I know I should update my other stories, but I'm struggling at the moment and then I had this idea. It's set fifteen years in the future, when Matilda comes to the ED with three of her friends.
Matilda's friends were all recently born in the ED.
Dylan was born in Estranged and, despite being female, was named after the doctor who helped deliver her. Dylan's parents were injured on their wedding day: one mother, Chloe, survived and gave birth to Dylan, but the other Lally, didn't make it.
Ariana was born in Cradle to Grave to Esther, who has BPD and was not considered fit to keep her child. I can't remember if Esther gave her a name, so I'm assuming her adopted family changed it. References to BPD are inspired by my own experiences and might not be typical.
Lottie was born in either part 1 or 2 of A Child's Heart, right at the beginning of the new series, and was born safely thanks to the determination of Louise, who was still a receptionist but on the point of returning to nursing.
Most of the current regulars are still at the hospital and a number of them will feature, though they aren't in Chapter 1.
Matilda knew exactly what was going to happen. She could tell from the slightly freaked-out look on Alfie Dean's face. She'd seen it, at one time or other, in the face of every boy who'd been out with Ariana. Every boy who showed an interest believed they would be the one to tame her, but it always ended in exactly the same way.
She checked her watch in desperate hope that Dylan might be on her way and be in time to sort this out, but she was sure it was too early and she was right.
"I'm sorry," said Alfie. "I just can't deal with this anymore! It's doing my head in."
Matilda flinched and gave Alfie a pleading look. Just as she could predict the inevitable and painful end to Ariana and Alfie's relationship, she could also predict Ariana's reaction.
Ariana's eyes filled with tears. "Please don't leave me, Alfie! I'll do better. I'll try to get this under control."
"That's what you said last time," said Alfie. "Listen, Ariana: I do like you. You're a nice girl and everything. But seriously. I can't go the rest of my life without speaking to girls just in case it upsets you! I've told you a million times there's nothing going on with me and Phoebe, but you just won't get that and I can't take anymore."
Ariana started to cry.
"Oh, can't you give her just one more chance?" said Lottie, her face distressed as she put her arm around Ariana. "It's not that easy for Ariana, you know. She's not being difficult on purpose. She has an actual illness. You wouldn't break up with someone for having a physical illness, would you?"
"But why should I have to put up with her grief just because she's got BDP or whatever it is?" said Alfie.
Matilda shook her head sadly. After three weeks of seeing Ariana every single day (at Ariana's insistence, of course), he still couldn't name Ariana's condition correctly.
Ariana pulled away from Lottie's hug. "He's right. Why should I? I'm just horrible. I'm toxic and evil and you should all stay away from me."
"No, you're lovely," said Matilda, feeling completely helpless but wanting to help in some way. "You're lovely, Ariana. All this means is that you and Alfie aren't suited. That's okay! Not many people meet their perfect man when they're our age."
Ariana swung round to glare at her. "Oh, you just don't understand, Matilda! How could you? You've never even had a boyfriend."
"I'm only fifteen," said Matilda, but her voice was soft because Ariana was right. She'd never had a boyfriend and although she knew that some people didn't go on their first date until they were in Year 11 or even older, it still depressed her.
"No-one understands me," sobbed Ariana. Lottie moved to hug her again, but Ariana stepped away. "No-one! I'm all alone. I don't belong here."
"Of course you belong here," said Lottie soothingly. She gave Ariana a tissue. "You're our friend, Ariana, and we love you. You haven't done anything wrong and it's going to be okay."
"Right. I'll be off then," said Alfie awkwardly.
Ariana cried even harder. "Please don't leave me, Alfie! Please. I can't live without you. I'm sorry for being moody; for being difficult; for being possessive; for being me. I love you!"
The look of awkwardness on Alfie's face was replaced by a look of terror that Matilda didn't doubt appeared on most Year 10 boys' faces when the L-word was mentioned. He backed away, then turned and ran back towards the school.
Matilda was expecting it, but none of them reacted quickly enough when Ariana moved. She darted away from Lottie, threw herself through the school gates and ran down the road.
Lottie took half a step after her, then hesitated, looking towards the staff room, which was far too near the school gates for comfort. "We'd better go after her."
"Shouldn't we call Dylan?" said Matilda. Dylan would know what to do.
