Bad Girl

Playground games

The Baroness paces nervously in her office, she sits on the chaise putting her legs up resting a hand on her hip trying to look seductive. 'Heaven's sake.' she grumbles getting up she sits at her desk reclining in the chair trying to look impressive. She shakes her head and gets up again pacing nervously back and forth, hearing footsteps on the stairs she makes a decision in haste standing in front of her desk in a position that's frankly awkward looking. John enters and her face drops seeing that you aren't with him. 'Ah, Cruella lied, no surprise there then.' she tries to mask her disappointment. 'No, the girl spoke the truth Baroness, I located y/n.' Victoria frowns. 'I don't understand if you found her where is she, why isn't she with you?' she demands like a moody toddler. 'She declined your invitation she was rather more invested in the child in her care.' Victoria hardens her jaw how dare you put someone else above her? 'Right.' she thinks. 'I'm sorry Baroness I truly am.' John stands with his hands behind his back.

A further week passes and she's waited in the hope that since she reached out to you that you will show up, you don't. Being a single parent when you were never actually a parent and an ex-convict with no great source of income you find yourself working every second you aren't with Emma. The only job you could get was waitressing at a local cafe and an hour's trip out the way of all that to head back to London is simply out of the question. Even if you did go what would you say? Hey, wanna get the old band together and reunite with all the ex-cons? Or oh, better yet, hey remember we used to fuck like rabbits then I found out my father is the man who made your life a living hell. None seem to be particularly enticing options. So you continue with your dull provincial life living out day to day, it's not all bad it's not like a prison at least. The summer has almost gone there is still heat in the air you unzip your red leather jacket as you join the other parents in the playground. The expensive car rolls up behind you not that you noticed a few parents have and are nosily peering over at it.

The Gucci heels hit the ground at the same time after the valet opens the door for her. The tall brunette steps out of the luxury vehicle sunglasses resting on her face, she is extraordinarily well-dressed and oozes upper-class entitlement. Not the usual type to be found around here. A buzz of chatter spreads through the crowd as the woman crosses the road entering the school grounds. Everyone without question makes a path for her. You feel the tap on your shoulder and smile politely turning but your smile vanishes when you see her. 'Victoria.' you look like you have just seen a ghost. 'Hello...Y/n.' she greets. 'What are you doing here?' you ask in a whisper as everyone is trying to eavesdrop. 'I sent my valet you refused to return with him so I waited it's been a week and not so much as a phone call.' You rub your temple. 'Victoria it's not that simple I have responsibilities now.' you impress. 'Ah, yes, the child.' she says with disdain. 'Hey, don't talk about her like that.' you reprimand her. More people are gathering and the bell rings. 'You owe me an explanation, you just up and vanish from my life and expect me to simply move on?'

You are getting anxious now you don't need the drama. 'I gave you your old life back, I'd have thought you would have been happy.' you hiss quietly. 'Who the hell are you to decide what would make me happy?' her voice is rising despite your whispering she doesn't care who hears. In fact it's like she is unaware she is surrounded by parents waiting to collect their children they may as well have been trees to her despite the fact everyone is trying and failing not to stare at you both. The bell rings. 'Look, I don't have time for this I need to collect Emma and get her home for tea we can do this another time.' you walk away from her. Emma runs to you and you pick her up. 'Hey spider monkey.' you set her back down and take her hand walking out of the school grounds with her. The Baroness is angry, no one walks away from her, and she is jealous of yes a child, and her heart is broken as she sees you walk away. Cars skid up and an onslaught of press pile out storming the playground, clearly having followed the car.

'Baroness! Baroness!' The parents all start talking amongst themselves. 'I knew it, I told you that's who she was.' 'Wonder what a posh bitch like her is doing in this neck of the woods.' 'Oi posh tart how was prison? Were you someone's bitch?' she overhears a few comments. 'Baroness! Over here, why have you stopped posing for us, we know you love the attention!' A photographer calls out. Victoria feels her heart race, the situation is out of control everything is a blur the flashes are too bright she holds up her hands to block it all out. 'Stop, no more photos.' her requests are ignored. 'Auntie yn, isn't that' Emma tugs on your hand and you turn to see what she is looking at. The Baroness is being swarmed by paparazzi and nosy parents just enjoying the show watching the older woman panic. John rushes past you. 'Look after Emma.' you press the child's hand into the valets. The baroness accidentally knocks off her sunglasses they fall she stumbles on them crunching them with her heels still trying to hide her face.

'Get, away from her!' you elbow your way through the crowd until you get to her and take her in your arms. 'I've got you, it's okay.' you shield her as best you can. One particularly annoying photographer won't get out of your way so you ram his camera into his face giving him a black eye as he topples over on the playground. You get your girl to the car a thin layer of sweat covers your skin as you get her bundled into the back of the car. John is in the driver's seat with Emma in the passenger seat. He puts his foot down speeding off. 'Auntie Yn, isn't that' 'Not right now chicken, this is my friend John and he's very good at eye spy will you play a game or two to keep him amused? He's a bit of a sore loser though so let him win a few.' you wink. John glowers at you but you shoot him a look ensuring that he will comply. You press a button and a partition goes up between the front and backseat of the car. Emma looks up at John smiling he looks at her a few times with a stern expression. Emma beams up at him. 'My name is Emma.' she swings her legs. 'John.' he returns in a business-like tone. 'So will your hair ever grow back or are you always going to look like an egg?' she asks with no malice just a child's curiosity. John groans.

When the partition goes up and the child and John can no longer see Victoria breaks. Her shaking is out of control. She is apologising and you have no idea what for as she sobs into her hands. 'Victoria, Toria, shh, it's okay, I'm here, Im here.' you take her in your arms rocking her gently and she grips the collar of your red leather jacket desperately.