofa, cradling Ollie when she saw Belle out of the corner of her eye; try to sneak from her bedroom to the kitchen door without her noticing. “Morning darl” she called out as she felt Ollie’s forehead.

Belle jumped “Jesus Irene” She snapped, turning to her “You scared the life out of me” she said, catching her breath.

“I think Ollie’s got a temperature, come feel his forehead would ya?” Irene asked, placing a hand to the toddler’s cheek.

“Why are you even looking after Ollie anyway?” Belle sniped, “Isn’t Kirsty taking a few liberties?” Belle quizzed, taking her frustration out on this small detail.

“It’s Kirsty’s first day of work and she hasn’t got a sitter yet” Irene informed her, scowling defensively.

Belle sighed and sloped towards her as she grudgingly put her hand to the tot’s forehead “My God Irene, he’s boiling!” She said peering down at him concerned

“Yeah that’s what I thought, I best take him to the doctor, you couldn’t work at the diner today could ya?” Irene pleaded with her.

Belle scowled at her, irritated “You were going to get me to cover for you the moment you agreed to sit Ollie weren’t you?” Belle asked, knowing full well the answer.

“Oh come on love, I’d do the same for you” Irene insisted as she raised herself into a standing position, still cradling Ollie and looking at him for other signs of illness.

Belle rolled her eyes, unconvinced, jealousy of Kirsty raging through her. “Fine, yes I’ll do it” she agreed through gritted teeth.

“Thanks love” Irene said honestly. She tore her eyes away from Ollie to look at Belle “Your fantastic mood couldn’t have anything to do with Aden’s quick getaway last night could it?” Irene quizzed cautiously.

Neither of them had mentioned what had happened yesterday. Belle had tiptoed out of her room towards the end of Aden’s interview, eavesdropping through the door throughout the entire thing, her insides clenched, only for him to bolt out the door without even glimpsing over the police report, or at her for that matter. After that all attention had been turned to Annie, but Belle’s mind had been preoccupied with what had happened ever since. She’d hardly slept thinking about it. She didn’t know what had overcome her, but the longing she had for Aden was still there. She had liked it, more than liked it, and he had just bolted, which wasn’t a good sign. Now she had to go to work because Irene was helping Kirsty, who she couldn’t stand. Sometimes, she mused, life just wasn’t fair.

Irene nodded, not having really needed an answer. “Look love, I can’t say I approve of you and Aden” She began

“Irene, please don’t” Belle interrupted bluntly. She sighed as she looked at her “You don’t need to tell me because there is no me and Aden, alright?” There was an edge to her voice that told Irene to back off.

“Alright then” She agreed, nodding “Well look I’m going to take Ollie to the doctor, I’m not liking this temperature of his” She said, averting her eyes back to the tot, who was rubbing an eye with his little balled up fist.

Belle sighed “Yeah, ok” She smiled, rubbing a hand through Ollie’s curly blonde locks. “You tired matey” She asked sympathetically. Ollie’s face was solemn and glazed in a cold sweat. Although he was boiling his skin was a ghostly pale colour. She felt her bad mood slip away as she studied him attentively, worried about his appearance. She might not be chummy with Kirsty, but there was no denying that Ollie was adorable. “Irene I think you need to take him to the hospital” she said calmly.

“Yeah I think I better get a move on, its starting to worry me a bit” she admitted, heading out the door “I’ll see you later love” She called after her. Belle stood and watched them go. The lack of another presence in the room allowed her bad mood to engulf her again. Trying to escape it she decided to follow them out the door and set her mind to working straight away.

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“Are you serious?” Nicole asked dramatically. Roman sighed as he cleared the kitchen table, recognising the tone as the start of a battle.

“Look, you said yourself, this isn’t a holiday, you want to stay, so you need to enrol at school” He explained logically, using her own words against her.

She scraped the chair on the floor as she got up to confront him on the issue “But it’s my first day here.” She whined, fishing for sympathy.

”There’s no time like the present” He told her smiling.

She folded her arms, frowning at him “Yeah I also said I wanted to spend some time with you. How can I do that if I jump into school first thing? I’ll get snowed under with work!” She cried, exaggerating her situation.

He sighed determined on this point “Look Nicole” He said as he walked towards her, placing his hands on her shoulders and staring into her pleading eyes “I’ll be at work all day anyway. So you won’t be able to spend time with me. Besides, you need to make friends round here, meet new people. We’ll have plenty of time to get to know each other at evenings and weekends”

She shrugged out of his grasp “God! Why did I even bother coming here? I could’ve seen you at evenings and weekends at mums! Nothings changed!”

“Yes but you didn’t did you?” Roman reflected sadly, knowing a lot of it was his fault “But now we have no choice but to see each other” he suggested, smiling at her as he shuffled behind her, forcing her to move towards the front door.

She gave up protesting and opted for ultimate whinging instead. “Gee you make it sound so tempting” she replied sarcastically as she opened the front door.

“You think that sounds tempting?” He joked, enjoying the father-daughter banter “Wait until we’re short staffed at the diner, then we can have some real bonding time” he suggested slyly. As he stepped out the door, shutting it firmly behind him.

She spun round, her face a mixture of shock and disgust “You are not seriously suggesting I work in that grease pit are you?” When he smiled at her in response she realised he was, in fact, serious.

“Oh no, there is no way I would be seen dead even eating there! Let alone being a dish scrubber” She declared dramatically.

“Well, you’re going to get very hungry then, because that’s mostly what I live off of” He admitted, grinning at her distress.

She gave a frustrated cry as she looked into the air, before spinning back round and storming off down the path. Roman chuckled as he followed behind her.

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Aden sloped into the school building extra early, his body stiff and heavy from another night on the beach. He looked around the empty corridor to check for signs of life, before sneaking down in and heading into the office. Once inside he began searching frantically inside the cupboards that lined the walls. If he got caught, he was dead, if Bartlett saw him without a uniform, he was dead, if he didn’t show up for school, he was dead. Any option he had thought through risked him being kicked out of school for good. This was the only one which offered a possibility of not getting caught. Even then it was only a slight one.

He found a spare uniform that looked roughly the right size, and began stripping down on of his jeans and t-shirt. He was still agitated about yesterday. What had happened with Belle, it had felt right. So right. And yet after the interview with the police, after reliving the whole sordid tale, he felt like he had needed to clear his head. He had spent all night not sleeping on the beach, thinking about her and how much he dreaded facing her. He knew what would happen, that she would explain how much of a mistake it had been, he had been. He wanted to pretend that it meant something more, just for a little while longer at least.

He had just ripped off the plastic packaging holding the uniform when he heard the door click shut. He froze, cursing his own stupidity. Why hadn’t he raced off with the uniform to the toilets where there was less chance of getting caught? Too late now, sighing in defeat, he slowly spun round to face his captor.

[monkeysmoke]

Chapter 52

She froze as she stared at him, standing in just black boxers and socks. His eyes bulged out in surprise to see her, of all people, staring back at him.

“I’m, I’m so sorry” she stumbled, averting her gaze to the floor. “I was looking for Mr Bartlett” she explained, turning round to face the door.

Aden went red as he realised the cause of her embarrassment, and frantically began pulling up the school trousers from the ripped packaging. He felt flustered; he hadn’t expected her, of all people, especially with what she knew about him. He felt vulnerable enough as it was, but now she really had seen all of him. “What are you even doing here?” he asked her bitterly as he pulled the white shirt out of the packaging.

She turned back round to face him as he put it on “I, I work here” She stammered, twisting her fingers about nervously, her cheeks red.

Aden felt a pain sear through his head. Everything was becoming so difficult. “Great” He muttered sarcastically as he fiddled with the buttons to his shirt.

“Look about what happened the other day” She began quietly, feeling the need to talk it through.

“Forget it” He told her hurriedly. He routed around the drawers again, searching for a tie.

“How can I just forget something like that?” She asked him, studying his features as they became more and more defensive. She stepped towards him, resting an arm on the drawer he was rooting through and leaning towards him “How can you?” she added, her voice lower than a whisper this time.

Frustrated, both with her and his inability to find a tie he slammed the drawer shut with a force that made Kirsty jump back in fright. He turned to face her angrily “Look it’s none of your business alright?” He yelled at her, his face red from the rage that coursed through him. He couldn’t believe after years of silence he had slipped up like this.

She realised she was going to have to be forceful on this one. “You told me for a reason Aden” she told him, fixing him with a stare.

