"Oh look Roxy has come to see you" Ronnie said, Roxy had arrived all cheerful in her bright pink coat and her loud voice. "If your gonna kill me Ron, do it know, before she reaches my bed" Natasha said closing her eyes.
...Wild One...
...Chapter Twentyfive...
It was Lunch time at Walford high and Max, Tanya and Abi were sat in the reception, They had an appointment to see Mr Alcock, Abi didn't know that Natasha wasn't in school, Max found out from Jack after Abi already left. Abi wished she wasn't in school, she wished she was anywhere other then were she was, she wished the earth would swallow her up, she knew Max was expecting her to tell the headmaster about Natasha, and was dreading Natasha reaction when she found out.
"Mr Alcock is ready to see you now" The secretary said looking over to the Brannings.
Abi was shocked when she walked into the office and saw her form tutor Miss Underwood and Natasha's form tutor Mrs Wallace were also in the office,
Mr Alcock stood up and shook Max and Tanya's hand and then invited the three of them to sit down.
"I understand from when we spoke this morning on the phone, that you have come to discuss some issues you have about Abi and Natasha George.
"Yeah you could say that, Max said slamming down Abi's school books on the heads desk, Abi felt her cheeks turning red and just looked down at the floor.
"What's with the jury" Tanya asked looking at the three members of staff facing them, she took hold of Abi's hand for support.
"Well as you know this is Miss Underwood and this is Mrs Wallace, Natasha's form tutor, We take bullying very serious" Mr Alcock said "we have a policy to have everyone involved present"
"I would have brought Natasha along, but she not actually in school today" Mrs Wallace said.
"no, she is in hospital with acoholic poisoning" Max said annoyed "that should tell you what kind of kid she is"
Miss Underwood and Mrs Wallace gave each other a quick disapproving look.
"Abi would you like to tell us what the problem is" Mr Alcock said.
Abi sat Silent for a few seconds "well its just...Natasha she is staying with my uncle Jack...and well we haven't been getting on so well, thats all" Abi said shrugging her shoulders.
"No no I am not excepting that Abi" Tanya said "What about your school books?"
Abi looked across at her mother, she started to brake down she put her hands up to her face and started to cry.
"Its alright Babes" Max said horrifed to see Abi in such a terrible state.
"The bruises and scratches on Abi's face last week, Natasha did those outside of school" Tanya said getting up to comfort her daughter.
"Abi" Mr Alcock said gently "would you like to tell us want haapened to your school books"
Abi started to compose her self "Nat...Natasha and two other girls, they got me the toilet yesterday and Natasha ripped them" Abi said trying to hold back her emotions she wanted to tell them everything, but it was just to hard to explain.
"What do you mean by got you Abi, did they hurt you" Miss Underwood asked passing Abi a tissue.
Abi paused for a while remembering Natasha grabbing her hair, "No, They just held me back, why Natasha ripped my books" Abi said blowing her nose.
"Were the other two girls from my class" Mrs Wallace said with a stern look on her face.
Abi shrugged, I think so, one of the girls always swims for the school at gala's, I think her name is Brook and the other one has braided hair" Abi said remembering the terror of the day before.
"Ah, Brook and Amber, they have been as thick as thieves with Natasha" Mrs Wallace said "Well I can assure you, they both will be in for a big shock after lunch"
Max and Tanya pulled back into Albert square, Tanya began to walk over to her house and noticed Jack's car pull up outside no 29, Ronnie got out of the front passenger side and Jack got out of the drivers side then opened the back door of his car and let Natasha out, when seeing Tanya, Ronnie took Natasha by the hand and started leading her sister towards the flat.
"Oh please" Tanya said giving the pair of sisters a sarcastic smile Natasha give Ronnie's hand a little sqeeze and nudged up closer to her sister for support and protection.
"Feeling better are we" Tanya said in patronizing voice looking at Natasha.
"Not now please Tanya" Jack said.
"Whats wrong as the little ray of sunshine got a hangover, what about what she as put my Abi through" Tanya said getting annoyed with Jack for trying to brush her off.
"you have every right to be upset Tanya, but this isn't the place or the time" Jack said beginning to push Ronnie and Natasha towards the front door. Natasha quickly turned around and gave Tanya a arrogant little smile.
