So here, as promised is the next chapter. I apologise in advance for my horrific analysis of Shakespeare, English Lit is the bane of my life! Thanks for sticking with me and please drop in a review if you like it (or if you don't, constructive criticism).
Realised I didn't put a disclaimer in the first chapter, but I'm writing fanfiction for goodness sake, you can take it as read.
"So, what brings you to Waterloo Road?"
"My brother just died, so I had to move in with my grandmother."
There was an awkward pause. "That's sad, how did he die?"
Katherine braced herself before speaking, "He was in the army."
A storm of questions bombarded her. One boy grinned commenting, "That's sick, how many people did he kill?"
It was a question she had been asked a million times, first regarding her mother and then, more recently, her brother. It was a question she never wanted to answer.
"I...It's not really relevant," she stumbled over her words.
"It must be great to fight in wars," the same boy continued (Katherine fought to remember his name. Larry?), "Killing terrorists with big machine guns." He and a friend set about pretending to shoot each other with invisible guns.
"Well, I think war is horrible. You can't just kill people like that, it doesn't solve anything," a girl, Lula, added, "The soldiers are as guilty as criminals; they should be locked up!"
A wave of fury washed over Katherine. "War is no joke!" she yelled, "I lost my mum and my brother out there, fighting to defend their country and the lives of innocent people. And," she turned to Lula, "My mother argued for peace as much as the next person. She wanted it more than anyone else in the world. But she saved more innocent civilians out there than she killed, so don't you DARE talk about something you know nothing about!"
As Katherine finished her outburst, she became more and more aware of someone standing behind her. Scared as well as frustrated, she spun around coming face to face with the teacher she had spotted across the playground earlier.
Disapproval was etched into the older woman's face. Tightly knitted brows framed her blue-grey eyes over a pair of thin flushing lips. Her harsh stance intimidated Katherine; the young girl shivered.
The teacher's eyes, however, showed something a little different. Empathy? Pity, perhaps? Or just a pure understanding?
"Inside. Now." The woman growled. The class scurried to act upon her instruction. Swinging the door shut with a reverberating bang, the teacher followed. "When I arrive at a class, I expect my students to be lined up silently waiting for me, not arguing at the top of their voices. Understood?"
Sheepishly, the class nodded.
"Alright, open Macbeth to Act 1, Scene 5..."
Katherine's nose wrinkled at the sight of the tattered old paperback on the desk before her. Goodness, she thought to herself, can't they afford some decent books? Nevertheless, she dutifully flipped to the correct page in the text. At least she would be able to relax this lesson. After all, she had both studied and directed the play at her old school.
Thus, instead of paying any attention to Miss Boston's quiz on the text, she instead focused on the woman herself. Deep brown locks were gripped back behind her ears, framing an angular face. Blemish less, her complexion shone under the artificial lights. Thin lips were a coloured a gentle shade of coral, and, as she breathed out she ran her tongue over them, leaving them perfectly moist.
"Miss Taylor, seeing as you clearly don't need to pay attention to the text, I'm sure you'll be able to explain to the rest of the class the meaning of the phrase 'Hie thee hither'."
Katherine started a little at the question aimed at her. Her brow furrowed slightly, "It means 'Come here quickly' and it shows that Lady Macbeth is excited at the witches' prophecy and is anxious to act on it."
"Good." was the only reply her teacher gave, before swiftly moving on to quiz another member of the class.
The girl sat next to her leant over to Katherine, "Good one, that really showed Boston up."
Something caught in Katherine's head: that name. Boston was a name she knew so well. Could it be?
Normally, Nikki's few lessons with Year 6 English were her week's salvation. As much as she liked the PRU, she found it nice to occasionally escape the constant high pressure environment, even if it was only because of staffing shortages.
Today, however, something was bugging her. Ever since she had spotted her on the netball court, the young Taylor (Katherine, the register had revealed to her) and her presence had bothered her. Nikki was now in no doubt as to who the young girl was, but she was very determined not to let emotion get in the way of her professional conduct.
Now she was closer, Nikki could make out more features of the girl: the slight curve of her nose; the fullness of her lips; the scattering of chocolate freckles across her cheeks. Another thing that struck Miss Boston was the width of her young shoulders. The girl was well built, muscular, but still well proportioned, and, although she couldn't see it, Nikki knew a tones abdomen was concealed under the girl's school shirt.
A shrill ringing pierced the air. Students exploded, gathering belongings, chattering at twice the volume necessary.
"Alright, I haven't said you can go yet," Nikki boomed. A little hush fell over the class, "I'm expecting three paragraphs on what Scene 5 reveals about Lady Macbeth for Thursday. You can go now."
The class emitted a chorus of grumbles, and continued to shuffle around with their bags, stuffing things in haphazardly.
Nikki lowered her voice considerably, "Katherine, stay behind a minute."
Gradually, the rest of the students filled out of the room, adding to the pile of books strewn on Miss Boston's desk as they did so. Nikki was too distracted to chastise them.
After what seemed like an age, Nikki and Katherine were left alone in the room. Nikki took a deep breath and opened her mouth, as if to speak...
Katherine beat her to it, interrupting with a fact Nikki had been trying to deny to herself:
"My mum was your Officer Commanding."
I should also apologise; I have no idea how the army works and am going purely off what little I have researched. I'm sorry about any mistakes I may make.