AN: Apologies for the delay in updating I've been on Holiday. Back now and fully intend to update often.

let me know what you think.

Enjoy.

Chapter 4

Elle was wandering down the hallways for a while now with Kim, she had been given the grand tour of a building she was sure she was not going to be in for more than a few weeks at most. That's how it always went for her. She had fully switched off after being informed about the third classroom and what teacher was in there. One thing she had picked up on was just how busy this school was. The corridors were wide and the classrooms suited for a full class. Something Elle was unsure she was ready for. She much preferred the quiet, her own space. It was easier that way.

Kim stopped at a classroom and turned to capture Elles attention for the first time since they left the office.

'So Elle, this is your form, this is Mr Clarkson, the head of English. Are you ready to go in?' She asked but Elle just looked down at her feet, her stomach twisting as she geared herself up to be the new girl yet again. She remained silent, and fixed on a fleck of dirt on the edge of her trainers, her eyes burning as she forced herself to keep her mouth shut.

'Ok, let's try going in' Kim sighed, she was already growing tired of this refusal to speak. She pushed the door open and smiled softly at Tom Clarkson. She glanced around the class and spotted many familiar faces before landing her gaze back to Toms.

'Mr Clarkson, we have a new pupil starting today, she is going to be In your form. This is Eleanor Madden.' Kim smiled and gently ushered Elle into the classroom.

Elle took a few steps and cautiously looked up and into the class. Her hands pulled at the sides of her jeans as she drank in the many faces staring back at her. Her breathing deepened slightly as she turned to look at the male teacher before her.

'Morning Eleanor, Welcome, this is my form known as Y8C. That's Year 8, C for Clarkson' he explained as her eyes pierced into him. Silence following.

'So Mr Clarkson I am going to leave Elle in your capable hands, she has science first with Mr Mead, could you get one of the kids to show her where to go?' She requested and he nodded.

'Of Course, thank you Miss Campbell.'

Kim left and smiled awkwardly at Tom as she exited the classroom. Tom sighed and looked around the room, spotting a spare seat next to Sambuca Kelly.

'Elle, would you like to get that seat over there next to Sam?' He pointed out and Sam waved at her with a gentle smile on her face. Elle did as she was asked, determined to keep her head down after all she had been warned several times that this was her last chance. Her feet carried her slowly toward the spare seat, she dipped her head and slunk down in the seat next to Sam. The young blonde girl looked at her softly and leant in closer.

'Don't worry, it were my first day just before the summer holidays. It's alright here' she spoke, her thick accent engulfing Elle. Elle kept her head dipped and focused her eyes down onto the floor, finding that speck of dirt on her shoe once again.

'Urh, who does she think she is ignoring you like that?' Amy Porter popped up from behind.

'Oh Shush will you Amy, she's probably dead nervous' Sam bit back.

'Oi, What was your name again?' Amy asked, shoving her shoulder as she tried to get her attention. Elle didn't respond. She bit down hard, her teeth slamming into one another. Her breath was deep as the anger started to stir inside her. 'You're well rude' Amy spat.

'Leave it out, you rat' Sam hissed. Amy stood up, shoving the table as she did, pushing it into Elles back.

'Oi! Sit down Amy.' Tom called across the room firmly.

'She called me a rat!' She shrieked pointing at Sam.

'Sambuca?' His eyes widened as he glanced down at his step-daughter.

'Well yeah I did but she just shoved the new girl and pushed a table into her back' Sam argued in defence.

'Err, no I never. She's lying. Ask the new girl yourself.' Amy bit back

'Elle?' Tom questioned. Elle looked up at the sound of her name, if this had been in another school, another time or place Amy wouldn't even be standing right now. She exhaled through her nostril and looked at Sam, then to Amy. She didn't want to break the barrier and speak, she didn't want to open up and let people close to her. She twisted back in her seat and shrugged, her head instantly dipping back down. Trying to shut the world around her out.

