Vanessa

"Kian, step away from me, I don't want another mud mask," Vanessa told the 6 year old creeping towards her, arms stretched out. Kian had a huge grin plastered on his face, he thought it was a brilliant idea. However, the death glare Vanessa was giving him did make him freeze and second think his actions.

"Hey little dude, I believe Emma is in the garden wanting a mud mask," the only voice that seemed to make Vanessa grit her teeth told Kian.

Vanessa looked up to give her death glare to Trevor. Normally she would escape to her room and ignore everyone but she felt unsettled by the day at the cafe and heard there were cookies. She wasn't going to get cookies in bed so she put herself through poor torture by sitting in the play room. The laughter was what killed her the most, she hadn't laughed like that, ever. Well that's what it felt like. But who doesn't love cookies?

Trevor sat down right next to her, their thighs touching, 'arghh' Vanessa thought doesn't this guy know about personal space. He flicked his hair and gave her his most dazzling smile, it felt plastic and fake to her. The guy was such a sleaze.
He started to try and have a conversation with Vanessa, instead she just blanked him out but that caused her to think of the customer of the day. Everything was going like clockwork, the coffee machine was playing up because of its age. Mrs Richardson was complaining that the cake she picked off the display was dry. Even Mr Evans got himself locked in the toilet. Then it got a little bit weird.

Vanessa looked up at the new customer that just walked in. The cafe grew eerily quiet as they watched the new comer approach the counter. The man had a certain allure, dangerous and powerful. Not someone to be trifled with. He had a grand stature, which he was very comfortable in. He had a chiselled face that had been kissed by the sun, a lot. He was dressed head to toe in black. His arms were bare but you could see the black swirly ink peeking out of the T-shirt, on his well-defined biceps. Vanessa placed him as a middle aged man, there were signs he used to have completely dark hair but that had aged and now his hair had a George Clooney look.
His steps towards her were precise and calculating. When he approached the counter, Vanessa involuntary gulped. She had to look up to him, his eyes jaded but a heavenly green that showed kindness towards her.

"Umm..hell..hello, what could I...umm...get you, sir?" Vanessa stuttered, she had never been flustered before. She doesn't like interacting with people because she doesn't want to make emotional ties to anyone. Though she's never had a problem of talking to people as normally she acts, never showing her true self. But, this man in front of her broke her defence and showed the scared girl inside. She was kicking herself.

"I would like a medium black coffee, darling," was his husky response.

Vanessa spun round to start making his drink but her mind went blank, looking left and then right. She could hear a deep chuckle behind her and colour rushed to her cheeks. Finally her brain clicked in gear and she was back into auto-pilot. When she presented the steaming cup to the gentleman he was wearing a smirk. She gave him her usual stoic face in return, whist holding her head up high. The smirk turned into a genuine smile at the fact she wouldn't be intimated, maybe she won't be too bad he thought.

"Cheers, darling," he thanked before settling down on table 3, looking slightly ridiculous as the chair looked like it could barely hold him up.

Vanessa kept busy without looking in the newcomer's direction, she didn't need to know his eyes were following everywhere. She glanced up and caught his eye, he didn't creep her out. The way he looked at her was an old friend he hadn't seen in a long time and just wanted to be in there presence.

Just before he left he came back up the counter. Vanessa straightened her back and looked in his eyes.

"Well it was lovely to meet you Vanessa," confuse was evident across Vanessa's face. The customer didn't even bat an eyelash and pointed to her name badge "I am sure we will be meeting again soon, after all..."

Vanessa was pulled from her thoughts and looked down to her lap to see where Trevor had placed his hand. She grabbed his fingers and pulled them back with no regret.

"Ow oww oww," Trevor cried.

Vanessa leaped up from the sofa to put as much space between them as possible. But sent her glower in his direction.

"How dare you touch me!" Vanessa seethed. The audacity he had to take what he wanted that he had no right too.

