Okay I’ve decided to add more chaps to this hehe so lots more outcasts to come

Chapter Nineteen

Chris arrived home and was immediately ushered upstairs by his sisters; anxious expressions covered their faces. He entered his mother’s bedroom “Oh there you are…fetch that case down for me hon?” she instructed Chris obeyed without thinking she glanced at her watch then moved quickly to the wardrobe and opened the door “Chris is mom leaving us?” little Irma questioned her arm in a sling and face full of tears “No course not…go on go play I’ll see to this” he said as he ushered them both out of the room then closed the door.

His mother went on packing mumbling to herself as she placed warm clothes into the large suitcase “What the hell’s going on?” he inquired as he watched her “I have to go away” she said Chris felt his anger rise inside “What? Are you serious? Mom it’s almost Christmas” she stopped and stared “Don’t you think I don’t know that?” he maintained eye contact with her “Mom I need you here” she looked annoyed “You’ll be fine” she assured “We need you Christ mom! I can’t do this on my own” he pleaded “Well you’ll…you’ll just have to!” she shrieked as she closed and locked her case “This isn’t fair mom” he added as he blocked the door “Christian please don’t do this you’re being selfish” his eyes widened “I’m being selfish!” he repeated “Yes…you know the situation we’re in…All I ask is that you do this one thing!” he bowed his head then moved aside to let her pass “You will be back on Christmas day wont you?” he asked she stopped dead “I don’t know…just do what you can okay” he nodded solemnly as he watched her close and lock the case “I’ll call you when I get there okay?” he moved his face away when she tried to kiss him “I have to go you know that” he never replied just bowed his head and listened to her feet as they padded along the hallway and downstairs “Chris where’s mom going?” he heard his sisters say in unison as soon as she’d gone “Come here…I wanna talk to you both” they allowed themselves to be ushered forward to where their mother’s bed sat “Mom’s had to go away for a while…but she’ll be home soon okay?” they both stared at each other then back at Chris “You wont go away and leave us will you Chris?” asked Ingrid her expression pained he shook his head “Never…hay what you say we go and pick the Christmas tree tomorrow huh?” they nodded then hugged him close one at either side of him “Can we put it up tomorrow?” asked Irma “Sure why not” he agreed as he stood up “Come on let’s play” they stared at him “Play what?” Ingrid frowned “Clean up the house” they both groaned “Oh I just knew that’s what you’d say” they groaned but followed him downstairs and into the lounge.

~**~

Paul let the door slam closed as he rushed past the large imposing figure standing by the sink “Stop!” she said without even looking at him “Gloria…how’s your day been?”

“Better than yours is gonna be”

“Why? What have I done?”

“It’s what you haven’t done”

Paul looked at the floor “Oh that I’m gonna get round to it”

“You’re gonna get round to it right now!”

“Oh but Glo…”

“Don’t oh but Glo me and don’t even think of putting on that puppy dog face coz it wont work you’ve used up all your get outa jail free cards…I want that room cleaned the garbage taken out and homework done!”

Paul raised his eyebrows “In that order?” she put down the potato she’d been peeling then waddled over to where he stood “In any order” she said as she cupped his face in her large hands and kissed his forehead “Okay I’ll go do it now…how can anyone ignore that face” she started muttering something to the lord in Spanish as she went back to her task.

He walked through the lounge and upstairs whistling as he went his was the first bedroom you came to after the toilet no wonder Gloria was on his case his room really did need tidying “Oh so the little pig has arrived home!” he glanced across the room to where Vinny his foster brother sat “You better get this dump cleaned before I get back or…” Paul stood in the doorway “Or what?” he challenged, watching as the teenager stood up “You know what’ll happen” Paul simpered “Is that suppose to be some kind of threat?” the older boy eyed him threateningly “A warning!” he said “I’m petrified!” retorted Paul as his foster brother barged past him.

The teenage hoodlum was correct though the room was a mess clothes lay scattered all over the floor clean clothes mixed in with dirty Paul stared down at the mess then pouted where to start? That was the question he scratched his head as he dumped his book bag onto the unmade bed then crouched down and begun gathering up the clothes “Was that washed?” he said aloud as he lifted the khaki t-shirt and smelt the fragrance “Wow I don’t think so” he answered his own question then let it drop to the floor once again “God! I don’t wanna clean up” he told himself “Wow yeah I know” he smiled as he bolted out of the room and trudged along the narrow hallway “Hey Merk” he called out as he quickened his pace but stopped dead when the door flew opened and there stood a pretty ten year old with attitude “Yes?” she spoke with hand on hip, long dark hair stretching right down her back and eyes as dark as the night sky

“I don’t suppose you could…” Paul began those dark eyes widened “No!” she said firmly

“Why not?”

