CONTENT RATING CHANGED TO MATURE

Poppy sat, the wind embracing her as she nestled further into her scarf. It shouldn't have been cold, it was June but that wouldn't have been believable with the alternating of the wind and rain that kept appearing. She had been sat on her knees since early that morning, she couldn't be sure how long she had been there and she should be leaving shortly but she didn't want to leave her Mum.

Since Charlotte Mead's death, she hadn't really grieved. She had shed a few tears and got upset when she was spoken about but she hadn't properly healed yet.

"I'm sorry mum." Poppy cried as she held the pills tight in one palm and her necklace in the other.

Poppy had gone to reach into the packet but upon doing so she noticed that she had ran out. She needed more, just to calm her enough for the day ahead. She had been waiting for Kyle to get her some more, he said it would be last week and she was still waiting.

Shaking her head, Poppy finally decided to reach for her phone. Upon turning it back on she was bombarded with messages and missed calls.

Dad

9 missed call(s)

16 new message(s)

Lauren

4 missed call(s)

4 new message(s)

Finn

2 missed call(s)

3 new message(s)

Kyle

1 new message

"Shit." She muttered. Jumping up, Poppy shoved the bottle into her bag and brushed herself off before running towards Waterloo Road.

Finn nudged Lauren as they continued waiting until they could file into the exam hall. Their exam would begin in 15 minutes and if Poppy wasn't here in the next 5 then she would not be allowed to sit it.

The sound of running footsteps caught the year's attention. It was Poppy.

"Finally." Lauren sighed in relief and visibly relaxed, leaning back onto the wall next to Finn and Josh.

"Where d'ya think she's been?" Josh asked the pair.

"Probably getting off with someone around the back yard. You never know what these good girls do to relax." Kyle said, sending a smirk towards Finn.

It was common knowledge that bad mouthing Poppy in front of Finn was not in anyone's best interest. He had been trying to convince the girl to date him for years and had only ever got close twice. Kyle was clearly trying to antagonise Finn Sharkey, for what reason? No one could be sure but he had fun doing so.

"You wanna watch your mouth." Finn warned, not impressed with what Kyle Stack was insinuating about Poppy.

"Quiet, please." Tom Clarkson insisted, sending a warning glare towards the two lads. "You two, behave."

Poppy continued running until she reached the outside of the hall. Dumping her bag, she quickly rushed to find her pencil case and line up beside Finn, Josh and Lauren but was quickly stopped by a rough hand pulling her back.

"Where the hell have you been?" Chris demanded, a mixture of anger and relief in his voice.

"Nowhere" Poppy shrugged his hand off, suddenly finding the floor a lot more interesting as she fiddled with the pencil case in her hand.

Chris had been ready to lay the law down but Poppy quickly dismissed that. "Pops"

"Look Dad, can you give me the row later. Just wanna get this don' to be honest." She practically pleaded.

"Poppy. Nice to see you've made it. Are you ready?" Mr Byrne asked as he approached the father and daughter.

Poppy nodded. "Yes sir."

"Very good." Michael nodded. "You're exam is about to start, check the seating plan and head on in with the others please."

The Mead did as she was told and followed the rest of her year into the hall.

Chris didn't know what to do. He was supposed to be teaching right now but he was still concerned about Poppy.

"Chris?" Tom snapped Chris out of his thoughts. "She's here. No need to worry anymore." He said, patting his close friend on the back before he headed off towards his own department as the exam got under way.

The hour and 45 minutes passed quickly and the next thing they knew the year 12's were being asked to put down their pens.

"Okay. That's your exam done. Put down your pens and we'll be around to collect the papers." Sian Diamond's voice filled the silence as she stood at the front of the hall.

There were a few sighs of relief as time was called.

Satisfied that everyone had stopped the exam, Sian turned to the invigilators motioning for them to dismiss the year orderly.

"Quiet please." Sian reminded as they continued to file out of the room.

The four friends were quick to convene outside of the hall. However, whilst everyone around them talked about their exam and how it went, Finn, Josh and Lauren were quick to bombard Poppy with questions.

"What happened? Where were you?" Lauren Andrews hissed. "Your Dad was worried, he called an' everything."

Poppy seemed sheepish and didn't want to enlighten the group on her whereabouts. "I just lost track of time." She shrugged, picking up her bag from the pile outside the exam hall. "Look I've got somewhere to be, I'll see you tomorrow." She said, wandering off towards the double doors.

"Oi, Mead." Finn called across the noise. But she was gone.

"Well she wanted to get off quick." Josh quipped picking his own bag up and getting ready to leave for himself.

"Yeah but where." Finn added, with a sigh.

Poppy had been waiting for the past twenty minutes. He had text her an hour ago saying he'd be here, yet, she was still waiting.

"Come on Kyle." She muttered to herself, looking around warily. It wasn't the best part of Rochdale to find herself but she didn't care at this point, she wanted what she came here for.

The Mead felt her phone vibrating in her pocket, it still having been on silent after the exam, she reached for it hoping that it would be Kyle. It wasn't, it was her dad.

Dad

You still in school hun? If so, just finishing up, I'll be out front in 5. X

Poppy scowled a little and quickly responded.

Walked back with Finn, I'll see you in a bit xx

Depositing her phone back into her pocket she felt an arm wrap around her body, she had been ready to scream until she spun around to the face of Kyle Stack, a dirty grin plastered on it.

"Did I scare you Poppet?" He smirked, leaning against the wall, gum in his mouth.

"Don't call me Poppet." She warned as she felt her skin crawl at the name he used for her. "Did you get what I asked for?" She whispered.

"What these?" He smiles, holding the packet in full view. When Poppy went to grab them from him, he pulled his hand away. "Scared of someone finding out? Surprised your stunt this morning hasn't set off the flares."

"Kyle." She hissed.

Kyle eventually put the packet back in his pocket. "You got what you owe me then?"

"Told you I'd have it by the end of the week." Poppy offered.

Kyle seemed to snap, his body flying into Poppy's knocking her hard against the wall causing her to help in pain. "You said today" He reminded. When Poppy didn't reply, Kyle took matters into his own hands as his eyes began to roam her body. "There are other ways, I suppose." He smirked, his hand now finding the hem of her school skirt as it began to reach up further and further up the sort of fitted skirt.

"Off." Poppy warned, hoping she sounded strong and that her voice didn't quiver. "Kyle, stop." She added again. His hand didn't reach any further only roamed the same place. "Look. Take this." She said, motioning the sapphire that hung from her neck, quietening a little, she added. "It was mums."

"Worth much?" Kyle asked, ripping the necklace from her and stepped away from her, finally allowing her to take a breath.

The Mead didn't trust her voice, so instead she nodded.

Kyle shrugged. "If it's not. I'll know where to find you." He hissed, shoving the packet into her chest, making her crash into the wall behind before stalking away.

It didn't take long for Poppy to reach into the packet and swallow two.