As she glanced out of the window and watched the countryside speeding by she thought about her mothers goodbye at the station. It hadn’t been easy, her mother knew she didn’t want to leave but she had no choice but to make her. Lauren thought about the things she was leaving behind, she didn’t mind so much leaving her old school behind she knew it had cost her mother a fortune to send her there and she should be grateful but she had never really enjoyed it. She thought it might be nice to go to a mixed school the girls school she was used to could be very catty at times which Lauren had always been irritated by. She knew there was only one thing she would miss – her mum.

Up until now it had always been just the two of them; her dad had died when she was so young she couldn’t even remember him. Her mum had worked hard to give her the best of everything, private schooling, holidays in exotic countries, and expensive music lessons and dance classes and Lauren was grateful she didn’t care that she was giving it all up, she would just rather be with her mum.

When her mum first sat her down to tell her about her illness Lauren had felt numb, it wasn’t that she was surprised, she had known for a while that something wasn’t right she had heard her mum being sick and noticed how tired she had become she had just never imagined it could be so bad. Her mum had to give up work the treatment was going to be long and arduous that’s why she had arranged for Lauren to go away, she thought it was for the best.

Lauren knew there was no guarantee the treatment would work, she wondered if her goodbye at the station had been her last then quickly pushed the thought from her mind. She was going to stay positive about this; her mum was going to make it. Lauren had argued about going away at first; she was almost sixteen she could help around the house and look after her mum. Her mum disagreed, she didn’t want Laurens schoolwork to suffer and she had said she would get better more quickly if she didn’t have to worry about her. Lauren had promised her mum that she would work hard to do well in her exams and that she wouldn’t spend to much time worrying about her. She was going to have a new start in a new life and when her mum got better, which she would do, she would come and collect her.

There was still a couple of hours until she reached Chester where she would be spending the next few months living with her Uncle and Aunt and their family. Lauren pulled her ipod out of her bag, plugged the headphones into her ears and pressed play and let Snowpatrol’s ‘Eyes Open’ drown out her thoughts.

Ok guys this is the beginning of my idea for a new fic introducing a new character, let me know what you think!

a really strong start! Look forward to reading more!!!

Thanx just writing the next bit revealling which family she will be joining!

i like it. can't wait for the next part. oh I wonder who she's moving in with.

As always it was a chaotic morning in the Ashworth household Suzanne stood in the kitchen making tea as her family rushed about around her.

‘I can’t find my notebook, mum have you seen it?’ Hannah asked
Suzanne sighed ‘Have you looked on your desk?’
‘Yes of course, I can’t find anything since you went moved everything in my room around.’ Hannah grumbled.
‘I’m sorry love, but I had to make room for your cousin, I could hardly put her in with one of the boys could I?’
‘I know but...’ Hannah began.
‘No buts, its not easy for her leaving all her friends behind, you lot should know what that’s like, I want you all to try and be understanding, its going to be a difficult time for her with what her mum’s going through.’
Hannah slumped down in her chair and began to nibble on a piece of toast. ‘Ok mum’
Suzanne glanced at her youngest son, ‘Josh are you listening to me this applies to you too, I want you to look after your cousin.’
‘What? Um yeah ok, what why do I have to look after Fletch?’ Josh looked at his mum in confusion as he shoved another spoonful of Banana Bongo Flakes in his mouth.
‘Your other cousin Josh.’ Suzanne exhaled sharply, ‘I’ve told you at least three times this week she’s coming to stay for a while because her mums ill and I want you to be nice to her, she’s going to be going to school with you too, so you can help her find her feet and make sure she doesn’t get in with the wrong crowd can’t you.’
Josh swung round in his chair ‘Lauren! But she’s…’
Before he could say anymore Suzanne cut him off ‘Lauren’s a lovely girl. I don’t want to here any complaints Josh, your father agreed to this and he could hardly say no when his sister’s so ill could he. So we’ll all just have to get along.’
Fletch appeared in the doorway ‘Morning Auntie Suzanne, morning Hannah, are you ready Josh?’
Josh stood up and pushed back his chair and picked up his school bag ‘Yeah come on lets go.’
‘What was all that about?’ Fletch asked his cousin as they headed out the door.
‘I’ll tell you on the way to school’ Josh replied as he glared back at his mum.