'Right girls this needs to stop now, you were told at the end of last term no more girl gang stuff. If I hear anymore from you two I'll be taking it straight to Ms Mason' Tom warned, a little perplexed by the silent girl in his room.

'Thanks for that' Sam hissed as she sat down, turning away from Elle. The bell had rang through the classroom seconds later, the shrill making Elle jump and quickly glance around. Her heart thumped against her chest as she stood from her seat.

'Right can one of you show Elle the way to Mr Mead's classroom please?' Tom called out, but before anyone could volunteer Elle had let her legs carry her out of the classroom as fast as they could, she quickly walked down the corridor ignoring all the calls of her name and stares from pupils as she marched forward, not sure where she was going but needing to just walk.

'Sam, can you go and let Ms Mason or Mr Lawson know about our new girl please?' Tom huffed, he had no time for even more disruptive pupils. Sam sighed and rolled her eyes turning on the spot to head towards the head's office.

Elle kept waking and walking, all the corridors looking the same, her mind racing as it felt like it was trapped inside a maze. Her eyes darted around aimlessly looking for a form of escape as she held her breath tight. She pushed through the burning sensation buried within her and reached a door, pushing it open with a shove she stumbled outside, walking further away from the building towards a bench by a garden in the distance. Her vision blurred as she continued to hold her breath. Her hands shook as she grabbed the back of the bench, her legs unable to walk around and let her sit down. She lent into it, exhaling as hard as she could. Her breath unsteady and her eyes squeezed shut. The wood beneath her nails provided a sturdy base for her to grip onto as she began to rock back and forth.

'Ms Mason, Mr Clarkson sent me,' Sam announced as she walked into the head office. Rachel glanced up from her paperwork looking at the young girl. 'It's that new girl, she was acting dead weird and then just bolted from form. He told me to tell you or Mr Lawson but I couldn't find him' She explained with a shrug.

'Ok, Thank you Sam. Do you know where she ran off to?' She asked with concern.

'Who's ran off?" Eddie asked as he walked into Rachel's office, glancing between her and Sam, confusion covering his face.

'That new girl, she was dead weird sir.' Sam curled her lip as she looked at her deputy.

'Weird how Sam?' Rachel questioned

'Well she was just real silent, l tried to say I was new not long ago but she wouldn't speak, like she was scared or something. Then Amy flipping Porter started on her.' Sam moaned.

'Woah hold on what did Amy do?' Eddie raised an eyebrow, if there was one pupil he had not taken a liking to it was Amy.

'Well she shoved her in the shoulder for not answering, then I called her a rat cos we was arguing and she shoved the table into us, me and the new girl. She didn't speak when Tom, sorry Mr Clarkson asked what happened. Then when the bell went it were like it spooked her, she proper bolted.' Sam told them.

'Ok, ok thanks Sam, where did you say she went to?' Rachel asked, now standing and walking towards her office door.

'Don't know miss, she just went straight down the corridor from Tom's class.' She shrugged. Rachel smiled and nodded. She placed a gentle arm on Sam's shoulder and giggled at her little slip up.

'Try and remember it's Mr Clarkson in school, yeah?"

'Yeah Miss, sorry it's mega hard after saying his name all summer' Sam laughed. 'I'll be going to science now, can you call Mr Mead and tell him why I'm late?' She asked and Eddie nodded.

'I'll do it, Ms Mason you go and find our new girl' He smiled, picking up the phone on her desk and browsing the list of classroom phone numbers as both Rachel and Sam left the office.

Sam had left Rachel and headed straight to her lesson. Rachel was walking swiftly down the corridors, glancing in each classroom and toilet cubicles trying to find Elle. Her stomach twisted as she filled with worry, hoping she had not left the school grounds. Rachel rounded the corner and in the distance noticed one of the back entrance doors was ajar, she inhaled and quickened her pace as she had a feeling a certain someone had opened it. Her heels clicked with every step she took, her eyes still gazing around just to double check she was not inside. Once she reached the door she pushed it open slowly, sighing with relief as the young girl stood before her, hovering over the bench in the quiet garden.