"What the hell Vanessa!"

"What the hell?" Vanessa couldn't believe that he thought she was in the wrong.

"I didn't do anything Vanessa, why are you getting all worked up?"

"Didn't do anything, so you just invades people's space all the time and put your grubby little hands wherever you please!"

Trevor just rolled his eyes at her. He couldn't believe how pathetic she was being. Most girls would dream of getting his attention, he liked a challenge but she was just being a stuck up little cow.

"You know what PRINCESS, you're not even worth it," Trevor smirked at her with no humour or regret in his eyes.

Vanessa didn't usually let her emotions show but he was about two seconds away to finding out what it will feel like to get hit by a girl.

"Hey guys, there was a delay with the cookies so they will be after dinner," Tracy announced to the room "umm are you guys are okay?"

Neither of them responded they were just sharing a look of disgust for each other.

"Okay...well Vanessa a letter came for you today and you need to speak to Maria to finalise your summer plans," Tracy informed Vanessa whilst handing her the letter.

Vanessa took this as an escape route and left the living room and decided to go and sit out in the garden. She picked a spot where the grass was still green and hadn't been killed by the children. Nobody would bother her, hopefully Trevor got the message now. She shuddered at the thought of him. She used to think he was harmless, just a flirt. First appearances are usually wrong.

Getting her mind off of Trevor she inspected the envelope, it had a little weight to it, more than just a letter. The address was hand written which usually means it's personal.

Opening the envelop she took out the letter. In neatest penmanship the letter read.

Dear Miss Ryan

On behalf of A.C.E, I would like to invite you for a formal meeting on Monday the 10th of July at 11 o'clock sharp . As you have come of age, we would like to continue your education and the training you are entitled to, as a legacy. We know you will do great things, following the steps of your family. For the meeting all the expenses have been paid. You will find tickets for the eight o'clock train from Bristol to London Paddington station enclosed in this envelope. A car will be waiting to pick you up, please follow all instructions given to you.

Yours sincerely

Mr White

Head of A.C.E, R.S.A

Now Vanessa was a smart girl, well above average. However, she couldn't comprehend the words lying in front of her. They were simple enough words but the use of them together, directed at her, is what baffled her.
She was hoping to continue her education at the largest college in Bristol, but she wouldn't even know until August. She has to wait like every other sixteen year old to get her GCSE's back. She was praying she could study Biology, Chemistry, Maths and English Literature.

The word legacy rolled around in Vanessa's head. The definitions of 'Legacy' are.

1. Law states it's a gift of property, especially personal property, as money, by will.

2. It can be anything handed down from the past, as from an ancestor or predecessor.

3. Or it could be applied to a student at a school that was attended by his or her parent.

How could that apply to her, she had no clue. Nonetheless the word that struck her deep down to her core, was only six letters long. Though those letters in that arrangement, is all she has ever wanted, family. How could a complete and utter stranger know more about her than she did? She had a feeling this was a bit like when Harry found out he was a wizard. What scared her the most was the efficiency of this organisation A.C.E. They had arranged everything and just presumed that she wouldn't say no.

"Whatcha weading?" A delicate, soft voice asked Vanessa.

Brought back to reality, Vanessa glanced over her shoulder.

"It's just a letter Lou, nothing of importance."

"Well you weading wearly hard, I shouted food, so wong ago!" Lou explained throwing her hands in the air before placing them on her hips, causing her strawberry blonde curls to bounce. Young Louisa was trying to have a serious face but that was too hard for the four year old and her innocent face turned to and ear splitting grin.

"Sorry, I'm coming," Vanessa apologised before unfolding her limbs to follow Lou, she wouldn't admit to anyone or even herself but she liked Lou. Little Lou had made life more interesting since the second she walked through that door.

They were the last two to enter the kitchen everyone else was there waiting. From right to left was Trevor, George, Ben, Tommy, Becky, Kelly, Anna, Lewis, Kian, Emma, Tracy and Maria. Thankfully no Mrs Perron.