‘I better go to mum’ Hannah said as she put down a piece of barely eaten toast and got up and left the room.
‘Ok bye love’ Suzanne began to clear up the mess and debris her children had left behind, she had just about enough time to do the washing up and give the place a wipe round before her shift at the hospital. She wanted the place to be tidy when her niece arrived, she wasn’t sure why she felt so strongly about it she was only a fifteen year old girl for gods sake. Her husbands sister had always made her a bit nervous she had had an important high powered job somewhere down South before she got ill and had sent Lauren to an expensive private school for girls. Suzanne thought about this for a moment as she emptied the dish water from the sink, ‘well things are certainly going to be different for her here.’
‘What was that love?’ her husband Neville stood in the doorway.
‘Nothing, I was just thinking things will be different for Lauren here.’
‘Oh yeah, well we’ll do our best for her’ Neville stood straightening his tie, ‘her train arrives at eleven thirty. So I’ll see you both tonight’
Suzanne stood still as Neville kissed her cheek briefly and made his way towards the door. What her husband had just said took a moment to register. She spun round quickly, ‘wait a minute, I’m not picking her up you are.’
Neville hovered in the doorway keen to leave the house, ‘I can’t love you’ll have to do it I’ve got a meeting with the suppliers.’
‘Well I’ve got a shift at the hospital.’
Rhys and Gilly pushed past Neville as they entered the kitchen.
‘S’cuse us dad, any chance of any brekkie mum?’ Rhys asked as he open the fridge
‘Morning Mr A, Mrs A’ Gilly headed for the kettle ‘Anyone want a cuppa?’
Neville looked at his son ‘Rhys will have to do it then’
Suzanne considered the suggestion as her eldest son froze at the mention of his name.
‘Do what’ he asked.
‘Ok’ Suzanne said to her husband who was already at the front door. She turned to her son. ‘I need you to pick your cousin up from the train station in Chester, Gilly can go with you, you can take my car and drop me off at the hospital on the way.’ Suzanne took the pack of bacon from her sons hand knowing a cooked breakfast would sweeten the deal.
Gilly continued to make tea and nodded towards the bacon in Suzanne’s hand. ‘Any chance of something for me too Mrs A?’
Suzanne sighed. ‘Ok I’ll make you both breakfast but only if you pick your cousin up from the station’ She looked intently at Rhys as she said this.
Rhys sat at the table and pouted, ‘I haven’t even seen her in about a year I might not recognise her’
Suzanne cracked an egg into the frying pan. ‘Well I can’t imagine there will be that many fifteen year old girls hanging around the train station at 11 in the morning and if there are you’ll just have to hope she recognises you.’

