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Chapter thirteen

Laura and her two best friends Jasmine Chopra and Christina Maple found Mum and Nikki having their snack.

“Mum can we join you?” begged Laura.

“Sure get some mugs and plates,” replied Mum easily.

“Hey Nikki,” said Jasmine in unison with Christina.

“Hi Jasmine, hi Christina,” answered Nikki with a smile as Laura took a seat next to her.

“You were really great yesterday, where did you learn to speak like that?” remarked Jasmine.

“Thanks but it’s just practice and years of doing it. I was awful when I started,” replied Nikki blushing slightly.

“Yeah but no matter how long I spend practising I’ll never get my cakes like this,” replied Jasmine with a sigh, “My Mum’s close to giving up on me,” she went on as she ate her cake.

“Why don’t you ask Nikki to show you how she does it? She’s pretty good with cakes, how about it sis?” answered Laura.

“Um, well right now?” said Nikki uncertainly.

“Please?” Jasmine begged.

“Come on Nikki,” urged Mum.

“Okay, okay,” agreed Nicole with a smile.

She had nothing to do anyway and cooking with Laura and her friends sounded fun enough, besides it would keep her mind of Wayne.

Soon the four of them got carried away and after making a perfect chocolate cake they moved on to cookies, cupcakes, muffins and pastries with Mum coming in to sample their dishes every now and then. She was glad Nikki had something to distract her while marvelling at how well Nikki taught the younger girls what she knew and noting how responsive they were to her too.

Mum bought us pizzas for and I could only watch as Nikki weaved her magic with Laura and her friends. They were obviously pretty fond of her and I wondered if I could ever get along like that with Clara or Christina Jasmine.

Both my sisters politely ignored me during lunch, they still had vivid memories of what I’d done two weeks earlier after all the bathroom still smelt of French perfume to remind everyone. In fact Nikki hadn’t spoken to me since then while Laura only spoke when forced to and she kept her words short and sharp. I wondered if they hated me as they had every reason to.

“Thank you so much Nikki I can’t wait to try this at home,” gushed Jasmine later that afternoon when it was time to go.

“Don’t mention it Jazz, I had loads of fun teaching you,” said Nikki, smiling.

“Thanks Nikki, it was fantastic,” said Christina happily.

“Enough ok! I want to thank you for being such great pupils so you each get to go with the cakes you made,” answered Nikki.

“Really?” exclaimed Christina.

“Wow my mother won’t believe it,” added Jasmine giving Nikki a hug.

“Mmm, smells good,” murmured Dad on entering the kitchen and walking over to Nikki and Laura.

“Hi Dad,” they chorused before pecking him on the cheek.

That was the first time Nikki had done that in years noted Dad and it pleased him no end.

“Hi ladies, what do we have here?” he said with a smile before picking up a cupcake and eating it.

“Like it?” asked Laura hopefully.

“It’s lovely, who made these?” replied Dad, picking up another one.

“We did together with Jasmine and Christina. Nikki was teaching us some stuff,” replied Laura beaming.

Dad put his arm around the two of them, “Guess who has three tickets to watch Man U versus Spurs tomorrow,” he said.

“You’re joking Dad,” replied Nikki sceptically.

“Where are they?” asked Laura, barely containing her excitement.

Dad reached into his pockets and pulled out three tickets.

“So do the two of you want to watch United with me or what?” he queried enjoying the expressions on their faces.

“Dad, we’d love that!” answered Nikki happily.

She was a huge Manchester United fan and Laura who’d always tended to like what Nikki liked was a Red too with a big Cristiano Ronaldo poster in her room. Dad was a diehard Tottenham fan which partly explained the purchase of the tickets.

The other reason was that Nikki had been very depressed lately and he’d thought going to a Man Utd game might cheer her up. Finally he wanted to spend time with his daughters who were all closer to Mum and did stuff with her more often than with him so he could even out things a bit and strengthen his bond with them. Dad’s need to feel involved with their children too especially when their all girls.

“Hi Jazz, what are you carrying there?” began Jasmine’s older brother Adrian Chopra when she got home.

“It’s a cake,” she replied.

“Give us some then,” said Ryan Vincent, Adrian’s pal.

“Ok, hold on while I go cut it,” offered Jasmine before going into the kitchen and slicing it, returning with two plates in a couple of minutes.

Ryan wolfed down his slice and said, “Wow this tastes great.”

“Yeah, where’d you buy it?” added Adrian.

“I didn’t buy it, I baked it myself,” answered Jasmine.

“Didn’t,” refused Adrian.

“Did too I made it at Laura’s and her sister helped us out with it,” said Jasmine defiantly.

“Yeah right, I believe you,” remarked Adrian sarcastically.

“Why would she lie about it?” pointed out Ryan.

“Yeah why would I? Laura’s sister Nikki’s the one who showed us but I did the baking and I can do it again if I want to,” said Jasmine cheekily.

“Sounds like you’ve been challenged mate,” Ryan said to Adrian.

“Whatever,” said Adrian, slightly miffed.

