Nicki&thePips

Chapter 44

A week later Leigh-Anne had finally gotten her cast taken off. She was busy yammering on at dinner about how it felt weird to be out of a cast since she'd gotten used to it.

"Very interesting sweety." Nicki said barely listening. She was studying Perrie like she had been for the entire week trying to figure the little blonde out.

Perrie was shoveling food into her mouth quickly with her hands as usual and Nicki found herself in wonder for the hundredth time of why she hardly ever used her utensils.

There were a lot of things about Perrie that Nicki found were slightly strange but it could just be because she was a little kid. Kids do weird stuff all the time.

"Mam why are you looking at me like that?" Perrie suddenly asked looking up from her plate, her face a mess.

" Um . . ." Nicki stammered as all the kids turned to look at her. "Perrie why don't you eat with your utensils?"

"My what?" Perrie asked furrowing her brows.

"Y'know your fork . . . or spoon? It's right next to the plate." Nicki nodded at the untouched fork next to Perrie's plate.

"Oh my fork? Is that what it's called?" Perrie picked up the fork and stared at it, a pained expression suddenly taking over her usually clueless and happy face. She dropped it like it was on fire and started massaging at the base of her tiny fingers on her right hand.

Nicki raised an eyebrow in alarm and looked around the table at the other kids to see if they noticed. Everyone was staring at Perrie with the same confused concern as Nicki was. All except for Jade who suddenly started stuffing her own face.

"Jade?" Nicki asked her in hopes of an explanation.

Seven pairs of eyes were trained on Jade and she suddenly felt like she was being judged. It was like they could tell that whatever was wrong with Perrie was because of her. Obviously they probably just expected her to know the reason for Perrie's behavior but to her it felt like they knew it was her fault.

Perrie suddenly started crying loudly as she continued to massage her hand. Everyone's attention shifted back to her.

"Perrie why are you crying?" Nicki asked standing from her seat to get to the child.

"Okay what is this? Huh? Jade?" Ray Ray's voice cut through the crying as Nicki picked up Perrie and attempted to calm her down. "Is this one of your schemes to drive Mom crazy? Because to me it seems like you're planning these things. First you set the house on fire and now you're messing with Perrie." He accused.

Jade narrowed her eyes ready to go on the defense. "Shut up you bafoon! How in the world is this my fault?" She yelled at him.

"I can see the guilt in your eyes bitch." Ray Ray said through his teeth then realized a moment too late that he'd used a 'bad' word.

"Guys! Stop fighting. I don't need this right now." Nicki yelled at them. She was bouncing Perrie in her arms as the blonde continued to wail loudly. "I'm gonna bring Perrie upstairs and wash her face. Don't do anything." She started out of the dining room.

As soon as Nicki footsteps could be heard on the stairs Jade rose to her feet, her face scarlet.

"I am sick and tired of you calling me a bitch! What the hell have I done to you?" She screamed at the older boy.

"It's not what you do to me! It's what you do to everyone!! You're a phsyco freak and all you do is cause pain! I mean I know Prod and Roc provoke you but you clearly need a little bit of self control!" Ray Ray yelled condescendingly.