Nikki had hardly slept, she woke just half an hour after she'd fallen asleep and took a second to look around the room. She shivered slightly and pulled the blanket further around herself as she tried to work out where she was before it came to her and she quickly jumped from the bed, pulling on her clothes, not caring that her tshirt was on back to front and inside out as she straightened out the covers and folded the blanket neatly. She was grateful for the water and paracetamol which she swallowed before slipping her shoes on and quietly leaving the house.

She walked home along the seafront, hoping that the fresh air would help sober her up and once she got home she headed straight for the shower choosing to sit in the bottom of the enclosure, the whole room beginning to spin as the water pounded over her body.

Nikki had no idea how she managed to get herself dressed and looking presentable but somehow she managed it with just a few tears when she realised the vest top she'd pulled on under her shirt was one Vix had left behind. She called a taxi as she made her way downstairs knowing she would still be way over the limit for driving. She managed to drink three mugs of strong black coffee in the time it took for the taxi to arrive but she knew it wouldn't be enough, she knew there was half a bottle of vodka in the cupboard by the fridge, it had been Vix's, ordinarily Nikki couldn't stand the stuff but as the taxi driver beeped his horn she unscrewed the lid and took a large gulp hoping it would be enough to see her through the day.

Christine yawned as she flopped into the chair behind her desk, there were fifteen minutes before she had to be in the staffroom giving the staff briefing, if she closed her eyes now…"Christine, Hector and I have had an idea for the resiliance program, we thought…"

"Simon" Christine cut him off after he burst into her office without warning, "do we have to do this now?" she asked as she rubbed her temples.

"Late night?" Simon asked.

"I didn't sleep too well" Christine said truthfully.

Simon nodded, taking the hint, "I'll put the kettle on, make you a coffee."

Christine managed a smile, "thanks."

Nikki had no idea how she managed to walk in a straight line to the staffroom, "late night hey?" Sonya asked as she saw Nikki yawn as she propped herself up on the sideboard, waiting for the kettle to boil.

"Something like that" she mumbled.

Sonya laughed, the noise like a siren in Nikki's head, "sit down, I'll make you a cuppa, coffee is it?"

"Yeah" Nikki nodded, "thanks."

"I'll make it a strong one."

Christine finished her coffee before picking up her papers and making her way to the staffroom, "right everyone" Christine tried not to let how tired she was show as she began the staff briefing, frowning slightly when she saw Nikki sat in the far corner of the room nursing her mug and not paying any attention to what her boss was saying.

Nikki was only broken from her trance when the bell rang, she had a free lesson first thing and she was sure she could find an empty room somewhere to try and get a bit of sleep, either that or it would give her time to go to the local off licence to get something to help her through the day.

"Nikki" she jumped when she felt someone touch her arm.

"Yeah?" She looked up to find the staffroom empty and Christine sat on the seat beside her.

"Have you got a class now?"

"No, why?"

"Can we talk? In my office?" She could see Nikki looked unsure, "you're not in trouble Nikki, I just want to talk to you somewhere a bit more private than here." Nikki nodded and reluctantly followed Christine back to her office, "can I get you a drink or anything?" she asked, gesturing for Nikki to sit down once she'd told Sonya to make sure they wouldn't be disturbed.

"I'm okay?" Nikki said quietly.

"Really?" Christine asked as she sat in the seat beside Nikki, "and remember who you're talking to, I know you've had another drink since last night."

"I'm sorry" Nikki whispered, bowing her head as her eyes filled with tears.

"Hey, it's okay" Christine put her hand gently on Nikki's, "do you want to talk?"

"Vix has gone to Berlin" Nikki whispered, "I don't even want to be at home, her things are everywhere, everything just reminds me about how much I messed up" she said softly, unable to hold back her tears.

"Oh Nikki" Christine squeezed Nikki softly and was surprised when the usually strong woman began to sob.

"I don't want to go back, I don't want to be there on my own."

"You can't be here though, you're not in a fit state to teach. Go back to my house…"

"I can't do that" Nikki whispered, "I can't intrude."

"I won't be there, Connor's in London, you won't be intruding at all, you'll have the place to yourself."

"Christine, I…"

"You need to sleep Nikki, trust me, when that hangover finally kicks in you won't want to be in a class full of rowdy teenagers, you want to be tucked up in bed with a bucket, a bottle of water and some paracetamol."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course, I wouldn't have offered otherwise" Christine squeezed Nikki's hand again as she picked up the phone from her desk, "I'll call you a taxi" she said softly.

"What if someone notices I've gone?"

"I'll say you weren't feeling well so I sent you home, don't worry Nikki, I won't say a word to anyone."

Nikki's hands shook as she unlocked the door to Christine's house before stepping inside, even though she knew Christine lived alone there was still something homely about the place, something Nikki's home had never had until she met Vix, something the apartment would probably never have again. She was still stood in the hallway when she felt her phone vibrate in the pocket of her jeans making her jump slightly as it signaled a text from Christine, 'I mean it, make yourself at home, sleep in my bed, Connor's bed, the sofa, wherever you feel comfortable, have a bath, help yourself to anything in the kitchen, I'll be back by five.'

Nikki smiled slightly as she slipped off her shoes and hung her bag over the bannister, walking through to the kitchen and pouring herself a glass of water before replying to the text, 'Thank you.'

'No problem, there's still a pair of clean pyjamas on Connor's bed that I gave you last night if you want to change into something more comfortable'

'Really Christine, I can't thank you enough' Nikki replied as she sat down at the kitchen table, her head pounding.

'It really isn't a problem, the paracetamol is in the bathroom cabinet if you need some, now I'm teaching your next class so I'll let you get some rest, we can talk later.'

Nikki refilled her glass before slowly making her way up the stairs into the room she'd slept in the night before, not wanting to intrude on Christine's personal space. She changed into the pyjamas she'd been left, folding her own clothes neatly on the desk chair before climbing under the duvet, unable to keep her eyes open any longer.