Sorry for delay in updates guys i'm really busy.

Chapter nine

Kono gripped Adam's hand tightly as he walked her into the school. He didn't have lessons that day but he insisted on walking Kono to school. It was her first day back since her suspension which had been cut short following the reveal of Jack's bullying. Both Jack and the key girls had been given suspension or isolation and Jack wasn't allowed near Kono. Despite this Kono was still concerned with returning. She knew everyone would know about the bullying and it just made her feel weak and she had no friends to lean on anymore.

"Sweetheart don't worry you will be fine, the teachers won't let anyone hurt you"

"I just can't deal with the looks and whispers"

"You can babe, just ignore them there words mean nothing"

"Will you meet me after school?"

"Yes, you have a meeting with Mrs Moore last lesson right?"

"Yeah"

"Okay I'll come get you from her office"

"Thank you"

Adam grinned and walked Kono to her class where the students were filling into the room. He pulled her into a tight hug and kissed her goodbye.

"I'll see you later"

"See you later"

Kono's lesson went by pretty well with only a few comments and stares. She got the impression that people were finally bored of her and had found other stuff to gossip about. She still sat alone at lunch time on a table at the back of the school diner, everyone else avoiding her. Part of her didn't really care at least it was peaceful.

"Kono?"

Kono looked up to see Poppy Howard standing before her. She was in all of Kono's classes but they had hardly ever spoken, Poppy was a generally shy girl who never caused any one any problems.

"Erm…hi Poppy"

"Can I sit with you?"

Kono frowned and her heart raced as she thought that maybe Poppy was going to say something and others were waiting to join in but then Kono thought about it, it was unlikely Poppy would be that sort of person.

"Sure"

Poppy smiled and took a seat opposite Kono, she almost looked a little nervous herself.

"I erm wanted to apologise" Poppy began softly.

Kono looked at her blankly, beyond confused by the fact someone was talking to her and why on earth they would be apologising.

"Why?"

"Because I haven't stood up for you when others have bullied you, and I've made no effort to talk to you. I know were not exactly friends but that isn't because I dislike you, we've just never crossed paths but now were in every lesson together and we've barley said to words to each other."

"Oh"

"I just want you to know that I don't agree with how people have been treating you and I'm sorry that I haven't stood up for you"

"Erm…thanks"

"My mum had me when she was sixteen" Poppy revealed after a moment.

Kono was surprised at the revelation, not expecting to be told that.

"Really?"

"Yeah she was a single mum raised me on her own…I know she found it hard and went through a lot. I was telling her about you and she made me realise how unfair everyone's been to you. I think my mum's amazing she's so inspirational and I know she wouldn't change anything so you know you haven't ruined your life…it works out and you're lucky you have Adam and family support."

"She's obviously done well with you" Kono smiled.

"She really is my best friend…having a baby young may not be for everyone and it isn't always planned…I know my mum didn't plan me but sometimes it just works out and you have an amazing bond"

"I hope my baby wants to be my best friend."

"You can teach the baby to surf"

"Aha yeah!"

"Shall we head to class?"

"I have a meeting with Mrs Moore"

"Oh okay well let me give you my number, text me if you want to talk" Poppy smiled before leaving.

Kono headed to her meeting with Mrs Moore, she knocked on the door and waited for a response.

"Come in"

Kono took a deep breath and opened the door. She was greeted by a bright smile from Mrs Moore who sat behind her desk in a plush swivel chair.

"Hi Kono, take a seat"

"Thanks"

"I'm glad we can finally sit down and have a chat Kono"

"Yeah"

"You seem nervous?"

"I'm…I am"

"Why Kono?"

"Because I don't like to talk about things"

"Hmmm that's clear"

Kono bowed her head

"Why don't we start with how you and baby are doing, have you had a scan recently?"

Kono smiled grateful with Mrs Moore's manner

"I had a scan last week, the baby's doing well"

"That's great! And how are you?"

"Mmm"

"Kono?"

"Actually I'm sort of okay"

"Okay…why's that?"

"Well…most people still ignore me and talk about me so stuff is still kind of crappy but Poppy Howard spoke to me today…she was actually nice" Kono informed.

"That's great Kono, there's still good people out there"

"Hmmm"

"Did you talk for long?"

"A while, she sort of knows what I'm going through"

"Ahh good so she told you"

"What? Did you make her talk to me?"

