Only Time Will Tell

Chapter 1

12 years ago

"Dad can we go home yet?" Jade asked leaning against the bar watching as her dad drank the remaining contents of his pint glass. "We'll go when I am finished here" came the slurred response as he leaned in close, stale beer breath fanning over Jades face, he straightened up and summoned the bar tender over and ordering another pint and a whiskey. "Well can me and Lee at least have a drink please? It's scorching today" Jade asked. Annoyance flashed behind jades' dads eyes "Do I look like I am made of money to you? No, you can't have a drink now sod off let me enjoy my drink in peace"

Jade stalked out of the bar area grumbling to herself, why she was so disappointed that this 'father daughter day out' had turned out any different from the others she didn't know, every time she went anywhere with her dad the day always started or ended in some pub somewhere, but Lee was a massive daddys girl and deserved so much better. Letting out a defeated sigh Jade started to climb the stairs to the pool hall. Light green eyes roamed the dim and dusty pool hall for her younger sister. There may have been two years difference in Emily's and Jades age but looking at them you could almost believe they were twins, they both had long wavy brown hair, pale complexion scattered with a few freckles around the nose and big green eyes. With Jade being fifteen she was a bit more developed and taller than her sister with an athletic build.

Having no luck finding Emily or Lee as Jade and her other siblings called her Jade spun on her heals to make her way back down the stairs when she heard a snicker coming from the far-right corner of the room, crouching down Jade could just about make out the side profile of her sister hiding underneath a snooker table "I can in actual fact see you you know?" She called trying to hide the amusement that was all to clear in her voice. With a squeal Emily darted out from under the table and an impromptu game of chase began dodging in and out of the surrounding tables.

Jade finally had Emily cornered and was advancing towards her ready to tickle her. "WHAT EXACTLY DO YOU THINK YOU ARE PLAYING AT?" came the deep bellowing voice of the dad from the top of the stairs, spinning around Jade looked into his dark eyes which were swirling with emotions the main one being rage, "Sorry dad it was my fault we were just.." "I couldn't care less whos fault it is or what you were doing, if you want to charge around like wild animals go and do it in the yard before you get me kicked out of my here.....go now get out my sight!" with that Emily and Jade made a dash for the stairs trying to keep as far away from their dad as they could but at the same time Jade trying to keep herself between Emily and their dad knowing how he can be when he has some drinks in him.

Running out the front door of the pub Jade and Emily stopped and turned around to see if they were being pursued already knowing that their dad had found his way back to the bar to nurse his pint and most likely ordering another whiskey. The outside of the pub was a damn site better than the inside being as it was located off a country lane so besides from a cute cottage and the pubs car park all there was around was a green consisting of a few trees and flower beds, probably upkept by the occupants of said cute little cottage and a rope swing fastened securely to the thickest branch of the oak tree in the middle of it and on the other side of the pub was a set of allotments lined with garden sheds and green houses.

"Come on" Jade said grabbing Emilys hand and leading her over to the welcoming shade of the oak tree, Emily climbed onto the rope swing "I'm bored Jade. I want to go home" said Emily dejectedly whilst swinging slowly back and forth "I know Lee, I'm sorry, I stupidly thought this time was different, tell you what, when we get home I will do your nails"

coming up behind Emily Jade started to push Emily higher, Emily leant back holding on to the rope leaning backwards giggling loudly "Jade stop I am getting dizzy" laughed Emily after a while, pulling out her phone from her pocket she Jade on the grass plugging in her head phones, patting the spot next to her indicating to Emily to join her, Emily hopped down off the swing laying down closely to her sister, Jade handed her the other head phone and turned on their favourite song at the moment.

If there is one thing Emily and Jade have always thought they were good at it was singing especially when the lyrics were deep and meaningful to them. Laying there with their eyes closed, holding hands singing "keep holding on" by Avril Lavigne they were reminding each other that no matter what may happen nothing will ever come between them and they will always be there for each other. As they sang the finish note for the song Jade became aware of a presence standing close to them "Wow....that was really good" came an unfamiliar voice, snapping her eyes open Jade was surprised to find herself to be staring into the most beautiful pair of bright blue eyes she has ever seen.