Chapter 36

It was the day of Jake's memorial service so all of the year sevens were filing into the hall. It had been a horrible week for everyone so Rachel was hoping that after today things would start to improve.

Taylor sat down next to Olivia whilst they waited for it to start. Rachel did a bit of a talk, then some of Jake's closest friends came up and read a poem out. By the end of the service there wasn't a dry eye in the room.

Taylor stayed with her friends for a bit before wiping away her tears and walking up to Rachel's office to wait for her to come up. She sat on the sofa still feeling really shaken up by what had just happened.

Rachel walked into her office after saying goodbye to Jake's parents and noticed Taylor sitting down fighting back the tears.

"It's okay to cry you know love" Rachel said knowing how Taylor didn't like to show her emotions in front of people. She sat down next to her and pulled Taylor into her chest and Taylor started crying again.

"This has been a really horrible week, hasn't it huh?" Rachel said. Taylor didn't say anything, just continued to sob. "but things will start to get better now. Obviously everyone's always going to miss him but after today things should start to go back to normal"

"I guess. It's just so horrible and it happened so suddenly"

"I know, I know"

After a while Taylor stopped crying. Rachel passed her the box of tissues and then they left to go and pick Ivy up from school. Eddie went straight from school into London, as he was away for the weekend for one of his friend's stag dos.

Taylor waited in the car whilst Rachel walked into get Ivy. She immediately noticed how sorry for herself Ivy was looking when she walked out of the classroom. Rachel took hold of her hand and they started to walk back to the car together.

"Ivy, has something happened?" Rachel asked

"I fell over when we were playing outside this afternoon and it really hurt and I ripped my tights"

"Oh dear, that's not very good. Is the floor alright?" Rachel said making Ivy giggle

"Yes"

Rachel then looked down and couldn't see any holes in her tights so said "I can't see anything wrong your tights"

"Mrs Edwards got me a new pair to wear" Ivy explained

"What are we doing tonight Rachel?" Ivy asked

"I don't know yet love. Eddie's away so I guess we could just have a girly night"

When they got home Ivy and Taylor both went upstairs to get changed out of their uniform whilst Rachel changed and fed the twins. Taylor came down a little while later.

"Mum would I be able to go swimming tonight?" Taylor asked hopefully

"Yeah I guess so" Rachel replied pleased that Taylor was looking a bit happier "who are you going with?"

"Just Olivia" she said before adding "and Sam and Tom"

Rachel noticed that Taylor felt a bit uncomfortable mentioning that she was going boys too so decided not to make a fuss out of it.

"Yeah okay, what time do you need dropping off at?"

"About six please"

Taylor went upstairs and packed her stuff before going back on her laptop to talk to her friends for a bit. Before long it was time to go to the swimming pool.

"Rachel why aren't I allowed to go swimming?" Ivy moaned

"Because it's the inflatable session and you have to be eight for that. But I tell you what how about we go tomorrow?" Rachel suggested

"Yes please, thanks Rachel. Will you come in too?"

"Of course I will"

Rachel watched to make sure Taylor had gone in and then drove home with Ivy. Sam was already in there when Ivy got there so she waited for him until Olivia came and then eventually Tom. They all paid before going into the changing rooms to get changed.

When they walked in they saw some other girls from their year in their too. Ivy and Olivia went and put their stuff by them and started to get changed.

Taylor saw that all of the other girls were wearing proper bikinis, but she was wearing a swimsuit. She also noticed that all of the others seemed to have developed more than she had which made her feel a bit self- conscious.

"How come your wearing a swimsuit Taylor?" one of the girls said

"I don't know, I don't have a bikini" Taylor replied starting to feel even worse

Taylor sighed before picking up all of her stuff and walking into the swimming pool. She was pleased when the other girls all headed to another area whilst she met up with Sam and Tom. But she still wished that her chest was a bit bigger when she was standing in front of Tom.

In the end Taylor having a great time with Olivia, Sam and Tom and before long it was time to get out. She had a shower and washed her hair before getting changed and then going up into the café.

The four of them sat around a table and all ordered a hot chocolate. After a little while both Tom's and Olivia's parents arrived to pick them up so it was just Taylor and Sam.

They were both chatting away and laughing when Sam suddenly leant in and gave Taylor a little peck on the lips. They'd both liked each other for a while now.

Taylor couldn't help but blush but she was really happy that he'd done it. She then saw Rachel walk in the door so quickly said bye and rushed over to her.

"Hiya love, did you have a good time?" Rachel asked

"Yes thank you, it was really good"

"Good. Are Sam's parents coming to pick him up or does he want a lift home?"

"His parents are on their way I think"

"Okay, come on then"

"Where are the others?"

"Mel came over for a drink, so she said she'd stay with them until I got back"

"Oh"

"Sam's a nice boy, don't you think?" Rachel asked making Taylor blush

"Yeah I guess"

"What are you so embarrassed about? Is he your boyfriend or something?" Rachel asked nosily

"No, well no not really"

"What do you mean?"