He looked at her for a moment, before shaking his head “It was a mistake” He retorted angrily as he opened another drawer, still searching desperately for a tie. Dying to escape the conversation.

“You need to talk to somebody about this” She warned him, remaining calm.

He pulled a tie out of a heaped assortment that lay muddled in the drawer he had opened. Slamming it shut he walked up to face her “I don’t need to do anything. You, however, need to keep your mouth shut. You got that?” He spat into her face, pointing a finger at her aggressively.

She folded her lips inwards and breathed deeply through her nose, restraining herself from arguing with him. She desperately felt the need to tell somebody, but knew how hard it must be for him.

Before she could answer Bartlett opened the door and looked at the scene before him, a question marring his face. “Ah Mr Jeffries, and what are you doing in my office?” he queried, glee filling his face. Had he finally caught Aden out?

Aden remained silent, his face locked in a fixture of anger. Kirsty turned to face Mr Bartlett, smiling “Hi, Mr Bartlett” She greeted, extending an arm towards him “Aden here was just showing me where I could find you” she lied, a fake smile plastering her face. She gestured towards Aden, who shot her a curious look.

“Is that right?” Mr Bartlett responded, his words coloured with his disbelief as he accepted Kirsty’s hand. “Is that right Aden?” He pressed, hoping Aden’s bad mood would give him away.

Aden cleared his throat grudgingly responding “Yeah” He gave Kirsty a sideways glance and her eyes reassured him “Yeah that’s right” He said, sniffing and looking at the ground.

“Right” Bartlett accepted, slightly annoyed that he was being fobbed off by his newest member of staff “Well shouldn’t you be getting to class now Aden?” He hinted, asserting his authority.

Aden nodded, casting Kirsty another quick glance before exiting the room. He sighed as he reached the outside, perplexed. He had just been so horrible to her, so why on earth had she then proceeded to cover for him? She had no reason to.

He readjusted the weight of the bag that sagged on his shoulder before setting off down the corridor. As he rounded the corner he crashed into a small body, sending it falling onto the ground.

“Hey watch where you’re going you idiot!” She snapped at him, as she looked up she her anger subsided immediately. “Aden” She said brightly, “Fancy seeing you here” She smiled up at him but he didn’t reciprocate, just stood there aggressively, as though annoyed by her presence. “Well?” she questioned “Are you going to help me up or what?” She raised her arm up expectantly.

He sighed and bent down to pull her up, as she got back onto her feet she leant in towards him, holding onto his hand as he tried to pull away “You rushed off yesterday” she commented, leaning towards his body suggestively.

He pushed her gently backwards “Yeah because Roman was gonna kill me!” He snapped at her.

“Oh come on” she smiled at him, she raised her hand and placed it on his shoulder suggestively “It was only a bit of fun”

He raised his arm to brush her arm away from him, her closeness agitating him. He was annoyed, not just at her, but generally. “Yeah it was hilarious” he sniped at her, his voice laced with a bitter sarcasm.

“I thought so” she reflected, ignoring his feelings on the matter “So, you go to this dump?” She mused, gazing at her surroundings. “Well, come on, you can show me the way to the office” She dictated to him.

He laughed bitterly at her “I don’t think so Princess.” He retorted barging past her in the opposite direction.

“Aden?” She called after him, a little shocked. Yesterday he had been bitter in a playful way, and she hadn’t realised that wasn’t what was happening between them today until just then, when he barged past her.

He walked past her, infuriated by her assertiveness. Nicole and Kirsty had both grated on him that morning. What was it with these women who kept telling him what he had to do? Kirsty had covered for him back there, but there was no telling how long for. His stomach clenched in agitation as he thought of what she knew. She wanted him to tell someone, and there wasn’t much to stop her from doing it herself. He couldn’t believe he would have to now see her everyday, and look into those pitying eyes everyday. And then there was Belle. He had to work with the girl, the girl who would soon be telling him how he just wasn’t good enough for her. He kicked the bin as he past it, gaining a small relief as he watched it tumble and all the rubbish spill onto the floor. What was the point in hiding it all in there anyway? He figured, the world would soon be overflowing with it anyway, what was the point in pretending any different?

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“Nice to see you’ve already acquainted yourself with some of the pupils here” Mr Bartlett commented, although the tone of his voice suggested he was actually displeased.

Kirsty gave a small smile and let her eyes follow Bartlett as he strolled over to his desk.

“Well, today will be pretty much an introduction. Are you competent with computers?” He asked her as he sat down in his desk chair and placed a pen in his mouth, tapping it against his lip.

Kirsty nodded at him “Yeah pretty good” she remained stood at the door, her hands clasped behind her back. Having started her new job on a lie she now felt like she was back at school, and was being told off.

“Good” He smiled, nodding at her “Well we won’t worry about that then” He added, his face pensive. The ringing of the phone snapped him out of his thoughts. “Hello Mr Bartlett speaking.” Kirsty waited patiently in the corner as Bartlett listened to the person on the phone. She reflected back to Aden, she realised now that he wasn’t going to tell anyone lese about his secret willingly. Not that she though he should, but it was clear to her now that he needed help desperately, and that unless she helped him he wouldn’t get it. “Why, yes of course” She heard Bartlett say, the sombreness in his tone pushing her out of her own thoughts. “Yes she’s right here, one moment” He pressed the secrecy button on the phone before meeting Kirsty’s gaze, who had already guessed it was about her and looked at him curiously. “Kirsty, it’s Irene on the phone, she has taken your son Ollie to hospital and she said she needs you to come down there” he told her apologetically.

She felt her stomach leap about, the news shooting an icicle through her heart, making her feel floppy and numb. “What’s wrong with him?” She asked urgently, not feeling her words.

Bartlett looked worriedly at her “Let me drive you to the hospital” he said calmly, raising himself and ushering her frozen frame out of the door.

[monkeysmoke]

Chapter 53

Belle looked at the clock for the fifth time that morning. The hand was creeping slowly round to 12 o’clock.

“That bad ay?” Roman asked her as he entered the kitchen. He had noticed there had been a grey cloud over her head all morning, and had put it down to being called into work so suddenly by Irene.

“I’m sorry Roman” She smiled weakly “I just, I don’t know, I’m in one of those moods” she answered as she sprinkled the plate with salad.

“Yeah I understand” Roman nodded as he bent down to fill the dishwasher

“So” Belle began, dragging herself out of her mood “You never mentioned a daughter”

Roman sighed, feeling a stab of guilt for keeping it a secret “Yeah well, it never came up” he said quickly, knowing that was a stupid excuse.

“Right” Belle said, unconvinced “Well she’s very…” She struggled to finish the sentence

“Blunt? Forthcoming? Assertive?” Roman offered

“Actually I was going to say rude” Belle admitted, making them both laugh.

Roman grimaced, he knew he couldn’t deny it “Yeah she is, but, you know I don’t think she’s all bad. I think there’s more to it” He said, rubbing his chin as he mulled over his daughter.

“Oh yeah, what do you mean?” she queried

“Well, I don’t know really, she just arrived so suddenly. I think there’s something she’s not telling me” he admitted, feeling he could confess his soul to Belle.

”Well have you asked her?” She suggested trying to help him out. Looking at Roman it was obvious that when it came to childrearing, he was completely clueless.

He shook his head abruptly “No”

”Why not?”

“Because every time I get close she thinks it’s me trying to get rid of her” He sighed, feeling the need to change the subject “Anyway, forget about me, how is Annie doing?”

Belle smiled “Yeah, yeah she’d better” she answered, grabbing a cloth and wiping the counter. “She erm, she reported Axel to the police”

“That’s great” Roman replied honestly “Have they arrested him?”

Belle nodded “Yeah he was at home, but he’s denying it so we’ll have to see if they let him go” she told him, knowing he would probably just be let out on bail soon enough.

Roman sighed “Sometimes there is just no justice” he thought out loud.

“Mmmm” She agreed, leaning on the counter with her arms crossed. “You err, see Aden last night?” she queried, trying to sound casual.

His eyes shot up at her, sensing something in her voice “No, why?”

“It’s just, Nicole said he crashed at yours, so I thought he might have gone back there after giving his statement” she lied.

Roman’s forehead crinkled “Did he tell you he was coming back to mine?” Roman asked, concerned. He thought back to Aden. Hopefully he could grab a word with him at work later and see if he was ok.

Belle shook her head “nope, why would he tell me?” She asked defensively.

Roman was a bit taken aback at the sharpness of her words “No reason” he declared honestly.

