(A/N): Not sure if anyone is reading this, but I managed to get this written up, so I'll post this for now. Let me know what you think please. I don't own any of the things you recognise.
HeavenSkye x
What The Heart Wants
Chapter 3
Rachel sat on the sofa in her office and sighed in relief as the final bell for the school day rang and the hallways instantly filled with noise of the kids, eager to get out of the building after another long day. Rachel rubbed at the back of her neck, silently contemplating the day. After the worry she'd been feeling over Alia and Philip keeping secrets, she hadn't imagined her day could get any more hectic. However, then Chlo and her little bombshell had shook up Rachel's afternoon, the older woman sticking with the teenager for well over an hour as Tom had first been shocked and then angry, causing Chlo to rush away to the toilets in floods of tears. It had taken Rachel a good portion of twenty minutes to get the girl out of the toilets and sat safely in Rachel's office before Rachel had then taken it upon herself to talk to Tom, informing him of how upset Chlo was, and how she needed his support, making sure that no mention of Alia was let slip. She figured that letting the secret of her daughter slip once was enough for one day. Tom had then finally made up with Chlo, and Chlo had managed to get him to support her decisions and stay with her when she chose to tell Donte, which was supposed to be later that night.
A knock on the door shook Rachel out of her reverie as she called for the visitor to come in. The door opened and Chlo and Tom stepped in, both looking slightly calmer and happier than the last time Rachel had seen them earlier that afternoon. "Hey, miss, I just wanted to say thanks." Chlo said with a smile. Rachel nodded, standing just in time to hug Chlo back as the girl unexpectedly launched herself into Rachel's arms.
"Its fine love, I'm glad I could help. If there's anything else I can do for you, even just talking, don't hesitate Chlo." Rachel assured the girl as Chlo pulled back, looking a little embarrassed that she'd just hugged her headmistress.
"Thanks miss. I guess we'd better be going." Chlo said as she stood back. Tom moved forwards, grabbing Rachel's hand.
"Thanks, Rachel. At least Chlo felt she could tell someone."
Rachel nodded, choosing not to answer as Tom wrapped his arm around his stepdaughter's shoulders, leading Chlo from the office as Melissa passed them, knocking on the now open office door and stepping in. Rachel blinked in shock, not expecting to see Melissa there. Melissa had begun to avoid Rachel as much as Rachel had been trying to avoid Melissa since the latter had begun dating Eddie. "Mel."
"Rach." Melissa returned evenly, shutting the door. "Do you know what's up with Philip? He's been jumpy and quiet all day, and Eddie said you had a conversation with him at dinner."
"Oh, uh, no, I'm sorry, I don't know what's up." Rachel responded, unexpectedly grateful to Philip and Alia that they'd refused to tell her, meaning she didn't technically have to lie to her sister, possibly the teenagers' intention when they'd been cagy about it. "I asked him, but he wouldn't tell me. I invited him round tomorrow, to see if Ali can find out what's up with him."
"Wait, Ali'd actually tell you?" Melissa scoffed in disbelief, only to stop when she realised that Rachel was being serious.
"Yeah, Mel, Ali would tell me. I have a very different relationship with my daughter than mum had with either of us." Rachel spoke quietly, though her voice practically exuded danger if Melissa said one more thing out of line. Rachel didn't much care what Melissa thought of her, but she drew the line where Alia was concerned.
"Uh, right, uh, I also wanted to tell you something." Melissa sighed when Rachel didn't respond, only looking at her younger sibling expectantly. "Fine, mum's coming to visit us next week."
"What?" Rachel asked darkly. Melissa rolled her eyes.
"I know, I couldn't believe it either. At least she's not insisting on staying with you."
"How could she? She disowned me eighteen years ago, even if she acts like it's a selective disownment when it suits her."
"Well, I figured I'd let you know that she's meant to be arriving in Rochdale next Wednesday, and staying for at least a week, maybe two."
"Crap." Rachel rubbed a little at her tired eyes, dreading the week to come already, even knowing she had the next two days off to spend with Alia, and Philip to some extent too. Melissa nodded, having uttered a similar sentence after her mum had called.
"Well, please, if you find out what's up with Philip, tell me Rach. I'm worried about him."
"Of course, Mel." Rachel moved over to her desk and picked up her bag and keys, throwing her phone into her bag. "Now, I have a daughter and homemade pizza to get home to. See you Monday, Mel."
"Yeah, see ya, sis."
…
The next day found Rachel stood in front of the large sofa in her living room, staring down at Alia and Philip sternly. The night before Rachel had tried to get Alia to tell her what was going on, to no avail, and it had irritated Rachel more than she'd cared to admit that they were keeping secrets from her. "Will one of you please tell me what is so important?"
Alia and Philip shared glances, before Alia nodded slightly and Philip turned back to his aunt looking slightly green. "Well, Rach, see…" Philip trailed off, not sure how to continue, so instead, he shot a pleading look to his cousin.
"Aunt Mel's married." Alia blurted out in an attempt to help out Philip. Rachel frowned in confusion as the teenagers shared another look.
