Ready

Seven~*

Daisy comes running into the room after another hour of looking at wedding dresses. She's wearing her coat and some wellies. "Hello! Granny and me are going to her house to see Grandad!" she smiles. Debbie puts the book down, and pats her lap.

Daisy comes over and climbs up Debbie's lap. "Well, sweetheart, I hope you have fun at Granny and Grandad's house! Will you be home for dinner?" Jenny comes in, just on cue.

"No, I was thinking of having her over night, since it's Darren's first night back in a while." She says, picking up Daisy, and placing her on her hip. Daisy waves at me, and I wave back.

"Have fun, Daisy." I smile at her. She giggles, planting her face in Jenny's shoulder. Jenny smiles fondly down at her, rubbing her head.

"We'll be off then. Are you and Derek still going out to dinner? Do you need any spare money?" I snap my head to Debbie, who looks down, sheepishly.

"Well, we were. Unless you want us to stay, Lilly-Mae." I am actually really shocked. Debbie and Derek are going to leave me alone, with four teenage boys. "It will just be you and Darren. The boys are going soon." Okay, make that a teenage boy.

I give her a tight smile. "I'll be fine." I squeeze out. Debbie's face visually relaxes.

"Thank goodness!" She pulls me into her arms. "We're going at about 7, so the boys'll be long gone by then. It will give you chance to get to know Darren better, and Darren, you." Debbie states. I know she's right, but I'm still a little weary. He's a 17 year old boy. A punk rock, 17 year old boy. Punk rock guys are all after one thing : Sex.

I'm not ready for that yet. I'm only 15. Daisy starts complaining. "We'd better get going." Jenny announces. Debbie nods. smiling at her Mother-In-Law-To-Be, and Daughter-To-Be. Jenny turns to me, smiling. "It was lovely meeting you, Lilly-Mae. Hopefully we'll see each other again soon, yes?"

"That would be nice." I smile at her. Jenny gives us both one last smile, before leaving the room. Debbie looks at the clock, which is showing the time 5:38PM. God, where did the time go? That's what happens to you when you have to sit though book after book of wedding things.

"I'd better start getting ready. I need to make myse--" She's cut off by the phone ringing. She reaches over, picking it up. "Hello?" She answers. Her face clears when whoever it is replies. "Oh, hello, Claire! Yes,yes, the boys are downstairs ... all three? Sure." Debbie puts the phone to her chest. "Hey, Lilly-Mae, could you be a love and run down and tell the boys that Claire's going to be here in about 5 minutes to pick up Greg, Benjy and Jaden, please? Thank you!" She grins, when I lurch myself off the sofa.

I pad up the hallway. My best bet is to go where I last saw them. I go back to the room I'd chased Daisy into. I knock on the door, and Jared comes to the door. "Hello, again!" He gives me a lazy smile.

I flash him a little smile. "Debbie said to tell you guys that some Claire lady'scoming for you, Benjy, and Greg." I back away, slowly.

"Alright, thanks." With one last grin, he closes the door. I race back to living room, where Debbie is now off the phone, and sat down, drinking some wine. She stands up when I walk in.

"Thanks, love." She gives me a little hug, before holding me by my shoulders to look at me properly. "You're being really good about all this, you know?" She compliments. Or at least, I think this is a compliment? I'm going to take it as a compliment.

"Thanks." I smile.

"No, I'm serious," She continues. "if a member from my favorite band was in the same building as me, I'd be dying!" She laughs. I know who she's thinking about. Gary Barlow. The same Celebrity Crush as my Mum, and many other ladies over 40. Sad, really, it is.