Part Nine - Elliot's Story.

Chapter 1 ...Don’t leave me...

“HARVEYYYYYYY!” Holly shouted as she dropped to her knees and held her twin brother. “What’s happened?” Elliot asked. “HE’S BEEN SHOT! He took a shot for me! Harvey!” Holly said through her tears. “Hello! HELLO! Ambulance! My friends brothers been shot and he’s not breathing...PARDON?! HURRY UP HE’S DYING! ABOUT YOU’RE ON YOUR WAY! YOU PEOPLE TAKE THE PISS ABOUT!....PARDON?! DON’T GET RUDE TO ME! DICKHEAD!” Shanice shouted into her phone. “Elliot go tell my Mum! Harvey needs her I know he does, it’s a twin thing” Holly said through her tears. “The woman said to keep him talking Holly until they get here” Shanice said to Holly. “Harvey! I’m sorry for all those arguments we had, I love you so much! I need you Harvey!” she said to him crying. “Holly I love you too” Harvey said looking up at his panic-stricken sister. “Take care of her for me Elliot” Harvey whispered to me. “I will!” I replied. “GO AND GET MY MUM!” Holly screamed at me. I was nearly at Holly’s when my phone started ringing. “Where are you Elliot?! I told your Mum you’d be back early!” Mia said to me oblivious to what had just happened. “Mia something’s happened, I’m nearly outside your Mums house now” I told her. “Elliot what’s wrong?” she asked me. “I’d rather tell you face to face” I replied. Mia was stood waiting for me outside her Mums house with her Mum behind her. “What’s happened?!” Mia said looking at my top. “Who’s blood is that Elliot?!” Tyla asked me. “Harvey got shot” I blurted out. “NOOOOO!” Tyla screamed. Mia hugged her Mum tightly. “Mum he’ll be okay!” Mia said to her Mum reassuringly. I got in the back seat of the car whilst Tyla sat in the passenger seat and Mia drove to the hospital. I rang Holly and Shanice answered her phone and told me where they were. I ran round the corner to find Holly sat on a chair next to Shanice, with her head on Shanice’s shoulder crying her eyes out. “He’ll be okay Holly! He’s not going to leave you! He loves bullying you remember” Shanice said. I started walking up to them but at a fast pace. A doctor approached Holly and Shanice. I didn’t know what was being said but I could tell from Holly’s facial expression what it wasn’t good news.

Chapter 2 ...Secrets...

“I want my brother!” Holly shouted. “He’s okay Holly remember they said he’s still alive” Shanice replied. “This is yours and Elliot’s fault! You two and your fighting! If it wasn’t for that then Harvey would still be here!” she screamed at Shanice. “Who started crying though? Who were we protecting?!” Shanice shouted back. “I didn’t need protecting! It’s all your twos fault! If you two didn’t start fighting them then Harvey would still be here” Holly said. “Fine, if that’s how you wannabe about the situation then be like that Holly!” she said walking down the corridor towards me. Mia and Tyla went to sit with Holly whilst I waited outside with Shanice until her Mum came to pick her up. We sat down at the bus stop near the hospital where her Mum told her to wait for her. “You really think it’s our fault?” Shanice asked. “No, it’s just fate, wrong place, wrong time” I replied. “You’re alright you know Elliot” Shanice said. “Not so bad yourself” I replied. Shanice’s phone started ringing. “Whyyyyy?” Shanice said to herself. “Who is it?” I asked her. “Dominique, the other 3^rd of our trio and Harvey’s on/off girlfriend, how am I meant to tell her Harvey’s been shot?” she replied. “Would you rather it came from you or someone else?” I said to her. Shanice answered her phone. “Dom, Harvey’s in hospital, he’s been shot but he’s stable” she said. I could hear crying coming from the other side of the phone. “Calm down, he’s still alive!” Shanice said. I just stared out and watch the cars pass, all of them oblivious to tonight’s proceedings. “Well calm down! He’s not going to die! Don’t think the worst!” Shanice said into her phone. “Alright, I’ll wait for you then” she said down the phone. She then rang her Mum and told her not to bother. We waited for Dominique and it was kind of cold so I offered Shanice my jacket. “Thanks, if I’d have known I’d be out this late I’d have brought my duvet and my pillow” she said putting the jacket on. We both laughed. She looked at me and I looked back at her. I looked at her lips and she looked at me. We both leaned towards each other slowly. I kissed her and she kissed me back so passionately.

Chapter 3 ...Best friend’s man...

Shanice’s phone started ringing and she took her phone out of her pocket whilst still kissing me. She pulled away and answered it. “Where are you? We’ll come meet you....yeah I’m with Elliot....Mia’s friend” she said looking at me when she said the last bit. I looked at Shanice as she got up and started walking. “Come on Elliot” she said looking back at me. “I’m coming” I replied. It was kind of cold but I didn’t mind as long as Shanice was warm. Plus, passersby would want to know why blood was all over her white top and we both couldn’t be bothered with the aggro. “Where are we actually going?” I asked her. “Going to meet Dom, where else?” she replied. “How far is it?” I asked her. “Not far but it will be if you carry on walking so slow” she replied. Within 10 minutes we’d reached some shops and a girl approached us. As she got closer I could see she’d been crying. She began crying again when she got to us. Shanice hugged her. “Dom he’ll be okay” she said. I just stood there playing on my phone. Mum rang me. “Elliot where are you?” she asked me. I told her what had happened. “Alright, just stay with Mia please! Don’t go AWOL and I love you” she said. “I love you too Mum” I said and waited for her to put the phone down. Shanice and Dominique were sat talking on a bench by this point so I went to walk up to them and Dominique stopped talking as soon as I got in ears reach. Shanice hugged her. “I’m sorry babe” Shanice said to her. We walked back to the hospital. Me and Shanice waited in the waiting room whilst Dominique went to see Harvey. “Life’s fucked up man! You telling me there’s a God when so much has gone off these past few days?!” Shanice said. “It can only get better! Remember that” I said to Shanice. “Shit’s fucked up” she said.

Chapter 4 ...They come in 3’s...