"I know, she's divorcing Phil's dad as we speak." Rachel responded, only for her confusion to deepen when the two cousins let out sarcastic laughs at her statement.
"Yeah… no, she can't." Philip countered, his courage rising as he felt the full force of his mum's decisions weigh on him again. He'd confided in Alia about his mum over a year earlier, and she'd promised to keep it quiet and help him out with it should he ever need it. He didn't want his aunt to get angry at them for concealing it, and he didn't want Eddie to get hurt, which was why he'd requested Alia's help when things between Eddie and his mum had looked too serious for his taste. "She can't divorce him."
"Why not, Phil?" Rachel asked softly, clearly sensing that he was struggling with how to tell her what he wanted to and so Rachel turned to her daughter instead. "Ali, why can't Mel get divorced?"
"Uh," Alia shared another look with her cousin before schooling her features to remain even and facing Rachel once more. "Because she's married to two people at the same time. Bigamy."
Rachel felt herself sink onto the other couch in the room in shock as she shook her head. "No," She whispered in denial, though in the back of her mind she knew the two fifteen year olds weren't lying to her. "Mel told me… She promised she was getting a divorce."
"She lied." Alia countered flippantly, causing Philip to smirk sadly, amused at his cousin but sad for the situation his mum had landed herself in, and himself by extension. Rachel saw his face and was quick to reassure the boy.
"Phil, I promise you'll be okay, no matter what happens with your mum."
"Yeah, you can always live here with us if you wanted." Alia offered and Rachel agreed. Philip had stayed with his aunt before when Melissa had had 'dark places' and Rachel truly didn't mind her nephew living there too.
"Thanks." Philip responded, looking grateful. "But what are we gonna do? I don't want Eddie trapped like my dad was, is."
Rachel thought she caught Alia's face drop a tiny bit at the mention of Philip's dad, but it was gone too quickly for Rachel to really catch anything, so she figured it must have been the light playing tricks on her as she turned to her nephew. "Phil, we'll think of something, even if it simply means telling Eddie everything and hoping he believes us."
"I can get proof to back us up." Alia offered up unexpectedly. Both Rachel and Philip stared wide-eyed at her as she blushed. "I was taught covert ops by my dad's best mate. I can get copies of the marriage certificates and data that shows the lack of divorce papers. You know, if you want."
"Will it be illegal?" Rachel checked, groaning as Alia shrugged.
"It's only illegal if you get caught." Alia pointed out with a smirk. Rachel rolled her eyes.
"Have you decided about school yet?"
"Yeah, fine, I'll come back to school. Just don't expect me to behave." Alia warned as Rachel beamed happily and Philip punched her playfully in the shoulder which quickly descended into a play fight between the cousins as Rachel watched on in amusement.
The sound of an incoming text made Rachel jump and she left the two fighting teenagers to go into the hall. She looked down at the display on her phone, groaning when she read it.
From: Mel.
Rach, has Phil said anything to Ali yet? I'm so worried. Mel xx
Rachel sighed, half-heartedly wondering why the last two days of all days had Melissa particularly worried but she quickly typed out a reply, knowing if she didn't her sister would soon be calling her to check up.
To: Mel.
No, he hasn't. Don't worry, I'm sure it's nothing. Ali'll tell me if it is something, I promise. Rachel x
…
Monday morning came around far too quickly for either female in the Mason household. Rachel had managed to drag herself up with her alarm and made herself get in the shower whilst Alia simply hit the button to turn her alarm off and turned over, fully intent on going straight back to sleep, forgetting that she had school that day. Rachel had taken Alia shopping on Sunday and together they'd managed a good compromise where school uniform was concerned.
"Ali, no, you are not wearing stilettos to school." Rachel berated as Alia rolled her eyes, setting down the black heels back on the shelf.
"C'mon, Rach, I always wear heels. Kind of a requirement with my job. Gives me height on stage and stuff."
"You'll be at school, not performing. And anyway, it's gonna get cold soon, so you might as well get boots instead."
"And no heels?"
"No heels." Rachel confirmed sternly, causing Alia to roll her eyes again as she moved over and picked up a pair of black cardy Ugg boots, holding them up in the other woman's eyesight. Rachel sighed but nodded, knowing her daughter's footwear was not going to get any more sensible than that. "Fine, but don't wreck them straight away. I'm not made of money."
Alia stuck her tongue out as she put the shoes in the basket before rushing off and running back with a pair of skinny grey suit pants that were surprisingly passable as school pants. "These do? I don't do baggy pants unless they're trackie bottoms."
"They're good, Ali." Rachel responded slowly, still shocked she didn't have to talk Alia out of an impossibly short skirt. Alia smirked, reading the thoughts off Rachel's face.
"I don't like skirts too much unless I really have to wear them." Alia smirked again as she threw a few school shirts onto the pile as well, all ones that didn't have top buttons and were quite well fitted. "The shirts are non-negotiable."
