Michael had been watching Lorraine for a while now she just didn't seem her usual sparky self; she seemed to act even stranger whenever Nicki was in the room or near her. Michael needed to get to the bottom of this but how? It wasn't like Lorraine was going to tell him, and him and Nicki were never close. Maybe he could ask Tom, Tom and Nicki used to be inseparable but ever since they moved here they seemed different, more distanced. Michael looked around the room, now as he thought about it half the staff room seemed unusual, they were all sat quietly reading, marking or just murmuring between themselves, even Grantly seemed quiet and distant from everyone else. There probably caught up in the tension between Lorraine and Nicki, that seemed to engulf the room and the people within it without them even saying what was happening between the two of them.

That's it; Michael decided he was having no more. 'Nicki!' She turned round in fright due to his raised voice, so she should be scared, he thought, she has messed with the wrong person. Well she's messed with Lorraine that means she's messed with me. 'My office twenty minutes I need a word.' Lorraine then turned around looking at him confused it was rare he'd have a meeting with a member of staff without talking to her about it first. He could hardly talk to her about it she wouldn't like the idea that he wanted to confront Nicki, she wouldn't even tell him what was wrong. He knew that if he asked her first she would tell him that there was nothing wrong with her and that Nicki had nothing to do with it. Nicki nodded and turned back to Tom, Tom looked concerned but never said anything. They both started talking to each other again, he could tell Tom was trying to reassure her even though he was unsure himself of what was going on.

I walked off towards my office; head deep in thought what should I say? Should I play it like I know everything that's going on, or should I just outright ask her what she's done. Michael walked into his office telling Sonya he didn't want to see anyone and not to allow anyone but Nicki in to talk. Michael slumped down at his desk, maybe this was a bad idea. Nicki and Lorraine would eventually sort things out between themselves. But he hated seeing Lorraine in this state. He knew that after speaking to Nicki, Lorraine would hate him even more. This might just make everything worse. But then again it could sort everything and then Lorraine would fall into his arms at the end of the day thanking him and declaring her love.

While he'd been lost in thought twenty minutes had passes and Nicki walked nervously into his office, she didn't understand why she was here. She hadn't done anything Jodie and her had gotten on fine before she left and no other student had caused her to snap, the staff seemed fine with her. Michael looked up when he heard the door close 'ah, Nicki' Nicki looked up quickly 'Michael I don't understand why I'm here' Michael smiled looking at her 'I know what you've done to Lorraine.' Nicki looked confused and felt just as confused as she looked. What she did to Lorraine what did he mean? She hadn't done anything to Lorraine, then she remembered before the Easter break and her shoulders slumped. So this was it aye she couldn't deal with it herself she had to make Michael sack her? If Lorraine had a problem then why didn't she come to Nicki herself and tell her she felt at unease about the proposal she made before the holidays, she would have left herself if Lorraine had requested it.

Nicki looked down at the ground 'I didn't mean to offend her I just thought' Nicki couldn't finish the sentence she was near tears. Michael got up anger radiating through him, 'well you shouldn't have thought then should you!' Michael saw Nicki deflate even more; good he thought I'm getting somewhere then. He walked closer to her again, by now Michael looked scary to Nicki, his face contorted in anger. It wasn't a sight she wanted to see again. Nicki all of a sudden felt herself being jolted backwards, that's when she realised Michael, had pushed her. Nicki looked up in shock, Michael did it again shouting abuse in her face about how she shouldn't have done what she did, how Lorraine was disgusted with her and how if Lorraine wasn't so kind Nicki would be out of a job. Nicki by now was crying, she didn't completely understand what was going on, couldn't Lorraine have had a quiet word with her rather than the physical abuse she was receiving of Michael.

That's when they both heard the door open, Nicki turned to look who was coming into the office hearing Sonya murmuring about Michael saying that no one was allowed in, she didn't see the final blow coming. Lorraine stood at the door a look of utter horror on her face she heard Michael's last shout of how unwanted Nicki was around here and saw the last blow that hit Nicki making her fall and crack her head on the wall. Lorraine screamed in horror at the blood seeping out and colouring the floor she quickly ran to Nicki gathering her into her arms and calling the ambulance from her mobile. When she had given the details to the person on the switch and was assured the Ambulance was on the way she looked up at Michael in horror, 'what have you done?'