I thought spilling the beans about my sister, would get the Peacocks to trust me. Unfortunately, it appears to have had the opposite effect. They don't want me visiting Edith anymore. I'd planned on using Edith to get access to Madeline, so it's quite annoying.

Plan B was to drive Lizzie to school and offer Madeline a lift as a courtesy, since the Peacock house is on the way. But Helen tells me, that Madeline isn't even enrolled.

I always knew Simon was a weird case, and I can understand Edith not wanting to go back to school, but I figured Madeline would still attend.

Apparently not. She's going away to school, but Helen doesn't know where.

At least the gossipy maid knew where the Peacocks would be today.

As luck would have it, Edith is right in front of me... The Peacocks never said I couldn't talk to her in public.

"Edith, wait up. Edith? EDITH! Edith please."

Catching up with her, I grabbed her by the arm to prevent her from walking away.

She recoiled.

"Let go of me Jason, or I swear I'll create a scene. Your family, doesn't need any more bad publicity."

Wow! I honestly didn't expect this reaction.

If it weren't for the fact that we've been intimate, I'd think my touch repulsed her...

Nah, she's just upset. I'll get her back.

"Oh, Didi, sweetheart, there's no such thing as bad publicity." I gave her my most charming smile. "I've missed you, Babe."

Why is she rolling her eyes?

"Let. Go. Of. My. Arm. NOW!"

Okay... Clearly that approach isn't going to work.

I raised my hands in a gesture of surrender. "Geez, Didi! I just want to talk. I didn't know about Lizzie, I swear! None of it has anything to do with me. I don't see why the two of us can't still be friends."

"I'm not sleeping with you again, Jason. That was a mistake."

"A mistake? Come off it! This past year, you and Lizzie were active competitors in the slut Olympics - each of you hellbent on being the first to pop your cherry. When I offered my help, you were more than willing to accept it. You wanted to win so badly.

"We really went for gold, didn't we babe? We had fun together. You can't deny that. Lots of fun!"

"I suppose it was fun...until you threw me over for Leanne."

Ah, so that's it.

"Oh, Babe, we agreed we believed in free love remember?"

"There's no such thing as free love, Jason. Aunt Bex says that every sexual act has consequences, if not physical then at least spiritual. I think she's right."

"You told your aunt, that you had sex?"

"I had to. She's the one who had to take me to the doctor and -"

Doctor? Uh-oh.

"You can't be pregnant. I got you the pill. I nicked enough boxes that you'd have been well and truly covered."

"I'm not pregnant, Jason!"

"Then what's your problem?"

"Leanne's the town bike!"

I grinned. I couldn't help it. "Long live the sexual revolution!"

"Promiscuity has a price, Jason."

"When did you turn into a prude?"

"You gave me VD, you arsehole!"

"You could've got that from anyone."

"No, Jason! I may be a flirt, but I don't... I mean I haven't... It was all a game to me. A stupid dangerous game. Contrary to what you believe about me, you're the only one I've gone all the way with. I definitely caught it from you."

Shit!

"So, no. I don't want to be your friend, Jason. In fact, I don't ever want to see you again."

"Bull! You wouldn't be here, at the Town Hall, if you didn't want to see me. Dad always gives speeches at these citizenship ceremonies. I work with him now. You knew I'd be here!"

"It's got nothing to do with you!" She snapped. "I'm here to support friends, who are becoming Australian citizens today, that's all!"

"Edith, is everything okay?"

Madeline is here too! This really is my lucky day.

"Maddie!"

The two cousins hugged. When they broke apart, I tried to take Madeline's hand, to kiss it, like a regular Prince Charming. "Well hello, Miss Madeline!"

She wouldn't let me touch her. It was rather awkward.

I smiled and continued attempting to engage her in conversation. "It's um... It's good to see you again, Madeline."

She ignored me completely.

Reaching instead for Edith's hand, she said, "Mr Boutros and Sadie are already inside. Come on, Didi. They want everyone in the photos. "

I tried again. "Madeline, I'm sorry. It was wrong of me to ask you to talk to Edith about Elizabeth.... Didi, I need to apologise to you too. I should've had the guts to tell you myself. I've made a lot of mistakes, just like...like you said you have. I'm trying to change. I want to do better. Forgive me... Please."

Madeline finally looked at me. "Didi ended up in hospital because of you. Leave her alone."

"What? When? What happened?"

Neither of them replied. They turned their backs on me and walked away.

This is bad... If her Ladyship finds out that her precious granddaughter was in hospital... If I can't get Madeline to trust me... It'll be over before it even starts.

No way, is that happening!

I'm angry now. No one turns their back on Jason Sturrock. I'm done with playing nice. I don't care how brutal I have to be. Madeline Piedmont is going down!

Author's Notes:

Australian citizenship was formally established with the Nationality and Citizenship Act 1948, coming into effect on January 26, 1949. Before this point, Australians were considered British subjects, without a separate, distinct Australian identity in legal terms.

Non-Europeans, like Yousef and Sadie Boutros were allowed to apply for residency and naturalisation from 1957, if they were legally admitted and living in Australia for 15 years.

In 1966 this was reduced to five years. Yousef has been here since 1960, and Sadie since 1964, so they both qualify...

Because the Citizenship Act came into effect on Australia Day, (January 26), many immigrants still choose this day to become Aussies.

VD or Venereal Disease is the old term for STDs.