Chapter 1 ...Don’t fuck with a girl who’s got nothing to do...
I had the house to myself for once. Mum and Dad were at work, Junior was at football training and the twins at Nana and Granddads’. I went into my drawer and took out the weed, rizzla and cigarette packet. I started to build a zoot to calm my nerves. Once I’d built it I put on some music to set the mood and sparked the zoot. My phone went off. “Hello” I said. “Mia, its Sharna” she said. I put the phone down. She’d forgotten all about me ever since she’d moved out of the ends and back to Birmingham two years ago. She never spoke to me on MSN, never posted a comment on my wall and never even text me anymore. She rang me back. “What? Are none of your NEW best friends around to help you?” I said. “Mia shut up, it’s not like that” she replied. “YES IT IS! YOU KNOW IF I WOULD HAVE LET YOU DROWN THEN I WOULDN’T BE IN THIS MESS! NONE OF YOUR NEW FRIENDS WERE THERE TO RISK EVERYTHING FOR YOU WAS THEY?!” I shouted. I took a few drags of the zoot whilst she tried to speak her way out of it. “I’m 18 now, I can take care of myself thanks” I said locking off the phone. I smoked the rest of the zoot and got ready. Junior came back and walked into my room just as I was putting my makeup on. “Why can I smell weed?” he asked me. “Weed fairy passed by mate” I replied. He looked at me. “You’ve changed Mia” he said to me. “People tend to do so darling” I said to him. He raised his fist. “GO ON THEN HIT ME!” I screamed at him. He did just that. I stood there gobsmacked. I began to cry. I ran over to my wardrobe, threw some clothes, shoes and underwear in my suitcase. I then went over to my dressing table and got my make up kit, hair products and toiletries. “Where are you going Mia? What am I supposed to tell Mum?” he asked me. “TELL HER THE TRUTH YOU IDIOT! I HATE YOU!” I screamed at him. I put the suitcase in the boot of my car, along with the other stuff. I started it up and sped off. Mum rang my phone. I ignored the call. I decided there was only one person I could turn too. “Can you meet me please?” I asked. The person told me where to meet them. I drove to the destination. I drove the 50 miles to meet the person. I sorted my makeup and hair out and parked up where the person told me to park. I walked into Starbucks and sat at a table. I ordered a hot chocolate whilst I waited. I saw a girl who looked a lot like Sharna, carrying a baby car seat in one hand and her car keys in the other. As the girl got closer I realized it was Sharna. She sat down on the seat facing me. “Whose baby’s that?” I asked her. At first I thought it was her little sister Nevaeh but this baby looked a bit too young to be her. “My daughter” she replied.
Chapter 2 ...Family reunion...
My face dropped. “How old is she?” I asked her. “2 months old” she replied. “What?! So you’ve had like 11 months to tell me and you wait till NOW? THAT SHIT’S MESSED UP!” I shouted at her. “Why do you think I rang you earlier? I wanted to tell you but I didn’t want to upset you” she said. She did have a point. I began to cry and she hugged me. “What’s happened babe?” Sharna asked me. I broke down on her shoulder. I missed her so much and now this, it sent me over the edge. I told her every detail of the whole story. She listened whilst drinking her cappuccino. “Well, you can stay at mine if you want, sure Mum won’t mind” she said. I nodded. I hadn’t seen Aunty Jamilah in all that time. I’d changed a lot in the past two years, both physically and mentally. I’d died my hair black and tinted my eyebrows the same colour and instead of my hair being shoulder length I’d let it grow so it reached my lower back. It was just low enough for people to see my tattoo. I’d not grown at all though. I got up and held the door open for her. “Thanks” she replied smiling at me. I smiled back. She’d not grown much either still the same height as me. She saw me walk towards my car. “I swear that cars bigger than you are Mia” she joked. She was probably right, I was only 5’4 but my parents brought me an Audi X5 for my birthday. She’d parked 2 spaces next to me. “Follow me back, keep up I’m a speed demon” she said. “Aha...shut up” I replied. She walked up to a Vauxhall Astra, strapped her daughter in the passenger seat then got in the driver’s seat and started it up. I followed her back to hers. “Where is everyone?” I asked walking into the empty house. “Mums at work and Jordan’s taken Shaquille and Nevaeh to the park” she told me. “WHOA! You can’t travel light can you?” she said to me looking at my cases. “Shut up” I replied. My phone went off. I looked at it. “It’s my Dad” I said ignoring it. I turned the phone off. I hated them all anyway. Junior and Dad were always on my case and Mum just nagged me till I couldn’t take it no more. I took the cases up to Sharna’s room. The house phone went off whilst Sharna was changing her daughter so I answered it. “Hello....” I started. “Who’s this?” a female asked. “Sharna’s cousin” I said. “Mia?” the person asked. I told Aunty Jamilah everything. “You can stay here as long as you want darling” she said. She locked off the phone and within 20 minutes she came through the front door. I hugged her and she hugged me even tighter. I loved my Aunty Jamilah.
Chapter 3 ...Family reunion part 2...
