The next day it wasn't sunny as it had been the previous morning, the sky was dark and ominous, it was filled with clouds that threatened to release a torrent of rain to the ground. Nikki arrived at Waterloo Road slightly later than usual, she had to park her car much closer to the building than she liked to. She hadn't even wanted to leave her bed because the previous day had gone fairly smoothly and having two calm days in a row at Waterloo Road was practically unheard of. She walked into the staffroom and her mood dropped even further, Lorraine wasn't there. She didn't want to talk to any of her fellow staff members, all she wanted was to see Lorraine's perfect smile which could always brighten her day. She threw herself down into one of the uncomfortable chairs near where Tom was sat and let out another sigh. She took her phone out of the left pocket of her blazer. The blazer she was wearing is a favourite of hers, navy with the collars and sleeves trimmed with white, she always wore it when she needed a little confidence boost. The screen of her phone lit up with a 'new message' icon, there was a message off Lorraine which read, 'Hello Nik, sorry I'm not at Waterloo Road until lunch. Hope the PRU kids behave. See you later! Xxx' Nikki smiled and her face lit up, Lorraine is the only person that can make her smile without even being in the same room.

"What're you smiling about?" Tom whispered, leaning closer to her.

"Nothing, don't worry." Nikki answered.

"Is it Lorraine?" Tom inquired.

"Why would it be Lorraine?" Nikki replied, trying to keep her composure.

"It's Lorraine, isn't it?" He asked with a hint of laughter in his voice.

"It's none of your business Tom!" Nikki retorted.

"It is Lorraine! What's going on between you two? If it's what i think is going on, I'm really happy for you!" Tom replied, kind as ever.

Nikki smiled slightly but still replied, "As I said, it's none of your business!" She was so glad that Tom didn't care, but she really wasn't in the mood for a conversation about it. With that, she got up off her seat and walked out of the staffroom, to the PRU. When she got there she sat down, rested her head on her desk and let out a large sigh, this was becoming an unwelcome habit of hers. She stacked and re-stacked a pile of loose papers on her desk until the time came for the pupils to arrive.


The time passed even slower than it had the previous day, the hands of the clock seemed to crawl around and with each minute Nikki became more and more aggravated by Barry Barry's inappropriate comments and childish behaviour. The other pupils in the PRU looked almost sympathetically at Nikki, as Barry made yet another childish remark about something-or-other.

"It's your last chance Barry!" Nikki shouted, her patience wearing incredibly thin.

"I know, I remember that." Barry replied.

"Good. I'm glad." Nikki answered angrily.

"I'm surprised you do though, Miss." Barry spat back.

"What's that supposed to mean?" She looked at the boy, full of anger and confusion. Barry Barry tapped his nose, sat back on his chair and folded his arms nonchalantly.

"I mean it!" Nikki exclaimed. Barry just rolled his eyes. She gave out the next piece of work to the pupils and sat back at her desk, she really wasn't bothered what they did with it, so long as they stayed quiet. Nikki resumed her previous position at the desk, which was staring blankly at the clock. The time passed until she finally heard the bell ring, signalling that it was break time. "Off you go then." Nikki called to the pupils and they all rushed to the door, as she stood up to go and collect the worksheets off the tables. She quickly looked through them, but didn't really see what anyone had written as she threw them down onto her desk. She looked around for the board rubber, finally finding it on the floor under her desk and cleaned the instructions off the large whiteboard at the front of the class. Nikki then made sure her shirt was tucked into her trousers, straightened her blazer and picked up her handbag to go and get herself a cup of coffee. She'd neglected to make herself one in the staffroom that morning and was gagging for a pick-me-up by now. She made sure the door to the PRU was locked and then walked towards the corridor that leads to the entrance area. As she turned into the corridor, she was met by a large group of pupils who were all staring at something on the wall and muttering. As they noticed that she was stood there the muttering ceased and everyone stood in silence. A voice came from somewhere within the gaggle of people, "Lezza!" which was followed by a few more people shouting and heckling. Nikki's heart sunk, she didn't even want to stand up for herself today. She just wanted to turn around and go back to the PRU, but that wasn't professional. A young girl; with tidy, mousey hair; who was stood near Nikki; slowly pulled down a piece of paper from the wall and handed it to the woman, met with a few shouts and comments aimed at the girl. Nikki looked at the piece of paper and she gritted her teeth, her mind was filled with anger and annoyance. It was a picture of her and Lorraine together, a picture of her and Lorraine taken the previous day when they had exchanged that brief kiss. Nikki didn't know how someone could have seen them, after all, she nor Lorraine had seen anyone whilst they were in the PRU. She still wanted to turn back round and walk away, but this wasn't just about her, this was about Lorraine aswell. The group of people were slowly moving along the corridor, as Nikki shouted, "Who put this up?" but nobody answered. She kept walking along the corridor and looked to the side, noticing that people were still loitering in groups and some were laughing. She suddenly realised why, the picture of her and Lorraine had been photocopied and tacked over the walls all down the corridor. She ripped them down as soon as she saw them, but it was too late by then, so many pupils had already seen it, and who knows how many more there were. Nikki went looking for Tom, she went to the staffroom where she thought he'd be by now. She was right, he was sat there nursing a fresh cup of tea. "Tom!" She said in a stage whisper and beckoned him over to her.

