Chapter Seventy-Eight

14th January 2017

It was a Saturday today and Maya drove to Leeds. Parking outside her old great-aunt's house and she just sat in the car for ages. It's been a while since she last came here, Ethan had little time for her these days; she knew that. Though she still seeked his attention like a child. She thought if he took her back, she could stop what she's doing to Damian. She has tried through the years to get back into Ethan's 'affections' but he was no longer interested. The sick thrill he got from the relationship was gone but this didn't stop her as she got out from her car and walked up his pathway. She began to knock on the door (despite having a key) and the man raced to the door; expecting Kelly. She was only eighteen by this point. When he opened it, he looked disappointed...

"Oh...It's you" Ethan grunted.

"Ethan, can we talk?"

"What it is this time? You're getting boring these days, Maya. How many times do I have to tell you there's no chance for us? You are past your sell-by-date and have been for a long time" Ethan hissed.

"You weren't saying that a couple months back"

He looked outside briefly before standing back to let her in. He spat on the floor besides her, clicking his mouth not long after. Yes, he would still sometimes go back there but it didn't mean anything. It was just easy sex to him now, disgusting really because of many reasons but that's all it was to him regardless. Maya however thought it meant something every time it happened. It's been a few months, maybe about seven months ago; before she became what he was.

"Upstairs then...Let's make this quick" Ethan finally spoke.

"What?"

"You heard me, Maya. Go on"

"I know what you're going to go to do after, just tell me to get out and blank me for the next few months"

"Do you care?"

"Of cause I care...I still love you and I know how I made you feel now. All those years ago, I never should have let you down like that but we can make this work. Please, you know it too...If we are together, nobody else needs to be hurt" Maya began to beg.

Like she was a teenager all over again.

"You don't know how I feel!" Ethan yelled.

"No, I do...I just want you though, I always have. Everyone else has just been a distraction but you're the only thing keeping me grounded"

"Just shut up and get upstairs. I didn't ask for a bloody speech...That's always been your problem, talk and no action"

"Take me back and I will do whatever you say"

He just looked at her like she was a problem that needed solving. Though he had somebody else by this point and didn't care much. He did like having power over her and he believed her when she said she would do anything he asked however the young Kelly is where his attentions now laid. Maya was old news to him however he still felt like taking what he could.

"Alright...Go upstairs then" Ethan repeated.

With a slight pause, she finally went upstairs and he followed.

...

Hours later and Liam was sitting in his living room when he heard his wife's car park outside. Though she didn't get out as he expected. He just waited, the street lights being the only thing now that gave light to the outside. He waited and waited and waited...still, she didn't come out. More waiting, the man finally got up to check. Opening the front door, Liam stepped out in his slippers and dressing gown. Walking up towards the car, Maya had her face turned towards the road; she heard a quiet tapping...

"Maya" Liam called in with concern; she's been acting strange for months.

He was worried about her. A few seconds passed by, she got out the car and locked it. Still refusing to look at him, her face was hidden in shadows. Liam asking her...

"What's wrong?"

As he followed her into the house, she stepped into the living room. Putting her handbag down on the couch. The light was on in there and so Liam could finally see her properly, his heart sank slightly when she turned around to reveal a black eye, cut lip and scarred neck. It had scratch and bite marks.

"Who did this to you?" Liam demanded to know.

"Nobody"

"Nobody? Look at ya! I'm going to kill them...Was it a mugging or what? What was it?"

"It doesn't matter"

"What do you mean it doesn't matter?! You go out for hours on end and come back looking like you just been in a war zone! Do you expect me to just carry on like nothing? I want to help you, Maya. Let me help you"

Liam was a doctor and thus he knew this was a beating, it was obvious. No accident could make all these different marks. You don't even need to be a doctor to see that, who did this? He wanted to know who it was and then he wanted to beat them up just as hard. Maya was his wife and mother of his son at the end of the day, he didn't know what she was like either. So his reaction was just one of shock and anger.

"I don't care" Maya mumbled; feeling her sides as she sat on the couch.

