CHAPTER 10

(Rachel's POV)

I sat in my office trying to focus on work but, I just couldn't. As much as I liked to think of Waterloo Road as my baby... It wasn't. Poppy was and I just wanted her to come home safe, I didn't care if she came home and misbehaved for the rest of her life as long as she was okay. I knew things had to change between us, I mean was I that much of a dragon that she'd rather run away than talk to me? There was a knock on the door and Adam opened it, he took one look at the expression on my face and wrapped his arms around me.

"She'll be fine, you'll see? She'll come home and we can sort this mess out" Adam reassured me

"I hope so..." I replied

"Listen, I've got to get back we're snowed under. I just wanted to check you're okay?"

"I will be... Once my daughter is back where she belongs" I smiled a small smile

"I know"

Adam pressed his lips to mine, kissing me softly. It was different; it reassured me and made me feel like he was there for me. When he broke the kiss he held me to his chest again for a few long seconds.

"I'll see you later, I love you" Adam said

"Love you too" I replied

There was a long second where he held my hand and then our fingers parted. When Adam was out of sight I grabbed my coat sliding it on and got my handbag before going out and closing my office door behind me.

"Joyce can you cancel all my appointments for this afternoon? And if anyone calls I'm out" I told her

"Yes Miss Mason" Joyce replied

I went out to the car park and climbed into my little Audi pulling out of the drive. I didn't know where I was even going to start but, I couldn't just sit in my office doing nothing. I drove to where we lost her yesterday and parked up, before continuing through the field on foot and dropping down onto the alleyway. I followed the alleyway out onto an estate, where to now? I just kept walking round and round. I honestly didn't know where to look. I walked for hours with no luck; I eventually decided to go back to driving round and walked back to my car.

(Poppy's POV)

I'd parted with Earl and had been walking just trying to sort my head out and work out what to do next. In the end I'd seen something that had changed my mind, Rachel's Audi TT parked up near the field I'd run through yesterday. I walked up to the car and looked inside, no sign of her. It was definitely her car, the registration plate matched and everything. Her handbag was even on the passenger seat. Where was she? What was she doing here? Was she looking for me? I sat on the grass leaning against the side of the car; she had to come back here at some point. I curled my knees up to my chest, wrapping my arms around them. I'd been sat there about half an hour when Rachel emerged from the field, she walked quickly towards me nearly breaking into a run and she dropped to her knees and pulled me to her chest.

"Are you alright? Are you hurt?" She asked frantically

"No... I'm fine" I told her

Seeing how worried she was made me feel terrible and tears spilled down my face. Rachel let me go and put her hand on my cheeks wiping my tears with her thumbs.

"I'm so sorry..." I sobbed

"Sshhh it's alright, don't cry angel" Rachel soothed "Why did you runaway? What did you think I was going to do?"

"I thought you'd be angry... Disappointed... Ashamed" I said looking down

"Of course I'm not. I'm upset..." Rachel said softly

"Because I'm stupid and I wasn't careful" I said glumly

"No because you didn't tell me when you first found out you were pregnant..."

"You'd have killed me and then brought me back so dad could have a go... And then brought me back so Lara could have a go and then you'd bring me brack again so you could kill me a second time" I said

"No I wouldn't, It would have been a shock and yeah I might have been a little bit disappointed because I thought you were sensible but I would have backed you whatever you chose to do Poppy. It hurts me to know that you had to go through all that by yourself..."

"Finn thinks we could've done it... You know been parents... Raised a kid..."

"You could of, I know you can handle responsibility. I've seen it with Em and you'd have had us to turn to..."

"Well it doesn't matter now, its done"

"Come on let's go home"