The lack of Lorikki in this week's episode was ridiculous...but it seriously needs to be Thursday right now because I can't wait much longer to see that kiss. I'm sorry if the conclusion of the cliffhanger from the last chapter is disappointing, i don't even know. Review if you can, good or bad. X
Lorraine decided that she had had enough of it, she couldn't stand it anymore. Fuck professionalism. Did it even really apply to her anyway? After all, she's not a teacher or strictly even a member of staff. Lorraine Donnegan is Waterloo Road's benefactor, she's the money and the brains behind it all, she's the reason it's there to begin with...so surely she can do whatever she wants? She confidently reached out a hand to Nikki as they stood silently in the car park of Waterloo Road. Nikki practically grabbed it, longing to feel the comforting effect of Lorraine's smooth-skinned hand in her own, entwining their fingers. Nikki's teeth were gritted, standing there next to Tom and holding Lorraine's hand tightly. She felt ridiculous, she felt childish, she felt ashamed. Most of all she was angry. She turned her head to the left to look at Lorraine, needing to see her face, to see those beautiful blue eyes again. Lorraine smiled sympathetically, trying to disguise the anger bubbling inside her. Nikki turned the other way and looked at Tom, who was mostly just looking confused and possibly anxious because he should be teaching. His classroom looked out onto the car park, so everyone inside the class can hear what's going on outside when the window is open like it had been right then. A few faces were peering out through the curtains, they were Year 9's, bloody Year 9's. Tom knew he couldn't leave them there on their own any longer otherwise when he got back the classroom would be trashed and someone would probably be knocked unconscious...that's the sort of class they were.
He looked at the women apologetically and said, "I'm sorry. I've got to go...that group of year 9's aren't safe to be left on their own!" He smiled awkwardly.
"It's fine Tom, honestly." Nikki replied.
"Go on, I don't want your year 9 class to descend further into a state of anarchy," Lorraine responded with a sigh, "There's clearly enough of that already."
Nikki and Lorraine were left alone in the car park but the faces of the inquisitive members of Tom's class still peered out at them. Nikki looked away from Lorraine and regretfully looked back to what was in front of her. She looked at her black 4x4, her brilliant car, but unfortunately it wasn't so black or brilliant anymore. The sun was glaring down on Greenock, right over head, causing Nikki to have trouble seeing what was in front of her. That wouldn't have been such a terrible thing. Sunlight danced menacingly on several shards of glass that were scattered near the front wheel of Nikki's car. The passenger side window of her car was now either on the tarmac of the car park or; like the majority of it; covering the interior on the passenger side. Nikki squeezed her eyes tightly shut, hoping this was a nightmare, but as she opened them again she remembered that the smashed window wasn't her main concern. Right across the bonnet of her car was the word 'Dyke', sprayed there with bright pink spray paint. Nikki felt sick, her stomach still in knots due to her unwelcome encounter with Barry Barry.
"Fucking bastard!" Nikki practically shouted, a sob cutting through her voice.
"We don't know that it was him Nik." Lorraine soothed, her eyes filled with a plethora of emotions.
"Who else is it going to be Lorraine?" Nikki asked through gritted teeth, tears pricking the backs of her eyes once more.
"I don't know Nik, but you can't assume it's Barry, it'll only make the situation worse." Lorraine responded, doing well to bury her anger to make sure Nikki didn't do anything stupid.
"Lorraine, you know it's him!" Nikki retorted, she didn't even feel upset, she just felt angry now, "What's the point in damaging my car? What's he trying to prove?"
"Nik, darling, I'm sorry," Lorraine breathed, her upset and sympathy being conveyed in her voice, "This never would've happened if I'd made Michael get rid of Barry before now."
Nikki's heart felt as though it was in her mouth, "You called me darling..."
"Um...I'm...um...sorry..." Lorraine replied nervously, she hadn't meant to say it, it just slipped out.
