RACHEL'S POV

That night, back in my own bed, I barely slept. I was scared to fall asleep. I was scared that the nightmares would come back, that I'd have to relive it all. After relentless worrying for hours, I decided that I had to sleep, regardless of my fear. I had to keep focused in class. Worried, I forced my eyes shut and tried to think of happy thing as I slipped away.

I was sitting in our dimly lit kitchen, the particles in the air being illuminated by the thin beam of light peaking through the closed curtains. Swinging my little legs under the seat, I watched as my Mum made pancakes. Turning on the heat, my eyes focused on the flames and how the engulfed one another. Suddenly, there was faint screaming - nothing seemed wrong to me. I continued to watch as she cooked, but the screaming was in the background. The pan fell off the hob and the screams grew higher in pitch, they sounded closer. My Mum smiled at me with teary eyes as she bent down to pick up the pan. When she stood back up, I noticed that the whole bottom half of her bottom was burned and raw. I could hear my Dad shouting 'run, Rachel, run!' I could hear the terror in his voice. Despite that, I couldn't pull my eyes away from my Mum. Flames climbed her body and wrapped her up in a hot, orange blanket that danced around her. My Dad continued, 'I'm sorry!' He squealed, 'Rachel, please!' He chocked on his words and I could hear my pounding his fists against a wall. 'I love you, Sue!' He shouted at my Mum, but she didn't reply. She looked at him, tears spilling down her cheeks, and tumbled to the ground. Large hands wrapped round me and began to tug me out of the chair I was planted in. Too young to fend for myself; too young to help. I could only watch as the fire took away the person that brought be here, that raised me, that loved and supported me through everything. I watched as she left.

Waking up, I gasped for air as the memories took my breathe away. I began to cry - I miss her so fucking much. Lying down, I buried my face in my pillow and tried to mute the sobs.

---

Grabbing my bag full of books, I said bye coldly to Beth before exiting the dorm. I strolled down the halls, still a little shaken from my nightmare, and proceeded to make my way to my first class which was Music.

Entering the classroom, I tried to keep my breathing steady as I sat down. I took out the required books and set them down on my desk. Feeling someone's presence, I turned to see Tony hovering over me.

'Hi,' he smiled, leaning down and placing a quick kiss on my lips.

'Hey,' I faked a smile in return. The teacher gestured for him to return to his seat, and he did so. He glanced back and half smiled at me once more before focusing completely on the teacher and going back into his state of great concentration.

TONY'S POV

With the knowledge that the professor knew I was always whispering about the subject during class, I took the opportunity to change the conversation topic as I knew he wouldn't bother calling me out. 'Think she's okay?' I whispered to Vic.

'She's your girlfriend, dude. I don't know. I guess she was acting kind of weird after lunch.'

'Yeah, but nothing inappropriate was said or anything?'

'I know, we just talked about touring and stuff.'

'I know, weird.'

Pushing the thoughts aside, I refocused on what the teacher was scribbling on the board. Copying it down, I analysed every single word he said and tried to extract as much as I could from it.

'So there,' he finished, 'that is the origin of the bass. Pack up, but stay in your seats.' He gave me a rather unimpressed look as he spoke. Taking out my phone, I sent a text to Rachel to make sure she was okay.

To: Rae
Are you okay?

From: Rae
Yeah, I'm fine:)

To: Rae
Want to do something tonight?

From: Rae
Beth wants to have a 'serious talk' with me about us getting along etc. I'm sorry:(

To: Rae
It's okay

---

Taking a sip of water, I wrapped one arm around Rachel in a brief side hug as she sat down. 'Hey,' I said, swallowing.

'Hello,' she chimed back, kissing my cheek before propping her crutches up.

'Save it for the bedroom,' moaned Mike.

'Dude, they've been together for like a week! I really don't think they've got that far yet,' added Jaime - poor, innocent Jaime.

I giggled into my clenched fist before lifting up the second half of my sandwich.

'Tony..' said Jaime seriously, 'you two... no. No, I won't believe it.'

'Lies. Tony's too much of a gentleman to do it this early.'

'Yeah, 'gentleman'', interjected Rae, giving him a knowing look.

'What?' asked Vic, confused by her inside joke.

'Oh, nothing. I just thought gentleman weren't bossy, Tony can be very bossy sometimes you know.'

'Oh, we know. When it comes to something he wants, like really wants, there's no stopping him.'

RACHEL'S POV

Tony began to choke on his food, and I patted his back as he tried to breathe. 'Shit,' he smiled, being cautious as he swallowed for the second time. His face grew red and he glanced at me for a split second before averting his gaze to the table. 'Back in a minute,' he announced, getting up and heading towards the table where the ketchup sachets were.

'Rachel..' said Mike as he caught on. 'C'mon, tell them.'

'Mike,' I said under my breathe, 'shut up.'

'Shut up about what?' asked Vic, leaning down the table.

'I want her to admit that they did, it's so obvious.' I watched as Vic pieced together the clues and his jaw dropped as his eyes turned to Tony who was drumming on a nearby table whilst waiting in the line for his sachets.

'When?'

'Uh,' I began to blush as all the boys stared at me. 'Nearly at the beach that day, but-'

'He lost her bikini top,' added Mike. I shot him a dirty look.

