Nicki walks over to her car, the sting still sharp in her cheek and the side of her nose. She knows from her army training that it isn't broken and she's felt much worse pain. So why does this affect her so much, she can feel the familiar sting of tears in her blue bordering grey eyes. Nicki had always been the tough one, the one people would rely on, the one people could come to no matter what to talk about anything. She was the strong one; she couldn't let people see her cry over one silly student. Nicki could hear someone following her, unwilling to stop encase they could tell she was close to crying, Nicki sped up towards her car.
Four Steps Away.
Three Steps Away.
Two Steps Away.
'Nicki!' She heard Tom's voice coming from close behind her. She sighed knowing that there was no way to get out of this. She turned around and as she knew, Tom spotted the tears straight away. 'Tom, I just want to go home now' she let out another sigh and lowered her head. Tom noticed due to it being over an hour since the bell went for the end of the school day, that the grounds were nearly empty consisting of just a few stragglers who had obviously just strayed out of late classes or detentions, and the few teachers that wanted to escape early and do there marking at home instead of in their classrooms or the staff room. Tom thought Nicki wouldn't be bothered by the few people left here if he showed some form of affection, there was nothing in it anyway, and they were just friends. Tom stepped forward and embraced Nicki, pulling her close to him and just holding her, knowing all she needed was a friend, someone showing they cared. For once she needed someone looking after her and not the other way around. At first he felt Nicki tense in his arms, but once she felt he wasn't going to give up, he felt her relax and snuggle in. 'Nicki why don't I drive you home, and we can talk there. Don't worry about your car. I'll drive you in, in the morning too.' Tom felt Nicki nod against his chest, so he slightly pulled away. He felt Nicki cling to him tighter, he knew she needed comfort and wasn't one to ask for it, so he didn't want to pull away fast and scare her when she already seemed untrusting. 'Nicki, I just need to go back in to the school, to get my stuff and keys, and then we can leave ok.' Feeling another nod Tom slowly moved back and this time Nicki let go. 'Do you want to come in or wait here?' Nicki looked at him; she didn't want to seem weak. 'You know what, Tom its ok I'll just head home. Don't worry' 'Nicki, I don't think you should be on your own.'
'You think that I can't look after myself?'
'I didn't say that Nicki, I meant that you're probably in shock' he noticed her walls starting to come up, the walls that were there when he tried to apologize and give her the job when she first came to Waterloo Road. The walls that he had managed to break down over time, the walls that were almost gone after everything with Josh. 'Please, just… let me…' Tom didn't know what to say, he wasn't sure what he wanted to say. 'You know what, come to mine for coffee, you can stay for tea with us. I'm sure Josh would love to spend time with you. Considering you seem to be the only one that actually understands where he's coming from.'
Nicki looked up; she didn't know if she was shocked or if she was happy. Tom seemed to want to spend time with her, want to make sure she was okay. Nicki showed him a small smile, and they both started to walk towards the school doors. While grabbing his stuff Tom sent a quick message to Josh explaining everything, well everything as simply as possible for a quick text and telling him to call for a pizza. Unsure of what Nicki preferred he told Josh to play it safe by ordering one four cheese, one vegetarian and whatever Josh himself would want, knowing Josh well Tom knew there would be a peperoni pizza with extra cheese and sadly extra peperoni also with the two he suggested. Tom hated the smell of the stuff but if it made his son happy what could he do. He then remember on the way to the car to text Josh and tell him to use some of the extra coins hidden in the kitchen draw to go the shop down the road and get in some ice cream, he may not have known Nicki's favourite pizza topping but he knew she had a weak spot for Ben and Jerry's and if he was honest so did he. If there was any way of making her talk to him, this was it.
Nicki hadn't spoken at all to Tom on the way to and from the staff room to Tom's car. As promised he was going to drive them to his house and her home, if she wanted, at the end of the night. Tom was starting to wonder why she was so quiet. They both slid into the front of the car, and Tom began the drive back to his house. It was quiet but not an awkward silence, yet Tom still didn't like it. It was disturbing him; he reached down to the CD player and pressed the on button. A gentle slow music started to play out the stereo. Yet it just fuelled his agitation, so he reached down and turned it back off again.