Lorraine woke peacefully the next morning, searching around for any distinct signs of where she was. Looking up, she suddenly remembered. Comfortably resting her head on a pillow, Nikki was sound asleep. Lorraine felt a smile cross her face as she gently rose from falling asleep on Nikki the night before. She did the zip back up on her dress, and planted a soft kiss on Nikki's head so that she didn't stir from her slumber. She picked up her keys from the oak desk, and wrote down a message. "Thank you for last night. I'll see you at school, I have to get ready. Love, Lorraine. X" She opened the door and slowly shut it behind her.
Nikki awoke abruptly, sensing that something was missing. She looked down and noticed that Lorraine was gone. Running her hands through her bobbed hair, she noticed that there was a crumpled piece of paper on her desk. She yawned and opened it curiously. Reading the message, she smiled, a fuzzy warmth filling her body. Realising that she needed to get ready for another abysmal day, she headed upstairs, washed and changed into her secretarial grey trousers, white blouse with the arms rolled up along with a black waistcoat which she had brought along for a "just in case" moment. She gathered her belongings and placed them into the passenger seat of her 4x4 before making her way out of Lorraine's front drive.
Finally reaching Waterloo Road, Nikki noticed that a certain somebody's red Ferrari was in the driveway. She smiled as she parked next to it. Getting out and making her way inside, she looked around for Lorraine. Puzzled, she made her way to the staff room. The first person she noticed was Tom, and he appeared to be miffed.
"Hey Tom, what's up?" She asked inquisitively. Tom turned around and walked towards her.
"I came around your house last night to sort out paperwork like you promised but you weren't in. I needed things sorted for today." He said angrily.
"Oh, yeah, I'm really sorry Tom, I was…busy." She said, shuffling her feet.
"That's odd, Lorraine said the same thing to me." He replied, pondering over the fact.
"Really? Where is she?" Nikki said quickly. Tom looked at her as sudden realisation hit him. A grin fell across his face as he laughed beneath his breath.
"You and Lorraine? Wow. Well, I'm happy for you!" He said, his mood changing him into his usual happy self. Nikki looked shocked; she didn't realise how stupidly obvious she was being.
"I-oh Tom, please don't tell anyone. We haven't really sorted things out ourselves yet." She admitted, suddenly feeling nervous. He patted her on the shoulder, still grinning like a teenager.
"Your secret's safe with me." He told her, winking. Nikki smiled back before hearing the 9:00 bell go, which meant it was ready to teach the PRU unit.
As soon as she reached the class of bustling teenagers, she knew that it was going to be another rough day.
"Come on class, settle down!" She shouted at the top of her breath. They took their places moodily; at least Nikki and the kids had something in common. "Right class, today we're going to be reading some Shakespeare and analysing it." She told them whilst handing out the text books. "When you receive a book, please turn to page 134 and read to page 150 in silence." After the files were handed out, she went back to her desk in order to mark some coursework – she didn't have any time last night for obvious reasons. Suddenly, she felt a vibration on her leg. Shocked, she looked down and realised that it was only her phone. She took it out of her pocket and opened the text she had received. As soon as she saw that it was Lorraine, she cracked a smile whilst her stomach flipped over itself multiple times.
"Oi Miss! If we can't use our mobiles you can't either!" Shouted Barry Barry cheekily, making the rest of the class laugh.
"Alright Barry, the next time you disrupt this class you'll be out!" She replied angrily to his comment. He shot her a smirk before picking up his book again. Nikki looked back down at the text. "Missing you already! Come and meet me in my office at lunch. Xx" Smiling, she quickly typed out a short message onto her mobile. "Ok, can't wait! Talk soon. Xx". She sent the text off instantly. As the class went on, it felt as if hours had passed. All Nikki could do was sit and watch the clock hand move past slowly. After English was Maths, then History and finally Science before it was lunchtime. She attempted to teach the classes as enthusiastically as possible before wanting to strangle Barry, something she always had a problem controlling. As she looked down at her watch for the final time, the bell went.
"Alright class, off to lunch! Get back here at 2:10 sharpish!" Nikki shouted as they ran out of the room, obviously not listening. She sighed as she walked out of the classroom and down the corridor before turning to walk up the stairs. For Nikki, walking to Lorraine's office was more of a struggle than waiting for the time to pass. Before, she was excited to meet up with her again, but now…she felt more nervous than she ever had before. It was as if she was 16 and in love all over again. As she knocked on the office door, she could feel the butterflies in her stomach making her feel sick.