Sharna took her daughter upstairs and left me and Aunty Jamilah to talk. “Want me to ring your Dad sweetheart? I’m sure he’ll be worried” she said. I nodded. She got her phone from her bag and rang my Dad. “Yes Jason I know, just leave her for a while, I’ll keep my eye on her.....she’s fine.....she doesn’t want to speak to you....yeah I love you too” she said locking off the phone. “He said I’ve got to keep my eye on you....you’re 18 not 8” she said. I laughed. “I see Sharna finally rang you then” she said making me a drink. “Yeah...at first I was angry at her because it’d been so long but now I understand why she did what she did” I said to her. “She wanted to tell you sooner, I’d often find her crying because she missed you and needed you” Aunty Jamilah told me. “Its better that way....I’ve not been a very nice person recently” I said. “What do you mean sweetheart? You sounded fine every time I’ve spoken to you” she said to me. “I’ve been smoking weed, it helps me relax but the side effects are ridiculous” I said. “I see......I used to smoke that, when I was about 13...me and your Mum used too” she said. I smiled back at her. “Nice hair by the way” she said. “Thanks” I replied. I heard the door open and two kids came running in, Shaquille and Nevaeh. “MUMMY! Look what Daddy brought me!” Shaquille said. Nevaeh was such a pretty little thing. She had hazel eyes and lots of black curly hair. She had smiley eyes meaning every time she smiled or laughed they’d close a little. Uncle Jordan walked into the kitchen and kissed Aunty Jamilah. I smiled at him. He looked at me. “Wait? It can’t be? MY 2ND TROLL MIA?!” he said. “BEST BELIEVE IT!” I said back at him. “Was that your car parked outside?” he asked me. I nodded. “CHECK HER! MY LITTLE NIECE IS ALL GROWN UP!” he said. I hugged him. I went upstairs to find Sharna playing with her daughter. “What’s her name?” I asked. “Alisha” she replied. Sharna let me hold her. She was beautiful. “Where’s your man then?” I asked. She began to cry. “He got shot whilst trying to protect me” she confessed.
Chapter 4 ...The past 11 months...
I listened carefully as my cousin dragged up the past. “I got with Jermaine when I moved up here, well 2 weeks after and I got into beef with this guy and he meant to shoot me but he shot him instead, I found out I was pregnant a few weeks later. I couldn’t abort her, she’s the only thing I have of him left” she said breaking down into tears. I hugged her. I cheered her up with one of my stories. “Right, so I saw Lauren the other day in town. She turned around and tried walking off. I ran up to her and grabbed her by the hair into the fountains” I told her. “FINALLY! You show people what’s good these days!” she said perking up. We went to bed early as we were both tired. I woke up the next morning and walked downstairs. Aunty Jamilah was in the living room playing with Shaquille and Nevaeh. “Morning” I said to her. “Afternoon missus!” she said back to me. I walked into the kitchen to find Sharna feeding Alisha her bottle. I looked at her. She looked like a natural. We decided to get ready and take Alisha, Shaquille and Nevaeh to the park because Aunty Jamilah was working from home but couldn’t really get much done with two young kids running around. I put Shaquille and Nevaeh into their harnesses so they couldn’t escape me when we were walking. Whilst I was doing this Sharna put Alisha into her pushchair. “Be careful” Aunty Jamilah said. “We will be” I replied. We got to the park and I couldn’t resist letting my hair down. I chased Nevaeh and Shaquille around, pushed them on the swing and went on the slide with them. Sharna smiled at me and I smiled back. On the way back I brought everybody Ice lollies and watched as Nevaeh somehow got it all over her face, Shaquille the same. When we got back I heard voices. Aunty Jamilah sat there with Mum, Dad and Junior.
Chapter 5 ...Family’s a funny word...
I ran back out the door and down the road. Sharna soon caught up with me though. “MIA! STOP!” she said. I slowed down and eventually stopped. I cried on her shoulder. “This’ll just be a lecture!” I said through the tears. “I’ll back you up if you need me” she said. After some persuasion I walked back with her. Uncle Jordan took Shaquille and Nevaeh along with my twin little brother and sister, Harvey and Holly, outside. They were just as shocked as I was to find out about Alisha. “Sorry” Junior said to me. “No, I am, I caused all this. I’ve been so horrible to everybody lately” I said. Mum smiled at me. I walked over and hugged her. I wanted to hold on to her forever. I loved her so much yet I’d been so disrespectful to her lately. I walked upstairs to get my stuff. “Thanks for everything” I said to Aunty Jamilah. “It’s okay I’m always here for you sweetheart” she said to me. I hugged her. I then hugged Sharna. “I’ll be up soon” she said to me. “HA! We can both legally buy alcohol!” I joked. I kissed Alisha and she shot me a cheeky smile, I then hugged Nevaeh and Shaquille. Uncle Jordan took me to one side. “Listen, you EVER need me, I’ll be there” he said to me. I nodded. He hugged me. Junior got in the passenger seat of my car so we had a chance to talk things through. I was driving behind Mums car the whole time. Junior looked at me. “I remember the day Mum brought you home Mia, I made a promise to myself from that day to always protect you no matter what” he said to me. I nodded. He looked at me. “Mia I’ve got something I need to tell you” he said. “What?” I said looking alarmed. “I’m joining the army” he said to me.
Chapter 6 ...Walking into a death trap...