"Please don't be angry but Sam kind of kissed me earlier" Taylor said looking down

"Hey, of course I'm not going to be angry. I think it's lovely" Rachel said squeezing her knee supportively

When they got back they both went into the lounge and started chatting to Mel. Taylor prayed Rachel wouldn't bring anything up about Sam because she still felt quite embarrassed about it.

Luckily for her Rachel didn't. Once Mel had left they all went and got into their pyjamas. Rachel put Ivy to bed before going back downstairs with Taylor.

"Are you going to come swimming with us tomorrow?" Rachel asked

"Urr, yes okay. But could we maybe go shopping first as my swimsuit is too small for me" Taylor lied

"Really, we didn't buy it that long ago. Did we?"

"No I guess not but it's still too small"

"I guess we'll have to then"

The two of them watched TV for a bit before Rachel noticed how tired Taylor was looking.

"Are you ready for bed now love? You're looking ever so tired"

"Yeah I guess so"

Rachel tucked Taylor in before going downstairs and watched TV for a bit longer. However after a while she began to feel rather too so went up to bed herself.

It was about 2 in the morning when Rachel felt someone tapping on her back. She turned around to see Ivy stood beside her bed with tearstains on her cheeks.

"What's wrong sweetheart?" Rachel asked gently

"I don't feel very well. I feel really hot and sick"

"Oh love, do you think you're actually going to be sick?"

"I don't think so"

"Why don't you come and get into bed with me? That might make you feel a bit better" Rachel suggested

Ivy was happy with this idea so jumped up on the bed next to Rachel. Rachel wrapped her arms around Ivy and she quickly drifted off to sleep.

When Rachel woke the next morning she saw that Ivy was already awake but snuggled right up to Rachel.

"Morning love, you're awake early"

"I only just woke up"

"Are you feeling any better now?"

"Yes I feel fine now"

"That's good"

"What time are we going swimming Rachel?"

"Probably not until this afternoon love. Me and Taylor have got to go shopping quickly first so you're going to go to Mel's with the twins and then we'll go after lunch"

Once everyone was up and ready Rachel and Taylor dropped Ivy and the twins off before driving into town.

"I think we got your swimsuit from next last time, shall we look in there again?" Rachel suggested

"Urmm could we maybe go to Hollister instead?" Taylor asked

"Yeah okay, I guess so"

Rachel always did hate shopping in Hollister. It was so dark so you couldn't see a thing, which to her was absolutely pointless.

They went over to the swimwear section but Rachel couldn't see any swimsuits.

"I don't think they've got any swimsuits love, should we try somewhere else?"

"Well, actually, I was kind of hoping I could maybe get a bikini instead" Taylor said nervously

"Okay, we can try some on but you're not getting them if they're too big"

Taylor was so pleased. She picked up some of the ones she liked before they walked over to the changing rooms.

"I'll come in with you if that's alright. Because I definitely don't want you getting one that's too big, because it will be even worse once you're in the water"

"Urmm, I guess so"

It wasn't until Taylor started to take her top off that she remembered that earlier she'd stuffed some tissue down her bra. She quickly tried to take it out, but she wasn't discrete enough for Rachel not to notice.

"Hey what've you got that down there for?"

Taylor began to feel really embarrassed and uncomfortable not really wanting to talk about this with Rachel.

"I- I don't know, I guess I just wish I looked more grown up like the other girls"

"Oh sweetheart. You may not have developed quite as much as they have yet, but you are still developing. And it doesn't mean that you're any less grown up"

"But they all look so much nicer"

"No they don't love. You've got a lovely figure; I wish I was as slim as you. Trust me you've still got loads of time to fill out a bit more"

"I guess so"

Taylor then tried on the bikinis but they were all too big. So they went to New Look instead where she found a bikini that fitted her, but wasn't too grown up.

Once they were done shopping they went back to Mel's and had some lunch. Once it had settled Rachel took Ivy and Taylor swimming whilst Mel looked after the twins.

They all got changed before heading into the busy swimming pool. But that was to be expected on a rainy Saturday afternoon.

They'd been in the pool for a while when Ivy went to whisper something in Rachel's ear.

"Rachel I accidentally just went for a wee"

"Oh Ivy, why didn't you say you needed to go?"

"I was having too much fun and then I couldn't hold on any longer"

"What did she say?" Taylor asked

"She's done a wee" Rachel explained

"Eughh it's gonna go all yellow" Taylor said to Ivy

"Has it Rachel?" Ivy asked panicking

"No she's just winding you up. But next time you need to go tell me because it's not very nice for people having to swim in your wee, is it?"

They'd been in the pool for a while when Rachel noticed that Ivy was shivering so decided it was time to get out. Ivy was reluctant to do so, but Rachel managed to get her out with the persuasion of an ice cream afterwards.

Please review xxx