Hey guys sorry it's been so long but here's an extra long chapter to apologise. Pretty please let me know what you want to happen. Hope you like it. Kat xx
It was the weekend and the staff and students of Holby Secondary were enjoying the freedom. Bernie had taken her daughter, Charlotte shopping. Serena was spending the weekend at home with Jason. Bernie had agreed to go to Serena's house when she was finished. She knew that it was likely the day would go badly and thought she'd need the comfort, and wine, her girlfriend could offer. However she had been wrong and the day had gone well. But regardless she was still eager to see Serena and tell her all about it. Although if she was honest, she was always eager to see the other woman. She had dropped Charlotte back home and was just pulling up in front of Serena's house. She reached into the back seat and pulled out a carrier bag of things she'd bought earlier. Once she was out the car she locked it and started up the driveway to the large house. The door swung open almost as soon as she'd knocked on it and she was greeted by Jason.
"Hello Bernie." He said with a smile. "Auntie Serena said you might be sad. Are you sad? You don't look sad."
She chuckled and shook her head. "No I'm not sad, I've had a good day."
Serena appeared behind her nephew. "Jason let the poor woman in." She'd just caught the end of the conversation. "That's a massive step Bernie I'm so happy for you. You know you have to tell me all about it."
Jason had done as his auntie said and moved out the way for their guest could come in. They walked into the living room and took up their usual places on the sofa. The two women at one end, sat very close together and Jason the other end.
"Go in then. Give me all the details." Serena encouraged as she leant back against her girlfriend.
"Alright nosey, but first I decided to buy you both a present today." She lifted the carrier bag and pushed it towards them both.
"Oh you didn't have to do that." She protested but Jason was moving eagerly towards the presents.
"I know and I didn't plan to but I saw something that made me think of you and I couldn't leave Jason out could I." She delved her hand into the bag and pulled out a cylinder shape, neatly wrapped in tissue paper. She handed that to Serena then went into the bag again to pull out the other item and handed it to Jason. This one wasn't wrapped and he could see straight away what it was.
"A new game! Thank you Bernie." He exclaimed as he got up to add it to the neat pile in front of the television.
She grinned. "No problem. This one isn't an army one, I think it's a car one but I thought it would be nice for us to play something different."
He thought for a second or two. "Well I like my army ones but as this is a present I will try it out. Open yours Auntie Serena."
Serena let out a breath she hadn't realised she was holding. She knew all too well that her nephew wasn't a fan of change so that could have gone very badly. She smiled at them both and started to unwrap the present in her lap. "A candle?" She looked confused. What about a candle would make Bernie think of her.
"Smell it, but don't look at the front. What do you think it is?" She was grinning cheekily and it made Serena suspicious.
She held the candle to her nose and inhaled deeply. She recognised the familiar sent straight away. "No… Really?" She grinned and turned the candle around. Sure enough her suspicions were confirmed. A Shiraz scented candle.
"I thought if you could smell it, it would stop you drinking so much. It's pretty accurate isn't it?" She laughed.
"No chance." Jason shook his head. "I don't think anything will stop Auntie Serena drinking wine."
"Alright thank you." She acted offended but couldn't stop the laugh from escaping. "And thank you for this Bernie." She placed a kiss on the blonde's cheek.
"Anytime."
"So tell me about your day. How's Charlotte?" She took one last sniff of the candle before placing it down on the floor.
She smiled softly. "It was really good. Charlotte was great, more beautiful than I'd remembered. When I first picked her up she said she missed me and we just hugged in my car for a while. It was so lovely. The whole day was lovely really. We looked round an endless amount of shops, then we had Pizza and milkshakes bigger than our heads for lunch. Then we had a big chat about everything. She told me about school, I told her about work. And about you."
She looked at her in shock. "You did, what did she say?" She desperately hoped it hadn't caused problems between the mother and daughter.