I stopped the car. “YOU BLOODY WHAT?!” I shouted at him. I loved my brother too much for him to just be walking into a death trap like that. I broke down in tears. “Don’t tell Mum or Dad” he said to me. I nodded. I then drove the rest of the way back home but stopped at the local Sainsbury’s on the way back. “Coming?” I asked my brother. He nodded and took off his seatbelt. I grabbed my bag from the back seat, got out then locked the door. I then walked inside, grabbed a basket and got what I wanted. “Want anything?” I asked Junior. “WOW. You’re in a good mood” he said. “Shut up, go get your stuff” I said to him. Whilst I waited for him I was playing with my phone. “Excuse me” a voice said. I looked up. “Yes?” I asked. “The doctor’s just told me I’m diabetic and I can’t handle sweet things like you” the guy said to me. I laughed. “That was so cheesy” I said laughing. “Can’t blame a man for trying, I couldn’t just let an angel fly out my life either” he said to me. I smiled at him. “You got Facebook?” he said to me. I didn’t know what it was with people these days and asking for your Facebook instead of your number but I gave it him anyway. “Mia Johnson” I said to him. He gave me his so I knew to accept it when he added me as I don’t accept random people. Junior came back. “You’d better go” I said to him. “Why?” he asked. “My Brother still treats me like a 12 year old he doesn’t like me talking to boys” I said pointing my eyes to Junior. “Talk to you soon then yeah, bye beautiful” he said to me. “Bye” I said smiling to him. Junior walked passed him giving him the eye. “Who was he?” he asked. “Jamahl” I said to him. Junior put his stuff in the basket and I went to pay for them. I drove home. “Where you two been?” Mum asked. “Mia met a guy” Junior told her. “Come here! Fill me in! NOW!” she said patting the space on the sofa next to her. I told her everything. I got my stuff from out of my car and put them away. I then decided to go to bed as I was extremely tired. The next morning after I’d gotten ready I decided to ring Sharna’s house. I filled her in on what happened with the guy. “WHAT?! YOU MET A GUY IN SAINSBURY’S? WHAT KIND OF FOOLISHNESS?” she said to me. I laughed. I turned my laptop on. “HE’S ADDED ME!” I screamed down the phone. “I’ll definitely need to come down now, check a man out!” she said. “Yes, bring Alisha too” I said to her. “I need to ask you something” she said to me. “What?” I said walking to my window. “Would you be her godmother?” she asked me. “Obviously I will!” I said. I saw Mums car pull up and another car pull up behind hers. A guy got out and got his hand around Mums arm. “GET OFF OF ME YOU LIAR!” I heard her shout. I ran downstairs. “I’ve got to go Sharna, I’ll ring you back, something’s up with my Mum and can you ring my Dad and tell him to come home ASAP please” I said throwing the phone onto the telephone table.
Chapter 7 ...28 years of lies...
I ran outside and hit the guy. “GET OFF HER INIT!” I screamed in his face. Junior came running downstairs and out the door. He held Mum as she wept. I didn’t care he wasn’t going to place his hands upon my mother like that. I swung for his head and gave him a nosebleed. I kicked him a few more times. I wanted him to take the pain I was feeling. I hated seeing Mum cry and he was going to pay for making her cry. “STOP IT MIA!” Junior shouted at me. I didn’t care. “I’LL FUCKING KILL HIM, WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?! DON’T YOU EVER PLACE YOUR HANDS ON MY MUM EVER AGAIN DON’T EVEN COME NEAR HER AGAIN YOU PUNK!” I shouted at him. Dad came running up the road. “HE TRIED PUTTING HIS HANDS ON MUM!” I screamed as he picked me up and moved me away from the guy. He looked at the guy. “WHAT?! YOU WANNA BE GRISPING UP MY WIFE YEAH?!” Dad said stepping to the man. “It’s not like that, she won’t listen to me” the guy replied. Granddad Reynolds got out of his car. “YOU CAN GO AWAY TOO! YOU’VE LIED TO ME FOR PRACTICALLY 28 YEARS OF MY LIFE AND YOU’RE LYING NOW!” Mum shouted at Granddad. She ran into the house crying hysterically. I ran in after Mum. I’d never seen Mum like this she was normally a strong person. I finally found her crying in the kitchen, her head on the kitchen table. “Mum? What’s happened?” I asked her. She looked at me, her mascara running down her face. I could have never predicted what was going to come out of her mouth. “Mia, he’s your uncle” she said to me.
Chapter 8 ...Well...
I looked at Mum. She told me all about her brother Tysharn who died when she was just 14. I hugged her. “How old is he?” I asked Mum. “28...meaning he was the reason Grandma chucked Granddad out in the first place!” she replied. I felt so sorry for her. She’d been lied to for 28 years. Grandma Reynolds came in the kitchen. “Mum, I’m so sorry” Grandma said to her. “It’s okay Tyla, just calm down sweetheart and I’m going to tell you now because it seems the best thing to do” she said holding back the tears. Mum looked at Grandma. “What Mum?” she asked. “You’ve got a little sister too” Grandma said. Mum completely lost it. She couldn’t control herself she was truly hysterical now. “WHY LIE TO ME FOR ALL THIS TIME?!” she shouted. Grandma held her as she cried. It was all getting a bit too much for me so I went back outside and walked up to my new uncle. “Sorry” I said. “It’s okay...good to know Ty’s got a daughter like you to take care of her” he said. Mum came back outside screaming at him. “DON’T YOU DARE CALL ME TY! ONLY TYSHARN WAS ALLOWED TO CALL ME TY! YOU HAVE TO CALL ME TYLA” she said. Mum had a scary side to her but I never really saw it. I didn’t know what to do, I felt like a spare part almost. “Mia, take your Mum inside and look after her okay? We’re going to go back to Granddad Reynolds’ to sort things out okay” Dad told me. I nodded taking Mums hand and walking her inside. She walked upstairs and I heard her bedroom door slam. I went into the kitchen to ring Sharna back. The phone rang until it went to answer machine. “Typical” I said to myself. There was a knock at the door. I went to answer it. Aunty Jamilah and Sharna stood there with Alisha in her car seat.
Chapter 9 ...Romance...