"What?" Tom sighed. Nikki threw the sheets of paper that she'd taken down from the walls, onto the table in front of him. He looked at the top sheet and then back at Nikki, "Where are these from?" he asked.

"They're off the fucking walls, Tom!" Nikki exclaimed, "They're off the walls!"

"Who put them there?" He asked kindly.

"I don't know Tom. Whoever it is, is damn lucky that I don't know!" Nikki answered angrily, but Tom could sense she was on the verge of tears.

"Nikki, it's okay. We'll sort it. Ring Lorraine and let her know what's going on...before Michael does." Tom told Nikki sympathetically.

"I bet I know who it-" Nikki started.

"Nikki, don't go making accusations. It'll only make the situation worse!" Tom interrupted, he didn't want Nikki to get herself into unnecessary trouble with Michael, "Just go and ring Lorraine, I think I better talk to Michael!" Tom carried his cup of tea slowly, as it was still incredibly hot and left the staffroom to go and find the headteacher. Nikki picked up the papers off the table and walked over to the side of the room which was always empty of people and typed the first few letters of Lorraine's name into her contacts list and then pressed the call button. It rang for a few seconds until Lorraine answered, kindly saying, "Hello Nik, what're you doing calling me?"

"Lorraine, how busy are you?" Nikki asked, nervously.

"Well...I'm supposed to have a meeting in about 10 minutes but..." the woman replied, her voice laced with confusion.

"Well, you might want to get here as soon as. There's been an...um...incident." Nikki answered, her voice wavering slightly.

"What do you mean? Why are you ringing, not Michael?" Lorraine quickly replied, her voice urgent and still confused.

"Michael doesn't know yet, but, it's kind of personal..." Nikki trailed off and was met with silence at the other end of the line, "It's us, Lorraine, someone saw us yesterday." She finished.

"So what if they did?" Lorraine replied, her voice was a mixture of emotions.

"Whoever it was, took a picture. Now that picture has been plastered all over the walls of the fucking school Lorraine!" Nikki exclaimed, upset now engulfed by anger.

"Oh God, but we couldn't see anyone and...we only...but-" Lorraine was lost for words, whatever else Nikki was feeling, Lorraine's struggle to find the right words was nothing but adorable.

"So yeah, now the majority of the school will know and I have to go back to teaching the PRU kids...who will obviously have seen the picture!" Nikki couldn't even think about what Barry Barry was going to do, but she knew she had no choice but to go back and teach. There was no point in trying to avoid it because it would be just as bad whenever she went back to the PRU.

"Just try and ignore him, he'll only comment if he can see it bothers you...you're so much better than that Nik!" Nikki smiled, yet again Lorraine managed to cheer her up when she's not even in the same building.

"Haven't you got a meeting in a few minutes?" Nikki asked, unwillingly.

"Yeah, I'll be back at Waterloo Road before lunchtime. I promise!" Lorraine replied. Nikki could tell that the end of her sentence had been said with that smile which made her feel warm inside.

"Go on then, I have to go back and face the world again now. It's not that I don't want people to know...but why like that?" Nikki sighed and she just wanted a hug off Lorraine, right there and then, but that obviously wasn't possible.

"Goodbye, see you at lunch!" Lorraine said kindly, and hung up the phone. Nikki put her phone back in her left blazer pocket and walked over to make herself a cup of coffee, before the bell went for everyone to go back to lessons.