“What do you mean?” I asked her. “You know earlier, Dom told me some shit, then this stuff with Mia; they said bad stuff comes in 3’s so what’s bad that’s going to happen to me?” she said. “You can’t think like that” I said. “Yeah but it’s true” Shanice said looking up and then down the hallway to make sure nobody was coming. “Dom was being off with me and Holly for like a month then she never came school on the week Holly never, it was because she lost her baby on that Friday, the Friday we was all meant to stay round Holly’s then Holly told me that she wasn’t feeling up to it, so I was on my own for a bit” she said. I hugged her in a friendly way. “Shit’s hard but you’ve got to keep smiling through it all!” I said to Shanice. She smiled. Mia came out to both of us. “Elliot, Theo’s nearly here and he’s going to take you home okay, my Mum needs me at the moment with Dad not being back until tomorrow and everything....Shanice what you still doing here? Thought your Mum was coming to get you babe?” Mia said to us. “She was but then I went and met Dom” she replied. “Well I’ll get Theo to drop you back if you want?” she said to Shanice. “Alright, thanks” Shanice replied. Half an hour later and Theo came to pick us both up. Mia and Theo weren’t really talking after he nearly hit her a few days ago but I guess they’d put that behind them. It’s what family’s do in a predicament like this one.

Chapter 5 ...Sket...

“You okay babe? I mean physically you need to sleep you know” Theo said to Mia. She did look tired. “My little brothers just been shot, I’m meant to sleep like a baby am I? Where’s Jamahl?” she said to him sarcastically. “Women” Theo said under his breath. “What was that?” Mia said to him. “Nothing and Jamahl’s at Sharna’s with Alisha...come on you two, time to get you both home” Theo said. “She’s not well enough to look after them both! You’re so stupid” Mia said to him. “Okay Mia, see you tomorrow” He said and kissed Mia’s cheek. After that he turned around and waited for us to both get up. “Bye Mia” Shanice said. “Cya Mia” I said. “Bye and Elliot tell your Mum I’ll ring her when I get a chance okay” Mia said. “Alright” I said. I walked by Shanice’s side out of the hospital. Theo walked behind us. We waited by the backseat doors of Theo’s Vauxhall Astra. He opened the door and got in the driver seat. Shanice directed him to her house and he parked down the road because her Mum and Dad’s cars were taking up the spaces outside hers. “Walk her in Elliot, be a gent now” he said. “Thanks Theo” Shanice said. “Nice meeting you, sad it was like this but anyway keep yourself safe” Theo said to her. “Will do, thanks again” she said opening the door and getting out the car. I walked her to her door and she put her key in the door. She opened it, stepped inside her house and took off my jacket. “Thanks” she said. “It’s okay” I said. She looked at me and I know she wanted the same thing as I did. I kissed her once more and she pulled my jeans zipper down. I couldn’t believe we were actually having sex in her hallway and that she was my girlfriend’s best friend. I heard one of the doors upstairs open and Shanice pulled up her jeans zipper whilst I pulled up mine. “Shanice?” I heard a female ask. “Yeah Mum it’s me” she replied. I took my jacket and walked out of the door closing it gently.

Chapter 6 ...The next day...

I woke up the next morning and got ready. I then went downstairs to find Mia and Mum talking at the kitchen table. “Sorry again, I’m not normally one to break my word but he’s my little brother!” Mia said. “It’s okay Mia, I understand fully” Mum said. I walked into the living room and Mum caught sight of me. “Elliot come here” Mum asked me. “Yeah?” I said standing at the kitchen door. “What happened last night?” Mia asked me. I told her everything about how the guy’s upset Holly so I swung for them and then Shanice jumped in also the aftermath of 7 shots being fired and one of them hitting Harvey when it was meant for Harvey. “YOU WERE FIGHTING AGAIN ELLIOT?! WHAT HAVE I TOLD YOU ABOUT IT?! ONE DAY SOMEONE WILL GET HURT AND LOOK WHAT’S HAPPENED NOW!” Mum shouted at me. I felt so guilty when she said that. “It’s not his fault Jade” Mia said to Mum calming her down. “Holly’s round mine, I think she’s awake now, why don’t you go talk to her Elliot? She could do with the company” Mia said to me. I took this as a pass to get out of the room. I then walked round Mia’s and Holly answered the door. She had her phone in her hands and her eyes looked red from crying. I looked at her and she looked back at me. I hugged her and she cried on my shoulder. “I’m sorry for blaming you Elliot, Shanice won’t even speak to me! She’s rejecting my calls, deleted me off Facebook and ignoring me on MSN” Holly said. I began to think whether it was actually what Holly said to Shanice what upset matters or if Shanice was just too guilty over what happened last night. We both sat down on Mia’s sofa. “Where are Theo and Jamahl?” I asked her. “Work and school” she replied. Holly’s phone rang and she ran upstairs to answer it. She came back downstairs 5 minutes later and she looked like she’d been crying. I looked at her and she looked so scared. “What’s wrong Holly?” I asked her. She shook her head and began to get hysterical. “I’m pregnant....the clinic just rang me....what am I meant to do Elliot? I’m 14!” she said to me.

Chapter 7 ...Shit’s crazy...