“Make me another slice Jasmine,” requested Ryan.

“Sure,” agreed Jasmine.

“Didn’t I tell you to stay away from those people?” said Mrs Chopra in angry voice.

She’d just found out Jasmine had spent the entire day at our place and that Nikki had helped her bake the cake she’d just finished eating. Ever since they’d heard about Nikki’s transition the Chopra’s had forbidden Jasmine from having anything to do with Laura but she’d still gone on being friends with her and hadn’t told Laura that.

Unfortunately her mother had been so pleased that she’d mastered how to bake a perfect cake Jasmine had forgotten all about keeping her friendship with Laura a secret but had told the whole story hoping to impress her with how nice our family was. So she was dismayed when her mother’s face scrunched up in anger.

“Mum what’s wrong with them? Laura and I have been friends since we were 7. She hasn’t done anything to me and Nikki is…, she replied but was cut short by her mother.

“Silence!” shouted Mrs Chopra.

“That is not the point, you should just stay away from that misguided family, it’s for the best.” said Mrs Chopra in a determined voice. “Especially that Nikki boy,”

“She is not a boy Mum; she’s a girl and my best friend’s sister! I won’t stop being friends with Laura because you’re prejudiced!” replied Jasmine, outraged.

“Jasmine this is my final word on this matter. You will have nothing to do with that family, every single one of them. Is that understood?” said Mr Chopra in a steely voice.

“But Dad,” begged Jasmine.

“No buts, if I ever hear about you having anything to do with them I will send you to another school, now go to your room!” he thundered.

Normally the Chopra’s would never try to influence their kids choice of friends this brazenly but they felt our family was a potential threat to be avoided as much as possible. This attitude stemmed from the fact that one of Jasmine’s cousins had run away from home 18 months before to live as a woman and had never gone back home. The whole family had disowned her but she’d successfully transitioned and got her op. Unfortunately Jasmine’s parents came to the conclusion that as our family had supported and accepted Nikki we would prove to be a bad influence on their daughter.

I watched Dad, Nikki and Laura leave in high spirits arguing about who’d win and predicting the score line. If Dad’s team lost he was to pay Nikki and Laura £20 apiece. Since I was grounded I had to stay behind with Mum who’d been meaning to sit down and talk to me about my relationship with my sisters for a while.

“Becky honey I need to know why you’re so unhappy of late. What’s bothering you?” she said.

“Nothing,” I lied, loads of things were weighing me down not least of all my guilt about Nikki, my self-created exclusion from my family and my inability to apologize let alone tell Nikki what I’d done to her relationship with Wayne.

I had no friends to count on; Rosie hadn’t spoken to me in months while Maryanne didn’t seem half as friendly anymore. I knew she felt bad about what I’d led her to do and that she didn’t trust me anymore, after all if I could do that to Nikki wouldn’t I do that to her too someday?

“Are you sure?” I heard Mum say from far away, I’d let my mind drift.

I nodded, a bit too quickly though.

“Yes nothing’s wrong,” I repeated.

Mum took my hands into hers, “Becky I’m always there if you want someone to talk to okay,” she assured me.

I nodded again, “Okay,” I agreed.

“Is there a problem between you and Nikki? I hate seeing the two of you ignoring each other like this,” continued Mum.

‘I know,’ I thought, ‘but how do I tell you? What would you think if you knew I broke Nikki’s heart and that I’d really meant it when I’d said she ought to have committed suicide?’

I couldn’t find words to say so I remained silent.

Maybe Mum interpreted my silence to mean I agreed because she carried on, “Is it because she’s not a boy anymore? I hope you’re not embarrassed by that because it’s the right thing for her and it’s what she wants with her life. Give her a chance Becky and don’t be so hard on her, it’s not her fault,” urged Mum, shrewdly guessing part of the reason I couldn’t get along with Nikki,

“And there’s something else you ought to know. I love Nikki, Laura and you equally. I know sometimes it might seem like Nikki’s my favourite but that’s not the case. If I give her more attention it’s only because I’m trying to make up for the hard time she had before I knew about her problem, she hurt so much and it makes me feel guilty I wasn’t there for her okay? I also know that in your heart you care for Nikki and she cares for you, can’t you two make up?” finished Mum, squeezing my hands.

Mum had hit the nail on the head about Nikki and me but she was also asking for the impossible. Reconciling with Nikki would entail apologising which wasn’t a problem if I left out the fact that I’d caused her to lose Wayne. I just knew she would never forgive me for that nor would Laura and our parents.

I withdrew my hands and went up to my room leaving Mum disappointed.

Dad and my sisters had a magical time at the football enjoying every minute of the game which ended in a defeat for Spurs meaning Dad had to cough up forty pounds.

“We told you so!” chorused the girls happily at the end of the match as they cheered and held out their palms for the money. Dad paid up graciously and the girls bought him a Spurs scarf.

“We’re sorry you lost, better luck next time,” said Laura, presenting Dad with the scarf.