He eyed Belle suspiciously as she picked up the plate in front of her and took it through to the front, what was up with her? She’d been on edge all morning. The ringing of a phone interrupted his thoughts. “Irene hey…” his sentence was abruptly cut off by the distressed woman on the other end of the phone. “Whoa, whoa, Irene, just calm down and tell me what happened” He told her, her jumbled words getting lost down the telephone. As he listened to her shaky voice relay the message he felt his heart sink.

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Aden slouched in his chair at the back of Mile’s lesson, trying desperately to avoid the whispers that circulated around the room. Miles, also overly aware of the hot new gossip of Annie Campbell’s ‘new victim’ Axel, was reading awkwardly and unnecessarily loudly as he tried to drown them out, but to no avail.

“So, Mr Copeland” a girl from the front called out, waving her hand in the air.

“Yes Becky?” He asked tiredness in his voice. “Aren’t Axel and Aden like King Lear’s daughters?” She asked a smirk on her face.

Miles sighed, the book flopping in his hands. “And why would you say that?” he asked, knowing he would regret it

“Because Sir” she answered smugly “They’ve been punished and accused for something they didn’t do” she said, receiving a fit of laughter from a small crowd gathered round her.

Miles rubbed his face with his other hand “No, Becky, it’s not the same at all, and quite frankly, I think Shakespeare would be highly insulted to see his work compared to some high school gossip” he retaliated, a nastiness in his voice. He hated people who were out for a cheap laugh like that, unaware of the pain they caused.

”But Sir, it’s not just high school gossip, it’s fact. She already tried to pin Aden, now his best friend, that’s not just a coincidence” A girl beside Becky called out. A few murmurs of agreement filtered through the room, along with some nods of the head.

“Axel was right, someone does need to teach her a lesson” a guy from the back called out “Just because she’s a Christian doesn’t mean she can treat people like that, right Aden?” He looked behind to Aden for some support. The rest of the class, remembering he was there, turned expectantly towards him.

Miles could sense a riot about to break out. “Now come on guys that’s enough!” he tried to dampen it, but was drowned out by the students before him, who were pestering Aden to support them

Aden, who had been trying to close his ears to it all, pushed his desk forward aggressively, quieting them into silence, “She’s not lying. You say you want revenge, well so did Axel, and that’s just what he did! Why don’t you all stop being such zombies and think for yourselves for once?” He yelled at them angrily, infuriated by the rigidness of the school social structure. They stared at him silently and he breathed his anger at them “And just so it’s clear” He said, glaring at Becky “Axel is not my friend” he spat at her, the thought that he’d been so careless about who people associated him with sickened him now. He sat back down covering his head with his hands he tried to scrunch as far down in the chair as possible, not quite believing he’d just done that.

Miles, who stared at the scene, immobilised by Aden’s outburst, managed to clear his throat. “Well, now that’s cleared up, shall we move on?” He suggested. The heads began to gradually turn their attention back to the front of the class, allowing Aden to merge into the background. Miles shuffled about with some papers on his desk. He had heard what Kirsty had said about Annie and knew there would be repercussions, but of all the scenarios he had prepared for, that wasn’t one of them. As he searched about on his desk for the next play his phone went off. “Sorry guys, I know I just broke my own rule, no mobiles.” He said as he switched it off “Right, so, moving on to The Tempest” he began brightly to the stunned class before him.

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Aden caught sight of her the moment he entered the diner. She was bustling about, trying to avoid the corner where Gladys was sat. He had thought that he could handle it, that if he just avoided her, it wouldn’t get to him. But seeing her in the flesh he felt his guard loosen, she was so beautiful. He raced round to the back and slung an apron over himself.

As he tied the strings round him he felt her enter the room behind him. She stopped momentarily to look at him before rushing over to the counter to unload the pile of plates she was carrying.

“Hi” He called out to her, unable to stop himself from talking to her.

“You’re late” she snapped at him

“By like, 5 minutes?” He answered back, checking his watch.

“Yeah well, Roman went to get Nicole from school so I’ve been by myself.” She replied angrily, blaming him

“Err, yeah and where do you think I was? Disneyland?” he shot back sarcastically.

“Whatever” she muttered as she rushed over to the fridge, rooting inside till she found a cake. He watched her as she pulled it out and carried it carefully back to the counter she had just cleared.

“So, that’s how you’re going to play this is it?” He asked, scowling at her. Just looking at her had made him crumble, but she didn’t even want to speak to him, surely, he thought, that was all he needed to know. But something inside of him wouldn’t let it go that easily; he needed her to at least acknowledge something had happened.

“Play what?” She asked irritably, scrabbling inside a drawer.

He walked over so he was resting a hand on the side, leaning over as she worked “I’m right aren’t I? You’re just gonna pretend last night never happened?”

She began to slice the cake, using all her willpower to try and avoid his gaze, his question. “Right now Aden, I just want to pretend nothing’s happening” she told him honestly, tears filling her eyes.

There was a softness in her voice, a vulnerability that made him stop his interrogation. “What do you mean?”

She sniffed as she grabbed some plates from the side and began placing slices of cake onto them.

“Belle?” He grabbed her arm lightly to stop her from hiding into her work. Her body tensed at his touch, the memory of their kiss weighed down upon it. “What’s wrong?” he asked her.

“It’s Ollie” she muttered to him, forcing the tears back

“Ollie? Who’s Ollie?” He asked, genuinely unaware of his existence.

“Ollie, he’s Kirsty little boy, he’s been taken to hospital alright? He’s really ill”

The news hit him harder than it should have. He didn’t even know the kid, he only knew Kirsty, and every encounter they had was so surreal. She looked up at him as he gazed into the space behind her, confused by his reaction.

He brought his eyes down to meet hers, the weirdness between them fading as they did so. “Is he going to be ok? What’s wrong with him?” He asked his voice was small and distant, but there was an earnestness in it that comforted her.

“They don’t know, they’re trying to find out what’s the matter with him, they’ve put him in intensive care” Her voice choked on the last words as she thought of the little boy lying in there. She felt a tear roll down her cheek and she tried to brush it away dismissively, turning her attention back to the plates.

Aden watched her do it for a moment, when he noticed her hands become clumsy and useless. He didn’t think about what he was doing, but instinctively he brought his arms up pulled her towards him wrapping her into a hug, so her face was nestled into his chest. Her body; that usually vibrated with energy, sunk into him willingly. She felt his body against hers. It was sturdy and warm, and she breathed the smell of him in, stemming the flow of tears ready to pour forth from her eyes.

“Well this is cosy” The snide voice behind them made them jump out of the embrace and Belle pushed herself away from him. They both turned towards the door to find Nicole standing in the kitchen, her arms folded, with Roman loitering awkwardly behind her.

Noticing the awkwardness that had engulfed the room Roman decided to ignore the scene before him “Belle, I brought Nicole in to help out so you can go to the hospital if you want” he offered kindly, swinging his keys about on his finger.

“Thanks” Belle muttered to Roman before rushing out of the kitchen, leaving Aden to deal with that mess.

“You never mentioned you had a girlfriend” Nicole smirked as she said it, walking slowly over to him.

“She’s not my girlfriend” he shot back at her viciously, hurt at how quickly Belle had pulled away from him.

“Good” She replied brightly as she sidled up next to him.

Roman rolled his eyes “Alright guys, lets get some work done. Nicole, you’re going to have to tie your hair back” He warned authoritatively.

She gaped at him “Are you joking? I’ll get split ends!” She wailed at him.

Aden took the opportunity to leave, grabbing the plates Belle had prepared and taking them through to the front. He hadn’t known Kirsty had a child., and he felt that, because she knew so much about him, that he should at least know that much in return. The realisation shocked him.

[monkeysmoke]

Chapter 54

She stood in the hospital corridor, the smell of disinfectant singed her nostrils and the draft that swept through the ghostly white corridor sent a chill down her spine. Sitting was useless, standing was useless, pacing the corridor, was also useless, but it was all she could do to stop herself from going mad. It was as if there was an urgent itch that niggled down inside her stomach, agitating her into movement.

As she looked up she saw Irene striding down the corridor towards her. “Irene! Did you get hold of him?” She answered her voice a rush of words.

Irene shook her head “Sorry darl I couldn’t get through, I’ll try again later. I’ve told Belle and she’ll be on her way, but I told Annie and Geoff to stay at home.”

“Right” Kirsty nodded, the news distressing her. She really needed Miles here. He would know what to do.

