Thorns And Roses

Chapter Thirty-Four

A/N: What's this? An update? So soon? I know I'm just as surprised as you haha - she's on a roll this month. Also thought it would be appropriate to add a slight trigger warning in this chapter for child abuse, nothing too graphic but a trigger warning all the same.

~oOo~

When Nellie had started her morning rush, she had woken after a long night's sleep and felt refreshed when she stepped out into the frosty morning air to begin opening up. Most of her customers were small and they wished to be seated inside now that winter was fast approaching and the snow was on its way. Things were not perfect, by any means but she was doing her best to make up for it by getting a good night's sleep and distracting herself by knitting for the baby and chatting with Toby who was being a darling helper now that her belly was starting to swell.

Just after nine o'clock, the baker was surprised as she turned and spotted a familiar small figure in one of her booths. She hadn't even seen the little blighter enter. Chuckling to herself she began to make her way over.

Beth had practically scurried from school before the teachers could call the students inside, there were so many of them they were unlikely to keep track and Beth knew no one would miss her anyway. So she had made her way straight to Mrs Lovett's Pie shop but had been disappointed to find that only Mrs Lovett was there, serving a small number of customers. She wanted nothing more than to curl up in Tobys arms, he understood, he'd also been bullied growing up in the workhouse - only he seemed to have it far worse than she had, but he didn't like talking about it. One day she hoped he would open up to her about it, but for now it was a tender subject that had brought them even closer. Sighing, she placed herself down in one of the booths and sat in discontent until the baker came over to her still holding her jug of ale.

"Oh 'ello lovely, I didn't expect ya to be here so early. Aren ya meant to be in school?" Beth did not answer and suspiciously kept her gaze down. Nellie frowned but smiled as she approached "You wantin' some o me nice carrot cake this mornin'?"

"No thank you." Beth sniffed and wiped her face with her sleeve. "Where's Toby?"

"He's out runnin' some errands for me at the market - he'll be back later, love." She internally smiled at the notion Beth was only here to see Toby - if she didn't know any better the two were completely smitten with each other.

Beth nodded and kept her head down as the baker stood over her. Nellie inclined her head "You bin cryin'?"

"No." She said quickly.

Nellie stared at her and the little girl virtually melted under her gaze. Placing down the jug on the table Nellie joined her in the booth, sitting opposite her. "Them girls that were meant ta be comin' to ye birthday party givin' you trouble again?"

Beth looked at her sheepishly "They've been giving me trouble for weeks now. I think they'd rather I was dead."

Nellies eyes widened and she bent forward over the table "Beth ya can't say such things, no one would ever want that."

"Then why do they do these things?" Her lip began to tremble with barely suppressed tears. Only moments ago, she had braved the playground at school for the morning roll call, she often liked to be dropped off early so she could read. That was the time they liked to strike, Emily Woods and Victoria Davis - they'd come up from behind and pulled her skirts over her head, exposing her bloomers to the rest of the children. All the boys and girls had laughed and those who did not said nothing. Beth didn't understand, she tried so hard to make friends and when she gave up she tried to stay out of everyone's way, but they still wanted to make her cry. "Why do they like to hurt me so much?"