Thank you so much for the reviews and feedback from the last chapter; it has given me such a confidence boost! I hope this chapter is a bit better than the last one :D Sorry that I've update late; I won't do it again! I've just been really busy! Anyway, let me know what you think x


I walk through the halls which I own with dishonor and little pride. My shoes clicking against the scrubby floor, creating a sound which can only be described as annoyingly loud. And I hate the sound which I've become too familiar with. Yet I still wear these awful shoes. Because my appearance is important to me; it keeps the bags from under my eyes hidden. The emotions locked away. After all, a fake appearance is better that a broken one. The bell rings as I enter mine and Michael's office, and I sigh a bit too loudly as I notice him sat at the desk.

"Pleased to see me then." He spoke sarcastically, his eyes fixed on the computer in front of him. I just shrug, despite the fact that he can't see me. "Nikki and Tom will be joining this morning's meeting. Is that alright?" He asked, not really looking for an answer.

And thank god he wasn't, as I had frozen after hearing Nikki's name. I could barely look at her yesterday. How am I supposed to sit through an hour long meeting of boring work talk with her and not get intimidated by her presence? It's not that she intimidates me… it's just that a lot of things were said yesterday, things that can't be unsaid. And yet there are so many unspoken words between us. Words that need to be said. But neither of us are brave enough to speak up.

A gentle, yet piercingly loud, knock on the door disrupted me from my thoughts. I took a sharp breath in, preparing myself for being with Nikki for the first time since the argument. And it's a good thing I did prepare myself, because as soon as she noticed me sat at the table, her face dropped. Her beautiful smile that could light up the room had fallen to the floor, causing the sudden darkness to cave around me. Instead, a small frown had taken over her features. And I know that she's still mad at me as she sits as far away from me as possible. But I don't care, because she made herself clear yesterday. She doesn't want any form of intimacy with me, and maybe that's for the best. Maybe I was wrong by letting Nikki in, and opening up to her. I should have kept myself to myself, otherwise I end up hurting the people I hold close to my heart.

So far, the meeting has run reasonably smooth, with a few heartbroken looks between me and Nikki and confused glances from Tom. The majority of the meeting was spent with me and Michael arguing about money issues, as usual. "The canteen needs more money put towards it. Maggie's struggling to feed everyone." Michael begged for more money. Money that I didn't have.

"Right now, I'm struggling to give everyone what they want. The canteen is the least of my worries." I sigh as he rolls his eyes, opening his mouth, ready to fight back. "Lorraine, the canteen needs mone-"

"God, it seems like I'm fighting a battle that I can't win with you Michael." I interrupted his annoying dull voice. "I give up." I throw my hands up in the air, a signal of defeat, before placing my elbows on the cold glass table, and holding my head in my hands.

"You're good at giving up on people." Nikki mumbled, her voice quiet and shaky. Not as confident as usual. But she doesn't let that faze her as I look up and our eyes meet. Her bright blue orbs staring at me. No, staring right through me. And it hurts.

Then there's a tense silence lingering in the air. No one speaks. The only noise is the sound of grumpy teens moping about outside. Thankfully, Tom brings everyone to his attention as he makes his excuses to leave. Filling the silence with lies. But I'd rather the room was filled with lies than the silence that was slowly cutting through my throat, leaving me gasping for air, desperate for someone to save me. Once Tom had left, Michael clears his throat and continues with the meeting.

"Right, the… erm, library also needs more books. Audrey keeps complaining that there are not enough books on the war, and it's driving me crazy." He stutters a little; the awkward atmosphere still current.

"I updated the library last month. There are new computers and books already in there." I wasn't in the mood to splash out money on something I didn't give a shit about.

"Lorraine, you made a promise to this school. You have to keep it." His accent was kicking in as his words got louder and louder.

"We all know she's not the best at keeping promises, Michael." Nikki shoots at me once more, the heartache getting the better of her. Making me feel embarrassed. I shake my head at her, truly disappointed that she couldn't keep her snide comments to herself. She's starting to sound like Christine. If only she could hear herself sometimes…

"What is going on with you two?" Michael raises his voice. I watch Nikki as she refuses to make eye contact with either of us, her eyes fixed on her hands which are fiddling with her sleeves. "You've been making pathetic comments at each other all morning." He yelled, causing Sonya to peer through the window at us. As soon as she noticed the tension in the room, she looks away, returning to her work. Or whatever she was doing.

"It's nothing." Nikki said, getting up and walking towards the door. Nothing? How could she say it was nothing when we spent the evening fighting and crying over the day's events. I watched her slowly pull the door handle down, silently screaming for me to say something. To clear the air. But my confidence has disappeared and as much as I want to, I can't bring myself to say something. I don't want Michael knowing anything else about my personal life. Heck, I didn't even want him knowing about me and Nikki in the first place. I guess that's why I panicked and messed up, breaking it off with Nikki just to save my pride. Before I could pluck up the courage to stop her, she had left, leaving an empty space in the doorway. I sighed as Michael shut the door, giving us some privacy.

"What happened?" He said, leaning against the door.

"Why do you care?" I asked, standing up and walking over to the desk, leaning on it so I was facing Michael.

He scoffed. "Because I can't have you two bickering like little school girls when you're supposed to be setting a good example."

"We broke up." I murmured as quietly as possibly, hoping he wouldn't hear. But of course he did.

"Oh, I'm sorry about that." He shuffled awkwardly in his place, his hands stuffed in his pockets. "Why did you break up?"

"It doesn't matter."

"Well it kind of does when it's causing you both to act stupidly." Michael moved next to me. "Sort it out," A small smirk took over his face as he walks around the desk, perching himself on the leather chair. "Or one of you will have to leave."


Sorry that I'm SO late updating this! I feel awful :'3 Buuuut, I am planning to put up chapter 3 later on. I hope you liked this chapter, don't forget to review! xoxo