Rachel watched her for a few seconds, Elle's body shaking as she rocked back and forth viciously. Her laboured breathing echoing through the summer air. Rachel held a sad smile as she walked over to the distressed girl.

'Elle, it's Ms Mason' she announced clearly not wanting to startle her. She walked around the front of the bench, taking a seat just beneath Elles grip. She tilted her head to the right and looked up at her, her eyes squeezed so tight her face was all scrunched up, her knuckles white just like they'd turned in her office earlier that day. Rachel slowly raised her hand, and very cautiously lingered above Elle's grip, pausing for a moment before pushing through her own doubt and placing a warm hand lightly on top of Elle's. She could feel her tremble beneath her and to her surprise Elle didn't push her away. She just kept her hand on hers, this time adding a little more pressure to her grip.

'Elle, I need you to look at me sweetheart' Rachel spoke but she was met with another wall of silence. 'Elle' her name falling into the air as Elle continued to hyperventilate. Rachel was growing concerned with the increased pace of breathing. 'Elle you do not have to speak to me but you have to look at me. I need you to look at me so we can get you breathing properly' Rachel spoke with a little firmness, a motherly caring tone swapping in for her headmistress one. Elle's body started twisting as the uncomfortableness of her anxiety gripped her insides like a vice.

'Come on sweetheart, please look at me, we can breathe together.' Rachel whispered, rubbing her hand with her own. Elle took a few moments before peeling her eyes open, blinking at the brightness of the day as she readjusted her gaze to look at Rachel. She was greeted with a warm and comforting smile.

'Ok, now do you think you can copy me?' Rachel asked, Elle nodded slightly and watched as her headteacher counted her breaths in and out, getting deeper and holding each one for longer every time. Her hands and legs shaking beneath her, her mind screaming at her from every corner possible but she continued to fix her gaze on Rachels, following her breathing techniques until she slowly started to feel the vice around her loosen. Her chest started to ache as her body began to gently sway. She was calming down. Rachels lips curled into a soft smile as she continued to guide Elle through her panic attack.

'Do you feel able to come and sit? Sometimes panic attacks can leave us feeling a bit funny, I don't want you passing out on me' Rachel giggled as she looked at Elle. The young girl took a shaky step and slowly loosened her one hand from the bench. Her fingers tingled as she outstretched them. She never attempted to pull her hand from Rachels, instead their hands slipped into a holding position as Rachel used it to guide her around the front of the bench, letting her take a seat next to her. 'There we go, take a moment' she whispered to Elle as she relaxed into the chair, no longer needing to carry herself, the bench held her for a moment.

'I'm not going to ask what happened, I already know. Sambuca came and told me-' Rachel was cut off with the sudden movement of Elle pulling her hand away from her, she curled her arms up into her chest and leant forward, almost like she was trying to hide. 'It's ok, I'm not mad and nothing is going to come of it.' Rachel tried to reassure her, her heart hurting at the sight of this frightened young girl. Elle's leg began to bounce on the spot and she looked in the opposite direction, away from Rachel as she spoke.

'Ok, how about we just sit. We don't talk and we sit here for the last twenty minutes of your lesson and then I'll take you to your second lesson?' Rachel asked. She watched Elle's leg slow down in movement, she took this as a positive motion and decided that was her way of saying yes.

Rachel looked over the young girl, once again her clothes being the first thing noticeable to the naked eye. How they were way too big for her, her hair looking a little dirtier up close, but her skin was golden, glowing in the sun. How could two things exist for one person? Her mind plagued her as she tried to figure out why all of the reports for this girl were awful, why she was painted as being someone who fights, argues and smashes things up when she was sitting here shaking tremendously, a scared little girl sat before. How could two things exist for one person? A question that was repeating in her mind. The silence swam around them, the awkwardness filling the air as Rachel had so many questions. She was used to teenagers screaming at her, arguing their point of view. What was she to do with one who had clearly shut down and was fully withdrawn from everyone?