Bad Liar

Chapter Six

~Mick~

"Finally in bed." I sighed climbing into the warmth next to Linda, opening up my arms she snuggled into me her head just under my chin.
"I wish the councillor would hurry up, she needs help." Linda sighed deeply her eyes closing slightly, I drew light circles on to the bare skin of her arms.
"I know, look we've worried enough today let's just get some sleep." I kissed her head gently watching as her beautiful eyes closed fully.
I gazed down at her face in compete awe of her beauty, I was lucky incredibly lucky, I married my best friend I created a life and family with my best friend and that's all that anyone in the world can ever ask for.

~
A loud bang caused me to jolt awake smacking my head on the headboard, Linda scrambled away sitting herself up in the bed as we snapped to the door and saw Nance stood there the light from the landing shadowing her appearance.

"Nancy what the hell are you doing, if you've marked that bloody wall I swear-" Linda was cut off sharply.
"It's Alice I went to the bathroom and heard her crying in her room, I went to see if she was okay and she began screaming I can't wake her up." Quickly me and Linda made our way to Alice's room, Shirley sat on the edge of her bed trying to wake her but was having no luck.
"I can't get her to wake up." Shirley pressed quickly getting up and wandering to the kitchen.

"Baby, Alice wake up its mum." Linda shook her gently on the shoulders, she still carried on screaming and crying, Alice began thrashing her arms and legs around and quickly I jumped onto the bed and pinned her down there were scratch marks over her face that were lined with little bubbles of blood.
"Alice darling come on." I tried, "Mick what are we going to do?" Linda cried as she held Alice's hand tightly talking to her. I saw Shirley come back into the room carrying a glass of water, the contents were coldly thrown over Alice's face causing her to abruptly stop screaming and jolting awake. 

"I'm going back to bed." Shirley huffed and walked off out of Alice's room.
"I'm so sorry." Alice sobbed falling back down on her bed her head dripping with water.
"Don't apologise, don't you dare." I said firmly, gently rubbing her arm.
"What happened baby?" Linda asked as she began stroking Alice's wet hair from her face.
"I had a nightmare, we were in the pub and it starting burning down and I tried to save you all and I couldn't, you died and it was my fault." Alice's sobbing became heavier and Linda picked her up pressing her into her chest rocking her slowly.
"It's okay baby, we're all okay." I soothed.

We sat like that for twenty minutes until Alice's cries settled, Nance took her to bed in her room and me and Linda quietly went back to bed, the air was thick with worry and tension, with questions neither of us dared to ask.

~~~~

~Alice~

I looked at my dimly lit reflection in the P.E changing room mirror, after last night I couldn't have left the house any quicker this morning, I couldn't face my parents or the questions and tension that would go with them. So it lead me here, stood in the changing rooms 45 minutes before school would start staring at myself.
I threw my hair up messily on top of my head pieces scruffily framing my face, I pulled my jeans up failing as they just slipped back down again - grabbing the extra material at the waistband I tied it off with a hair bobble and pulled my baggy jumper back down over the bulk.

"I thought I'd find you here." My eyes snapped up and landed on Bex in the mirror, "your dad came round said you came into school early, said he was worried." I turned round taking a few steps closer to her.
"I'm sorry Bex." My voice was quiet barley above a whisper.
"Don't apologise."
"Why not? I was horrible." I snapped back.
"Alice forget it okay." Bex sighed pleading with me, I nodded sitting down on the bench.
"You look awful." Bex commented sitting down next to me.
"Wow thanks." I smirked at her, she was right last nights lack of sleep shone clear as day on my face, dark circles shadowed my eyes my skin looked dull almost grey.
"Didn't get any sleep." I explained further.
"Really? Just thought you were trying a new look." I laughed lightly.
"I meant what I said though Bex, you don't know me." I looked at her, her eyes narrowing scanning my face.
"Why do I sense there's a but coming?" Bex sighed.
"But I want to change that, I want us to get to know each other, after all you gotta help the new kid out." I jokingly punched her arm to which she responded with an eye roll.
"How about you come over tonight, stay over?" I asked Bex nodded eagerly assuring me her dad would be okay with it, we picked our bags up and slowly walked to form.