Good Boy, Bad Girl

Aftermath

This chapter was so much longer than initially planned, and originally it didn't even exist. It was meant to be part of next chapter but if it was the end result would be gargantuan... and I have homework.

Five Months Later

"Hey, May, did you make this birthday cake? It's amazing!" Angel says, taking another bite of the chocolate cake. I have to agree - it's still warm as well, which only adds to its tastiness.

May smiles at Angel from across the picnic table. "Thanks, Angel! I've actually got four slices spare for you, Bobby, Mel and Taylor, if you want them."

Angel and I nod vigorously and Taylor smiles. "Thank you, May."

"Don't mention it!" She smiles. "Now, I need to go find Gabriel, so I'll see you all later, okay?"

Before she goes she looks at Angel, and as their eyes lock Angel nods, and it's so discreet that I only notice it because ever since that night in June I've become pretty hypersensitive to anything Angel does, just so I can tell when she's upset. I'm not trying to control her or anything, I just don't want anyone to hurt her without me knowing like her mother did. It's ironic - we originally became friends so I'd have protection and she'd have a chance to get to know me, and know I'm trying to protect her.

Of course, I'm still convinced she could kick my ass to Mexico and back if necessary.

After Angel told me about Hope and her parents, in order to cheer her up we both decided to sit on the settee and watch some episodes of I'm a Celebrity that Lilia had on record. Seen as my parents each have the Eiffel Tower up their arses I'd never been allowed to watch many TV shows before, especially not one like this. It was probably that fact that stopped my eyes from drooping shit after one episode. Eventually though, we both succumbed to sleep, and in the morning Lilia and Jake found us curled up together

That's my second most vivid memory of the whole night.

After Jake stopped wolf whistling and Lilia stopped squealing, we told them to sit down and listen to what we had to say. Angel only just managed to get through the full story before Lilia was calling her parents and telling them that Angel was moving in with them. (She seems to arrange people's living arrangements quite a lot.) Her parents - Aunt Violet and Uncle Nick, Angel called them - were surprised and refused at first, but as soon as Lilia told them the full story they agreed immediately. Meanwhile Jake sat with us and spoke quietly to Angel, and said things to her that I'm not sure I can repeat without majorly ruining Jake's privacy; in the past few months I've done far too much of that. But let's just say that I hate my parents ten times more than I ever did before, even when they kicked Jake out.

Does anyone I know have a happy home life?

Of course, it wasn't as simple as that. Uncle Nick, Aunt Violet and Lilia all confronted Angel's parents. Her father didn't say anything and according to Lilia her mother was disgustingly apathetic. There's a court case still going on, but it's pretty much certain Angel's mother will be put in jail and that her father will get some kind of help for his depression.

"It's kind of funny," Angel had said to me as we sat outside the court on a surprisingly warm day in early October. "I mean, he spent all this time not helping me when Mum hurt me like she did... but when he eventually gets better, I'd like to form a proper  bond with him. Is that weird?"

I smiled at her and shook my head. "Nah." And that was enough.

Angel moved in with her aunt and uncle roughly a week after our conversation, only a few days before her birthday. In case anyone is wondering, Mel got her Harry Potter merchandise, Taylor got her a pretty necklace with angel wings and I got her a Heffalump plushie.

I don't particularly want to brag, but I think she liked my present best.

Of course, telling Lilia was an emotional enough experience, especially when the twenty year old hugged Angel and wouldn't let go for about fifteen minutes. But then there was the experience of telling Mel and Taylor, although he already probably guessed.

And what an experience it was.

Angel and I already agreed that the best plan of action was to tell them both at lunch, where they'd have less chance of an emotional breakdown or in Mel's case going on a rage induced killing spree. They both knew something was coming the moment they sat down at the table.

"Oh, no. Angie, who did you try and stab this time?" Mel said sorrowfully as she and Taylor sat down.

"That was one time!" Angel said indignantly. "And it was a pencil, not a knife, stop making it sound like I attempted murder!"

"What is it?" Taylor asked, talking more to me. But both Angel and Mel snapped to attention and Angel bit her lip.

"I... have something to tell you two."

I could see Mel was desperate to make a joke, but she sensed the mood and seemed to resist the urge. Taylor's eyes glinted with understanding, and he looked at me. "You know already?"

I nodded, and Angel breathed out through her nose. Looking Mel in the eyes, she spoke clearly. "Don't overreact, kay?" Mel nodded slowly, dread written across her face. "Okay... Mel, you remember... you remember when Hope died, correct?"

Mel's sky coloured eyes widened and she glanced sharply at me. I know, I mouthed at her, and her mouth set in a determined line as she nodded at me. "Of course I remember, but what..."

"The reason you haven't been my house since then is... well, my parents are a mess. My dad's like a robot, he doesn't even talk, just makes sure he has the basic resources for a human to live. Mum... she's angry. All the time... And-"

Mel's gasp said that she'd figured it out. Taylor sighed and closed his eyes, and Mel stared at Angel with trembling hands and eyes filling up with tears.

"All this time?" she whispered. "Ever since she died?" Angel gritted her teeth and looked down, and Mel gazed at her helplessly and wordlessly before her face broke into a weak smile. "It's okay. Things will be okay. I'll stay with you, okay?"

Angel looked up at Mel and tentatively smiled back.

It's been five months and here we all are sat around a table celebrating Mel's sixteenth. I'm glad - everyone's home lives (except from maybe mine, but I can deal with it) have been sorted. May is back and Mel's dad is working, Taylor lives with them away from Thomas and Angel lives with her aunt and uncle only five minutes walk away from Lilia.

Now I just need to get a surgeon to remove whatever's stuck up my parent's and Alexander's asses and we're all perfectly fine.