Chapter 17
Cody answered the door as soon as he heard it knock.
His mouth dropped open with what he saw.
It was Jason, Darcy, Eric and Jade. Cody wasn't expecting his friends and girlfriend to come over, and it looked like the guys were planning a big night in. Jade would have tagged along to make sure everyone behaved.
Cody sighed. Jade could stay, but the guys couldn't. He couldn't get drunk with his friends tonight. His father and step mother had yet another staff meeting each, and then they were going on a dinner date.
Catania was also going out to Hayley's house so they could study for their first big year twelve assignment. So, that left Cody with the responsibility of looking after Ella and Mia.
"Are you going to let us in, Codes?" asked Jason.
Cody stepped aside and let Jade in. Of course, she could come in. And then he looked at his friends, "what did you have planned tonight?" he asked.
"What does it look like?"
Jade groaned, "I tried to talk them out of it."
Cody nodded before he looked at his friends again, "well, you can't do it here."
"You? Don't you mean, 'us?' And why can't we do it here?"
"I have babysitting duty tonight."
"I tried to tell them," said Jade.
Cody nodded once more. He knew his girlfriend would have done her best to help out.
"Babysitting?" asked Darcy.
Cody nodded and pointed to Ella as she walked up the front path.
"The kid?" asked Jason, "doesn't she have a home of her own?"
"Don't be so rude to her, Jason," said Jade.
Jason ignored Jade.
"She and her sister are staying with us," Cody informed his friends before he looked at Ella as she stood awkwardly as she waited to go through the door, "where's your sister, kiddo?"
Ella eyed the cases of beer warily before she returned her attention to Cody, "she has gone over to Leo's house to get some homework done."
"Someone's miserable. What'd you do, kid?" asked Jason.
Cody and Jade glared at Jason. They both knew that Ella didn't like the way Jason treated her.
"Hang on," Jason continued, "I know what's wrong; you didn't get the pair of shoes that you wanted so you had to get a different colour."
Cody and Jade glared at Jason again.
"Stop it, Jase," said Cody, "you are such a bully."
Ella smiled at Cody, thanking him for standing up for her.
Cody smiled back at Ella before he finished glaring at Jason for his rudeness to Ella, "I can't see them getting much homework done," he teased.
Ella laughed, "what are you doing?" she asked, "drinking?"
Jade was the one who answered for Cody, "no, he isn't, Ella. Do you have some homework to finish?"
Ella nodded.
"Go on, then," said Jade, "I'll make sure the guys don't disturb you."
Ella nodded again, "thank you."