"No Kono of course not, Poppy came to me yesterday, she talk to me frequently and she explained how her mum was a teenage mother and that she felt awful for making no effort with you and wanted to try talk to you. She wanted my opinion because she was a little nervous to talk to you"

"Why would she be nervous to talk to me?"

"She's a very quiet girl and you're very confident and stubborn" Mrs Moore grinned

"Is that bad?"

"No Kono not at all, Poppy was just worried because you haven't spoken before"

"I'm glad she did"

"So am I, I'm sure she will be around if you need her Kono, take the window of opportunity she's given you, you may be very different in a lot of ways and not usually friends but sometimes being different is better."

"Yeah you're right"

"So how is everything with Adam?"

"Were good…things got a bit rough because I didn't think I could cope and I pushed him away but he forgave me."

"Why didn't you think you could cope Kono?"

"Because…" Kono sighed in frustration she hated to admit to weakness but she had to be honest, she needed to get things off her chest. "Because of the bullies"

"You let their words get to you?"

"Yeah"

"It's okay Kono, sometimes we need to falter and fall down because it makes us pick ourselves up and we come back stronger"

"I feel a bit stronger"

"It's a start"

"Yeah"

"How are things with your family, I know things were tough to begin with"

"Yeah…I had a long chat with Chin he's helped me a lot…things are better I just feel distant, I was so close with Chin and my mum and I just feel like now I'm not. I feel like I need to take responsibility for my baby but part of me…sometimes I just really want my mum and Chin..."

"You want to be the baby, figuratively speaking."

"Yeah"

"It's normal Kono, if you have a good relationship with your family especially your mum for example you will always need her and want her, have you told her how you feel?"

"No…I'm scared she will be disappointed, I don't want her to think I'm not being responsible for my baby" Kono explained tearfully.

"Kono I'm sure your mum wouldn't think that"

"But she might and I've disappointed her and my family so much already I just don't want to make it worse"

"Do you feel guilty Kono?"

"Everyday"

"What do you feel guilty for?"

"Ruining Adam's life, disappointing my family, and running my babies life" Kono sobbed.

"Adam wouldn't stick around if he thought you had ruined his life, your family may feel a little disappointed but they wouldn't have let you stay and wouldn't support you if they didn't love you and trust me, your baby is one very lucky baby to have you as a mother" Mrs Moore encouraged as she moved to wrap and arm around Kono.

"I just want to make my family proud, I don't want them to see me as the disappointment or that I messed up, I want them to see that I can take responsibility and do a good job of being a mum"

"Then continue what you're doing sweetheart because you're doing fab!"

Adam had met Kono and the two walked home together. Kono felt lighter after her chat with Mrs Moore and she briefly talked to Adam as they strolled along. She decided she really needed to talk to her mum though, she was scared of making things worse but her feelings were eating her up and she needed to get it out. When they got home Nani greeted them and made them drinks. Adam went to get some more work done and left Kono hovering awkwardly by her mum who just sat down in the arm chair.

"Are you okay Kono?" Nani asked.

Kono bit her lip and took a seat on the couch.

"Can I talk to you?"

"Yes ipo"

"I erm had a chat with Mrs Moore today"

"Oh ipo how did it go"

"Ahm…alright"

"Really?"

Kono sighed and looked up to her mum.

"We talked about you guys and Chin"

"Oh yeah"

"We discussed our relationship"

"Me and you?"

"Yeah"

"What did you say?"

"That I feel distant from you…and I wish we were still close"

"Oh keikei"

"I just have to take so much responsibility for my baby and my actions and I don't feel like I can talk to you about it because I don't want to disappoint you anymore than I already have…I want to show I can be responsible but I feel like it means I've had to grow up so much that it's just pushed us apart and I'm no longer your baby…I just sometimes wish I could still be the baby…but I didn't want to say anything because I'm scared you'll think I'm not being responsible and I just need to get on with it and then you'd be disappointed." Kono explained growing more tearful but chocking back her sobs.

"Oh ipo….come here" Nani ushered reaching out to Kono and pulling her into her lap, the two curled up in the chair with Kono's bump in the middle of them.

"I'm sorry mum" Kono sobbed.

"Sweetheart, don't apologise…darling you will always be my baby and I don't want to feel distant from you, I want to be like we used to I just thought you wanted your space to be with Adam."

"No I want you" Kono cried.

"You've got me keikei I promise you"