Davina had just received a letter that morning tell her that her daughters school would be closing down after Christmas. This was the last thing she needed on her plate after her break up from Jack.
After contemplating what to do she decided to ask Racheal if El could have a place at Waterloo road.
Racheal heard a knock at her door. "Come in" Racheal shouted as looked up from her computer. "Ah, Davina. What can I do for you?"
"I was wondering if we have any places for year 10 students?" Davina asked as she poked her head around Racheal's door.
"We have a couple, why?" Racheal inquired.
Davina walked fully into Racheal's office and closed the door behind her. "I was wonder if i could transfer my daughter here?"
"You have a daughter, I didn't know?" Racheal said in shock.
"Yeah, Eleanor, she's 14. She's at Rochdale High at the minute, but it's closing down after Christmas."
"Well, we better get cracking with the paperwork then." Joked Racheal.
Davina sat down in the chair opposite Racheal "There is something I think you should know".
Racheal looked up at Davina.
"El has epilepsy. She mainly has absence seizure, she stops what ever she is doing for a few seconds and then suddenly starts agin like nothing has happened, she isn't aware of what going on around during the seizures and no first aid is needed but someone does need to stay with her until the seizure is over and she has become fully conscious. She also has myoclonic seizures, where one or more of her limbs twitch, sometimes in cluster so it can look rhythmic jerking. It can sometimes make her drop things, hit things or loose balance, she stays conscious during theses and no first aid is needed. She can also have tonic clonic seizures, this are the type that most people associate with seizures, like fully body jerking. She needs anything harmful moving out of the way, putting into the recovery position and someone needs to stay with her until she has fully regained consciousness. If the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes, or she has another seizure before fully regaining consciousness then an ambulance has to be called. If the seizure does last more than 5 minutes she has to be given rescue medication will waiting for the ambulance." Davina informed Racheal.
"Well we'll have to inform and train staff before she starts then, wont we" Racheal responded with a smile.
Davina smiled back feeling very reassured, normally El's epilepsy scared people away. Her current school, and her primary school where very apprehensive about it.
WR
Christmas soon came and went and a new term at Waterloo Road had begun. All of the staff had been given epilepsy training for the new epileptic pupil, but Racheal hadn't told anyone that it was Davina's daughter.
Davina and El, a 5ft something blonde haired teen with blue eyes like her mum, pulled up at school ready for the new term. As they got out of the car Davina turned towards El and said "have a good day sweetie".
"Mum!" El nearly screamed. "Your embarrassing me!"
Davina just smiled as El walked into the flock of other students heading into school.
"Mum?" a male voice questioned from behind Davina.
Davina spun around to see Tom. "Yeah" Davina responded.
"How come you never said anything?" Tom asked.
"It just never came up" Davina said.
"Ok" Tom assured, not completely satisfied with Davina's response. "So, what are you doing tonight?"
"Not a lot, why?" Asked Davina.
"Well, I was wondering if I could take you out for dinner tonight. I was thinking of that new Italian in the high street." proposed Tom.
"Yeah, ok" smiled Davina.
"So, i'll pick you up at about 7 at your place?" Suggested Tom.
"Ok, i'll text you my address." replied Davina, still smiling.
WR
Later that night, after school had finish, Tom picked Davina up from her house and took her to dinner at the new Italian restraint that he had suggested to her that morning.
After finishing their starter, while waiting for their main courses, Tom decided to ask Davina more about El.
"So how old is your daughter?"
"El's 14" Davina responded.
"14" Tom replied. "You must of been pretty young when you had her".
"I was 16" Davina said.
"It must of been hard having a child so young." Tom stated.
"It was. I mean it still is, especially with her epilepsy" Davina replied after taking a sip of her wine.
"So, El's the new epileptic pupil." Tom realised aloud. "So, is El's dad still in the picture?"
Davina's breathing started to become uneven and louder. After a few seconds Davina got up, grabbed her bag and left the restaurant, at a pace that was almost a jog.
Tom threw enough money onto the table to cover the food they had order and then left the restaurant in the same direction as Davina, and almost at the same pace. Tom hoped that he could find her, he wanted to apologise for upsetting her.
Davina had run out of the restaurant and ended up sat on a bench just around the corner. As she sat there, there was a stream of silent tears falling down her cheek.
Tom turned the corner and spotted Davina sat on the bench. As he got closer he could tell that she was crying.
As Tom slowly sat down next to Davina she wiped away her tears with the sleeve of her jumper.
Tom threw his arm around Davina and pulled her into him.
As Tom pulled Davina closer she completely broke down. Davina started to loudly sob against the comforting warmth of Tom's chest.