‘So are you gonna tell me what that was all about back at yours’ Fletch asked Josh as they walked through the village.
‘My cousins coming to stay’ Josh replied sharply. ‘Her mum’s ill or something so she’s got to stay with us while her mum has treatment.’
‘So what’s the problem with that. I stay all the time.’
‘Yeah well its different isn’t it Lauren’s different, she’s from down south, she’s posh she went to some stuck up school for girls.’
‘She didn’t seem that bad when I met her at that party your mum and dad had last year. Actually I thought she was quite fit.’
‘Who’s quite fit?’ Michaela Mcqueen asked nosily as she walked up behind the two boys with Amy Barnes and Sasha Valentine.
Josh smiled as he caught site of Amy ‘Hi Amy’
Amy smiled back ‘Hi Josh’
Michaela sighed and shook her head before turning her attention to Fletch, ‘So who is it you think is fit then?’
Fletch knew there was no point in doing anything other than answer Michaela’s question, if he didn’t she would be on at him all day, ‘Josh’s cousin.’
‘Isn’t that a bit sick?’ Michaela asked as she screwed up her face.
Josh stopped out side Il gnosh ‘ Yeah exactly Fletch she’s my cousin.’
Fletch carried on walking ‘I was just saying ….anyway she’s not my cousin is she.’
Michaela still looked confused as they all followed Fletch ‘Yeah but doesn’t it mean your related or something cos she’s Josh’s cousin and so are you’
‘No’ said Fletch defensively ‘ I’m related to Josh through his mums side of the family and she’s related to him through his dads side. I’m not related to her at all.’
‘Well it all sounds a bit weird to me’ Michaela said as they rounded the corner.
‘How come you two are going on about this anyway?’ Amy asked Josh as they walked together behind their respective best friends.
‘My cousins coming to stay with us whilst her mum has some treatment for some illness or something.
‘God that’s awful’ Sasha exclaimed as they approached the school.
‘Yeah that’s what I thought and she’s going to be coming to school with us and my mum wants me to look out for her’
Michaela paused ‘Ok Josh I think Sasha was talking about the fact her mum is ill’
‘Yeah I was’
Josh looked slightly guilty.
‘Will you lot hurry up we’re gonna be late’ Fletch said as they made there way through the school gates and the bell rang.
Amy linked arms with Josh as they headed towards the school ‘I’m sure she can’t be that bad’
‘Yeah probably not’ Josh smiled at Amy but remained unconvinced.

Lauren felt her stomach rumble as the train pulled away from Wolverhampton She had been travelling for just over an hour already and had about half an hour or so before she had to change trains at Crewe. Something which wouldn’t be easy with all her luggage, to think she had wanted to bring more! Lauren had been quite annoyed when her mother had said perhaps it would be good idea to leave her guitar behind. Lauren loved to play but understood it would be another sacrifice she would have to make in her new life.

She rummaged through her bag and pulled out the bar of chocolate she had grabbed from the fridge before leaving the house that morning. As she did she noticed a rectangular package wrapped in brightly coloured paper. She removed it from her bag and found it had a gift tag attached.

To my darling Lauren
We’ll be together again soon.
Keep smiling and be good.
All my love
Mum xxx

Lauren felt hot tears well in her eyes and a lump rise in her throat. She was determined not to cry she swallowed hard and forced back the tears. She carefully removed the tag from the package and slid it into her wallet behind a small photo of her and her mum she had cut from an album at home not long after her mother had told her about her illness. She looked at it for a moment before turning her attention to the package.

Lauren hastily tore away the paper and opened she box she found underneath. Inside she found two things, the first was a larger print of the picture she had in her wallet in a beautiful silver frame. Her mum must have had it done especially for her. It was a nice picture, taken before her mother had become ill, although Lauren thought she probably was ill then they just hadn’t known it. They were both smiling at the camera Lauren’s blonde hair and blue eyes an image of her mothers. It was taken in Italy the day they had taken a boat ride off the coast of Naples and the sun had shone and tanned their skin despite the fact it was nearly November. She smiled sadly to herself and put the picture frame gently back in the box. Nestled in the corner was a small blue velvet box she picked it up and stroked the velvet before pushing back the lid.

Inside the box she saw something she recognised instantly, it was a ring of her mothers she had often admired. Her father had brought it for her mum the day Lauren was born. It had a sapphire set between two small diamonds on a thin gold band. Her mum had often told her how her dad had chose the sapphire as it would always remind them of the first time Lauren had opened her eyes. Her mum would tell Lauren when she was little that she was sapphire and her mum and dad were the diamonds always by her side.

‘The train is now approaching Crewe. Crewe will be our next station stop.’

A message sounded over the trains tannoy Lauren lifted the ring from its box and slid it onto her finger where she decided she would keep it until she could return it to her mother. She pushed the box containing the picture frame back into her bag along with ipod and began to gather up her belongings.

thats really good, carry on!

WOW! You have been busy writing all night! And what a lovely story - looking forward to more!