“What the.....why are you three here?” I said stepping back to let them in. “Sharna told me something was going on! Is everything okay with your Mum babe?” Aunty Jamilah asked me. “Erm, no” I said to her. “Where is she?” she asked me. “In her room, she’s hysterical Aunty Jamilah” I told her. “I’ll be back” she said shooting off upstairs. Junior came back and I could feel the tension between him and Sharna. They both still loved each other and I could sense it. He looked at her and looked away then went upstairs and into his room. Sharna looked at me. “I never stopped loving him you know” she said to me. I smiled at her. We decided to go into my room. “All the memories in this damn room” Sharna said looking around my room. “Remember when you were sick in that corner over there when you had too much to drink?!” she carried on. “Yes” I said shamefully. My phone started vibrating in my pocket. I looked at my phone. “Hello.....” I started. “Hey beautiful” Jamahl said. “Hey dude” I said to him trying to play it cool. I looked at Sharna who was playing with Alisha. “Can you ring me later please? I’m kind of busy at the moment” I said. “NO SHE’S LYING! SHE WANTS TO TALK TO YOU REALLY! DON’T BE FOOLED!” Sharna shouted loud enough for Jamahl to hear. He laughed. “Who was that?” he said. “My cousin Sharna” I said. “What, do you girls want to come and link man then?” he said. “Ring me back in 10 minutes, we shall discuss it” I said to him. “Okay gorgeous, speak soon yeah” he said. “Bye” I said putting the phone down. I discussed the proposition with Sharna. “It’s up to you anyway” I said to her. “Make him come meet us man, sure Mum will watch Alisha for about an hour....you know your Mum loves her too so it’ll cheer her up” she said. She always had a master plan. I heard a door open and Mum came into my room followed by Aunty Jamilah. “You know you both love us VERY much” Sharna started. “What do you want....how much is it going to cost us....and what’s the catch?” Mum said. “Oh nothing Aunty Tyla, just watch your um....just watch Alisha please” Sharna said. “What do you think Jamzy?” Mum asked Aunty Jamilah. “Sounds like a plan TyTy” she replied.
Chapter 10 ...All seems well, for now...
My phone went off again. “Who are you two going to meet anyway?” Mum asked looking at me. “Mia’s new guy friend” Sharna said. “OOO LA LA!” Aunty Jamilah said laughing with Mum. I answered the phone. “Hello” I said. “Hey beautiful....so what’s the answer?” he asked. “You know where the park is near Sainsbury’s right?” I asked him. “MAKE HIM COME HERE! I WANT TO BE MEETING THIS GUY!” Mum shouted. “Who was that?” he asked me. “Mother.....right, I’m going to text you my postcode and the house number” I said to him. “Okay, see you soon yeah” he said. “Goodbye” I said putting the phone down.
...20 MINUTES LATER...
I’d been having the most fun with Sharna. It’d been just like old times. I saw the car pull up outside my house and Jamahl get out the car. I ran downstairs so nobody else would have a chance to play 21 questions with the poor guy. Especially as it were both Mum and Aunty Jamilah together. I looked at him and he smiled at me. “More beautiful than I remember” he said to me. Sharna came downstairs all ready to go. She looked at him. “Listen, you know if you hurt her....I WILL KILL YOUR CLART” she said to him. “Don’t plan to” he replied. “Don’t think just because I’m a girl I won’t beat you down if you hurt her....AH-WOAH!” she said. He laughed. I took him by his hand and led him into the living room where Mum sat. “Hi, nice to meet you” he said. “Likewise” she said smiling at him. “OI JAMILAH COME HERE!” she shouted. Aunty Jamilah came back into the living room. “Nice to meet you” she said smiling at him. I sat in between Sharna and Jamahl on the sofa. “When’s your Mum coming back?” he asked. “You’ve met her dude” I said. He went bright red. “YES! I MAY BE 35 BUT I’VE STILL GOT IT!” Mum said getting jolly high fiving Aunty Jamilah. “Who did you think she was?” I asked him. “Your older sister probably?” he said. I felt like crying. “And who did you think she was?” I asked nodding to Aunty Jamilah. “Your big sisters best friend?” he said. “OH MY DAYS! THAT’S MY MUM! SHE’S LIKE ANCIENT!” Sharna said. “Carry on and I’m not babysitting for you!” she said. “Sorry mate” she said. I decided to get off before Dad came back, however Junior came downstairs. “Sainsbury’s dude!” he said to Jamahl. Jamahl laughed and said Hi. Junior decided to tag along. I held Jamahl’s hand all the way down the road to the park. We were made to walk in front of both Sharna and Junior so they could make sure nothing was going down. I turned around to see how far they were behind and I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
Chapter 11 ...Old romance...
Sharna was locking lips with my brother. They were kissing so passionately. I knew in my mind that they still loved each other. I pretended not to see and turned back round. I could feel Jamahl looking at me. “Mia, you’re so beautiful and I hope you know that” he said to me. I looked at him and smiled. “You make me feel so special” I said to him. I kissed him on his cheek. I saw Dads car drive up the road. I waved at him and he eyed up Jamahl. “Why was he watching me so damn hard?” he asked me. “Daddy’s first daughter! He’s more protective over me then my brother dude” I said to him. He looked scared. “Don’t be so scared, he’s harmless trust me” I said to him. We walked around for about an hour then walked back to mine. We decided to go into the back garden and onto the trampoline. Me and Sharna went on first whilst the boys shot some hoops. Jamahl looked super sexy whilst running up and down the driveway and slam dunking the ball into the basket. I decided to show him how the pros do it as I’d been playing basketball since I could walk. I started dribbling the ball and he came at me, I ran up, bounced the ball off the fence and got it at the other side. I then chucked it from about 3 ft and I got it in. “AND THE CROUD ROARS FOR ANOTHER AMAZING SHOT FROM MIA JOHNSON!” I said making crowd cheering noises. I decided to give him another chance to redeem himself. It didn’t work and he somehow ended up on top of me on the grass. It got to about 6 and it began to get dark so the stars were starting to appear. It was really romantic. I lay on the grass with him hugging me. “I really like you Jamahl” I said to him. “Same” he replied. I kissed him on the lips. I heard the back door open and the floodlight went on. I squinted through the light and I couldn’t even make out who it was. “Oooo! This is cosy isn’t it?” Mum said looking at us all. “MUM!” I said. She’d spoiled the perfect moment ONCE AGAIN. Sharna and Junior were still kissing on the trampoline. Jamahl had to go for 8 and I could tell that he didn’t want to go but he had to go somewhere with his Mum and Dad for 9. He went and told everybody bye and then I walked him to his car. “So we together now right?” he asked me. I tiptoed, kissed him and it sealed the deal after that he got in his car and drove away. Sharna and Aunty Jamilah left with Alisha soon after that as it was a long journey. “Careful Aunty Jamilah, Sharna’s a bit dodgy!” I said to her. She laughed. “Mia! You can talk! You’re a speed demon! I have to hang on for dear life when we go anywhere!” Mum said. I waved them goodbye with Mum and then went into the bath then got into my pyjamas. I went to bed overly happy that night.
