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Kacey's knees were uptight to her chest, face displaying expressions of forlornness and fear, some what withdrawn to the two female in company with her yet very alert to little insignificant movements, perhaps it she was being solitary. Her already short and stubby fingernails were becoming even shorter and sore due to her vigorously chewing at them, purely out of anxiousness, she was more than aware of what Miss Boston was probably thinking - her teacher was quite quick to automatically presume and she's heard the saga about how she'd dealt with a student who was doing drugs, treating him to an icy shower; the army method. She wasn't consuming drugs. And that was the honest truth. Simply falling into one of Barry's devious traps; she needed money and quickly, a paper round just wasn't sufficient.
A few stitches were applied to her cheek and the excess dried blood was wiped away, Lexy then discharging the teen. Nikki waited outside, giving Kacey privacy to change out of the hospital gown and into her own boyish clothes. "Thanks Lexy," Nikki smiled softly.
Lexy shrugged, "I'm only doing my job. You know where I am. If you have any trouble, phone the ED and I'll get back to you." Her Australian accent was so rich and smooth, and Nikki adored it.
Nikki nodded, her attention returning to Kacey as she heard shuffling and the curtain being drawn back. It was late; nearly midnight. The brunette was exhausted, she hadn't really been sleeping properly. And Kacey also looked shattered after her ordeal. She was nervous and weary of Nikki, expecting a severe roasting.
"Come on," Nikki guided Kacey with her arm; she was furious with the fact illegal substances had been found on the teenager but she understood the girl was badly shaken from whatever had happened and was suffering with pain.
Kacey dipped her head, eyes fixated to the floor, hands shoved in her pockets. She shivered a little as she entered the night time air, the wind still raging and the rain lashing down. The dryness of Nikki's vehicle was welcoming.
Nikki twisted her car key in the ignition, igniting her cars engine with a subtle roar. Before setting off, she glanced at Kacey, "We really need to have a serious chat." her voice was firm, authoritative.
Kacey nodded sheepishly, "Are you taking me back to mine?" her voice was flickery with negative emotion, terrified incase the answer was yes.
"Do you want me to?" Nikki was happy to give the student an option, her personal choice.
"No." The reply was instant, sharp and definite.
"I'll take you back to mine then, it's too late to sort out any other arrangement." Nikki said, "At least I'll know you're safe." she started to drive, headlights beaming rays of light down the dark roads, "I really need you to tell me what happened though." she softened her tone.
Kacey nodded again, an adequate reply. She remained silent for the remainder of the journey back to Nikki's, fiddling with her fingers and biting her lip as she replayed the events leading up to when Nikki discovered her in her mind.
It wasn't long before Nikki parked her vehicle in her drive, "Let's go inside." she wanted to get Kacey settled inside due to the fact how visibly drained she appeared. Both females got out of the car and walked into the comfort of Nikki's snug home.
Nikki discarded of her shoes, Kacey repeating her actions and the older woman lead the way upstairs and into her spare bedroom that was already made up incase of emergencies. She placed Kacey's bag on the bed; it was the bag she took to school with her, so it was bound to contain some jogging bottoms and a vest top that she usually wore to train in and that would have to be suitable to sleep in considering the circumstances. Kacey perched herself on the end of the bed, hiding her face in her hands; everything effected her much more than she was letting on. Nikki had popped into another room and collected a bath and hand towel as well as a spare toothbrush she always kept, again incase anyone ever came to stay in an emergency. "Here you go, the bathrooms next door," she said softly, "Would you like a hot chocolate?"
Kacey nodded, lifting her head to look up at her teacher, trying to get her head around over how kind she was being, "Yes please,"
"I'll leave you to get settled, I'll be back soon." Nikki said subtly, "It'll be okay Kacey," she reassured, then heading back downstairs rubbing her forehead which had suddenly started to throb achely. What she was doing was unprofessional, she should have phoned social services but she didn't want to scare the teen anymore, plus it was late and they were both shattered.
Kacey changed out of her school clothes and into the clothes she had intended to wear at the gym, then climbing into bed and hiding under the duvet whilst waiting for Nikki to return.
Nikki came back shortly carrying two mugs full of hot chocolatey liquid, she placed her own on one of the bedside tables and handed Kacey hers.
"Thanks Miss," Kacey murmured clutching the mug, warming her icy hands whilst the delicious aroma tickled her nose.