"Well I do...Look, Maya. You don't have to be scared, you tell me who did this to you" Liam spoke in a more gentle term as he sat down besides her.

Placing his arm around her for comfort.

"I just went to Leeds for a bit of a shopping and I erm...I got mugged on the way to my car by a group of thugs" Maya lied.

"Did you phone the police?"

"Yeah...I rang them but there is nothing they can do, I didn't see their faces. It was too dark and it happened too fast"

"Oh...You poor thing, come here" Liam spoke.

Pulling her in for a hug, giving her a small kiss on the top of her head. The truth was Ethan did this. He did use her for sex as always and was rough as always, hence her thighs being so sore and her neck being all bruised. Then because she refused to leave, he gave her a smack and pushed her onto the pathway. That was actually the last time she went round there before she took Jacob round on her final few days.

...

15th April 2017

Today would be the last time Maya would see her son Alex. It was his birthday you see, he turned three. So once again, she went there with Liam and Leanna. Liam brought him a balloon with the number '3' on it. As well as a card and a dinosaur toy. The nurses have already gave him another teddy this morning as part of his small birthday. When they walked in however, a nurse had Alex on her lap. Which was fine and nobody batted an eyelid besides Maya.

"What are you doing? Give him to me" Maya spoke as she dropped her present on the floor.

The nurse looking confused. She always did this for him, it gave him a break from said wheelchair. Though since Maya looked rather distressed, she gently passed him over to his mother.

"Sorry? I always do that for him" the nurse told her; watching as Maya sat down on the chair and placed him back on her lap.

"Well don't do it in front of me!" Maya hissed.

"Maya!" Liam rebuked.

This scene was confusing the three year old and he didn't feel comfortable like usual. Maya hasn't realised how tightly she was holding him until he began to cry. This made her release her grip slightly as she said...

"Oh I'm sorry Alex...Mummy's just upset" Maya tried to say, rocking him again. Though he was getting too big for that.

"I'm sorry, she's been through a rough time lately. She's not herself" Liam spoke to the nurse.

Though he was very embarrassed in reality. He doesn't know what's up with Maya but she saw another person with her son on their lap and she didn't like it. Seemed to trigger something in her brain. The situation was calming down by this point as Maya kept telling Alex everything was okay. She knew she overreacted herself, nothing was going on here. The nurse was only doing her job, the boy needed some time out of his wheelchair. That was all.

"Mummy...I missed you, mummy" Alex told her.

"I missed you too and I got you some presents for your birthday. Okay? Daddy's going to bring them over now" Maya replied, keeping a tight hold of him still.

Liam walking over as he faked a smile. Opening up the present for his son, showing him the dinosaur toy. He couldn't reach for it by this point as he needed both hands to grip onto his mother.

"Dino! I wanna go back in the chair...Mummy" Alex spoke in a rather excited manner. He just wanted to open the remaining present and see the toy for himself.

"I haven't seen you for ages and you already wanna go back in your chair?"

"I wanna see the presents mummy...please"

"Okay darling, let's get you down then" Maya finally spoke.

Placing her son in his wheelchair before picking up her present and passing it over. This was how the final visit went.

...

11th May 2017

Now she has given up on Ethan and distanced herself from her son, that sadly meant Damian would now get all her attention. They were sat in the classroom during lunch as always, Maya was sat on his desk and was stroking his hand. As if that was a normal thing to do (she would treat Jacob in this way also). Damian was slightly shivering throughout this, this is what she always tended to do this. She had gone further by giving him disgusting little kisses but nothing else. She was waiting for him to turn sixteen actually and she admitted this to him before. So he knew her intentions...

"Damian...Is your mum nosy?" Maya asked him out the blue.

"Sometimes"

"Does she let you go on school trips?"

"She can't afford for me to go on school trips"

"Well...What about three pounds? Could she afford three pounds?"

