Nikki made no attempt whatsoever to follow or talk to Hollie. She simply put her head in her hands and allowed pent-up tears to fall from her eyes. She understood how bad it must look to the teenager and she wished she had the words to explain things properly. She wished she had said something before, rather than trying to pretend that Eve didn't exist. Hollie would have been angry however she found out, but Nikki was sure that if she had told her, her daughter would have found it much easier to accept the truth.

"Mum?"

Forcing herself to look up, Nikki found her gaze settling on her younger daughter. She tried to force a smile onto her lips, but found that it was impossible. Eve made her way closer, perching on Christine's recently vacated seat and looking at the woman curiously.

"Is she my sister?"

"Half-sister." Nikki clarified with a small nod.

"You kept her?"

"Not exactly. It… the situations were different. I was sixteen when I had Hollie and my parents brought her up. I'd left home when I met your dad… I was about to join the army… things were complicated."

She broke off as Christine entered the office and smiled gently at her. "Hollie's in the Cooler. She's still furious, but she's stopped throwing chairs… I think."

The attempt at a half-joke fell flat as Nikki stood abruptly and moved towards the door. "Thank you, I… I need to…"

"Well… whatever you have to do." Christine offered. "Take the rest of the day off. Take her home."

The darker woman stared at her for a moment, before answering. "I've got a class waiting for me."

"Nikki, she can't stay here while you teach! Nikki?"

But she was out of the door with Eve trailing behind her awkwardly. She didn't say anything as they walked, until the girl placed a hand on her arm to attract her attention. Then she inhaled sharply. Spotting Mr Lowsley, she paused.

"Simon… could you cover my S4s, now?"

"I've kinda got my hands full."

"Please?"

"Everything alright?" The man asked, looking at her in concern.

She nodded sharply. "Yeah… I've just… I– I've gotta sort something… now…"

"OK, I'm on it."

As he walked away, sending her a curious look, Nikki nodded slowly. She turned and her eyes fell on Kacey Barry, walking slowly in her direction. "Kacey? I had something to deal with."

"Eve?"

"How did you know…?"

"Yeah, we've met already." Eve said.

Nikki looked between them, sensing the hostility. "Look… I'm sorry. I– I should have been there."

"Whatever." The girl replied with a shrug and a glare. "Did you know that Hollie's back in the Cooler for the first time in months?"

Not waiting for an answer, Kacey turned and walked away. Nikki glanced at Eve and saw that she was staring after the other girl with an expression of curiosity and triumph on her face. With a frown, the woman pulled her towards the library, pushing open the double doors and finding it mercifully empty. They made their way to the back of the room, away from any chance of potential eavesdroppers.

"We need to get in touch with your dad." Nikki said in a business-like tone.

"I don't wanna see him!" Eve exclaimed. "Not after what he's done."

"I'm sure he had his reasons." Her mother replied, clenching her hands into fists so tightly she was sure a couple of nails broke through the skin of her palms. She really had no idea what to do for the best now. Things had spiralled out of control in a way that she had really been hoping she would be able to prevent. "Sit down."

Eve pushed her hands away. "What reasons? What happened between you?"

"There were… umm…" Nikki exhaled sharply and sat down, wondering what to do for the best. She wanted Tom and yet she didn't want him at the same time. All she knew was that she didn't want him to find out about Eve in the same way that Hollie had. Forcing her mind back to the situation at hand, she tried to breathe steadily. "A lot of problems." She said at last. "Ones that… couldn't be fixed. Now, will you sit down… please?"

Eve did as she was told, sitting on the seat beside Nikki and staring at her hands in her lap for a moment as she considered which of her many questions to ask first. "Did he stop you from seeing me?" When Nikki failed to answer, the girl drew her own conclusions from the silence. "How could he do that? It's so cruel! He's ruined both our lives."

As Maggie and her Home Economics class burst into the room and disturbed their quiet, Nikki led Eve to the side quietly, before asking her to wait one minute while she sorted something out. When the girl took a seat, she left the room, making a hasty phone call and then heading along the corridors towards the Cooler.

Glancing through the window, Nikki spotted her daughter pacing at the back of the classroom, her arms wrapped tightly around herself for comfort. Taking a deep breath and bracing herself for whatever was going to be thrown at her, the woman placed a hand on the door handle and pushed it open.

The teacher sitting at the front of the classroom glanced up and, seeing who had entered, sent her a quick nod before getting up and leaving the room. Hollie turned to look at her mother, before scowling and turning away once more.

"Hollie?"

"Get lost."

"Please, sweetheart, listen–"

"Why should I? You lied!" The teenager almost sobbed, fighting to hide her emotions from her mother.

"I didn't lie." Nikki tried to explain. "I didn't think I'd ever see Eve again. I didn't think there was any point in telling you about her."

There was a pause and then Hollie turned to face her. "What are you talking about?"

"Her dad told her I was dead."

"What?" The girl looked outraged.

"It was… I thought it was… for the best. I was scared and stupid and I'd already messed up with you. I thought that if I stayed away from Eve, let her think I was dead, then her dad could raise her and she'd be happy."

"Clearly that went well." Hollie replied sarcastically. "So… now what? Is she going to move in with us? Are you going to ask us to play happy families?"

Nikki shook her head. "Of course not. I… I've phoned her dad to tell him she's here."

There was a pause. "Is that a good idea?"

"What? Why wouldn't it be?"