Nikki unlocked the door to the PRU and walked in, waiting for the pupils to arrive back from break. A few moments later they were stood waiting to come in, Nikki regretfully opened the door and braced herself for the spiteful comments she would inevitably receive. As she'd expected there were a few things said as the couple of pupils strolled back into the room, but Barry was staying quite quiet and Nikki knew that it was too good to be true. She gave out the sheet of paper, an extract from William Shakespeare's Macbeth.

"Right, this is Act 1, Scene 5 of Macbeth. It's Lady Macbeth's Soliloquy," A few mumblings could be heard but Nikki continued, "Anyone want to read it out?" She looked around and blank faces, Barry was far too quiet.

"Nobody wants to read for you, dirty lezza!" Barry retorted. It took all of her will power, but Nikki just ignored him.

"Fine, I'll read then!" She called out, and then began to read, "Come, you spirits, That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here-"

Barry sniggered and looked at Nikki, again she ignored him and continued

"And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full, Of direst cruelty! Make thick my blood-" Yet again, Barry let out a loud snigger.

Nikki couldn't ignore it any longer, "What is wrong with you Barry?"

"What's wrong with you more like! I don't want to be taught by people like you!" He replied.

"People like me? You don't want to be taught by anyone!" Nikki retorted.

"No, just you. I don't want a dyke like you teaching me!" Barry smirked.

"Get. Out!" Nikki shouted.

"Why should I Miss Boston? I'm only telling you my opinion." He said smugly.

"There is a vast difference between stating your opinion and being disrespectful. You should have learned that by now!" Nikki answered, exasperated. She wanted to walk out of the PRU and never go back again, but she refused to give up on Barry.

"You should learn not to go round kissing Miss Donnegan when you should be working!" Barry laughed sarcastically.

"I wasn't-" Nikki started but recollected her thoughts and realised something, "It was you...wasn't it Barry?"

"It was me, what?" He answered.

"It was you who took the photo, wasn't it?" Nikki said firmly.

"So what if it was? Everyone should know that they're being taught by a dyke!" Barry yelled.

"Just get out Barry! Get out now!" Nikki shouted and pointed to the door.

"Whatever!" He flippantly remarked as he walked towards the door. The other pupils looked at Nikki, all of them now feeling sorry for her and regretting laughing previously. Nikki had an idea about why Barry was being so homophobic but didn't want to confront him just yet. Suddenly Michael was knocking on the door of the PRU, he punched in the code and said, "Can we have a word, Miss Boston?" Nikki nodded and told the pupils to finish reading the Macbeth extract in front of them until she got back.

They stood outside the door of the PRU, Barry was nowhere to be seen now...he'd probably done a bunk and gone home, although he didn't usually back down from confrontation.

"What the hell's going on Nikki? I expect it from Lorraine but not you, what were you thinking?" Michael chastised.

"I would rather not have this conversation in a corridor whilst I'm meant to be teaching a lesson. Shall we wait until lunchtime, or would that be too long for you?" Nikki didn't want to discuss this without Lorraine, she couldn't get away with saying some of the things she wanted to, whereas Lorraine could say whatever she wanted.

"That's fine." Michael agreed, slightly regretfully.

"Oh, while you're at it...if you see Barry Barry, which is highly unlikely considering he's probably already on his way home, do something with him. Suspend him, at least for today, he needs to take time out and calm down!" Nikki told Michael dryly.

"Lorraine will be here in a bit, shall we all discuss this at lunch in my office?" Michael stated, far more patronising than usual.

"Yes, see you then." Nikki answered, opening the door to go back to her lesson she had been attempting to teach. Nikki managed to teach the rest of the lesson easily and calmly, but she wasn't really concentrating. She usually loved to teach Macbeth and especially Lady Macbeth's soliloquy because of how powerfully worded it is, but today she couldn't care less.


Lunchtime came and Barry Barry hadn't returned, so Nikki decided that her previous assumption was correct and he had gone wandering off somewhere in Greenock. She dismissed the pupils who had infact behaved outstandingly once Barry had left. She knew she had no choice but to go and speak to Michael now, but she also knew she'd be able to see Lorraine for the first time that day. She straightened her blazer, her palms were sweaty, her heart racing, her stomach knotted. The woman couldn't determine which were a result of her being afraid to speak to Michael; she wasn't used to feeling afraid like that; and which were due to being glad she'd see Lorraine. As she walked towards the office, Sonya asked loudly, "What's going on with you and my sister then?"

"Now is not the time!" Nikki answered, trying to hide her nerves.

