My Life is Changing

Chapter 9

Chapter 9:

Several minutes had passed in Rachel's office since any one had said anything. Rachel was still sat comforting Elle whilst Eddie slowly wandered around the room completely lost at what to do to help. He couldn't believe what he had just heard.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the office door which slowly opened to reveal Miss Campbell, her gaze going from Rachel and Elle sat at the table to Eddie who made his way over to the door to explain what was happening. Eddie gestured to Kim to step outside the door so wouldn't disturb Elle but they were both stopped in their tracks.

"Wait!" Elle shouted as she pulled herself away from Miss Mason and walked over towards the duo who were both stood there looking confused. "I don't want everyone to know. I don't want people to treat me differently." Elle said quietly. She watched as Mr Lawson and Miss Campbell both made their way back into the room, shutting the door gently behind them.

"Elle, we're going to have to let your teachers know." Rachel said gently as she looked at the poor girl next to her. "They have a right to know, especially if you're going to be missing lessons and they will be able to help you if you need it." Rachel explained and she listened as Elle reluctantly agreed looking down at the floor feeling embarrassed.

"But don't tell anyone else. I can't deal with the fact I'm gonna lose hair and maybe friends over it." Elle insisted and Rachel agreed as she couldn't think of why anyone else would need to know, especially at this stage.

"Elle your friends love you don't worry Grace will be with you always okay" Rachel told Elle.

"Can I find out what is going on now?" Miss Campbell asked as she was still none the wiser and was feeling even more confused and worried than before.

"Do you want to tell her or would you like me to do it?" Miss Mason asked as she knew how hard it was for Elle to admit it to herself and Miss Campbell and she didn't know if she would be up for telling another person just yet.

Rachel Mason knows Kim Campbell needs to know as she's the head of pastoral care at the end of the day who would be the one to ask Elle how she is dealing with her case.

"Can you do it please, I need to go and get some air." Elle said as she grabbed her bag and got out off of her seat.

"Would you like me to come with you?" Eddie asked nicely as he wasn't sure whether she would want to be alone or whether she would want someone to talk to.

"I'll be ok but thank you sir. I'll be back soon." Elle said before giving a weak smile and left the room, closing the door behind her leaving Eddie, Rachel and Kim alone.

Kim made her way over to the table where she joined Rachel and Eddie and looked puzzlingly at the two as she waited patiently for an explanation.

"Today we found out that Elle went to the hospital and has been told that she got cancer." Rachel said shakily as she looked at Kim, her her hair dropping down as her brain registered what had just been said to her, Kim once again diverting her gaze to the table as she continued to struggle to take in what had been said. How could this happen to Elle?

"She found out this morning and only her and her mother know so far." Rachel explained whilst Kim got up and started pacing around the room, her hand rubbing over her hair as she tried to take it all in.

"Grace knows but what cancer is it" Kim asked as she thought back to her twin who was going out of her mind with worry in the cooler, even knowing it's cancer.

"I don't know. She said that she wanted just one more day of normality." Rachel explained before getting up and moving over to her desk where she picked up Elle's file and began dialling a number into the phone on her desk.

"Are you ringing her Mum?" Eddie asked.

"Yes, we need to sit and talk through this and I think she should take Elle and Grace home for today. It's a big thing to deal with." Rachel explained before introducing herself to their Mum on the phone, explaining what had happened briefly and that she should come into school.

Just as Rachel put the phone down, she heard a quiet knock at her office door which Kim opened since she was the closest to the door. Pulling it open she could see Grace stood there, her eyes red where she had obviously been crying.

"I was wondering if I would be able to speak to Elle." she said quietly as she stood in the doorway where she looked around the room, realising that Elle wasn't actually  inside the room.

"Grace, I think you should come in." Miss Mason suggested as she gestured for her to take a seat at the table where Elle had previously been sitting.

"I'll go and find Elle." Eddie said quietly, Rachel nodded her head in agreement before turning to have a chat with Grace about what had happened to fill in time whilst Eddie Lawson went on a hunt for her twin.