Chapter 5
Having sorted herself out and got ready for work, Nikki swiftly left her house, locking the door behind her. Head down in shame, the brunette sauntered towards her car. Bang. Nikki stumbled. "Sorry. Are you alright?" Nikki merely responded with a small shrug. Looking up, she noticed she'd walked into Hector. 'Why the hell is he here?' Questioned Nikki to herself. "I don't have a car and I don't know how to get to Waterloo Road from here." Nikki gaped at him, still shocked from the unexpected bump. "Erm so could you give me a lift, please?"
Nikki reluctantly nodded. Unlocking the car, they both climbed in.
My God, this is awkward, Hector thought, wishing he'd forked out a small fortune on a taxi. Then remembering he didn't even have his wallet with him after their mad dash from his office back to hers. Both avoided eye-contact, not knowing what to do. "Erm do you want to listen to the radio?" Nikki quizzed. "Sure." He replied nonchalantly. Things got slightly easier once the music had been turned on.
Finally Nikki started to turn into the school car park but had to suddenly slam on the breaks as Barry Barry with Gabriella, "great taste" Nikki muttered causing Hector to snigger, drove straight in front of them and Gabriella purposely took her time in getting out of the car.
Later that day, in Vix's classroom, Gabriella was starting to ask questions too personal for Nikki's liking. Hector had only warned her five minutes ago that he suspected that Gabriella knew about them. Nikki was convinced she was stirring things, trying to out them both, make out some sort of huge affair had been going on. Already completely on edge, Nikki snapped at Gabriella. This only confirmed Vix's worst fears.
"You don't betray the ones you love" was the last thing Vix said to Nikki that day. Nikki tried to explain to Vix but she was having none of it. Nikki couldn't blame her really, she'd have done the same if that was her.
Her eyes grew misty. She hugged her knees tighter, sitting in a toilet cubicle. She tried not to, she did, but one perfectly round drop edged down her numb cheek. It fell onto the cool laminate floor of the cubicle. Burying her head in her hands out of shame and sorrow, more salty droplets seeped from her eyes. She looked weak, the one thing she did not want to look. But worst of all, she felt weak, she felt powerless and all she wanted to do was cry. Nikki was so disgusted with herself, she couldn't stop crying.
Hector snuck in and knocked on the cubicle door. "Nikki. It's me. Can we talk?" No answer. "Please?" He practically begged. He heard the lock click and the door slowly swung open revealing a broken Nikki slumped on the floor. Rushing to her side, he enveloped her slim, almost delicate, frame. Carefully, using the pad of his thumb, he wiped the tears from under her eyes. "Christine was wondering where you are, you didn't turn up to your class-"
"What did you expect, Hector." The brunette replied angrily.
"Wait, and I've got frees all this afternoon so I offered to take your classes for you so you can go home. Christine thought it was a good idea." He glanced at Nikki who was staring at the floor, picking at a loose thread at the end of her sleeve. Hector grabbed hold of her hands, "So what do you say?"
Nikki nodded her head and tried to smile at Hector, it probably came off as more of a grimace, she thought. However, Hector appreciated the gesture and smiled warmly at her. "So it's my break now. Do you want me to give you a lift?" He asked, already knowing the answer though. "I don't think that's a good idea, do you?" She challenged. "Maybe not. But the offer's always there if you want it" Hector winked causing Nikki to roll her eyes. "Well I'm off then" Nikki replied in her broad Yorkshire accent, pushing herself deftly up off the floor. "See you then." Nikki whispered. Hector nodded, getting up off the floor too.