Chapter 12 ...Four months later...
The past four months had been amazing because of Jamahl. Mum liked him and Dad did too. I woke up to find my twin brother and sister, Harvey and Holly, getting ready for school. I decided to drop them to school as Granddad Reynolds was going to bring round Mum’s half brother and sister round about 1 and Mum still had a lot to do. Harvey and Holly looked so cute in their uniform. I took a picture of them and me in my mirror ready to Facebook it later along with the many ones me and Sharna took yesterday. We then walked downstairs and Mum gave them their breakfast. I put their car seats in the backseat of my car whilst they ate the toast Mum made them. I went back inside and got them both and their packed lunch boxes. Holly had a Dora one and Harvey a Ben 10 one. I strapped the twins both in, got in the driver’s seat and put my seatbelt on and then banged on their favourite song on Lady GaGa’s album. If only they really knew what the words to Bad Romance really meant but hey, they sang along to it anyway, we all did. I parked on the road facing their school and walked them inside the gates. I watched them walk inside and a girl approached my sister. She looked A LOT older than she did, 12 maybe. She tripped Holly up and she began to cry. I ran up to her. “Why did you just do that?” I asked the girl helping Holly to her feet. “My sister said your family’s scum so I should make your sisters life hell” a devilish smile on her face. “Who’s your sister?” I asked her. “Leanne” she replied. I got the twins back into the car with Holly still crying and Harvey crying because his sister was crying. I felt so guilty my 6 year old sister was being punished for the beef that I had with another girl. I rang Mum. “YOU WHAT?!” she said. Harvey started screaming and I turned around. My little sister was laying slumped to one side and blue in the face. I told Mum and she told me to drive as fast as I could to the hospital and she’d meet us there.
Chapter 13 ...A bitch will pay...
I sped through all the red lights to get my sister to the hospital. I parked up, got her out the backseat carefully, got Harvey’s hand and locked the car door. I ran into the A&E department and they took her in for surgery. I looked at Harvey and thought about what would happen if Holly died. A little part of him would go too because they were twins after all. I looked at him and he looked so scared, tears streaming down his little face. I got my sleeve and wiped his tears away and sat him on my lap whilst waiting for Mum to arrive. Mum came running down the corridor with Dad and Junior following her. She had her brown hair up on her head, her pyjama top on and her bottoms tucked into her Ugg boots but she didn’t even care. I told her what happened in detail. I began to cry even harder and she hugged me. “She’ll be okay Mia, Johnson and Reynolds women are strong, and you should know that” she said. I could tell she was just holding it down and she really wanted to cry. A nurse approached us. “What actually happened to her?” she asked. I told her the story. “That explains it then, she will be okay but will need to stay in for a little while as when she fell she broke her neck, she’s very lucky to be alive especially at her young age” the nurse said. Mum nodded. “Thank you” Dad said. The nurse smiled and walked away. They put Holly on a children’s ward in her own room. It hurt me to look at her and I had to leave. I got into my car and cried even more. I knew Lauren and Leanne would pay for this. I just needed some help. I got home and rang Sharna. “Mums working from home today so she can watch Alisha for me, this needs to be dealt with” she said locking off the phone.
...TWO HOURS LATER...
Sharna pulled up outside of my house, got out and let herself in. “Don’t cry” she said hugging me. We both got our hood rat uniforms on and set off for Lauren’s house. We waited for Lauren to come home from work as we found out from her allies that it would have been around 8 and it would have been dark. I saw her walk up her road. Me and Sharna hid round the corner. I jumped on her and punched her a few times. “MY LITTLE SISTER NEARLY DIED BECAUSE OF YOU! I’LL KILL BOTH YOU AND YOUR SISTERS!” I screamed in her face. “It wasn’t me, it was Leanne, I LLOWED IT FROM LONGTIME!” she shouted back. I didn’t care this bitch was a liar. I kicked her in her face and Sharna jumped in. She loved Holly just as much as I did. “LISTEN IF YOU EVER COME NEAR HOLLY OR HARVEY AGAIN I WILL KILL YOUR CLART! YOU HEARD ME! STAY AWAY FROM MY FAMILY!” Sharna screamed in her face. We left her crying on the pavement.
Chapter 14 ...Karma...
Sharna stayed round mine as Mum and Dad were going to stay at the hospital with Holly. We went to get Harvey from the hospital as he’d been there all day. We stopped at the shop on the way and brought Holly some sweets, a big bar of chocolate, some magazines and some new DVDs as the hospital ones were a bit dated. We parked at the hospital and Sharna hugged Mum. Holly lay in the bed, a neck brace around her neck. She looked at me and smiled. I smiled back at her. I handed her the goodies and her face lit up. “From me and Sharna as you’re such a brave little girl Holly” I said. “WOW! YOU’RE THE BEST BIG SISTER AND COUSIN EVER!” she said to us. Sharna smiled at her. “What’s that behind your ear Holly?” Sharna started. I looked at her. She somehow pulled a lollipop from behind her ear. “WOW! I love it when you do magic Sharna!” she said. Sharna smiled at her. She’d always been good at that kind of thing. We got Harvey and drove back home. I made him some dinner and ran him a bath. Sharna rang her Mum to fill her in whilst she gave Harvey his bath. “I’ll be back tomorrow Mum....yeah Holly’s fine....tell them I said hi....has Alisha been okay...okay well give her a kiss for me okay...bye Mum I love you” she said locking off the phone. Jamahl came over as I’d not seen him a while. I told him what had gone off and cried whilst telling him. He hugged me. I felt so safe in his arms. “She okay now though?” he asked. I nodded. “She’s so brave” he said. I nodded again. I looked at him and he kissed me. I went to go check on Harvey to find him crying in his bed. “Holly will be okay Harvey, I can promise you that!” I said to him hugging him. I kissed him on his cheek, put a DVD on for him and then I walked back downstairs and Junior had come back. I fell asleep on the sofa on Jamahl and Sharna on Junior. I woke up and looked at the clock. “10 past 12” I said to myself. I could smell smoke and the room looked smoky. I looked into the hallway and saw my front door alight.
