Hero

Chapter 16

It was now officially December and everyone was feeling the Christmas cheer . . . except for Jesy. She had spent the last few days of November trying to find out where on earth Leigh-Anne's father was. She wanted to know where he was so she could see him and try to convince him to change his ways or something. Damn that really does sound far fetched. The girl thought.

She, Jake, Jade and Perrie were entering Leigh-Anne's room after school with gifts.

"Happy Birthday Leigh-Anne!" Perrie shouted as she ran up to the girl's bed side.

Leigh-Anne clapped and giggled a little. "It's not my birthday but I'm happy you all got me presents." She smiled and accepted the gifts from her friends.

"We feel like you deserve 'em." Jake said with a shrug. "Doing any better?" He asked, happy that all of them were finally allowed to visit the girl at once.

Leigh-Anne nodded. "I'd say I am but I guess I'm still not well enough to be let out yet." She opened the tin of biscuits brought to her by Jade. "They look yummy but the doctors said that I should try to eat as healthily as possible."

"I'll take them off your hands Lee-Lee." Perrie said grabbing the tin from Leigh-Anne and beginning to eat it's contents.

"Greedy ass." Jesy muttered looking at Perrie.

"Have you all started decorating for the season yet? Here at the hospital, the nurses have already put up a tree." Leigh said examining the little bear given to her by Jake. "It's adorable Jakie but I'm not allowed stuffed animals."

"On it." Perrie said taking the bear from Leigh and stuffing it in her bag.

Jade rolled her eyes at Perrie. "I've put up me tree. I have a picture of it for you to see." She took the phone that she carried out and showed Leigh-Anne.

"Wow Jade. It's just as pretty as I imagined. You put it up by yourself?" Leigh-Anne asked in wonder.

"Yup. I did. I'm gutted that you couldn't come see it though." Jade said shaking her head.

Leigh-Anne sobbed a little. "I know. I am too." She sighed. "But there's always next year right?" She smiled at them hopefully.

"Next year is pretty far away." Jake said with a low whistle. "But I guess you're right."

"Have you all written your letters to Santa yet?" Leigh asked playing with the bouncy ball Perrie had given her. She was just tossing it to herself, back and forth.

"I have! Santa's gonna get me a doggie for sure." Perrie said grabbing the ball from Leigh-Anne.

"Hey. I didn't say that anything was wrong with that one." Leigh complained with a pout.

"Oh sorry. I thought you did." Perrie tossed the ball back at the older girl. "Have you written your letter?"

Leigh-Anne nodded proudly.   "It's on the little table over there. You guys can read it if you want." She was bouncing a little where she sat but had to stop because it made her feel weak and a little congested. She coughed to clear her throat.

"Don't hurt yourself Lee-Lee." Jesy giggled. "Isn't it against some dumb code for people to read other people's letters?"

Leigh-Anne facepalmed in embarrassment. "You are absolutely right Jesy. I feel silly now."

"The letter's eyes are only for Santa to look into." Perrie said as if she made sense. She was munching on a biscuit.

Jake looked at Perrie with eyes of concern. "Do you think before you speak?"