Chapter 7 –

"Hallo meine classe." Mr. Varley the German teacher began the class.

"Wer haben wir hier erhalten?" Mr. Varley asked upon seeing me.

Passion in my eyes, I lived it everyday, but how could you go throw it all away?
In my dreams it's me and you, it's there I saw it all come true
As time went by faith in you grew, so one thing's left for me to do

"Ich heiβe Grace" I replied.

"Ahh you speak German!" Mr Varley exclaimed. "Wonderful. Grace Hunter-Webb is it?"

"Yes sir." I replied.

"Perhaps you and Taylor should sit at the spare desk at the back of the room. He'll help you if you need it." Mr Varley pointed to a desk at the back of the room and Taylor and I took our seats.

I listened intently for the rest of the lesson and soon realised that my previous German class had already covered the topic of weather so I was well within my ability range, but then again Jason and Mickey had taught me a bit of German when I was living with them. God knows why!

As Varley gave the instruction to pack away Taylor took the opportunity to ask me a few questions he had been dying to ask since we met. "Not too bad a first lesson eh?" Taylor asked.

"No not at all," I replied.

"Hey where abouts do you live?" He asked.

"Doncaster Road."

"You have to be kidding me!" Taylor was astounded.

"No." I replied slightly confused.

I feel it burn inside, burn like the rising sun
Lifted into the sky, took the only thing I loved
I know after tonight all your power crumbles in my arms
So don't worry, I'll be fine, when my life ends, I'll leave this scar

"So do I!"

"Wow! What are the chances." I muttered.

"Here, take my number." Taylor handed me a piece of paper.

"Perhaps we could walk to school together tomorrow morning? Providing you want to come back?" Taylor smiled like a Cheshire cat.

"Oh I'll see." I teased

"Are you going home now?" Taylor asked

"No, I'm under strict instructions to head to my brother's work." I replied glumly.

"Grace?"

"Yes Taylor?"

"How did you get the black eye and gash on your face?" he asked and I panicked what was I to say? Luckily the bell went and the students began to vacate the classroom.

"I have to go Taylor, my brother has given me a specific time to be at his work by and if I'm not there I will be in big trouble." I gathered my stuff and began to leave. "I'll text you later."

"Bye then." Taylor was slightly shocked by my sudden leave but I was already out the door and out of the school.

When I fell down, I needed you there
Every note and every word seems so hard to take
Finally, In destiny

The walk back to Sun Hill Police Station was not a particularly long or short one but the time in which Phil had given me to arrive at the station had me practically running! All the while I was thinking about Taylor; he seemed sweet but I found the question he asked to be a complete surprise even though I had been astounded to have no questions asked before hand I hadn't expected Taylor to ask so soon.

I reached Sun Hill and ran straight up to CID and as soon as I entered through the door I saw Phil looking rather angry. "You're late." He snapped.

"Sorry Phil but the time you assigned me to get here in is unreasonable." I replied rather bravely.

"Well isn't someone cocky." Phil replied sarcastically. "That'll have to change now won't it?" I really didn't like the sound of that; not one bit.

I kept eye contact for a moment, staring him out desperately trying not to give in but then he broke the stare first. "Steve is going to take you home when he knocks off as I have to work late tonight." Phil said

"Fine." I replied.

A smoking gun in your hand, now don't you realize what you've done
Put a bullet in his back, your hero since you were so young
How could you kill the man who brought salvation through your pain
He must mean everything to end it all this shameful way

I could tell that Phil's temper was rising but I had found a new confidence within me I don't know where it came from but it was building. "Sit down and stay put and this time I mean stay put." He growled and forced me down into the seat that had been placed for me earlier.

"No problem." I smiled sweetly at him and he clenched his first ready to attack but he didn't.

"I've got to go out on a job." Phil grabbed his jacket. "If you and Steve go before I'm back text me. Got it?"

"Yup." I chanted.

"You're…. argh!" Phil left before he said something rather nasty.

I settled back into my seat and took out the piece of paper Taylor had given to me after German; I then took out my mobile phone and typed in the number. I stared at the number a moment and then saved it. Was I about to let this Taylor guy break down my walls and become my friend? He seemed cool enough? He seemed trustworthy?