Chapter 15 ...You’ve gone too far...
I woke Junior up and he rang the fire brigade. They told us to go outside using the back door. I’d gotten outside when I remembered Harvey was still in bed. I ran back inside the house and got to the stairs. Junior and Jamahl called after me but I knew it would have been too late if I let the fire brigade get my little brother. I put my scarf around my mouth, and tried to slide past the fire but I burnt my arm when I closed the living room door and ran upstairs. I ran into his room and he was in his bed crying. “Harvey, listen to me, you’ve got to do exactly as I say okay” I said to him. He nodded. I grabbed his dressing gown and slippers and he put them on. I picked him up and walked onto the landing and looked to the right, the fire had spread all the way up the stairs. Harvey began coughing so I put my scarf around his face as he had bad asthma. The thick smoke stung my lungs but I had to save my little brother. I ran into my room and rang Sharna. “GET THE DAMN LADDER AND TELL JUNIOR TO PUT IT AT MY WINDOW!” I shouted at her coughing. “Okay” she said frantically. She began to cry. “Don’t cry, I’ll be okay” I said. I saw Junior’s head appear and he carefully took Harvey down the ladder with him. I went into Mums wardrobe and looked for the box she kept all of her late brothers and treasured things in. The fire was close to Mum and Dad’s room. “MIA!”Jamahl shouted. I went to the window. “Sharna catch this” I shouted down to her. I dropped the box down. The smoke got too much and I fell onto the floor.
...SHARNA’S THOUGHTS...
I couldn’t see Mia at the window anymore. Harvey began to cry. I held him close. “She’ll be okay Harvey I promise” I said to him. Jamahl started to climb the ladder. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” Junior shouted up. “SHE COULD BE HURT!” Jamahl shouted back. I saw him climb into Mia’s room. Junior climbed up and got Mia off Jamahl. I took my jumper off and lay her head on it. She had a burn on her arm and her face was pale. Junior held Harvey as he cried. I began to cry even harder. The fire brigade came and an ambulance for Mia, they took her and Harvey to the hospital. “YOU NEED TO GET OUT OF THERE!” a fireman shouted to Jamahl. “THERE’S FLAMMABLES IN HERE!” he shouted back. Jamahl tried to jump out of the window but he was too late. The flames got to the flammables first.
Chapter 17 ...Back to Mia’s story/one month later...
I opened my eyes and saw Mum in the seat next to my hospital bed. I looked down on my arm and remembered what happened. I began to cry and Mum woke up. She got up and hugged me. “I thought I’d lost you Mia” she said to me. “I’m a fighter Mum” I said to her. “See, told you we’re fighters” she said smiling at me. “Is Harvey okay?” I asked her. She nodded. “Mia, thank you for what you did for him” Mum said. “It’s okay Mum....How’s Holly?” I asked her. “Fine sweetheart they’re both fine” she replied. Sharna walked into the room, Alisha asleep on her shoulder. Mum left the room. “You scared me for a minute Mia” she said to me. “I’m a fighter, I learnt from the best” I said smiling at her. She smiled back at me. “Borrow me your phone” I said to her. She passed me it whilst she got Alisha out of her outdoor jacket. “His phones not on” I said. “Who’s?” she asked me. “Jamahl’s” I said. Sharna looked at me a look on her face. I knew something was wrong. “He’s been in intensive care for all this time Sharna” she told me. I began to cry hysterically as Sharna told me I’d passed out because of the smoke and Jamahl came and saved me. However the aerosols on my dressing table set the fire into turbo mode and there was a huge fireball. “I need to see him!” I shouted. “Mia you can’t you’re not well enough” she said to me. I didn’t care. I got out the bed and my legs felt like jelly. They gave up on me. Mum came back and helped me back onto the bed. There was a knock at the door and two police officers were looking at Mum. She walked outside to talk to them. She came back in and sat down on the chair. “Mum are you okay?” I asked her I didn’t even get a response, nothing, not even a nod. I looked at her. “They’ve caught who did it darling” she said to me. “Who was it?” I asked her. “That Leanne and her sister. I swear I’ll swing for their Mum” she said. I could feel my blood bubbling in my veins.
Chapter 18 ...Guilty...
