The Girl In The Suit

Freddie

A week later

All the forms and the money has been sorted out and I've been tested, and basically, I'm going to rehab tomorrow. It feels strange. Like, everything happened and changed so fast.

Gemma, Michaél, Anne and Alison are helping me pack my bags. I'm about to put in my CDs and then I remember its not allowed. 6 weeks without Queen is gonna be tough.

Gemma and Anne are skipping the first day back to school to drive to Kilkenny with me. I tried telling them to go to school and that'd I'd be fine, but once Gemma decides on something, that's that.

Their new friends came to wish me good luck earlier today. They seem like nice girls. I've seen Gabrielle somewhere before.

While I'm zipping a bag, my phone dings.

Pat: Want some stuff for the trip tomorrow? Sisters off hash, I've got tons, lad.

I sigh and shut off my phone.

"Who was it?", Míchaél asks.

"Nobody. Just an Insta notif." I put my phone back in my pocket.

We're done packing now, so we put the bags out in the hall and we head to bed. Anne and Alison's parents are gone away to Spain for a month on some work thing. They still don't know Anne is bisexual. Even my waster parents know.

I hit my head against the pillow. Míchaél is already asleep behind me. I decide to put in my earphones and play some Queen to get me to sleep, and to stop my head spinning. And it works.

When I wake up, I hear the sounds of people rushing about, and Míchaél isn't beside me. I jump out of bed and put on a tracksuit bottoms and a hoodie. I then rush out of the room, and I see everybody rushing about.

"Anne, dju know where the power bank is?"

"Shit, I don't!"

"Come back here with my hairbrush, Míchaél!"

I chuckle a bit.

"Morning, everybody!", I announce.

Everybody stops what they're doing to say, "Morning, Freddie!"

I notice only one bag hasn't been put in Alison's car, so I take that outside and put it into the boot. I then come back in and I try to enjoy my morning toast and orange juice in the middle of this madhouse.

Finally, everybody cools down and we're in the car for 8 o clock. I sit between Gemma and Míchaél, while Anne takes shotgun. We sing along to songs on the CD Alison has put in. I'm dreading saying goodbye to Gem. I'll miss her the most.

An hour later, we're in Kilkenny, and outside the doors of the rehab. It looks a lot nicer than I would've thought. Like a hotel.

Before Gemma lets me out her door, I give Míchaél a kiss and a hug. I ruffle Anne's hair and I thank Alison.

When I'm out of the car, I look at Gemma and the two of us just start crying. I take her in my arms and I breathe in her hair. I then kiss her forehead.

"See you soon, big guy. I love you."

"Love ya too, tiny girl."

We separate and then she helps me to bring in my bags. She's strong for a girl of her age. 

When we have everything inside, we hug and say goodbye one last time and I watch her as she walks back to the car and Anne goes back to her. I smile softly.

"Mr Welch, time to go to your room."

I nod my head and the woman helps me to lug the bags upstairs. When we get into the room, there's a blonde girl around 2 years younger than me sitting on one of the beds.

"Freddie, this is Samantha. Samantha, this is Freddie. You guys and another boy and girl who are coming shortly will be sharing this room. I think you'll get along."

Samantha gets up from the bed and comes over to me. She shakes my hand.

"Nice to meet you, Freddie.", she says with a smile. "Want me to give you a tour of the place?"

"OK", I reply.

I leave my bags at the side of the room and I wall down the stairs with Samantha.