4 months later...
Jodie sighed as she took one last look in the mirror, her eyes scanned herself as she put the last pin in her hair to hold it all up. It's her 18th birthday, her and Ada had been planning for this day for a week and now it was finally here. She wore a dark blue dress that came to just below her knees, black shoes with a slightly heel to match her coat. A faint coat of red lipstick painted on her full mouth.She had to meet Ada at the Garrison, the whole family was meant to be coming including Tommy and that still made her nervous.
Jodie walked away from her mirror, flopping onto her bed silently, her dad had left a few minutes ago, she didn't think it was a good idea to go straight away. Jodie couldn't stop her mind racing as she sat in silence waiting until the right time to leave, her dad had ignored her nearly all day.
He had decided to come in her room in the early hours of the morning to wake her, luckily she didn't have too many bruises he was too drunk to do any serious damage. Jodie sighed as she lay back wincing slightly at the pain in her side, she decided it was finally safe to leave. It didn't take long and she arrived at the Garrison right on time, she saw Ada outside waiting for her she couldn't help but smile at how thoughtful she really was, knowing that her shy friend would be too nervous to walk in a pub alone.
"You look great Ada" she told her as she eyed her dark pink dress that was very similar to hers.
"I know you look good too birthday girl" Ada repiled smiling at her before pulling her into a short hug "you ready?" She asked her as she pulled away.
She linked her arm threw Ada's "I am now" she smiled at her bestfriend as she pushed the doors to the pub open.
"There's the birthday girl!" John shouted as he caught sight of her from the small table he, Arthur and Tommy were sat at a metre away.
He jumped out of his chair as they approached them, charging towards her throwing his arms around her shoulders pulling her into a hug, she laughed as she returned the hug squeezing his waist tightly before letting go.
"Is that how you greet all the ladies?" She teased as she looked up at him her blue eyes twinkling, she wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.
"Only the pretty ones" he winked at her as he smiled, she knew it was innocent flirting he was married to a woman called Martha with children.
John took his seat again next to Arthur, Ada sat down next to him leaving Jodie a seat inbetween Arthur and Tommy.
"Happy birthday princess" Arthur told her as he leaned over to her to give her a small one armed hug "what you want to drink angel? It's on me" he asked.
She rested her arm on the table as she smiled at him "surprise me" she told him bravely.
"You're going to regret that" John tutted,a smile gracing his face as he shook his head.
"Shut up" Arthur grumbled as he stood patting John on the back as he did, a little harder than he needed too before heading over to the bar.
"Randy Rachael hasn't took her eyes off Arthur since he came in" John stated as he tried to contain a laugh, his eyes watering slightly at the effort it took not too.
"He needs to keep his options open" Tommy stated in a surprisingly good mood, he let out a husk of a laugh.
"Who's Randy Rachael?" Jodie asked her eyebrows furrowed as she looked oposite her to Ada for answers.
Ada pointed out a middle age woman standing at the bar, she couldn't help but let out a short laugh at their jokes now. She was stood at the bar alone, drink in hand. Her hair was dark brown, her eyes matched. Rachael was tall and thin, her face gaunt, slight wringles around her eyes.