'yeah, then nearly the night I broke my ankle.'

'Smooth,' laughed Jaime, 'smooth, Tony.'

'But, uh, properly, um, yesterday.'

'Oh fuck!' laughed Jaime, glancing briefly at Tony as he picked up the sachets and read them. We all watched out the corner of our eye as Tony returned to the table with his ketchup sachet. He peeled it open and squirted the sachet on to his chips. Taking a bite of one, he looked at us all staring at him and furrowed his eyes in confusion.

'We know, T-Tony, uuuh,' teased Mike, I kicked him under the table but he didn't seem to feel it.

'Oh god,' he said. 'I'm never going to live this down.'

'Was he good, Rachel? Was it big? Was it rough, gentle, passionate, kinky?' questioned Mike, looking rather excited but still joking.

'Yes, yes and wouldn't you like to know,' I winked in response.

'Oh my god,' said Tony, 'kill me now.' He put his face in his hands and half laughed as the boy's did so at my reply.

'No,' smiled Vic, 'this is too much fun.'

Thankfully, after a few more minutes of teasing, the boys dropped the subject. We stayed in the canteen up until the sounding of the bell, concluding lunch. Taking to my feet, Tony pulled me in for a long kiss, his hands on my hips. The boys moaned and laughed as he pulled me in ven closer, tilting his head to deepen the kiss.

'Come on lover boy, time for class,' said Jaime, pulling him away by the arm. 'Bye!' exclaimed Tony, stumbling round and hosting his backpack up on his back.

---

Entering the apartment, I threw down my backpack and plopped myself on the bed. Turning, I looked at the small picture I had on my Mum that was taped on my wall - she was so beautiful. Having decided that I was going to visit my Mum, I told Beth of my plans before leaving the dorm. I got on the next bus headed in the direction of the cemetery

Getting to the gates of the cemetery I realised I had failed to remember my keys or phone. I was kind of relieved - for a while, nobody could find me or get me or take me away from her, not like those hands did all those years ago.

Strolling through the countless graves, my heart stopped as I reached hers. I knelt down and leaned my forehead against the stone, a few tears falling from my eyes. 'I'm scared,' I confessed to her. The rain, for the third time that day, began to fall. 'Mum,' I sighed, 'I miss you.'

TONY'S POV

Walking down the halls, I made the decision to pop in and see Rachel. I knew she said she was busy, but I figured she'd be happy to get out of a fight with Beth. I knocked on their dorm room door and Beth opened. 'She's not here.'

'Where is she?'

'She said she was going to the cemetery, I'm not sure why. She didn't give a time or anything, sorry.'

'It's fine,' I said, stepping away from the door. Cemetery? Why would she be going there? I picked up my pace and ran back to my dorm, falling in the door. 'Where's the nearest cemetery ' I shouted through the house, lifting my hoodie off the hook.

'Probably Grayson. Why?'

'I'm not sure, I'll see you later!' I shouted, slamming the door behind me. As I sprinted through the halls and out the door, I pulled the car keys I'd borrowed from Mike. Slamming my palms against the window of the car, I paused momentarily. Pressing unlock, I opened the door and dived in. I turned on the ignition and slammed my foot on the gas as I speedily reversed and exited the parking lot.

Turning left off the motorway, I followed the signs to Grayson Cemetery I parked the car in a close by lot. Locking the car, I pulled my hood up as I ran as fast as I could to the cemetery Stumbling across the threshold, I scanned over the ground through the mist of the rain. I ran up the path and kept my eyes wide open for Rachel. Suddenly, I noticed a figure resting against a gravestone.

'Rachel?' I said, the figure turned and I seen her face covered in mascara and tears falling from her beautiful eyes. I looked at the stone and read it, coming to the realisation that it was her mother. She sat against the stone in only drenched jeans and a top, allowing the rain to soak her. I took off my hoodie and placed it around her, putting the hood over her wet hair.

'I miss her, Tony.'

'What happened?' I asked, feeling like it was a risky question but thinking that she may want to talk about it.

'When I was 5 there was a fire, me and my Dad got out but she didn't. I watched her - I watched her burn on front of me. A fireman had to pull me away because I couldn't physically move on my own accord. I wanted to stay with her, but they would'nt let me. Now, now I'm loosing...' she trailed off and began to sob again.

'Hey, hey. You're okay,' I said softly as I pulled her on to my lap and leaned my head against the stone. I took her hand and linked our fingers. I placed the back of my hand agaisnt the stone and she opened hers out on top of mine.

'She's always going to be here for you. She's always looking down and smiling at how incredibly beautiful her daughter has become. You can talk to her whenever you want, she'll always be listening. She's not going anywhere - she'll always be with you.'

'What about you?' she murmured into my shirt.

'What about me?'

'Will you always be here for me, be with me? You can't, Tony. You have to leave. You will leave for touring and I'll have to let go again.'

'Is this why you're hear? Why you were upset earlier?'

'I'm scared,' she admitted. 'I can't go through it again.'

'Rae, that won't happen. Even if we do go touring, I'd find a way. We'd find a way. You're not getting rid of me that easy. ' She laughed, but then began to cry even harder. 'Shh, I'm here. You're okay.' I tightened my arms around her body as the sobs continued.

'I'm never going to leave you. I promise.'

Notes

thank you for reading
<3