(Poppy's POV)

It was reaching 10:30pm, I'd been at work 2 and a half hours and the club was starting to get busy. There was me and Kelly on the bar, Kelly was about 23 but we were both the youngest employees of the club. My boss thought I was 19, I think deep down he knew I wasn't but he wanted to believe it so he did. I was wearing the tight, short red dress that matched the ruby streaks in my brunette hair. I was wearing black heels and a lot of make up.

My boss Jase specified these were the type of clothes we wore, we had a lot of male customers aging from 18 to mid 40's and let's just say it was our job to keep them coming back. Kelly was blonde and a total natural at flirting she'd given me some good tips in the year I'd worked here and when I started she kind of took me under her wing. We got a lot of regulars in here, mainly creepy older guys looking to get an eye full.

As I served the rowdy customers as fast as I could while still keeping them happy, I made my way down to the quiet end where there were two ladies they must have been what? Mid 30's, early 40's...One had straight pale brown hair and the other had pale caramel coloured curls. I wouldn't say they were posh but they weren't the sort of crowd we usually got in here. I approached them smiling softly.

"What can I get you ladies?" I asked, still smiling.

Not because I knew or liked them but service with a smile and all that...

"2 glasses of merlot please" The one with the caramel curls answered

I poured their drinks and placed them on the bar in front of them.

"That's 3.90 then please" I smiled

She handed over a five pound note and told me to keep the change. That was one of the perks of this job besides the pay...the tips. I wouldn't be here if I had any other choice. It was just me and my sister, Em. Mum had died shortly after Em was born and dad just disappeared one day. I was glad about it, when he was there all he did was drink and beat the crap out of me. However bills needed paying and so did the rent.

The two ladies stayed for a couple of drinks but once the rowdiness cranked up they left which was about 11:15pm. The club closed at 3:00am but we had to stay behind to clean up the mess so I made it home for about 4:30am. I got a bit of sleep before having to get up at 6. I showered and dressed before tying my hair up in a messy ponytail before waking Em up and heading downstairs to make her lunch.

I examined my cheek in the mirror with my fingers, the two scratch marks were sore and inflamed, the skin around it was purple with bruising. To be honest I'd had worse, I'd got it from breaking up a fight between two particularly rowdy customers, it came with the territory.

(Emily's POV)

I dressed in my school uniform, pleated skirt, white shirt, maroon jumper, black blazer and the school tie. It was both mine and Poppy's first day at Waterloo Road, I didn't want to leave Forest Mount I liked it there. I had friends, but Poppy said we had to move because they started asking questions. I liked living with Poppy she took care of me and the house we lived in was nice, it's just I wish I had a real family you know? A mum and a dad...Maybe even a cat.

But whenever I mentioned it Poppy just said we were okay on our own. I wasn't allowed to tell anyone about living with Poppy. Poppy said they'd take me away...split us up and I didn't want that. I hated her working at that club, she was never home and sometimes she came home hurt, but she was doing it for me so that we could stay together.

"Em! Breakfast!" Poppy called

I ran downstairs after grabbing my bag and tie. Poppy was already dressed in her skinny jeans, converse, a shirt with her tie hanging losely and her jumper.

"I can't do my tie" I told her

"Come here..."

I went up to her and she did it for me before I sat down for breakfast. At the new school we sat in an office and a lady gave us our timetables. When the headteacher came through she seemed nice but Poppy was extremely on edge.

(Rachel's POV)

I recognised the older girl, Poppy from the bar last night. She was very on edge and seemed uncomfortable near me. I could see how close the pair were.

"Your parents couldn't make it?" I asked

Emily was going to say something but Poppy stopped her.

"Dad had to work and mum's not around" she said

I had a feeling that I wasn't getting the whole story but Poppy didn't seem like she was going to spill her deepest, darkest secrets. I could sense that lack of trust in her body language.

"Okay well I'll give you a tour and show you to your classes" She smiled

I led them around the main areas, classrooms, toilets, assembly hall, canteen...Then I took Emily to class, she had science with Mr Mead. I opened the door and Chris came out into the corridor.

"This is Emily James, she's joining us" I smiled

"Hello Emily" Chris smiled

She looked at Chris, then at me and clung to Poppy, Poppy crouched down to Emily's level.

"Come on Em, remember what I said? Be brave yeah?"

Emily nodded slowly.

"Go on. I'll come find you at lunch" She told her

Emily gave her sister one final hug before going inside with Chris...