~Chapter 10-Secrets & Truths~

"Do you think you can get up there?" Liam asked nervously, glancing at Leanna's arm. The rain was washing away the blood but it still flowed out of the cuts that were gained from the glass.

Swallowing hard, Leanna peered at her arm as well, breathing slowly when she saw how much blood she was losing. She wasn't so good with blood, but she decided to man up and deal with it. "Yeah, I'll be okay." She said, taking a deep breath and hauling herself up onto the wall that surrounded the Dumping Ground. liam had taken her to the care home, and they had decided to climb in through the boys bathroom to not be seen.

They edged along the wall, ducking branches. Then they climbed up the roof of the shed until they were able to look into the window. Leanna squeezed her eyes shut, feeling light headed. She could see stars, they were spinning, flashing, disappearing...

Suddenly her foot slipped, knocking a tile from the roof. Liam automatically grabbed her uninjured arm, holding her tightly until she regained her balance. Flashing him a quick thank you smile, Leanna squeezed through the open window, and slipped onto the cold floor. Liam jumped through after her, extending a hand to help her up. She took it, and stood up, brushing herself off.

It was as messy as she thought; with clothes strewn all over the floor and random shampoo bottles knocked onto their sides. He laughed as she raised her eyebrows, and checked down the hallway before taking her hand again and creeping down the corridor towards Tee's room. She was inside, sewing a design onto a cushion, while Johnny sat on the bed, chatting to her about what had happened the day before with Carmen and her mum.

"Tee, can I ask ya' a favor?" Liam asked, opening the door slightly and looking in. Tee nodded and skipped up to him, a bright smile on her face. "Can... can Leanna stay in your room for a few days? And by stay, I mean hide?" He asked, opening the door wider and pushing Leanna in. With one look at Leanna's cut up arm, Tee stumbled backwards, a look of horror on her face.

"Umm..." She mumbled, not sure what to say. Johnny stormed over, glaring at Liam and Leanna.

"No way. She is not staying in Tee's room." He growled, he still hadn't made up with Liam over their fight the other day. Leanna steadied herself on the doorframe, feeling light headed again.

"Johnny, Tee can speak for herself!" Liam spat, stepping in front of Johnny and turning to Tee. "So, can she?"

Tee glanced at her brother, who was giving Liam a death stare. "I'm really sorry, but I don't think that she should because-" Liam didn't give Tee a chance to finish, as he stormed out and pulled Leanna towards Sapphire's room. She stumbled along behind her, cradling her arm.

Liam didn't even consider the sign on her door that had a warning for entering. He knocked loudly, tapping his foot impatiently. Sapphire opened the door, rolling her eyes at him. "What?" She asked. Then she spotted Leanna, and smirked slightly. "Oh look who it is, the little thief."

"Oi you can't talk." Liam hissed,referring to the incident with Ferris. She rolled her eyes again and then listened as he explained the situation.

"... Alright. But, you owe me." She agreed, and then beckoned Leanna into her room. It was lovely, with Sapphire's own art work all across the walls, with pictures of the dumping ground kids and an easel in the corner. "You might want to clean up that though." She grimaced, gesturing to Leanna's arm. That was the last thing Leanna heard, before she collapsed onto the mattress and blacked out.

Leanna's eyes fluttered open to see Frank, Liam and Sapphire standing over her, talking in hushed voices.

"How are we going to keep her here without Mike, Gina or Tracy finding out?"

"I don't know... we could just keep it between us three."

"Nah, cos' Tee and Johnny already know, this ain't gonna stay a secret for long..."

"Well lets just tell all the other kids, but make them promise not to tell anyone."

"Why can't she just go home? She seemed fine before you showed up at her house..."

"You weren't there, you didn't see what that man was like! He was well mad!"

"Oooh Liam, since when were you so protective of her?"

"I aint prote-"

They suddenly stopped talking suddenly when they noticed she was conscious, and staring up at them, confused. "I can just go home if.." She began, then realised that her arm felt stiff. Looking down at it, she sighed in relief when she noticed that it was bandaged up and there was no blood to be seen.