“I’ll kill them man! Watch me Holly!” I shouted. “Elliot don’t, I don’t need it” she replied beginning to cry even harder. “You’ve got to tell your Sister if not your Mum” I said to her. “I can’t, I told them both I came on my period the week after I came back” Holly replied. She cried on me and I held her as she wept. It was mad because I was crazy about Holly but still every time I closed my eyes I thought about Shanice and how amazing she was. Holly looked at me through her tears. “I need to tell Mia don’t I” she said to me. I nodded. “What if she goes crazy at me?” she asked me. “She won’t babe, she’ll only shout at you but it’s because she loves you, just as much as I love you” I told her. “You love me?” she asked. I nodded. She hugged me tightly and I hugged her. “If you decide to keep this baby Holly, I’ll stand by you no matter what” I said to her. She smiled at me. She sat down on the sofa and I sat down next to her. She laid her head on my chest and we watched the typical morning telly. Mia’s home phone started ringing and Holly went to answer it. “She’s not here at the moment babe, but I’m staying here until whenever, so come round whenever” she said into the home phone. “Alright then see you later” she said. She walked back over to me then ran upstairs. It was my first instinct to run after her. I found her in the bathroom her head over the toilet bowl. I held her hair for her so she didn’t get sick in it. Holly’s hair always smelt the same. It was a weird but pleasant smell which was a mix between strawberries, fresh flowers and coconut. After about 5 more minutes of her being sick, she stopped, got up, flushed the toilet and then washed her hands. “My cousins on her way round, she might be a bit off with you, she lost her baby like a month ago thanks to her fuckwit boyfriend” she said whilst brushing her teeth. I nodded then went downstairs as Holly had to change her top which was now sick-laden. The door knocked and a female walked in. “Who are you? Where’s Holly?” she asked me. “I’m Elliot, the boy from next door” I replied politely getting up to show respect. She sat down on the sofa and I sat back down on the other one. I could feel her eyes looking at me, like she was seeing into my DNA atoms or something. Holly finally came back downstairs and went back to her position with her head on my chest. “Holly, is this your boyfriend then?” Sharna asked. “Yeah he is” she replied looking at me smiling. I smiled back at her and kissed her forehead. “Any of you two want a drink?” she asked us both getting up. “Yeah, make me a cup of tea with you Holl, you know how I like it” Sharna said playing with her Blackberry. “You Elliot?” she asked. “I’m alright thanks” I said to her smiling. Me and Sharna was watching Jeremy Kyle when we heard something in the kitchen smash. I ran into the kitchen and Holly lay there on the floor.

Chapter 8 ...Secrets...

I looked at Holly and she wasn’t breathing. Sharna ran in after me and ran over to Holly. “Holly can you hear me?” she said to her with her voice raised. “Elliot give me some water in a glass” Sharna said. I did as I was told. “She’s going to kill me for this” Sharna said before tipping the water all over Holly. “Shock is the best way to wake someone up from fainting...I did listen in first aid at school!” Sharna said. Holly’s eyes started moving and finally opened. “Why am I wet? Sharna what did you do?” Holly asked. “Holly what happened darling? You feel unwell or something” Sharna asked Holly. “I’m fine” Holly replied. “Don’t lie to me, ever since you were little you were a bad liar!” Sharna responded. “If I tell you then don’t say anything to anybody please, I’ve only just found out” Holly said to her older cousin beginning to cry. “You’re pregnant aren’t you” Sharna asked. “How did you know....ELLIOT YOU BIG MOUTH....” Holly started going crazy at me. “He didn’t tell me anything, I just knew! Remember when I used to do magic when I was little, it’s a bit like that but it’s a mother’s instinct” she replied. I helped Holly up just as I heard the front door open. We started clearing up the mess but not even Speedy Gonzalez could have tidied this away in time before Mia walked in. “What’s happened?” she asked. It’s like Sharna and Mia could talk without moving their eyes because the next words to come out of Mia’s mouth weren’t minced at all. “HOLLY EMILY JOHNSON! WHO’S IS IT?!” she shouted at her younger sister. Holly broke down and ran out of the house. Mia went to go after her. “It’s alright, I’ll go get her” Sharna said. Mia sat down at the kitchen table whilst I finished clearing up the broken things from the floor. “WHY?!” she kept shouting. Mia was kind of like my elder sister, she was always there for me when I needed a talk so I guessed it was time for me to listen and try sort things out between her and her sister. I sat down on the chair next to her. “She only found out like an hour ago, she’s scared Mia and she needs you” I said to her. “So why did she tell me she got her period? She told Mum the same! What’s Mum going to say when she finds out? I just wish Tysharn was here! He’d know what to do, he always did” Mia said a stray tear falling down her cheek. I got up and hugged her. She smiled and I went and sat back down. “Holly told me herself that she didn’t want you worrying about anything” I said to her. She looked at me with a concerned look in her eye. “You know when Tysharn died, I made it my duty to look after all of our little brothers and sisters, I’ve failed at that! One got shot, the other’s pregnant, Ellie’s probably up to no good as we speak now!” Mia said beginning to cry. “You haven’t failed them! You’re like the big sister I never had” I said smiling to her. “Thanks Elliot, you’re a sweet boy you know that! Come on lets go and find these two” Mia said getting up off the chair she was sat on. I walked out the door before Mia did so she could lock it. I walked down the path and onto the pavement. I looked down and saw a guy getting beaten up by a girl whilst there was another one screaming at them to stop. Sharna was the one fighting whilst Holly screamed her heart out.

Chapter 9 ...Secret’s out...

I ran down as fast as I could and punched the guy in the jaw. I then realized that it was one of the guys that raped Holly, the ringleader in fact. “DICKHEAD! ABOUT YOU’RE TRYING TO BEAT UP GIRLS! MATE ARE YOU DUMB?!” I said punching him in his jaw one more time. “FUCK YOU! I’LL KILL HER FAM!” he said trying to get to her. “Yeah you’ll have to get through me first then won’t you mate!” Sharna said tying her hair up so it didn’t get into the way. She then took over and started punching him. To say she was a girl I wouldn’t want to mess with her on a bad day. She then got up and walked away. He got up from behind her and it’s like she knew because she swung round and sucker punched him in his face. He just lay there on the pavement. “YOU JUST GOT BEAT BY A GIRL! SHAME MY FRIEND!” I shouted at him. Mia had come in between all of this and Holly was now crying on her sister. “What actually happened?” Mia asked Sharna. “Well, when I came out looking for her, he shouting at her and he looked like he was going to hit her, I wasn’t down with that so I pounced on him, obviously!” she said like it was an everyday thing. “Some things never change! Always was the fighting type” Mia said to Sharna. “For sure” Sharna said. We all walked back to Mia’s. Me and Holly sat on the sofa we was before whilst the other 2 sat on the other one. Holly sat close to me and I could tell by that she was scared but I could never have predicted what came out of her mouth. “Mia, I know nobody in our family’s never done it before but I want an abortion, I can’t live with a baby! I’m 14 and I’m not as strong as Mum is and was!” Holly said. There was silence for about 5 minutes. “I had one before, I know how you’re feeling babe” Mia finally blurted out. “YOU WHAT?!” Sharna shouted at Mia. “What you shouting fo.....oh” Mia said realizing what she’d just said. “YEAH THAT! YOU TOLD EVERYBODY YOU LOST IT WHEN REALLY YOU’D ABORTED IT?! THAT’S FUCKED UP MIA!” Sharna shouted. Holly just began crying again and I held her. I put my arms around her ears as to try block out the sound of the shouting and the curse words. They continued to argue for a further 10 minutes before Sharna got her car keys said goodbye to us all and got in her car and sped off. After that Mia went upstairs and slammed her bedroom door. Holly got up to go check on her sister but collapsed on the floor clutching her stomach. “GET MY SISTER! QUICK!” she screamed.

