Rachel awoke the next day from what was one of the best night sleep she had ever had, it was like a huge weight had been lifted of her shoulders
She rose and then went to Alicia's room and gently tapped on the door 'sweetheart it's time to get up now' Rachel heard no noise so opened the door 'shit 'she muttered. The room was empty, her daughter had gone.
'Adam, Adam! Wake up'
Adam stirred at the sound of his wife's worried voice'
'Alicia's gone, oh my god come on we need o look for her' small tears were starting to form in her eyes 'oh Adam I don't even know here to start looking for her, I don't know where she'd go, how are we going to make this work?'
Adam got up and calmed his wife down, they both got their work stuff ready and a spare school uniform, and then set off to find the girl, they decided Adam would be better to drive as Rachel was far to anxious
After 20 minute of searching they got into the centre of Rochdale, there they set eyes on a hooded figure sleeping rough with no cover
Rachel gasped 'Adam I think that's her' she ran over and knelt by her daughter 'Alicia lovely, it's me your mum, what are you doing out here sweetie, you must be freezing' she quickly took her coat off and wrapped it round her daughters frail body. Not listening to her daughter's protests she walked her to the car 'Adam can you drop Alicia and I at home and tell the school we'll both be there for afternoon lessons.
Adam dropped them both at home, Rachel grabbed Alicia's wrist. As a mother to protect her child making sure she wouldn't run off again, and as a headmistress to assert her authority. 'Come on, I'll run you a hot bath, and then we need to set some ground rules'
Once The bath had run, Rachel left Alicia too it.
Alicia undressed and got in, the warm water was so hot it felt cold against her skin. The bubbles had buried her bruised skin, and made her muscles relax, she could hardly believe it, but for once in a long time she felt at ease - even if it is for a short time.
The comfort of the water, made Alicia wake up and she began to think about the current situation.
It must have taken a lot for her mum to have apologised to her, but in Alicia's mind, words couldn't heal the pain her mother had caused her. She wanted to understand why she had been left with strangers for the whole of her childhood. Resentment began to build up in Alicia, and her anger was rising
'Alicia, after you've finished can you come down to the kitchen please' Rachel called up
To annoy her mum, Alicia decided to stay in the bath for longer, the water was beginning to cool, when Rachel barged in
'GET OUT' screamed Alicia at her mum, she jumped out the bath and quickly wrapped a towel round her soaking body.
The bruises didn't go unnoticed to Rachel 'Alicia it's only me...'
Alicia cut in 'yes it's you, you're as good as a stranger to me, you lost your right to see me like this a long time ago!' The words spat at her mother
Rachel sighed and softly ordered 'kitchen now'
Once her mum had left her she went to her room, there on we bed was a new uniform for Alicia to where. She immediately felt bad, she quickly got changed and went to the kitchen, she stood by the door, fidgeting with her jumper sleeves, unlike her mother she found it very hard to apologise when she knew she was in the wrong
'Im uhh really sorry for shouting at you mum, if you don't want me here I understand'
'Alic come sit down, and of course I want you here, look I've made us some toast' Rachel pointed to the food
With a half hearted smile, Alicia went to sit down
'Right young lady I meant what I said last night, I'm going to start being a proper mother to you, I know I can't even begin to imagine the hatred you feel towards me, but you are my daughter and I am your mum'
No shit Sherlock Alicia thought of course I hate you. However she didn't cut in, and kept looking at her breakfast, avoiding all eye contact with her mother
'Now your behaviour these past few days has been totally unacceptably an it will not be tolerated in this house or at school, therefore you're grounded for two weeks'
'My behaviours been bad? How come I'm getting into trouble when you got off scot free for ignoring me since Ivan remember? This isn't fair' Alicia slumped back in her chair, her eyes glazed with rage
'Alicia I can't turn back time, however much I wish i could, at the moment I'm punishing myself, I know I don't deserve a second chance but I want this more than anything, therefore I am grounding you for your own safety -I don't want you to get hurt - not just after I've got you back'
'Right we have 4 hours till we need to be back at Waterloo road, so we're going to go and collect your belongings from where you've been staying'
'No, no mum we can't, please forget about my stuff, I don't need it, please let's not go there, please' Alicia begged
'Alicia, what's wrong? Tell me lovely girl'
'Let me go mum, I can do it by myself please'
Although concerned, Rachel agreed.
Twenty minutes later, Alicia set of to get her belongings, unknown to her Rachel was behind her following, hidden in sight. Alicia had started to walk into a more dangerous part of Rochdale, even though she knew she was wrong Rachel hoped her daughter had taken the wrong turn
Alicia turned into a small run down house, she hesitated but then walked in, suddenly a man came out and grabbed Alicia's hair and dragged her inside
Rachel didn't need to think twice she ran to the house and what was inside made her want to throw up, how could she have turned away her daughter, and how was she so desperate that she ended up here...
... Cliffhanger mwahhaha review pls an thanks for all the ones I've had :)