Without Direction

Chapter 2

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.