Chapter 8 - you're what?

Rosie's POV:

My heart was pounding as I raced up the stairs trying to outrun my father. Blood was pumping fiercely through my veins in pure anguish.

When I had walked in the house, something seemed different. My dad has lost his job today. He was a builder and had "accidentally" rammed a digger into someone's wall. This "someone" turned out to be his ex-girlfriend who had previously filed a restraining order against him. She was now pressing charges for multiple things.

I just needed to take one look at him to know I needed to stay out of his way. His face was a boiling red and he aggressively charged around the house like a bull. I tried to avoid him by going up stairs but I was too slow. He chased after me. Growling and bellowing at me, blaming me for his job loss. He caught my ankle, digging his nails into it, I'm certain they almost touched the bone beneath my skin. I cried out, hoping someone, anyone, would hear me screaming in fear. I tried to fight back but that only made him more angry. He dragged me back down the stairs and shoved me up against the wall. His face, an inch at most from mine.

After a few hours, it was dark outside, my body was well and truly beaten and battered. An uneasy silence hung about the house ; my dad had left, presumably to go drinking at the nearby pub. My lip was bleeding, my stomach had bruises all over it, red marks scattered my shoulders, teeth marks pierced my skin. Something inside me had changed. My thoughts suffocated me, disconnecting me from the reality I was facing. I wanted nothing more to wake up in the safety of Lucy Bronze's arms.

The thought of Lucy prompted me drag my empty body towards my phone. I pulled the piece of paper out of my coat pocket and shakingly typed the number into my phone. This was my lifeline. My only chance.

(Bold is Lucy, normal is Rosie)"Hello?""Lucy?""Rosie is that you? Are you okay?""No... Lucy I need you. Please"

After I weakly said that last sentence, I hung up. I didn't want to face what she would say. I couldn't face rejection again.

Lucy Bronze's POV:

"No... Lucy I need you. Please"

I didn't even need convincing. I was going to be there for my daughter.I shoved on a hoodie hastily and slid on my sliders. I ran down the hotel hallway to Steph's room. I banged on the door and waited for a response, "I'm going to Rosie's. She needs me". Usually you are supposed to ask either Steph or Sarina to leave the hotel after 7pm but I wasn't taking the possibility of receiving a no. I could tell that Steph understood by the look she gave me, "go get her" she encouraged. I had told the girls that Rosie was my daughter after dinner. Most of them were shocked. Lauren just shouted out, "knew it!". Now the only person left to tell was the most important one. My daughter. Rosie.

I jumped into Steph's car and quickly turned the keys and put the car into first gear. I drove out of the hotel car park and down the motorway towards the house I dropped Rosie off only a few hours ago. My head was spinning with thoughts. What would I say? Did I knock on the door or just walk straight in? I had no idea what to expect but I was preparing myself for the worst. My hands were shaking as I turned on the right indicator into Rosie's street.

Earlier when I had dropped her off, there was a beaten, old red corsa pulled carelessly half on the grass, half on the drive. That was no longer there. I began to wonder whether Rosie was actually here or she needed help somewhere else. I needed to put my aching brain to a rest. I had to do this. There was no getting scared now.

I hammered my fist down on the door. No answer. I tried again. Still no answer. I tried to call Rosie, while I skirted the edge of the house trying to find an open window or door. Anything that would allow me to enter the house. I was beginning to grow increasingly frustrated, angry and worried. Frustrated and angry at the fact I couldn't get in and I was probably wasting vital time. Worried that anything could be happening to my daughter and I wasn't there to prevent it. Nothing was working. I tried to open a window but it was useless, they were all locked. I took a step back to reassure myself that this was her house and I hadn't mistaken it in my current state of panic.

Rosie's POV:

I could hear someone desparately trying to get in. My dad had probably lost his key in the pub. I decided that I wasn't going to let him in. I couldn't. Lucy would hopefully be here soon.

With that thought, a light bulb turned on in my brain. Lucy.

I ran down the stairs as best I could, the wooden splinters piercing their way through my foot. But I didn't care about that now. I needed to get out of here.

I double checked it was Lucy before throwing the door open and latching myself onto her pale body. We just stood there for a while. It felt like time had stopped. I broke away from the hug and motioned for her to come inside. I began to say, "I'm sorry for calling you like that, you probably have better things to be doing". I was trying to hide how broken and empty I was feeling but I could tell she could see through my as if I was ghost, "shhh, it's fine" she reassured me.

