Chapter 17
Cody answered the door as soon as he heard it knock.
His mouth dropped open with what he saw.
It was Jason, Darcy, Eric and Jade. Cody wasn't expecting his friends and girlfriend to come over, and it looked like the guys were planning a big night in. Jade would have tagged along to make sure everyone behaved.
Cody sighed. Jade could stay, but the guys couldn't. He couldn't get drunk with his friends tonight. His father and step mother had yet another staff meeting each, and then they were going on a dinner date.
Catania was also going out to Hayley's house so they could study for their first big year twelve assignment. So, that left Cody with the responsibility of looking after Ella and Mia.
"Are you going to let us in, Codes?" asked Jason.
Cody stepped aside and let Jade in. Of course, she could come in. And then he looked at his friends, "what did you have planned tonight?" he asked.
"What does it look like?"
Jade groaned, "I tried to talk them out of it."
Cody nodded before he looked at his friends again, "well, you can't do it here."
"You? Don't you mean, 'us?' And why can't we do it here?"
"I have babysitting duty tonight."
"I tried to tell them," said Jade.
Cody nodded once more. He knew his girlfriend would have done her best to help out.
"Babysitting?" asked Darcy.
Cody nodded and pointed to Ella as she walked up the front path.
"The kid?" asked Jason, "doesn't she have a home of her own?"
"Don't be so rude to her, Jason," said Jade.
Jason ignored Jade.
"She and her sister are staying with us," Cody informed his friends before he looked at Ella as she stood awkwardly as she waited to go through the door, "where's your sister, kiddo?"
Ella eyed the cases of beer warily before she returned her attention to Cody, "she has gone over to Leo's house to get some homework done."
"Someone's miserable. What'd you do, kid?" asked Jason.
Cody and Jade glared at Jason. They both knew that Ella didn't like the way Jason treated her.
"Hang on," Jason continued, "I know what's wrong; you didn't get the pair of shoes that you wanted so you had to get a different colour."
Cody and Jade glared at Jason again.
"Stop it, Jase," said Cody, "you are such a bully."
Ella smiled at Cody, thanking him for standing up for her.
Cody smiled back at Ella before he finished glaring at Jason for his rudeness to Ella, "I can't see them getting much homework done," he teased.
Ella laughed, "what are you doing?" she asked, "drinking?"
Jade was the one who answered for Cody, "no, he isn't, Ella. Do you have some homework to finish?"
Ella nodded.
"Go on, then," said Jade, "I'll make sure the guys don't disturb you."
Ella nodded again, "thank you."
Ella then made her way up to her room and got started on her homework. Cody was glad that Jade was here to help out.
"Man, she's cute," said Jason.
Jade coughed a laugh.
"You sound like you like her," replied Cody.
"I don't like her like that."
"Then stop calling her cute and don't be mean to her," said Cody, "anyway, you should get going and leave me to babysit."
"Can't we stay and you have a few drinks with us?"
Cody groaned. In his young days, he would have jumped at the opportunity to be irresponsible and have a few drinks with his friends. But he had grown up a lot since then and if he had to babysit Ella, he was going to be responsible and do it. He couldn't have a few drinks tonight.
"Codes?" asked Eric.
"Go and have your drinks somewhere else, and call me when I am free. Then I will have some drinks with you."
"But we are free tonight."
Cody groaned again before he bent down and opened a case of beer. He pulled out a few bottles and looked at his friends, "there," he said, "you can take the rest without me and call me another time."
Cody's friends sighed and they reluctantly picked up the boxes before they left.
"Well, I guess my job is done," said Jade.
Cody smiled at his girlfriend, "I guess it is."
"I'll leave you to it, then," said Jade.
"You don't want to stay?"
"I'll talk to you tomorrow. I was planning on getting an early night, anyway, before all of this."
Cody was sad that his girlfriend was going to leave, but he was happy that she did help out, "text me when you get home."
Jade nodded and gave Cody a kiss, "I will."
Cody watched as Jade left and when she was gone, he went back inside and made his way to Ella and Mia's room.
Ella was sad.
Cody felt bad for her.
"Are you joining them?" asked Ella as she looked at the beer bottles that Cody was holding.
"No, I just took some beer for myself," replied Cody.
"I really don't like Jason."
