Hey, here's Chapter 4! Thank you so much for lovely reviews and just for reading it, it makes me feel on top of the world! Getting back into creative writing after not doing so for 4 years is the best decision I've made even if it makes me sleep deprived! Chapters will be longer from now on, which will probably make them less frequent, I hope you guys are okay with that :-)
This chapter is rated M for a self-harm reference and abuse.
Rachel woke early on Saturday morning. Not wanting to leave the warmth of her bed on the cold January morning, she wrapped the duvet around herself and contemplated the events of the past 12 hours. She thought up a plan of action for the day before stepping out of bed and showering. Rachel liked to constantly be in control and know what was happening, and a plan helped her do this.
She put on a pair of dark blue jeans and a blue speckled blouse – although it was the weekend, she felt she had to dress semi-professionally for Megan, and the police. Rachel scraped her hair into a messy bun which she held together with a pencil – she couldn't be bothered to straighten it today. After finishing her makeup and spraying herself with her favourite perfume, she went downstairs and made herself a coffee and some cereal, which she consumed whilst watching the news, like most Saturday mornings.
Upstairs, unbeknown to Rachel, Megan was sobbing. She felt weak, scared, and ashamed to have caused this situation for her family and for Rachel. Afraid of what would happen to her, she wiped the tears from her face and reached for her schoolbag, delving into the front pocket, and unwrapping a small, silver, sharp object from a tissue. She scraped it against her left arm a few times – enough so that it hurt, but not enough to endanger her life. Holding the tissue against her bleeding inner arm, for a few moments, she took some deep breaths, taking control of the situation. Megan liked to constantly be in control and know what was happening, and somehow, hurting herself helped her do this.
Megan ran a brush through her hair before stepping out of her room and downstairs, where she found Rachel sat drinking coffee. Rachel heard her come down and turned to see a tired Meg standing in the doorway.
"Morning, love. I thought you'd want to sleep longer?"
"Yeah, I didn't sleep well, really..." Rachel smiled sympathetically.
"Can I get you some breakfast and a cup of tea?"
"Yes please" Meg nodded, and Rachel put the kettle on and poured Megan some cereal. Rachel made another coffee and joined Meg at the kitchen table.
"Now, I know it's going to be hard, but how about we make that phone call after breakfast, hmm? I know neither of us want to, but the sooner we phone them, the sooner this can all stop, yeah?"
"I think that's probably the best thing" Meg said with a forced smile. She had to act strong, she couldn't break down in front of Rachel the way she did last night.
"Good girl. Now why don't you go and get dressed while I ring them? I left a spare pair of jeans and a top outside your door, I'm sorry they'll be a bit big and probably not the most fashionable!"
"Thank you" Meg replied as she left to go and get dressed and put on her makeup, which she brought to school with her most days anyway.
Downstairs, Rachel drank the rest of her coffee before picking up the phone to call the police. She knew the non-emergency number well because of minor offences committed at the school.
"Rochdale Police Station, DI Boston speaking, how may I help you?"
"Hi, Nikki, it's Rachel"
"Hey, how are you doing?"
"I'm fine, thanks, but I have a pupil with me who isn't. An allegation's been made against her father, ongoing sexual abuse it seems. Would you be able to send someone over? I'm at home"
"Oh my goodness, yes, of course. I'll come over myself if you want. See you in 10"
Rachel hung up, comforted that it was Nikki coming to talk to Megan. Nikki was usually the one to help with school problems and had come in on a number of occasions to talk to the pupils about drugs and violence. Hence, the pair knew each other well. Rachel climbed the stairs and knocked on Megan's door to let her know.
"Meg, the police are coming round in ten. It's DI Boston, do you remember her from school?" Meg nodded. "She's absolutely lovely, she's really good at making you feel calm. Do you want me to stay with you still? I'd understand if you want me out of the way, you know."
"No Miss, I'd really like you to be with me. I mean, if you want to."
"Of course I will." Rachel smiled. There was a sharp knock at the door and the pair came downstairs.
"Nikki, hello. This is Megan. Meg, this is DI Boston. Can I get you a cup of tea, Nikki?"
"No, I'm good thanks. So, where shall we do this?" Rachel showed her through to the lounge. Nikki sat on the sofa at a right angle to the one occupied by Rachel and Meg.