She followed me into the living room and from her reaction, I could tell she was shocked by the way I was living. Week old pizza boxes littered the living room. Spilt beer cans and empty cigarette boxes strewn carelessly. I knew she wouldn't say anything now though. She was too respectful for that. Instead, she just looked towards me and said quietly and calmly, "go get your stuff". I was confused for a moment but then it finally clicked. I was going with her back to wherever she was staying. I had imagined that meeting Lucy Bronze would make me so happy and heal all my pain but it hasn't. It was different this time though. Someone was helping me through it.

I made my way upstairs, leaving Lucy to absorb the situation downstairs. I grabbed my school bag and added a few clothing items. I didn't really have much else. I looked around my room and all the memories came flooding back. Every single one was a negative one. I couldn't think of one happy or even bearable moment I had spent here. I was acting like I had found a new home. I didn't even know how long I was staying with Lucy. I just hoped it would give me time to figure things out.

I made my way downstairs, and saw that Lucy was sat at the bottom of them with her head in her hands. She stood up and turned round as soon as she heard me. I nodded at her and I knew instantly she understood what I was trying to say. Let's go. She placed her hand on my back and guided me to my front door. I felt safe.

Lucy Bronze's POV:I was still trying to put all the pieces together. I guessed that it had something to do with the people she was living with. The numerous crimson red blotches on the wall and carpets made it almost too easy to guess. We both got in the car trying to make a bit of light laughter, but really we were just in a desperate attempt to avoid the growing, obvious situation which neither of us wanted to address.

As we were nearly at the hotel, I looked over and saw that Rosie was feeling anxious about meeting the team, "you'll be fine, they'll love you" I reassured her. I could tell she was shocked I knew exactly how she was feeling. She replied, "you promise?". I smiled, "I promise".

It was nearly 9pm and most people would already be in their rooms beginning their nighttime routine of showering and getting ready for bed. I wasn't going to disrupt people for a team meeting so I decided it would be best if only Steph and Serena met Rosie tonight. The rest could wait till morning.

We got out of the car and I took Rosie's hand in mine. Giving it the occasional squeeze to keep reassuring her. We walked up to the lift and got in. I pressed the number of our floor and the lift slowly made its way up towards it. I knocked on Steph's door and she opened it. Her and Serena walked out and greeted Rosie. We had a quick conversation and Serena outlined a few points, "you can join training if you want, I've heard you're very good at football" To this, Rosie just smiled and looked down towards the floor. I caught Steph smiling at me out of the corner of my eye because I used to do the exact same thing whenever I was complimented.

Rosie's POV:After meeting Steph and Sarina I felt more at ease. If they were all like that, then I had nothing to worry about.

Lucy led me to her room and we sat down on the beds. I looked around and saw a sofa, 2 king size beds, a coffee machine, a kettle and a mini fridge. There was also an en-suite with a double shower, "nice room" I gestured towards Lucy. She nodded and replied, "we need to talk". I knew it was coming, and here it was.

I looked at her and could sense she was going to tell me something, and I was right.

Lucy Bronze's POV:I had wondered how to tell Rosie that I was her mum but I decided the best way to do it was to just be straight up with it. "I need you to know that after I've told you what I'm going to tell you, it is going to change your life". She looked confused and just replied, "okay?". I was glad she wasn't asking too many questions, I needed to get this over with, "I'm just going to come straight out and say it"

"I'm your mum"

"You're what?" She replied in complete shock. I couldn't tell if she was happy or not so I carefully said, "I'm your mum. Are you happy..?" I didn't receive a verbal response, but a physical one. Her arms were flung around my neck and it caught me by surprise, though I quickly reciprocated the hug. This is all the answer I needed.

After I told Rosie the news, she couldn't stop asking me questions. I answered them all before saying, "as your newly reinstated mother, I am telling you it is time for bed". She just laughed at me, "what? Did I do something wrong?" I replied confused. She just shook her head and curled into my side. I wrapped one arm around her shoulders and the other stroked her hair. I whispered into her hair, "I love you". She looked up at me, smiling, "I love you too".

I had waited 15 years to hear this.