Part 3

Rachel was sat on the sofa in her office, sipping a coffee and flicking through some pupil reports. Putting them down on the coffee table in front of her she sat back into the cushion and moved her gaze to the window, which she often did when she allowed her mind to wander. It was hard to believe that they had been here six weeks already. What Grace had told her that first day was right, things did get better and she did gain the staff's support once they saw that what she was planning would be beneficial to everyone concerned. It wasn't smooth sailing, of course it wasn't, nothing ever was, but it was going pretty good.

Grace seemed to be doing OK too, her grades were as good as they had always been and she had slipped into a group of friends pretty easily and they now seemed inseparable around the school. When Grace turned 14 the week before, a few of the girls; Danielle, Aleesha, Jenny and Joanna, had gone into town with her, gone shopping and bowling. When she had come home after, she sat next to Rachel on the sofa as they watched a film and told her she was glad they had moved, she felt she belonged here and Rachel couldn't have been happier in that moment. So why was she now acting different?

It was a few days ago that Rachel had noticed the change in Grace; she was so obviously worried about something, or something was bothering her, but she wouldn't say what. Rachel sighed and stood, walking closer to the window to look further out over the field, her brow creased as she thought. Grace normally told her everything. She knew that she could tell her anything but apparently she did not want to discuss this. At school she had become distant, not paying attention in class, her head always seemingly elsewhere. At home it seemed even worse. She barely spoke to Rachel, just hid away in her room whenever she could and denied that there was anything wrong. It was frustrating Rachel that she couldn't seem to help her. She closed her eyes and ran her hand through her hair as she thought back to the conversation she had with Grace in the car that morning, trying to see if there was any clue, any indication, of what was wrong.

Rachel pulled up at the lights, which were on red and took a moment to look over at her daughter who was staring aimlessly out the window. Something needed to be done.

"Grace, what's wrong? Talk to me, you know you can tell me anything. I'm worried about you." Rachel started nervously, not wanting to pressure her and push her further away.

"Nothing Mum, there's no need for you to be worried, can you just stop harassing me?" Grace replied sharply, not even bothering to look away from the window towards her mother as she spoke to her.

Rachel sighed and was about to reply when the car behind her beeped, alerting her to the fact that the lights had now changed. She decided to leave it for now, until she wasn't driving and could give Grace her full attention. As they pulled into the school gates and Rachel parked up, she immediately reached over and put on the child lock meaning Grace couldn't leave the car and would be forced to listen to her.

"Darling, just listen to me," she began, as she turned to face her daughter, placing her hand on her arm, rubbing it slightly. "I am really worried about you, this just isn't you. Tell me what's going on, I can help you. Whatever it is we can sort it." She spoke softly, the desperation and emotion evident in her voice as Grace finally turned to look at her, her eyes glistening.

"Mum I'm fine. Can I go now?" she insisted, her voice little more than a whisper as Rachel sighed to herself, knowing she wasn't going to get anywhere with her now.

"OK fine you can go. Just one more thing?"

"What now?" Grace queried, rolling her eyes on the process.

"Just come over here and give your old mother a hug." Rachel smiled as she opened her arms, a little surprised when Grace smiled back and fell into them. It was Rachel's reasoning that if Grace couldn't find it in her tell her what was wrong, at least she could show her that she was here as she wrapped her arms tightly around her daughter and whispered into her hair.

"Whatever it is it will be OK, I promise you."

Rachel finally moved away from the window and sat in the chair behind her desk, leaning her head back onto the soft leather. The was nothing in the earlier conversation that showed her anything remotely to do with what was going on, just that it was so obviously getting to Grace. She hated Grace's persistent denial that anything was going on, why wouldn't she tell her? Did she really not trust her that much? She threw her pen across the desk in frustration, deciding she needed to escape the confines of her office and walk around the school, something she often did. This time though, she wasn't sure it was the best idea, she knew she would probably snap and over react if she saw any of the pupils doing anything remotely against the rules but she just needed to move.

...

"Grace Mason, read the next poem out." Mr Budgeon's bored and droning voice spoke through the classroom.

There was a slight rustling of pages as the class turned the pages to find the poem in question, eliciting a few sniggers from some kids at the back of the class.

"Erm sir, can someone else do it?" Grace questioned, knowing exactly why the others were laughing and not wanting to subject herself to more ridicule. Her actions surprised her friends who were sat around her but they couldn't say anything as Grantley interrupted.

"No they can't. Just read it." he droned again, in the same old bored tone. The kids at the back of the class were nudging each other and laughing more at this response.

"No sir, I won't. If you want it to be read so badly, why don't you do it yourself?" Grace snapped back, not liking the fact that he couldn't see just how much she didn't want to do it.

"What did you say girl? Is that the way you speak to a member of staff? Would you speak to the head like that? Now just read the poem." Budgeon continued as he stood up, walking towards where Grace was sat.

"Leave her out of this," Grace spoke, her voice rising slightly as she stood, "and I will not read the stupid poem." she added as she threw the book across the room.

To say her friends were surprised about her behaviour would be an understatement. They too knew there was something wrong but didn't know what. Of course, everyone else in the class found it hilarious. Grantley lost his temper fast and ordered her to the cooler, where she went with pleasure, slamming the classroom door behind her as she went.

She had calmed down slightly as she reached the cooler and took a deep breath before opening the door and going in, putting her bag on the floor and taking an empty seat, staring straight ahead. The teacher on duty wasn't there, in fact, there was no one else in the room as Grace leant forward and rested her head in her hands wondering what she should do. She was so lost in her own thoughts that she didn't hear the click of the heels down the corridor that stopped with a halt outside the door. She didn't hear the door opening and the woman entering the room. In fact she was only alerted to the presence of someone else when they spoke.

"Grace Olivia Mason, what the hell is going on?" Rachel demanded as Grace looked up at her mother who was stood with her hands on her hips, her face a picture of anger, frustration and confusion.

This was not going to be a fun conversation.