Murphy's Law.

Chapter Seven - being a bitch is actually kind of fun

Oakfield Retirement Home looked like the sort of place where dreams came to die. And yes, I realise the irony of that statement. It was a myriad of bungalows that were all joined together sometime in the seventies to create a retirement home for the elderly, giving it an outdated and awkward exterior that kept most people away.

However, it was to this very building that I found myself pulling up to, with a very surly Elijah Murphy sitting in my front seat.

"I could've drove myself, I'm not a child," he snapped, pouting slightly as he crossed his arms.

"Oh yeah, you're just the epitome of maturity," I snorted, pulling up the handbrake before throwing open the door of the car. Murphy remained firmly in place, still pouting. "Plus, I knew you wouldn't show up unless I physically dragged you."

"Not true, I was just about to get into the car when you pulled up."

"Yeah, headed to hide out at one of your buddies houses, no doubt." I leaned down so he could enjoy the full-effect of my raised eyebrow and sceptical look.

"You would've tracked me down eventually anyway," he grumbled, muttering something which sounded suspiciously like 'stalker' in under his breath.

"Smart boy." I shot him a sarcastic grin "Come on, out. If I'm going down, you're coming with me."

"There's only one type of 'going down' I'm interested in, Jack. And I don't think you're willing to provide it." He shot me a wink, smirking when he saw my grimace.

Pervert.

Choosing to ignore his ridiculous comment, I dragged the conversation back to the problem at hand "I'm giving you three seconds to get out of the car."

"Jackie-"

"One."

"I'm not-"

"Two."

"Can you-"

"Three." I made to lunge at him across the handbrake, and he instantly sprung back. He obviously saw the murderous glint in my eye.

Jacqueline Carter did not screw around.

"Alright, alright," he shouted, stepping out on to the pavement and slamming the door behind him. I shot him a victorious smirk, before I locked the car and began walking towards the front door.

I don't know why, but reception areas were always either exceedingly warm or cold, never in the middle. Oakfield's reception fell in to the former category, the feeling I had just entered through the gates of hell only intensifying.

Okay, I realized I was being a tad overdramatic about the whole ordeal but I'm a teenage girl. Cut me some slack, all those romcoms Farrah made me watch with her growing up were bound to have some effect.

"You must be our volunteers," the receptionist greeted us cheerily as soon as we walked through the door "Hang on one sec, I'll just let her know you're here." She reached for the phone that sat on her desk and instantly began jabbering away in to it.

The mystery of exactly who 'her' was, was solved when an equally-cheerful looking woman rounded round the corner and shook both of our hands vigorously.

"Welcome to you both," she said brightly, a hint of a southern accent creeping in to her words. "I'm Jan, the head nurse here at Oakfield."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Jacqueline." I smiled, before shooting a glare at Murphy, who was standing sullenly beside me.

"Elijah," he sighed eventually.

"Well we sure are glad to have you here," she chirped "If you just want to follow me." She twisted around to grin widely at us over her shoulder as she led the way down the hall.