"Okay Meg, I need you to tell me exactly what's been happening. I know it's difficult but you can take as long as you need to. And rest assured, every accusation of sexual abuse is taken seriously. Your dad won't be sleeping in his own bed tonight." This made Megan feel safer and more able to talk in the knowledge that he couldn't come and find her. Megan recalled the information she'd shared with Rachel the previous night, eyes fixed on a single spot on the thick cream carpet. Rachel's hand never left her knee.
Further into the conversation, Nikki asked Megan specific questions about her father. Things Megan didn't want to talk about. Remembering exactly what he used to do to her and having to share it with others was too painful. She felt her heartbeat quicken and she began to shake, a panic attack looming. She buried her face in her hand as she mumbled the response to Nikki, not wanting to see their responses. Rachel rubbed her knee as she spoke, and Megan's face only emerged once Nikki had informed her that the difficult questions were over.
"Megan, you mentioned that this started when your parents split up. Where's your mum now?"
"I don't know. I haven't seen her or spoken to her since. She doesn't answer her phone"
"Does she have any friends or relatives she could be staying with?"
"I don't know. My grandparents – on her side – live in Spain, but I don't think she'd go there, she's got a job here."
"Where does she work, love?"
"The office park on Glinford Rise. Number 32, I think?"
"Okay, we'll look into it."
"Why, do you think something's wrong?!"
"I don't know, Megan. There's every possibility that she's not speaking to you because she doesn't want to upset you or upset your father, but it's worth us looking into."
"He used to hit her, you know. She'd be covered in bruises and she'd say things like she fell over, but I don't think I believe her, not since Dad..."
"I know. Okay, Megan, thanks so much for telling me everything. It's a really brave thing you've done. Now, are you happy to stay with Miss Mason? I could look at alternative accommodation, but between you and me, it's rough, it really is. Plus, I know Miss Mason really well and I know she'd take good care of you." Meg nodded. "Great. Well, I'm going to head back to the station and send out some officers to arrest Mr Davis. I'll give you a ring once they've left so you can go back and collect some of your things, have you got a key?" Megan's eyes widened at the thought of her father being arrested. It all seemed to be happening so quickly. This time yesterday, she was sat in Mr Budgen's English lesson, thinking of what she'd have to endure that night. That was before she made the decision not to.
Rachel showed Nikki out and came back to see Megan stood against the wall, breathing slowly. Holding out her arms, Rachel enveloped Megan in a tight hug.
"Well done, love. I know that took a lot for you, but it's over for now. Why don't you choose a film to watch, hmm? I know nothing's going to stop you thinking about what's happening but it might help a bit." Rachel showed Meg her film collection and Megan chose Mean Girls. Like Rachel had predicted, Megan couldn't keep herself focused on the movie. She kept looking at the grandfather clock in the corner of Rachel's living room, wondering what would be happening at her house right now. What if her dad wasn't home? What if he escaped and found her? What if DI Boston hadn't believed her? She didn't want to go back there, not now she'd found safety.
Both Rachel and Megan jumped towards the end of the film when Rachel's phone rang. She went into the hallway to take the call.
"Nikki?"
"Hi Rachel. Just to let you know, Mr Davis is in a confined cell and will be until the trial. He denies everything but it's so obvious he's lying. No sign of her mother though – we've spoken to her friends and relatives and they haven't seen her since before the split. I'll keep you posted."
"Wait... trial? Sorry, you didn't mention she'd have to go through this again?"
"It's procedure, I'm afraid. I'll make sure she's got a good solicitor and she'll have to have a medical examination. There's no way he'll get away with it though, he's got guilt written all over his face." Rachel sighed, hating the thought of Megan having to tell an entire courtroom what it had taken her six months to tell her.
"Oh, and you're alright to go and get some of Megan's things now. And the trial will be in about a month, I believe. I'll try and push it forward, I'll see what I can do."
"Thanks Nikki. Really, thank you, you've been brilliant."
"No worries. Good luck with the kid, Rach"
Rachel entered the living room and saw that Megan had paused the movie.
"Was that DI Boston?"
"Yeah... Meg, listen," Rachel replied, coming to sit next to her. "They've arrested your father, he's in a cell now. But, love, I'm sorry, there's going to be a trial."
"What, like, in front of a court?"
"Yes, well, you may be able to speak via a video link if you don't want to talk in front of everyone. I'm sorry sweetie" This was too much for Megan. The emotions of the last few hours mounted on top of her as she stormed out of the room, ran upstairs and locked herself in the bathroom. Rachel started to follow her, but decided to give the girl a moment. Instead, she started cooking a pasta bake for when she came down.