"you need to sort her out Ronnie, she's not to old for a good smack" Tanya shouted as Jack shut the front door.
Inside the flat Roxy and Amy had been sitting with James, Roxy took Amy upstairs and Natasha sat down on the sofa, Ronnie sat on the arm of of the sofa, Jack sat in the arm chair,
Their was a long silence that freaked Natasha out, she turned and looked at Ronnie, in hope that she would start some kind of communication.
Ronnie noticed Natasha silent plea and gave out a huge sigh "whats been going on with Abi, why have you been picking on her"
Natasha swallowed and after a moment of awkwardness she shrugged her shoulders and forced herself to speak "I don't know... she... she interferre's... she got under skin... I don't know why" Natasha did know why, Abi was loved and Natasha felt that she wasn't. it was as simple as that but she just couldn't put it into words that made any real sence.
"How long as it been going on" Ronnie asked.
Natasha paused for a while and then admitted "Since the beginning, Its not just me, its partly her fault as well"
Ronnie closed her eyes and took a deep breath "everytime I put my trust into you, you let me down"
"I'm sorry" Natasha said looking down at her hands "last night, it wasn't my fault, I was coming striaght home, but Ben and that other boy..."
Jack icut Natasha off in in mid sentance "and why did they lock you in the celler, do you think?".
"because... of Abi" Natasha said frowning and looking down.
"And did Ben pour the booze down your throat" Jack said raising his voice.
"No" Natasha said trying to stay calm.
"No, so it was your fault, wasn't it?" Jack shouted standing up and walking over to Natasha, bending down and pointing his finger at Natasha, Natasha flinched and sat back obviously frightened, by Jacks aggressive body language. Jack realised and suddenly stepped back, and went and sat down again.
Jack took a deep breath "you could have drunk yourself to death last night, you do realise that"
Natasha narrowed her eyebrows looking down again, wondering if anyone would care anyway or even notice.
"you said last night, you flushed Abi's phone away, who do you think is going to buy her a new one" Jack said raising his voice again.
Natasha remained silent, wishing Jack would stop shouting, wishing Ronnie would say something, anything just to let her know she still cared.
"And what about this bill from the vic for all the brooze you stole, whose going to pay for that" Jack said slamming it down on the coffee table.
"I don't know" Natasha said getting up "I'll get a job" Natasha tried to head out of the room but Ronnie gently caught hold of Natasha wrist "Sit back down, now" Ronnie said firmly.
Natsha plonked herself back down on the sofa, folded her arms and looked up at the cealing.
Ronnie looked at the teen "Is this the end off it, I mean, you going to leave Abi alone now" Ronnie asked.
"don't ask her Ron, tell her" Jack shouted at his wife, he then turned his attention back towards Natasha "you won't touch her again, do you hear"
"Jack calm down" Ronnie shouted back.
"I won't be going near her again" Natasha said interrupting and trying to defuse the situation "can I go now please"
"Alright" Ronnie said "striaght upstairs, your grounded by the way"
Natasha nodded "how long for" Natasha said standing up in front of Ronnie, she wanted to get a reaction out of Ronnie a little sign that she a still cared.
"Until we say so" Jack shouted "now get upstairs"
"I 'll be up later, to check on things, alright" Ronnie said coldly as Natasha left the room.
Roxy had put the kettle on making her self a drink, she was carrying Amy across the landing to put her down for a nap when Natasha started coming up the stairs.
"did you get a ear bashingf" Roxy said seeing the glum expression on Natasha's face, Natasha just ignored her and walked into the livingarea, she stood against the kitchen sink, thinking of how badly she had messed up, she noticed the kettle start to boil next to her and turned to look at it, she rolled up her sleeve, and held her arm above the steam that was flooding out of the boiling kettle, she wanted scream as the steam burnt into her skin, but in a stange way it was a relieve to Natasha almost like a drug was to an addict. Natasha watched intensely and tried to absorb the pain. it was as if the the more self controlled physical pain she felt, the less emotional pain she felt. and of cause their was always a beautiful scar for Natasha to look at afterwards.
Suddenly Natasha jumped as she felt someone grab her arm and pull it away quickly, she turned quickly and looked at who was holding her arm, and was shocked to see Roxy staring at her,
"What the hell are you doing" Roxy screamed at Natasha.