Chapter 10 ...Mystery...

Holly had been in a bad way ever since that afternoon at Mia’s 2/3 months ago where she ended up losing her baby. I asked Mia how she was whenever I seen her and she told me she still hadn’t changed which was true, she never answered my phone calls, never replied back to my Facebook messages and by the looks of it she was never on Facebook after it happened and it was almost like she was blocking the whole world out. I was still half asleep when Mum brought the home phone into my room saying it was for me. “It’s Holly” she mouthed. I took the phone from her. “Kool b” I said to her. “Elliot I’ve just had the biggest argument with Shanice, she’s changed and I don’t know what to do with myself anymore! People are telling me that life goes on but really I wanna end my life right now!” Holly said to me down the phone crying. “What do you mean changed? What’s she said?” I asked her. “She’s just being difficult, she won’t come out anymore or come and see me or nothing! She’s ignoring me fully but still talking to Dom!” she shouted down the phone. I heard Holly’s Mum come in the room. “Nothing Mum, I’m fine leave me alone!” she shouted at her Mum. I decided to go and see her before it got out of hand. Mum booked me a train ticket whilst I was getting ready. I then turned my laptop on and went on Facebook to find I had one inbox message. I thought it was Holly because she was going to inbox me where to meet her but I was mistaken. “Can you meet me today please.” It read and as I looked at the recipient I wondered what they were playing at so I sent them an inbox back “What are you playing at? Holly needs you and you’re carrying on fake! What do you even want?” I replied. “Just meet me man and stop being long” they replied. “Alright, well I’m coming down your ends, I have to get the last train back at 10:53pm so I’ll meet you at 9 at the train station, I ain’t missing that train for nothing including you.” I replied. “Okay I’ll be there.” Shanice replied. I told her to meet me by the side entrance as I’d leave Holly at the front one then go and meet her. Sly but I needed to tell Shanice what it was and how she couldn’t carry on like she did. Mum dropped me to the train station. “I’ll be here from 12 just in case, stay safe please Elliot! Send me a text when you get there and I love you” she said to me whilst I stood at the door about to close it. “Alright will do Mum I love you too” I said to her leaning back in the door and kissing her on the cheek. I got on the train and found a seat. I listened to my iPod the hour and a half on the train whilst I looked outside of the window thinking about how crazy life was. I got off the train and walked to 

the entrance to meet Holly.

Chapter 11 ...Life...

Holly walked over to me and hugged me. I looked at her and she smiled at me so I couldn’t help but kiss her. I walked with her to the bus stop and we got the bus to hers. She told me to wait downstairs whilst she sorted the rest of her bedroom out. I sat down and Tyla made me a drink. “Thanks for coming down Elliot” she said to me. “It’s nothing” I said to her politely. “No seriously Elliot, she hasn’t been in a good way since she came back, you coming here today it means a lot to me! There’s not many like you that are good guys Elliot!” she said to me. I felt really guilty when she said that. She smiled at me and I smiled back at her. Once Holly had finished getting her room ready we watched a few films. “Elliot you know if I tell you something please don’t call me crazy or think I don’t mean it” she said to me. “Yeah, okay” I said watching the pirate copy of Karate Kid. “I think I erm, well I’m not sure, but I think I love you” she said to me. “Seriously? How do you know? You’re too young to be in love!” I said to her. She got up from my chest which she was previously laying on. “I smile whenever I hear your name or when I think of you, whenever I’m with you I get butterflies in my stomach like the first time we kissed” she said to me looking deep into my eyes. I knew she meant it. I got up and kissed her. “I love you too Holly” I said to her and from then on I knew she was the one I wanted, she was the one I wanted to build my life around and she was the one that I’d die for and not her best friend. I looked at Holly, she was the perfect girl. She had the most amazing smile, brown curly hair that I loved to play with and the most amazing hazel eyes that made me daydream every time I looked into them. I loved Holly Emily Johnson and that was that...

Chapter 12 ...Life’s too short...

We spent the rest of the day together in Holly’s room cuddling up to each other watching DVD after DVD but the time had finally come to go back to the ends. I walked downstairs to say goodbye to Tyla, Harvey, who had come home 2 weeks ago, and Jason who were talking when Holly interrupted them. “Elliot’s going now” she said me behind her. “Want me to drop you to the train station darling?” she asked me. “It’s okay, I don’t want to be any trouble” I said smiling to her. “It’s not, I was going to nip to the shop anyway, if that’s not a problem, either way I can go on the way back” she said getting up and getting her coat on. “Thanks” I said to her whilst getting out the car at the train station. “It’s okay Elliot, thanks again” she said to me. I got out the car and Holly got out too. She kissed me slyly so her Mum wouldn’t moan. She then got in the car and I waved until I could no longer see her Mums car anymore. I then walked into the train station, got the recent update on my train and then walked out the other entrance. Shanice sat there on the wall and she didn’t even notice when I walked up to her for about 30 seconds. I coughed to get her out of her trance. She looked at me. “Sit down Elliot I need to tell you something” she said to me. “What?” I said sitting next to her. “I’m pregnant and I’m keeping it” she said to me. It started to rain and I couldn’t tell whether it was tears falling down her cheek or rain. “Why are you lying for?” I shouted at her. The fact is, I knew she wasn’t lying but how would I face Holly? How would I face Mia? How could we both face them? The questions kept running through my head. “I’m not! I swear down” she said to me. I got up and walked to the train station. “ELLIOT! I CAN’T DO THIS ALONE!” she shouted after me. “YOU’RE A LIAR!” I shouted back at her. The few passersby looked behind me as I charged through the train station, I guessed they was watching her chase after me. I walked down the stairs. “ELLIOT!” she shouted down them. I just carried on walking down the steps and to the platform. I was on the last step when I heard her shout after me again from the top. I carried on walking to my platform and looked up at the screen to see if my train was delayed or anything. I heard a few screams and people were looking behind me in shock. I turned around to see what it was. Shanice lay there on the cold, hard and wet platform.

