(Poppy's POV)
I'd been getting awkward stares all morning, I didn't blame them to be honest...I was wearing sunglasses inside. In english with Mr Clarkson I sat next to a girl named Dynasty and I was greatful to her for snapping at the people that kept staring. Mr Clarkson stopped me at the end of class.
"Poppy is everything okay?" He asked
"Yeah everything's great"
I tried to make a quick exit, I hated everyone asking questions. The corridor wasn't much better, I kept getting slammed around and by the time I reached the toilets I wanted to scream and cry in pain, but it just made it worse. I waited until 5 minutes after the bell went before I braved the corridors again. I spotted Miss Mason heading towards me, there was no way I could get to class without passing her.
"Poppy..." She said
"Please. Not now, I really can't do this now..." I said
It really was taking all the strength I had to hold back the tears, everytime I moved whether it was to walk, breathe, cry...It felt like every bone in my body was being snapped.
"Poppy its okay, I know everything" she said
She took me into Miss Campbell's office, it was closer than hers and easier to escape prying eyes. I sat on the blue couch painfully, holding my ribs and wincing.
"Emily told me that you got hurt..."
"What did Emily say?" I asked suddenly all I could focus on was that
"She told me about your mum and your dad, and how you look after her..."
"I told her not to say anything...Please don't call social services? Please! I can't lose her..." I pleaded
"Its okay, calm down Poppy...Emily mentioned your hurt? Can I have a look?" She asked
"Its nothing, its does even matter I-"
She stopped my nervous ranting, by placing her hand on mine.
"Poppy it's okay..." She soothed
(Rachel's POV)
Behind the tough girl act was a really weak, vunerable girl who was really struggling. She sighed softly, and removed the sunglasses. Two blacky purplish rings surrounded her eyes, her cheek was cut as was her lip, her head and eyebrow. But somehow I knew that wasn't it. She pulled her jumper over her head and loosened her tie pulling that off too.
She closed her eyes and moved her long hair, it was now that I saw the black fingerprints on her neck. She slowly unbuttoned her shirt and I saw the marks on her thin body, her entire torso was different colours...black, blue, green, purple...It was like she'd been crushed. I could see the obvious outlines of ribs, the story was the same on her back. She was in obvious pain.
"What happened?" I asked
I helped her slip her shirt back on and she started to button it up. I could see the weariness in her eyes.
"It's alright Poppy you can trust me..." I told her
"There was this guy in the club...last night. It started off as nothing...He was trying to chat me up, most of the guys do that. But then he kept grabbing me...touching me. So I got him thrown out" she took a deep breathe trying to contain her sobs "He waited...followed me, blocked me in an alley...He kept hitting me..."
"I just need to go and ask Miss Campbell's advice on something...I'll be right back" I gave her a smile and hurried to find Kim.
Once I had her safely outside her classroom, I stopped.
"What's going on?" Kim asked
"It's Poppy...she been attacked, its bad Kim. They've been living alone..." I told her
"Have you called social services?" Kim asked
I shook my head. "She begged me not to...I think she's been through enough for one day"
"Well if you haven't already I don't see why it can't be put off for a while?"
"Okay. I need to get Poppy to a hospital, she needs checking over. Can you keep things running here?"
She nodded. "I'll take Emily back to mine if you're not back..."
I went back to Poppy who had done her shirt up and put her jumper in her bag. I helped her stand back up slowly.
"I'm going to take you up to the hospital..." I told her
"No I'll be fine."
"Poppy it wasn't up for discussion..."