Fourteen

2

Brittany popped her head round the side of her sister, Caroline's, bedroom door, indicating that she was ready to leave for school. Caroline turned off her light, following Brittany downstairs. They shouted goodbye to their parents and left. They were a week into year ten, Brittany was enjoying it. Jesse was the year above, year eleven and taking his GCSE's.

Jesse grinned as he saw his girlfriend leave her house. "Happy three weeks, baby girl." He threw his arms around her.

"Ugh, come on, lovebirds. This is getting sickening every morning now." Caroline made a puking gesture. The three of them met Courtney at her house before walking into school. "Britt, if you get any hassle off of Melody and her friends again today, come find me, yeah?" Caroline tried to reassure her big sister.

Brittany nodded in thanks, "it'll be fine. People will get used to it. I'm happy, anyway."

Jesse took Brittany's hand to walk ahead of Caroline and Courtney. "I've got a meeting with my academic advisor today. About college." He told his girlfriend, kissing her hand and twirling her around. "My football coach thinks I could get a scholarship out in America after Sixth Form. How cool would that be? I could get my scholarship on football and still study biology or English lit. I'm not sure yet."

"Sounds awesome. I don't have a clue what I wanna do yet." Brittany stuttered weakly. She wasn't a fan of the idea of Jesse going off to America for years on end. They'd only been a couple for three weeks properly, yet she couldn't imagine her life without him now. "Oh, babe, my parents want you to come round for dinner tonight. To meet you. Are you okay with that? Sammy's really looking forward to it." She asked, somewhat hopefully. Jesse was her first relationship, she was experiencing everything new. Neither her or Caroline had brought home a boyfriend before, it was just another experience she was excited to have. "My parents are really excited too. Caro's told them all about you, they're already your biggest fans!" She teased Jesse with a giggle.

"Awh, baby, I'd love to. I've got football practice until five, but I'll come over after that." Jesse kissed Brittany's forehead. He walked her to class, kissed her and then left to find his own class.

Courtney, Brittany and Caroline were waiting outside the classroom for their maths teacher to let them in. Melody strolled past with her posse of 'blonde bimbos' in tow, including Alyssa. Melody gave Brittany the evils, the rest of them completely ignored her.

"Lyss?" Courtney called after their so called 'best friend.' "Is she joking?!"

"Don't rise to it, Court, she's always loved the drama. But, I swear to God, when she comes crawling back to us because they've ditched her, she's gonna have a lot of making up to do." Brittany tried to calm her best friend down.

Caroline sighed, "I don't get why Alyssa is treating you both like the shit on her shoe. Yet I bet when she comes round to get her tea later from our parents, she'll be nice as pie until she gets a text off of Melody. She won't even say thanks to Mum for dinner." She rolled her eyes. "Mum won't say anything 'cuz Lyss has been coming to our house for years, but it's really starting to get on my tits."

"Not just yours." Courtney murmured, agreeing.

Brittany shrugged, "well, she won't be able to come round for dinner tonight. She's got her own family. Jesse's coming over for dinner to meet Mum and Dad. It's a family only night."

"Guess I'm having beans on toast then!" Courtney laughed. Brittany knew she didn't mind. Courtney was grateful for every day she got to spend with the Bates family. "Nah, have a great time. I hope they love the rug rat just as much as we do. He's good for you. Just better not hurt you, eh."

"Don't be stupid, Court, you're family. I need your support tonight." Brittany corrected her, Courtney looked as if she would cry.

Caroline chuckled, never having seen Courtney so emotional, "you're like our third sister."