Footprints in the Sand

18. Never Trust Someone Called Johanna or Amelia-Jane

By the next evening, even with being at school the entire day, I could have slapped both Johanna and Amelia-Jane. I was glad that at least Oliver and Will had the good sense to avoid me whenever they could; Henry, Sian, and Lauren had befriended them well. No one had yet had the guts to tell my extended family to find a hotel, but with 5 of the 9 kids out of the house from 8.30 to around 4, it was pretty flaming obvious that they were causing hassle for Mum.

            I sat quietly in my room with my sisters, working our way through my Chronicles of Narnia DVD’s. I heard screaming from one of the girls downstairs, and four boys, Rory, Oliver, Will, and Henry, appeared in my doorway.

            “Can we join? Millie and Johanna are having a fight again.” Henry asked timidly. I nodded, stood up and looked at my big brother.

            “Can I borrow your room to do some work?” I asked him.

            “I’ll keep an eye on the rabble. You know my password, right?” Rory asked. I nodded,

            “Thanks.” I smiled at him. I headed out of my room, picked a Biology textbook off my desk and headed down to my big brother’s room. I stuck my music into my headphones and started on my research I had to do for homework. Half an hour later, I was disturbed by Johanna flouncing into Rory’s room. She yanked my headphone from my ear, I quickly saved the document, and turned to face my horrid cousin.

            “I was talking to you.” She stated,

            “I’m busy. I have this amazing thing to do called homework to get into university next year.” I snapped at her. She was the last thing I needed.

            “I’m more important than your pathetic homework.” Her prissy voice resonated right to that nerve that makes you want to slap someone to Australia.

            “I think you’ll find I’m going to school for several reasons; one of which is getting into a high-end university where I can get a First and get a good job; another is to avoid you and your stuck up, obnoxious mannerisms.” Her face was priceless.

            “I’m worth so much more than any degree.” She growled,

            “Bitch, please. At the moment, I am making enough for a degree in about a week. As soon as I get a job, and 1/6th of Dad’s fortune, I am gonna be made for life. Plus, you have a face like a slapped arse.” I smirked. Her jaw dropped.

            “You’ll pay for that.”

            “How much do you want?” She glared at me and swanned out of the room. I went back to working, only to be slapped about three minutes later. I ripped my headphones from my ears and turned to my cousin.

            “Johanna Millicent Shadow, you realise that I am not only four years older than you and I go to a rougher school than you?” I asked, glaring at my little cousin. “I am trying to work!”

            “Yeah, but you actually have to be someone to go to mine.” She retorted, crossing her arms over her chest. I sighed,

            “Being someone doesn’t matter at mine; it’s being anyone that counts.” And I punched her in the nose.

            “And why did you punch Johanna, Florence?” Grandmother questioned as Uncle Mitchell dealt with his daughter’s bloody nose.

            “Because I was trying to work and not get kicked off my courses so I can get into university and she slapped me, distracting me from my work which I’ve worked so hard on over the past few days. It’s so hard to work when little children are distracting you.” I explained, putting on my cutest face and prissiest voice. Grandmother nodded.

            “I completely understand. We shall find ourselves a hotel tonight to allow you to work at ease.” Grandfather said, smiling. Grandfather was so much kinder than Grandmother, and understood me a little better than his wife. “We shall pack tonight to be out of your way.” And the adults departed upstairs. Eliza walked into the lounge and looked at me.

            “I’ve found a place; we’re moving in two weeks.” She announced. Mum and I looked at one another, then Eliza, and smiled,

            “That’s brilliant.” Mum announced. She turned to me. “I’m thinking about selling up, sweetheart.” She whispered. I nodded. I understood. We clattered around the big home at the best of times, and if Eliza was moving out, and Hadley and I would be moving on soon, I couldn’t imagine Mum wanting to stay here on her own; it’d drive her mad.

            “I understand.” I whispered.

            “Not until after your birthday, but soon. I don’t want to stay somewhere so coated in memories.”

            “Mum, I know. This place is too big for us.” I heard a thunderous racket from upstairs as Amelia-Jane threw a hissy fit, probably about having to go to a hotel. I sighed and walked upstairs to my room, lay on my bed. My siblings didn’t even notice me as I crept in. I wished I had the house back to myself; I missed the quiet. I heard someone storm down the stairs and slam the front door. I walked over to the window nearest my bed to see Amelia-Jane sat on the front wall. Her jet-black hair was perfectly straightened down to her mid-back.

            “You okay, Flo?” Rory asked, making me jump.

            “Millie’s on the wall. They’re going to a hotel.” I said, turning to face my brother.

            “And the kids?”

            “Eliza’s found a new home.” I whispered. Rory nodded,

            “Anything else?”

            “Mum’s selling up, she wants to get away from this house. I don’t blame her.” Rory nodded in agreement.

            “When?”

            “After my birthday. She can’t move far though; we both need to stay near Teignmouth for school.”

            “And the kids will be close-by.”

            “I wish you guys were my actual, full siblings.”

            “So do I, Flo, so do I.” He whispered. I looked at my brother. Everything was always good with him around.

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A/N

This chapter is literally here to show the disputes between the girls; almost like a filler chapter, alright, yeah, it is a filler chapter. But nonetheless, please vote/comment!

Meggieissi xxx