Chapter 52

**Megan**

Julie and Yasmin look up from their phones "did you two have a good time in the bathroom all alone?" Julie asks with a smile on her face "you're really getting around tonight Megan," she says with a little laugh. I sigh and sit down on the blow up mattress I’m sleeping on.

"Okay," Yasmin says sitting up, "tension," she says looking up at the ceiling. Julie chuckles and reaches for the hot chocolate on her bed stand.

I sigh and run a hand through my hair "are you wearing makeup to bed?" Julie asks. I frown and then realise what she asked.

"Oh erm no I..." I look at Melanie for help; she just sighs and looks away from me indicating I have3 to get out of this situation alone.

"It'll ruin your skin," she says.

"Julie, she always wears makeup to bed," Yasmin points out.

"Yeah, I know, it's just been bothering me for some time now as to why?" Julie states. I look at Melanie again and she is looking at me now.

"Erm..." I say and twiddle with the covers. I'm sure Julie can tell I'm uncomfortable. I mean she has eyes like a hawk and she notices everything. "I need the toilet," I say, getting up and walking out of her room.

"Julie," I hear Melanie snap.

"What? I'm only asking. It isn't like I held a gun to her head and asked her to tell me,"

"Yeah well you've never asked before, why now?"

"Because there's something going on and I want to know," Julie says loudly.

"So what if there's something going on. It has nothing to do with any of us," Melanie snaps.

"We're her friends," Julie shouts "and if there's something going on that she's too scared to tell us about, then it's only right for us to try and find out what," she retorts.

"Who says she is scared to tell you?" Melanie asks.

"It is obvious," Yasmin suddenly says, making them both shut up. "I've noticed for a while she's been a little distant and I'm not going to lie. I want to know but I'd rather wait until she's ready to tell us," she says. I sigh in relief, thank god Yasmin is so cool and collected, the biggest peacemaker in our group.

"But it's worrying," Julie says and her voice sounds sad.

"Yeah maybe so but don't you think it may be hard for her to open up and tell us," she pauses. "This all started when her mom died. She was very close to her mom, so she's in a weird place at the moment, that only she can get out of on her own. Not by people forcing her," she says. I sigh and lean against the wall. "Just leave her be," there is silence again "and anyway why do women wear makeup as much as what she does normally?" Yasmin asks. "Think about it," then I hear Julie gasp slightly.

"No way," she says

"Well it's only a theory but her dad could be an arse to her," she says "we can't go on a theory, we need evidence and well she covers the evidence," Yasmin says.

"I'll kill him if he is," Julie says then pauses "maybe we could try and find out."

"Look, can we stop talking about it," I hear Melanie say "I doubt she'll appreciate us talking about her behind her back," Melanie snaps and the room falls silent once more.

I take a deep breath and walk in shutting the door behind me. I give them a small smile and sit back where I was before I walked out. The room is silentWe all obviously feel awkward.

"So..." I break the silence slightly and they all look at me "Erm..." I don't know what to say. I sigh and run a hand through my hair.

"Megan," Julie says seriously. I look at her "I have a question for you," she states and Melanie and Yasmin look at her as if they know what she is going to ask and so do I, Julie isn't one to keep what she's thinking quiet. I’m scared that if she asks I’ll break down and tell her everything.

"Ok" I say and as she goes to open her mouth a phone sounds through the room. I let out a sigh of relief talk about being saved by the bell.

"It's Mr Peter's phone," Yasmin states. I reach for his jacket and take the phone out and Scott's name comes up.

I answer the phone and as I do Julie mouths "put it on loudspeaker," I do as she says and then his voice fills the room.

"Ok, so I have come to a solution...well Scott did," he pauses and then I hear a ruckus. "Scott tell your fucking god damn dog to stop trying to hump my leg,"

"What do you want me to do he won't stop?" Scott says.

"Well if it doesn't stop I'm going to strangle it," he growls. Melanie laughs and so does Julie "One sec, Megan," then there is silence then a yelp.

"Aww poor doggie," Julie says giggling slightly. Then a bang of a door slamming shut then some more ruckus.

"Stupid little ankle biter, what man has a dog that small," he says. "I'm never staying here again," he says "hey sorry about that," he says.

"It's ok," I pause. "What did you do with the dog?"

"I made it meet grim reaper," he says "No I'm kidding, I locked it in the bathroom," he says "so erm yeah if you can take my jacket to my aunt and uncles tomorrow then I'll go round and pick it up," he then pauses "my aunt is really nosy so just say something like you found it and then walk away," he chuckles slightly "she may think that's a bit rude but she'll get over it," he says

"Okay," I say.

"Okay, so I'm gonna go, I have a six mile run to do tomorrow,"

"Why?" I ask, suddenly confused.

"Max, I take him for a run every few days and well I have to take him tomorrow as I think Carl will have a hangover," he states "plus I have the gym after," I watch Julie and Melanie waft their hands in front of them slightly.

"Isn't that a bit much?" I ask

"No," he pauses "have you seen James, that is too much he'll be up at 6 tomorrow and will be working out until about one in the afternoon," he pauses again "I only do a bit a week, although," he pauses "I should probably do more I've been called scrawny, I don't know how many times today really put my self-esteem down," he says glumly. Julie and Yasmin chuckles and Melanie moved closer to me and sat next to me.

"Aww, you're not scrawny Mr Peters," Melanie says.

"Why thank you Melanie, but I think they are right. I have apparently lost weight, which is true," he mutters then he clears his throat.

"Logan," someone shout "how dare you lock him in the bathroom?" the person bellows. Then a door opens "I'm going to kill you,"

"Oh crap he looks really angry,"

"Angry. Angry does not describe it right now. Now say goodbye to your underage girlfriend and give me my phone and prepare for death," Scott bellows.

"What? Underage. Girlfriend," he pauses "you prepare for death you little midget," then there is ruckus.

"Ah no. James help!" I hear Scott shout.

"I have to go kill him. Night girls,"

"Night Mr Peters,"

"Night Megan,"

"Night," I say and then the phone goes dead and then we all start giggling.

"They're like children," Yasmin giggles and now the fun atmosphere is back, no awkward tense silence. It is fun and warm. I love it.