Luciana (Adopted by Hailey Upton)

Chapter 16 (We All Grieve Different)

It had been a month since the fire and the death of Alex, the funeral had been and gone. She was seeing Dr Charles every 2 weeks, well, seeing is a strong word, considering she didn't always turn up and if she did, she wouldn't speak. Dr Charles knew he couldn't force her to speak and that it would take time.

Everyone that attended that school had to attend at a different school now, as the building prior to that was being fixed but would take some time due to the destruction the fire had caused. Hailey knew Luciana wasn't okay but no matter how many times she tried to get her to speak, the girl just didn't and tried to act like she was alright.

She wasn't the same girl, she wasn't happy, she was sad, she was depressed, she didn't feel motivated enough to do the things she should, and she also turned into a bit of a rebel, she was acting out. Of course this was all normal, she lost her only friend, too her, she was all alone now and she didn't feel like she could face school or anything without him. They always looked out for each other.

So Hailey is at work and had dropped her daughter of at the school in the morning, but what Hailey didn't know, is that, like Lucie had done every day since she was supposed to be back in school, ran off and skipped school when she saw Hailey wasn't in sight and was gone. She always made sure to be back at the school at finishing time so her mother wouldn't suspect a thing.

The young girl was walking through the streets of Chicago with her backpack on, she was heading over to her little 'den'. It wasn't really a den but it was where she had gone everyday, too the park and on the bench by the river. I bet you all thinking she just sits there and draws, but truth is, since she lost Alex she hadn't touched her Sketchbook at all.

So for most of the day she would just sit there, listening to her thoughts, thinking back to the times she had with him. She also listened to music through her ipad, she found herself listening to super depressive songs though that related to how she was feeling. As she sat down on the bench she felt tears start to fall.

Meanwhile in the distance Gabby Dawson (Antonio's sister) and Sylvie Brett were sat at the back of the ambulance on the outside just talking between themselves, having a brief moment before they got another call. "Hey, isn't that Lucie?" Dawson asks as she notices a girl in the distance on a bench by the river.

Sylvie looks over to where her partner is pointing and she nods her head "yes, I think it is, but shouldn't she be in school?" she says with a question. Gabby nods her head back and replies "yes, she should be, but she isn't", Brett then says "well we should go and speak to her, poor kids been through alot, maybe she just needs a shoulder ya know". Gabby nods her head.

As the two walk over after making sure the Ambo is locked, they notice that the girl is crying, Gabby instantly runs over and crouches down to be at the girls level "Lucie, sweetheart what's wrong?" she asks with concern in her voice. Luciana briefly looks up and wipes her tears as she lies "I'm alright, it's nothing".

Sylvie who is now sad beside the girl smiles and asks "shouldn't you be in school?", the girl looks up and tries to act confident as she lies again "uh, hello... Holiday, its Malcom X's birthday". Dawson and Brett both share a look for a minute or so and then Gabby nods her head "alright kiddo well you want a lift?" she asks.

Lucie shakes her head and answers "nah I'm good, I'm just gonna chill here for a bit", Sylvie and Gabby nod and start walking back to the Ambo, as the two walk, Dawson suddenly stops on the spot. Brett asks "Gabby, what's wrong?", Gabby then says "I don't know, but I'm calling Hailey, I just have this feeling, I can't shake it, plus what she said, Malcom X, I swear I've heard that before I just can't think where".

Sylvie nods her head and agrees "I admit it does seem a bit odd, better to be safe than sorry, Hailey will give us the answer we need anyway", Gabby nods and takes out her phone and presses on Hailey's contact.

Hailey - "hello"

Gabby - "Hailey, hey"

Hailey - "Gabby hey, everything ok?"

Gabby - "yea, well I hope so, is it a school holiday by any chance?"

Hailey - "no, not that I'm aware of, why?"

Gabby - "me and Sylvie may have just seen Lucie and she told us it was a holiday, Malcom x birthday or something, but I swear I've heard that before so I thought I'd call and ask you"

Hailey - "that little shit, no, no she should be in school, I dropped her off earlier, and as for Malcom X, I think I know where she got that from"

Gabby - "oh, right, go on"

Hailey - "there is a film called firehouse dog, and I swear the boy says something like that"

Gabby - "oh god, yes that's it, your right, that's where I heard it from, well don't worry, me and Brett will bring her to you"

Hailey - "thank you so much Gabs"

(line ends)

Dawson turnes to Sylvie and says "she was lying, it's a quote from a film, she is supposed to be in school, so I told Hails we would drop her off at 21st", Brett nods her head and the two make there way back to the girl. "Really, you thought we wouldn't find out?" Gabby says as she gets to the front of the bench in front of the girl.

Lucie looks up and panics she goes to run but ends up running straight into Sylvie, Dawson and Brett then take the girl to the Ambo and drive her back to her moms work place. Sylvie takes Lucies hand and leads her into the district where Hailey is standing there waiting with her arms crossed.

After thanking her paramedic friends, Hailey then takes Lucies hand and leads her to the unit where she is told to go into the break room and wait. The girl obeys due to not wanting to make her mom any angrier, but truth was, the struggling mom didn't want to get angry but she was losing the will to live.

As she goes to go in she is stopped by her partner Jay, he hugs her, looks her in the eyes and says warmly "let me, alright, she's just grieving, we all grieve differently, you know that", Hailey nods her head and let's her boyfriend and work partner go in and talk to her.

Jay actually gets the girl to open up and he holds her close as Lucie cries out in his arms "I miss him Jay, and it's all my fault,if he hadn't of saved me, he would still be alive, spitting bars or playing football, he was my friend, my only friend and I got him killed" Jay sighs and tries to reasurre her "it's not your fault, but I understand why you are thinking like that, it's normal, but please Lou Lou, you didn't do this".