Born to Fight

Chapter 15

Celeste

I was sitting in the lounge room by myself, watching a scary movie of all things, which was foolish of me, because scary movies and I didn't really get along all that well. I was dragged from my movie when I heard a loud commotion at the front door, outside on the porch. I jumped up from my spot on the lounge chair and was cautiously making my way towards the front door when a sudden noise behind me made me spin around and let out a frightened scream.

 I felt like a total i***t when I saw Jamie standing there behind me. The look of amusement on his face made me forget about the front door. I turned and walked back into the lounge room leaving him to deal with whoever or whatever was outside the door. Suddenly the scary movie became more appealing as I sat down to watch it once more.

I had just sat back down and was once again watching my movie when I heard voices headed my way. I was surprised to see Lilly standing in the doorway with Jamie. She had a bag and a pillow with her. 'Oh-oh, this can't be good,' I thought as I looked at her.

“What’s going on?” I asked Jamie as a feeling of dread crept through me.

“Lilly has decided to have a sleepover with you,” Jamie calmly told me, as though his bombshell was no big deal.

"What do you mean Lilly has decided? This is your house. Shouldn't you be the one to decide? Or maybe, considering that I am the one who has to be subjected to her company, shouldn't I get to decide?" I asked, feeling incredibly annoyed at being ambushed like this.

"I meant what I said Celeste, Lilly has decided to have a sleepover with you," Jamie repeated.

“She’s what? No! No way! I don't want to have a sleepover with her,” I sputtered, looking at him in disbelief.

“Celeste, she is having a sleepover with you tonight. God knows you could use some girl time,” Jamie replied.

“But why? Why her? And, why now?” I asked, wanting to know what was going on.

“Because Josh and I have a training op tonight and Lilly thought you might like some company,” Jamie replied.

"So this was her idea?" I asked gesturing towards Lilly.

"Well, I guess you could say it was a combined effort," Jamie replied, smiling at my annoyance, which only succeeded in making me more annoyed.

"Oh, joy, all of you are conspiring against me," I muttered.

"Celeste, it's not like that. I just want an opportunity to get to know you better," Lilly stated, looking at me.

I looked at Lilly who had a big smile on her face. I didn’t want to be rude, but I wasn’t to keen on letting my father and my two siblings into my life more than they already were. I had listened to my father’s side of the story about what had happened between him and my mother. But I wasn’t just going to take his word as Gospel. I needed time to figure out the truth for myself. If Lilly got to close, I wouldn’t be able to look into things from Billy and my mother's past without tipping her off.

 "Jamie, I don't think this is a good idea," I told him.

"Well too bad, because it has already been arranged," Jamie stated, his tone telling me he was done discussing the matter any further.

I looked at Jamie closely, he was standing there watching me closely. Deciding I needed to let Jamie think he had won, I put a convincing smile on my face and said, “Well, a good old - fashioned sleepover suddenly sounds good.” Looking over at Lilly I added, “How does a pizza and movie night sound to you? Jamie's shout?”

“Sounds great!” Lilly replied.

I glanced back at Jamie, “There you have it, one sleep over coming up, and you are bank rolling it!” I informed him with a smug little smile on my face.