A Guardian to Be: The Jessica Parks Chronicles

Chapter 12 The Forest

  We got to our spot in the woods and sat in a circle.

  I opened the picnic basket and gave everyone the sandwiches.

"See, I told you!" Mark said, "PB&J!"

"Oh stop complaining. At least you've got food." I said back.

"Don't worry Mark, there's chocolate for after." Lily whisper-shouted.

  We all laughed.

  I went back into the basket to try and find the drinks. It went silent, I looked back up to find everyone staring at me.

  I sighed, "Guys, come on, really I'm fine ok." It was as if they didn't trust me. It upset me.

"Jess, we're just worried about you." Shaun said.

"I know." I replied.

  We ate in silence, until Mark had finished.

"Right where's the choc-o-latte!?" He said cheerfully.

"You have to wait until we're finished." I gave him a glare.

"You sound like my mum giving me manner lessons." Mark complained.

"Well I'm not your mum but I'm giving you manner lessons!" I said.

"No you're not his mum." Rose said, "You're his wife!" She fell off the log she was sitting because she was laughing so much.

"Seriously are we still going on about that, it was a joke guys and it's getting old!" I moaned.

  Mark glared at Rose who was still laughing and she shut up. Then she looked at me with a really sad face.

"Mark!" I stared at him.

"What?" He asked, face full of shocked.

"Apologise right this second!" I said.

"Why?" He said curiosity dripping from his voice.

"Because you've hurt Rose 's feelings!" I said to him.

"Okay. Sorry Rose please accept my apology." He faced Rose.

"Okay." She said with a big smile.

  She then went over and whispered in Claire's ear. Claire laughed, she then whispered to Lily, who in turn whispered to Shaun. They all ended up laughing.

"What?" I asked panic rising in my voice.

"Well... Rose said that you two just proved her theory by arguing." Shaun told me.

"Right... Well some friends you guys are." I said sarcastically.

"Guys did you hear that?" Mark said, I wondered why he hadn't been talking it's because he had been listening.

"Yeah. I heard it but I didn't want to say anything." Claire said.

"Mark!" Lily urged tugging on his arm, "We have to go! Like NOW!!" She sounded rather scared.

"Lil calm down." He said to his sister.

"No, you don't understand!" She looked at me, "Jessi we need to go."

"I'm with Lil. Let's go guys." I replied.

  I picked up our picnic basket and started to leave but then I heard him, it was like he was whispering to me.

Jessica, don't leave me. Please you have to stay with me!

  He was pleading. I couldn't just walk off. Could I?