“I wouldn’t worry love” Irene reassured her, rubbing Kirsty’s arm “I’m sure Martin Bartlett will let him know when he gets back to the school” she suggested, trying to calm Kirsty down, adding “Have you heard any news?”

Kirsty shook her head “No, nothing.” She said, her voice rising “No-one’s telling me anything!” She cried, shaking with rage. By the time she’d got here, the doctors had already taken him into intensive care, and she had had to wait outside the doors for what seemed like an eternity.

“Just calm down love, alright that doesn’t mean anything, you’ve got to try and be patient” She said kindly, stroking Kirsty’s hair out of her face as though she were a child.

“It does mean something! It means they don’t know what’s wrong with him!” She said, her hands shaking in front of her. Irene grabbed one of them and led her towards the blue metal chairs that lined the wall behind them

“Now come on love, let’s just sit down” Irene’s voice was a mixture of kindness and authority, making Kirsty obey silently, her hands continuing to shake frantically in front of her.

She tapped her feet on the ground as she sat there, thinking through the possibilities. This was it. This was her punishment. Her comeuppance, her own personal hell. God was punishing her. Punishing her for ditching the one family who really cared about her. For then running off with a man who hurt one of them. He was going to take away the thing she loved most in the whole world, and it was all her fault.

The opening of the door jolted her out of her thoughts, and her seat and she sprung back to life, frantic for news “What’s happening?” She asked, blocking the path of the doctor who came through the door.

The doctor removed the cover on his mouth and led her by the arm to the side of the door. Irene gathered herself and came to stand behind Kirsty supportively. “Mrs Phillips” The doctor began. Kirsty didn’t interrupt to tell him it was now Miss Sutherland, she was too eager to hear what he had to say. She looked up at him hopefully, clasping her hands in front of her.

“Ollie has a very high temperature which is due to severe dehydration” he explained to her gently.

“Well what does that mean? What’s wrong with him?” She asked hurriedly

“Well, we’ve given him some fluids to stabilise his temperature, so that’s going down, but we still need to run some more tests” He told her apologetically.

Kirsty could feel the anger bubbling inside her now, all this time to be told that they still don’t know? “So you have no idea what’s wrong with him?”

The doctor sighed, rubbing his head “Well, the symptoms your son is showing could be caused by any number of illnesses, which is why we have to run the tests, but…” he dithered

“But what?” Kirsty felt her stomach tighten into knots.

“But from experience, I think your son is suffering from kidney failure” he admitted sombrely.

Kirsty’s face furrowed into confusion as the information sunk into her. Irene decided to take over.

“So doc” Irene began, stepping forward to stand beside Kirsty “If you’re right, what does that mean for Ollie?”

He gave her a long hard stare “It means that the kidney failure is in the advanced stages, and that he would need to be operated on for a transplant almost immediately” he admitted, still staring at her he let his eyes reveal the reality of the situation.

“How long does he have?” Irene asked a panic rising through her.

“Now we have to remember that nothing’s certain yet” the doctor added, trying to calm them.

“How long does he have?” Kirsty snapped at him, her eyes full of tears

The doctor sighed “If it is kidney failure, then your son probably has about a week to get a transplant before its too late” he told them regretfully.

Kirsty felt her legs give way underneath her, and fell to a heap on the floor. Irene, whose own eyes filled with tears, bent down beside her. “Kirsty!” She cried, stroking her hair. Kirsty remained immobilised, staring at the space in front of her distantly. Irene started crying and hugged her from the side as she sat there, not able to take it in.

[monkeysmoke]

Chapter 55 - i've been fiddling about with how to work this part into the fic for ages now and i've finally decided to just write and post it. It's a bit unrealistic for my liking, but there you go.

Chapter 55

“So do they know what’s wrong with him?” Aden asked casually as he wiped the counter at the front of the diner.

Roman stood next to him, handing change to a customer before turning to answer him “No, not yet” he replied sadly.

There were a few minutes of silence as they left each other to their own thoughts. Aden reflected on Kirsty, feeling guilty at being so horrible to her. She had, after all, saved his neck, and now it turned out her son was really ill. And Belle. What had just happened with Belle? Had she accepted his support just because he was there? Or was there more to it?

Roman stood at the till, trying to work up the courage to bring the subject up. Eventually the silence, driving him crazy, pushed him forward. “So, is everything alright?” He asked casually, looking over at Aden, who was monotonously rubbing circles over the same spot on the counter.

“Yeah, why wouldn’t it be?” he answered defensively, Roman’s voice alerting him to where he was.

“Well, it’s just I haven’t really spoken to you since you left my place, so I guess I was just wondering if you’d sorted things out, you know, back home?” He had tried to ease the question into the conversation, but once he begun, he realised how hopeless it was, and it had tumbled out awkwardly. He turned towards Aden, giving him his full attention.

He frowned into the counter top, “Yep, everything’s fine” he lied irritably wondering if he was really that see through.

Roman sighed, knowing from his response alone that it wasn’t fine. But then, he had never expected Aden, of all people, to just come out and admit that. “Cos you know, if its not, and you need a place to stay, then my door’s open?” He offered cautiously, trying not to overstep the mark.

Aden threw the cloth on the counter, fed up with being interrogated “Thanks but I’m not a charity case Roman” he shot at him, walking round to the back.

As he did so Nicole brushed past him to the front to speak to Roman, holding her gloved hands up in despair. “Can I please do something else now?” She pleaded at him, her body slouching against the counter.

He shook his head despairingly at her “nope”

“But I’m sick of washing dishes! My nails are already ruined!” She protested at him.

He laughed at her “Nicole, you’re wearing gloves” he reminded her, nodding at them.

She looked down at her hands then back up at him “Exactly” she retorted “They need some air; the manky plastic is totally running my manicure!” She moaned at him, as though it were obvious.

He smiled at her, amazed at her reasoning “Sorry Nicole, but this is your training. And on training you only wash dishes” he stated sternly.

She furrowed her brow at him confused “Yeah cos that makes sense. How am I supposed to learn how to do the other stuff?”

He sighed “It’s a hierarchy Nicole, you need to work your way up” He explained.

She grinned at him “Well, I’m your daughter! Surely that’s a promotion in itself” She suggested, batting her eyelashes at him innocently.

He folded his arms at her “Nice try Nic, but there’s no favouritism and no exceptions” He warned her.

“Urgh!” She cried dramatically, throwing her hands into the air “That is so unfair!”

He just laughed at her as she sauntered back into the kitchen reluctantly.

Noticing a figure waiting at the counter out of the corner of his eye, he turned to serve them “Hey! What can I…?” His voice failed him as he looked him in the eye.

“My son” the figure mumbled helplessly “My son, you said you’d find my son” the drunk man slurred at him, raising a finger. A few people that were eating at the tables near the counter turned their heads to watch the scene.

Roman didn’t know what to do, but he guessed the best thing would be to make the whole conversation as low key as possible. “You’re Aden’s father aren’t you?” Roman asked, although he already knew the answer.

“Larry” He replied, the answer taking up all his concentration.

“Right, well, Larry, why don’t you come round the back?” Roman suggested, moving round to try and guide him through.

“Where’s my son?” He demanded, his voice gaining a rough edge to it.

“He’s here, Larry, he’s ok” Roman tried to reassure him, grabbing his arm and leading him through.

As they entered the back of the diner Larry’s eyes softened at the sight of his son. “Aden” he called softly, a relief in his voice.

Nicole and Aden, who had been working on opposite sides of the diner, turned to face the spectacle before them.

Aden’s face fell into a tortured expression as he took in the state of the man who stood before him “Dad?” He questioned an element of shock in his voice.

“Oh my God? That’s your dad? I thought he was a tramp!” Nicole commented disgusted at the drunken mess that stood before her.

“NICOLE” Roman threatened through gritted teeth. “Out here, now!” he demanded. Her face looked set to disagree, but she saw the rage in her father’s face and decided against it, obediently leaving the room, “We’ll give you guys some space” Roman said, looking at Aden kindly, before following Nicole out the front.

“Aden, where have you been?” He said his eyes filled with hurt and worry. He staggered towards him, but Aden flinched backwards, causing Larry to lose his balance and grip the side next to him.

“Aden I’m sorry” he pleaded, looking up at his son from his stooped position.

Aden stood watching him, still in shock by his sudden appearance. He hadn’t seen him in days, not since their fight.

“Please, come home” Larry asked him helplessly.

