“Hey Jasmine, guess what?!” I said down the phone to my sister, “What?” she asked excitement obvious in her voice, this was the only time I’d gotten the chance to call her since I’d been busy with coursework and revision for exams “I start my treatment next week!” I said, she basically screamed down the phone and I had to hold it away from my ear for a second “Alright calm down” I laughed, we stayed on the phone for about 20 minutes just having a catch up, I’d gotten up extra early just so I could call Jasmine and now 20 minutes later, my dad had gone into work with Christine and Dynasty was knocking on the door. I said good bye to my sister before opening the door, smiling at Dynasty and Imogen “Connor! Imogen’s here!” I shouted up the stairs, Connor came to the top in only his shirt and boxers “Er gross, get some trousers on” I shouted up to him causing Imogen and Dynasty to smirk “I overslept, I’ll walk in on my own” Connor said before disappearing from the landing, I rolled my eyes and walked out the door locking it behind me. “Doesn’t it weird you out that I live with your husband and mum in law?” I asked Imogen, she thought for a moment before replying “A little but I’m used to it now” I laughed a little as we started walking to school. “Are yous two coming to watch me in the chess tournament?” Dynasty asked as we walked alongside the railings of the school, I looked at Imogen then at Dynasty “You’re joking right?” I asked in shock “You can’t be serious. Dynasty Barry playing chess” Imogen said, Dynasty knew we didn’t mean it in a harsh way, we were just shocked that was all, she knew we’d come and watch her and support her either way. “Aw we’re dead proud of ya hun” I said and patted her on the back a little, “At last someone with the brains to take on Kevin Chalk” Imogen said, I looked over and saw Kevin walking over “I’m sorry Mr Budgen’s out cold ‘n’ all but without him coaching me, I’m sloped” Dynasty said, we all stopped when we saw Kevin “You can always drop out of this competition, if you want?” Kevin said, leaning over on the iron railings. “It’s not too late” he added. “Why? Are you scared?” Dynasty asked, looking up at him. “Believe it or not, no. So how long have you been playing chess?” “A few weeks. Long enough to beat you” with that being the last thing said, me, Imogen and Dynasty walked down the street and in through the gates. As we were walking inside the grounds, we heard a horn beep and quickly moved out the way as a car speeded into the car park, I looked carefully and realised it was Barry’s car so started running over, I was a little shocked when another man got out the driver’s seat but Dynasty was quite happy, she screamed and ran into his arms as I went round the other side as Barry opened the passenger seat. He smiled and let me sit on his lap as he wrapped his arms round my waist “Who’s he?” Imogen said, walking over to where me and Barry were sat “Steve-O. Dynasty’s boyfriend” Barry said, I looked at Imogen then at Barry “Oh the one you were talking about the other day?” I asked and Barry just nodded, kissing my neck a little “Boyfriend? She never said” Imogen said, I could tell she was confused but I knew exactly why he hadn’t been around, I didn’t even need anyone to tell me I could just tell. He’s been in prison. “Well he’s been away” Barry said “Uni?” “Her majesties pleasure” Barry said, he wrapped his arms round my waist and pulled me up with him as he walked over to Steve-O “Ah so this is the famous Kaitlin then is it? Must say mate, you’ve done well for yaself. I’m Steve-O” Dynasty’s boyfriend said and he held his hand for me to take, I smiled and shook his hand before Barry took my hand and walked me away leaving them alone. I stayed back with Barry as Dynasty and Steve-O talked in the car, the amount of times my phone vibrated in the space of about 5 minutes had been unbelievable but I ignored it every time. After staying away for about 10 minutes, Steve-O started up the car again and parked outside once Dynasty had gone into the building with Mr Clarkson, Barry took my hand and we walked out the gate to the car. Barry leant against it with his arms around me, Steve-O was quite nice, a lot nicer than I expected since he’d been in prison. “I must say, Steve-O you’re a lot nicer than some people I know that’s been in prison” I said, this comment shocked Barry quite a lot as