Chapter 13 ...Shit’s mad crazy...

I ran over to Shanice and miraculously her eyes were still open. She was crying and screaming. “Elliot it hurts!” she shouted. “It’s okay, I’m here baby I’m here, I’m sorry” I said to her. “It’s okay Elliot, I understand, I just needed you to know but there won’t be much point now will there...Elliot it hurts too much!” she shouted. “WHERE’S THIS FUCKING AMBULANCE!” she shouted. I held her hand when they finally got there and we had a serious talk in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. “I’ll lie for you if you want, I’ll tell Holly I had sex with some guy at a party, I know you love her Elliot and I love her too, known that girl since we was like 7! I’ll tell her that I was shouting at you because you were taking her away from me too, I’ll be happy if you are” she said crying hysterically. The paramedic just sat there in disbelief acting like she didn’t hear a word. “How far did you fall sweetheart?” she asked Shanice. “I don’t know, about 9 steps from the bottom” she said crying squeezing my hand through every waft of pain. I looked at her and began to cry. “Everything’s going to be okay! We’d had girls fall down escalators, some have been in car crashes, some have even had abortions but their babies have still lived, miracles do happen!” she said to us both reassuringly. I didn’t know whether she was lying or what but she was good if she was. We got to the hospital and I walked by the paramedics who were wheeling Shanice to the maternity unit. Shanice looked at me. “Ring Holly, I want her here!” she said to me. I did as I was told and went to ring Mum first. “Mum something terrible has happened, I’m okay but I’ll most probably be home tomorrow, I’ve got money for another train ticket” I said. “Okay sweetheart, just keep yourself safe please Elliot and text me to know what’s happening and I love you lots darling” she said to me. “Okay Mum I love you” I said to her. I then rang Holly. “WHERE ARE YOU ELLIOT?! Your Mums worried sick! She rang me asking for you” she said answering her phone. “Holly I need to tell you something” I said to her. “What’s happened? Where are you? Elliot why do I hear sirens” she said to me as an ambulance drove out of the hospital car park. “At the hospital, babe it’s Shanice, I saw her at the train station, she accused me of taking you away from her. To cut a long story short she fell down the stairs chasing me and then she told me in the ambulance she was pregnant, well she didn’t tell me but she told the paramedic” I said to Holly. It felt bad to lie but I knew I couldn’t face telling her the truth. “WHAT?! ARE YOU HAVING A LAUGH?! MUMMMMM! MUMMMMM!” she shouted down the phone and at her Mum. “What Holly?!” I heard her Mum say. “Shanice is in hospital, quick drop me there please” I said to her. “Come on then! Get in the car” I heard her Mum say. “Elliot just wait for me outside okay, I’ll be like 10 minutes, and Mum tears the roads at night” Holly said locking off the phone.

Chapter 14 ...Girlfriend vs. Baby mother...

I waited for Holly and she was there within 10 minutes just like she said. “I’ll go park the car then you can text me where she is okay” her Mum said still in her pyjamas. Holly was wearing hers too but she pulled it off. I took her hand and we ran up to where I previously was. A nurse came to talk to us. “Miss Carter and her baby will be okay, it’s a miracle really but she will need to stay with us overnight to make sure everything is ay-okay” she said to us. “Thank you so much! Can we see her?” Holly asked the nurse. “Are you family?” the nurse asked. “She’s my sister and this is her boyfriend” Holly lied. “Alright, follow me” she said. The nurse knew we were lying but it was too late for any of us to be arguing. She led us into a room where Shanice lay just staring out of the window crying. I looked at her and she looked at Holly, avoiding my glance. “Why didn’t you tell me babe?” she asked her best friend. “Just because...” Shanice started before breaking down. Holly hugged her best friend. I sat down on one of the chairs and listened to Shanice tell Holly loads of lies to protect her. “Remember the week you came back, the day before you did, I went to one party init and it kind of happened” she lied. “Some guys! Are you keeping it?” Holly asked. “Yeah, I don’t believe in abortions, people can say what they want but I’m keeping this baby” she said. Holly’s phone went off. “It’s my Mum, she’s worried about you yanoe! She treats you like her daughter” she said. I looked at Shanice as Holly text Tyla telling her where Shanice was. Tyla knocked on the door 5 minutes later. “You alright babe?” Mum asked Shanice. “Just in shock really” Shanice said. Tyla hugged Shanice and Shanice started crying. “It’ll be okay darling trust me” Tyla said wiping away Shanice’s tears. “Does your Mum know about the baby or that you’re in hospital babe?” Tyla asked Shanice. “No, she’d kill me” Shanice replied. “I’ll ring her if you want me to” Tyla said. “Thank you” Shanice said nodding. Tyla went to ring her Mum in the hallway. Holly sat there looking at her best friend smiling. “How did you know Elliot was going to be at the train station at that time?” she asked. We hadn’t covered that point. “I didn’t, I just seen him on my way back from Dom’s” Shanice said. “Yeah but Dom’s at mine with Harvey? She got there just as we were leaving?” Holly said.

Chapter 15 ...Playing it cool...