"I think so but it would depend where it is. She let me to go to the zoo a couple years ago but that was only because it was cheap"

"How about a school trip to Scarborough Castle? I could take you there for two days and one night"

This would be the trip that led to them sharing a bed, the one Damian mentioned to Jacob at the graveyard. She had thought about this for a while, she printed out a fake newsletter. The expenses would be three pounds and some of the Year 11 students would be going on a special trip to Scarborough Castle. In reality, there was no such trip. Maya would use the excuse of taking a small holiday break. She hadn't thought of Damian's excuse yet but she would think of one, she was determined and that can only mean bad news for him.

"Yeah...I would love that" Damian told her with giddiness.

"Okay. Hmm...It might not work though, the school will ring your mum when they know you're not in but there's always a way. Actually, scrap that idea. Tell your mum it's a weekend trip with some of your classmates"

"A school weekend trip?"

"Yeah...I got the details over there, she can sign them and then we can go on Saturday and return on Sunday"

"What if she rings up the school?"

"Would she do that? And you have to be honest here"

"If she sees the letter then I don't think she will care enough"

That seemed to be enough as she finally took her hands from his. The lad moving his hands below the desk quickly. Maya returned with a written up note however the door opened, making her hide it behind her back. Another teacher has came into the classroom and was rather confused.

"Oh...Does he always lunch in here?" the teacher asked; this was Miss Jamison. She taught history in the other class.

Her first name was Rebecca. She was quite young, only twenty-six and she's been working there for only a year.

"Yeah...I sometimes give him extra lessons" Maya nervously explained.

"You're such a busy bee, Maya. You already coach the netball team, don't you?"

"I like to keep myself busy"

"Obviously...Sorry Damian, I'm disturbing your lesson aren't I? Well I will get out your hair, I only wanted to see if you wanted a cup of tea from the staff room but looks like you got your hands full already"

"Right, well thanks anyway Rebecca; I will see you later"

"Yeah alright...Good luck by the way, you got the Year 8's this afternoon. I'm taking the sixth formers"

"You always take the sixth formers"

"Hmm...I do, don't I? I'm rather cruel to you but I'm not going to stop. I like the older students, easier to deal with; sorry" Rebecca teased.

Making Maya shake her head slightly. Her co-worker giving both of them a smile before shutting the door again. Her heart was still beating very quickly, that was a close shave and it reminded her that what she's doing is illegal. She walked back over towards Damian and passed him the fake newsletter.

"Right, I will give this to my mum" Damian uttered; he seemed more nervous then she did somehow.

"If you're sure"

"I'm sure" Damian confirmed.

...

27th May 2017

"Three pounds for a weekend trip...I wish I was bloody going"

This is what Damian's unsuspecting mother was saying to her son. She brought into the school trip story. Her name was Carol, she had him aged twenty-one. Broke up with his father years ago and was now dating some new man. The one whom she always would argue with at night.

"Yeah...It's gonna be good, it's just like a last year trip before we break up" Damian insisted.

"Lucky, we never got anything like this when I was your age. I tell you what, I only got to go to the zoo with the school. Never to the seaside...I would have killed for it, are you sure no parents are allowed?"

"Yes! I'm sure!" Damian replied quickly.

Carol had packed his clothes in an 'Asda' bag and thought that was good enough. She gave him the three pounds. She wasn't one to ask questions, not even to her own children. Well, she did ask her boyfriend a lot of questions but her men were the exception.

"Alright...Have fun love, you getting a coach there? Do you want me to see you off?" Carol asked.

"How old am I? Seven?" Damian questioned with a scowl.

"You're still a kid, Damian. Remember that"

This rather innocent remark made him pause for a moment at the door. He was still a kid, he briefly looked back towards his mother. He expressed...

"Not for much longer"

"Oh yeah...I forgot, it's your big 16 soon! But until then, you're still a kid. Now go on, have fun with your mates and bring me back a stick of rock otherwise you're in trouble"

"Mum" Damian then said.

"Yeah?"