he removed his hands and spun me round “Who do you know that’s been in prison?!” He asked, it was as if he was angry for some reason but I didn’t understand why. “Kyle for starters but you saw he’s out now and my mate Tariq from Rochdale was in prison for a few months, we did come up to Scotland with us, was in a wheelchair but he left before you came and that’s about it” I said, I saw Barry calm down a little after I told him that but then his face changed again “Speaking of Kyle, has he tried to contact you again?” He asked I just stared at him for a couple of seconds before shaking my head; Barry hadn’t been paying much attention as he’d seen Connor walk along the pavement. I wasn’t paying attention to what he was saying to my now technically step brother, I leant back against the car watching him. Once Barry had come back over with the money that he had he handed it straight to Steve-O “I thought that were for us? You said we were going into town tonight to look at rings and that?” I said, Barry had promised me that he’d start buying stuff for us to get married soon but as of now it hadn’t happened “Rings?” Steve-O asked, Barry looked at me then took my hand and showed it to Steve-O “Ya engaged? Why didn’t ya say nothing mate? Congrats mate” Steve-O said, I saw Barry smile at the approval of it before he saw another boy who he needed money off “I’ll catch ya later mate” Barry said to Steve-O before running off after Logan “See ya” I said to him, he smiled and waved before doing up the window and driving off. I sighed and shook my head as I walked through the gates and up to the school letting Barry do whatever he was doing. I walked into the school and smiled when I saw Jack; he ran over and hugged me, picking me up. He hadn’t been at school all week with being ill so now was the time he’d seen me since I told him about the treatment. “I’m gonna be there for you, okay? No matter what happens, I’ll be there” He said and put me down, I nodded and hugged him tight again. “OI McAllister!” I head Barry shout and I quickly took my arms away “Not tryna steal my girl are ya?” Barry said, he put his arm round me “N-No” Jack stuttered “Good” Barry said and walked me away from him, it did annoy me quite a lot when Barry tried to stop me from being friends with Jack but I didn’t say anything. We were walking through the corridor together just talking and laughing when my phone buzzed, I pulled it out and saw his number “One sec” I said and walked into an empty classroom, I watched Barry as he saw someone and ran after them as I answered the call “What do you want?!” I shouted weakly down the phone “I ain’t fucking seen you in other a week! I don’t care if ya dad’s there, I’m coming tonight!” he said down the phone, I could feel tears in my eyes but I just blinked them away “Okay” I managed to choke out before hanging up the phone and leaving the classroom, I walked into the toilet and into a cubicle. I slammed the door and slid down the other side before scrambling for my bag and pulling out my blades, I did my normal routine and quickly got up when the bell went, I walked to form and was a little late but Mr Clarkson didn’t say anything as I sat down on my own. I could have sat next to Dynasty or Jack but I wasn’t in the mood, so I dumped my bag on an empty table at the back of the room and hide my face behind it. We hadn’t been in registration for 3 minutes when Mr Clarkson came in and told us all to go to the auditorium, I grabbed my bag and waited till last to walk out, I again sat on my own at the back and didn’t really pay much attention to what was being said. I suddenly looked up when I heard Miss Donnegan start going on about AS level subjects “Now I believe IT is essential and at the heart of every job. I mean History, English, Theatre Studies they’re fine right, but are they going to get you a job?” she said, I looked at her in disbelief “Yes” I just said, loud enough for her to hear it but she chose to ignore me “Shakespeare’s all very well but the only job it’ll get comes with a peaked hat and the words “Would you like fries with that?”” she said, everyone laughed but I just glared at her “Erm Miss Donnegan, are you trying to be disrespectful towards the great writing of William Shakespeare?” I asked, now she couldn’t ignore me since she’d pretty much finished her speech, I saw Mr Clarkson smile at me which