After Sharna and Alisha had left I got a chance to speak to Mum. “Mum, just leave it” I said to her. “HOW CAN I LEAVE IT?! SHE’S NEARLY KILLED EVERY SINGLE ONE OF MY CHILDREN?!” she shouted. She began to cry. “I’m supposed to protect you all! I’ve failed” she said. I hugged her. “Mum you haven’t failed. Leanne’s someone who needs psychiatric help! You’re actually the best Mum I could have asked for. You never moaned once when I used to get into fights just back me in them. I mean it when I say nobody could EVER replace you Mum I love you” I said to her. She calmed down. “Thank you sweetheart” she said wiping away her tears. She sat there and thought for a bit. “Mia......” she began. “Yes Mum” I said to her. “How would you feel about moving?” she asked me. “To?” I asked. “Birmingham, me and your Dad can get transferred up there....it’s just this place has nothing but bad memories for all of us” she said. I nodded. “Sounds like a plan TYTY!” I said laughing. “OI! Stop making fun of your Aunty like that” she said. “I’m not...I’m making fun of you! TYTY!” I said laughing. She gave me her narrowed eyes look. I smiled back at her sweetly. Mum told me that Dad had already found a house that was on the same road as Aunty Jamilah’s, the twins would go to the same school as Shaquille so it was a logical idea. Mum helped me out of my bed and I put some of my own pyjamas on. I put on my SpongeBob slippers with my matching pyjama bottoms, top and dressing gown. She helped me down to the intensive care unit and I walked into a room where Jamahl laid, his Mum next to him. He had scars from the burns all down his arm. I could feel the tears creeping up my throat. If it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be alive. I felt so guilty. His Mum got up and hugged me. “I’m sorry” I said to her. “It’s not your fault! Don’t think for one second that it’s your fault Mia! You’re the best thing that’s happened to him in a long time” she said. “I couldn’t have been that good! He’s laying in intensive care because of me” I said to her through the tears. She looked at me and went into her bag. She pulled out a ring box and gave it to me. “They found this in Jamahl’s jacket pocket” she said to me. I opened it. “He wanted to marry you Mia” she told me.
Chapter 19 ...I love you...
I hoped and prayed that Jamahl would be okay. I loved him so much and I only realized then that I loved him that much. Mum came to pick me up the next morning as they said I was allowed home. However, I now lived 50 miles away in Birmingham so Jamahl’s Mum, Julie, told me that she’d ring me if anything but we both knew Jamahl would have wanted me to be okay too. I nodded and hugged her. I got into Mum’s car and we drove the 50 miles to Birmingham. I walked into my new house to find Aunty Jamilah painting my room. I actually did love it. She hugged me. “I love you so much Mia, I just hope you know that!” she said. “Who can’t love me?” I asked her. She laughed. She’d painted it similar to Sharna’s room which I said I liked but she’d done it cream and chocolate instead of cream and pink. I hated pink. I went in the shower and got ready and helped her finish it off. Sharna and Alisha came over. She looked exhausted so I decided we’d go back to hers and I’ll babysit for her whilst she gets some rest. “You can’t do that you idiot! You’ve just come out of hospital” she said to me. “Shut up, she’s my goddaughter so I’m entitled to!” I said to her. Mum thought it was a good idea because it kept me busy so she sent me off to Sharna’s. Uncle Jordan had taken the twins, Shaquille and Nevaeh out for the day to a theme park especially for kids. Sharna went to sleep and I looked after Alisha. She looked so much like Sharna it was unreal. She had her same cheeky smile. Junior came into the house. “Where’s my girl?” he asked me. “In bed, leave her to sleep you gay...we need to talk anyway” I said to him. He looked at me. “Are you still going in the army?” I asked him. “HELL NAH! I’ve got a battle to fight here with my family” he said smiling at me. He hugged me and stole Alisha off me. Sharna came back downstairs, she went and kissed Junior. I missed Jamahl so much. I wanted him to hold me so bad. Junior looked at Sharna. “Marry me” he said to her.
Chapter 20 ...I’m back...
Two months had passed since I came out of hospital and I’d been at the hospital every day. I went to bed and woke up and got ready. I went downstairs to find Granddad Reynolds, Mum and two other people sat in the living room. “Hello Granddad” I said to him. I then looked at the two people. “Hi” I said to them. They both looked at me. I then caught on that the guy was Mums half brother so the girl must have been her half sister. She didn’t look much older than me. She looked at the burn on my arm and I pulled my sleeve down. “Sorry” she said. “Its okay” I replied. “This is your Aunty Natasha and your Uncle Nathan Mia” Granddad told me. Mum looked at me and I knew what she was thinking because I was thinking the same thing. “How old are you again Natasha?” Mum asked her. “20” she replied. “Mmmmm” she said. I laughed. “What’s that for Tyla?” Granddad asked. Natasha gave me a dirty look for laughing. “Don’t think just because you’re my Aunty I wouldn’t slap you into next week. I only have one Aunty and two Uncles thanks” I said. Granddad had a go at me but Mum wasn’t having it. “DON’T YOU SHOUT AT HER DAD! IT’S NOT HER FAULT!” she said. “What’s not?” he asked. “Do the math....Natasha’s 20....Mia’s nearly 19 right so it’s pretty obvious that Natasha was born a year before Mia right?” she said. Granddad nodded. “So does Mum know you cheated on her then yeah?” she said. Natasha got up and tried having a go at Mum. “OI! LISTEN! YOU PRICK! DON’T COME IN MY HOUSE SHOUTING AT ME INIT! I DON’T CARE IF WE HAVE THE SAME DAD I WILL STILL BOMB YOU IN YOUR JAW” Mum shouted in her face. “Dad was right about you! You ARE physco! You know he told me he didn’t want me to turn out like you!” she said. Mum grabbed her hair and dragged her outside. “DON’T YOU EVER COME NEAR ME AGAIN! I ONLY HAD ONE BROTHER AND HE’S IN HEAVEN!” she said screaming at her. Aunty Jamilah came up the road. “You know he called you a dirty little stop out! A kid at 14! Bet your parents are proud...WAIT! No your Dad can’t be because he always talks to me about you! Your Mums just as dumb as you are! Still took him back!” Natasha said. Mum swung for her. She punched her a few more times before Aunty Jamilah got her. Nathan pushed Aunty Jamilah onto the floor. “WHO THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU’RE PUSHING THOUGH REALLY?!” she said getting up off the floor and punching Nathan a few times. I laughed. “You got mash up by a girl! HAHAHAHAHA!” I said laughing. He stepped to me. “DO ME SOMETHING THEN!” I shouted in his face. He raised his fist to hit me. “Do it if you’re bad enough bad boy” I said to him. “YEAH! TOUCH HER IF YOU IS BAD ENOUGH!” a voice said. I turned around to find Jamahl stood there smiling at me.
