Hero

Chapter 39

Joshie loved when he got to play with Jesy but he loved it even more when his big sister's friends played with him as well. His big sister along with her friends; Jade, Perrie, Jake and Leigh-Anne were all in his room sending hotwheels cars at the wall in a race fashion.

"Yay! I win!" The six year old said raising fists to the sky. He smiled when the other children in the room clapped for him. He jumped into Jesy's lap feeling proud.

"Very good Joshie. You're the fastest in the land." Leigh-Anne said smiling at the little boy in her friend's lap. She squinted her eyes and scrunched her face at him, causing him to laugh. She found Joshie adorable.

"I don't really see how being forced to hang with little Josh here is a punishment though." Jake said examining an action figure belonging to Joshie. The floor was scattered with toys.

"It's more fun than anything if you ask me. Your Mams must really be taking it easy on yous." Jade said as she watched Joshie try to pull Leigh's hair.

Jesy sighed. "Yeah they are." She looked at Leigh-Anne who was now playing peek a boo with her little brother. "I think it's mainly because of what Sairah did afterwards." She shivered.

"What did you say she did again?" Perrie asked as she spun the wheels of a toy car. She loved to watch them spin until they stopped. It was calming to her.

Leigh-Anne patted Joshie on the head then sighed. "She hit me." She mumbled in response to Perrie's question.

Perrie gasped dropping the toy car. "Did she hit you bad?"

Jesy rolled her eyes. "We've been over this." She said in exasperation. "It was a slap on the bum."

"That still sounds bad to me." Jake said looking at Leigh. "They should really check on that. This may be the first straw of many bad things Leigh. She needs to be kept away from you."

Leigh-Anne looked in her lap. "My Mum says that she probably won't do more but I don't know. She's going to make her take extra therapy just in case." She rubbed her arms. "I-I don't want her to become bad again." She whispered.

The other children exchanged looks of sadness.

Joshie felt bad for Leigh-Anne. He got up from his sister's lap and climbed onto his bed. He picked up his favourite stuffed puppy and brought it to her. "Smile Leigh-Anne. Woof Woof! Pup-Pup says to smile." He pretended to make his dog lick her face.

"Awww." Said Jade, Perrie and Jake. "That's so cute!" Perrie squealed.

Jesy smiled as she watched Leigh accept the plush toy.

Leigh-Anne giggled as she hugged the toy puppy. She looked at Joshie. "Thank you Josh. I feel a lot better now." She kissed his nose hoping that the dog wouldn't make her sneeze or wheeze.

Joshie blushed then moved from Jesy's lap to hers. He kissed Leigh's lips. "I love you Leigh-Anne. You're so pretty. I want to marry you."

Perrie and Jade squealed while Jake nodded. "He's a bold boy. Right on Joshie. Take what you want!" He hooted.

Jesy's face was frozen in a mask of rage. "What?" She growled. "Get out of her lap!" She shouted gaining the other children's attention. She cleared her throat as she blushed. "I mean . . . so cute." She laughed awkwardly.

Jake laughed at her. "Way to be subtle Jes."

Leigh-Anne giggled at Jesy. "Don't feel threatened Jes." She winked at her then looked down at Joshie. "I can't marry you. You're too young." She swayed side to side.

Joshie smiled. "You're so pretty!" He said excitedly.

Leigh-Anne smiled. "Thank you." She pulled him out of her lap and made him face her. "And I think that you're very handsome."