As the girls took their seats, Maria told everyone too enjoy which is the green light to revert back to caveman life and consume the food like it's the last meal you will ever have.
It wasn't anything fancy, just turkey dinosaurs, smiley faces and spaghetti hoops. But come on who doesn't love that as a kid. The first ten minutes of the meal was silent, as the ferocity of the eating had died down general conversation began to flow. Well general conversation being who is the best at handstands and pranking.

"Vanessa," Maria's stern voice called across down the table, Vanessa froze mouth having open with spaghetti hoops hanging mid-air not getting to their destination.

"Yes Maria?"

"Why didn't you tell me about your summer plans?"

"Summer plans?" Vanessa asked furrowing her unplucked brows. The only summer plans she had was try to work as much as legally possibly, even though today wasn't. Mr Pearson thought Vanessa was eighteen not sixteen.

"Yes that summer school you are going too, to get some extra training to give you better chances at studying medicine?"

Vanessa didn't know what to say, she had always wanted to study medicine. Vanessa has always wanted to help people. Though she had never spoken of her desires to anyone, if she failed to do it no one would know. She hadn't signed up for anything, though she had just revived that letter about some training but it didn't say anything about medicine, it seemed more obscure than that. Even so how did Maria have a clue about anything she only opened the letter twenty minutes ago.

"Well even though you forgot to inform us, we've had all the paper work through explaining how long you will be gone and all the dates and how the costs are being handle. You just need Tracy to take you tomorrow to the train station for the 8 o'clock train to Paddington, correct?"

Vanessa just numbly nodded her head.

"Well you better pack tonight, don't want to be in a rush in the morning," a Mona Lisa smile graced Maria's lips for a few seconds. Pride seemed to be showing her eyes for a second.

Vanessa looked around the room to see different emotion playing on people's faces, she expected them all to be happy that she wouldn't be there but it was only Trevor, George, Ben and Becky. The rest looked sad that she would be gone, Vanessa couldn't comprehend why.

Everyone seemed dejected and there was only minimal talk for the rest of the meal and clean-up, even the cookies didn't elevate the mood.

Once everything seemed to be in order, Vanessa made her way upstairs as she knew everyone would be playing games on a Sunday evening. Though when she arrived at her room a lot of chatter was seeping through the door.

Behind the door was Kelly and Anna. Which wasn't that odd as they did share a room but she has never seen Kian, Emma and Lou in her bedroom let alone sprawled across the furniture like they owned the place.

"What are you guys doing in here?"

All heads whipped in Vanessa direction.

"They wanted to help pack, well Lou is going to unpack whilst you pack."

"You can't tell her the plwan," Lou whined at Kelly, stopping her foot in protest.

"Why do you guys care if I'm here or not?"

"Believe it or not loner, you are actually a nice person. That is there for people if there is a problem," Kelly informed Vanessa.

"And we care about you as we use our hearts, ice queen," Anna chastised.

"What..why..who?" Vanessa asked.

"We like you Vanessa. We know you don't open and trust people, because you have been hurt but you can't close up or you won't live," Kelly clued Vanessa in.

"When did a fourteen year old become wiser than most adults?"

Kelly shrugged her shoulders "Life experience."

"Come guys lets help her pack."

"Vanessa?" Lou gently asked "Will you ever smile?"

Vanessa was stumped, it was no secret that she hasn't smiled she's always had a neutral face and that hasn't changed in years. She wasn't planning to smile anytime soon.

"Maybe, one day Lou."

"Well you should make friends and then you would smile."

"One day."

Hey guys,

This is the last chapter of just information there will be some action coming soon.

The girls should also be meeting very soon, yay!

Also I would like to dedicate this chapter to Spruce_Goose as an early Birthday Present, Happy Birthday Amelia !!!

~Barney