"She was unsure at first but after some thought she was ok with it. She said that her dad had been seeing other women so why shouldn't I. I told her all about you and she wants to meet you. Both of you." She looked over at Jason who simply nodded quickly. "She wants to meet Eleanor too. But don't worry about telling her until you're completely ready. Apparently from the way I talked about you she can tell how much I like you and didn't want to come between that." She blushed. "But anyway apparently she had no problem with me to begin with. It was all Marcus playing with her head, trying to make me look bad. He told her all kinds of horrible things, untrue things. And that night I was supposed to be taking them out, he forced them to go to the cinema. It wasn't because they didn't want to see me at all. It's all bloody Marcus. What I did was bad enough without him making up complete and utter rubbish." Her mood changed so quickly when she started to talk about her ex. "Not only is he trying to take all my money, but my children too."
Serena snuggled into the other woman for comfort. "Hey it's alright. You've got your little girl back. She's not going to fall for it again."
"Hmm." She wrapped her arms around her. "Cameron won't be so easily convinced though. His dad was always his hero."
"Well that's wrong!" Jason interrupted. "You're the real hero, you were a soldier! You saved the world. And your husband lied, you shouldn't lie."
"The army isn't really like that Jason but thank you. Are you're right, lying is bad." She nodded.
"I'm sure he'll come around." Serena comforted her. "Maybe his sister will be able to convince him."
"Yeah she said she'd try." She nodded slowly.
"It's going to be alright. Just give it time. I'm more than excited to meet Charlotte. Is she a mini you?"
She nodded and smiled weakly. "So I'm told. I'll talk to her, set something up for you to meet."
She nodded and snuggled in further, turning to lift her legs over Bernie's lap.
Dom had done a shift at his part time job that morning and was now back at his house with Zosia and Arthur, getting it ready for the party he was holding that night. Dom's family liked to spend the weekends in their caravan. Now he was old enough to choose not to go, he took the opportunity to throw a party. His parties were known as the best in the school. They had been the cause of many a drama as well as the start and end of countless relationships. Mostly because of the amount of under age drinking that was done. Dom was currently seeing a 19 year old and him and his friends were the source of the alcohol. The three friends had spread out the alcohol over the kitchen table, along with plastic cups and space for the alcohol the guests would bring. The music was ready and they were all dressed to impress. After Zosia's tough time recently with her dad all she wanted to do was drink and forget it. The boys were both excited to enjoy the party with their partners, Dom probably in a different way than Arthur. As time went on, people began to arrive and the party was soon in full swing.
Zosia sat on her own in the corner, silently knocking back vodka and Coke after vodka and Coke. Various people, mostly boys, approached her to try and talk to her or get her to dance but she just wasn't in the mood. Things still weren't great with her dad. She was trying to spend time at home like Miss Naylor had asked but tensions were constantly high. She didn't want to think about it and the alcohol was definitely helping with that. She looked around the room and smiled as she noticed her friends. Arthur was sat on the sofa with Morven, heads close together and giggling about something. Dom was in the middle of the living room come dance floor grinding against whatever guy he could get his hands on. Zosia chuckled softly. Her two best friends were so different but she loved them dearly. She genuinely didn't know what she'd do without them. Them and a certain redhead of course. Her drunken mind somehow started wondering what it would be like if Miss Naylor was there with her. She soon realised she was being stupid, she'd never come to something like this. She was way too classy. Instead she imagined the two of them in posh evening dresses at a high end bar or even expensive restaurant. She knew that this was even more of a stupid idea, and illegal. She found herself having fantasies like these more and more often, both drunk and sober. She was developing feelings for the older woman and she couldn't stop it. She downed another drink to push the teacher from her mind. She sighed and staggered over to her friend on the dance floor. "Dom!" She slurred. "Dommy, hey dance with me?" She started to sway drunkenly from side to side.
"Woah someone's had a few too many drinks." Dom chuckled. He wrapped his arms under her armpits to steady her.