"It's Nikki while you're under my roof," Nikki hated being called Miss, it was bad enough she had to deal with it all day at work, she wasn't going to accept being called it at home, "Do you want to talk?" she asked sensitively, sitting on the edge of the bed.
Kacey knew that question was coming and she'd been dreading it. She understood that she had to explain the truth eventually. She might as well do it now. It may even help her sleep knowing she'd confided in someone responsible. Her head nodded weakly. "Where do I start?"
Nikki shrugged, "The thing that concerns me the most is the drugs..."
"They're not mine," Kacey insisted, "And I haven't taken any I promise."
"I never said you had but you have to explain. Being caught with drugs like that has drastic consequences any how. You were lucky I was there to talk Lexy out of contacting security." Nikki pointed out.
Kacey nodded, "Yeah thanks for that. I needed money and no jobs a fifteen year old can get were really substantial enough. I know The school are fundraising for me and that, but they can't raise enough. Mum isn't gonna agree to let me go unless all the money is there in advanced. So I asked our Barry if he had any work for me...I just look after the drugs for people. Barry said that even if I was caught, they are hard lines gonna arrest a fifteen year old girl. If he was captured, he'd be locked away for sure." she no longer cared that she was dropping Barry in it, as far as she was concerned she wanted to disassociate herself from her family following ts evening, "He paid me to begin with but then he stopped and said that if I stopped carrying drugs for him, he'd tell Mum that I was doing drugs. She'd go mental." she sighed sadly, ashamed of what she'd stooped to in order to get money.
Nikki sighed, "Oh Kace," she sipped at her own drink, looking sympathetically at Kacey. She was fuming with Barry for getting his sister involved in something so wrong. She should have known it would be something to do with Barry.
"Mum found the drugs in my room, I told her they were Barry's. As usual Barry has an excuse for everything and I got the blame for it. Mum didn't approve of drugs anyway, it's far too risky. She kicked me out and then under the cover of darkness Barry beat me up." Kacey dipped her head to hide the few tears that leaked from her eyes, "How could I have let this happen."
"Kacey, non of this is your fault." Nikki comforted, disgusted with what her family had done to one of their own. She was no one innocent when it came to screwing up with family but she hadn't physically abused anyone, "Barry shouldn't have attacked you and your Mum shouldn't have kicked you out." she knew Barry was cunning and sly and wished Carol could see that.
"Barry's just Mum's number one now. He could never do wrong." Kacey put her emptied mug on the side, viciously wiping her tears away.
"Tomorrow morning we have to go to the police," Nikki knew she had no option but to get Kacey to report it.
"No please." Kacey begged, the aftermath of her family subsequently to her doing that was something she couldn't cope with, nor the fact she'd most likely be in trouble.
"I promise you won't be in trouble. My cousin works in the Glasgow station, I can get her to sort it." Nikki said, "You've done nothing wrong, but I told Lexy I'd talk to an officer. She wants you made fully aware of the severity of drugs. And she thought you'd been attacked, so really you have to do report that. I know it's tricky when it's family, but Barry could be a danger and your Mum has basically abandoned you." she reached out and stroked Kacey's arms soothingly.
Being promised she wouldn't be in trouble made Kacey rethink, "Okay," she murmured. Miss Boston's touch was heavenly, calming her immediately, "I hate them for doing this...Miss, I mean Nikki, could I end up in care?"
"It's a possibility but I'm not saying yes. We'll sort the money out for America and you'll be off to the states soon. Perhaps until then you could stay with me, I'd have to look into it." Nikki shrugged.
Kacey nodded sadly, everything was such a mess. Why her of all people.
"Come here," Nikki shuffled onto the bed more and extended her arms to give Kacey a hug.
Kacey eagerly accepted the hug, she couldn't be more happy to be in her teachers embrace, feeling so safe and secure. She buried her head into Nikki's chest and broke down into tears that had all been bottled. Inhaling Nikki's uniquely gorgeous smell was a luxury sensation. All her feelings were returning to her, reigniting. She still loved Miss Boston.
Nikki was well aware that she was useless at being a mother like figure and soothing someone who was upset but she had to try. She hummed softly, rubbing circles on Kacey's back, anything to settle the teen.
"W-will you stay with me tonight?" Kacey sobbed quietly.
"Of course," All Nikki wanted to achieve was to make Nikki feel protected.
They laid on the bed, Kacey under the covers, Nikki on top of them and dosing in and out of a delicate slumber, arms still holding Kacey. But she was suddenly wide awake when she felt plump chocolate dusted lips pressed against her own. Kacey couldn't resist temptation.