Chapter 6

It was quite a nice day on the square, the May weather choosing to be bright and sunny rather than raining. Most of the residents had gathered in the gardens for a celebration, it was the Vic's birthday. The good old boozer that kept the residents fuelled had been open 25 years. So in Walford fashion, they were having a street party.

Local businesses had all chipped in and donated certain things and everyone else had helped out with the decorations. "Are you going to sit there all day Lucy or are you actually going to help?"

Lucy looked up at her Dad and did a quick scan to see who she could use as her excuse. "I'm going to see Lauren… Bye" she quickly ran though the gardens escaping her Dad in record time as she reached number 5.

She climbed the steps and knocked several times on the door getting no answer. She tried again knowing full well there was someone home she'd just seen them go in. After a few more attempts and still having no luck she took a couple of steps back and looked up to Laurens bedroom window.

A small twitch in the curtain caught her attention "Lauren!" she shouted trying to draw attention to her.

"You alright Luce?" she turned to see Whitney on the path with Tiffany and Morgan.

"Hiya…ye I'm good. Have you heard from Lauren recently?"

"not for a while why?"

"I haven't either and I've just knocked on the door and no one's answering, but I saw them go in about two minutes ago. I think Laurens in her room too"

Whitney frowned entirely confused about what was going on. "give me two minutes" she disappeared into the crowds and reappeared with Fatboy and Poppy in exchange for Morgan and Tiffany .

"So do you think she's ignoring us ?" Poppy questioned

Whitney shook her head "no Lauren wouldn't do that… something's going on. Try again Lucy"

Lucy went back up the steps and knocked again, surprisingly the door opened. Tanya standing behind it. "What do you want Lucy?"

"oh hi, we were just wondering if Lauren was in ? We're all going to the party and wondered if she wanted to come with us?" she smiled politely and was joined by Whitney.

"no one's seen her for ages…she's quit school too, we were told the other day she wasn't coming back"

"Yes well she changed her mind about that… and she won't be going out with you. She's not feeling well" Tanya shot closing the door on them before they could respond.

Whitney and Lucy took a step back to avoid being hit in the face with the door. Tanya leaned against it on the other side her forehead against the wood as she took a breath to calm herself.

"you shouldn't lie Tanya"

"you know nothing Mum, my house my rules… if you don't like it you know what you can do" she locked the front door, taking her keys with her as she went upstairs. She knocked on Laurens bedroom door waiting for a response- she didn't get one, not that she was expecting an answer anyway. Opening the door Tanya saw her daughter glaring through the window, she was slightly hidden by the curtain but Tanya still wasn't impressed.

"come away from the window Lauren."

"what did they want ?" She asked, watching as her friends made their way into the square.

"Nothing important. I told them you were ill"

"I'm not ill" she whispered "not anymore"

"You are Lauren, you're not thinking straight the sooner you realise that the better" Tanya gathered the empty plate from her daughters room and left again "Call if you need anything I'm down stairs" she shut the door again.

"Mum please …" Lauren sobbed sinking into her bed "please..."

so Laurens made her début and something's going on with her that Tanya's trying to stop her friends finding out, but what is it ? Back tomorrow xx