gave me a little more confident in what I was saying “No, Kaitlin, that’s not what I’m saying. All I’m saying is that computing will get you a better job in life, being able to use a computer properly is what people look for in an interview” she said, she tried to move on but I wasn’t having any of it “ No offence Miss but I honestly think that’s a load of bullshit. If I was interviewing someone, I’d rather they have good spelling, grammar and English skills; you need good English before computing. You can’t just rely on spell check the whole time. Take History for example Miss, you can’t change the future unless you understand the past, you can’t learn all about History on a computer can you? You have to have ways and means of being able to get stuck in, get involved in all of it and Theatre studies, drama, music and art, it gives people like me who are complete shit at every other subject a chance to express themselves in something that they’re good at, I can express myself through art and drawing and I’d rather do that any day than pick up a shitty computer that you’ve paid for which will just spell check all my mistakes cause that’s not learning, that’s being told what to do” I said, I grabbed my bag and walked out leaving a deadly silence behind me but I could tell from my dad’s as I went past him that he was proud of what I’d said. I didn’t wait for anyone; I just walked away from the hall, up the stairs and into my English classroom. I sat down in my seat and just lay my head on my arms, thinking things through. I was about to come to a conclusion when the door opened, I looked up and saw Mr Clarkson. He smiled at me and came over “Thanks for what you said in there, Kait, it was great” he said before opening the door to let the other students in. We spent the whole lesson reading Macbeth between us all, taking different parts in the story and making it come alive. Once we’d finished English I had Art and then it was break, I didn’t want to speak to anyone, see anyone at all. I was just walking around the school on my own when Dynasty came over “I’m leaving” she suddenly said I hadn’t been paying any attention to what she said and just stared at her “What?” I asked, I was already bored of this conversation before it had even started. “I’m going to Liverpool with Steve-O” she said again, I took it in this time and stared at her again in shock “Are you kidding me? You’re just gonna leave? Just like that?! Leave me? I’m supposed to be your best friend!” I shouted at her, I turned to walk away but she grabbed my wrist and held it up, my sleeve fell down a little “What’re those?!” She exclaimed pointing to the cuts that were now visible, I yanked my hand away and ran off, I ran through the corridors and out the front doors, ignoring every single shout from Dynasty as I ran out the gates and into town. I eventually sat down at a bench and burst into tears, everyone ignored me, of course who would notice a teenage girl crying her eyes out on a bench? I only looked up when someone blocked the sun out; it was him, “What’d you want?” I asked through sobs, I saw him smile before he grabbed my wrists and pulled up from the bench. He dragged me through town trying to make it normal as he could before pushing me into his car that was parked outside Primark; I quickly did up my seat belt as he drove away and to where his house was. I just sat there and sobbed silently.
Barry’s POV
“Dynasty you seen Kaitlin?!” I shouted running over to my sister, she turned around and looked me up and down “Yeah, she was acting weird. I grabbed her wrist cause she gonna walk away from me and she cut on his wrists and that then she just sort of ran off and I don’t know where she is now” Dynasty said, I stared at her for a second before pulling out my phone and dialling her number “Hi, you’ve reached Kaitlin’s answer phone. I’m not here right now, I’m probably with Barry though but if this is Barry then text me baby. If it’s not Barry then this is embarrassing and leave a message” her answer mail said down the phone, I sighed and hung up, I almost immediately dialled it again and again and again, by the end of it I’d wasted all of my credit on calling her and had called her well over 30 times. I looked at Dynasty and she looked just as worried as I was, we quickly ran down the corridor trying to find Mr Byrne to see if he knew where Kaitlin was.
