Lola-Leigh (Tracy Beaker Returns Liam o'Donovan love story)

Chapter 4

I take a gulp as I slide my phone back into my back pocket.

Ricks coming to find me.

I should be overwhelmed with feelings of joy and happiness, but my body just won't react that way. I feel glued to the floor. I feel nauseous. I feel sca-

'LOLA BABES ITS YOUR GO!' Ginas bellowing voice interrupts my thoughts, as it suddenly crosses my stupid mind that Rick doesn't actually know where I am right now or where Elm Tree House is.

I line up for my shot, and completely miss. The ball rolls down the gullet lane and disappears.

'Aw never mind Lola!' I hear Liam's smug reaction behind me, while the others just continue with the game. I decide to ignore him, but then, I have an idea.

'Liam can you cover my back?' I ask, as Liam raises an eyebrow. I take a deep breathe. 'I need to go and meet some mates tonight for a bit.' Liam looks at me. A thought clearly crosses his mind but it doesn't repeat on his lips.

'Youve only been here five minutes and your already asking for favours?' Liam chuckles, taking some change up to the drinks machine. 'Are we even mates?'

I stop to think about this for a second. I don't want to class anyone in this do-goodie home as a mate. But I guess the kids are genuinely quite sweet, and I really need Liam's help so I figure; What the hell.

'Welllll if we ARE mates, at least you can keep an eye out for all my naughty Burney Hell kid antics?' I giggle and raise an eyebrow, quite impressed with my proposal. He smiles.

'Hmm that's a good point that! Mates it is then.' He goes in for a fist bump, 'Want one?'

'A punch up?' I question quite astonished, and then realise he had turned his attention back to the drinks machine. He assumed I was joking, so I just shook my head to avoid the awkward comment. My phone starts to vibrate.

R- Lola? Hello?

M- Hey, Rick! Look I'm sor-

R- FUCKING SAVE IT. I'll meet you at the bus station at seven thirty. DONT BE LATE. I'm using my last bit of p     on this stupid ticket.

I take a big deep breathe.

R- Hello? ARE YOU LISTENING YOU STUPID BITCH? Seven thirty.

​​​​​​​L- Yes yes Rick I hear you babe I'll be there. Love you.

​​​​​​​The line falls dead, and I suddenly feel an urge to cry. Why can't I just enjoy my game of bowling like all these other dumb fuckers? I need a ticket out of here and fast. I dash towards Liam who's speaking to Gina.

'Oh Lola, I was just telling Gina how I'm going to treat us to maccies later to err celebrate your safe arrival.' He looks at me, as if to go along with it. It suddenly clicks in my head.

'Oohh yeahhh! I'm REALLY missing my chicken nuggets aha.'

Gina raises an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed or convinced. 'Lola, I grounded you for what happened yesterday. How do I know I can trust you tonight?' She questions. I shuffle awkwardly, so Liam intervenes.

'Because ILL be there to look after her! We will be back by ten, I promise.' She looks at Liam, then at me, and then back to Liam. A thought crosses her face and she suddenly beams at us both.

'Ok then, but Mike picks you up from McDonald's. Ten pm and no later.'

I grin and sit back on the counter top to discuss my achievements with Liam. He plops himself beside me, and gives me a familiar smug look to remind me that I owe him.