So Lottie's school days continued like that for quite a while. She was failing in everything. The only subjects she excelled in were music and English. Her relationship with Ruby didn't get any better either. She played her guitar and wrote her songs and tried to find places Charlie approved of where she could perform. Sure, she loved her new life in the sun where she swim every day and play her guitar on the beach, but she missed England to. She missed her friends especially as she had no friends here at all. Sometimes at school she hang around with Xavier and his girlfriend April. Lottie figured she'd only kind of made friends with them because Xavier was Ruby's ex, but she didn't spend much time with them because she could tell they wanted to be alone. So Lottie was lonely.

Her life was going smoothly though – minus the bullying – and each day rolled into one until her life became bumpy.

Lottie was walking back one evening from having a muffin at the diner when she began to feel uncomfortable. It was dark and quiet and she was alone.

Behind her Lottie heard footsteps. She looked behind her and saw a man following her.

Lottie crossed onto the other side of the road.

The man followed her.

Lottie wished she wasn't alone.

Her heart was thumping so hard it hurt.

Swiftly and unexpectedly she felt herself being grabbed from behind. Lottie screamed and a hand was clamped tightly over her mouth. She struggled to get free, but in vain. Schiesse, Lottie thought. She always swore in German, courtesy of her friend back home in England. Was that where her home was? She wished she was there.

Before she knew what was going to happen to her, Lottie was on the floor. Then she knew. She knew what was going to happen. She knew there was nothing she could do to stop it.

"Please," she tried.

He ignored her.

"Please," her voice was so soft.

Then she knew it was real. "No!" she screamed. "Mum, help me!"