Chapter Eight

Hi guys. I'm aware that my chapters are getting longer and longer! I've been stuck in a headspace of having write where 1 day = 1 chapter. I'm going to try and work on that so that I'm not taking ages between updates. Thanks for all your support 3

It was Sunday night, and both Evie and Rachel were aware. Rachel was cautious of upsetting Evie, and Evie didn't want to bring it up in case Rachel tried to start a deep conversation about it. Eventually, Rachel decided to ask Evie how she was feeling after they'd finished dinner.

"Fine." she snapped back. Rachel raised an eyebrow.

"It's okay to not be fine, you know."

"I know, but I am, so can we drop it now?" Rachel resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

"Okay. But you know you can talk to me about anything? Anytime, okay? Even if it's three in the morning."

"Yeah... I am trying with the whole emotions thing, Rachel. I'm sorry."

"You don't have to be sorry. Just know I'm here for you, okay?" Evie nodded.

"Come on, why don't you get yourself a shower and an early night?" Evie took herself upstairs to shower, and when she came out, she found Rachel sat on the chair in her room with two mugs of hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows, and biscuits.

"What's this for?" asked Evie.

"I just thought it might help you calm down a bit before bed. I know you're scared about being back at school." Evie thought about protesting, but decided to give in.

"Thank you." Scooping her hair into a messy, damp bun, and wearing the pyjamas Rachel had given her, she half sat, half lay on the bed, propping herself up with her elbow.

"School will be okay, you know. I'm the headteacher, I can't let you not be okay, it's kind of against the law."

"Yeah, but... Well, I don't want to go back. I don't have any friends, everyone hates me and no offence, that's not going to get any better living with the headteacher."

"I can understand that. Kids like Rhiannon, they've got their own past, and sometimes they just use other people as a defence, especially if they see themselves in them."

"I just haven't made the best start, have I?"

"No, maybe not. But it's never too late. Why don't you try and see tomorrow as a fresh start? I'm sure something's bound to have happened over the weekend that'll have got them all distracted."

"Yeah, maybe. I just can't stand people starting on me."

"Well, I want you to do the right thing and walk away from it if they do. Come and find me or Nikki,, or Kim, or go and sit in the cooler if you can't find us."

"I'll try."

"Good girl." Evie's heart felt warm. "Can I check your arms quickly? The nurse said I need to." Evie rolled up her sleeves, sighing.

"See? I'm all good." she chirped sarcastically.

"Okay. You tell me if you're not, okay?" Evie nodded.

"Night, Rachel."

"Goodnight, love. Sleep well." Rachel closed the door gently as Evie snuggled into bed. The maternal love she felt for this girl in such a small space of time consumed her, and she wished more than anything she could take her pain away.

The next morning, Evie didn't set an alarm on purpose, hoping that she could sleep through the day. Unfortunately for her, Rachel saw through this, and was in Evie's room at 6:30am, opening the curtains a crack to let some light in. She sat on Evie's bed and stroked her cheek softly.

"Come on, Evie. Time to get up." Evie began to wake, feeling fuzzy and warm at being woken in such a gentle way.

"I don't feel very well." croaked Evie. Of course, she was faking it, and they both knew it. Rachel put a hand on Evie's forehead.

"You feel fine. I know you don't want to go in, but you have to go sooner or later, and the longer you leave it, the harder it'll be to go. It's Monday morning, they'll all be talking about Bolton's latest party or what gig they went to at the weekend."

"Can I go tomorrow?" Evie whined, like a child.

Rachel sighed. "No, love. Just give it another chance?"

Evie groaned, sliding her legs out of bed. Clean uniform was neatly folded on the chair by her desk, a chair that was gradually beginning to accumulate other bits of laundry, pencils and her school books.

"Downstairs in twenty minutes for some breakfast, okay?"

"I still don't do breakfast!" called Evie, as Rachel turned left out of the door and onto the landing.

"You do now!" Rachel called back, teasingly. Evie huffed and begrudgingly shuffled over to the bathroom to change and wash her face. Running the brush Maggie gave her through her hair, she scooped it into a ponytail with a bobble she found on the desk, supposedly left over from Rachel's sister's last visit, and went downstairs. A plate of toast, one piece with butter and Marmite, and one with strawberry jam, awaited her at the breakfast bar, along with a cup of tea. Rachel stood at the dining table, shuffling papers into her bag whilst Evie picked at the toast. Without realising it, she'd eaten everything on her plate, and realised it was the first full meal she'd finished in a long time. Noticing the time, Rachel called Evie to the car, and the pair drove towards school.

"New day, Evie." Rachel stated, as they parked in the headteacher's spot. "New day, new week, and I know it's not going to be easy, but please try? For me?"

Evie looked away, at the threatening groups of teenagers that looked like a battleground to her, turned back to Rachel, and nodded.