Aden couldn’t look at the mess before him any longer, and looked away, towards the wall. “I can’t” he told him, a deep pain scarred his words.

“Please, Aden, I’m sorry” He moved towards him again, reaching for his arm.

Aden backed away from him, shrugging away from his touch “No! It doesn’t matter!” He yelled at him, his father’s persistence angered him. His drunken presence brought back all the feelings of hate and betrayal that he had been able to hide from out on the beach. He looked back down at his father’s hurt, drunken gaze. “I HATE YOU!” The words screeched out from the bottom of him, ricocheting around the diner kitchen walls.

Larry’s eyes let tears escape from them and run down his face. He shook his head vigorously “No, no you don’t mean that” He tried to reassure himself.

Aden was seething with anger now, the betrayal of his father unavoidable. He looked down at him through the tears that stung his eyes “How could you do that to me?” He whispered aggressively at him, his chest raising itself in deep heavy breaths.

This time it was Larry who couldn’t look at him, averting his gaze to the floor, the shame of what he’d done overwhelming him. “I didn’t know what to do” he muttered into the floor, knowing it wasn’t good enough.

“What?” Aden asked confrontationally, daring him to excuse himself.

“I just didn’t know what to do” Larry stammered at him, scared by his son’s anger, by the pain he had caused.

“Wow” Aden laughed bitterly into the ground, shaking his head. He sniffed as he raised it back up “Well I understand perfectly now” there was a dangerous sarcasm that overtook the words.

Larry held his side, the pain of the constant alcohol abuse making his insides shrivel and cry out against him. “Aden, I love you” He told him strongly, raising his eyes to meet his sons.

Aden met them, disgusted at what he found. “You don’t love me” he told him, a conviction in his words “If you loved me, you would have helped me.”

“Aden” Larry pleaded, but he ignored him, continuing to let his feelings fall out of him

“You let me go through all of that on my own, all this time” he cried at him, his voice rising and becoming hysterical.

Larry broke into sobs at his sons words, unable to cope with the truth of the situation.

Roman, who had tried to ignore the screams coming from the kitchen, could no longer avoid the people in the diner, who now stared towards the kitchen and at him, both confused and curious. He sighed before treading slowly back inside, where he found Aden red faced and angry before his father, who was hunched over by the counter.

“Larry” Roman warned cautiously “I think you should go”

“No!” he yelled at Roman aggressively “Not without my son!”

“I’m not going anywhere with you” Aden yelled sharply at him, turning his back to them.

“Larry?” Roman urged, grabbing his arm again, “Come on, you’ve got to go”

“Aden” Larry pleaded, waiting for a response. When none was received he slowly allowed Roman to lead him through the diner and out the front door. Roman watched Larry walk away; worried he might try to sneak back in.

“Can I come in again yet?” Nicole whined at him from one of the chairs outside

“I said you could go home?” He asked her

She sighed “Yeah because you wanted to get rid of me” she told him knowingly “I wasn’t going to miss that spectacle” she replied, raising herself off her seat and walking towards the entrance to the diner.

Roman used his body to block her path “Whoa, I don’t think so.” He told her.

“What?” She cried incredulously at him “Why not?”

“Because I said so, now, can you just wait for me at home?” He pleaded with her.

She fixed him a determined stare, realising she was being pushed out again.

“Please?” He added, ushering her away.

“Fine!” She accepted grudgingly, traipsing off down the path back to Roman’s house.

Roman sighed before turning back to face the situation inside the diner, avoiding the customers that peered curiously at him, he entered the kitchen to find Aden busy thrashing away at a carrot with a knife.

“Aden” He said gently

“I’m working Roman” He replied sharply as he stabbed at the orange vegetable a little too aggressively.

“Yeah and as your boss, I think it’s alright if we take a moment out don’t you?” He suggested calmly, not wanting to use his authority too much, knowing how much Aden fought against that sort of approach.

He threw the items in his hand onto the counter with a force before spinning round to face Roman. He had already wiped the tears from his eyes, all he wanted to do now was try and forget that had ever happened.

“What can I do for you?” he snapped at him

Roman folded his arms “Tell me what’s going on?” he suggested.

Aden fidgeted around, unsettled by the bluntness of the question. “Well I’m trying to work and you and my dad keep stopping me from doing that” he retorted gruffly. “How did he even know I was here anyway?” He asked, looking up at Roman accusingly. The answer was written all over Roman’s face. “You told him I was here didn’t you?” He asked in disbelief

“I told him you worked here, yes, but I didn’t tell him to come here Aden!” He explained, raising his voice in the hope of getting through to him.

Aden gave a short laugh “You’re unbelievable, what gives you the right to interfere?” He quizzed him frustrated at what felt like another betrayal.

“Why did you feel the need to lie and tell me things were ok at home, when there clearly not?” He asked gently, avoiding his question. He tried to make eye contact with Aden, who was standing defensively by the counter, his eyes fixed on the ground.

“Aden?” He prompted.

“Because it’s none of your business!” He yelled at him, wishing he would leave it alone.

Roman sighed “Come on, I thought we were friends?” He asked, watching the effect the words had as they sank into Aden, calming him into a silence. “Where did you sleep last night?”

Aden, feeling his anger subside slightly, let the tension out in a deep breath before replying “On the beach” he said truthfully, meeting Roman’s gaze.

“And you didn’t stay at mine because…?” Roman quizzed him.

Aden shrugged “You seem to have your hands full with Nicole.” He admitted, scraping the tip of his shoe across the floor.

Roman laughed lightly “She is a handful” he agreed.

Aden looked up at him with an innocent curiosity. “Nicole, you never mentioned her before” He commented, wondering what the story was there.

Roman was the one to look down now, thinking over his response. “I was only 14 when I had Nicole and I wasn’t always there for her” he admitted, meeting Aden’s intent stare “I guess I was trying to hide from how I treated her”

Aden mulled over his words. It made sense, after all, he saw a lot of himself in Nicole; maybe too much of himself. “How much did you hear?” He asked him, worry evident in his voice.

Roman decided it was probably best not to lie about this one “Enough to know you need some space away from him, but not everything.”

Aden’s face reddened as he reflected on what had just happened with his father.

Roman studied him for a moment, Aden’s voice screeching ‘I HATE YOU’ still rang around inside of him and he wondered what they had been arguing about. The pain in it had been so real, so brutal; he didn’t know if he really wanted to find out the answer to that one.

“Look, Aden” he began, “I don’t want you to hide from your problems like I did, but I do want you to stay at mine for a bit, to take the pressure off” he told him decidedly. He knew if he were to ask Aden would shoot him down, so he told him bluntly.

Aden nodded, the relief stamped all over his face.

[monkeysmoke]

Chapter 56 - All i can say about this chapter is - I hope you have some Kleenex at the ready

“Belle! Am I glad to see you!” Irene greeted her teary-eyed, running over and hugging her close.

Belle reciprocated the hug as they stood in the drafty hospital corridor. “What’s happening?” She asked hurriedly to Irene as they drew apart.

Irene’s eyes were bloodshot, and the strong woman she knew had disappeared somewhere, for the first time Belle looked at Irene and saw how old she was. “Well they did some tests, and now he’s stabilised so Kirsty’s sitting with him” Irene told her, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue.

“Well do they know what’s wrong with him?” She asked, still holding Irene’s shoulders.

“They think it’s his kidneys” Irene cried, fresh tears cascading down her cheeks.

”Well what does that mean?” Belle quizzed her, not understanding

“It means he’ll need a transplant” she stated, sniffing as she tried to control the tears.

Belle’s body seized up, “And if he doesn’t get one?” she asked timidly.

Irene’s sobs said all she needed to know.

“Belle, I’ve been trying to reach Miles all day and I can’t get a hold of him. Could you stay here with Kirsty, while I go look for him?” Irene pleaded with her.

“Of Course” Belle said frantic to make herself of some use.

“Thanks darl” She said, kissing Belle’s cheek “I’ll be as quick as I can” she called out as she bustled down the corridor.

Belle watched her go, as her nerves began to spring to life. She let her eyes dart about the corridor, coming to rest on the door to the intensive care unit, she walked slowly towards it.

