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Chapter 10

Christine had been suspended for drink driving and Sue was getting into a bit of a heated debate with Audrey, bless her. The bell rang and Nikki decided that she needed to settle things once and for all with Sue. "I agree with you, About Christine."

"S-so" the younger woman replied in a bitchy manner.

Nikki sighed, frustrated, "It's the end of term, sue. L-look. Can we not just clear the air. I'm sorry okay? I'm sorry about Vix."

"Yeah, so am I. Er since now she's moving thousands of miles to get away from you." Sue answered, full of attitude.

"Y-you what?" Nikki replied, shocked, an uneasy feeling made it's way into her stomach, making it roll unpleasantly. 'Please, please, please don't be sick' Nikki pleaded with herself. She was clearly going to have another one of those days. "She's moving to Berlin. Today." Sue practically bragged and added, "are you happy now?" before storming of, leaving Nikki alone in the staffroom. She covered her face with her hands as tears flowed freely down her face. The question was: was Nikki happier now? She knew she didn't deserve Vix, she only really wanted one person. Someone she couldn't have. Vix, and Hector she supposed, were basically only in her life so she didn't feel completely on her own all the time. As harsh as it sounded, that was the truth. She didn't love any of them, especially Hector, the way she loved Lorraine.

Sonya was walking along the corridor towards her desk outside Christine's office when she heard sobs. She snook into the room, closing the door behind her after realising it was Nikki. "Come here." Sonya beckoned Nikki towards her with her arms outstretched. Awkwardly, Nikki allowed Lorraine's sister to hug her and fuss over her. "Vix i-is moving. To. To B-Berlin." She sobbed into Sonya's shoulder. Once her crying had subsided Sonya went to make them a coffee. Nikki dried her eyes, wishing she didn't have to cry whenever something went wrong. Eagerly passing Nikki a steaming mug, the teacher took a sip. Her stomach heaved. She slammed the cup down on the coffee table before running to the bin and throwing up. Sonya walked over to Nikki with a concerned face as she handed her a tissue out of her leopard print handbag, which matched her ridiculously high heels. "Sit down here, Nikki. And i'll get you a glass of water." Sonya guided her over to the nearest chair before getting her a glass of water and sitting down in the chair next to her. "Thanks, Sonya." Nikki smiled weakly. Sonya smiled sympathetically, "you're really not having a good few weeks, are you?" She inquired warmly.

"No, I suppose not. Now I've got this bug that's gonna finish me off!" Nikki sighed causing Sonya to laugh and shake her head. Sonya grabbed hold of Nikki's slender hand, "I'm sure it'll get better." The younger woman soothed.

"Well it can't get a lot worse." Nikki sighed.

"Hey. M-maybe Vix isn't the one for you, you know." Sonya hinted. She really was cleverer than she came across as. "Look, I really shouldn't tell you this but. Erm. I-I spoke to Lorraine the other day and well, she erm. Please don't tell anyone but she. Er. she misses you, Nikki." Nikki's eyes lit up when she heard this. Images of her and Lorraine finally being a couple again rushed through her head. She sighed. Sonya had clearly gotten her hopes up that they'd just get back together now and live happily ever after. "Well. Er erm. T-that's nice to hear." She stuttered, having no idea what to say. She couldn't risk Lorraine finding out how Nikki felt because of Sonya. "So y-you don't miss her back?" Sonya tried to get whatever Nikki was thinking out of her. She really wanted her big sister to be happy and she knew that Nikki would fill that empty space in Lorraine's life. They completed each other. The only problem was that she knew that both women were too proud to admit it. In some ways they were very similar, both were very independent and had come far in their lives because of this, yet, both were lonely, lonelier than they'd ever admit, especially to themselves. "I-I. I need to go." Nikki sighed, "Thank you, Sonya. It means a lot."

"You're late, Miss"

"Yes thank you for pointing that out, Mr Barry. Lets have a better week than last week." Nikki replied shortly.

"Think you need a new bed or somet miss, you're always waking upon the wrong side of it." Barry antagonised.

"Cooler!" He didn't need telling twice. Once barry had slammed the door behind him Nikki sighed, "when will he learn." She muttered causing her class to break out into laughter at Barry's stupidity. "It's a shame he's been sent out cos, as it's the

last day of term, we're watching a film." This made all the class grin as Nikki put Romeo And Juliet on, it had to be English related of course! The teacher sat behind her desk and carried on with some marking! She really didn't want to have to do it over the holidays. She rubbed her stomach slowly, trying to get the nausea to ease.

Then thoughts of what she'd just found out from Sonya took over her mind. Lorraine was thinking about her! She found herself daydreaming about the sassy benefactress once again. She imagined Lorraine's hair like silk, framing her feminine bone structure, bright, like her thoughts of Lorraine. She was like shimmering ink, smeared over the pages of her mind, blocking out all the bad things. When Lo was in her mind, all the bad things seemed to disappear, her problems vanishing with every new thought.

Finally the end of the day came, Nikki had never been more grateful. She'd just gathered up her stuff and her finished marking, ready to leave when she heard a nock at the door. "Great." She muttered under her breath. She just wanted to get home, she was feeling exhausted.