The Drama With My Drama Teacher

This Is Acting

This Is Acting

I will admit I was a little surprised when the reporters didn't come for me.

My name had been left out of the newspapers, and so far, they didn't seem to know anything about me.

I put down the last of the newspapers Chris brought home on the table, as I have finally finished reading all of them. My name isn't mentioned in any of the articles.

"I'm not in any of them" I say, looking up to look at Chris. "They don't know who I am"

There are other girls mentioned by name, and a number of the total victims, which is higher than I expected with 103 people in total, all having suffered varying degrees of abuse.

They named all four of the teachers: Mr Howard, Mr Knee, Mr Quay and Mr Tunstall. They've included mugshots beside their names. The cold, printed face of Mr Howard is enough to make me feel light headed, my stomach turning.

I close the newspaper on the table, not wanting to look anymore. "I've been texting my friend Lisa, it's all they've been showing on the news all day. They've changed tonight's schedules because they've got exclusive interviews with some of the victims" Gemma announces.

"It's really everywhere then" Chris states, sitting down on the sofa beside Gemma. He takes her hand in his.

"They haven't mentioned me though" I say again "They don't know who I am, they don't know I'm involved"

"It doesn't mean that they won't know though, eventually" Gemma chips in gently, trying to prepare me for the worst.

"But this is the time when everything is exploding!" Chris counters "The press will know about everyone- they've even got mugshots and names. If they haven't included Chelsea and no-one has approached her, bear in mind the stories broke this morning, then I don't think anyone will"

Once again, there's suddenly a loud thud at the door, followed by something falling over and smashing, some cursing, and then another loud thud on the floor.

"Dad?" Chris calls out, and I can't help but snigger.

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree then.

"Have you heard?" Dad exclaims, rushing into the living room. Matthew is in his pushchair still, and Dad wheels him into the living room.

Chris goes to pick him up, and Dad notices the pile of newspapers on the coffee table, and the television still blaring in the background. "Yeah, we know" Gemma confirms, nodding her head.

I take a few steps towards my Dad, a smile on my face. "They don't know anything about me. They don't know that I'm involved" I tell him.

"I know. There was the option of a confidentially clause, and I knew it was what you wanted so I accepted it. Your statement will still be used as evidence, as since they've decided to plead guilty, it seems unlikely you'll have to appear in court" Dad explains.

It's strange, but all of a sudden it feels like a massive weight has been lifted from me. My puppet master has pulled the strings to straighten me from the slump I was in.

"So, no one will ever know I was involved?" I ask, and Dad nods.

"Indeed. It's not just your name on the line here, things are easily googled and I don't want those scum being anywhere near my business" Dad fumes, and I reach up to wrap my arms around his neck "They already tried to hurt my Princess, they're not getting the satisfaction of disrupting my company as well"