I Like Me Better When I'm With You | Ackley Bridge

36|'Haylee's Secret'

I stand up, wrapping my arms tightly around her shoulders as she wraps hers around my waist, sobbing into my chest. "I'm sorry, Belly."

I take a few deep breaths to compose myself before guiding her over to her bed, rewrapping my arms around her as she falls into my side. "I'm so sorry, I missed this and I couldn't be there for ya."

"I'm so sorry, Belly." She sobs louder. "I just wanna be okay. I want to be normal again."

"I'm so sorry, my beautiful princess." I gently grip her face in my hands, forcing her to look at me. "You give it to me, okay? Give all that pain to me, I can take it. Come 'ere."

She tightens her grip on me and curls up in my lap, "I'm here, okay? I'll always be here, love."

"I'm sorry, Belly."

"You have nowt to be sorry for." I shake my head. "I'll talk to mom, and we'll sort summet out, okay?"

"Belly, I-"

I cut her off, "No, no, you don't have to hurt anymore. Leave it with me."

♡♥︎♡

After a few hours of talking and comforting, Haylee finally managed to fall asleep in my arms, and the only reason I left her was to talk to mom when I heard she's home.

"Mom? That you?" I question, rushing downstairs.

"Hiya, Izzy, love." She smiles, but there's something off that I can't put my finger on.

Choosing to ignore my suspicion, I cut to the chase, "Mom, I need to tell ya summet."

"What's wrong, love?" She asks, opening a packet of crisps and sitting on the sofa.

"It's our Haylee, she hurts herself." I reveal tears returning to my eyes. "Our little princess takes a razor and cuts herself."

Mom sits back in the chair, letting out a small sigh of relief, and turns the tely on, earning a confused look from me.

"What you doing?" I ask. "We've gotta do summet! We've gotta help her, get her into therapy or summet. Make an appointment with the counsellor at school."

"Listen, Izzy, I know." She says as I stand in the way of the tely. "I know."

"You know? What d'you mean, you know?"

"She came to me a little while ago and asked me what to do about it." My jaw falls slack at her confession. "I told her to keep it on the DL and that she shouldn't go round saying things like that."

"You knew?" I ask in disgust.

"Don't look at me like that, love." She rolls her eyes at me.

"You knew that that girl up there was in pain, and you told her to zip it?" I ask her exasperated.

"Izzy -"

"Ar-are you shitting me?!" I raise my voice as the back door opens, and in walks a confused Missy and Naz.

"What's going on?" Missy asks.

"Nothing, love. Just-"

I cut her off, "Don't talk to her! Don't even look at her!"

"Izzy, don't be like that." Mom shakes her head.

I turn towards Missy and Naz and try to compose myself, "Naz, take Missy next door, please. I'll drop her overnight bag off in a bit."

"Belly, what's going on?" Missy asks, taking a step closer to me. "Have you been crying?"

"Go, Missy!" I snap, and she takes a step back in alarm. "Please..?"

She nods, and the two of them walk out, presumably going next door.

"I want you gone." I say coldly, not looking at mom. "Pack your stuff, and get out."

"Izzy..."

"Don't." I stop her. "You don't have any rights to this house or this family. I can't deal with you right now."

"Izzy, you can't just kick me out again." She says.

"Can't I?" I ask rhetorically. "Haylee could've died! She could've got an infection and died, and that would've been on you. Cos you couldn't be asked to pay her any attention."

"You need me."

"We've never needed ya! You were never there for us!" I shout. "Where were you, mom?! Haylee needed ya, and you did nowt!"

"Now get out, I don't wanna look at ya!" I demand. "Get out!"

"Izzy..."

"GO!" I scream, and I watch as she stumbles out the house.

I follow her out into the street, "You're not welcome here, you disgust me."

I notice people coming out of their houses to see what's going on, but I don't care. My vision is clouded by the hatred coursing through my veins.

"Goodbye, mom." My voice comes out as a whisper as I see Mrs Paracha take her away.

"Izzy, what's happened?" Missy's voice brings me back to reality.

"M, it's our Haylee. She needs help." I tell her, and she the confusing grows in her eyes along with worry.

"She needed us, and we didn't notice. But we're gonna be there for her now..."

**A/N**

This chapter was heavy, and I'm sorry if it's triggering to anyone.

All credits go to Ginny & Georgia, who I got the idea from.

xx