"Then you have to wear either the jumper or the blazer rather than just your leather jacket."
"Only in winter."
"And on important school days."
"Deal." Alia agreed. "But I withhold the right to customise the blazer as I see fit. Nothing too drastic, don't worry."
"You are going to wear the tie, right?" Rachel asked as they walked up to the tills to pay for the purchases. Alia rolled her eyes but nodded.
"Yeah. The uniform doesn't bother me that much, Rach. My last school was far stricter than you, and so were the punishments."
Rachel poked her head in Alia's room after her shower, rolling her eyes when she saw that the teenager had simply gone back to sleep. Pushing her wet hair away from her face, she marched over to Alia's bed and poked at the lump under the covers, producing a groan and some dark hair poking out from the top of the covers. "Stooooooop muuuuuum." The sleepy grumble was drawn out, but the fact that Alia had called her mum whilst still half asleep caused Rachel to rear back away from the bed, tears in her eyes at the knowledge that Alia really did think of her as a mum, even if the title wasn't used that often.
"Alia, you have school today. You need to get up to have a shower." Rachel pulled the covers down enough to see Alia blink sleepily up at her.
"Oh. Forgot about that. Fine." Alia sat up, rubbing at her eyes. "Give us twenty minutes and I'll be ready."
Rachel raised her eyebrows in disbelief, but walked back into her own room to dry her hair. There was still time; it was only half six after all.
…
Half an hour later, Alia wandered downstairs in her new uniform, tie hanging low on her ribs and brunette hair straightened and left down around her face, which had surprisingly little makeup on. Alia had only bothered putting a nude eyeshadow on, mascara and a clear lip gloss. Sighing when she heard the sound of Rachel getting dressed above her head, Alia turned the kettle on and made up two cups of coffee, one for Rachel and one for herself.
She then set about shoving four pieces of bread in the toaster and locating the butter, before pouring the boiling water in the coffee along with some milk and stirring them and rushing back to the other counter to take the toast from the toaster and butter them, splitting them up onto two plates and sliding them onto the kitchen island. Perching herself on a stool, Alia quickly ate her toast whilst sipping her coffee, watching the news on the small tv in the corner of the kitchen.
Rachel walked in and automatically made her way to the kettle, where Alia had left Rachel's coffee for her. Rachel took a large gulp before sighing in contentment and sliding onto the stool beside Alia's, pulling her own toast towards her. "Thanks, Ali." Rachel managed around mouthfuls of toast. "I've gotta be in early today for a management meeting with Tom, Eddie and Mel. Do you wanna come in with me or walk later?"
"Walk?" Alia laughed. "I can get a lift from loads of people. But yeah, Rach, I'd like to go in with you today. Could you like give me the tour before school or something? I don't wanna get lost or out."
"Sure love." Rachel nodded as she finished her toast. "We've still got time to kill before we've got to go, so do you want to go put your stuff in your school bag whilst I find the paperwork I need for today?"
"Sure." Alia stood and put her empty plate and cup in the sink before moving back to the island and kissing Rachel's cheek gently. "Thanks for being patient and stuff with me mum."
"Any time love." Rachel reassured her as Alia rushed back up the stairs and into her room, pulling the covers back onto her bed and finding a large royal blue tote bag she'd had for a couple of years hanging from the back of her desk. Quickly locating a couple of notebooks, Alia threw them into her bag, closely followed by a clear pencil case with a few black ballpoint pens, a couple of pencils, a ruler, a rubber and a sharpener in it. Finally, she threw an umbrella in there along with her purse so she could buy herself some dinner. Not sure what else she could pack until she knew what classes she had, Alia picked up her blazer from the back of her desk chair, the sleeves rolled up to elbow length and badges littering the collar. Walking out of the room, bag and blazer in hand, she turned back and gazed longingly at her room. She had wanted to stay at home so badly, even knowing that she really should be going to school. She knew it was an irrational fear to have, but she was scared all the same. She was just holding onto the hope that when she got to the school, she'd settle down and stop feeling so scared of the uncertain. Hearing Rachel call up the stairs for her, Alia took on longing glance at her room before shutting the door and running down the stairs to where Rachel stood at the bottom.
"What's up, Rach?"
"You almost done?" Rachel checked, smiling as Alia nodded. "Okay, can you put a bit of paperwork in your bag for me? Just till we get to school, I promise."
"Uh, sure." Alia held out her bag as Rachel slid a couple of files into it before Alia put her blazer on and slung the bag over her shoulder. "Rach, what if-what if I can't do it?"
"All I ask is that you try, Ali." Rachel said softly, encasing Alia in a quick hug. "Anything else we can deal with, as long as you try. If you really struggle, then come and find me love. I'll always be here for you Ali."
"Okay, thank you." Alia nodded into Rachel's shoulder. "Thank you."
"No problem. You ready to get going?"
"Yeah, let's go." Alia picked up her set of house keys as Rachel grabbed a large plastic bag, her handbag and her car keys and the mother and daughter duo stepped out of the house, ready for the long day ahead.
TBC?
