Nikki, Matt and Tom had met up at lunchtime. Something was going on with the Holland-James' family. Hannah arrived at school for lesson 3, which was Art, but disappeared again before lesson 4, which was Drama. Some of the teachers don't even know what Hannah looks like. Lindsay and a clan of Year 13's, who were in Tom's form, didn't turn up for Math's either and weren't on the premises whilst Poppy was ill.

''Maybe we should go looking for them?'' Tom suggested

''What can we do?'' Nikki asked ''Hannah, yes we could do something as she is only 14, but the Year 13's? They're 17 and 18 and we can't drag them back to school.''

''Nikki's right.'' Matt agreed

''We have a duty of care towards them and they are bunking off during school hours.'' Tom said

''OK then.'' Nikki began ''We'll have a scout about and see if we can find them.''

Nikki grabbed her coat and bag and Tom got his car keys. It wasn't like Mrs James to refuse her children an education. The school hoped they could get to the bottom of the subject before involving the police.

Poppy was on the outskirts of town now. It was quite a rough area near one of Waterloo Road's rival schools, Coopers Park High School. Coopers Park was a worse school than Waterloo Road with nearly every pupil having a criminal record or ASBO, there was at least one teenager who fell pregnant every week, a majority of pupils were in care living in foster homes or residential homes. Poppy had decided to go home and this was the quickest way as there wasn't a bus for another hour.

'Just be confident.' Poppy said to herself

So far, there was no danger. Poppy passed a few teenagers on street corners drinking cider and smoking. Some of the kids didn't look older than Poppy who were dossing about. Poppy felt slightly uneasy as she was seen as an outcast from the Coopers Park kids. None of them were in uniform, but wore the royal blue tie with thin gold stripes to mark out they were Coopers Park High School kids. Poppy reached the crossing and she was 5 minutes away from home. Outside the abandoned Chinese takeaway, were more of the kids from the school.

''What you gawping at?'' One teenage girl yelled

They were all obviously a couple of years older. The girl who shouted at her had black hair with red streaks and her fringe was also died red. She wore thick, black eye liner with a leather jacket, black ripped skinny jeans and black boots. Most of them were wearing jeans, jackets and hoodies. The only hint of uniform was the school shirt or the tie, yet some of the girls had their shirt undone with t-shirts underneath. Poppy crossed over confidentially and tried to ignore them, but 2 of the girls came over to her.

''Oi!'' The the girl with red streaks shouted

''What?'' Poppy sighed

''Wagging off school?'' The other girl asked

''N...no.'' Stuttered Poppy

''Chill out.'' The red streak hair girl smirked ''I'm Brianna and this is Roxanne. What school you from?''

''Waterloo Road but please don't hurt me.'' Poppy pleaded

''Hurt you.'' Laughed Roxanne ''You seem OK. Come join us.''

Poppy was slightly anxious. They seemed OK, but they could just turn on her.

''Guys, this is Poppy.'' Brianna announced ''That's Ben Jones, or Spider as we call him. He's Matt Senior, otherwise known as Bricker. And the others are Maia, Liam, Cameron, Rihanna and Jack.''

''Fancy a can?'' Ben offered Poppy some beer

''No thanks.'' Poppy insisted

''Why not?'' Maia asked ''Isn't our stuff good enough for you snobs?''

''We aren't snobs.'' Poppy said ''Waterloo Road isn't that fantastic either.''

''You're all snobs in comparison.'' Cameron tutted

''Look, I just don't want a drink. I'm only a Year 7.'' Poppy pointed out

''We all started drinking, smoking and that then.'' Liam smirked, who was smoking a cigarette ''In fact, I was like 10.''

''That doesn't surprise me.'' Poppy muttered under her breath

Poppy regretted saying that when she saw them looking at her funny. They were angry and annoyed. They all jumped off the wall and circled Poppy...

Lindsay arrived home with her friends. Finn and Josh went to get a drink from the kitchen, Trudi went to the living room whilst Lauren went with Lindsay upstairs.

''I'll go get the money.'' Lindsay told Lauren ''Can you check on Poppy?''

''OK.'' Lauren beamed

Lindsay went into her bedroom and headed over to a little safe, which she kept in a cupboard. She took it out of the cupboard.

'Strange?' Lindsay thought 'I swear it was locked, the safe.'

Lindsay opened it. Her gold bracelet with the charms what her mum bought her for her 13th was there. But where was the £50 she had saved? Lauren came rushing into the bedroom.