He was close to confessing everything then and there. He didn't see the relationship as abuse as this point, just a 'forbidden romance'. Which no, it wasn't; no matter how much Maya tried to tell him. Though he thought that regardless and he was close to saying how he has an older girlfriend and he's worried people will go mad over it. Including her, Maya was actually older then Carol. If the woman found out about this, she would flip her lid (and rightfully so).

"Nothing...I was just wondering if they even have sticks of rock" Damian quickly said. Changing his mind.

"I don't know but if they do, get me one"

He just nodded, swinging his bag around his back and leaving the house. Nervously walking along his street. Maya would be picking him up round the corner somewhere, she said so. The lad just walked on with his plastic bag. Feeling like he was making a mistake and he was but not for the reasons he thought. Maya's car soon pulled up however and he didn't have time to change his mind sadly. She rolled down her window...

"Hello...You ready?" Maya asked him; she seemed to have no qualms. It's like she barely gave a second thought to what she was doing.

"Yeah, my mum brought it" Damian answered.

Getting in the car with her and placing his bag in the back seat. She thus began driving, checking the streets to make sure nobody saw that. He noticed that she has taken her wedding ring off, it was stuffed in the glove case. He also noticed a ripped up picture in the said glove box. That was of Alex and she ripped it up because she couldn't bear to look at him anymore. It was like he never existed.

"What did you tell Liam?" Damian asked after a few moments of silence.

"I just told him I need to get away for the weekend"

"Okay"

"We are going to have the best weekend...I booked us a family room so it doesn't look suspicious, I told them you're my son"

"Cheers" Damian muttered under his breath.

This wasn't normal he thought. No normal couple have to pretend to be family. He seemed to understand it was wrong a bit sooner then poor Jacob would. Perhaps it was because he was less sheltered but either way, it didn't save him.

...

Arriving in Scarborough felt rather strange. She almost got cold feet when she pulled up outside the hotel. Maybe this was a bad idea she thought, he's lied to his own mother to get here. Though it would perhaps look worse if he was to suddenly be brought back and getting caught was the only thing she worried about. So with that in mind, she turned of the car engine. Turning back towards him with a nervous smile...

"What now?" Damian managed to ask.

"Now we go to the hotel and just relax...Don't tell anyone who you really are, they think you're my son and I want things to stay that way"

"Cause that's not weird at all"

"Well it's our only chance of not getting questioned...Do you want me to get questioned? If anyone was to find out what we really were, I would go to prison. Is that what you want? You want me go to prison?"

"No of cause not! I just hate lying"

"Do you hate lying more then you love me? Is that it?"

"No! Come on Maya, you know what I mean"

"I just want to have a nice little break without complications. All my life, my relationships have been filled with complications. Please don't add to it"

Damian just gave a sad sigh as he nodded. Fine he thought, he will lie and say he's her son if anyone asks. Though he hates it deep down and it freaks him out, he doesn't want to do it but like always; Maya had made him feel like he's got no choice. So he followed her out the car with his bag, looking like the moody teenage he was. Maya came up to the hotel desk with a small overnight bag and said to them...

"I'm here to book in...The twin bedroom, it should be under my name; Henrietta Stepney"

She was using her mother's name as a cover-up. Damian was just looking at his mobile phone in the background. The hotel clerk just gave a nod as she passed her over the key after checking the name. As soon as this was done, she was on her way up with Damian. Relieved nothing was amiss as she led Damian to the room and let him go in first. Shutting the door very quickly. Though now he was here, she seemed to understand what she was doing as she muttered..."Oh my God" under her breath.

"What?" Damian asked.

"I'm a terrible person" Maya spoke in a quiet tone.

"No you're not...You're not terrible, I understand now and it's okay"

Though he didn't understand now and it would take him years to.

...

14th June 2017

Liam was suppose to be work until late and Leanna was at a friends. By this point, Maya seemed to think she was going to get away with it. She invited Damian round to her own house and the boy did so. So had taken him into her living room with the television turned on quite loud and the curtains drawn. It was late afternoon by this point and as far as she was aware, nobody would be back for a while. She was getting careless perhaps but she really was convinced the members of her household would not be getting back for a few hours. She's just been talking with him for a few hours, telling him they can be a 'proper couple' next year. Which seemed to make him happy but it was a false happiness, one that has been premeditated by her for a long time. So with a false sense of security, she pulled him in for a long kiss. Not hearing the front door opening and closing, Liam got home early and had picked up Leanna from her friends. So when they walked in to this, everything seemed silent. Maya pushing him away as she stood away, Liam and Leanna were lost for words. Everyone was lost for words.

