If you love me

Chapter Two

WILLIAM

It's my birthday next week.
Not expecting much.
Never do.
But this last week Ms Kelly went on maternity leave, I won't even be able to have a bigger portion at tea.

I'm going to be 14.

It's about 4 in the morning, birds are singing, well as many can survive in these dirty London streets. Today we're having a trip to the country. Mila says the cows are scary, and there's poo everywhere.

I said there's poo everywhere in London too.

Sliding sideways I part the curtains, Jimmy groans underneath me and bright sunlight floods in.

Pulling a grubby polo top over my neck I jump down and yank the covers off Jimmy, he's three years older than me, and acts like a big Brother, always there.

There's one more thing you should know about Jimmy: he's definitely attracted to my sister, Sophia.

Jimmy moans and grabs at the air in vain. I laugh and throw him a hoodie. Our room is a box, only room for our bunk and a wardrobe, and with paper thin walls we can hear into everyone's conversations, and their weeing (the bathroom is Also next to us.)

It just so happens Sophia and Mila are next door to us, but jimmy says we should not listen in.

I throw back the curtains completely, temporarily blinding the two of us, and leap out the door on the way to the bathroom, running straight into Mila on the way. "Morning William" she chirps. I smile at her and nod, blushing lightly for being so unfriendly. "Looking forward to today?" she asks, I nod. In truth none of us are, our carer is super strict, always ranting, always lecturing. About the war, about her husband, politics, everything that could possibly be boring was said.

And anything remotely interesting was turned boring.

So basically everything was boring.

Mila moves off, and I quickly move into the bathroom, the rough wash brush tore at my already sore skin as I clean my hands and face. Rinsing my mouth with sour water I brush my hair swishing it to the side as jimmy taught me. I quickly dry and rush out.

Jimmy was up, wearing his classic dirty checkered loose shirt. He zips his flies and walk towards the door I turn and walk out and Bang on Sophia's door, "Go Away! We're still dressing."

It's all they ever say it just means there doing their hair, or chatting.

Girls.

I kick open the door and sure enough their sitting on their bed, Sophia plaiting Mila's long straight dark hair. I groan, "For god's sake, is that all you ever do?"
"Well I don't wanna know what you do, from the rumours it sound disgusting!" Sophia fires back, I blush deep crimson.

JIMMY

I follow William in, closing the door behind me. We never get privacy here. Sophia's sitting on the bed behind Mila, she's so good with the younger girl who arrived last month, Mila is only just younger than William but is very shy, but also slightly crazy. I smile at Sophia and park myself on their chair, they get a chair and a dressing table as well, as their wardrobe and bed. Unfair.

William collapses onto the bottom bunk rocking the bed slightly and causing the girl the wobble and shout in protestation. I laugh, the boy breathes the life into our lungs. Makes the world interesting.

We should go and have breakfast. I know we should. The carer hates it when we're late. Even more so when we've been with the girls. Apparently we get up the no good. I mean i do like Sophia in that way but really we're all just friends.

The girls jump off the bed, bare feet slapping on hard stone flooring. They had the same idea as me.

Time for breakfast.

MILA

It was obvious there something between them. Jimmy and Sophia. They walked side by side, arms dangling, shoulders bumping. I was trotting along beside William. Just trying to keep up.

SOPHIA

People were just emerging, many we're friendless. Their hungry faces gazed up at me eyes filled with emotions. Jealousy. I smiled back at them, trying to make them feel welcome. Jimmy dropped behind me pushing on the small of my back, realising I had slowed I continued. Overall we were lucky for orphans, I had friends, even the odd trip to the country in mid-September.

Jimmy re-joined my side, and we started chatting. I knew he felt about me I a certain way, William had told me, but I just thought of him as a friend.

The signs were showing though.

Once he had hugged me after he had been fostered for a week, (hadn't worked out he had later told me) he had run up to me and enclosed me in the warmest of hugs, he held on to long, whispering in my ear, and finally kissed me on the tip of my ear.

Since then he'd cared about me, always worried, always there.

JIMMY

Sophia was deep in her thoughts. I could tell that. She slowed. Bringing up the courage i pressed on her back driving her forward again.

Reaching the Breakfast room we sat down. Toast was set out, half was already munched away. Good job we came early. Mila and William reached for the jam, hands touching in the centre, the boy backed off, letting the girl go first. I turn the Sophia, touching her leg under the table. She turns to me, grinning like a mad man. "ooo, young love I see" she coos to her brother, who blushes bright crimson. Mila looks away, obviously embarrassed. "Sooner it be you and him" William shot back, now it was her time to blush. My mouth split into a grin, "and looks like he wants to as well" all eyes turned to me, I try to wipe that stupid smile off my face, Sophia slaps my back playfully, laughing.

I almost choke.

She actually did that. I always thought as Sophia as shy. I blush looking down and they all laugh at me. So now she definitely knows i like her. Damn it.

WILLIAM

Jimmy sits bright red. "Go on then kiss her" Mila chirps and we fall about laughing. Sophia also looks uncomfortable now, the two of them looking like a perfect pair.

Mila and I still wait, thought the moment has past. I see Sophia jump.

JIMMY

I don't know what made me do it but suddenly I had Sophia's hand enveloped in mine.

She jumped at first, but now I felt her relaxing into my grip.

The younger kids still stare expectantly, not realising I had taken the step.

I look over at Sophia, her perfect cheeks raised in a small, shy smile. She turns and sees me staring. Looking down I release her hand and get up. "I'm done, gonna go get ready for today." William scrapes his chair back to join me. "Hey what about that kiss" Mila's soft voice rings out.

"um not today kid" I say "sorry Mila, you will have to talk Sophia into it Later, Okay?" Sophia blushes deep crimson and Mila nods energetically. Its true, I am coming ever more attached to the kid. The girls stand up and taking the cue me and William trot down the hallway.