CHAPTER 21
(Tink's POV)
All I could remember was watching the film with Vix and Nikki... But I woke up in bed at Nikki's house. Maybe yesterday had just been one horrible dream? Maybe everything was okay really, I really hoped it was but my gut feeling said otherwise.
I rolled over, releasing myself from the tangled web of covers. I stared at my arm dazed... Fresh dressing. I got up going to the mirror and taking my pyjama top off, the red carpet burn was still all the way down my back... Yesterday had really happened.
I looked at the clock... It was only 5am, Nikki didn't get up until half 5. If I got back into bed and went back to sleep, I could convince her I was ill or something... Then I'd be able to hide away even if it was only 24 hours.
I buried my head under the covers, closed my eyes tightly and wished that all of this would go away...
(Nikki's POV)
I got up at 5:30am and did my usual morning routine. Run, shower, dressed, coffee. Only this morning was different because Vix had slept over and as I was running she walked out of the en suite bathroom wearing nothing but a towel. Today was going to be a long day and I was glad to have her by my side.
I stood downstairs in the kitchen drinking coffee with Vix, I was wearing my blue shirt and skinny jeans while Vix had opted for her usual high waisted pencil skirt and top. I glanced at my watch as I took a drink of coffee. 6:45am.
"I better go and get Tink up" I said as I placed my mug on the counter.
I went upstairs and knocked on Tink's bedroom door before going in. I shook her gently.
"Tink come on, time to get up" I told her
She rolled over and pulled the quilt up over her head.
"Go away" She grumbled "I don't feel well"
I sat down on the edge of the bed and put my hand on her back, rubbing it softly.
"Listen I know yesterday was hard. But you can't hide forever, you have to go back eventually"
"No I don't, I quit. I'm never going back. I hate it there!" Tink said
"You are not quitting. You're 15 and a bright kid... I'm not letting you throw that away" I told her
"I don't care what you say! I'm not going back and you can't make me!" She shouted under the quilt
I pulled the covers back to uncover her face and looked at her.
"Tink we're going to sort everything out today"
"Can you change the past so that it never happened? No you can't! You can't be there every second of everyday to protect me! The entire school thinks I'm a freak! I am never going to fit in now! Don't you get that!?" Tink yelled getting upset again
"I'll ring Christine tell her we're not in"
"We? You need to go to work"
"Well you can't stay here alone. I'll give Rachel a ring"
"I don't need a babysitter"
"Either someone stays with you or you go in. Which is it?"
"Fine. Call Rachel" Tink sighed
(Tink's POV)
I was glad when Nikki and Vix finally left, I needed some peace and some time alone. The doorbell went about 40 minutes after Nikki left. I just wanted to be left alone! I opened the door to see Rachel stood there. I walked back into the house leaving the door open.
"Good Morning Tink" Rachel said sarcastically
I went back to sitting on the sofa with the blanket wrapped around me. Rachel put her bag and coat down and opened the curtains. The sun shone into the room and I had to squint against the light.
"What are you doing?" I asked
"I'm giving you the kick up the bum that you need. You are not sitting in here moping all day in your pyjamas. Yesterday was a really bad day, I get that but you're a Mason when we get kicked down we get up and we fight twice as hard. We don't give up. So go upstairs and get in the shower, get dressed and then get all your schoolwork and we'll have a look at it" Rachel said
I tilted my head to the side giving her a look of disbelief.
"Go on" Rachel added
I was going to refuse and continue to mope, but I kind of liked Rachel right now... After that speech. Rachel with authority was cool I liked it. So instead I went upstairs and got in the shower. I stood under the hot water letting it run over my face, then for some reason I just couldn't hold the tears back and they racked from my chest once again as they had yesterday.
I sunk down into the base of the shower and held my knees against my chest. I just couldn't contain it, it felt like the end of the world... Like things would never be okay. It took me a while to just cry it out but eventually I managed to pull myself together.
After my shower I got dressed and gathered my school books together and went downstairs to see Rachel.
(Christine's POV)
I really wasn't sure about letting Nikki deal with Rhiannon and the rest of the girls involved in yesterday's incident, she was too close. But never the less she'd insisted, I'd settled for being present to make sure she didn't let her personal feelings cloud her judgement as a deputy head. I'd had all the girls sent to my office by their form tutors and Nikki sat perched on the edge of the round table with her arms folded as they all stood in front of her.
"Right, which one of you can give me a valid reason for what happened yesterday?" Nikki demanded
"She was asking for it! She thinks she's so much better than the rest of us" Rhiannon said
"You maliciously attacked her because she thinks she's better than you!? She's 15! Most of you are re-doing year 10, you're older you should know better!" Nikki shouted
The girls said nothing.
"Brooke is too scared to come into school because of what you lot have done to her. In fact, she wants to leave Waterloo Road. She's just a kid that's been through a hard time, most have you have had a rough time... Jodie, Mr Clarkson, Mr Mead and myself all helped you out. And this is how you repay us?" Nikki asked "Rhiannon you're suspended for a week, then when you get back you'll lose your breaks and lunchtimes for a month"
"Oh what!?" Rhiannon argued
"Carry on I'll make it two" Nikki warned "The rest of you have earned yourself a day in the cooler and two weeks after school detention. And if ANY of you EVER do anything like this to Brooke or any other student in this school I'll have you excluded so fast your heads will spin! Do I make myself clear?"
The girls mumbled something I couldn't quite make out. Nikki wasn't satisfied, I got it really if it was Connor I'd be the same.
"DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR!?" Nikki shouted
"Yes Miss" The girls chorused.
A/N: Hope you liked it, bit of a connector chapter. Big surprise coming up! :)