"Get out, Damian" Maya spoke in a very shaky tone of voice.

Leanna just looking at her friend from school with a feeling of disgust. Damian stayed still for a moment before standing up and running past Leanna and Liam like the devil was on his back. Maya turning the television off soon after, barely able to look them in the eye. Her husband felt like he was part of some sick joke.

"It's...It's not what it looked like" Maya started; Liam putting his hands on Leanna's shoulders. Keeping her close by him.

"Go upstairs" Liam told his daughter.

"But I-"

"I said go upstairs!"

This made her burst into tears as she did as she was told. Rushing up the stairs and going into her bedroom. Liam didn't wish for her to hear what he had to say next, not at all. He just looked at Maya with revulsion. That lad was fifteen years old! He was some student from her class, he was one of Leanna's friends. What the Hell could she say to explain this away?

"Please Liam" Maya pleaded.

"Please what?!"

"Don't take this the wrong way. He tried to kiss me first, okay? I didn't kiss him back, you seen me; I pushed him away" Maya cried.

"You pushed him away because I walked in!"

"No! That's not true! He's just a kid...Come on, do you really believe I'm going to do anything like that with some fifteen year old?"

Liam paused for a moment before having to excuse himself. He opened his back door and was heard being sick not long ago. He felt so disgusted and so dirty, he knew what he walked into. She kissed him back, he saw it with his own eyes and so did Leanna.

"Liam...You can't possibly think I'm that much of a monster" Maya continued as she followed him outside.

"I saw you! I saw you do it!" Liam shouted; his voice echoing up to Leanna's bedroom. The girl timidly looking out her window and into the back garden.

Liam and Maya always argued but this was the worse she's ever heard.

"I would never do that...Okay, I just gave him a small kiss back in a moment of madness. It was barely a kiss back. I been abused myself, why would I do that to somebody else? I wouldn't" Maya tried to say.

"You been abused yourself? Funny how you only mention that after you been caught out"

"I have! When I was fifteen, I had a baby and he was called Alexander. That's why I called our baby Alex, I told you it's an important name to me and that's why"

"You expect me to believe that?"

"Ask my mother if you don't believe me...It all started when I was thirteen, he was much older then me and he just used me. Damian came over and was upset, saying how nobody understands him and he kissed me...For only a spit second, I kissed him back but I pushed him away because why would I do that? I would never ever put somebody through what I went through"

Liam had turned away while she was saying all this, he could barely look at her.

"We have a son together" Liam reminded her.

"Yes I know...I'm a mother, I know how it feels to want to protect your children. I would never put a child in danger, I would never hurt a child"

"You say he kissed you first?"

"Yes of cause he did! I pushed him away...Of cause I pushed him away"

"I can't look at you right now, you need to go somewhere else for the night. I don't care where, just get out my house for a while"

With a sad look, she did this as she walked past him. Going outside and getting into her car, driving off somewhere.

...

18th June 2017

It's been a few days now since that event. Maya had stayed over with a friend from work for a bit during this time. Liam had agreed to meet her there, the said friend was giving them some space as they excused themselves from the house. Liam sitting across from her on the dining room table.

"I been thinking about what you said and about what I saw...I don't believe you're a...Well, you know what" Liam began.

The word he was thinking of was predator and she knew it. He didn't want to believe it. Maya just looked at him after he said this with crocodile tears forming in her eyes. Of cause he was willing to give the mother of his child and wife of four years the benefit of a doubt. Despite his head telling him one thing, his heart said another.