So, with nothing better to do, I wrote a text message to Taylor saying the usual 'hi' and 'how are you?' etc. I didn't know what to say, I had always been a loner, never had any friends so it was all so alien to me.

Passion in my eyes, I lived it everyday, but how could you go throw it all away?
In my dreams it's me and you, it's there I saw it all come true
As time went by faith in you grew, so one thing's left for me to do

I sent off the message and looked around; for four o'clock in the afternoon the place sure was empty. I looked up and saw Mickey staring back at me. So I decided to get up and take a wander over to his desk.

"Hey Gracie!" He beamed. "You ok to be over here?" He asked looking around for Phil.

"No not really." I smiled

"What if Phil catches you?"

"He gives me another beating on top of the ones he's already going to give me, who cares?" I scoffed.

"Gracie I don't want you getting hurt." Mickey said offering me a seat.

"Too late," I laughed.

"Gracie, what's the matter with you?" He eyed me up suspiciously

"Nothing Mickey, I've just met my first friend tis all." I beamed at him.

"Awww little sis!" He threw his arms around me and held me close. "It's about time too."

"So where did you go?" Mickey said.

I started here so young and helped you get along
Just did it for the love, and people healed through us
Don't live you life in vain, don't take it out on me
You're cracked, so just remember, I'm not your enemy
I don't deserve to fall this way, by a man who felt betrayed

"Could you not tell by the uniform?"

"School?"

"Bingo!" I laughed.

"Didn't your dad enrol you in a school when you ran away from mine?"

"Nope." I shook my head.

"Irresponsible… git." Mickey muttered. "Sorry"

Just then Steve came through the door. "Shit! Gracie over here now!" Steve called out to me he seemed worried. "Phil's coming up the stairs."

"Crap." I muttered. "I'm sorry Mickey, got to go." I ran off to the other side of the room and picked up my rucksack ready to leave, just then Phil came through the door.

"Hello Steve." Phil greeted, "Take her home and stay with her until I get home."

"What time will you be getting home?" Steve asked.

"About 8 pm." Phil replied casually.

"I can't Phil; I've got to go out." Steve stated.

"You will stay and look after that brat of a sister of ours." Phil warned.

"Please Phil? What if Steve stays until about 7 pm eh? I can cook your dinner and have it on the table for 8 pm, I'll be no trouble." I tried to help Steve out.

"Right ok…"

Suddenly my phone rang. "What's that?" Phil snapped.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone to silence it but within that split second I found my phone to be in Phil's hands. "Give it back!" I yelled.

I felt so down now you're around to rescue me
Every note and every word i'm listening
Sometimes problems seem too deep to take
Sometimes I cry thinking my future looks so bleak
Finally, together we were destined, I know what's best for us in the end
Someone hear me, someone stop me, someone listen, why aren't you listening?

"Who's texting you?" He accused with a snigger.

"Well I won't know unless I read it." I snapped

"Aren't we cocky?" Phil smirked "That'll soon be fixed."

For a moment a sense of delight flickered across Phil's hate filled eyes. "Here have your phone. I'll deal with you later. Steve make sure you stay until I get home, can't trust this one!" Phil threw my phone at me and practically pushed me into Steve's arms. I glared at him before Steve dragged me off towards his car.

As we approached his car he threw be against the side and held me by the front of my shirt. "Are you trying to get yourself a beating?" He snarled at me.

"Get lost." I snarled back trying to get out of his grip; I had never been afraid of Steve because I had seen him frightened himself and knowing that Steve was human caused me to feel bolder when he was angry.

He slammed me into the car again and gripped even tighter. "Why can't you see that he's dangerous?" He pleaded with me.

"Get off me!"

"No! If you keep winding him up he'll kill you!" Steve cried.

Passion in my eyes, I lived it everyday, but how could you go throw it all away?
In my dreams it's me and you, it's there I saw it all come true
As time went by faith in you grew, so one thing's left for me to do (finish you)

"Well that's my problem then isn't it?" I screamed and pushed him off me and I ran off. I could hear Steve calling after me but I just kept running.