"Yeah whatever stop being boring and dance with me."
He did as he was told and began to dance with her. It wasn't easy though with her struggling to even stand up straight. "Come on Zosh why don't you go for a lie down in my room for a bit you don't look well."
She frowned and shook her head. "If I didn't know you better I'd think that was a chat up line Dominic." She laughed hysterically at her own joke.
"It's a good job for both of us that you do then isn't it. Come on." He tried to lead her out of the room.
"No get off!" She yelled and tried to push him off her. "I want to have fun, don't be such a party pooper." She disappeared off into the crown and into a group of boys before starting to dance suggestively.
Dom sighed but didn't know what to do. Before he had much time to think he heard the sound of a car pull up outside and two doors open and close. He cursed loudly and ran over to the window. There on the drive way was his parents car and they were making their way up to the house, slowed down by the arguing going on between them. "Out!." He started to shout. He turned the music off and shouted louder. "Everyone you need to get out. And take your rubbish. Go!" Eventually people groaned and started to move towards the door. The boy frantically picked up empty plastic cups and shoved them in the bin. He tried to hide any evidence of alcohol. When his parents entered the house they were furious. Everyone was kicked out the house and Dom himself was given a stern talking to.
Arthur somehow found himself sitting on the wall outside the house with a drunken Zosia slumped against his shoulder. He was trying to work out what to do when Oliver aproached him.
"Is she alright?" He asked. "Do you want some help taking her home."
"If you want to deliver her home to Mr Self in this state then go ahead but I won't be there when he kills you slowly." He pushed his glasses up his nose and frowned.
"So what are you going to do? Take her back to yours?" He sat down the other side of Zosia.
He shook his head. "If my parents find out I've been drinking I'll be grounded for weeks. Can she go to yours?"
"No same here mate. And I'll be in the dog house even longer for bringing a girl home. So what shall we do?"
Arthur shrugged. "I don't know? Maybe walk around a bit, try to sober her up with fresh air. Will that work?"
"Who knows but I guess it's worth a try." He placed one of Zosia's arms over his shoulder and his arm round her back. "Come on Zosia up you get."
He did the same and they pulled the girl to her feet, causing her to groan and lean heavily against them both. They slowly walked along with her. It wasn't very easy as she was barely conscious. It felt like they'd been walking forever when Oliver saw someone he recognised.
"Look!" He used his free arm to point into the distance. "Isn't that Miss Naylor? Do you think she'll help us?"
"It is!" His voice was full of relief. "Surely she'll know what to do. Miss Naylor!" He called as they got closer.
Jac had been struggling to settle and so had gone for a late night walk. She spotted some students she recognised but decided to pretend she hadn't. If she'd realised who the girl was it could have been a different story. Not that she had any choice when they started calling her name. She sighed and sped up to walk over to them. "Hello, what are you doing out this late?" It was only then she spotted who was between them. "Zosia? Is she ok?"
"No. Well we don't know." Arthur stuttered. "She's really drunk but we don't know what to do, we can't take her home or to either of our houses in this state without someone killing us."
"I think being killed is a bit dramatic. Apart from Mr Self maybe, I could believe that." She pulled some money from her pocket. "Oliver I want you to go to the garage round the corner and buy the biggest bottle of water that can buy you. Arthur we are going to take her to that bench over there, she'll be better lying down." She handed him the money then took his place next to Zosia. Her and Arthur led her over to the bench and gently lay her down on it. She knelt on the floor so she was near the girls head. "Zosia it's Miss Naylor. Can you hear me? That's it try and stay awake."
Her eyes opened slowly. "No. You're not really here. Get out of my head." She mumbled.
Jac was confused but knew now wasn't the time to question it. "I am here Zosia. I found you, Oliver and Arthur stumbling about the streets when I was going for a walk. How much have you had to drink?"
"I don't know. I'm still awake so not enough." She reached out and prodded the woman in the arm. "You are actually here!"
