shannon knew something was wrong with her daughter.

shannon’s baby girl had always been a bright girl. she funny and loud, so chaotic like her dad. you were shannon’s carbon copy — dark brown hair and bright blue eyes. while shannon loved her older two boys, part of her was so relieved when she had you — her baby girl.

the two of you were close as you grew up. you always went to her with any concerns, and shannon was glad. glad she had the relationship with you she always craved with her mam.

but now, at sixteen, you were quieter. not closed off, still bright and chaotic, but more secretive. you were socialising more, which shannon supposed was a good thing, but deep down, she never truly knew who you were actually going out with. she knew you were focused on your studies, particularly biology.

shannon was supposed to be proud.

but all she felt was concerned.

and you wanted to tell her, so many times. deep down, you knew what you was doing was wrong. what mr. o’connell was doing with you was wrong. but if your mam and dad found out, you would get in trouble. you didn’t want shannon to hate you. you didn’t know you was being manipulated. you didn't know you was being abused.

so you kept quiet about your relationship with your teacher.

and the family were none the wiser, all of them assumed you was focused on getting the best grades you could at tommen. but deep down? shannon knows.

shannon knows something is bothering her baby girl. she mentioned it to johnny, who brushed it off as teenage hormones, but agreed that you had been different lately, promising to also keep an eye on it.

like now, shannon is sitting on the couch with johnny as you walk downstairs and towards the door.

“love? where are you off to?” shannon asks.

“out, mam.” you call back softly. “i’ll be back in a bit.”

shannon gives johnny a look. he sighs. “two hours. be safe.” he calls after you.

“i will!” you call out, before the door shuts behind you.

shannon sighs.

yeah, she’s worried.