Fighting demons (Waterloo road)

Twenty-Seven

Brooke knew how she was extremely worried about Adam. She knew how she hadn't been in school lately. And how Max and Leigh had been bringing her work back.

She knew that Rachel was angry that Brooke hadn't been in school. But she didn't care. She wasn't going to put herself in danger. Knowing how she didn't feel safe there.

She knew that things weren't easy at all. She wanted to go back to school. But she couldn't. Not while Adam was still there. She hated how she wasn't safe.

Leigh had told her that she wouldn't let anyone hurt her. And while it gave Brooke a sense of safety, she knew it didn't help. Especially when her own mum was protecting Adam and making out he hadn't done anything.

Brooke knew it was going to take a long time to even forgive her mum. Especially as she knew how she felt her mum wasn't even listening to her.

Things were a mess. But she knew how Leigh and Max had been talking about going for custody of her. And she wanted that. She knew she wanted to feel safe. And while it wasn't easy, she needed to feel safe.

Brooke hadn't talked to Tom since they'd had sex. She didn't know what it meant for them. Especially as she knew she didn't regret what had happened.

All she knew was that things weren't easy. And she had no idea how she was going to handle it all. But she needed to feel okay.

Morning came and she walked into the kitchen. Max was there with Daisy. She looked to him and smiled. "Morning. Where's my sister?" She asked.

Max smiled. "She's meeting with a lawyer. About the custody. She wants you to feel safe. And as your mother isn't doing anything to help that, I think it's best," he told her.

Brooke nodded. "Yeah. I think I want to tell them I want to stay here. You don't mind do you?"

"Not at all. You're like a daughter to me. So I want to protect you," Max said.

***
Reluctantly, Brooke went into school. Max had told her that he would escort her to lunch so Adam didn't try anything with her.

Brooke smiled as Leigh walked over to her. "Hey. So the lawyer thinks because of the situation. And how you're not safe at home, there's a good a chance you'll be placed in my custody. So, it's a win win. Also, mum says you're not allowed as she doesn't trust Max. But you know he would never hurt you?"

"I know. Don't worry. I'm okay. I like Max. He said I was like his daughter," Brooke said as she walked off inside.

Brooke knew how close she had gotten to her sister. And she was glad. Knowing how she felt a lot more safe than she did with her own mum.

***
Tom looked to see Brooke as she walked into his classroom. He smiled. "Hey. Didn't expect to see you here today. Are you okay?" He asked.

"Yeah I'm good. Listen. Did it mean something to you? When we had sex?"

Tom nodded. "It did. And I'd do it again. But we're in a risky place," he said as he took her hand.

Not realising how Adam had heard the conversation. And he was going to use it to his advantage.