(Poppy's POV)
I barely made it into my room before I fell to the floor as sobs racked from my body, all I needed now was for Rachel to say she didn't want me and then I was totally screwed. There were so many tears I couldn't contain and they all wanted out at the same time. So fast I couldn't breathe and each breathe came out as a gasp, my body had gotten itself into a rhythm and I couldn't stop it. I cried into the carpet until I became lightheaded.
"Rachel!" I yelled the best I could but between the sobs and gasps I wasn't really sure what that came out as in the end
She heard something and came up the stairs to me. I'd managed to sit up but not to move.
"I-I...I c-can't...b-b-...I ca-" I all came out jumbled most of it inaudiable because of my sobbing
She sat down in front of me.
"It's okay...It's okay. Just look at me. Look at me. Just breathe...Come on with me? In...Out...In...Out..."
I managed to calm myself down a bit on her instruction and my breathing slowed a little.
"Good girl!...In...Out..." She instructed again
She carried on until my breathing was back to normal and I was containing the sobs a tiny bit better...
"Have you had any sleep?" She asked
I shook my head softly.
"Everything always seems so much worse when you're tired sweetheart, so you're going to go to sleep okay? And I'm going to stay right here with you, then when you wake up we're all going to sit down and we're going to talk about this calmly...Alright darling?"
When she put it like that it really didn't seem like such a bad idea at all...I needed to escape all this even if it was just for a few hours. Rachel made me lay down in bed and she sat beside me smoothing my hair against my head softly...
"I've got nothing left Rachel..." I told her quietly
"That's not true. You have me and no matter how silly you act or how much trouble you get in that's never going to change. I promise, you're stuck with me" She promised
(Rachel's POV)
Poppy was out like a light, as soon as she relaxed and gave in to the tiredness she was asleep. I knew she'd be asleep for a good few hours because although she wouldn't admit it she was exhausted and not just physically but mentally too...Adam came up and stood in the doorway. I went over to him and he handed me a coffee.
"How's she doing?" He asked
"She's a lot calmer, I think she's over tired and upset. She's just been told everything she knew was a lie...Its understandable"
"I know she thinks I'm some bad guy that abandoned her, but I didn't know she existed..." Adam sighed
"She'll come round...She warmed up to you a lot faster than she did to me, she really enjoyed putting me through my paces" I chuckled at the memory "No, she's not a bad kid, she's just had a rough time"
"I know. Now I know she's my daughter, I'm going to do the right thing and be there for her. I just have to figure out how?" Adam said
"Well with Poppy, persistance is definitely the best way to go, she lived alone with Em a year working all night, going to school all day...They moved schools everytime people started asking questions. She's a really strong kid but she has her moments where she just snaps and she expects you to run away, so you have to do the oposite..." I told him
I went for a shower and got dressed when I came back, Poppy was awake and dressed looking loads better and Adam had gone downstairs. I went into Poppy's room, she was sat on her bed in her leggings and a baggy grey jumper, her blonde hair lay in waves. I went in...
"Hey"
"Hi" She replied
"You alright?" I asked
"Yeah. Let's just get this over with..." She sighed
"Okay..." I smiled softly
She suddenly wrapped her arms around me and held herself to my chest for a moment before pulling away.
"Sorry. I just needed to..." She didn't finish that sentence.
I pulled her close again.
"Don't be silly, you can have a hug anytime" I told her
(Poppy's POV)
I went downstairs with Rachel, into the living room where Adam was, things seemed more awkward now and I found myself feeling really uncomfortable. I sat down on one of the sofas and Adam and Rachel sat beside me, sandwiching me in the middle. I just fidgeted, my hands resting on my legs...I tried to focus on that.
"Poppy why don't you tell Adam how you feel about all this?" Rachel asked
"Don't"
"Don't what?"
"You sound like Lara!" I snapped
"Who's Lara?" Adam asked
"My psychiatrist. Yep, I'm crazy so you better get running!...Again" It came out a bit more bitchier than I intended
"Poppy! You're not crazy" Rachel said
"Listen Poppy I didn't run away from you...I didn't know you existed otherwise when I found out about your mum I'd have found you..." Adam tried to explain
"Oh well, excuse me for being so rude! You didn't know I existed so that makes it all fine! Now you want to come in and start playing dad! So not only was I a mistake! I'm invisible! Fantastic!" I yelled
"Poppy that's not what I meant, I'm trying okay? Just hear me out..."
I didn't answer him and listened for him to continue.
"I didn't know you existed but now I do, I want to be a part of your life. I might have not been there to bring you up, see you walk, talk, first day at school...But I want to see the girl you've become" Adam said
"Well that was very touching, but if you're expecting me to burst into tears and fall into your arms you have a whole other thing coming...But I guess you're not that bad"