i never meant to let you down.

chapter two

Hattie is leaning against a locker, one that's not even hers, watching the students mingle in the entrance hall before assembly. She sees the new boy she saw earlier when she was outside and gives him a small smile.

She notices her father and her mother walking towards her. Hattie rolls her eyes and walks towards them too, acting as if she's going to class, hoping her parents wouldn't notice her. Oh boy, she was wrong.

Michael spots his daughter and grabs her arm, stopping her in her tracks. Hattie sighs, and looks at the floor, while her mother Lorraine looks at her, seething.

Michael notices the reaction that their daughter's appearance is giving to Lorraine and takes a deep breath, thinking of a way to manage this situation.

"My office," he says quietly to Hattie, "now."

Hattie shrugs her father's hand off and follows him in the direction of his office, stealing a look over at the new boy as she does. He smiles sympathetically at her, not knowing the relation between herself and Mr Byrne.

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"In." Michael orders when Hattie reaches his office door. Hattie smiles and saunters into the office, flopping dramatically onto the sofa in the corner.

Michael notices what his daughter is doing and snaps his fingers at the chair opposite his desk. Hattie scoffs, staying where she is. She reaches into her jacket pocket, taking out earphones and her phone and soon music blasts through the earphones in Hattie's ears.

"Hattie," Michael says loudly, knowing his daughter is purposely ignoring him. "Hattie," He repeats, moving closer to Hattie, trying to catch her eye, but with no success.

Hattie stares at the floor, having heard her father both times - her music isn't actually as loud as Michael thinks - but she ignores him. Michael sits down next to her, and Hattie rolls her eyes, not wanting to speak to him, not wanting to tell him why she's really at Waterloo Road and not at the boarding school Lorraine had paid for her to go to.

"Hats." Michael says, hoping the use of Hattie's nickname will help his argument. Hattie looks at her father, pulling out her earphones and pausing the music.

"Yeah, what?" Hattie replies, curtly. Michael sighs at Hattie's attitude. "Talk to me," Michael says, "please."

Hattie stands up and heads to the door, ignoring her father once more. "Whatever." Hattie replies, sarcastically, slamming the door on her way out.

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Assembly is about to begin and all the students are gathered in the assembly hall waiting for Mr Byrne to arrive.

Well, except from one.