In Your Dreams

Part 7

"Bradley!?" Me and Shanell shouted in unison. My sister smiled broadly as she ran and jumped into his arms and gave him a hug while squealing loudly.

"Bradley...?" I repeated cautiously, "but I-I thought that you, what are you doing here?" I said in a calm but confused tone. I was still standing in the hallway with my jacket on waiting for someone to answer my question. I was growing impatient now. I had so many questions like why was Bradley here? Why did Ross give me his necklace? How did my mum know Bradley and his dad? Why was tonight so out of the ordinary? In fact I wanted to know first what was going on!!!?

My mum walked up to me, took my scarf off and hung it up on the banister coat hook with the rest of the dark coloured coats. "Shennik, remember when I told you about that job I applied for?" She said studying the frills of my scarf before looking back at me.

I nodded remaining silent gesturing her to continue. She took a step forward, clapped her hands together in a prayer position smiling at my focused face, "well, turns out they liked my application and have offered me a job as a co-judge on their show!" My jaw dropped. Realizing I was going about this the wrong way I beamed a smile at her happy expression, "that's so great mum!" I said twirling around. I stopped to face her "but does this mean that we're.." My mum nodded excitedly "yep, we're going to America!!"

I dropped back to reality. We were going to America? I couldn't believe it. Just when I thought today couldn't get anymore out of the ordinary like it was already. Things continued to surprise me more and more. My mum explained that the show was going to air soon but the production manager needs her there a least 2 months before it airs sometime in June which meant we'll have to go to America next month- April. I calculated all this in my mind, when a problem occurred to me "what about school?" I asked.

"Not too worry that's all been taken care of," my mum said simply as if that explained everything.

"What do you mean taken care of?" I added, "Shanell is still in high school and I'm in my first year of college, even though I'm ahead on coursework, I doubt they'll let me- us have a 3 month vaca in America!" I said exaggerating each word with such emphasis that I immediately felt calmer once I'd said it.

"Shennik, this job doesn't only benefit me but it benefits us. Since you wanted to do art so much they're letting you take a course in America, a bit like a transfer see? and before you say anything I've already informed your college so don't worry," she said quickly so she wasn't interrupted. Again.

"Ok, that's me covered, what about Shanell?" I replied nodding at my sister who was intensively listening and holding hands with Bradley who watched with a straight face.

"Like for you, my new boss has also got her a tutor, she'll be fine, would there be anything else?" She said with obvious sarcasm. I sighed "What about Bethany? I can't just up and leave for 3 months" I said looking sad down at the wooden floor. I thought some more, "she could come with us!?" I jumped up and stared at my mum in hope as she rubbed my right shoulder giving me a light smile.

"Well if you want I could talk to her mum about her coming with us, but don't get carried away!" Too late, I beamed jumping up at my mum giving her a hug "thank you! Thank you!" I looked over her shoulder at Bradley. "But wait, you still haven't explained why Bradley's here?"

My mum sighed already tired out from explaining my each and every question. She pulled back about to speak when Bradley's dad entered from the kitchen. We all turned to look at him. Bradley put his free hand in his trouser pocket taking a slight step forward, "can I speak now?" He said raising his eye brows looking at everyone in the room. He shrugged taking our silence as a yes, "Shennika, long story short my dad is your mum's new boss" he said quite bluntly. Shanell pulled her hand from his hold "what!" She said backing away from him and stand beside me.

I folded my arms at him breathing out, "well you kept that quiet."