Lindsay started to regain consciousness. Minutes later, she was awake and baffled. She didn't know where she was. Lindsay looked to the left and saw Nikki clutching a cup of coffee in her hand.

''Miss.'' Lindsay croaked

''Lindsay, are you OK?'' Nikki wondered

''I…I don't know.'' Lindsay began, obviously confused ''All I remember is falling.''

Lindsay's arm was tingling and felt heavier than usual. It was bandaged up and Lindsay didn't know why.

''The police are coming to talk to you later.'' Nikki explained

''The police?'' Lindsay repeated ''Why?''

''Because they think you've been stabbed.'' Replied Nikk

Stabbed? Lindsay thought deeply about this and tried to remember as much as she could. It suddenly all came back to her-it was Scott. She couldn't give his name to the police. He'd get arrested again and maybe sent to a prison out of Manchester. The thought was unbearable. She loved Scott. Even though he did hurt her, she loved him and wouldn't ever leave him. Lindsay knew what she had to do-lie.

''Lindsay!'' Shrieked a voice

Lindsay's concentration was broke and saw her mother. What the hell was she doing here?

''Mum?'' Lindsay quizzed

Mrs James threw her arms around her daughter. She was relieved Lindsay was OK, but confused why her daughter never said she was back in Rochdale.

''Are you OK? Who did this to you? When did this happen?'' The list of questions from her mum was endless

''I'm fine.'' Lindsay reassured ''But why are you here? I never asked you.''

Mrs James happiness slowly turned to sadness with those words. She couldn't believe her daughter didn't want her around. She'd just gained Lindsay back and now felt as if she was losing her.

''I know you've had a hard life with prison and adjusting to life again, but I don't want to let you go.'' Mrs James replied

''Mum, I'm 19.'' Lindsay pointed out ''I'm not a little girl anymore neither is Emily. I'm grown up.''

''Where have you been staying?'' Mrs James asked

''With my boyfriend, Scott Brookes.'' Lindsay replied ''I met him in prison and when we were released, I moved in with him.''

It was dinner time at school. Emily was sat in the canteen, prodding her sausages with her fork. Sian decided to see how Emily was coping with it all.

''Hi Emily.'' Sian began ''Anyone sitting here?''

''No.'' Emily shrugged

Sian pulled out a chair and began to speak to Emily ''I know this must be hard for you with it being your GCSE year and being at a difficult age.''

''Hmmm.'' Emily mumbled

''How have people been?'' Asked Sian

''They keep asking me questions about Lindsay and my dad and all that. It's awful and I can't bear it.'' Emily explained

''What do you have next?''

''Tutorial with Mr Budgen.'' Emily replied

''How about you stay with me next lesson. It's only Year 9.'' Sian offered

Emily thought about it before agreeing to it. Anything to escape the probing questions from her class mates.

Lindsay was asleep at the hospital after taking some really strong medication. Mrs James and Nikki were still at Lindsay's bedside.

''How come the school never informed me of Lindsay being back?'' Mrs James asked

''She rang up a few weeks back asking if she could start and we called her in for a meeting. She didn't want you or Emily knowing she was back.'' Nikki answered

''But I'm her mother.'' Pointed out Mrs James

''I know.'' Nikki agreed ''But Lindsay is an adult and makes her own choices. We have to respect her decision.''

''I should have divorced her dad a long time ago.'' Mrs James said, starting to blame herself ''She had a great education and a supportive family-or so it seemed. I thought she was happy, but she was suffering in pain.''

Lindsay was dreaming about her past and all the good and bad things in her life. Lindsay started thinking about the first time her dad came in her room when she was a shy 11 year old…

Flashback

Lindsay was fast asleep when her door slowly creaked open. Emily, her 8 year old sister, must have had a bad dream.

''Em, go back to bed.'' Lindsay sighed

Lindsay felt strange. Normally Emily would say or do something to get Lindsay's attention, but not this time.

''Emily?'' Lindsay wondered

Lindsay looked up and found her dad only had his boxer shorts and vest on. His dark brown hair was soaked from being in the shower. He smelt of aftershave, which Lindsay couldn't stand.

''Dad?'' Lindsay asked

''Hello princess.'' Mr James smirked

He sat on the edge of Lindsay's bed and stroked her soft, tanned skin. Lindsay was wondering why he was doing this to her. She started shaking as her dad put his arm on Lindsay's thigh.

''I love you.'' Mr James declared ''If you weren't my daughter, I'd marry you.''

Mr James leaned in and softly planted a kiss on Lindsay's forehead.

''Don't tell your mother.'' Hissed Mr James ''Or mum will hate you forever.''

Mr James stood up and Lindsay thought he was going to leave her alone, but instead he shut the door. Mrs James was on night shift and Emily slept through anything. An hour later, Mr James came out and pulled on his vest top before going to bed. Lindsay was scared and petrified and questions filled her mind. Why did he just do that to her?

Lindsay woke up, with her heart pounding at a million miles an hour with sweat pouring off her.

''Lindsay, are you OK?'' Mrs James asked, concerned for her daughter

''I'm fine.'' Lindsay lied