Chapter 1

'Always be ready. Life is always going to throw those little hurdles towards you... make you jump them.'

Layla remember her mother saying this when she was born. Her mother was right! Moving into Albert square was hard... She had to leave all her friends in Leeds. The person she loved, the person she trusted, and the person who knew her best.

'Great!' she thought 'I know no-one. I have no house. All I know is to go to an address and ask for Sharon Rickman.'

She walked down the street, tripping on the occasional cobble. Her long brown hair flowing, her skirt turning up every now and then.

She soon reached the door of the address her mother had given her. She knocked on the door.

A woman, aged around thirty opened it and greeted Layla with a large smile.

"Layla!" Sharon exclaimed, greeting Layla with a hug.

Phil emerged out of the kitchen.

"Ah... Phil, meet Layla, she's my God-Daughter!"

"God-Daughter?!" Layla and Phil shouted at the same time

"Um... Before today I didn't know you." Layla stated

"Yes! Your mother left the square when she was very young. I was the maid of honor at her wedding."

"Oh! You're Miss Watts?" Layla replied

"Yes. Rickman now, soon to be Mitchell!" Sharon smiled and hugged Phil. "Phil, take her down to the Vic,introduce her..."

"Is she even old enough to drink?" Phil asked

"I... um ... turned nine-teen last week!" Layla stated

"Oh! Okay." Phil walked Layla down the road and through the doors of the Queen Victoria. He walked over to the bar.

"Hey Mick. I'll have a pint and whatever she wants!" Phil said as he approached the bar

"I'll, um, have a vodka." Layla said nervously.

"And who, might I ask, is this rather fetching young lady?" Linda playfully slapped Mick on the arm

"I'm Layla..."

"She's Sharon's god-daughter! She's going to be living with us for a while!" Phil cut Layla off

"NANCY! GET DOWN HERE!" Mick yelled up the stairs.

"WHAT?!" Nancy yelled back, before running towards her dad

"Attitude!" Mick warned Nancy "This is Layla. She just moved here, i was hoping you'd show her round."

"Okay! Come on. You can meet my family... Unfortunately!" Nancy and Layla both giggled

Nancy walked Layla towards Shirley and Tina, who were both sat on the stools at the bar.

"Well, you've already met my dad, Mic. These are my aunties, Shirley and Tina!" Nancy told Layla... "This is Layla, she's Sharon god-daughter."

"Huh! I feel sorry for you... Having to live with that old cow!" Shirley groaned

"She's jealous..." Nancy whispered into Layla's ear. Layla laughed!