A/N/: Okay so this part isn't really Tikki, its more Tom. But the end...well you'll know what I mean:P I'm not sure if this is any good, never wrote Tikki before or Tom alone for that matter...hmm. Hope its okay. I chose to do the book Of Mice and Men because its to do with Loneliness and that's mainly what this part is about. :) P.S. I LOVE QUOTES woo. Hope you enjoy! Sammiee Jay xo
Disclaimer: I do not own Waterloo Road, Never have, Never will. If I did, Tom and Nikki would be together already...
"Maybe ever'body in the whole damn world is scared of each other."
~ John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men
"Lennie smiled with his bruised mouth. 'I di'nt want no trouble,' he said. He walked towards the door, but just before he came to it he turned back. 'George?' 'What you want?' 'I can still tend the rabbits, George?' 'Sure. You aint done nothing wrong.' 'I di'nt mean no harm, George.' 'Well get the hell out and was your face.'"
Tom read aloud from his old copy of the old classic 'Of Mice and Men'.
He looked up at his relatively small class, all nearly half asleep.
He couldn't help but miss having Josh in his class. Yes, he was a handful some of the time; but weren't they all? He sighed.
"So can anyone tell me what your first impressions of George and Lennie are, after reading the first three chapters?" He asked, unenthusiastically.
A dull silence descended on the room everyone staying silent.
Tom raised his eyebrows, throwing his book down onto his wooden desk, the sound of two objects colliding with a slap resounding throughout the classroom causing the students heads to all bolt upright.
"Everybody in this class is predicted to pass with at least a C grade GCSE! If you can't even tell answer this question, you will be lucky to get a D!" He ranted at his class.
He was worried about Josh; he hadn't slept properly since he'd moved back to Rochdale and he hadn't been eating a lot. It didn't feel right being in the house on his own; no matter how old he was...everyone gets lonely.
His eyes scanned the room, hopefully.
"Kevin?" He half said and half sighed, he hadn't thought of him as the 'smart type' he thought he was just going to ask a ridiculous question like most people had done that lesson.
Kevin put his pen down, leaning back in his chair with ease.
"Well, everyone has different perceptions of people's characters but personally I find George very serious. He's controlling, serious and loves being in control of Lennie. However he is very caring, intelligent maybe, mature responsible and probably the most important, he's very patient." He said as he looked at tom, before he continued. "Whereas Lennie is very childish. He's forgetful, enthusiastic, reliant on George and He is dopey." He said, as if he was bored.
Tom's eyes widened at his answer.
'Note to self; never prejudge people...'
"Tom? Tom...TOM!" Michael shouted in his strong Scottish accent. Tom snapped out of his daydream.
"Sorry Michael...what's up?" He asked, sitting up sipping at his tea.
"I should be asking you that question, mate..." Sighing, he sat down next to him, lacing his fingers together. "Talk, it makes everything easier."
Tom looked up before looking back down again.
"It's not the same without Josh...I almost hate letting people into my life because sooner or later they leave," He sighed. "Izzie, Davina, Lorna, Sam, Denzil...Nikki..." He sighed, before looking up. His eyes were glistening with unshed tears.
"Nikki?" He said, his hand resting on his arm.
"Yeah." He sighed. "Nikki. I liked her Michael, I do. I miss her. I miss them all!" He said, close to tears.
"I'm not going to pretend that I know what you're going through mate, 'cause I really don't. All I can say is that you will find the right person for you someday. And as my mother once told me, everything will be alright in the end and if everything is not okay, it isn't the end." He said softly before standing up and brushing down his trousers.
"You never know, the right person for you may be closer than you think." He smiled.
"Thanks Michael, but I'm not into all that...'gay' stuff..." He said, his tone laced with amusement.
Michael laughed. "I meant...no, you'll see what I mean soon enough." He smiled before leaving the staffroom but not before nicking one chocolate biscuit.
"...Just before chalky arrives..." He chuckled leaving the room finally.
Tom finally cracked a smile and rolled his eyes before looking down at his shoes.
Closer than I think? Yeah, doubt it.
Tom looked at his phone as he heard it beep on his desk during the last lesson of the day. He couldn't hide the smile that graced his lips as he read the name on the screen.
'Josh'
He clicked open and waited for the text to show.
'Alright Dad, How are you keeping? Rochdale feels weird without you here. The jobs going well:'-) Caught up with Dan yesterday, you know my friend from year 7 that moved to a private school? He was asking about you:'-) heard the news about the 'new' member of your team? Have a feeling you may be happy;-) Anyway, Later Dad. Josh x'
As he read it, his smile only grew wider.
What did he mean by 'New'?
Why do I not know about this? I'm supposed to be half the deputy head!
"Alright Tommo!" Matt chirped walking into his classroom at the end of the day.
No, surely not? I told Michael I wasn't into gay stuff!
"Alright Matt..." Replied Tom, warily.
"You heard?" He smiled, walking up to the desk tapping away at his phone.
"Heard? Heard what?"
"Oh, doesn't matter..." He said awkwardly.
"Matt tell me...I've had enough of not knowing. First Michael, then Josh texted me – and he's back in Rochdale for God sake! Now you? What the hell is going on?" He said, looking up at him.
"It's not anything bad, I think you'll find it quite good! I mean-" He stuttered before he got cut off.
"Alright Clarkson," A woman's voice interrupted the male's conversation.
No. It can't be.
Tom's head swung round to face the door to see her leant against the door frame. Dressed in black trousers –nothing new there- he thought, cheekily. A black fitted top showing off her perfectly flat stomach and a blazer. Her medium length brown hair hung perfectly around her face. Her white teeth showing as she smiled widely, lips coated in a red gloss.
It is.
"Nikki?" He whispered into the silence.