"No, Lorraine...it's fine. It's more than fine. You're really cute when you're worried." Nikki giggled. Lorraine felt dizzy with happiness, she wanted to kiss her there and then but she knew she couldn't...she couldn't jeopardise Nikki's career that much.
"If you remember Lorraine, it was me who convinced you to keep the kid here. The PRU is perfect for kids like Barry...that's the problem." Nikki told Lorraine, still holding onto her hand tightly and looking into her eyes.
"It's different now though Nik, I don't think we can keep him here!" Lorraine replied, quieter now.
"I know Lorraine, I know that," Nikki responded nervously, "He's committed a serious crime now, it's criminal damage."
"Right, we're going to go to Michael now and tell him. Get it over with." Lorraine smiled kindly.
"Must we? I can't face him now... I just...I just... I just want to be alone with you." Nikki fumbled with her words, Lorraine's beauty had dulled Nikki's anger and now all she could think of was Lorraine's touch and the taste of her glossed lips. Her heart was beating too fast, she was fighting her urge to pull her close to her and kiss her in the middle of the car park.
"We can't Nikki." Lorraine mumbled, she didn't want to say it but she knew she had to.
"You don't mean that Miss Donnegan." Nikki said provocatively, touching her tongue to her lips.
"I didn't say I didn't want to... I just said we can't!" Lorraine responded, failing at faking her innocence, "We have to tell Michael about all this stuff with Barry...whether we want to or not." Nikki frowned slightly, making Lorraine's stomach flutter. Her self-restraint was being tested to breaking point, Nikki's flirtatiousness was affecting Lorraine way more than she could usually bare.
"Nikki...you're beautiful, you know that don't you?" Lorraine breathed.
"Stop it Lorraine, if I can't kiss you please just stop talking." Nikki whispered, biting her bottom lip slightly.
"Right...we're going to speak to Michael now and then spend the remainder of the school day waiting for it to end." Lorraine smiled warmly, starting to walk away from Nikki's car in front of them, "I'm still so sorry about your car Nik."
"It's only a car, I can get another one eventually. It's not the car that is the problem...it's the homophobia, it's the tormenting," Nikki nervously continued, "It feels like when I was at school."
"Oh Nikki," Lorraine sighed, squeezing her hand again, "I want to hear all about that later...if you don't mind?"
"I...um...okay then, if you're sure?" Nikki mumbled, clearly unsure about opening up about this thing in particular.
"Only if you want to. Now come on Miss Boston, let's go and get Barry Barry a good telling off, once and for all." Lorraine looked into Nikki's eyes warmly, reassuring her that she wouldn't let Michael belittle her authority any more.
Lorraine knocked on the door of Michael's office. She no longer cared what he thought of her relationship with Nikki or her decision to promote her. She'd had enough of all the terrible things that Barry Barry had caused at Waterloo Road.
"Come in." Michael called, he seemed in a short tempered mood. The women looked at each other, conveying their apprehension in a single glance. Nikki ran her clammy hands through her hair roughly and squeezed her eyes closed. Lorraine knew she could have kissed Nikki there and then but she didn't want to cause any more trouble.
"Come in!" Michael called, more impatiently this time. "C'mon then, Boston Bruiser." Lorraine smiled and rolled her eyes sarcastically, causing Nikki to giggle slightly.
Lorraine then pushed hard on the office door and it swung open.
"Oh, the wanderer returns." Michael exclaimed, his voice full of his discontent.
"I've been off site at a meeting Michael...about the running of this school." Lorraine quickly snapped back.
"I meant after that Miss Donnegan." Michael replied, his use of her surname made her feel very different to when Nikki said it. She suddenly felt like a pupil of his all over again, nervous to continue, so she glanced at Nikki who was sat down in the chair opposite Michael. Nikki took a deep breath and swallowed hard, preparing to speak.
"First of all, we need to do something about Barry Barry. I had a...um...I had an encounter with him in the PRU earlier on." Nikki began, her voice wavering slightly as she spoke.
