GEORGIA'S POV

I hadn't had another panic attack in days. It was going good with daddy as well. But only thing was, he was gettin more stressed I heard him. He had to stay behind after class one day and the teacher told him that his grades were skipping badly so he'd have to take after school tutoring. I pretended I hadn't bead but I felt bad for him. After all, he was my dadd-

"Aargh!" I squealed. Daddy had suddenly tickled me from behind and I couldn't help gigling. "No fair!" I mock-pouted. He ruffled my hair and I grimaced. "Baby, we have to talk about something important, okay?" he said.

I nodded and moved next to him on the sofa. "I'll be needing some extra lessons on some schools days..and I can't take you with me."

"Why noht?" I whined slightly. I couldn't help it.

"Because I need to focus on my learning but you're too cute and you need attention. I can't give that to you while I'm busy."

It made sense I guess..

"Buh wheres I go?" I peered up at him.

"That's the thing, sweetie. Your last experience with a babysitter didn't go well, so I'm thinking.. Zander?"

I nodded excitedly. Zander was nice man. But he was quite busy too.. "Daddy what if Zander busy?"

He patted my head and just smiled. "You don't have to worry about that, sweetie."

I nodded but felt hesitant.

"Now, I'll arrange this when we get to school. You'll have to go to Zander today, because I have to do my extra boring learning."

I held back a whine. I didn't want a sticker off my chart. I got my bag ready and waited for daddy. He took a while and I started to get bored but he couldn't help it I guess. He took my hand and I stayed close to him. We walked into the school again and went to the dining hall for a quick breakfast snack. I grabbed a glass of chocolate milk and no snack, but daddy sighed and swapped the chocolate milk for an orange juice box and also handed me a piece of toast wif butter on. I groaned cause he wasn't being fair but he didn't reply.

"Now, eat up and we'll go speak to Zander, okay?"

I nodded, already nibbling at the edge of my toast. Daddy ate an apple and had some milk and then waited for me patiently. I left my toast half-finished and took the carton of orange juice with me. Daddy sighed but took my hand and we headed to Zander's office. Zander looked up from his paperwork and smiled at us. "Ah, Sam and Georgia. How can I help you two?"

"Well, Zander, I've come to ask you of a favor. Can..Georgia just quickly go play somewhere while we talk?"

Zander pointed to the same playroom where I first met daddy. I entered the pastel room and curled up next to a massive teddy bear. I rested my eyes for a bit and thought about things. I didn't want to be away from daddy but Zander was nice man. So I'd be safe with him, but I didn't want to. I also wanted to cheer daddy up. Hopefully he'd stop being stressed if I went with Zander. I was rudely interrupted by Zander and daddy at the door. "So Georgia, I've agreed to look after you while your daddy studies." I nodded absentmindedly.

"Now, off to class you two!" Zander said.

Me and daddy had to go different ways, him to his own class, and me to Miss Sunshine. I entered and Miss Sunshine glanced at me nervously. "Feeling better, Georgia?" I nodded half-heartedly. I still didn't like her. I wanted to be with daddy right now. I didn't feel like socialising. Some other kids

tried to talk to me, but I ignored them. The thought remained in my head. 'Find daddy.'

I glanced over at the others, but they were playing and Miss Sunshine was busy talking to stupid Rose. I quietly went over to the door and pulled it open, slipping out with nobody noticing.

The hallway was long and I didn't know where daddy's class was. I ran down the hallway, peering into each class as I went by. No daddy in Math. No daddy in English. No daddy in Caregiver rules. No daddy in other classes. I felt sad. My mind clouded over and I didn't know where to go or what to do. The one thought still pounded in my head. 'Find daddy.' But I didn't know how. I sank down onto the floor and tried to hold back the tears of frustration. It wasn't fair. Why wasn't he there? Why wasn't he anywhere? I tried to remember where he went this morning, but I couldn't think. Stupid stupid memory. I got up and looked at a set of stairs. Maybe he was up there?

I sat, absolutely bored by the way, in class. I know I should focus on my schoolwork, but I felt troubled. I could sense this morning that Georgia wasn't happy. But I had no other choice. My teachers had warned me that if my grades got any lower, I'd be out of the school and I couldn't do that to Georgia. It'd be unfair to her if she lost me all because I didn't try hard enough. But my brain felt like cotton wool. Nothing the teacher said registered. I didn't like History. My favorite subject was English, but that was next period. I desperately needed the toilet so I put my hand up and asked to be excused. The History teacher gave me a stern look but he let me go.

I went down the hallway and started going down the stairs when I almost had a heart attack. Georgia, my little, was sat at the bottom of the stairs, crying. I rushed over to her and scooped her up into a hug. Her eyes flickered open and a wide smile spread across her face. "Daddy you came for me?"

I nodded and pulled her onto my lap. "Why aren't you in class, sweetie?"

She tensed up a little. "Don' be mad pwease.."

I frowned and pulled her closer. "Why would I be mad, pumpkin?"

She buried her face in my blazer and I could barely make out her words. "I missed you so me snuck outta class.."

My heart almost broke for here. "I'm so sorry, little one. I didn't know.."

She snuggled closer to me and I held her tight. I decided at that very moment, that I'd fight for better grades if it meant I could stay here with her. She meant so much to me, and now I could tell that I maybe meant more to her. She needed me. I couldn't let her down.