Changing trains had gone more easily than Lauren had expected but then she had had some help from a cute guy who she thought looked kind of like a student she might not have made it to the platform if he hadn’t carried her case for her. She had been pretty weighed down with her holdall, her case and her laptop. He had seen her struggling and caught her eye; as he walked past she flashed him her best smile and next thing she knew he was offering to carry her case. She was used to getting this kind of attention from guys, she was pretty and slim with longish blonde hair that fell in loose curls around her shoulders. She looked much older than her fifteen, almost sixteen years out of her school uniform and had even been able to pass for eighteen on the few occasions she had been brave enough to try. He had chatted to her on the platform but she was in first class on the train and he wasn’t apparently he was travelling to Liverpool for something or other Lauren couldn’t remember now as she had only been half listening to him. It wasn’t that she was being rude it was just the closer she got to Chester the more nervous she got.

As she took her seat for the final part of her journey Lauren hoped her Aunt and Uncle would already be at the station when the train arrived she didn’t know anything at all about Chester and she was a little worried about making her way through the station with all her things.

Whilst she stared out the window she thought about the family she would be staying with; she only saw them once or twice a year but she thought her Aunt and Uncle seemed nice enough it would be odd though, Lauren was used to being an only child. She wasn’t really sure about her cousin Rhys he was older than her and the last time she had seen him was at a family party where he had spent the whole time stood at the bar with his floppy haired friend trying to chat up the barmaid. Hannah, she thought had always seemed quite nice she was just over two years older than Lauren all the same Lauren had always thought Hannah always seemed friendly and smiley whenever the family had got together. Although Lauren was a little worried about how Hannah was going to feel having Lauren share her bedroom, Lauren was certain that if things were the other way round she would be a little annoyed by it even under her current circumstances.

That just left Josh. She suspected Josh would be the least pleased to see her. They had never particularly got on. There was barely two weeks between them in age and the families had always compared the two of them in everything they did, Lauren often faired better and had regularly heard people saying to Josh ‘You ought to be more like your cousin’ when they were at family gatherings and parties. She didn’t blame him for resenting her she would have probably felt the same if things had been the other way round she just wished he would understand it wasn’t her fault, it wasn’t as if she had encouraged anyone to compare them. At the last family party Josh had turned his back on Lauren when she tried to talk to him and gone off somewhere with his friend. She knew he thought she was posh and stuck up, she had overheard him once imitating her accent it had hurt to hear her cousin being so mean about her. She sighed quietly to herself and hoped things wouldn’t be difficult between them.

‘The train is now approaching Chester. Chester will be our next station stop.’

Once again the trains tannoy had interrupted her thoughts. This time for the last time.

‘Well this is it.’ She whispered softly to herself as she stood up and watched as the train pulled into the station.

ok this is the next part. I'm going to write some more a little later but now I need a break!

really good, hope you carry on!

I'm going to! I've already got the next three or for parts planned and have some other ideas for later parts but at the moment I have no energy to think about it properly. I didn't get to bed til 7am and then I had to get up at 12 to spend my afternoon with a class full of 8yr olds!!

thats my name!!! lol, story is fantastic, looking forward to more

Rhys pulled in to the station car park in his mums Fiesta and scanned around for a parking space. ‘Gilly look for somewhere to park will ya.’
‘ I am mate this place is packed out you’ll have to go over there.’ Gilly indicated to a spot furthest from the station entrance.’
‘That’s miles away. I’ll go over there in the pick up zone’
‘Yeah but don’t you have to stay with the car if your over there, your mum said to meet her off the platform.’
‘Well you can go meet her.’
‘Rhys, mate, I haven’t got a clue what this kid looks like and even if I did she doesn’t know me does she. She’s hardly just gonna follow after me cos I say I know you is she? If did I’d be worried.’
Rhys was starting to get frustrated he hadn’t wanted to be stuck with his little cousin for the day, he had planned to go to the SU with Zak to check out the new barmaid everyone was going on about.
‘RHYS, over there.’ Gilly said wildly pointing his arms at a space just as a middle-aged woman in an Audi pulled into it. Gilly sighed, ‘too late.’
‘Right ok. We’ll go back and park all the way over there but she can carry her own bloody cases.’ Rhys said brusquely. ‘What time is it anyway?’
‘Nearly twenty to twelve.’
‘B o l l o c k s we’re late.’