Behind The Uniform

Invitations

Invitations

Ross pulled up in front of my house and I hopped off and went straight to my door. Ross followed bringing his bike.

"That car is still here." I heard him mutter but I just opened the door and walked in. Ross brought his bike in the hallway but looked a bit surprised when he saw Teal come around the corner.

"Jamie! You're late. It's after four, I'm pretty sure you were supposed to be home earlier." Teal muttered, crossing her arms and shaking her head.

"Sorry Teal, I had a detention." I replied back, looking behind to see Ross watching us two with confusion on his face,

Teal shook her head but then saw Ross and a smile appeared on her face. "So is this your friend?"

I nodded. "Ross, Teal. Teal, Ross." I said quickly.

"Hi, who are you? Jamie didn't tell me anyone was visiting." Ross muttered and I could feel him giving me daggers.

"I'm Teal, he must of told you all about me of course." Teal said with a wink.

"He left that important detail out actually." Ross muttered.

Teal's smile faltered for a second before she put it back on. "Well I've been gone for a few years and it's not something that comes into conversation. I'm a carer of Jamie's Mum. I've heard quite a bit about you and Annabelle though. I was wondering if she would be joining us as well."

"Teal would you stop bothering the boys." My mum said as she wheeled herself in, she was shaking her head as she saw Ross.

"Why don't you take your bike in the back garden Ross, we don't want you trekking mud all over the place." Teal offered.

Ross nodded and took it to the back garden.

"Well I've got to say he's a bit of a looker," Teal commented. "Where on earth did you find him?"

"He moved into my class and I started talking to him, well he started talking to me, after I...argued with you." I replied. I found it hard admitting my past mistakes, I had been wrong in the long outcome. Teal was her own person, she didn't belong to me and I wished I had learnt that lesson sooner. "And can you not sound like you're checking him out? He's fourteen!"

"I was making an observation."

Ross came back in at that point and we all went into the lounge where my mother decided to turn on the TV.

"Please don't put an auction show on Kimberly."

My mum clutched the remote as if Teal was going to reach across and grab it. "But Dickinson's Real Deal is on. I have to watch it. There might be some lovely antiques." My mum replied back, still staring at the tv.

"I wouldn't try arguing Teal. When an auction shows on, she's glued." Ross said, setting into the sofa.

"I know, she's always been like that. She hasn't changed in all these years."

Ross frowned. "How long have you been a carer for Kim?"

"Ever since Jamie was nine. I left for a few years, it's probably why he hasn't mentioned me."

"Well you came back." I said, wanting to steer the conversation away from me.

"To find that you have a best friend and I know nothing about him! So Ross, if you would like to tell me about yourself?"

Ross laughed. "I'm not interesting. If you want to know, I was born in Spain. I lived there for a few years before moving to England. My madre died when my little hermano-brother was born. She always talked about England to Papa, he moved us over here so he could feel closer to Madre."