Megan emerged from the bathroom almost an hour later and came into the kitchen where Rachel was still cooking.
"Hiya, love. Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I guess. I just... I didn't realise I'd have to talk in front of everyone, I thought they'd just lock him up."
"Well, they have locked him up, and DI Boston is certain he's guilty. You just need to say your side of the argument, but it won't be for a few weeks and you'll get a solicitor to help you. And I'll help you too. You won't be on your own with this." Rachel smiled. "Here, come and have some pasta," she beckoned, heaping pasta bake onto two plates, "and DI Boston's given us the all-clear to go and get some of your things from home, how about we do that after lunch?"
"Thank you." Meg remained quiet as they ate the pasta and then got in the car to go home. Meg gave instructions to Rachel and they were at her dad's flat within ten minutes. A dog barked from one of the ground floor flats and a can blew across the road eerily. Megan stared bleakly up at the block of flats. This place brought back painful memories for her, and she didn't ever want to come back after having spent a night in a warm home with someone who made her feel safe. Rachel held open the door for her as they climbed the stairs up to the eighth floor, where she lived.
Unlocking the door, the first thing that hit the pair was the smell – part damp and part stale alcohol. Beer cans and empty vodka bottles littered the living room floor. Although Meg knew her dad was miles away from her in an isolated cell, she still feared that he was lurking behind a door somewhere. When Rachel put a hand on her shoulder, she jumped and screamed, afraid that it was her father.
"Megan it's me, it's me. Come on, let's just get your stuff and go, hey?" Thankfully, Rachel had brought two large suitcases and a few black bin liners in order to transport Megan's belongings. Megan didn't even think too much about what she was doing, she just took everything from her wardrobe and drawers and threw them into the bags and suitcases, along with her schoolwork and her laptop.
"Miss, can we just go now please, I don't want to be here anymore" Megan mumbled before leaving the room to stand in the corridor of flats, leaving Rachel to quickly check that she hadn't left anything essential and lock up the flat. They carried Meg's belongings to the car in silence – Megan feared she would break down if she spoke, and she was trying so desperately hard not to show emotion.
Once they'd arrived home and Rachel had helped Megan carry her bags into her room, Meg shut the door and lay on the bed. Not even bothering to unpack, she allowed the tears to fall, crying into her pillow so that Rachel wouldn't hear. She blamed herself entirely. For her mum leaving, for her dad abusing her, for ruining Rachel's life. Nobody wants me around, I ruin everything and everyone who gets close, she thought to herself.
Still haunted by her thoughts, Meg decided to make a start unpacking whilst emotionally beating herself up over everything. She took a black and white owl-print t-shirt out of one of the bags and sniffed it. It smelt of damp, and worst of all, of him. The same occurred with a blue Aztec print dress. In fact, everything smelt of his sweat, alcohol, and damp. Her sadness and shame turned to fury and anger, and in a rage, she tipped everything out of the bags and suitcases and started ripping up the black bin liners. She sank to the floor, hyperventilating and crying, but no tears escaped her. She'd lost the energy and self-control to not break down now. She felt hopeless and worthless.
Knowing Meg needed some time alone, Rachel was downstairs sending out an email to members of staff about Megan's situation when she heard noises coming from upstairs. The maternal instincts within her prevented her from ignoring the screams, and she rushed upstairs without knocking on Megan's door. Her heart tore in two to see the teenager sat on the floor gasping and howling, surrounded by piles of clothes and black shreds. Making a hole in the pile of clothes, Rachel sat next down and stroked Megan's hair, whose head was resting on her folded arms against the bed. She didn't need to say anything – her presence was enough to calm the girl who eventually prised her head from her arms and instead looked at her lap.
"Megan, it's okay, you don't have to hide how you're feeling from me. I'm used to people getting upset, I see it every day in my office. It sometimes feels better after crying, doesn't it?" Meg's eyes refused to look at Rachel. "Meg, look at me for a minute," instructed Rachel, taking Megan's hands. Megan turned to face Rachel, mascara running down her cheeks leaving thin black channels. "Promise me that if you feel upset you'll come and talk to me, yeah? It's why I'm here, because I care about you. I'm not going to judge you, I'm not going to laugh at you or tell anyone, I just want you to know that I'm someone you can trust, okay? Promise?"
"I promise."