Tom tucked a strand of loose hair behind Davina's ear and then proceed to gently stroke her head to try and comfort her.
Davina's sobbing started to subside until it was just a flow of silent tears down her cheek.
"I'm soo sorry for upsetting you, I didn't mean to." Tom whispered.
"It's not your fault." Replied Davina.
Tom lovingly wiped away Davina's tears with his thumb.
Davina lifted her head and looked into Tom's loving eyes. This was the most tenderness any man had ever shown her.
Tom could see the fear and hurt in Davina's eyes and it almost brought him to tear. The women he loved was in an immense amount of pain, and he didn't know what to do to make it any better.
"I'm sorry for running out like that it was just." Davina started.
"When I mentioned El's dad." Tom finished, only just realising what had upset Davina so much.
"Yeah, El's dad." Davina said quietly as her voice was shaking.
"You don't have to explain anything." Tom interrupted.
"No! You deserve and explanation." Asserted Davina.
"When I was 15, me and some mates went to a Halloween party." Davina paused to catch her breath. "I was so drunk that I could barely stand. I had stumbled upstairs to find the bathroom, while my mates stayed downstairs. As I opened the bathroom door." Davina paused again as silent tears continued to fall down her cheeks.
Tom could feel her whole body start to shake. In response he squeezed her a little bit tighter.
"He came up behind me and pushed me into the bathroom, then locked the door. He pushed me so hard that I hit the wall opposite the door. Before I had chance to turn around he was behind me again. He grabbed hold of my hair with one hand and used the other hand to pin me against the cold, tiled wall." Davina explained, with a clear undertone of disgust in her voice. "He pulled my head back and started to kiss my neck." Davina's voice was now extremely shaky. "He smelt like a brewery. I herd him unzip his trousers, then he reached underneath my dress pulled down my underwear, and he raped me" Davina said as her tears became audible again.
Tom kissed her forehead in an effort to comfort her.
"He shoved his hands down my dress, inside my bra, and grabbed hold of my breasts as he thrust into me." Davina described as she continued to cry."When he had finished he pulled out and wiped himself on my dress. I herd him zip his trousers back up. He pined my head back up against the wall and he told me "Not to pretend that I didn't want it because he knew that I enjoyed it like the slut I am." Within seconds he was gone. I slide down the wall and sat on the floor and cried. I stayed there for what felt like ages, until one of my friends had come looking for me and found me there. She walked me home and tried to convince me to report it to the police, but I couldn't. I didn't know who it was and I was blind drunk, I though no one would believe me."
"It wasn't your fault, you didn't deserve anything that that sick, disgusting pervert did to you because you are the most beautiful, kind and intelligent women that I know" Tom softly told Davina. But in reality his blood was boiling as he felt a rage that he as only ever felt once before. The same rage that he felt towards the scumbag that stabbed Izzy.
Tom continued to hold Davina as she wept.
"About a month later I took a pregnancy test after I missed my period. It was positive. It had to be his baby because I was still a virgin until that night, and I hadn't slept with anyone else between then and taking the test" Davina recalled as she placed a caring hand underneath her jumper onto her bare stomach as she reminisced about being pregnant with El, back to time when she always knew El was safe. "I was terrified about telling my mum. My dad was never around and she did her best, but she was far from perfect. In the end I didn't have to tell her because she found the test in the bin. When she found out she chucked me out and said that she "didn't want a slapper living under her roof." When I left I had nothing but the clothes on my back and the tiny life growing inside of me that needed my love and protection. Davina continued as her mascara ran down her face, leaving her with panda eyes. "I sofa surfed for the next couple of mouth. I got a job as a waitress and eventually manage to find a small apartment, not long before El was born."
Tom placed his hand under Davina's jumper, onto of her hand that was still caressing her stomach.
"When El was born she was." Davina paused. "Perfect. She was so innocent, so oblivious to the world, and from the moment I saw her all I wanted to do was protect her and keep her safe. She wrapped her tiny hand around my finger and I felt this love that I have never felt before, so pure and innocent. Davian said as a small smile flashed across her face.
Tom also smiled when he saw Davina smile.
Tom and Davina sat on the bench, in silence, for roughly ten minutes, just sat there, intertwined in each others arms until Tom's other hand went to touch Davina's face and he felt how cold she was. "Come on, let's get you home." Encouraged Tom as he slowly started to move from his very conformable position on the bench.
As Davina reached standing position Tom tuck off his jacket and wrapped around Davina's slender figure.
As they arrived at Davina's place, Tom parked the car and then got out to open Davina's door, offering his hand help her out.
Davina felt flattered by Tom's chivalry.
