The Apprentice.

Chapter Six

Carly took a deep breath as she walked down the long driveway towards Annie's home. It had been a few days since her run in with Roger at the nursery and since then she'd been off sick. Carly felt like there was more to the story both Marjorie and Reece had been in a foul mood and even Charlotte hadn't been herself looking very concerned and always looking like she was waiting for something. Carly had decided to come and visit Annie to see if there was something she could do for her new friend espechally since the girl had stopped answering her messages and snapchats. 

Carly noticed the lavish ornate front door as she reached the end of the drive, she noticed Annie's car and a second car in the driveway, Mia's Carly though why was she here? The young girl pressed the door bell and wasn't too shocked when the mean redhead answered the door. Mia didn't look like herself her hair was up in a bun and she was wearing sweatpants and a vest top and no make up. "Carly" she spoke acknowledging the girl on the doorstep. 
"Hey Mia" Carly started "Is Annie home?"

Mia didn't say anything but she opened the door wide enough for Carly to step in through the door. Carly took in the sight in front of her the white marble entrance room shone, flecks of ornate gold pieces shone against the white floor and white walls, there were some beautiful pieces of art on the walls and a large ornate mirror next to the door way, the sound of a vaccum was comming from above the stairs and an older lady came forward towards the two girls with her arms out. "May I take your coat and bag miss?" she asked. Carly looked at Mia, Annie had a maid? Without saying her thoughts Carly handed over her work bag and the rain coat she'd been wearing "Thanks" Carly spoke and the lady shot her a smile back. 

Mia turned to the lady and smiled at her "Miss Annie and her guest will have refreshments in the living room" The maid nodded at Mia and moved off into another room. "Come" Mia spoke back to Carly and motioned off towards a side door she walked in slowly and waiting for Carly to collow before closing the door behind her. "Annie, Carly's come" Mia spoke, she was so soft in the way she spoke and Carly looked over to the sofa. Annie smiled at her, she did not look like herself her hair lay down against one side of her chest, she had no make up on aswell and sat curled up in pajama shorts and a similar vest top to Mia's you could tell by the lines on her face she'd not been sleeping much and she'd just recently been crying. 

Carly came over to her and smiled. "I hope you don't mind me comming" Carly muttered "I - I was worried about you not seeing you in work" Annie smiled back gently and looked at Mia nodding who then left the room. "Thank you Carly" annie said her voice cracked slightly and sounded a bit hoarse "You're a good friend for checking in".
Carly looked back at the girl and sat down beside her. "How are you? Annie what happened?" Carly asked "Everyone at work has been super grumpy recently, you've not been there even Charlotte is acting herself" Annie opened her mouth as if she was about the speak when the maid walked into the room, she had a tray with a pot of tea on with a few biscuits and cakes and a few sandwiches "Thank you April" Annie spoke to her gently "Once Bella has finished with her chores upstairs you're both free to have the rest of the day off" April looked at her and nodded. "Are you sure Miss I'm happy to stay" Annie smiled at her "I'll be okay April, I'll see you tomorrow." April nodded and moved out of the room. 

Mia returned to the room before Carly could ask again and she grabbed a handbag off the sofa across from them. "Well Annie since you have company I'm going to nip out and see Charlotte" Annie smiled "Give her my best wont you and explain-" Mia cut her off. 
"Of course don't worry" she walked over to her and planted a kiss on her forehead "take care little sis I'll be back tonight sweetheart" Mia looked at Carly as if issuing her a slight warning and the redhead left. Carly heard the front door go and turned back to Annie "She really cares about you huh?" 
"Yeah we grew up together you know, we both had a lot to deal with."

Carly nodded. "Does your family live here?" 
"They used to" Annie responded and when Carly looked at her she sofened slightly. "My parents passed away when I was sixteen, Roger took me in" she added quietly grabbing at the close by blanket as if for support. "Carly has anyone mentioned to you why I'm not currently in work?" 
"No, no one's saying anything all Reece said was that you were unwell". Carly admitted. 

Annie nodded slightly that wasn't exactly untrue after her run in with Roger the night terrors had returned the sickness that came along with them. It had been well over a year since she'd experienced them, that was one of the reasons Mia had been staying the last few days so she could hold Annie in the night and soother her from the nighmares could hold her hair back whilst she vomitted, could calm her during the panic attacks. Annie hated that a man had such an affect on her if she was honest it wasn't Roger she'd been scared about, it had been Reece and Autumn. The first night she'd been off work Reece and Autumn and Marjorice had come to her house at Mia's request, together they sat down and told the siblings and Marjorie about my past. Reece became angry and it took both Mia and Autumn's joint force to stop him from storming to his dad's and killing him. Marjorie as clearly scared but angry, they'd decided to not hurt the older man physically but to hit him where it really hurt, his finances, the nursery take over was going to happen and he'd never see it comming. 

The young girl nodded "Let me tell you what's been going on" Annie started and busied making herself a cup of tea before settling back against the back of the sofa holding the mug on her knee. She told Carly everything, therun in with Roger in the office, what happened to her when she was younger and the meeting that had taken place shortly afterwards. Carly felt her own tears on her eyes when Annie broke down and told her everything. "Oh my god Annie I didn't know any of this" Carly spoke placing her hand on Annie's knee and holding her other arm out offering a hug. Annie sniffled and shifted slightly so she could accept the hug off Carly. "What a creep" Carly spoke holding the girl and leaning her face against the girls head. 

They sat like this for a moment and Annie took notice of the faint perfume that came off Carly, she smelt, homely Annie didnt know exactly what scent she was wearing, the fleecey hoodie she was was comfortable and Annie could hear the girls heartbeat through her clothes, although it ran fast it was oddly soothing to the girl. Annie looked up at her and smiled gently. "Well now you know why I havn't been in, I've been giving Marjorie chance to tell the staff, or the older staff anyway to keep a look out for Roger and to give myself time to learn to relax again. I love working at the nursery and I'm not going to let him scare me away" Annie's voice got slightly stronger. "I wont let him take my life away from me" Carly nodded and held her girls arms. 
"He wont get away with this, Recce and Autumn will make him pay they both care for you. We all do" Carly added smiling at the girl. 

Annie felt tears in her eyes again, how had this girl come into her life and made her feel so safe? "Thank you Carly" Annie smiled. "You're the best friend I coudl ever ask for" and with that the girls spent the rest of the evening chatting about Annie's past, about boys and about anything and everything they could think of.