“Yes and thank you,” added Nikki sweetly, “it was awfully fun and Laura got to see her future hubby for a whole ninety minutes,” giggled Nikki as she teased Laura who was crazy about Cristiano Ronaldo.

“Don’t be a twit Nikki! He is sooo handsome so what’s a girl to do?” answered Laura dreamily.

Dad chuckled, put his arms around his kids’ shoulders and led them out.

“How much did you spend on them? They look quite lively,” joked Mum when they arrived home.

“Quite a small fortune, their very demanding,” replied Dad thinking of the money they’d made him shell out, “but it was worth it. I’ll definitely do this again,” he carried on before kissing Mum.

My sisters had holed up in Nikki’s room and were lying on her bed talking excitedly while Mum and Dad were in the living room talking albeit less effusively. I felt very left out, Nikki and Laura had just come back from a great day out with Dad while I’d been cooped up in my room to avoid Mum pressing me to make up with Nikki.

Both of them hadn’t bothered to say hi, instead they’d just gone into Nikki’s room to chat about clothes while watching our favourite makeover show. It’s like they were complete strangers and I didn’t exist in their lives but I knew it was my fault and that I deserved it, after all how many times had Nikki reached out to me only to get a cold rebuff?

Now I longed to share in their companionship while they couldn’t be bothered to ask me to do stuff with them anymore.

“Yes you should. Nikki looked so cheerful, it’s done her a world of good,” remarked Mum.

“How was your day with Becky?” asked Dad, “Did you manage to talk to her?”

“She won’t respond but I think I’ve managed to get to the bottom of it. I suppose she’s been like this since we found out about Nikki being a girl and she didn’t like it. Laura says she’s upset because Nikki gets all the attention here and at school plus the fact that she’s always been competing with her but Nikki ends up winning nearly all the time. She’s even lost her friend Rosie to Nikki. I don’t know how it happened but Laura said it’s because Rosie thinks Becky hates Nikki for no reason and she can’t have a friend who hates her own sister. So in short she’s jealous,” explained Mum sighing deeply.

Dad shook his head sorrowfully, “But why? Why would she be jealous of Nikki, I mean we love her just the same, she’s got everything she could wish for!” exclaimed Dad.

“Come on Brian, you were a child once too. Nikki and Becky are two very different people, Nikki succeeds at everything she does and we always cheer her on. Becky has to work extra hard just to keep up at school and we tell her to work harder. Laura’s a lot like Nikki so you’d expect her to feel some resentment at this state of affairs. Then there’s the fact that Nikki has friends like Clara who’d stick with her at all costs while she’s become lonelier and is losing friends like Rosie to Nikki. You’d be jealous too,” answered Mum.

She’d spent the whole day and the past two weeks worrying about the issue because of my outburst and destruction of Nikki’s perfume. Of course Nikki’s breakup with Wayne had pushed the problem to the back of her mind but she still couldn’t help noting the gulf between her two eldest. As I’ve mentioned earlier Nikki hadn’t uttered a word to me since I’d broken her perfume and for the first week I’d had no reason to talk to her either while in the second week I’d become so miserable at what I’d done I couldn’t even face her let alone talk to her.

“Oh hi Jasmine, what’s up? How was the cake?” said Nikki cheerfully. It was Monday the day following the football match and assembly had just finished when Jasmine had come seeking Nikki.

“Hello Nicole, I just came to give you this,” replied Jasmine taking out the container Nikki had given her to carry her cake home.

“Oh that’s great, so what did your mother say about your cake?” asked Nikki.

“She thought it was marvellous until she found out where and who I’d made with it with,” responded Jasmine in an empty tone.

Confusion was etched on Nikki’s face, “I don’t follow,” she replied.

Jasmine sighed, “Remember that day when Laura brought me over to your house with Christina so we could meet you back in August?” she asked, referring to the day Laura had introduced them to her ‘new’ sister.

“Uh huh,” said Nikki trying to guess what Jasmine was getting at.

“Well when I got home that day I told Mum and she didn’t take it too well and she ordered me to stop being friends with Laura and to stay away from her family,” explained Jasmine despondently, “but I haven’t obeyed her because Laura’s my best friend and she hasn’t done anything nor have you and your Mum’s always been so nice to me. On Saturday I was daft enough to think she’d changed her tune and I thought she’d appreciate it if I told her it was you and Laura who who’d helped me out but she got angry and told Dad and he said he’d transfer me to a different school if I didn’t stay away from you people,” finished Jasmine.

She was very close to breaking down and Nikki felt her heart go out to her, she knew Laura and Jasmine were nearly inseparable and here she was being told to give up her best friend because her parents were prejudiced against Nikki.

“Have you told Laura?” asked Nikki gently.

“No but I’ll tell her today. I still want to be her friend even though I’m not allowed at your place anymore and I don’t hate you Nikki, I’ll still be in quiz and debate and everything,” replied Jasmine, tears streaking down her cheeks.

Nikki gave her a warm hug, feeling her own eyes prickling with tears.

To be continued.