Thank you so much for all your comments, glad your enjoying this story so far... Here is the next chapter.
Lauren hadn't come back that afternoon much to Caroline's concern, she had finally found Kate in the stock room "hi Caroline I was just coming to find you. Have you spoken to Lauren?" The look on her head mistresses face told her she hadn't been so lucky. "Well I will speak to her tomorrow, I'll go to her house if I have to" Caroline finished decisively. she felt Kate's hand upon her shoulder "you a good head teacher Caroline" Kate smiled at her. "Don't suppose you fancied a drink do you, it's been a long day?" Caroline asked, "yes actually" Kate sighed "I think that sounds like a very good idea" Kate smirked.
"Well let me get rid of these" Kate nodded towards the stack of books "and I'll be right with you" she smiled.
Caroline caressed the glass she held a little too appreciatively as Kate began staring at her thoughtfully, "Everything ok Caroline" Kate asked surveying her boss. "Oh yes you know, everything is good just busy... You know" she took a large slurp of her drink feeling the warmth as it hit the back of her throat.
A gentle stroke across the top of her hand made the thought of looking at Kate directly terrifying, she hated anyone seeing her more vulnerable side. She took pride in hiding it from everyone she had always seen it as a weakness, but as Kate's thumb rubbed over her knuckles it felt nice. Her eyes lifted to meet Kate's "so the real answer..." She smiled she could read this seemingly hard head mistresses better than most, enough to know when she wasn't telling the whole truth. More to the point she wasn't scared to call her out On it unlike everybody else, she had always admired her. She had that girls doing it for themselves attitude which she found sexy if she was honest, but she also knew that Caroline was a tender person it was clear she took everything in but rarely let anything out.
Kate had this way of looking at her that made her uncomfortable, she had the urge to trust her with things she didn't want to share with anyone. "Well yeah I am good but me and John separated 3 months ago and it can be lonely, he left a mess in his wake when he left. Or when I threw him out! I should say". Kate looked at her carefully "you ok about it?", her hand still upon her bosses but she felt no need to move it. She had always shared a strange rap-pour with Caroline, just like they had known each other for a long time. But in reality they had been for a few drinks and socialized out of work occasionally, but they had always got on and she knew she was privileged as Caroline was a very private person by all accounts.
"He'd been having an affair for months I now know, my own fault really I'm always juggling more than a few things in the air.. I took my eye of the ball. I missed it, but he wanted to stay and I couldn't have it, so of course I'm now the bad guy for ruining everything. Then the board of governors is on my back for the annual reports and I haven't slept properly in weeks. So truthfully I'm exhausted, an emotional wreck. She took another large sip "but I will never admit to any of that to anyone other than you obviously". She smiled shyly at Kate who was now smiling at her "sorry that sound shit Caroline" "not much fun no!" Caroline finished her drink. "What a bastard" Kate concluded Caroline couldn't help laugh "yes my sentiments exactly".
"Oh Caroline I'm sorry,, he's a fool for loosing you. Anyone can see how amazing you are Caroline". Both woman suddenly aware of the tension pulsing around them.
"So what shall we do about Lauren?" Kate questioned skipping over her embarrassment of her previous comment.. Caroline finally removing her hand from under Kate's "honestly I don't know, it's worrying me though. I'll sleep on it".
The rest of the evening they talked about more light hearted matters, enjoying in each others company. "This has been nice Kate, we should do it more often. I'd forgotten what it was like to have a life outside work or home" Caroline admitted a little crestfallen.
"well I'm hoping tonight doesn't cancel out our Saturday plans" Kate asked "no.. Well no if your not bored of my company, that would be lovely" Caroline smirked surprised Kate wanted to do it again so soon. "You could come to mine for dinner I have an empty nest" Caroline offered a little timidly. "That sounds perfect to me, so I guess we better head home".
They walked slowly from the bar both turning to face one another " I had fun tonight caroline, thank you. I'll see you in the morning" Kate moved into hug Caroline goodnight.
Caroline tensed and then relax as Kate briefly held her tight for a hug and released, not something she normally did with anyone other than family and especially not co workers. But some how she found she didn't mind at all in this instant, "yes me too, night Kate".
Caroline was waiting at the first bell sounded , Lauren finally made her way late towards the classroom, "Dr Elliot" she said surprised nothing could hide the fear and unease her presence was causing. "Am in trouble for yesterday" she asked glaring at floor hard, "Morning, No Lauren but I would like a chat, come on" she smiled turning and carefully walked slowly listening for the sound of footsteps following her close behind.