"Come in!" She heard Lorraine call studiously. Nikki walked in with her hands in her pockets before shutting the door behind her. Lorraine smiled deviously before getting up from behind her desk, kissing Nikki on the lips ravenously. "I've been waiting for you…" She whispered before kissing her neck gently.
"You can be quite the dominatrix I see, Miss Donnegan!" She laughed kissing her back gently. Lorraine scoffed, slapping Nikki's shoulder.
"I can be anything you want me to be…within reason." She said, pressing her body against Nikki's. "We should do this more often…I like the feeling that somebody could walk in at any time." Nikki laughed before picking Lorraine up by her waist, placing her on her desk. Leaning over, she bit gently on her lip whilst putting her leg between her crotch. Unexpectedly, Lorraine pushed her away, looking slightly angry. Nikki on the other hand looked taken aback, feeling stupid, albeit hurt.
"What's wrong?" Nikki asked, her voice breaking up, feeling like a naughty school child. Lorraine walked over to the window, opening the blinds angrily.
"Somebody was watching us." She replied, flustered. Nikki looked shell-shocked, before looking out of the window herself. "I didn't want anybody finding out yet. Especially not my sister." Nikki was surprised by the fact that Lorraine was actually tearing up because of this – she was usually head strong. She put a strong arm around her.
"It'll be ok. We'll find out who it is." Nikki told her comfortingly. The bell clanged loudly. "Look, we'll sort this later, ok? Text me when you're free, I have to get back to teaching." Lorraine nodded before sitting down behind her desk. Nikki sent her a comforting smile before exiting from the office, walking back down the oh so similar hallway. Although she didn't show it, Nikki was beginning to worry too. She was scared for both Lorraine and herself if this got out. Everything was so perfect between them now, and their recklessness was going to ruin everything. Nikki felt her heart sink. Her mood didn't appear to improve for the rest of the day, either. In the final lesson of the day, which turned out to be P.E, everything decided to go awry. As Nikki began getting changed into her tight fitness gear, she could hear her phone vibrate. She looked down curiously at the text she had received. Hm; an unknown number. She clicked on the touch screen, opening the text. Letting out a sharp gasp of air, she dropped it onto the marble tiling. She clutched her chest with her hand, stunned. It was a picture of the events happening at the office; Nikki leaning over Lorraine whilst she kissed her feverishly. Below the picture was a message.
"You can't keep this dirty little secret forever."
I knew that somebody had seen us, but a picture? This day is just getting worse… She thought to herself, trying not to have a panic attack.
"Miss? Where are you? We're waiting for the lesson to start!" Called Scout, her patience wearing thin.
"I-I'm coming! Start warm ups!" Nikki replied, her voice breaking. She picked up her now dented phone from the cold flooring, making her way to the gym. As the lesson passed on with various fitness routines, Nikki's thoughts were dangerous whirling through her mind. She couldn't help but dread the look on Lorraine's face when she found out. How could they have been so foolish? Her stomach twisted and contorted as she felt as if she wanted to vomit.
"Miss?"
Nikki looked around, her thoughts broken.
"Miss, can we go? The bell's gone." Rhiannon asked.
"She's had other things on her mind, like how best to sleep with her boss!" Shouted Barry, believing that he had the upper hand.
"All of you can go! Except you, Mr Barry. Get here now." She said, her voice laced with venom. He walked over as cocky as ever, a wide grin covering his face.
"Do you think you can talk to me like that? What do you even think you know!?" She spat, anger filling her.
"I know a lot more than you think. If you don't mind though, I have to go, I have things to do." He smirked, pointing at the door before walking off. Nikki turned away as she finally broke down. She was sick of it. Barry, teaching, threats. The only thing that made her happy was Lorraine, and even now that was close to being sabotaged. Her phone began to ring. Looking down, she noticed that it was Lorraine. Fuck. How was I going to explain this? She answered abruptly.
"Hey gorgeous! What are you doing later?" Lorraine said, her expression as happy as she always was.
"I-Hi Lorraine…Um, nothing, why?" Nikki replied, feeling herself breaking piece by piece.
"What's wrong?" Lorraine asked curtly, the worry obvious in her voice.
"We need to talk. Meet me in the pub at 4:30. It's important." Nikki said, before pressing down on the 'end call' button. It's now or never. I'm so sorry, Lorraine. I really am.