"What sort of encounter?" Michael said, a slight confusion filled his voice.
"He...well, he sort of made a pass at me." Nikki responded, her eyes flickered around the office nervously, wanting to look anywhere other than at Michael.
"Surely you should have come to see me straight away?" Michael said with chastisement, as he leaned forward in his seat and placed his elbows on his desk intently. Nikki swallowed hard again, her palms extremely clammy by now. Her left hand lay oh her leg and unconsciously she clenched her fist causing her nails to dig into her thigh again. She knew she should have seen Michael immediately. She felt a hand gently on her shoulder, Lorraine's slender fingers tight around her shoulder cap, sending a shiver through her body.
"Well there was another incident which we were alerted to...that's why Miss Boston here couldn't see you straight away." Lorraine spoke confidently, rubbing her thumb on Nikki's shoulder reassuringly.
"Don't get involved Lorraine." Michael mumbled.
"I am involved Michael, there's nothing you can do about that now." She replied, defending herself and Nikki adequately.
"So...what's this incident you two?" Michael asked, slightly more nervous now that Lorraine was involved to, he was used to how persuasive she could be.
"Someone has damaged my car." Nikki announced, her eyes darting around the room again.
"Damaged?" Michael questioned.
"Smashed the passenger side window, and...and..." Nikki stuttered.
"And what Miss Boston?" Michael asked.
"Graffiti-ed on my bonnet. They graffiti-ed the word dyke on..." Nikki's voice trailed away, her anger retuned but now it was twinned with upset. Lorraine leaned down slightly further onto Nikki's shoulder, her breath moved strands of the woman's chestnut hair causing them tickle the side of her neck.
"I'm sorry about your car Nikki, I really am." Michael responded, quieter now.
Why is it just about the car? The car does even matter that much.
"Soooo..." Lorraine prompted him.
"So, I'll speak to Barry about the incident in th PRU...but your car is a matter for the police to handle." Michael told Nikki, matter-of-factly.
"Don't forget the photo issue aswell." Lorraine mumbled.
"How could I forget the photo issue Lorraine? Nobody has forgotten that," Michael was almost shouting now, "The staff doubt your competence. The pupils don't show you as much respect. What do you expect?"
"I don't see how my sexuality affects my competence," Lorraine began calmly but firmly, "and frankly, being open about it should gain respect, not lose it."
"There's being open about your sexuality and then there's parading it around for all to see." Michael shot back.
"In all honesty, we weren't parading it around. We simply kissed during our lunch break in an empty room...that's a very uninteresting parade, in my opinion." Nikki responded, as she felt Lorraine's breathing quicken against her neck.
"Okay, it may have been unfair to say you were parading it round...but it's true that staff doubt your competence Lorraine." He replied, calming slightly now.
"Their doubt comes from your bit-on-the-side, Christine's, big mouth. She's the one who quizzed me this morning in the staffroom." Lorraine's voice was laced with a hint of laughter now, over how ridiculous all this was.
"Michael, you've known Lorraine a long time. You know she would do nothing on purpose to put this school's reputation in danger. She loves this school... more than she'll let me say." Nikki stated. She felt Lorraine awkwardly shift on her heels as Nikki said the words.
"Is that right Miss Boston?" Michael snapped, "I'll keep that in mind next time she gets on the wrong side of the staff shall I?"
"You can't deny she does good for this school, it wouldn't even exist without her." Nikki reminded him.
"That is very true Nikki, but if you two get yourselves caught up in any more awkward situations like this photo one...I'm going to have to do something about it, at your end." Michael declared, calmly now.
"Get this sorted out first though, eh Michael?" Lorraine asked.
"Yes Lorraine, I'll speak to Barry now and contact the police about your car Nikki. Don't count on them finding who it was if there isn't any evidence." Michael responded.
"Thank you. What about CCTV? That might show who it was." Nikki smiled, cautiously.
