Scout's POV

I looked at the four adults in the room. Miss Donnegan, Mr Byrne, Miss Boston and Mr Clarkson.

'Scout, how are you feeling?' Mr Byrne asked kindly, eyeing Miss Boston with concern.

I gulped, swallowing. 'I'm all right now, sir. Just a bit sore.' I turned to Miss Boston.

'Sorry about before, Miss. Here's the lines I did for you. Just completed them now and Barry said he was winding me up. I shouldn't have thought it were you.' I paused.

'You were only trying to help me.' I looked at her. She looked like she was about to cry.

'We have a duty of care, Miss Boston. It's right you apologise.' Mr Byrne and Mr Clarkson's voices were like ice.

She swallowed hard, and took the piece of paper. 'Thanks, Jodi.' Her eyed swivelled to my stomach and hip.

'You feeling any better?' She was eyeing my injuries with tears in her eyes.

I smiled slightly. 'Much.' I then turned to Miss Donnegan. 'Thanks for helping me, I appreciate it.'

'No, it's OK. So long as you're feeling better.' She turned to Mr Byrne and Mr Clarkson. 'I think we should let Miss Boston deal with this. We'll be just outside, Scout.'

'Thanks, Mr Clarkson.' He nodded, smiling reassuringly.

I limped gingerly over to the leather sofa in the corner of the room and sank down onto it, wincing slightly as I lay back and down; Miss Boston walked over, standing over me and pulling up a chair so's she was in front of me.

'I'm so sorry, Jodi. I'm so glad you're OK.' Tears filled her eyes and as she went to reassuringly squeeze my hand, I flinched.

'Don't, Miss. Please.' I was almost feeling a lump in my throat and we stared at each other. My heart skipped a beat with her being this close.

I so wanted her to hold me. I so wanted her too.

'Miss. I need something.' I couldn't help it.

The tears were burning my eyes and she was whispering now, her hand outstretched.

'Please, Jodi. Let me help you. Please.' Confused as to why she was saying this, I decided to question her.

'Help me? What d'you need to help me over?' I fixed her brown eyes with my ones.

Nikki's POV

I decided to bite the bullet. She wouldn't learn this any other way. She had to hear it from me. She had to.

'I read your essay, Jodi. About your past. I know how you earned your living.'

At my words, I didn't get the reaction I was hoping for. Her tears were streaking down her face now. Not because of her injuries, but because she knew that someone else knew all about her.

'You shouldn't've had to go through any of that. Any of it. You didn't deserve this, Jodi. And I know I haven't helped – the way I've treated you.'

'It's all right, Miss.' She mumbled, her voice thick with tears. Not looking at me. Not looking at me.

'Hey, hey, it's OK.' I tilted her chin with my forefinger and thumb. Her face was shining with tears. Shining with them, shining.

'It's not OK, Miss. It's not. Now you know, you'll tell the teachers and... a-and I-I don't want anyone f-find-ding out.'

She was a mess, now. Her hair was greasy and unkempt. Her face was red and looked sore. She was crying from the pain of her injuries, and crying from the pain of her past.

That someone else knew other than herself. Well, I'd made the mistake of telling Tom and Maggie.

She'd hate me if that ever came out! She really would.

'It hurt y'know. I was only 12. I had to see someone and got dolled up as much as I could. There was a woman who I had to give my cash to. Deena. She was only 23. Blonde and gorgeous. Their was her husband, Graham, who was 30. He was the one I had to sleep with. I got the cash back after I did it.'

I watched her relay her story and moved to sit next to her. 'What happened, sweetheart?' I stroked her hair, keeping my tone as soft as I could.

'They kept me locked up in a bedroom in their house. Two single beds with a TV and some magazines, DVDs and books. They gave me fresh clothes and cooked me meals. Deena even let me wash my hair whilst Graham was out.'

I processed this information as she started to cry. I carefully wrapped my arms round her and her head rested on my shoulder.

'It's OK, sweetheart. It's OK. I'm here. I'm here, and I'm not going away. I promise you.'

I gently prised her off me and held her at arms length. I fished in my pocket for a tissue and wiped at her face, under her eyes.

I pulled her back into my arms and she continued to cry.

'Sweetheart, I'm not going away. I'm never going to hurt you or abandon you. I promise you. I'm here now. I'm here and you're safe. You're safe now, Jodi. They're not here. They can't hurt you. You're safe.'

A/N: Will Scout open up even more to Nikki? And will she ever learn her biological mother's identity?

elliesimpson

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