“I know that now, Holly can we save this conversation though, I feel tired babe” Shanice said saving herself and me from any scrutinization. “Alright” Holly said. She looked at me. I had my hand over my face and was nearly half asleep. She went to go find her Mum. “Elliot that was horrible” she said to me. “What was?” I said in the same position as I was before. “Lying to her like that I can’t do it” she whispered. “Well, you’re going to have to aren’t you” I said to her without thinking. “PARDONN?! It takes two to have sex and make a baby you fool, you know if I wasn’t pregnant I’d actually smash your face in, dickhead” she said to me. Holly came back and looked at us both. “What’s going on?” she asked us. “Nothing, just arguing over Football team’s babe” Shanice lied. She knew to lie because to be honest I’d have denied everything.  Holly looked at me. “Oh okay, Elliot Mum said you can stay round ours tonight if you like and she’ll drop you back tomorrow because she’s going to see Mia anyway” Holly said. “Tell your Mum I said thank you” I said to her. “No bother” Tyla said entering the room again. “Shanice your Mums on her way poppet, I’ve told her the situation and calmed her down a little, we’ll stay for 10 minutes then leave you two alone to talk yeah?” Tyla said to Shanice. “Come here” Shanice said to Tyla. “What is it darling? Is something wrong?” Tyla asked. “No, I just couldn’t be bothered to move and I want to give you a massive hug!” Shanice said to Tyla a stray tear falling down her cheek. “Aww! You’re so sweet but I know when I’m not around you change! I did with my best friends Mum but as long as I don’t know, I won’t care” she told Shanice wiping away the stray tear with her sleeve. Shanice’s Mum arrived and me and Holly went to sit outside the room. “Elliot I love you and you know that don’t you” she said. “Yeah, I know you do, what’s brought this on” I asked. “It’s just life’s crazy and you never know what’s round the corner” she replied. We went back to Holly’s and Holly was still being off with me. I woke up the next morning and Tyla dropped me back home with Holly in tow. Holly had been quiet the whole way there. “What’s up?” I asked as Tyla and my Mum spoke about last night. We went to my room and she waited why I got some fresh clothes on. “I know Elliot” she said as I put my top on. Immediately, my heart was beating 1,000,000,000 beats per second.

Chapter 16 ...There goes my baby...

“We need to talk but we can’t talk here, let’s go for a walk” I said to her. She nodded. “Mum we’re going for a walk yeah” I said to Mum. Tyla looked at Holly. “Holly what’s up?” she asked her. “Nothing Mum I feel sick so me and Elliot are going for a walk” she said to her Mum. “Why not say anything last night though?” I asked her as soon as we got off my road. “You needed a place to stay and I wasn’t going to make a scene” she said. She looked like she was going to cry but she was just holding it down. “When did you know?” I asked her. “Shanice is such a bad liar, you were acting funny, plus I have my sources that seen you and her arguing” she said to me. “Yeah but she told you, she thought I was taking you away from her” I said to her. “What so you wanna lie to me now yeah?! I’m making this whole situation easy for you! I could tell my family and then you could explain to them!” she said to me in a more stern voice. She stopped walking and looked right into my eyes. “Holly I’m sorry, I love you, I told myself this when we was in your room the other day, I really do love you Holly Emily Johnson” I said to her. “I really do feel sorry for the word ‘love’ it gets thrown around like it’s nobody’s business” Holly said. We’d got to the park and we found a bench to sit on. “I really do mean it though” I said to her. “No you don’t, if you loved me then you wouldn’t have had sex with my best friend....wait 2 months ago....NO! please tell me you didn’t” she screamed at me getting up. “What?” I asked her. “You two had the sex the same night my brother was fighting for his life? THAT’S MESSED UP EVEN FOR YOU!” she shouted at me. “I LOVED YOU ELLIOT!” she said she screamed at me charging out of the park. I watched her walk away there was nothing more I could do anymore. I heard screaming and it sounded like Holly. I ran as fast as I could and I could see Holly being surrounded by 3 guys and it was the same 3 that raped her and caused her so much pain. I ran up to them and pushed one of them out of the way so Holly could escape. “HOLLY RUN BACK TO MINE AND GET HELP! I LOVE YOU!” I shouted back to her. “No I’m not leaving you” she said. “HOLLY GO!” I shouted at her. I watched Holly run until I could no longer see her anymore. One of the man pointed a gun to my body and without hesitation pulled the trigger. They got off as soon as they did because they knew Holly would be back. Her, Mum, Theo and Tyla came back. Tyla rang an ambulance just as Mum fell to her knees next to me. “Mum you’re gonna have a grandson or granddaughter to remember me by so if I don’t make it Holly will tell you everything and I love you Mum” I said to her. It hurt to talk but I couldn’t not tell Mum. I heard voices scream as my eyes closed.

Chapter 17 ...Shanice’s world...