"It'll be fine." Sonya assured with a thumbs up, as Nikki turned the handle of the office door.

Nikki felt like a child again, being called to the headmaster's office after kicking a ball through a window or using the trees as a climbing frame. Now was different, now her job was quite possibly be on the line, her panic level increased as she stepped in. Lorraine sat in a chair opposite Michael, she looked quite relaxed physically, but mentally her emotions were in overdrive. The only people within the school who's opinions she actually valued, were both in the same room with her. She was nervous about what Michael would think, all the feelings of confusion she'd had on that final day before the Easter break came flooding back. Lorraine closed her eyes for a moment to compose herself, then she looked at Nikki who was now sat in the chair next to her.

"What's going on? How did you ever let there be opportunity for this to happen?" Michael asked dryly, holding up one of the photo's off the wall.

"Just so you know, that kiss lasted no more than 2 seconds. It was just a quick display of affection. I don't know how anyone managed to see." Lorraine replied calmly.

"Yes, that may well be true but you can't kiss whilst you're in work!" Michael retorted. Lorraine took a moment to word what she was about to say correctly and then began, "How am I not allowed to quickly kiss Nikki, if you're allowed to snog Christine?" Michael looked confused. "Yes, I know about that time when Sian walked in here and saw you two!" Lorraine finished.

"That isn't the same." Michael answered.

"How is not the same? There's just as much chance, if not more, of someone walking in here than them walking into the PRU!" Lorraine shot back. Michael was lost for words.

"So do we have an issue here?" She asked him. He stayed quiet and shook his head.

"Well...we do have a problem. Pupil's attitudes towards homosexuality have been shown very clearly to me today and we really need to do something about it!" Nikki calmly announced. Lorraine looked affectionately at her with a small smile, her eyes twinkling.

"Well, if you can think how we're going to do that, go ahead." Michael replied.

"Okay then, we'll have a think!" Lorraine smirked back, answering for the both of them. Nikki stood up to walk over to window to see what was going on, she need to walk away from Michael for a moment. Lorraine took a piece of folded paper out of her own jacket pocket and tucked it into the left pocket of Nikki's blazer which was hanging on the chair where she'd been sat. Nikki walked back over and picked up her blazer, looked at Lorraine kindly then looked at Michael and said, "Can we go now? I'd like chance to relax before continuing to teach." Michael gestured towards the door and Nikki took that as a yes. Lorraine followed Nikki out the door and closed it behind her. Sonya must have either gone to the bathroom or gone to get herself some lunch, so the two women stood facing eachother.

"You were brill in there, thank you!" Nikki told Lorraine awkwardly.

"Well...when you've known him as long as I have it's much easier to get him to agree with you!" Lorraine answered, with a cheeky smile on her face.

"I think it might just be your natural talent at persuasion Miss Donnegan!" Nikki replied, unsure whether it was a good idea considering Michael had only just warned them. Nikki could see that the nerves were returning to Lorraine, her eyes darted around the room. She reached out her hand to Lorraine's and touched her fingers, Lorraine tightened her grip on Nikki's hand with a smile. She had been hiding her nerves about people finding out, so well that she herself had forgotten just how daunting that idea was. A piece of her blonde hair fell in front of her face as she looked down at the floor, so with her other hand, Nikki carefully tucked it back behind Lorraine's ear and whispered, "We'll be fine, you know, forget about everyone else." Lorraine looked up at Nikki with a shy warmth in her eyes, placed her hand on the pocket where she had slipped the piece of paper just now and whispered, "I know we will, Nik. I know."

Once Nikki had got herself some lunch and gone back to the PRU, her phone vibrated in her pocket, notifying her she had a text. She went to take out her phone when she felt the folded piece of paper and took it out, her face a picture of confusion. She couldn't think how it had got there. She opened it and began to read it and a smile crept across her face. Of course, Lorraine. In her beautiful handwriting, Lorraine had written Nikki a note which simply read, 'No matter what, I still think you are the woman for job. There's an extra job that I have in mind for you now, if you're up for it?' Nikki didn't really know what Lorraine meant but tucked the note back in her pocket and took out her phone which had a message off Lorraine on the screen which read, 'Meet me at my place tonight, 7:30pm, to discuss my note ;) xxx' and then another text came through just after it with Lorraine's address. Nikki smiled, even though she had no idea what was going on...at least she'd get to spend time alone with Lorraine again, and she certainly wasn't going to turn that down.