Thanks to all those who have read/reviewed. Keep them coming, they make me smile. The next update will contain spoilers to the actual show, but I will be taking it my own way and hoping that it's not the same as the show haha. :)
'Tumbling deeper and deeper, oblivious to everything flashing by in nothing more than a jumbled, blurry smear. She's drowning, loosing the will to fight back, simply not strong enough. Her thoughts far too overpowering, beyond her desired control. Hidden away in the slumbers of only the darkest of places.
Six weeks since Lorraine had ended the little fling that Nikki wished with mercy had developed into so much more. The blonde acted as if nothing had happened between each other, so casual and professional. Coping so well. Nikki found herself loitering over what they could have had, her mind playing awful games with her, not allowing her to move on with her life.
Lorraine had such an infectious smile, white-pearly teeth surrounded by glossy lips; it always created a tingling feeling inside Nikki despite how much anger filled her for what the blonde had put her through. But Lorraine spent much less time at the school, claiming she had other business' to fixate, forever travelling to several locations spread over the UK.
Nikki had merely continued with work, completing the bare minimal. She kept a low profile and didn't mingle with the staff after previous attempts had just made her feel more sensitive and vulnerable. A cold impression rubbed off whenever she was present, many despising her short relationship with the wealthy blonde.
It was a Thursday evening, the day previous to the last one of term before the Christmas holidays beckoned. Nikki had lost track of time, busying herself to pass away the minutes that spiralled into hours completing marking and other pieces of paperwork. For all she knew, she could even have dosed off for a short duration; another challenging day consumed her energy, facing new battles for her to tackle and paperwork was frankly boring.
She had aimed to stay in school for as long as possible, the reappearance of Kyle Stack had made her think twice about scarpering off home just after the bell rung. An empty house wasn't very appealing and she'd only crack open a bottle of alcoholic substance. Instead she chose to do something mildly more productive. Something to show for her time.
She glanced at her watch, it had just gone six. Deciding it was time to go home after realising there were very few cars remaining on the tarmacked surface classed as the playground, she gather her possessions, flicked the light switch off and securely locked the pupil referral unit, then heading down the stairs, heeled boots clunking against the cheap lino surfaced floor.
Approaching the door, she pushed firmly against the fingerprint speckled class, the crisp wind hurtling towards her. She wrapped her trench coat around herself tighter, blocking out the harsh cold. Dipping her head, she hurried to her car, loathing the protection from the weather.
Raised voices disturbed her from her own thoughts, causing the brunette's eyes to scan around, determine where the noise was coming from. She didn't class it as shouting, the tones were too tranquil. An uncontrollable gasp escaped from her parted rosy lips as she located the two people stood on the roof, one precariously close to the edge.
She tried to speak, but she physically couldn't. Stunned for words. Temporarily paralysed to the spot, sapphire eyes dancing around with horror. She wasn't too bothered bout Kyle, Tom was her main concern. He was the only one who seemed to have a half positive effect on her.
Nikki was only dragged out of her trance, breathing erratic. Her heart thumped against her chest. Twice the normal speed, if not three. Christine had joined her, her actions just as mortified as her fellow colleague.
All both could do was watch and await, praying that Tom would successfully manage to persuade Kyle to come down before any damage struck. Tom gained Kyle's trust, finally managing to come to an agreement with the troubled team. Clutching his hand, the next few events flew by. Kyle had put on an act, knowing well that Tom didn't care. He had the right not to, he'd fired a cross bow at his son.
Spinning him round, Nikki's hand flew to her mouth but it barely deafened the tremendous gasp she exhaled. There was nothing she could do to stop what was happening from having drastic consequences.
Tom lost his footing, the roof unsurprisingly slippery, an outcome of the constant rain that had been pouring over Greenock. He'd gone hurtling off the roof ledge into thin air. It was unpreventable. He plunged to the ground, landing with a hefty thump.
Tears glistened in Nikki's eyes like millions of minute crystals. She just wanted to wake up and find it was all a dream. But it was reality. Recovering from the initial shock, there was nothing Christine could do to prevent Nikki from rushing over to Tom's side. She followed but keeping her distance.
Nikki descended to her knees once by Tom's side, frantically searching for a pulse. There wasn't one. Her next instinct was to try CPR and then mouth-to-mouth. The army trained her in all these techniques. But nothing worked. The freak accidents had cost Tom Clarkson his life.
"He's dead." Nikki murmured, voice laced with overwhelming emotion. Tears cascaded down her cheeks as she fought to make sense of the events that had just unravelled.'
"Nikki?" Nikki briefly heard someone calling her name, identifying that it was a woman's voice with a distinctive Australian twang to her accent. Her body was shaking, lathered in a cold sweat that made her sticky; an outcome of the repeated flashback continuously haunting her. Gracefully her eyes fluttered open.
Before Nikki could re-join the army, she had to pass both a medical and fitness examination, currently being put through the medical test before she fainted at some of the news she'd received.
"You gave me a bit of a shock then. Are you okay?" Lexy, the woman who was leading the medical, smiled warmly. She really came across as though she cared.
Nikki shivered slightly as she sat up, "I'm fine, honestly." she inhaled a deep breath of air.
"I can only presume what I told you came as a bit of a shock?" Lexy assumed.
"What that I'm pregnant." Nikki stifled a laugh. This through a spanner in the works for Nikki. She couldn't join the army whilst expecting so was now left with a difficult choice.
"You know that you can't join whilst pregnant. The high level of fitness is too intense and too much of a risk. As is the pressure."
"I know." Nikki already knew the procedure in line about pregnancies. She knew exactly who's baby she was carrying, and that made her decision even more difficult.
Nikki departed the army camp, containing her emotions until she was outside the building where she simply propped herself against the grey bricks contributing to creating the wall. Tears pooled in her eyes, perfectly formed droplets spilling from her eyes and leaking down her cheeks. She wasn't sure what she was supposed to do now. Why was nothing ever simple?
A girl, similar build to Nikki, came walking past. "Ma'am," she smiled, "What are you doing back...are you okay?" Nikki's sniffles and sobs had become more apparent.
Nikki glanced at the other female, Beth. When she'd been a Sergeant, Beth had been one of recruits under her leadership. She was surprised to see that she was still there. A special allowance had been made and they'd shared a room in Afghanistan as they were the only two women.
"I intended to join again." Nikki sighed wiping her eyes, "But it's unlikely that will happen now. I failed to realise I was pregnant."
Beth sighed, placing her hand on Nikki's arm and rubbing it reassuringly. When Nikki had been in the army, she'd become very fond of the older Sergeant and they had become close, "It would have been nice to work with you again, considering I'm a Sergeant now."
"What's that? Revenge for how hard I worked you?" Nikki joked.
Beth shrugged, "Look I have to go but if you ever need to chat, text me. I'll reply when I'm off duty and not away fighting." she smiled handing Nikki a scrunched up piece of paper, containing her number.
Nikki nodded, "I will do, thanks." she accepted the creased paper, safely discarding of it in her pocket.