She let her feet lead her softly down the rows of little box rooms, her head peered into the big glass windows that lined each one, making her heart sink. It was the children’s intensive care unit. In the first window she saw a young girl with panda eyes, tubes sticking out of every orifice, vibrant toys, cards and balloons filled up the space around her. But there presence there felt inappropriate. In the next room along she saw an even younger girl, her body half covered in blue and yellow bruises, other than the policeman who stood in the corner of the room it was a bare, sparse white space, which was even worse than the misplaced toys. Coming to the third room she spotted a little curly blonde haired toddler asleep on the huge bed that emphasised how tiny he was. Two tubes ran from a drip up into his nose, and another one from a different bag went into his left arm. She felt her chest tighten at the sight of Ollie lying there so helpless. Then she turned to the woman in the chair to the right of him, staring at him. She took a deep breath before slowly opening the door.

If it weren’t for the beeping coming from one of the machines that was placed next to Ollie, Belle would have really believed that time had stopped. Kirsty sat immobilised, not even looking up as she entered the room. Belle felt the awkwardness follow her into the room. She had no idea what she was supposed to say to her.

“Kirsty?” She voiced gently, breaking the silence.

Kirsty didn’t respond to her, just continued to stare at Ollie.

“How is he?” Belle asked, moving towards where she sat cautiously. She peered over to Ollie, whose pale face rested peacefully on the bed. “Can I get you anything?” She whispered to her, scared of waking him.

Kirsty shook her head, her eyes never leaving Ollie.

Belle reached out to place a hand on the tots head

“Don’t” Kirsty whispered urgently at her

Belle looked towards her, startled and confused by her reaction.

She didn’t look up at Belle, but she had been brought out of her trance “We can’t touch him” she tried to explain, a determination in her voice.

“Why not?” Belle asked, thinking it might be something the doctors had told her.

“We just can’t” she told her.

Belle accepted the statement, bringing her hand back to her side.

A few moments later Kirsty continued to talk “If we touch him, then he’s real. All of this, it’s real. If he moves, if he wakes up, then it’s real.” Kirsty explained to her, bringing her hands up to her mouth and biting her lip ferociously, her eyes still fixated on Ollie, she rocked gently back and forth.

Belle didn’t know how to respond to that, other than to tell her that it was real, and that it didn’t matter what silly rules Kirsty made up to convince herself otherwise, he was still ill, and she’d still have to deal with it. Somehow she couldn’t bring herself to be that cruel. “Irene’s gone to get Miles for you” She told her, moving to look out of the window behind Kirsty’s chair, trying to escape the reality herself.

“Do you believe in God?” Kirsty asked, Belle assumed it was to her.

Belle, not knowing what exactly she wanted to hear, dithered a moment, allowing Kirsty to respond to her own question.

“I do” Kirsty told her, nodding her head “I believe in him.”

Belle nodded “Well, that’s good” Belle felt the stupidity of her statement before she’d even finished saying it.

“No” Kirsty shook her head “It’s not good” She whispered at her, tears rolling down her face.

Belle turned away from the window to look at her, waiting for her to continue.

“He’s punishing me. He’s using Ollie to punish me” She muttered, hysteria rising and lowering within her in waves.

“Why would he do that?” Belle asked her, confused as to where this was coming from.

“Because of what happened with me and his father. Because I used him to get revenge on my family. Because he raped my sister.” Her voice was trembling now “and I used him because I was angry at them.” She broke down then. Deep, painful, body racking sobs that cut through Belle’s insides. The revelation shocked her, but it didn’t disgust her as it should have. It was the emotion behind the words that shocked her. The morbid logic was what got her most. Why did people do this to themselves? Maybe it was because she’d never believed in God, but she never understood why people who did believe in a God, who they claimed loved them, why they thought he was capable of being so cruel to them.

“Kirsty” She said sternly, making Kirsty look up at her.

“What’s happening to Ollie” She stated, a lump in her own throat “It sucks. It really truly sucks. It’s not fair, it’s not right, and it doesn’t make any sense and it’s really, really s*** and f***ed up” She snapped at her, a force behind her words “But it’s not an attack. It’s not a punishment. It’s just life. Cruel, unfair, unexplainable life, have you got that?” she asked, breathing heavily at her. She realised she had moved towards her and was leaning over her from where Kirsty sat in the chair, gazing up at her in silent wonder.

Belle looked at the girl in front of her. She was just a lost, frightened, lonely girl, like she was. For the first time she saw why she had hated her so much. Tears lined her eyes as she saw the unfairness of it all. She stooped down and hugged her “This isn’t your fault” she warned sternly into her ear, before drawing herself back up. She wiped away her tears, flicking the hair from her face as she did so, before turning to look at Kirsty again “And nothing you do or have done can change what’s happening” She said finally, before walking towards Ollie’s frail body. She looked down at him as she gently placed her hand on his forehead and stroked the curls back from his face. She looked back up to watch Kirsty’s reaction, drawing her towards the bed with daring eyes.

Kirsty, who had been shaken by the force and sharpness of Belle’s outburst, rose robotically from her chair, walking towards her son, who lay motionless, except for the slight rise and fall of his tiny chest as he fought for his life. She took a deep breath as she stretched a shaking hand down towards his cheek. She touched it, feeling the warmth and life that remained in him. She stroked it, watching as a few of her tears dropped down onto him.

You got wires, going in

You got wires, coming out of your skin

You got tears, making tracks

I got tears, that are scared of the facts -

Song by Athlete - Wires

[monkeysmoke]

Chapter 57

“Are you sure you know what you’re doing, with Nicole? I mean, she seems like a bit of a handful” Aden asked Roman as they approached the house, a bag of Aden’s belongings slung over his shoulder. Having left the diner in the capable hands of Colleen and Leah, Colleen being only too eager to help out Irene (and spread her worry about little Ollie), Roman had helped Aden collect some belongings from his home, his dad, thankfully, not there, before venturing back to Roman’s.

Roman realised it was a good question, he had his doubts. “I think I can manage Aden, thanks” He replied grinning at him. At least Aden was in a better mood, he thought. “She just needs to have some stability, you know time to settle in” He judged.

“You think so?” Aden asked him, not quite believing Roman was that naïve

“Yeah” Roman replied, his voice a false level of brightness. He wasn’t even convincing himself. “Nicole, she just needs me to play dad. You know, be firm with her, tell her when she’s stepping out of line. So that’s what I’ll do”

“So what? Your strategy is to just start telling her what to do? He asked, checking he had got Roman’s idea of parenting right.

“Well, yeah, there’s nothing much else I can do” he reflected, fishing for his keys in his jean pocket.

“And you think she’ll just accept that do you?” Aden quizzed him worriedly. Roman clearly had no idea what he was doing.

“Well I am her dad right?” Roman confirmed proudly, grinning at him as he turned the keys in the lock and opened the front door.

“What the…?” Roman began, abandoning the sentence as he surveyed the scene before him. His living room had been transformed from the minimalist modern look into a pink haven. There were pink and zebra print cushions scattered over the sofa, and heart shaped fairy lights lined the far wall. A zebra striped fur rug lay on the floor as a garish centre point. Roman slowly entered his house, followed by Aden, who was equally as shocked by the scene before them.

Nicole sauntered out from the kitchen holding a martini shaped glass full of a bright blue liquid, a twisted neon yellow straw sticking out of it with a slice of lime resting on the side of the glass. She looked up at them “You crashing back here again?” She quizzed Aden, sucking seductively on the straw as she did so.

“Nicole, what is all of this?” Roman asked her accusingly, gesturing to the state of his living room.

She gazed about proudly before turning to answer him “It’s called style Roman, something this house was severely lacking” She replied confidently.

“Looks more like a boudoir to me” Aden replied, adding “You planning on doing some ‘entertaining’ here?” He gestured inverted commas with his fingers, before smirking at her.

She pulled a disapproving face at him, before turning to Roman “You like it don’t you Roman?” She asked, gazing up at him expectantly.

Roman’s facial expression spoke for him, making Aden scoff at her attempts.

Nicole frowned childishly at them “God, why do I even bother? No wonder your both single” She snapped at them, taking another large sip from her drink.

Roman, registering the drink in her hand, pointed at it “What is that?” He asked her, a sternness entering his voice

Nicole gulped, staring at the liquid that remained in her glass “This?” She asked, holding her glass up, “Is called a Blue Lagoon… want to try it?” She offered it out to them both.

“Sorry, I don’t drink anything that looks as though it could glow in the dark” Aden said jokingly.

Roman’s eyes bulged “Alcohol?” He questioned in disbelief.

“A cocktail” Nicole replied diplomatically, widening her eyes innocently at Roman, who looked less than impressed.

“So alcohol” Aden offered, folding his arms, pleased with himself.

