hi people :) welcome to my first chapter of this story. I decided I would write about Rita and Lily as I feel their characters should be explored more. I'm sorry for medical/grammar mistakes. I would love if you could read and review.

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"Is Lily coming in today?" Tom asked Sam while they were walking into work.

It had been a week since Lily's parents had been killed in a car crash, Lily had been silent about the accident, pretending it hadn't happened, forcing herself to continue working. Unfortunately for her Zoe had refused for her to stay at work and given her a weeks paid leave, especially after discovering that Lily had a 12 yr old sister who she now has to care for.

Yes, well that's what I heard from Zoe, and that her sister has to stay in the staff room until childcare can be arranged." Sam told Tom as she walked into the staff room seeing only Rita.

Sam and Rita were both sorting their lockers when they heard the staff room door open. They spun around to see Lily and a younger girl walk into the staff room. The girl looked about 11 / 12 and looked tired. She had long brown hair tied up in a messy ponytail and was wearing burgundy jeans and a fluffy hoodie. She looked up at Lily who said to Rita and Sam.

"This is my sister Emily, can you just watch her while I talk to Zoe for a few minutes" Lily asked politely while Emily forced a smile.

"I've got a meeting with connie but I'm sure Rita can" Sam said smiling at Lily.

"Yeah sure" Rita said as Sam and Lily left.

"You can sit down you know" Rita told Emily who was standing awkwardly where Lily had left her. Emily smiled at Rita and went to sit on a chair next to Rita,

"What's it like having lily as a sister then?" Rita asked jokingly. Emily smiled and replied.

"Well she's away most of the time with work but technically she's not actually my real sister."

"What is she then?" Rita asked softly,

"She was adopted by my parents.." Emily froze slightly after saying the word 'parents'

"And now she has to look after me I guess" she finished looking ready to cry.

Rita gave the girl a sympathetic look and that was all it took for Emily to start crying.

"hey, hey it will be ok, I promise" Rita said pulling the girl into a hug.

"How do you know?" The girl asked Rita through sniffs.

Rita froze and felt tears in her eyes.

"I.. I lost my husband a few years ago." Rita told the girl who just hugged the girl harder.

Sam opened the staff room door and Rita mouthed to her 'not a good time' while Emily was buried in her shoulder. Sam nodded, smiled slightly and walked out.

Emily sat up and looked slightly embarrassed.

"Don't, worry it's ok, we all need someone to cry on." Rita told the girl.

"Hey do you have a phone?" Rita asked Emily and she nodded before pulling out a iPhone 4.

Rita pulled a pen and a piece of paper from her pocket and wrote down her mobile number.

"Text me whenever, ok, you can talk to me about anything, no matter how weird or embarrassing, I won't tell Lily." Rita told the girl before placing the number in her hand. The girl smiled as Lily walked in.

"Guess I should get back to work then" Rita said winking to Emily who smiled back.

"Do you like her?" Emily asked her sister after Rita left.

"I don't really know her, I, unlike most people here, actually work and not socialise, but I guess she's better than some people here" Lily told the girl who smirked at Lily's comment.

"Well I think she's nice" Emily said and Lily raised an eyebrow.

"Ok, text me if you need me, I'll be back for lunch, don't leave here unless your going to the toilet ok?" Lily told Emily who nodded.

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