I looked at my phone and it started ringing again. “Go away” I said to myself pressing the reject button. I didn’t want to talk to Holly and I had to avoid her at all costs. How would I tell her that I was carrying her boyfriend’s child? What would that do to her? I then heard the home phone ringing and I looked at the one in my bedroom. “Holly doesn’t give up” I said leaving it to ring. “SHANICE!” Mum shouted from the bottom of the stairs I just ignored her and carried on using my computer. Mum came into my room. “Babe, it’s Holly, she said it’s urgent” Mum said. “Tell her to go away” I said to Mum. “Holly I can’t go against her wishes...YOU WHAT?! PLEASE TELL ME YOU’RE JOKING?! SHANICE GET IN THE CAR NOW!” Mum shouted at me. “Shut up I am not going anywhere I feel sick” I shouted back. It was a total lie but I was not going to see Holly when I’d only just come out of hospital today. Mum came in my room and grabbed my arm. “GET OFF ME YOU FOOL!” I shouted at her. She put the phone on loudspeaker. “Holly you’re on loudspeaker, now tell Shanice what you’ve just told me” Mum said. “Shanice, I know everything, I know the baby’s Elliot’s but he’s been shot and they think he’s going to die so you need to get here ASAP” Holly said. I began to cry. “Where are you?” I asked her. “Elliot’s ends” she said. “Yeah but where are Elliot’s ends” I asked her. “Manchester” she replied. “We’ll be there soon” Mum said locking off the phone. “Come here sweetheart” she said hugging me and I cried into her chest. As soon as we got to Manchester we found the hospital. I walked with Mum down the corridors and to where Holly, Tyla, Elliot’s Mum and Theo were. They all looked at me. “Who are you?” Elliot’s Mum asked. “Elliot’s girlfriend” Holly said. “Holly no, you can’t he loves you” I replied back to her. She got up and hugged me. “I can’t trust him no more, but he’ll always be in your life” she said still hugging me. “I want you to be in my life too” I said to her. “Maybe one day I’ll forgive you but I can’t not yet, I’ll always be here if you need me though” Holly said to me. I began to cry and she wiped away the tear before leaving the hospital with her Mum and Theo. I turned and watched my best friend walk away from me. It hurt so bad. Mum held me as I cried. Elliot’s Mum looked me up and down. “So, are you the girl my son got pregnant?” she asked. I nodded looking down at my stomach. She smiled at me and then got up and hugged me. I didn’t know it yet but we’d soon become so close she was like a Mum to me. A doctor came out of the operating room and approached us. “Mrs Hunter?” they asked Elliot’s Mum. “Yes that’s me” she said. “Elliot did pull through, he’s in a coma at the moment but we don’t know if he’ll ever wake up” he said. The final 3 words “he’ll ever wake up” played on my mind. I turned my head to Mum and she hugged me. I sat with Elliot that night hoping he’d wake up but he never did.

Chapter 18 ...2 months to the day...

I got ready for school like I always did but I only went in for 2 lessons a day since I was pregnant and even then I was allowed to stay in the same room all day and wear non-uniform. Mum dropped me to school and I walked in the gates. I waved her goodbye and she drove off down the road back home. 2^nd lesson was just beginning but there was still some stragglers walking in from break. I saw a group of girls walking towards me, they were all in my year but didn’t really talk to me. “Slag” one sneered. “Sket” the other spat. “He was her best friend’s man, nobody knows why but she slept with him” another one started singing antagonizing me. “Just ignore them” I said to myself. I could have taken maybe two of them on but 1. There was 5 of them and 2. I wasn’t going to be fighting and risking my baby’s life not when it could be the last little piece of Elliot left. “OI SLAG!” another of them shouted. I turned round to be greeted by her fist. She hit me that hard I jolted back and landed on my arm. “You think you’re so big and bad now Shanice do ya?!” she shouted back at me. “What you think you’re so hard yeah? Remember back like Year 7 times bitch, who bullied who?” I retaliated back at her. “OI MASH HER UP MAN!” One of the girls said. She approached me shouting at me like she was going to hit me. “OI LEAVE HER ALONE!” I heard someone shout. I looked behind her. Holly stood there. “She mashed your Man Holly! How we gonna let them ones slide?” she asked. “I said LEAVE HER ALONE!” Holly said walking up to the girl. Two teachers came and took them all except Holly to the head teachers office. “Thanks” I said to Holly. “I didn’t do it for you” she replied. “Why did you do it then” I asked her whilst she sat with me in our Mentors office. “I did it for Elliot and your two’s baby” she said looking at my stomach. “Alright” I said. It hurt what she said but I guess she was still hurting. Our mentor came back and sat down in her chair. “Holly you can go to lesson 2 now, thanks for your help” she said. “Okay Miss, see you around Shanice” she said walking out the office. “Shanice your Mums on her way, she has been called and will be here any moment” she said. Just then Mum came rushing into the office. “WHAT DID THEY DO TO YOU?! I HOPE THESE MONSTERS GET DEALT WITH!” she shouted at my mentor Mrs James. “They’re all getting excluded don’t you worry Mrs Carter” she replied. “What do you mean excluded?! That’s nothing!” Mum shouted. “There’s nothing more we can do I’m afraid” Mrs James said. That really upset Mum and she took my hand and walked me out of the school and to the car. She opened the door and got into the driver’s seat. I then got into the passenger seat. As soon as we got home I ran upstairs to my room crying. “Shanice” Mum said knocking on the door. “LEAVE ME ALONE!” I screamed at her. I needed Elliot to help me through this or Holly. Unfortunately neither of them was here for me at this moment in time. Dom never really spoke to me after what happened. I just sat on my bed in the corner crying. Dad came back after Mum rang him. They called me downstairs and I obeyed because I was ready to talk to them. “Shanice show your Dad your arm!” Mum said to me. I pulled up my sleeve and he looked at it. There was a bruise on it the size of Russia.

Chapter 19 ... Revelations...