“I can’t believe you Nicole!” Roman cried at her, snatching the glass from her and entering the kitchen.

“What?” She asked as she followed him into the kitchen, as though it were a perfectly normal thing for her to be found doing.

“What? Your too young to be drinking is what!” He told her, throwing the glass and its contents into the sink. “What are you drinking for?” he asked turning back to face her.

She shrugged at him “I needed to unwind” She told him casually.

He laughed at her despairingly “You are unbelievable” he muttered at her.

“Yeah, you said that already” She snapped at him angrily.

“Yeah and I’ll say it again. You’re unbelievable! What makes you think its ok to get drunk at your age, in the middle of the afternoon, by yourself!?” He yelled at her.

Her face closed off to him in anger, fighting off his words “I was not getting drunk!” She yelled back at him, her words deliberately slow and irritating, as if she needed to say it that way to make him understand. “I had ONE drink! It’s not that same thing!” She told him defensively.

Shocked at her inability to back down, his anger was stifled, unable to think of a response. She jumped at the chance “And you never told me I couldn’t” She added, victoriously.

“You are still underage Nicole” He warned her, his voice lowering “And just so it’s clear for next time. You’re not allowed alcohol” He told her, his face softening towards her. Well, he couldn’t say she didn’t have any spirit.

“Fine! Whatever, can I go now?” She asked him stubbornly, brushing off his lecture.

He sighed, looking at her “Yes” he admitted, clearly not entirely happy still.

Nicole spun round and walked through the living room, past Aden, who stood smirking at her, and up the stairs. Roman walked into the living room after her tiredly, meeting Aden’s gaze. “Wow. You sure told her” He told him sarcastically.

“Shut up” Roman muttered at him, feeling rather foolish.

I thought a light chapter was definately needed. After the last chapter!

[monkeysmoke]

Chapter 58

“Well” Kirsty urged the doctor impatiently as she entered his office, Miles following behind her supportively. Irene had dropped him off a few hours ago, and she and Belle agreed to sit with Ollie so they could go and speak to the doctor about the test results.

“Please, sit down” The doctor urged her calmly. He was a different doctor to the one before. He wore a suit as a sign of his superior status.

She sat obediently, her hands clenched in front of her. Miles sat beside her, resting a supportive arm around her shoulders. Irene had hunted him out of the school grounds, and when she had calmed down enough to tell him why he had felt this overwhelming guilt. How could he have just turned his phone off like that? If he had just checked the caller first, and used a bit of common, he would have known something was up, instead, he had been so focused on the class finally settling he hadn’t wanted anything to disturb that. When he did finally arrive at the hospital he just felt ridiculously helpless. He had tried to do things to make things better; fetching things like coffee, tea, biscuits, fruit, balloons, toys, cards. When Kirsty had shivered he’d wrapped his jacket round her, he’d run back and forth from the toilet with tissue, he’d rearranged Ollie’s covers a thousand times… and it hadn’t changed anything. Nothing he did could fix the problem in front of him.

“I’m afraid Ollie is suffering from advanced kidney failure” The doctor said to them, a gentle calmness to his voice. He had clearly dealt with this and much worse several times before.

Kirsty, who thought she had convinced herself that was true already, felt something inside of her go cold.

“What does this mean?” Miles took it upon himself to ask.

The doctor clasped his hands together and leant forwards on his desk to talk to them “Well, we need to find as many people as possible as quickly as possible to test as a suitable kidney donor.” He urged them gently.

“Like who? Someone with the same blood type?” Miles asked hopefully.

“Yes, the donor will need to have the same blood type as Ollie. However they will also need to have the same tissue cells as Ollie. Now the tissue cell hold loads of different tissue cells within it, and the donor needs to have as many of those cells match Ollie’s as possible.”

“So what does that mean?” Miles pressed urgently.

“It means” The doctor sighed heavily “You need to find as many people as possible to test to get the best possible match. Usually, the best match is another family member, because the DNA is so similar, but it’s not always the case” He warned them honestly.

Kirsty, who had sat quietly throughout the conversation, thinking she was all out of tears, broke into sobs once more as the stark reality hit her.

“Hey, hey” Miles soothed, rubbing her back as she hunched over “its ok, Ollie still has a chance” he reassured her.

“No it’s not” She cried at him, wiping her face. “He has no chance! I’m his only family Miles remember?” She raged at him, hurt etched over her face as she looked at him “I’m adopted! His father is in prison! There’s no chance at all” She said quietly, holding her head in her hands.

Miles pulled her towards him as he tried to find words of comfort.

“I’ve tested Ollie, and his blood type is O.” The doctor told them

“What blood type are you Kirsty?” Miles asked her, brushing her hair away from her face.

“O” She replied, trying to contain herself.

The doctor smiled gently at her “See. There’s already a chance. I’ll test you first, as his mother. With a letter signed by me the prison will have to release Ollie’s father in order for him to be tested, and if necessary, operated on, because it’s in the interest of a child’s life.” He explained firmly “But in the mean time I urge you to find as many people you know as possible to come down and be tested, just in case” He warned, locking eyes with Miles this time. Miles nodded obediently at him.

“Right, Mrs Phillips” The doctor began, rising from his chair, “I’ll go and sort out a doctor to test your tissue cells now, and confirm your blood type. Mr Phillips, I suggest you start making some phone calls” He suggested, smiling sympathetically at them.

Miles rose, dragging Kirsty up with him. “I will” he replied, not bothering to correct the doctor as to who he was. They followed the doctor out of the room silently.

“Come this way Mrs Phillips” The doctor led her gently in the right direction.

Miles let his hand slip away from her side, trailing down her arm, till their hands were touching. As they did so he grabbed her hand, squeezing it and pulling her back slightly. The move made her look sharply up at him. “Don’t worry, I will find somebody” he whispered sternly at her, fixing a promise into his stare. She gave him a slight nod, at which he released her hand and felt her fingers slide away from his.

[monkeysmoke]

Chapter 59 Thanks for all the comments! I was a bit worried the Ollie storyline was a bit too upsetting. Was writing Chapter 56 in tears cos i was listening to Athlete at the time (also what sort of inspired the writing of it so credit to them!) Anyway, yeah hope you enjoy!

She looked over the sleeping figure slouched over the sofa, wondering what was going on under his eyelids. His body was twitching urgently; his fists gripped the edge of the cushion tightly. Nothing about it looked peaceful. Her watch face read 8:15pm, not even remotely late. She looked him over, wondering what his story was, and why her father was so eager to help him. She studied him; he looked as if he were in pain, as though he was trying to wake up. She sighed, turning behind her and raising the volume of the TV to a deafening height.

Roman, who had been mulling over a beer silently in the kitchen, wondering how he had ended up looking after two dysfunctional teenagers, jumped out of his skin at the sound. He bolted from his chair and into the living room. Targeting the source of his fright, he ran over and quickly turned it off. He turned round; relieved to see Aden had managed to sleep through it, although it had agitated him into turning over, muttering away to himself. He looked up his daughter, livid “What the hell are you playing at?” he hissed at her.

“I was trying to watch TV. Oh wait, is that not allowed either?” She sniped at him angrily. Why was he always so on edge with her?

“Can you not see he’s trying to sleep there?” He gestured towards Aden’s slumped, fully clothed body.

She followed his gaze, knowing full well what he was talking about. “So?” She replied selfishly.

Roman sighed “So Aden’s asleep!”

“If he’s tired he can go to bed.” She reasoned logically.

“It’s a little thing called common courtesy” He explained strictly

“But it’s like 8 o ‘clock. What’s he sleeping at this time for anyway?” She looked at her father curiously, sensing more to it.

Roman avoided her gaze, instead fixing his eyes on Aden. He had gone to make a sandwich, and when he returned Aden had been unconscious on the sofa, although his body was still active as ever, which was why he had decided against trying to wake him. He still remembered last time he had stirred him out of that state; how his voice had triggered some sort of fear, Aden’s face as he’d bolted awake, and the awkward embarrassment when he finally had woken up. He had decided this time to try and wait it out, see if Aden was more prepared to talk to him about it without the rude awakening.

“Well?” Nicole demanded, bringing his focus back to her.

Roman shrugged at her “Well, what?” He asked, trying to act ignorant.

She crossed her arms in front of him “I know there’s something you’re not telling me Roman. I think, seeing as I live here, I have a right to know what’s going on” She demanded stubbornly.

“Nicole, I really don’t know what you’re talking about” Roman told her, walking into the kitchen to try and escape.