"That camera hasn't been working since before Easter." Michael disclosed.
"You didn't think to tell me?" Lorraine shot back immediately, stood up again by now.
"I did try, but you were...caught up...doing other things." Michael announced.
"Well try harder next time." Lorraine's voice was quiet, as she felt a pang of guilt deep down in her stomach.
"Remember, I'm keeping my eye on you two," Michael declared, waving a hand in their direction as he stood up, "I'm going to look for Mr. Barry now, so get out of here before I get back." Michael walked out of the office and closed the door behind him. Both women let out a sigh of relief once they were sure he was gone.
"Utter knobhead." Nikki said quietly.
"Who? Michael or Barry?" Lorraine questioned, her stomach tight because of how strong Nikki's accent came through when she had just spoken, it was gorgeous.
"Take your pick." She smirked warmly.
"Watch yourself!" Lorraine giggled. Her eyes flicked down to where Nikki's hand was on her thigh, her knuckles turning white by now.
"Nikki...what are you doing?" Lorraine asked nervously. Nikki turned her face away from her.
"Oh...I don't know." Nikki sighed, dropping her hand down by her side.
"Nik, tell me anything, I don't mind." Lorraine reassured her, holding onto the woman's right hand.
"It's just...it's...I don't know I'm doing it. I only do that, nothing else...not anymore." Nikki mumbled, tears pricking the backs of her eyes.
"I'm here for you Nik." Lorraine whispered.
"Honestly Lorraine, I don't know I'm doing it." Nikki replied, turning back to face her. Their eyes met and Lorraine leaned forward to kiss her. Her lips still tasted the slightest bit of coffee, Nikki smiled as her eyelids fluttered shut.
"Promise me you'll talk to me?" Lorraine asked mid-kiss.
"I promise..." Nikki answered, quickly kissing Lorraine again, "I feel like a child saying that."
"You certainly don't kiss like a child." Lorraine giggled, her lips pressed against Nikki's.
"Oh my God Lorraine. Stop it. Michael will be back any minute." Nikki breathed, provocatively.
"Meet me at the end of the day?" Lorraine smiled, kissing Nikki again.
"Well...would be nice, considering my not having a car situation." Nikki replied.
"Oh yeah...that would make sense," Lorraine laughed, "Maybe we'll know what's happening about your car by then."
"I bloody hope so..." Nikki responded, remembering that she was supposed to be teaching Barry again last lesson.
As if reading her mind, Lorraine said, "I'll tell Sonya to make sure Michael keeps Barry out of lessons for the rest of the day. If we're lucky, he might be with the police anyway."
"Thank you. However, I'm not getting my hopes up Lorraine. I bet you there's no proof it was that sod." Nikki muttered.
"I didn't think you were a betting person Miss Boston." Lorraine giggled shyly.
"Oh stop it! You know what I mean!" Nikki smiled, quickly kissing her lips again. She got up from the chair and rested her hands on Lorraine's hips as she kissed hard against her lips again.
"We really can't do this now, imagine if Barry walked in." Nikki laughed.
"It is a bit dangerous...but...it's exciting." Lorraine giggled, touching her tongue to her lips.
"Barry Barry catching us again isn't dangerous...it's essentially a bloody death sentence." Nikki declared.
"Okay, okay you. Now shift and get out of here." Lorraine laughed, wriggling out of Nikki's arms.
"See you later Miss Donnegan." Nikki mumbled, gave her a quick wink and planted a delicate kiss on her soft lips.
"Go on! Get out!" Lorraine exclaimed.
"Make me!" Nikki smiled innocently. Lorraine pushed gently against Nikki's shoulders.
"Don't make me do that Miss Boston...I mean that." Lorraine grinned. Nikki kissed her lips once more, turned around and then walked out. Lorraine watched as she walked away with a slight sway in her hips, bit down onto her own bottom lip and then followed behind her.
From then, both women began their clock-watching, willing the time to pass quickly so they could spend time alone with each other again.