She let out a deep sigh “Coz Paul I do it every time and besides I ain’t got time today coz I’m going out”

Paul stared at her “But you never go out”

“So…is there a law says Mercedes Gomez can’t go out?”

“But where are you going?”

“To a friends”

“What friend? How are you getting there?

“Paul I’m a big girl I can walk!”

“Walk in this neighbourhood you gotta be kidding…I’ll walk with you”

She rolled her eyes but was secretly pleased “Okay fine if you must”

He smiled as he glanced at his watch “So what time is she expecting you?”

“He”

“He? She’s a he?”

“Paul chill out…I do have male friends you know”

“Yeah well…as long as that’s all they are friends!”

Mercedes rolled her eyes “Yeah they’re just friends I’m only ten years old for Christ sake”

“Ok…so when are you going out?”

“Soon”

“How soon?”

“Right after I help you clean out that pig-sty you call a room”

He grinned wickedly as he followed her back along the hallway he’d gotten his own way at last.

~**~

Tara didn’t notice the grimace on Chris’s face when she told him of her date with Paul. She’d gone round to help him decorate the Christmas tree which was now sitting proudly in the corner of the room “It feels strange to think of Paul in that way” she went on unbeknown to her that each word cut into his heart like a knife, he just lay relaxing on the couch “He’s always just been one of my best buddies…like you really” Chris blinked a few times but still remained silent which made Tara look over at him “Hey are you okay?” this time he looked at her then forced a smile “Sure why wouldn’t I be?”

Tara got up from the armchair and walked over to the couch “Budge up” she said then lay down next to him “You look worried?” she said after staring at him for a few seconds “I’m just tired” he replied she took his hand and studied it “You would tell me if something was wrong wouldn’t you?” he stared at her looking at her neck the gold chain catching his eye, he recognised it, it was the one he’d gotten her last Christmas. She stared at him again then sat up “Something is wrong Chris tell me! Who knows maybe I can help” he forced a smile “I’ll be fine as I said I’m just tired” Tara knew to drop the subject.

She lay back down but wandered why Chris hadn’t put his arm around her, he usually did when they lay and watched a movie there was nothing in it just two best buddies enjoying one others company maybe she was reading too much into this maybe he was just tired “I better go” she said suddenly as she sat up once again, Chris watching her dark hair fall around her pretty face “Ain’t Daz coming for you?” he asked she shook her head “I’ll be fine it’s only a few blocks away” he looked a little reluctant at first “I’d rather you called Darren to come get you?” she bent down and kissed his lips just as she’d done so many times before but this time Chris pulled away form her “I’ll be fine…stop worrying” she said as she pulled on her long coat hat scarf and gloves. All set to brave the elements.

Hayley stared wide-eyed when Tara confided in her next day in the ladies room “What? He actually asked you out on a date?” she nodded as she watched Hayley apply even more mascara “So where are you going?” she said suddenly “Huh?” Tara replied “On your date where is he taking you?” Hayley added and Tara shrugged “I don’t know…but with Paul it could be anywhere” she laughed as they headed out to class.

Ben came up behind Hayley as soon as she stepped into the crowded hallway and placed his arm around her “Hey babe…you smell wonderful” he groaned into her neck “Ben! Don’t!” sniggered Hayley knowing what he was about to do “She’ll catch up with you in a mo Taz” he said Tara merely smiled and walked away wondering if Paul would ever display such affection, she was so deep in though that she hadn’t even noticed Paul come up behind her “Gotcha!” he laughed as he seized her by the neck and pushed her head downward “Oh no you don’t” laughed Tara moving swiftly she always had been stronger than Paul who was now firmly secured in a headlock “Miss Hayes please put him down you don’t know where he’s been” Tara let Paul go then skipped off after the school counsellor whom she wanted to speak with “Kaz can I see you?” Karen glanced at her watch then let out a deep sigh “You better make it quick I’ve a meeting with Rawlings in ten minutes” Tara sighed “Okay…it’s about Chris” Karen glanced across to where Christian stood “What about him?” she inquired

“I can’t discuss it out here can I come see you later?”

“Yup sure…I got some free time after lunch”

Tara nodded gratefully before walking away.