''Poppy isn't there!'' Lauren panicked

''What?!'' Shouted Lindsay

Lindsay ran out and burst into Emily and Poppy's room. There was her bed with the crumpled up purple duvet and she wasn't there. This is going to devastate John. And her mum.

''What's going on?'' Josh called upstairs

''Poppy's gone missing!'' Lindsay was on the verge of tears

''Shall we call the police?'' Finn asked

''And Byrne.'' Trudi said

''What about your mum?'' Lauren wondered

Lindsay tried to remain calm ''Right, Josh, you phone the school. Finn, Trudi and Lauren, can you go and look for her. I'll phone my mum and John.''

''OK.'' They all said in unison

Poppy was forced into a dark, cold, abandoned alleyway. What were they going to do to her?

''Now then, Poppy.'' Spat Roxanne. Poppy's face crumpled with the stench of alcohol

''We're going to teach you a lesson.'' Added Maia

''Leave me alone!'' Poppy yelled ''The only reason you're making me feel this way is because you're all sad and insecure losers who have to make others vulnerable and weak.''

''How dare you?'' Sneered Cameron

''Go on Cameron!''

''Get her!''

''Beat her up Cameron!''

Suddenly, it was Poppy up against Cameron. He was stronger, tougher and mental. It was 1 against 9. She was only Year 7 and they were Year 9's from the worse schools for the next generation of criminals.

''FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!''

Cameron circled Poppy with the same mad and evil look. Poppy was timid and nervous. Suddenly out of no where, Cameron punched Poppy in the stomach. Poppy fell to the ground in pain and couldn't speak or breath. Cameron then kicked Poppy in the ribcage before giving her a nosebleed.

5 minutes later, John, Mrs James and the twins burst through the door. It frightened Josh and Lindsay.

''Where is she?'' John demanded

''I don't know.'' Lindsay replied

John ran upstairs and double checked all the rooms, hoping Poppy was actually there and this was a bad, bad nightmare.

''Lindsay, do you know?'' Pleaded Mrs James

''No mum.'' Lindsay replied ''£50 of mine has been stolen.''

John was absolutely frantic ''Where on earth could she be?''

''Trudi, Lauren and Finn have gone looking for her, Josh phoned the school and his dad and he's told the police. Oh and Mr Clarkson's ringing you later. Something to do with Hannah.''

''Oh that's great.'' John sighed ''First Poppy's gone missing and now Hannah.''

A few minutes later, the police came round to get some information about Poppy. John was breaking down with stress, nerves and anger. Poppy was a very, shy and sensitive girl and he loved her. It was annoying John as he felt the police weren't taking it seriously.

''She'll be alright.'' Lindsay comforted
''Maybe you and...Josh isn't it?'' Began Mrs James ''Should get to school for afternoon lessons.''

''Come on.'' Josh tried to persuade Lindsay ''My dad says he, Miss Boston and Wilding are out looking and then there's the police.''

Nikki, Lauren, Finn and Trudi were only a minute away from Poppy in different directions, who was getting severely hurt by Coopers Park.

''Can you hear that?'' Finn asked

''Hear what?'' Lauren wondered

Lauren, Finn and Trudi fell quiet and in a distance they could hear some faint chants, so the 3 of them didn't hesitate and ran towards the noise. The closer they got to the cold and dark alleyway, the more louder the voices became.

''Oi!'' Finn yelled down the alleyway

All the kids who had beaten Poppy up froze and ran and Finn chased after them whilst Lauren and Trudi went to Poppy's aid.

''I'll go and try ring someone and an ambulance.'' Trudi told Lauren

Poppy was covered in blood and in a lot of pain. She was slipping in and out of consciousand badly hurt. Lauren took off her coat and wrapped it round Poppy to keep her warm.

''Are you OK sweetheart?'' Lauren asked

''My...my...hurts to...bre...breathe...and...and...'' Poppy stammered

Finn came back to Lauren and was on the phone to Mr Clarkson.

''We're by that run down alley way near Holloway Road.'' Finn began ''Yeah, Trudi's called an ambulance...in the hospital...OK...bye sir.''

Trudi arrived with Miss Boston and they were both startled and panicked, hoping Poppy would be OK. Distinct sounds of sirens were in the background.

''Poppy.'' Miss Boston began, crouching down ''Can you here me?''

Poppy jerked her head. She was so confused and couldn't remember anything it was all so back. She felt heavy and tired and could feel herself drifting out of consciousness. From the cold, stone ground she was lying on, everything was a blur as she slipped into blackness...