I'd like to apologise for my spelling/punctuation in the last chapter. It was a bit of a spur of the moment kind of thing and I (stupidly, I might add) didn't bother to re-read it for spelling errors. Anyway, here's the next chapter. Enjoy!

Gordie, Chris and Vern sat on the steps of the train station boarding dock, waiting for Shaline's train to come. Gordie was munching on the last little bit of an ice cream cone. Chris had already inhaled his, and Vern had to go back for another one after he dropped his first on the pavement.

"This is so boring" said Chris, stretching out his legs in front of him and leaning back, "Her train was supposed to be here hours ago"

"I know" Gordie said, looking just as perturbed, "They must have be-" his words were cut short as a loud airy train whistle sounded, and the ground beneath them began to shake gently. Vern jumped at the sound, causing his second ice cream cone to drop to the ground.

"Aw, shit" he complained, staring at the cone and pouting.

The train whistled he train whistled again and this time Gordie could see puffs of smoke billowing out from the forest. He stood up and brushed the dust of his jeans. Chris followed.

Gordie squinted his eyes against the bright sunlight to see the train doors open. A middle aged woman stepped out from the first carriage, an old couple from the second, and so on.

"Is that her?" Chris asked uncertainly, pointing towards young girl wearing a long green flowery skirt and a white blouse. She caught his eye and studied the trio for a moment, then gave a loud shriek.

"GORDIE!" she yelled rushing towards them and pulling Gordie into a hug.

"Wow", said Vern , "She talks funny." Chris rolled his eyes.

"Oh, wow I haven't seen you in ages" she exclaimed. She stepped back and Chris was able to study her more carefully. She had shoulder length honey brown hair and soft brown doe-like eyes, not unlike Gordie's. She was about an inch taller than him and she had a wide smile that showed off a row of very straight white teeth. Chris couldn't help notice that she was very pretty.

Gordie introduced her to Chris and Vern, "This is Shaline, Shaline this is Vern. This is Shaline, Shaline this is Chris" He grinned at her and extended his hand to shake hers.

The smile never faded from her face as they set off towards the Lachance household.

They set off, walking towards Gordie's house.

"You've really changed since I last saw you, Shaline" said Gordie conversationally.

There was to much truth in this to ignore. The last time Shaline had visited, she was very moody, snapping at everyone, and getting upset about the tiniest things. It semmed, though, that she had turned into a very happy optimistic person in her absence.

"I know", she chuckled, "Last time I was a bit of a bitch, huh?" He grinned appreciatively.

"So your dad's coming out in a couple of days, right? he's bringing all of your stuff?" She nodded.

"Chester's coming too"

Chris and Vern looked blank. "My older brother" she explained.

"What about your mom?" asked Vern. Gordie elbowed him in the side and grimaced.

"No, it's ok. I don't mind" said Shaline, "My mum left when I was born. I was a bit of an accident. She was always drinking and stuff. Chester's actually my half brother, my dad's wife died when Chester was 8. My dad took it pretty hard, and when my mom left he kind of lost it. He.......he hasn't been the greatest father. He drinks alot now."

As she said this, she reached up to fiddle with her hair and her blouse was pulled up, exposing an inch of bare skin where, Chris noticed, she had an ugly purple bruise on her waist. Gordie frowned at her and opened his mouth to say something, but she gave him a half smile, pleading with her eyes, and he stopped.

Shaline sat in the Lachance's guest room on the edge of the bed back-brushing her hair with a tiny blue comb. She now looked as if it she been electrocuted.

A soft knock at her door interrupted her. "Come in" she said. The door opened and Gordie stepped inside. He closed the door behind him and looked at Shaline. He jumped.

"Jesus Christ! What happened to your hair?" She grinned at him.

He made his way over to the bed and seated himself beside Shaline. She fiddled with a hole in the bed cover and averted her eyes.

"Thanks for not saying anything today"

"It's ok" sad Gordie, "but that was pretty stupid. This town isn't like London. People are going to find out."

"I don't want them to find out" she pleaded, "Thats why we're moving here. To get away from what I had to deal with in Britain. I need some peace and quiet."

"But why did you have to say that about your dad? They're going to meet him someday"

Shaline looked back up at Gordie and locked eyes with him. "Maybe, maybe not. Anyway, it's an excuse for my bloody bruises"

Gordie nodded, and leaned over to give Shaline a hug. "Good to have you back, cuz" he said. He was just about to shut the door behind him when he remembered something, "my friend Chris, you know, the blond one" she nodded.

"He seemed pretty interested in you"

Shaline cocked her head to the side,

"oh, did he now?"

AN: I hope my description of Shaline didn't see, to "perfect" but it's important for her character to be like that, because of what she's going to be "dealing with" later on in my fanfiction.