"Do you want to come in for a drink." Asked Davina after she had gotten out of the car. She was so glad that El was at a sleep over tonight because she really didn't want to explain to her why she was so upset. Davina had always told El that her father was just some drunk one night stand because she could't bring herself to tell El the truth.
After a few drinks, and the ordeal of that evening, Davina had falling into a deep sleep on the sofa. Tom couldn't bring himself to wake her, this was the first time all evening that Tom had seen Davina looking peaceful and he didn't want to ruing that. Tom careful pick Davina up of the sofa and carried her upstairs, into the master bedroom, which he could only assume was hers. Tom pulled back the covers on the bed and gently laid Davina down. He took off her shoes and covered her with the duvet. Tom placed a genial kiss on Davina's forehead and whispered "sleep tight my darling."
Tom left Davina's, making sure he remembered to post her keys back through the letter box.
WR
The next morning Davina awoke, with a bit of a headache and a lot of confusion. How had she gotten to bed, the last thing she remembered was being sat in her living room with Tom and a bottle of beer. A wave of regret flooded over her because she though that she had slept with Tom. Don't get it wrong, she liked Tom, a lot, but after the way he had behaved last night she though he was different, not just another man that was using her for sex.
Davina slowly sat up and realised that she was still full clothed, this just added to her confusion.
Davina had got up and text El, just to make sure she was ok. After El had responded, telling her not to be such a worry wart, Davina headed for the shower and got ready for work.
Davina drove into school and packed her car in her usually spot. She sat in her car with all of her thoughts colliding in head, mainly thoughts about Tom.
Davina didn't even notice when Tom pulled up next to her. Mika, Chlo and Donte all got out and headed into school.
Tom knocked on Davina's window, which made her jump.
David proceed to get out of the car picking up her bag as she did.
"Sorry to startle you." Apologised Tom.
Davina just looked at him with a black expression.
"Davina, what's wrong?" Asked Tom with mounting concern.
After checking that no one was around Davina decide to ask Tom "What happened last night?"
Tom looked a little confused "What do you mean, nothing happened."
"The last thing I remember was being sat in my living room, with you, drinking a larger. Then this morning I woke up in my bed with no memory of how I got there." Said Davina, still puzzled.
"You fell asleep on the sofa, not long after we got back to your place." Replied Tom.
"So how did I end up in bed." Asked Davina even more confused.
"I carried you up, you looked so peaceful and i didn't want to wake you." Responded Tom.
Davina felt soo guilty for assuming Tom had taking advantage of her when he was nothing more than a perfect gentlemen. But then again it problem was the first time a man had benn in Davina's bedroom and not ended up in her bed. She didn't know what it was but men seemed to have a habit of using her.
"So, how about drinks in the pub tonight." Said Tom. "Just me and you."
"Ok." Davina replied with that smile that Tom loved.
WR
By the time Davina and Tom had gone their separate ways the majority of the student had started to arrive. Davina spotted El in amount the crowed and waved to her.
El sluggishly made her way towards her mum.
As El got closer to Davina, Davina started to get more worried. El looked quite pale and tired, a trigger for her seizures. Davina reached her hand towards her daughter forehead to check her temperature. El didn't seem to have a temperature, but she still didn't look great. "Did you get much sleep last night?" Asked Davina, concerned.
"Not a lot." Replied El "Millie's (El's best friend) baby brother kept everyone up most of the night with his crying."
"Come and tell me if you don't feel well or you have having seizure's." Davina said firmly. "And don't forget to tell a teacher if you think you are going to have a big seizure."
El nodded her head in acknowledgement.
Davina placed her arm around the back of her daughters neck as they walked into school together.
El wasn't keen on her mothers public displays of affection around her peers, but she knew that they would find out evenly who her mum was, so there was no point in hiding it.
As Davina and El walked toward the school, El suddenly stopped dead in her tracks.
"El" Davina quietly called.
There was no response and Davina immediately knew that El was having an absence seizure.
After a few seconds El blinked rapidly. Davina knew that this meant that the seizure was over.
"Mum?" El questioned as she looked towards Davina, who was still stood next to her.
"You've had and absence seizure." Davina told her. "Is that your first one today?"
"I think so." Replied El.
"Well make sure you come and find me is you start having a lot." Asserted Davina.
"I will do." said El and she kissed her mum on the cheek and hurried off into the crowed of kids when she had spotted some of her friends.
No matter how old El got, or how long she had had epilepsy, Davina still worried about her.
Please Review. Suggestions for future chapters would be appreciated, although I don't know how many chapters I will end up writing. I will try and incorporate as many suggestion as possible, but it might not be possible to incorporate all of them. Constrictive criticism is also appreciated.