Page 58 of Girl Like Me

We’re all going to Maximus’s house for afternoon tea to celebrate.

We all head out together towards the car park. We all have our own cars except Maximus so he decides to ride with JD in her fancy ass car.

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Most of us have to park on the street, leaving the front of the house for the adults. Maximus's mum and Rocky’s mum have cooked up a storm for the afternoon. We all head outside to the pool since it’s finally hot enough to enjoy it.

JD goes with Savannah to get changed while we all pile into Maximus’s room and shut the door so we can all talk in private.

“What are you doing Rocky?” Maximus asks as he watches him pulling out half the clothes from his closet.

“I didn’t bring anything to swim in and I don’t think wearing my boxers is appropriate around all the adults.”

“Check the bottom drawer, on the right.”

Rocky finds what he is looking for, the rest of us were smart enough to pack a bag. We all get changed into boardies, Maximus too but he wears his shirt.

“When are we going to tell JD about our surprise?” Rocky asks, bouncing on toes.

Her parents, brother and friends will be here soon, she deserves to celebrate even if she didn’t get to graduate. She was on the right track until she ended up in the hospital. All a technicality that could have been fixed with money. Her father offered to make it disappear but she refused. She doesn’t want to cheat her way through life and I respect that.

“If we don’t head back down there she will find out for herself.” I say as I grip the doorknob. I open the door as JD steps out of Savannah's room. My breath catches when I see her in her swimsuit. It’s a black one piece but both of the sides are open, showing her skin and there are strings tied at the sides.

“Do you like?” she asks with a twirl and I nod like an idiot. Savannah laughs from beside her at my dumbfounded expression.

“I think you broke him. Let’s go, the water is calling my name.” Savannah grabs JD and drags her away. She turns and I see there isn’t much of the back of her suit. It looks like a regular bikini from the back.

“Why are you blocking the door?” Rocky snaps and forces me out, only to freeze when he spots what I’m staring at.

“JD, hold up,” he shouts and races after her.

The rest of us all follow behind.

Everyone is gathered outside around the pool. Maximus’s mum has set up the food in the undercover area since it's all enclosed.

A knock at the door disrupts my attempt at getting something to eat. I race through the house and see that everyone has arrived at the same time. Clarissa, Mac, Chloe, Echo and Mossy all walk past, Mac knows where he is going. I did try to prepare Savannah that Mac would be here and she said that she was fine and they’re only friends now. She mentioned having a boyfriend and we’ll be talking about that at a later date.

“Thank you for inviting us,” JD’s dad says, shaking my hand.

“You’re welcome. Come in, J…Bristol is out the back.”

“It’s fine if you call her JD, she seems to like that better.” I nod.

“What a quaint little house.” Carter adds as he walks past me. I grab him by the arm.

“Do not cause a scene. Today isn’t about you.” He snatches his arm back and smiles at me, a glimmer of hate shining in his eyes.

“I wouldn’t dream of it. You seem to forget that she’s my sister and I love her. Everything I do is in her best interest. So maybe you,” he says, pointing at me, “shouldn’t make a scene.”

With that, he stalks off after his parents and I follow behind. When I get outside JD is smiling and talking to her friends.

JD’s dad has moved in with the fathers and are talking around the BBQ, while her mum has flocked to Rory’s mum making me snort. I can’t imagine her being good company but she has found the richest or who she perceives as the richest woman in the room.

Carter walks over and joins in the conversation with JD. I don’t like the way he looks at her and I feel like a dick for feeling that way. Maybe it’s just the fear of her old life pulling her back in and that we could lose her.

“Can I have everyone’s attention?” Maximus’s dad says and everyone turns to face him, intent to hear what he has to say.

“We wanted to thank everyone for being here on this special occasion. I know a lot of us are in the same position but I can only speak for myself and my wife, that we are super proud of Maximus for graduating. When he came to live with us, when he was all of six years old, we could have never imagined being here right now surrounded by those who have become our family over the years. We all wanted to get the kids a gift but what do you get kids who don’t need for anything? So, we may have been spying on them just a little and found a gift that was a group effort. But I know the boys wanted to surprise JD first, so we can start there.”

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