As Caroline sat down on the sofa in her office she waited for Lauren to join her, " I just wanted a chat you didn't seem yourself yesterday, what's wrong Lauren, you can talk to me you know that".
Lauren's facade quickly loosing it's brass, "no I'm fine, just a bit stressed out. Honestly I'm fine nothing to talk about" she tried to sound convincing as her bottom lip began to wobble.
"Lauren" came that tone of concern and that meant she wasn't believing any of it. Caroline patted the seat and finally Lauren gave in sitting next to the head teacher.
Lauren felt her head teacher shuffle next to her, she just wished she would put her arms around her, she didn't have the words to explain how she felt, what was wrong but she wanted to.
Really in her heart she wanted too, but it wasn't that simple nothing ever was.. "Lauren" Caroline spoke more softly rubbing her hand gently down the girls back "tell me what's wrong Lauren". Caroline turned to face the girl she looked tired her eyes dark, "is it your mum, your step dad, boy troubles?".
Lauren shrugged the tears suddenly silently falling down her face, the sobs seeping through the cracks. All Caroline could do was pull her into a hug holding her tight. Her hand running up her back as Lauren sobbed into her shoulder, a sudden flinch as Caroline's hand hit her hip. Caroline noticed but held on tight, she had seen a lot of things as a teacher, as a mother, "please tell me" Caroline asked gently as she broke away slightly. "I'm just stressed, and tired" Lauren said smiling trying her best to out the walls back up.
God she reminded her of herself Caroline thought, it had taken weeks of gentle encouragement to find out about her mum and her problems over a year ago. "I really should get to class" she sighed wiping her eyes "Lauren show me your hip darling, I know something's wrong and you know I won't stop until you tell me. Because I care... because I want to help" Caroline pleaded her face soft, gentle, saddened. "show me your hip Lauren" she asked again Lauren took her bag off her shoulder once more and pulled up her shirt, "see nothing stop fussing" she snapped.
"The other side Lauren" Caroline prompted, "oh get off my back I'm fine, it's got nothing to do with you" she shouted. Caroline stood up moving slowly towards her, she could see the fear in her face, as she edged closer. Caroline held her hand as she struggled for a moment and then stood still, "show me" Caroline asked again trying to hold back her own emotions.
She watched the girl before her flinch as she pulled up her shirt to reveal deep purple slash marks across her right side. "Jesus Lauren" Caroline stepped forward horrified at what she saw. " I did it to myself" she scowls, "it doesn't look like that Lauren" Caroline desperate to make eye contact. "I did and I won't say anything else I'm 17 I'm not a child, I won't say anything else" she repeated her gaze darting from the floor to the door., "Lauren who did it to you?" "No one. I'm done talking about this" she huffed grabbing the door.
Caroline blocked her path a little "Lauren either we deal with this me and you, or I have to go down the professional Channels I can't ignore this. I won't... I want you to trust me. Tell me, let me help or at least support you, what choice do you have your obviously not happy, Please Lauren".
Lauren sighed she knew she meant it "I won't tell anyone else, just you. You can't force me to talk to anyone else ok?!" the fear made her want to throw up. Some how this was more real harder to escape she knew Her head teacher wouldn't leave this now. She had no choice, "I'm trusting you" She whispered as she sank to the floor slowly, the sobs racked her body once again. "Okay, it's ok Lauren" Caroline held her tight for a long time before she pulled her head back and took a deep breath, "shall I get us some tea, and we can talk?" Caroline offered smiling as she helped her up and cleared the hair from her face. A small smile and a nod was her response "okay, 2 seconds".
Caroline left the room slowly "right Beverley I need to cancel everything this morning" Beverly nodded she knew better than to ask questions. "Also could you please fetch 2 cups of tea and some biscuits for me and Miss Turner, and then go and find Kate and tell her where I am, and I'll find her later She will understand. Beverley nodded, "oh thank you Beverley you're a gem".
Her mind now full of the worst case scenarios of the vulnerable girl still sobbing in her office, she felt sick, she almost dreaded what she might hear. Worst of all she felt guilty if it hadn't been for Kate… She wouldn't have known.
How many more children in her school had serious problems that weren't being noticed. She calmed herself … Okay Caroline your not superwoman, let's focus on Lauren for now. Find out what's going on and how to go from there, she straightened her suit combo and hand clutched the door as she opened it and closed it once more.