STARVING, hollyoaks

"𝒎𝒆𝒆𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒅𝒂𝒅"

Annabelle yawned as she walked into the kitchen. Maddie frowned as she looked to her. "Why were you up most of the night?" She asked.

"Let's see shall we? I couldn't close my eyes and sleep," Annabelle said as she smiled.

Maddie rolled her eyes. "Well I was thinking. Maybe we could find a dance class here for you. It would be a shame to let your talent go to waste," she told her.

Annabelle shrugged. "I doubt I'm going to find anything like my class back home. I hate it here," she mumbled as she sat down.

Maddie smiled as she looked to her. "I know it hasn't been easy for you. But I'm proud of you. Making it work."

"I don't have a choice do I? I promised you I'd give it a go. And I am. So it's all I can do," Annabelle said.

Maddie nodded. She smiled as she looked to her. "That's the spirit girl. We have a meeting at the school today. To get you enrolled. And don't even look at me like that. You're going."

Annabelle shook her head. "What? No. I can't go to school. My hair isn't done right."

"Oh I completely forgot it's a fashion show. Wait, let's go to the salon."

"Yes let's go."

"Annabelle, baby, that was sarcasm. You're going. End of. Even if I have to drag you there myself," Maddie told her.

Annabelle groaned. "How about I give you my puppy eyes that always work?"

"I'm immune to them. And you're not three years old anymore with your hair in plaits. Get dressed. We have the meeting in half an hour."

"Mummy. Don't make me."

"Belle... Go. Now."

Annabelle groaned. She reluctantly walked upstairs. Leaving Maddie to think.

****

Annabelle and Maddie walked into the school. Annabelle raised her eyebrows. "This is the place of education you want me to attend?" She asked.

"Peri will be here too."

"Oh lucky me. Being spied on by my younger aunt... this is more fucked up then Snape killing Dumbledore cause he was dying anyway," Annabelle said with a roll of her eyes.

Maddie groaned. She knew that she and Annabelle had a good bond. But she knew that the teenager liked to push her luck a lot. And Maddie often felt like she wasn't good enough for her.

"Mum? You okay?" Annabelle asked. Seeing how her mum was looking off.

"Huh? Yeah I'm fine baby. Let's get this over and done with."

****

Annabelle walked into the office with her mum. She saw the look on her mum's face. "Mum? You look like you've seen a ghost. What's going on?"

"Madeline."

"Patrick."

Annabelle frowned as she looked to her mum and the man in front of her. "Who's this?" she asked.

"Anna?"

"Mum?"

"Meet your dad."

Annabelle's eyes widened. "Him? He's my dad? He's old enough to be my grandad! What the fuck?" She said as she turned and walked off.

****

Annabelle stormed through the village. She wasn't paying attention when she walked into someone. "Fuck sake. Watch it!" She yelled.

"You should watch it princess."

Annabelle looked up and smirked. "We meet again. Can't keep away can you?" She said as she winked. "Anna Lomax."

"Warren."

Annabelle grinned. "You look like a Mike. I don't know why they named you Warren," she said. She looked to him. "Don't suppose you know anywhere that would give a girl like me a drink?"

Warren scoffed and shook his head. "Not in your wildest dreams princess."

Annabelle smiled and shrugged "worth the try."

****

Maddie looked to Patrick and sighed. "Now you've met Annabelle. Precious little delight she is," she said as she looked to him.

Patrick sighed. "Her attitude isn't the best. She needs to stop that."

"Still as proper as ever. She's a teenager. And she hasn't seen you at all. So she's allowed to be a little upset. She's here for her education though," Maddie said.

Patrick nodded. "Fine. She's enrolled. I want to meet her properly. As her father," he told her.

Maddie shook her head. "I don't think she'll want that. Annabelle is... she's unique. I can't pressure her into anything. She'll clam shut. Let me talk to her."

Patrick nodded and sighed. But would Annabelle ever accept him as her father?