"Look, Liam's right. It's too dangerous for you to go back. How about we just keep her here, and tell the other kids that know, that if they tell, they're dead?" Sapphire suggested, and Liam and Frank nodded. She nodded to confirm, and then left to find Harry.

"I...I'm sorry, guys." Leanna whispered, sitting up and cradling her knees. Liam sat down next to her on the mattress and Frank just smiled sadly.

"It's okay. i got my stuff back, didn't I?" Frank replied.

"It's not just that. I'm sorry for dragging you guys into this, you don't deserve it."

Liam took his dry hoodie off and put it around Leanna's shoulders. "When Sapphire comes back, get her to get you some clothes." He said gently. "And what's going on... we want to help!" He pushed the subject, and she stared at her nails for a moment, plucking the courage to tell them. Her brown eyes flashed with pain and she took a deep breath.

"It all started when I was about four. My mum...she's sick. She's addicted to drugs...tobacco... She got worse. My dad, he tried his best to care for us both. My brother did as well, he was fifteen then. He could look after himself, and he did most of the work." She paused for a moment. "Dad lost his job. I remember... I remember him coming home, shouting at Josh, I think he hit him. I ran in... I didn't know what was going on. I cried and cried, and Dad promised me he would never hurt me, or anyone. But a few weeks later, he started going to the pub instead of looking for a job. Josh had to collect me from school and nick stuff to get me food. When i was seven, Josh started training for the army. He...he told me he'd get us money. He went to Afghanistan on my eleventh birthday. He's visited twice, but I haven't seen him for a year. And its been just over two years."

*Flashback*

"Josh, you will come back, won't you?" Leanna whispered, as she sat, curled up in her brothers lap. He looked down at her, his blue eyes sparkling with fresh tears that hadn't fallen yet. The boy looked like his father, with blonde hair and blue eyes, he had a different mother to Leanna. He was a good looking man as well, and had a girlfriend called Tia who he was leaving behind.

"'Course i will, Leanna, I'll visit tons, a'ight?" He reasoned, rocking her slightly. He was already in his uniform.

"I'm a bit too big to fit on your lap, ain't I." Leanna giggled softly, the tears in her eyes threatening to spill over.

josh cuddled her, smiling. "Yeah, but it don't matter." Then his smile dropped, and he turned serious. "Look, lets not avoid this Leanna. If... if you hear that I... I've passed away,"

"But that won't happen though." Leanna butted in.

sighing, Josh scratched his shaved head. "Lets be serious about this hun. S'pose I do... you go to Tia, a'ight? She'll look after you."

"I won't need to 'cos you're not gonna' die. Please Josh, don't go!" Leanna pleaded, the tears finally spilling and rolling down her cheeks. "Stay, I'll get a job and help you, I'll do the cleaning and-"

Josh shushed her, and rocked her slowly. "You can't get a job 'til you're fourteen! Look, Leanna, I need to. I'll come back, I promise." He kissed the top of her head, and his tears plopped onto her black hair. "I love you baby sis'. I'll miss you, I'll think of you everyday. You'll be fine." He whispered, over and over, until her red eyes drooped and she fell asleep, her tear sodden cheeks resting against his chest.

"JOSHUA?" Leanna sat up in her bed, her eyes darting around. Stumbling out of her room and rubbing the sleep from her eyes, Leanna searched the house, calling her brother's name frantically. Her dad came from the living room, and stopped her, holding her roughly by the shoulders.

"He's gone Leanna. I need some bread, get out." He said coldly, shoving her in the direction of the door.

*End Flashback*

"Y'know... if we'd known this we..." Liam mumbled, biting his lip. Leanna just stared at the wall.

"Its not your fault. and Frank... I 'mugged' you to protect you. My Dad would have hurt you to stop you from finding out what's really going on..." She sighed, and although she was choked up with sadness, there were no tears in her eyes.

Sapphire burst in, a foul look on her face. She was dragging Johnny by the sleeve and he had a guilty look on his face. "Guys, the little snitch Johnny just told half the kids that we're hiding Leanna." She grumbled, shoving Johnny into the room.

A/N: Yay, done another chapter! Sorry if it seems a bit rushed, couldnt work out how to slow it down. Review please, it means a lot! :D