Six little faces looked up at her grinning, before, on mass, several high pitched voices squealed “Lottie …!!!!!!!”

Lottie put her fingers up to her ears in protest, “Ow …”

Jo laughed, “You’re popular …”

Angie and her friends began babbling about the play, about Lottie’s clothes and jewellery,

“I like your shirt …” said one girl, tugging at it, “It’s cute …”

Lottie smiled, bemused, “Thanks … er …”

Another girl played with the bangles around her wrist, “Cool hoops … and I like your earrings …”

“Thanks …” said Lottie, putting her free hand up to check which ones she was wearing, Angie took hold of her arm possessively, claiming that Lottie was *her* friend,

Lottie began to feel a little overwhelmed by all the attention, looking to Jo to save her,

Jo chuckled, taking her by the hand and leading her assertively away from Angie’s marauding gang …

Lottie felt the strange warmth as Jo’s hand encased her own, it started at the tip of her fingers, travelling to her chest and upwards, finishing in the blush of her cheeks,

Jo grinned as they pulled away … “Are you blushing?”

Lottie blushed some more,

“It’s okay …” said Jo, glancing over her shoulder at the girls who’s eyes still eagerly watched them, “you get used to all the pawing …” she chuckled,

“Who’s that?” one of the little girls asked Angie,

“My Mom’s sister …” replied Angie, grinning,

“How old is she?” another one asked,

“Nineteen …” said Angie, with an air that suggested she was loving the attention Lottie was getting,

“Wow …” mumbled Stacie, “she is *so* cool”

They all nodded in agreement,

Jo chuckled, “Looks like you’ve got yourself a little fan club …” she teased,

Lottie grinned, “Really?”

Jo nodded, leaning in closer, “And they’re not the only ones …” she added seductively,

Lottie felt herself blush again, unable to believe that Jo was so blatantly flirting with her there in the school yard,

“We’d better go,” Lottie mumbled, feeling the uncomfortable heat between them only being made worse by the six pairs of eyes that were trained on them and refusing to leave, “besides” she winked, “I have to drop off Angie and her friend and then get ready for this date I have tonight …”

Angie’s ears picked up the word ‘date’

“Date?” teased Jo, “really?”

Lottie nodded, her fingers grazing the side of Jo’s hand ever so slightly, “Uh huh …”

“Anyone I know?” Jo asked, smiling,

Lottie grinned, “Oh … I don’t think so … she doesn’t get out much,”

“She?” said Jo, not rising to Lottie’s bait, “She sounds nice …”

“She is …” Lottie replied breathlessly,

Angie watched their little display amused, wondering who they thought they were kidding,

“Come on Angie, Stacie … Let’s go!” said Lottie pulling away as scores of other parents began pilling into the school yard,

“Bye then …” mumbled Jo, “see you soon”

Lottie clocked the amused expression on Angie’s face, she laughed, slipping her arm around Angie’s shoulder as she lead them both out to the car, “What are you smirking at?”

Angie shrugged, like she was going to say … well not to Lottie anyway but perhaps to her Moms or her Aunty Kit,

Lottie shook her head in amusement, “Let’s go then … sorry to hear about your Mom’s foot Stacie …”

to be continued with date night very soon …