Chris had got up first that morning, he had to head in for a meeting with Mr Byrne, but at this rate there was no chance he'd get to school on time, especially with his daughter still in bed. "Poppy, it's 10 past 8."
He had been clearing the living room when he heard his daughter stroll down the stairs. He heard a slight mumble but couldn't really make it out.
"This is going to be a long day." Chris muttered as he heard the front door slam, Poppy's way of signalling she was ready to leave.
Since Poppy's mishap at the party Chris had been making sure that she came home and went to school with him on most days, at first he considered himself being possessive but when Poppy had been talk of the classroom for getting into a fight with Amy Porter, Chris was certain there was something more to the story.
Shaking his head he picked up his bag and left the house locking the door behind him. "What do you think you're doing?" Chris questioned his daughter who was stood on the passenger side of her father's silver BMW M2 with a packet of 'gummy bears'.
"Breakfast, dad" He couldn't help but smirk slightly at the subtle challenge in his daughter's voice.
"You kn- just get in." He shook his head, rounding the car before jumping in and making their way to school.
Pulling into the staff car park a huge smile beamed from Poppy's face as she caught sight of Finn and Josh walking over to the car. Poppy sprung from the car, having to wait for her Dad to unlock the boot she remained leaning against the BMW earning herself a few whistles as she did.
Poppy was considered a princess at Waterloo Road. From the day she started she caught attention in every direction, although not all of it had been good. So she had been bound to catch attention.
Reaching into his boot he picked up his daughter's bag, handing it to her. "Here you go." Once she accepted the bag he started to speak up again. "You're stopping by at Lunch still for the exam revision?" He checked.
"Yes, Dad." Poppy nodded.
"Morning Mr Mead" Year 11 girls sing songed as they walked past the young and apparently good looking teacher.
"Morning girls" Hearing the faux gagging sounds from his daughter who stood at his side he turned to her "What?"
Poppy shook her head, not answering her father.
"Hey Poppy!" Josh called to his best friend. Finn followed closely behind. Lauren had been waiting at the doors ready.
They were interrupted by the headteacher, Mr Byrne who had just that moment left his car. "Morning Chris. Poppy. Boys"
"Morning sir." Poppy smiled. The new headteacher had only been there for a few weeks but Poppy took an instant liking to him.
"Sir." The boys nodded.
"Okay, see you later." Chris called as he slammed the boot door shut but Poppy had already left. Shaking his head he shut the boot and began making his way to the school.
"Kids eh?" Mr Byrne chuckled.
The exams were getting closer and closer and the pressure was beginning to build up. The staff had all made their lessons practically mock exams as they ran through further writing techniques and methods on how to answer possible questions that may arise on the day.
Most students were feeling mixture of stress and worry as each day their AS exams came closer but not like Poppy. Poppy was really struggling but she hadn't known what to do about it, she felt like telling her dad was out of the question especially after he had given her a 20 minute lecture on the importance of revision. What annoyed Poppy was the simple fact that she knew her work but when it came to putting the information on paper, she froze.
The bell sounded signalling it was next lesson. Looking at her timetable Poppy let out a groan.
"What's up with you?" Josh chuckled at his best friend.
"We've got Science with Diamond. I'm just not in the mood to do exam prep again today." She grumbled. As much as she enjoyed Science having information thrown at her left, right and centre as their exams came closer was far too much for her.
Letting out another chuckle, Josh flung his arm across Poppy's shoulders and they made her way towards the Science department.
"Poppy, you've at least got to make a little effort." Sian Diamond tried to coax as she eyed the work, or rather the lack of, Poppy had done.
Since starting at Waterloo Road Sian Diamond had noticed how enthusiastic Poppy had been regarding Science, although she imagined Chris being her father having a huge impact on that. However, over the past few weeks she had developed a few suspicions that the exams were taking more of a toll on Poppy than she cared to admit.
"Miss-" Poppy's tone was one of complaint. Poppy leant back in her chair, her arms crossed. She had been sat at the end of the bench beside Finn who had actually began his work.
"No, Poppy. Finish the work." Mrs Diamond said before turning to walk back towards the front of the room.
"No." She said simply. All chatter seemed to fade as they heard Poppy speak.
Sian's head snapped back towards the pupil and stalked her way back until she was in front of the desk, her heals echoing off the wooden floor as she did. "I'm sorry?" Sian hoped Poppy would take back her refusal and instead continue with the work quietly.
Finn who had sat beside her was quick to jump to Poppy's defence. "She doesn't mean it, miss. She's just messing around, you know s-"
"I. Said. No." Poppy bounced up angrily, her chair scrapping against the wood as she did.
"Sit down or I'll be sending you to the cooler. Last warning Poppy, sit down."
She scoffed. "Like I care." Abandoning her work, Poppy reached for her bag and made her way towards the cooler without being told to.
"Where do you think you're going?" Sian sighed.