"I know, and I am sorry you had to hear him say that to you. Sometimes he can be such a bully, and he doesn't think before he speaks. It's his way of having fun."
"It's not very nice."
"I know," said Cody, "just try and ignore him. That's what I have been doing ever since I have known him."
Ella just laughed.
"Is Mia coming home for dinner?" asked Cody.
"I think she is going to stay at Leo's house. What are we having for dinner, anyway?"
"Don't know. What do you want?"
"You're the adult so shouldn't you know?"
Cody grinned at Ella, "ha-ha, so funny I forgot to laugh. I guess I'll find something, then."
Ella smiled and then Cody went to see what he could do about dinner. It was hard being a responsible adult, but Cody knew he had to do it so he did.
...
Catania was so nervous for her first big English assignment. She had to do a folio on the class text that she had to read, and she was so nervous for it. The folio included three pieces of writing she had to do; an expository essay, an imaginative story, and a persuasive essay.
Catania wasn't nervous for the work because she had read the book and she really enjoyed it.
That wasn't the hard part.
It was the workload that was the hard part.
The folio was going to be a lot of work and Catania wanted to make sure that all of the work was done properly.
That was why Catania and Hayley were busy working. They were studying hard in Hayley's room. Their first piece of work was their expository essay. Catania had had a lot of help from her father with the type of essay since year ten, so she knew what she was doing. She was mainly helping Hayley because her best friend wasn't much of a writer.
Hayley stretched out on her desk chair, "this is so hard."
Catania smiled, but she only partly agreed. It wasn't that hard, but, then again, it was a lot of work.
"I am so glad we have our class early on Friday so we can get it over and done with," Hayley continued.
"And we have fifty minutes tomorrow to do some last-minute cramming," replied Catania.
Hayley laughed.
"Dad will be able to give us some tips," said Catania.
"I thought you were embarrassed about being in his class and having him talk to you."
"That all changes when we have an upcoming assignment."
Hayley laughed again and shut her books, "let's stop studying."
Catania looked at the time, "but we still have some time before dinner. We can get some more study in."
"Please, Cat, if I study any more today my head is going to explode. It already hurts from what we have done today."
Catania reluctantly sighed and gave in. Her father always told her not to study when her head was hurting or when she felt that she couldn't take any more in. He would always say that too much study was almost as bad as not enough study. Catania didn't want to believe that, but she knew her father was right.
He knew what he was talking about.
He had been an English teacher for years and he knew what worked and what didn't work.
Catania knew that it was wise to adhere to his advice.
So, she closed her books as well and put them in her bag, "so, what do you want to do now?"
"Let's go for a walk before dinner," said Hayley.
"Okay."
Catania and Hayley then stood up and went for their walk. As she was walking, Catania couldn't stop thinking about Ella. It was so sad to see her miserable around home, but Catania was glad that she seemed to have learnt her lesson and things would go back to normal.
Catania didn't want to be mean, but she was horrified when she learnt that Ella got a detention for slapping Ada and skipping school. Catania never thought that Ella would do something like that. She always seemed like a good girl who knew better than to break the rules the way she did.
But, Catania was stereotypical. She was a good girl, often accused of being a goody two shoes, and she never broke the rules. She never had any reason to break the rules, so she didn't know what that was like.
After thinking that, Catania decided that Ella broke the rules for a good reason that could be fixed. Often, people would just break the rules for the thrill of it. Catania knew that Ella wouldn't do that, and she just hoped that Ella wouldn't let her feelings for Josh make her do anything like it again.
It wasn't her.
Catania hated seeing what Ella was going through. Part of her wished that she could step in and break Ada and Josh up for Ella, but Catania knew that she couldn't do that. It wasn't right if Ada was using Josh, but Catania knew he was old enough to look after himself, and surely he would eventually learn that Ada wasn't for him. Ella would just have to give it time and learn to deal with her feelings.
But that didn't make Catania any less worried about Ella, and it didn't hurt to ask for some advice from her best friend. As they were walking to the track by the river, Catania started asking for advice.
"Can I ask your advice?" she asked.
"Sure, Cat," replied Hayley.
"My cousin, Ella, is having some trouble with her feelings."
"What's happening?"
"She is jealous of Josh's relationship with another girl, and it has made her do some stupid things."
"What did she do?"
"She slapped Josh's girlfriend and she skipped school."
"Really?" Hayley asked in disbelief.
