Friday is always a good day, I thought to myself as I pulled into Waterloo Road in my Mitsubishi Warrior, organising all my classes for the day in my head and remembering that I had training with Kacey after school. I slammed the door of my car, trying not to drop the mounds of folders and books gathered up in my hands.
"Alright miss" called Dynasty Barry from across the car park; she slowly began to walk over.
"Hey Dynasty, you okay?"
"Look, miss, thanks for what you're doing for our Kace, I've never seen her so happy about spending time with a teacher. I used to think you were the evil one, turns out your not bad."
"You're very welcome Dynasty, and thanks." I said, "Kacey puts in effort and I love her enthusiasm, that's more than I can ask for."
*bell rings*
"Alright miss I'll see you later. Look after our Kace will you, she's been a bit down recently."
*end of the school day*
I sat in my chair and slumped back with a cup of coffee before realising that I only had 15 minutes before training with Kacey. Rushing to my feet and gathering my things, I briskly walked down the hallway to ensure I was early enough to greet Kacey when she arrived. Nothing could of surprised me more than what I found when I walked into the changing rooms, I turned the corner to find a scared, shaking Kacey, curled up in a ball; and for once in my life, I didn't know what to do.
I felt a rush of protectiveness and I crouched down to Kacey's level before sitting down, ushering her to sit up and pulling her into a protective embrace.
"Hey, Kacey, calm down sweetie, what's up? You know you can talk to me?" I whispered, stroking her hair to help calm her down.
"Miss, you wouldn't understand, all my feelings, their so mixed up and I don't know what to do about it? I can't tell mum because she's still getting used to things, Barry is just insensitive, and Dyn, she does try so hard but she'll never be able to understand what I'm talking about."
"So, talk to me, you know that I'm gay and you know that I'm pretty good at understanding what people are feeling, even if I don't show it."
"Miss, you just wouldn't get it, you'd think I'm weird, and I don't know, you might think I'm really childish. I just can't." she said, wiping her tears from her cheeks, and looking up at me, longing for me to help her even though she didn't know how.
The truth is I didn't know how I was going to help either, the most I could do was try and get her to talk about it, and the PE changing rooms of Waterloo Road were not the place to do it. If I was going to help her properly, I needed to go for it and try my very hardest.
"Look, Kacey, forget training tonight, text your mum and say you're going round a mate's house for the evening, and we'll go back to mine, get a pizza, and chat. Sound good?"
"Yeah, sounds like a plan, Stan" She giggled and smiled, she seemed a lot happier now.
Kacey soon hopped up, picked up her bags and strolled down the hallways and into the car park, unlocking the car for me and plonking herself down on the plush leather passenger seat.
The journey home was fairly quiet, with the odd joke from Kacey about 'knowing what they say about people who have big cars'. I took it all with a pinch of salt because for one I know she was joking and two I know she was incredibly nervous. As the night went on and we'd got out of the car, ordered pizza, and settled down to watch Bend it Like Beckham, a favourite of both mine and Kacey's, the conversation started to flow more easily and I felt like I was working my way up to find out what was really troubling Kacey.
"Miss, this is gonna sound crazy, but, do you mind if I give you a hug, only, I've kind of forgotten what it feels like to be hugged by someone that actually does care about me. Mum never does any more; I still think she thinks she might catch something."
"Course you can, come here snuggle up, I'm not a monster you know, I love a good cuddle too once in a while, and as you can tell I've got no fancy woman living here to give me a cuddle each night." We both laughed but a part of me was serious, I sometimes wish I had someone here each night that I could come back to; I've just never been good at finding girlfriends.
I shivered as Kacey moved closer to me, wrapping her arms round me and giving me a good squeeze. I replicated what she had done, wondering what she was thinking and questioning whether I was the reason for her messed up feelings. No, no way. Nikki you cannot get into these situations with pupils. I thought to myself. I was brought to my senses quickly as I felt Kacey's soft lips on mine, I couldn't help but get lost in the moment. It felt beautiful.
I replicated her movements, holding onto her waist and breathing deeply as she run her fingers through my hair. God what was I getting myself into.
The night progressed and so did our kiss, only pausing for occasional breath. Finally the kiss came to an end and without saying a word, we slowly drifted off to sleep on the sofa.
Is this a bad idea? I have a feeling that tomorrow I'm going to have to have a serious chat with Kacey.