"No don't you say that. We're going to sober you up and take you home." She spoke softly.
"No!" She grumbled. "I'm not going home."
"Alright what else are you going to do? Sleep on this bench?"
She frowned as she tried to form thoughts. "Take me to your house. I won't puke I promise."
"Nope not going to happen." She shook her head.
"I won't! I'm not a sick drunk."
She couldn't help but laugh slightly. "I don't care if you throw up. I'll be thrown out of the school if I have you at my house. It's not appropriate."
"Fine." She huffed. "Just leave me here then."
"I'm not going to do that either. I'm going to look after you until you're in a fit enough condition to go back to your dad."
Oliver returned back with the bottle of water and passed it to Jac.
"Ok Zosia can you lift your head up slightly so you can have a drink." She helped her to raise her head and shoulders then passed her the water. "Small sips."
The four of them sat there in silence as Zosia ignored the woman's instruction and drunk the water quickly. After a few minutes, Jac had to quickly move out the way as the girl violently threw up over the side of the bench. "I thought you weren't sick when you were drunk?" She chuckled softly.
"That was a lie. This always happens." Arthur spoke as he lightly tapped his friends leg as some kind of support.
"Sorry" she mumbled and rested her head against the cool arm of the bench.
"It's fine." She pushed the brunette hair out of the girls face. "That will get it out of your system. That's what we want."
"I'm such a mess." She groaned. "I'm sorry that you all have to see this, especially you Miss."
"Sh it's fine. Yeah it was a bit stupid to get into this state but you don't have to worry about how I see you. I just want to help." She spoke softly and calmly.
"You're not going to tell any of the other teachers about this?" She looked up at her with eyes full of worry.
"Of course not."
"Thank you." A sudden pang of emotion hit her in the chest. "You're so kind to me. I feel bad that I've never done anything for you. If you need someone to talk to or whatever."
She smiled. "Thank you for the offer but that won't be happening."
"It wouldn't be appropriate." She mimicked the teachers earlier words.
"Correct. And I don't really like to talk about myself. Anyway you don't owe me anything, I'm just doing my job."
This hit Zosia hard. She'd hoped it was more than just her doing her job. She'd hoped that she enjoyed the time they spent together as much as she did herself. She didn't say anything but went back to swigging her water.
"Maybe we should try standing you up." Jac suggested. "You're looking a lot better now."
She nodded silently in response.
"Ok slowly try to sit. Sit only don't stand yet. Boys I need you close by in case she falls." She instructed.
Oliver and Arthur took their places either side of Jac who was stood directly in front of Zosia.
She slowly rose into a sitting position. She sat still until her head stopped spinning. Or at least span less. "Can you help me stand now."
Jac held out her arms and she grabbed on to them. Slowly she pulled her to her feet. The boys stood either side of their friend and wrapped their arms around her again. "Do you think you can walk?" She asked and received another nod. "OK we're going to take you home and when we get there you are going to go inside and into bed so quietly that your dad won't even know you're there."
They slowly and gently made their way to Zosia's house as a group. Stopping at the odd hedge along the way for her to be sick. When they finally got to the house, she stopped. "I can't."
"You can." Jac reassured her. "Quiet remember"
"As a mouse." She nodded.
"That's right."
She thrusted her handbag at Arthur. "Keys."
He found them for her and unlocked the door. They stood and watched as she made her way into the house, shutting the door behind her. They waited for a few minutes, listening out for any loud bumps or crashes. When they were satisfied she'd got to bed safely they moved away from the house.
"Do you two need me to walk you home." She offered but they declined. "Ok be safe." As they went their separate ways, the redheads mind was in overdrive. Why did she care about this girl so much. She meant so much more to her than any student should. So much for a walk to clear her head, she thought and laughed sarcastically into the dark sky.
Me again, just to say that Shiraz scented candles are actually a thing. I saw them and just had include it in this?