Catania nodded.
"And how is she now?" asked Hayley.
"She says she is okay, but I think she is up and down. She is miserable and I still think her feelings of jealousy are too much for her to handle," replied Catania.
"Really?"
"Yes. So, do you have any ideas?"
"Well, I know you have been talking to her," said Hayley.
"I have," replied Catania.
"I guess all you can do now is be there for her and let her know that you will always be there to help. You can give her all the advice in the world, but Ella has to be the one to fix her own feelings."
"Yeah, you are right," said Catania, "but it is hard seeing her like this."
"It would be, but I am sure she will get better. From what you have told me, she is a smart girl, and she'll work out that she can't have Josh just because she has feelings for him. It doesn't work that way."
"Yeah, you are right. Thanks, Hayles."
"You are welcome, Cat," Hayley smiled.
Catania returned the smile and then she continued walking with her best friend. Sometimes Hayley could give the best advice and she definitely gave it today. That was better advice than Catania had been giving Ella and Catania was definitely going to do what Hayley suggested.
...
Ella had just finished her homework when she came out to see if Cody was getting dinner ready. Clearly he wasn't because he was in the lounge room with his beer, and he was clearly glued to his phone. Ella then walked into the lounge room and stood in front of him. Then she waited until he noticed that she was there.
When Cody saw that Ella was standing in front of him, he looked up, "what do you want, kiddo?" he asked.
"Have you started on dinner yet?" replied Ella.
"Nope," Cody grinned.
"It's nearly six and you haven't started."
"I know."
"Then, what's for tea?"
"Take away. I was just going to come up and ask you if you wanted to come with me."
Ella nodded, "great."
Ella then went back to her room to get some shoes and it wasn't long before she was in the car with Cody. They decided that they would just get pizza. Cody wanted pizza because it was his favourite, and Ella wanted pasta because she loved it. Pizza and pasta was the best and Ella would always have it. If she could have it for breakfast, lunch and dinner, she happily would.
"Wait," said Ella before she stepped into the car, "can you drive?"
"Of course, I can. You have seen me. You have been in the car with me," replied Cody as he raised an eyebrow and sat in the driver's seat.
"But you have been drinking."
"I have only had one so we will be alright. I can still walk in a straight line, so I can still drive," Cody grinned.
"You might be over the limit," replied Ella.
"You are more naïve than I thought, kiddo. I have only had one drink, and I need to have more to be over the limit. We'll be fine."
"Okay," replied Ella as she got in the car. If Cody said that they would be fine, she decided to believe him. And, anyway, Cody had never lied to Ella so he had never given her any reason to doubt him when he was clearly telling the truth. So, Ella decided in the end that she would believe him.
...
When Cody and Ella arrived at the pizza and pasta place, Cody parked the car and he and Ella went inside. Cody then ordered what they both wanted and then they sat in the seats that were by the door.
"Why didn't Jade stay?" asked Ella.
"She said she wanted to get an early night," replied Cody.
"I thought you would have tried to convince her to stay so you could spend the night with your tongue down her throat."
Cody grinned at Ella, "please don't give me any ideas."
"Ewww! That's disgusting," said Ella.
Cody laughed.
"Why do you have to be so R rated, anyway?" asked Ella.
Ella remembered when she first met Cody and Jade. She saw them kissing, and they were often wrapped in each other's arms.
"We're not R rated. Well, not around you, anyway. With you, we are very G rated," Cody smirked.
Ella shook her head.
And then Cody and Ella were disturbed from their conversation when they were told that their order was ready. Cody collected it and then he and Ella headed home. As Cody got into the front seat of his car, he put the pizza boxes on Ella, and she quickly glared at him.
"What?" asked Cody.
"It's hot," replied Ella.
Cody grinned at Ella, "that's what you get for wearing a skirt that leaves nothing to the imagination."
Ella looked at her skirt, "it's not that short."
"No, it's not, I am just teasing you," said Cody as he grabbed a towel that he kept in the glove box, "lift up the boxes."
Ella lifted up the boxes and Cody put the towel over Ella's legs.
"There," said Cody.
"Thanks," replied Ella.
"Is that better?"
Ella nodded.
"Gee, aren't I such a kind and caring cousin?"
"Sometimes."
Cody grinned at Ella before he put the car in reverse and headed home.