Not So Innocent (EGASS sequel)

Chapter 10 - Lizzie

“Oh I’m going to miss you sooo much!” I cry, feeling all emotional as I hug my little brothers goodbye. I’ve never been away from them for more than 2 weeks at a time so I have no idea how I’m going to cope! Of course, they have to ruin the moment with their comments.

“C’mon Lizzie! We actually do need to breathe!”

“Aw Liz! You’re making me look like a dork in front of those girls!”

“Liz, you ruined my hair!”

I huff as I let go of my little brothers while Logan, Joe and Noah laugh at Ben, Lee, Craig and Peter’s expressions.  Lee rubs his neck, grimacing, as he takes deep, exaggerated breaths. Ben takes 3 giant steps back and tries to act cool in front of the giggling girls across the road by leaning against the wall and crossing his arms. It fails epically when he leans back too far and falls backward over the wall into mum’s flower beds. Craig doesn’t care about the watching girls. He’s too distracted by his messed up hair. He’s looking into the wing mirror of our tour bus, trying to organise his hair into a ‘tame mess’ as he calls it. Noah and Logan are taking it in turns to run up and ruin the hairstyle just as Craig finishes perfecting it though so I know an argument or a play fight will start soon.

However Peter, at the age of only 5, clings to my legs as tightly as he can. I pick him up and hug him tightly, “I’ll be back soon Pete. You watch the TV and see if you can spot me ok?”

Peter nods and hugs me again before clambering down and running to join his older brothers who are now trying to help Ben out of the flowers. They’re failing though because they’re laughing too hard at him to be able to help him properly.

I turn to my dad and fling my arms round him, hugging him as tight as I can. My dad stands at 6ft 5 so the top of my head only just reaches his chest as we hug for a minute. Eventually we let go of each other and my dad looks down at me with his shining green eyes that were passed onto me.

“Remember Lizzie,” He tells me in his deep, warm voice as he puts his hands on my shoulders, “If Joe or any other boy upsets you while you’re out on your tour, just ring me and I’ll be there within the hour with my shotgun.”

“Daddy!” I laugh, reaching up to kiss dad’s cheek. “Don’t worry! I can take care of myself now! I love you. Oh and remember! Make sure Ben doesn’t have any lemonade or sweets before he goes to bed!”

“I love you too Liz. I’ll see you soon!” Dad chuckles but I can see his eyes filling with tears. I hug him once more before turning away so that he wouldn’t make me cry and ruin my make up. I hug my mum, both of us giggling when we realise that I’m taller than her by about 3 or 4 inches now, then let her go so that Joe and everyone else can hug her and my dad.

“See you later Mrs Redding!” Logan says cheerfully, hugging my mum quickly before shaking the hand of my dad. “Laters, Mr Redding.”

“Bye adopted mummy!” Gabby and Lili squeal simultaneously as they attack my mum in hugs and kisses. “We’ll miss you!”

“I’ll miss you girls too!” My mum laughs, letting go of my two best friends and sisters in all but blood. “It won’t be the same without you two just randomly walking in like you live here!”

“Well we basically do!” Gabby points out, grinning. My mum just laughs.

My dad gets the same treatment as my mum did but with the two shrieking, “Buh-bye Uncle Gavin!” because they know that my dad hates to be called uncle because it makes him feel old. I think Gabby and Lili are the only ones who are allowed to call him Uncle. Not even my cousins are allowed to call him uncle!