Summer 1991,
I Am Strange

Her start to the summer wasn't what she'd expected. Phoebe was too invested in what had happened between her and Fred. What would she tell her, Fred got mad that she liked Jack. It wasn't any of his concern who she was friends with. Not so long ago there was a time when he didn't like the idea of being her friend

She knew Phoebe had seen something as they sat at the dinner table to eat with their family. She could tell by the way she watched her as though she were figuring out what actions Rhea would take to get to the moment in her vision.

"Whatever you saw?" Rhea spoke, not taking her eyes from her plate, "Was it good?" her sister nodded slowly,

"I think so, I'm a little confused,"

"You should have a look in Grammy's journal," her mother spoke, smiling softly at her, "maybe it can help you understand,"

"Yeah, thanks mum," she excused herself from the table, as Phoebe got up to leave, Rhea turned to her dad,

"Who was at the door?"

"Jack, I told him, you'd go to his when we're finished eating," Rhea wiped her mouth with a napkin tossing it on her plate, "Ri, I said when we're finished,"

"I'm finished, come on, dad, I don't get to see him often," she pouted, sighing as she gave him the eyes she knew he couldn't say no to, them puppy eyes.

"Don't look at me, like that," Sirius didn't look up from his plate, avoiding her gaze,

"Don't be late home," her mother spoke, turning to her husband planting a kiss on his cheek, "She doesn't see him often,"

She didn't bother to change, 'I just wouldn't want you to change so drastically for someone' she knew Fred was probably looking out for her. But she had known Jack ever since she was four years old, from the day they moved into Grimmauld Place, he had been her friend, she had only known Fred for less than 2 years.

While he was a great friend, he and George were in many ways, but the friendship she had with Jack was different in so many ways. She hurried through the street to his house, she ran her fingers through her hair, flipping it to the otherside and immediately flipping back when it didn't feel right.

As she was about knock she heard giggling, she turned to see Elle and Jack talking in the park nearby. She walked cautiously towards them, hoping that Elle was in a much better mood, she paused walking towards an ice cream van, ordering herself an ice cream.

Like moths to a flame, the neighbourhood kids flooded around the van including her younger brothers and sisters. Claiming that her father had let them get one, she saw Elle and Jack watching them from the corner of her eye, she avoided them.

"Why are you so quiet?" Carden questioned

"Yeah, you aren't talking?" Larissa added, she scowled at them, Hadrian smirked nudging Carden to look behind her at Jack and Elle.

"Don't do it," she warned before she could grab them they hurried over to him.

"Jack, are glad Riri's back," Carden asked, he nodded "she got all O's in her exams"

"A, I got all A's in my exams," she corrected pinching his side, he winced moving away from her, "Shouldn't you be getting back home,"

"Yeah, I guess we'll go play with Kreacher," as they hurried home, Elle snickered

"It looks like your brothers won't be going, to your school, they don't even know the grading system,"

"Elle, don't start,-

"I'll have you know they've been accepted, like everyone else in my family,"

"Right, so what's Kreacher, was it?"

"He's my cousin's cat,"

"I don't know what's worse, your big family or the fact that your parents are stupid enough to be willing to take in your cousins too," she squared up to her

"For your information, their parents are dead, would you rather than bounce around from different homes like you are now, or be in a loving home, surrounded by family that adore them,"

"Your family is strange you are aware of that right, your father thinks is cool to joke around when in fact it's just childish, your mother thinks she's better than everyone else, and don't even get me started on your siblings-

"Just stop, I can't take this anymore," Jack said, standing between the girls, "What the hell did Rhea do for you to say all this bullshit," Elle froze like she never expected Jack to talk to her that way.

"I, I-

"Exactly you don't know," Elle's mouth fell open she turned to Rhea who bore a knowing smirk that she had won. She hurried home, leaving Jack and her alone, she smiled at him.

"You Elle's right, I am strange, my family is strange-

"I don't care what she thinks, I care about you, Rhea," he smiled at her, as he wiped a tear she hadn't realised had fallen, he leaned down kissing her cheek. She couldn't speak, as she smiled at him, "I really wish you were here more,"

"I do too, I miss you a lot when I'm away,"

"It's been fun hanging out with your brothers, but I prefer your company more," she laughed nervously, cursing herself for a boy making her feel this way. Jack wasn't just a boy to her, he was someone she could laugh with, someone she could confide in, someone she would think of when she was sad. He was her friend.