"Well… if she ran away… came all the way up here… maybe she's not happy with him?"

Nikki smiled softly. "He's a good dad. She came here because she found out he'd lied about me being dead. Eve doesn't know the whole story; she doesn't understand that it was my choice to let her believe that. She thinks her dad kept us apart."

"So you need to set her straight." Hollie said seriously. Seeing the expression on her mother's face, she moved forward hesitantly. "Mum… it's not fair on either of them if you let her think it was his fault. Remember when I thought that you didn't want to see me, when it was actually Nan stopping you coming? It's the same thing."

"She'll hate me."

"Maybe for a while." The girl agreed with a small nod. "But it's better than lying, right?"

With a nod, Nikki agreed. She seemed unsure what to do next. Hesitantly, as though expecting to be rejected, she held her arms open. Hollie fell into them at once, clinging onto her and nuzzling her face into her neck.

"I'm sorry I said I hated you." She mumbled. "I don't. I just hate it when you hide things from me. I know you won't leave us, leave AJ."

"I won't. I will never leave you again." Her mother promised fiercely, tightening her arms around the girl and inhaling the scent of her shampoo. "Never; I promise."

After a moment, Hollie pulled away with a weak smile. "You'd better get back to Eve." As Nikki nodded and cupped her cheek gently, before turning and moving towards the door, the teenager grinned. "Oh… can you tell her I'm sorry?"

"Sorry?"

"Yeah… I might have slapped her when I found out who she was."

"Hol– what?" Nikki's mouth fell open in horror. "You slapped her?"

"Just a little bit." The girl said, pouting. "And I am sorry."

Grinding her teeth, the woman nodded. She decided not to tell her daughter off anymore, knowing that it would have been her first instinct on hearing the information and that it would just lead to more confrontation. Instead she took a steadying breath and left the Cooler, heading back towards the library.

When she entered the room, fighting to keep her expression neutral, Nikki spotted Maggie talking to Eve in the corner. She frowned, panicking as she wondered how much the teenager had told her and made her way towards them cautiously. The older woman smiled warmly as she approached.

"Eh! You never told me you had another daughter!" Maggie jokily chastised her. "It's absolutely lovely to meet you, pet." As she stood, she leant closer to Nikki and winked. "She's beautiful."

"Maggie… can you… Hollie's in the Cooler."

The woman frowned. "What? But she hasn't been sent there for–"

"I know." Nikki cut her off with a quick nod. "She found out about Eve and kicked off. Would you go and make sure she's alright? She's calmed down, but she might find it easier to open up to you at the moment."

"Have you spoken to her?"

The younger woman nodded. "Yeah… I tried, but you know what she can be like."

With a small smile and a wink, Maggie squeezed her arm and left them, telling her class to get on with their work while she went to talk to the teenager in isolation. She knew what Nikki meant; Hollie was more than likely putting on an act around her mother and not letting on how she really felt. Her insecurities were no doubt making themselves felt in the current situation.

"What were you doing?" Eve asked, as soon as they were alone.

"I just needed to speak to a colleague." Nikki lied smoothly. "And Hollie."

The teenager looked down. "Of course."

"She's my daughter, Eve." The woman said shortly. "I had to make sure she's OK. There are things… she's… it's complicated."

"It always is." Eve snapped.

Nikki took a deep breath. "There's an empty classroom next to mine. We could get you a book…"

With a deep sigh, the girl pulled herself out of her chair and followed her mother from the library and along the corridor. Showing her into the empty room, Nikki offered Eve a selection of books to choose from. Her attention was elsewhere as she left, assuring the teenager that she would be back as soon as she could.

After changing out of her PE clothes, Nikki returned to the classroom, fully intending to go in and talk to Eve. When she reached the room, however, she hesitated with her hand on the door, unable to go in. Squeezing her eyes closed, she turned and leant against the wall, leaning her head back with a thump and biting her lip.

"I'm guessing that you weren't expecting your little visitor?" A voice asked, making Nikki jump. Her eyes flew open and she turned to look at Maggie in shock. "Where is she?"

"She's waiting. I've got a class."

"So you're going to leave one daughter on her own in there and the other in insolation?"

Nikki shook her head, closing her eyes tightly. "I…"

"Hollie told me why she's in the Cooler. She said she's not angry with you; she's scared."

"Scared?"

"She's scared that now you've got the new, shiny daughter to play with you won't want the old, damaged one anymore. She's scared she's going to lose you."

"I can't deal with this right now. I have to get to my class." Nikki told her, clenching her hands into fists at her sides and turning to walk away.

"Look… I don't know the full story, but I do know this – family is everything. She has come a long way to see you. Take your time, talk to her; the other kids can wait. Let her get to know you and Hollie."

"I can't just drop everything!"

Maggie shook her head. "Somebody will cover for you. She is more important, really, isn't she? I mean, I'm–"

"Look, I've phoned her dad. He's on his way. Everything's in hand." Seeing the older woman's disbelieving expression she shook her head. "Like you said, I've got another daughter and, after everything, Hollie has to be my priority. Eve doesn't need me; Hollie really does."

"Right." Maggie nodded sadly as Nikki turned and began to walk away. "Well, you know best, love."

Before Nikki entered her classroom, she turned and nodded at her friend. Maggie shot her a weak smile, understanding that it was a choice Nikki thought she had to make. She didn't know the whole story, but if Eve's dad was coming to pick her up and Nikki thought that was for the best, who was she to argue?