Chapter 21 ...Maybe baby...
Dad came to see what all the commotion was about and why Aunty Jamilah had taken so long to come back. He pounced on Nathan when he saw he was about to hit me. “ARE YOU DUMB THOUGH?! IDIOT BWOY! DON’T TOUCH MY FAM INIT!” Dad said to him punching him. Natasha cried on Granddad. I didn’t even want to call him Granddad because of the things he said about Mum. I still couldn’t believe Jamahl was standing right next to me. Mum and Aunty Jamilah got Dad off Nathan before he got into trouble with the police. I looked at Natasha. I walked over to her and punched her in her face for giving me that dirty look. She slapped me across my face. A dainty little bitch slap. “You can’t be related to me because you’re a pussy! That slap was nothing! My 2 year old cousin could slap me harder than that” I said punching her again. She raised her fist to hit me again. Mum and Aunty Jamilah stepped in front of me. “Do it if you’re a bad girl init, I will kill you if you DARE hit my niece!” Aunty Jamilah said to her. She put her fist down. “Trevor, take your two kids and get away from me. I will be ringing Mum about this too!” Mum said. He did as he was told. “Bye Trev” I said to him. Mum got straight on the phone to Grandma Reynolds and told her everything. “Well, you could always move up here Mum, I need a nanny” she said. I heard Grandma laugh. I walked into mine and Jamahl followed me up to my room. “I’ve missed you baby” I said to him. “I love you so much Mia, its unreal” he said to me. “I love you too...and yes I will be your wifey” I said to him. He smiled at me. We then had a quick session before anybody realized we were alone in my room. We turned some music on so nobody could hear me moan his name. I loved the way he made me moan and how special he made me feel. I got from on top of him and he went to sort himself out. “Mia......” he started. “Yes baby” I said to him. “The condom split” he told me. My face dropped.
Chapter 22 ...3 weeks later...
I woke up the next morning feeling incredibly sick from the night before. I’d had so much to drink last night it was unreal. I also still hadn’t gotten my period. I rang Sharna to make sure she was up. “My head hurts” she said. “So does mine but we need to go on our little outing” I replied. I got my shower and then decided what I was going to wear. I put on my black skinny jeans, white long top, black body warmer and my black and white plimsolls. I went downstairs to find Harvey and Holly downstairs. “What are you doing today?” I asked them both. It was the first week of the Easter holidays. “Nothing” Harvey said. “Want to come on a road trip with me, Sharna and Alisha? We’re going to see Grandma Reynolds and Grandma and Granddad Johnson” I said to them. They both looked at me and smiled. I rang Sharna to tell her to give me another hour to get my brother and sister ready. I put Holly in her jeans, top and pink body warmer and Harvey in the same but in his black body warmer. They looked so cute in matching things. I wrote Mum a note then put their booster seats in my car. I strapped them both in and we went to pick Sharna and Alisha up. Harvey and Holly ran up to the front door and knocked on. Aunty Jamilah came to the door and she looked just as bad as I did. “Your Mum up yet?” she asked letting me in. “No, I don’t expect her to be up until like 4 either. She was the worst last night” I said. The night before me, Mum, Sharna and Aunty Jamilah went out. It was a spare of the moment thing and Mum was downing vodka shots like say they were water. I waited for Sharna to appear but I put Alisha’s car seat in my car whilst I waited. Sharna came downstairs with Alisha in tow. I strapped Alisha in whilst waiting for her to sort Alisha’s bag out. I stopped at Sainsbury’s and brought the twins a packet of sweets and a drink each to keep them quiet I brought me and Sharna the same. “Sharna you know if I tell you something, don’t say a word” I said to her. “What?” she asked. “I think I’m pregnant” I said to her. Her face lit up and she hugged me. She brought two tests and made me do them in the toilets. Two blue lines appeared on the little white sticks. She squealed and hugged me when I told her. We got back into the car and set off for Nottingham. When we got there we went to Granddad and Grandma Johnson’s after we’d spent 2 hours there we drove to see Grandma Reynolds. She seemed so down ever since she split up with Granddad. I hated seeing Grandma cry. “Would you both do me a favour?” she asked. “Of course Grandma” Sharna replied. Even though Sharna and Grandma weren’t related by blood, they always treated other like they were. She sent us to the shop. It was kind of weird walking down the old streets. There were so many bad memories as we walked down to the shop alone. “SO IF IT ISN’T DUMB AND DUMBER BACK IN THE ENDS THEN!” I heard a voice from behind shout. I turned round. Leanne stood there. I ran up to her and punched her in her jaw. “BECAUSE OF YOU AND YOUR SCUM BAGGY FAMILY MY LITTLE SISTER NEARLY DIED!” I said kicking her. I wanted her to take the pain Holly felt, the pain Mum did because she felt she’d let us all down and the hurt she’d caused me and my family. “MIA! LLOW IT SHE’S NOT WORTH IT!” Sharna shouted after me. I knew exactly what she meant and I wasn’t going to be losing this baby because of a stupid individual. I began to walk away and Leanne grabbed me and started punching me. Sharna pounced on her. “I SHOULD HAVE KILLED YOUR CLART LONGTIME AGO!” she shouted at Leanne. Leanne looked at Sharna. “SAY SOMETHING BITCH!” Sharna screamed kicking her. “YOU THINK YOU’RE SO BIG AND BAD SHARNA! THAT BULLET WAS FOR YOU! JERMAINE WAS MINE!” Leanne shouted back. “What the fuck does that mean?!” she shouted back still punching her. “HE TOLD ME HE ONLY WANTED YOU ASLONG AS YOU LIVED!” Leanne shouted back. It then all became clear. Leanne was jealous of Sharna and wanted her dead. Leanne had taken Jermaine’s words and twisted them into a sick evil plan and what happened next. Well, not even I could have predicted that.
TO BE CONTINUED.
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