"Cooler." Without another word Poppy slammed the door shut behind her and made her way towards the room at the other end of the school.
The silence was nice and since everyone else was in lessons she was happy to be excused from the chaos. It hadn't been long before she reached the cooler, it seemed empty but as soon as she looked towards the front desk she groaned loudly. Mr Clarkson.
Poppy had been tempted to walk away but Tom Clarkson soon stopped that idea when he gestured for the Mead daughter to come in. "And to what do I owe this pleasure?"
She ignored him and instead moved towards the third row, closest to the corridor, throwing her bag to the floor with a thud she sat down and rested her head against the wall clearly avoiding any conversation.
From his seat Tom could tell something was up, firstly Poppy was hardly ever in the cooler and if ever she was she would certainly bring a protest with her, secondly Tom had noticed how Poppy Mead had become less motivated.
"What lesson did you have now, Poppy?" Tom asked. Noticing Poppy's unlikelihood of replying Tom tried again. "Do I have to get Mr Byrne?" He sighed.
Poppy froze in her seat, she knew if Mr Byrne came down then it would almost certainly mean her father would follow.
She heard Mr Clarkson mutter something about staying in the cooler before he left the room, leaving Poppy in her thoughts.
Mr Clarkson had been quick to reach Mr Byrne's office, sending a few strays back to their lessons on his way. Making his way into the office he was greeted with Janine, he hadn't waited for her permission before entering the Headmaster's office.
"Michael, you got a second?"
Looking up from the pile of papers he had been going through he gestured for the English teacher to come in before looking back down. "What can I do for you, Tom?"
"I've got Poppy Mead in the cooler."
His head snapped up. "Why Poppy Mead?"
Tom shrugged. "She's not giving me much."
Michael sighed. He had been hearing some pretty more reviews on Poppy lately, mainly that her lack of motivation was beginning to take an effect on her revision. "I'll come down and speak to her."
Tidying the papers Mr Byrne stood up from his desk and followed Tom Clarkson down to the cooler. Eventually reaching the room Michael noted how Poppy didn't even look up at the sound of the door opening or closing and instead her focus remained on the desk whilst her hands toyed with the necklace she had in her hands. The necklace was white gold, the main element Greek mythological symbol with the real blue sapphire from her mum's engagement ring in the middle. It wasn't a big necklace, but Chris had thought the ring was too overpowering and instead had it made into something that Poppy could keep close to her everyday after her mother died. That had been the story that Mr Byrne had heard anyhow.
"Come on settle down." Mr Mead called from his desk as he noted down the date and the information the class would need to write down about today's lesson. The students strolled in one by one and as usual the stragglers came in behind but this time he noticed someone missing. Poppy. "Oi, Finn Sharkey? Where's Poppy?"
"In the cooler, sir." Lauren answered for her friend. "She walked out of class an everythin'. Think Clarkson's with her."
"That's Mr Clarkson to you. Sit down and pull your books out." Chris spoke up trying to continue his lesson despite his mind wandering to why his daughter was in the cooler.
"What did you tell him that for?" Finn shrieked.
"Mr Clarkson's spoken to Mrs Diamond, are you going to tell me what that was all about?" Mr Byrne asked from where he leant against the desk in front of Poppy.
"Don't know, sir." Poppy shrugged.
Michael sighed, he hoped Poppy would realise that things weren't going against her. "Is it the exams?"
Poppy hesitated for a second but she stopped. She really didn't know what it was.
"Can I go now?" Poppy asked, although Mr Byrne had been sure that the girl would do what she pleased anyway.
"Go on" Michael sighed. Something was going on with Poppy Mead and he intended to get to the bottom of it.
Poppy dashed out of the room and headed to find the one person who had what she needed.
It was Lunch time at this point so Poppy was certain she knew where to find him. Behind the school, smoking. She was exactly right.
"Kyle?" Poppy called trying to get the attention of the boy in her year. When the boy was alone her voice became a whisper. "Did you find what I needed?"
Kyle looked smug, he had indeed found exactly what Poppy Mead was after. "I got your delivery." He said in a hushed whisper just loud enough for Poppy to hear. "How many?"
"10...Make that 30" Poppy nodded almost as if she we're trying to justify her decision.
He had been confused when Poppy came up to him in and asked for the drug but it was business and he wasn't about to turn it away. But this wasn't the first time and now Kyle really wondered what was up with the science teachers daughter.
"These aren't for playing Poppy, you gotta be careful with these things." He warned.
"I'm not stupid." Poppy reached out for the brown bottle but Kyle quickly pulled his hand back unsure if Poppy had actually thought about the implications of taking the drug. Sensing that Kyle wasn't going to give in until she complied, she eventually spoke. "I promise."
What do you think is going on with POPPY?
Who will find out?
How will the find out?
Will Poppy realise this is all a mistake before it's too late?
Remember reviews mean more chapters! I'm not sure how I'm doing with this story so far!