"I knew inviting him round was a bad idea but he was so upset...His mother had been arguing with her boyfriend and things got rather nasty. I was walking down the road when I seen him looking all upset and I asked him what's wrong as you do. He just broke down and I felt sorry for him so I brought him back to the house" Maya attempted to explain, trying to make it seem less seedy.

"What made him think kissing you was alright?"

"I don't know...Maybe he had a crush on me, it's more common then you think. Anyway, I was just telling him he's not a waste of space. His mother had been calling him useless he said so I just wanted to make him feel better. I don't think he has any friends, Liam. I felt sorry for him"

"Then he kissed you?"

"Yeah but it happened so quickly, I barely got my head around what was going on. So I quickly pushed him away when I realised and that's what you walked in on"

"Right...I was kept going over and over it in my head. Like I said, I don't think you're one of them. I just didn't know what to think when I walked in and you have been so off lately, I didn't know what to think"

Maya held onto Liam's hands and he let her. She really had to make him believe her otherwise she would go to prison and she didn't want to go there. Nobody really wants to go there. More to the point, this would ruin her life forever and rightfully so. This just couldn't happen, she would do everything to try and play down what he walked in on. Liam believed her and he would later feel ashamed of himself for doing so.

"I love you so much Liam...I would never cheat on you. I would never hurt a child and I would never ever become the sort of person who does that, I have been through Hell because of that very thing" Maya said in a firm tone of voice.

She was a very good liar when it came to Liam, he lost his wife Lara in 2012. Maya knew he was grieving for her when she met him and she used this for her benefit. It was only a few months after her death that she met him and she was his rock during that. Therefore, Liam just refused to believe she was a monster. He known her for years, not months but years. No signs, no red flags, barely anything had suggested to him that she was the worse kind of person and this was further cemented by her false story.

"I know...I love you too, Maya...Which is why I just can't wrap my head around everything" Liam told her.

"Listen, we should make a fresh start; move closer to your work. There is nothing left for us here now"

"My wife's grave is here"

"You can visit her whenever you want but she would want you to be happy. Moving away would make you happy"

She was suggesting moving away because well, Damian was here wasn't he? Like all abusers, she was willing to drop her victim under the bus to save her own skin. Just like what Ethan did to her, history was repeating.

...

6th August 2017

"No! You can't make me leave...Everything I know is here!" Leanna shouted.

Her father Liam had told her of their plans to leave and move to Hotten (later Emmerdale). Maya was just sitting on the couch, feeling rather guilty for the first time. She doesn't blame the girl for hating her really, everything that went wrong for her seemed to go back to her. She lost her mother and her brother was in care, she's been through so much already.

"It's for the best" Liam tried to tell her.

"This is because of her isn't it?!" Leanna cried; pointing towards Maya.

"No! This is because of me! I decided this, please darling. I already got you a place in Hotten Academy; I already spoke to the headteacher, Mrs Grant her name is...She's accepted you, it's a great school"

That would be Jessie Grant (later Mrs Dingle).

"Like I care about that! All my friends are here...My mum's grave is here!" Leanna sobbed.

She was close to bawling her eyes out and it broke her father's heart. Though Maya has convinced him it's for the best. Moving away to be closer to his work made practical sense too.

"I know but you can visit her whenever you want...And you can make new friends, I promise you" Liam tried to assure her.

"But I can't...All my memories of her are here"

"Maybe physically but she's always in your heart and she's always in mine. Your mum wouldn't us to be miserable"

This made Leanna turn her attention to Maya again. The girl knew it had something to do with her, it always did. Her father wasn't a bad man but he was easily led and he was gullible. She saw Maya and Damian's kiss with her own eyes and it made sense, she was with both of them in school all day and saw them constantly talking and joking.

"She's made us miserable!" Leanna yelled back; pointing towards Maya again.

"No Leanna, I have only been trying to help you both" Maya finally spoke up.

"By kissing my friend?!"

"Leanna! That's enough! That was a little mistake and she didn't kiss him, he kissed her! I know you don't like her but you don't dare speak like that again!" Liam interrupted.