She followed him in like a shadow, eyeing him suspiciously “Fine. But I will find out eventually you know” She told him, her voice determined.

“Seriously, I don’t know what you’re talking about Nic” He told her, sitting back down to his beer.

She rounded the table to face him “My God! I’m unbelievable? You’re unbelievable!” She yelled at him.

He raised his eyebrows at her, mid swig, before following her gaze down to the bottle, when he latched on. “Nicole, it’s slightly different” He began to explain

“Oh yeah? How?” She demanded.

He placed the bottle onto the table “I’m an adult” He replied childishly.

“Getting drunk alone! Wow. What a great role model for me!” She stated sarcastically, her hands gestured towards him.

He laughed in disbelief. “Nicole it’s just one beer. I’m not paralytic or anything”

“Neither was I!” She screamed back at him.

He stood up, moving away from her “it’s completely different and you know it” He retorted, walking away form her.

“No I don’t.” She snapped at him.

He turned back to look at her, weary from the constant arguing “Look what has gotten into you?” He asked bluntly.

“Not you!” She muttered at the ground.

“What?” He asked, frowning at her.

“Nothing” She mumbled, fidgeting about “Just forget I’m even here” She said quietly as she rushed past him, looking at the ground.

“Nicole” Roman called after her gently, a note in his voice pained her but she refused to turn back round, worried that note would disappear if she did. She fled through the front door, slamming it as she went.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Aden heard the loud but distant sound of a television. A door shutting silently, the only traces of it evident because of the sharp gust of wind he felt as it closed. The panic swept through him as he realised what was about to happen. He could hear the distant sounds of his father in the living room, so close and yet so fare away. The heavy breath crept up on him; the pressure forced him downwards again.

“I really don’t know what you’re talking about” Roman’s voice lured him back to the present. Now just wake up! Wake up, you know this isn’t happening.

“I really don’t know what you’re talking about” His father’s voice this time. Slurred and dismissive, pulling him back into the nightmare. He watched his older brother stand across the room from his father, tears streaming down his face, “You know exactly what I’m talking about!” His brother yelled. Aden watched on as it all unravelled in his mind. The small things he’d let himself forget. The scene seemed all too familiar. Aden looked down at himself; he was smaller again, time was jumping again.

“Getting drunk alone!” Nicole’s voice cried out, the voice jolted him to the present. It’s just another dream, I’m at Roman’s. I’m fine.

“Getting drunk alone!” His eldest brother’s voice rung through his head this time. “You’re always too busy, getting drunk alone!” He watched his dark figure walk out the front door, slamming it behind him. Never to return. His eyes shot open, as a dark figure rushed through the living room and out the front door, slamming it.

He let himself lie there, beads of sweat plastering his panicked face; he tried desperately to slow his breathing, all too aware of where he really was.

Roman stared at the front door, perplexed. He couldn’t figure her out. Every time he really thought she’d pushed too far, every time he was almost convinced she really was heartless, she did or said something that showed just how small and needy she really was. Roman let his eyes rest on the figure that lay on the sofa. As he did so he realised the figure was staring up at him.

Roman’s eyes caught his and he immediately looked away, sitting upright as he did so.

“Sorry we woke you” Roman told him softly, coming to sit on the arm of the sofa up against the wall, to the side of the one that Aden sat on. He studied the boy before him, wondering what it was that lay hidden in those dreams of his.

“Really, don’t be sorry” Aden told him seriously, the honesty of the statement overly prominent.

[monkeysmoke]

Chapter 60 - Woohoo an update! (Sorry if anyone is offended, religion's a tricky area, and this is only a fictional interpretation, so take it for what it is please!)

He gazed at the posters that lined the school corridor and he felt like he’d jumped back in time, back to Thailand, wondering the beach and the streets aimlessly, posters of lost children, parents, friends, lovers lined every available surface. He had never bothered plastering any of his own family, knowing in his heart they were gone for good. Now as he scanned the posters that plastered every available surface from his house right up to the corridor he now strolled down, it was the same repeated image he saw over and over again. Ollie’s little face stared back at him a thousand times over, stopping as he suddenly came across an end. He looked at her as she stapled another poster along the wall, a bag full of replicate copies lay beside her feet.

“What are you doing?” He heard his own voice snapping at her, but he didn’t really understand why.

She turned to face him cheerily “Jai, hey, I’m spreading the word, you want to help?” She reached down and handed him a handful of the posters before continuing her own work.

He took them absentmindedly; thinking back to their last encounter on the beach. It should have felt weird to see her now, after seeing her brother drag her away on Sunday. Annie hadn’t come to school on Monday, not that that had surprised anyone, and it now being only Tuesday, he felt the awkwardness levels should be significantly higher, especially after all the gossip surrounding Annie that was still circulating round the school. Not that he believed any of it, not this time.

“You really think putting up a few posters is going to make any difference?” He asked, although it was clear from his tone how useless he thought it was.

She turned and took a single poster from the pile he was now holding, allowing herself a moment to look into his eyes before returning to the task in hand “How can people help Ollie if they don’t even know about it?” She answered logically.

He shrugged “I suppose” he replied stubbornly, before adding “It’s just, what if people don’t help, even now they do know? Imagine how much worse that will feel” Cynicism shaped his thoughts, and he added silently to himself ‘What if there is nobody who can help him?’ He thought back to all those posters in Thailand, all those thousands of ruined families, and destroyed lives. The whole world had known, but there had been nobody who could help them. If the world couldn’t help him, how could he help one small boy?

“I don’t think people are that cruel Jai, have some faith” She smiled, gripping his shoulder supportively.

He had to smile at her then. Something about her determined positive outlook on things was infectious. Last time he had seen her, when they had jumped, he thought she had lost it, lost all hope, like him. He needed to keep going back to jump rock for that adrenaline rush; to see the high of life. He now realised how she was so much more than him. Even after everything that had just happened to her, all the bad things people were saying, Annie had this ability to see past all those murky shades through to the pure good in the world. Jump rock had helped her see everything she had risked, and she didn’t need it anymore. Standing with her now he felt some of that longing for life transfer onto him, he was in awe of her.

Annie could feel Jai staring at her as she stuck another poster to the wall, and she smiled at the irony of what she’d just said; telling somebody else to have faith, now that she no longer cared about her own. She started laughing.

“Annie?” Jai said, trying to get her attention after she had started giggling away to herself.

Annie pressed her lips together as she tried to contain herself, realising how inappropriate it was. “Yeah?” She looked at him again, and all the feelings of their first meeting came rushing back, making her dizzy.

“I’ve never met anyone quite like you.” He told her honestly, staring into her for a moment “I just thought you should know” he added, starting to feel shy, as if she might be able to see the longing he had suddenly felt for her.

“Sorry, I’m just having a weird week” She told him, feeling a need to explain her overly joyous mood. She did feel bad about Ollie, but her own epiphany seemed to over ride everything else, and she couldn’t control it.

“Don’t apologise. It’s nice, for someone to be happy for a change” He stared at the ground, guilt clogging up his body. He realised how much of a brat he had been to Miles, and how Miles had tried to keep his cool. Now there was all this stuff with Ollie going on, and he couldn’t help but get the feeling Miles was avoiding him. He knew it was probably because he couldn’t face another row, and Jai wished he could just be honest for a change and tell Miles he didn’t want to fight anymore either. That he just wanted Ollie to get better, so they could be a family, for real this time, just without the angst ridden teenager.

“How are things at home?” Annie asked bluntly.

“Not great” He didn’t meet her gaze. “I guess I just wish I could make things better” he confessed to her.

She smiled sympathetically at him “Well” she prompted “You know what would make a good start?” she added brightly, nodding towards the posters.

He laughed at her determination “Yeah well, I guess it couldn’t hurt” He replied. He hadn’t even tried with his family; the overwhelming grief of the country had worn him down. He had felt like a lost little boy with no power to change things. But standing with Annie now, things felt different.

Annie let her eyes linger on him a moment before she set to work again. Originally, helping Ollie had been an easy way out of dealing with her own mess, but it had also made her realise how stupid it was to worry her way through life about what happens afterwards, and so in a strange sense, had made her feel slightly better. She couldn’t control what happened to her, she now realised no amount of faith or devotion would stop the bad stuff from seeping through, but finding that out, she had also come to realise the power of human kindness; Irene, Aden, Jai, Belle, Geoff, they’d all done so much to help her. She might not have faith in God, she mused, but she definitely had faith in the greater good of mankind.