Lottie looked doubtful. "She's probably still in her piano lesson. We've got to do this ourselves, Tilly." She gave her friend a quick hug. "I know it's scary, but I'm sure we can do this. Leave Dylan a voice mail on the way."
"Or should we tell a teacher?" said Matilda doubtfully. She hated herself for being scared of getting into trouble when Ariana was heart-broken and probably suicidal, but that was the way she was made. A coward.
"We can't," said Lottie regretfully. She took Matilda's arm and hurried her out of the gates. "You know what they're like. They'll call Ariana's parents. It's much better if we deal with it ourselves. That's what Dylan would say."
Matilda, realising her friend was right, pulled her phone out of her pocket to call Dylan, but before she could, it exploded into life and the name of the fourth member of their group of friends flashed up on the screen. "Dylan, oh my God, please come quickly!" said Matilda.
"What's happened?" said Dylan. "Has Alfie dumped Ari?"
"How did you know?"
"I could see it was heading that way," said Dylan. "Where are you?"
Matilda gave Dylan their rough location. "Can you come, Dylan?"
"Of course I can," said Dylan. "Stay on the phone so you can let me know where you're going Just try not to panic, Tilly, okay? I'm on my way."
It never got easier. No matter how many times Matilda saw her friend in this state, she couldn't react to it with Lottie's soothing kindness or Dylan's practical competence. All Matilda could do was stand there and try not to cry until one of the others told her to do something.
Dylan, who'd caught up with them in a matter of minutes (she was as good at running as she was at everything else), summed up the situation at a glance and put her hand on Matilda's quivering shoulder. "Matilda, call an ambulance. Twelve year old female; self-inflicted lacerations to the wrist from a dirty broken bottle; foreign object in wound; severe bleeding. Junior first-aiders on site with first aid kit. Don't worry: you'll be fine. So will Ariana."
As Dylan spoke, she was already moving to Ariana's side. She pulled her miniature first aid kit out of her bag and put on a pair of non-latex gloves.
"Matilda?" said Lottie gently. "Could you phone, please?"
Matilda nodded and hurriedly made the call, her hand shaking as she jabbed at the 9 key. As usual, she was in a panic and forgot Dylan's instructions, but the person on the other end of the phone was patient. She watched her friends as she spoke on the phone, wishing she could be more like them. Lottie was hugging Ariana and stroking her arm as she comforted her. Dylan was expertly holding a dressing against Ariana's cut, holding the arm above the level of Ariana's heart as she put pressure on the wound.
Dylan somehow managed to shrug her way out of the coat without reducing the pressure on Ariana's wrist. She laid her coat on the ground. "Right: let's get her lying down. Ariana, can you lie down for me? You help her, Lottie. Good girl, Ari. You're doing well. Lottie, if you put your coat over Ariana? That's right."
Matilda finished her phone call and took a nervous step towards Ariana. It was nothing she hadn't seen before, but not something she could ever get used to.
"Come here, Tilly," said Dylan, holding out her hand. She was shielding Ariana's hand with her body so Matilda wouldn't see it. "That's right. Don't worry: I won't let you see anything. Can you help me lift Ari's legs? That's right. Hold them on your knees and keep your eyes closed for me, Tilly. This is really just a precaution: the bleeding isn't that severe, but you know what a show-off I am with my first aid skills. There you are, Ari: I'll just build up padding on both sides, then I'll be able to bandage over the top. You're doing really well and it's going to be fine."
"I can't go to hospital!" sobbed Ariana.
"Of course you can," said Lottie. "You know how nice they are. You'll be fine and we'll be here."
"But Alfie's dad is a paramedic and his mum is like, the head nurse!" wailed Ariana.
"We probably won't see them," said Lottie.
Matilda had to admit this could be a problem, though it reassured her just slightly to know that sometimes you didn't take after your parents even if you were their real child. "Should I phone again?"
"No. It'll be fine," said Dylan. "Alfie's dad is a good guy, but it will probably be that blonde woman – Oh God: what's her name? Trixie? Help me, Matilda: you can always remember names."
"Dixie," said Matilda.
"Well done!" said Dylan. "It'll probably be Dixie treating you while Iain drives. And the chance of Sister Dean being the one to treat you is miniscule. It'll be fine, Ari. You'll be fine."