Making the girl just cover her face to hide her tears. She couldn't believe what she was hearing, why did her daddy believe everything she said? Maya was a monster and she hated her. She could see that now, it's like she pulled wool over her father's eyes or something. Why couldn't he see her for what she really is?

"I will never forgive you for this!" Leanna screamed at her father.

"Leanna, please calm down...Listen to me, this is for the best. I wouldn't do this if I didn't think I could make our life better by doing this" Liam spoke gently.

"My granddad and nan live here...Everyone I love is here"

"And you can visit them whenever you want. It's not that far, Hotten is only a train ride away"

"I will never forget you choosing her comfort over mine"

"Leanna-" Liam went to say however his daughter shoved past him and made her way out the front.

...

12th February 2018

Walking into Hotten Academy for the first time. Leanna looked a sad state, her father and Maya were living in Hotten now. Jessie was there to greet her for the first time however the girl didn't look interested. She just gave her a polite smile, saying how she's going to class. She just didn't want to invest in the school it seemed, she was missing her old friends. Her first day was rather difficult as she made her way to her form class. This is where she seen Gabby, Liv and Jacob for the first time. Her form teacher stopping her for a moment as she spoke to the rest of the class...

"Oh class...I would just like to introduce you to Leanna; she's joined us today"

This made Leanna just roll her eyes, how embarrassing. Gabby giving her a small nod as if to say hello. The class all just giving a small hello back. Leanna just sarcastically muttering "Great" under her breath.

"You can sit with me if you want" Gabby suggested; being rather nice to the new girl.

"Thanks" Leanna spoke as she sat with her for the first time.

"These are my friends by the way, Liv and Jacob"

"Right, well nice to meet you all...I'm only here because my step-mum is getting a job here" Leanna informed them.

"Wow...Having a teacher as your step-mum; sounds awful" Liv teased.

"Good job my step-mum's are all too thick" Jacob chimed in.

Making Leanna give a small smile. They seemed nice she thought, easy to talk to. She really thought she was just going to get ignored but no; they all seemed nice. Though she was still finding it difficult to adjust at this time.

...

21st February 2018

Maya was the new history teacher, she now called herself 'Miss Stepney'. Which Liam was fine with. She walked into her first history class at Hotten Academy and was just willing to throw everything into her job here. Not wanting to get herself into trouble, this was suppose be like her 'second chance'. So she walked in with her new green shirt and her hair up in a bobble for once, her new class looking up with slight surprise. They didn't know they were getting a new teacher today. Jacob and Gabby were in her class today as both of them were sat together, this was the first time she would meet them. Jacob just looked up at his new teacher, not knowing that she would be the one to ruin his final year in school. She was still in contact with Damian at this point, she rang him sometimes just to keep him sweet.

"Hello everyone...I'm going to be your history teacher from now on, I'm Miss Stepney" Maya spoke to the class.

The class giving a small hello back. She asked them to introduce herself to her and this they did as all of them said their name to her. Maya joking how she won't be able to remember and they will have to remind her until she gets it. Jacob barely paying much mind to her at this point, in this time she was just another teacher.

"And what's your name?" Maya asked him casually.

"Jacob Gallagher"

"Okay and yours?" Maya then questioned; moving straight onto Gabby.

Their first meeting was just a normal one between teacher and student as you can see. Once she went through all their names. She wrote down the objectives of the lesson and told them about her rules. Jacob just looking at Gabby and muttering to her..."Great, a teacher with rules"

"What a novelty" Gabby joked; making him just smile.

Once again, this was barely anything. Maya just passed out her new class their workbooks and told them to write down what she had on the board. She sat down once this was all done and the students did as asked. Giving her some free time as she got out her phone, reading a new text from Damian...

Miss you x

Though she deleted it, she was just not going to risk it again. Liam believing her was just pure circumstantial 'luck'. If that's even the right word to use, she got away with that by the skin of her teeth. Her old life in Harrogate already seemed like a bad memory these days, her one in Leeds seemed even less real. She was away from both of those places and she hoped to never visit them again.

...

TBC