Kaitlin’s POV
“That were great babe” he said, getting off his bed and pulling up his trousers. I watched him walk over to the bedroom door before turning back to me “Lock up on ya way out” he said, I just nodded and laid there in tears, I heard the front door slam shut and I full on burst out into crying. My tights were still half way down my legs and my skirt was on the floor but at this point I wasn’t bothered on dignity, I’d just lost all of that to him. I suddenly heard my phone vibrating and quickly pulled up my tights then skirt before grabbing my phone from my bag. I had 35 missed calls from Barry and 10 from Dynasty, loads of texts from both of them, Kacey and my dad. I had to get away. I needed to leave. Get away from him and my dad and everyone I cared about, I’d go back to Rochdale, get back into contact with an old friend and stay with them. I quickly wiped away my tear smudged make up before getting up, I pulled out the keys I had to this flat and locked up once I’d walked out, I shoved the keys through the letter box and walked out the building.
Once I got to my house, I smashed my phone up and left it on the table in the dining room then shoved all of my clothes in a bag. I grabbed all the money I could find then left a note that I’m sorry, I’ve been lying to you and it’s better if I just leave. Bye. Kaitlin xx I wrote before walking out the front door, I locked the door and posted my keys through the letterbox again. I got on a bus to the train station and bought a ticket for Rochdale. The train wasn’t for another 2 hours so I sat in the café with a hot chocolate and magazine.
Barry’s POV
“Dynasty you need to explain to me what happened when you saw Kaitlin” Mr Byrne said, Dynasty again explained what had happened with seeing cuts on her wrist and her just running away in tears. “Right get your bags” Mr Byrne said, I grabbed mine and walked with him to the door “Come on Dyn” I said when I noticed she wasn’t coming “I er I’m not coming, you go find her and ring me when you do…Give her my love once you’ve found her…” Dynasty said, I just looked at her in shock “Dyn, she’s ya best mate. She’d want you there when we find ‘er” I said to her but she didn’t listen, just barged past me and out the door. Mr Byrne shook his head then walked out his office, I followed him but we stopped at Mr Clarkson’s office “Can you look after here for a bit? I’m going to find Kaitlin” he said, Mr Clarkson nodded and me and Mr Byrne walked out to the car park.
Once we got back to their house, Mr Byrne let us straight in and he went upstairs “All her things are gone!” Mr Byrne shouted down, I shouted out in anger and punched the wall before walking into the dining room “Er sir” I shouted and he came running down, I showed him the note and smashed up phone. “Train station. I know where she’s going” he said and ran for the door “Where?!” I shouted and ran after him “She’s going to Rochdale” Mr Byrne said and jumped in the driver’s seat, I got in the passenger seat and he drove away, obviously speeding. “Why Rochdale?” I asked, looking at my headmaster “It’s where her old friends are, she won’t think we’ll look there. She’ll of gone to find Finn and Trudi” he said and before I knew it we were at the train station. We both jumped out the car and ran inside, “When’s the next train to Rochdale?!” Mr Byrne snapped at one the helpers, “It’s coming now, be here in a few seconds why?” the man asked, Mr Byrne ignored him and jumped the fence; I looked at the man and did the same following my head teacher. We rushed onto the platform and looked around quickly, the train was coming and we didn’t have much time to find Kaitlin “There” I shouted pointing to where a girl with brown hair was on a bench reading a book, I knew it was her a mile off and we ran over “Kaitlin!” Mr Byrne shouted, she turned around but quickly packed her things away just as the train came in. She was about to step on the train when I grabbed her and pulled her back “No please, don’t leave me” I said and pulled her in close, she didn’t do anything but let me hug her until I heard her crying then I felt her falling and I held on to her and went to the ground with her, holding her in my arms. I rocked her gently as she cried harder into my chest “It’s okay” I whispered to her, kissing the top of her head. I stayed with her on the ground for nearly 10 minutes before the ambulance came, they put her on a stretcher and I went with Mr Byrne to the hospital with her.
I started and finished this chapter yesterday since I had nothing to do while off from school so you're getting it quicker:) I'm not gonna ask for votes this time, instead I'm gonna ask for 5+ comments on this chapter before I post the next one as I orefer to read your views on the chapter. You can still vote for it of course:) But tell me what you thought of this chapter, who you think this mystery "him" is and what you just generally think of the story so far. Thank you
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