“WHAT THE?!” Dad shouted. “That’s it! We’re moving away from this place, NOBODY IS GOING TO HURT MY PRINCESS AND MY UNBORN GRANDCHILD!” Dad shouted. “Really?” I asked him. “Yes, I can get transferred and so can your mother we’ll just tell them it’s not safe down here anymore and it really isn’t” Dad carried on. “Where too though?” I asked them both. “How does Manchester sound? I mean, it would be practical with Elliot and his Mum living there and everything” she replied. I got up and hugged them both tightly. Dad kissed my forehead. The next 2 months were hectic, Mum and Dad had found a new house in Manchester just round the corner from Elliot’s. They also had been transferred and Mum even got to work from home most of the time so she’d be a big help when my daughter finally arrived. We were leaving tomorrow and that was final. I lay in my bed for the final night. I lay thinking about how much my life had changed and how much I wanted my old life back. I looked around my room and there were so many good memories. Like the time Holly nearly white deathed when she took a drag of a zoot for the first time. Me and Dom were so scared at the time but I looked back at that moment and it made me laugh. I got a text on my phone. It was the middle of the night but I still knew who it was. “Come meet me. Usual spot yeah. H. x” it read. I got myself out of bed and tip-toed downstairs. I then put a cardigan on over my pyjama top and my black Ugg boots. I was walking the streets in my pyjamas but I’m sure people would be staring more at my stomach than they did me. I got to the bus stop and Holly sat there waiting for me. She looked up at me, tears in her eyes. “Does your Mum know you’re out?” I asked her. “No, you?” she asked me. I shook my head. We sat there for about 2 minutes and I had to know what she wanted so I decided to break the ice. “What did you want me for Holly? How did you even know I was awake?” I asked her. “I wanted to tell you goodbye and good luck” she said. “It’s a best friend thing” she continued. “What so we’re still best friends after all of this?” I asked her. “You always will be my best friend Shanice, it was one silly mistake that’s obviously turned into a big one now but hey hoe! Life goes on” she said looking at my stomach. “You best not forget about me you know” she said beginning to cry. I hugged her tightly and cried too. “You can come and visit whenever you like” I said to her sitting back on my seat. “Yeah I’ll come up, just not when Elliot’s there though, it’ll seem weird” she said. I nodded. “I’ve got you something” she said. She pulled out a bracelet out of her pocket and put it on my wrist. “Thanks Holly” I said to her. “They’re best friend bracelets, whenever you feel down or you feel upset and you can’t go on, just look at it and remember me okay and I’ll do the same” she said to me. I smiled at her and she smiled back at me. Holly had grown up so much recently and it actually amazed me. “Well, I bet you’re tired so I’ll let you get in before any of our Mums realize we’re not at home in our beds” she said getting up. I then got up and she hugged me. She hugged me like she was never going to see me again. One of those hugs that only people who love you give. I hugged her and we both began to cry. “I’ll miss you Silly” she said to me. “I’ll miss you too Billy” I replied. She turned and walked away. I watched her walk until I could no longer see her. I walked back home and the light was on. I’d been clocked.

Chapter 20 ...Fresh start...

“SHANICE! Where have you been! You had me worried sick!” Mum said hugging me as soon as I walked through the door. She noticed I’d been crying and started quizzing me about it. “What’s the matter poppet?” she asked me. I told her everything about what me and Holly said to each other. “That’s so grown up of her!” Mum said to me. I smiled at her. “You need your rest though sweetheart! Two more months and your little girls going to be here!” she said to me. “I know Mum, I’m going bed now, promise, and night” I said kissing her on her cheek. I woke up early the next morning and it was time to leave my old house behind. I got in the car with Mum and Dad. Dad started the car up and we drove to Manchester. As we were driving out of Birmingham I felt sad because there were so many spots that had so many good memories. I drove by Holly’s road and I saw what looked like Holly, Dominique and Harvey messing around in the front garden. I’d miss that but I wasn’t wanted around these parts anymore. I got to my new house and went to my new room. It’d already been decorated and everything already set up. My little girl even had her own room next to mine but for the first few months her cot was going to stay in my room so I could be the best Mum that I could be. I knew that this was what I wanted and this is where I belonged. Even if Elliot didn’t wake up, like he still hadn’t, then I’d raise our daughter like he’d want me to. I had to keep strong for our daughter no matter what. I still felt guilty about the situation that I’d got myself into but I’d already made my bed so I guess it was my time to lay in it. Mum came upstairs and hugged me. I kissed her cheek. “I love you so much Mum, you’ve done so much for me these past few months and I never even said thank you” I said to her. “It’s okay poppet” she said to me. After a while we went downstairs to join Dad. I sat in-between them both and laid my head on Dad whilst I sprawled out over Mum. Mum sipped on her wine and Dad had his Bailey’s. I looked at them both and I knew that then on this was home. I also knew that this was the place for me.

Chapter 21 ...3 months later/Back to planet Elliot...

I could hear two female voices. I started moving my eyes but they were still closed. “Elliot, can you hear me?” one asked. “Elliot if you can hear me squeeze my hand poppet” she said. I did as I was told. “Quick go and get a doctor” another one said to the first voice I heard. I opened my eyes and I expected to see Holly sitting in the chair next to my hospital bed. However, it wasn’t Holly. It was Shanice sitting there in the chair looking at me. I looked back at her and started to cry. “I love you Elliot, do not EVER scare me like that ever again” she said to me. She got up and hugged me. “What happened to our baby?” I asked her. “She’s at home with my Mum; I’ve been bringing her here every day since she was born hoping you’d wake up! Today however, I thought she could stay with Grandma for a few hours! To be honest Elliot, she needs you and I do too” she said to me. I sat and thought about it for a few seconds. “Come here princess” I said to her. “What’s wrong?” she asked me looking alarmed. I sat up in the hospital bed and beckoned her to come closer. I kissed her so passionately like we did the night we first met. I wiped a stray tear from her cheek. “What’s up?” I asked her. “These past few months have been terrible without you, I needed you so much! I thought you were gonna die!” she confessed. “I’m alive! Just like that Dodo bird on that advert” I said to her. She laughed. “What about Holly?” I asked her. “She still lives in Birmingham, but I moved to your ends with my Mum and Dad a few months after you got shot, I needed your Mum and she needed me” she said. “What about Mia, do you still see her?” I asked. “Yeah, I still see Holly too now and again when I go and see your Mum, she’s got a new man now, moved on, they’ve been together for about 5 months now” she said to me. “Ahh, okay” I replied. She smiled at me whilst texting. “What are you doing?” I asked her. “You’re going to meet your daughter obviously” she said. Mum came back with a doctor who then checked me over. “Back in 10 minutes yeah, Mums on her way and she can’t stop because she’s got work” she said and with that she disappeared out of the room. She appeared back within 15 minutes with a car seat containing a perfect little girl. She had lots of curly black hair just like her Mum. She also had green eyes like her Mum. She looked at me and instantly I fell in love with her. Shanice held her so gently. I finally realized something terrible. I realized that all this time I’d only been with Holly because I felt the need to protect her from everything like a big brother, but now I had my own family to protect and I really did love Shanice. The way she looked at me playing with our daughter. “Meet your Daddy Aaliyah Sienna Hunter” Shanice said passing her to me. I held her so carefully like she was going to break. I finally realized at that moment in time that it’s true what they say, you can feel like you love someone but really you’re too comfortable in that situation with them. You’re actually in love with the situation, not the person.