(I own only plot.)

*Trudy*

I woke with blurry eyes. What I wouldn't give for an extra hour of sleep! I went downstairs, not bothering to get dressed. I started preparing breakfast and my poor Nina walked in. "Morning, Trudy." She mumbled.

"Hi, sweetie. You're up early."

"Yeah, I guess. I haven't been able to sleep properly."

"Aw, love. Come here. If you like, after breakfast, you can have a lie down, then sometime this afternoon, we can go out for a coffee."

Nina gave me a smile and I was stunned. How come I never notice when my students smile? Fabian, Joy, Amber, Mick and Alfie walked in. "Hey, Trudy." Alfie, ever the bright boy, smiled. How are my lovelies so beautiful? I love when they smile.

Nina said "Yeah, that sounds great. Thanks."

She hugged me. "OK, love. You go sit down, I've got the food."

*Nina*

I went to bed again, on Trudy's instruction, after breakfast. I wonder how I missed how nice she is while I hung out with the other kids? I guess being in love with a heartbreaker of a guy was a factor. Well, I'm going to hang out with nicer people now. And I get to make her feel loved, too. After a long, comfortable nap, I went downstairs to find Trudy. The others were out, by the look of things. "Where'd everyone go?"

"Off to Chester Zoo with the rest of the school. I told Mr Sweet that you'd had a bad night. I could get you there if you'd like to go with them."

"No, that's fine. I don't really like animals." I told her. She was resting on the sofa, looking very calm.

"Come sit down, love. How do you feel today?"

"Better. And you?"

"Fine, darling. Now, have you thought about the idea of going for coffee or do you fancy watching a film? It's all up to you, dearie."

"Hmm. I'm not sure. What would you like to do?"

"Oh, anything. I'm not a picky person."

I laughed, knowing that she was just happy to go with the flow. "OK, uh, coffee? We could go for a walk afterwards?"

"That sounds lovely. Are you dressed, sweetie?"

"Not yet. You?"

"No, not quite." Trudy laughed.

Hanging out with her made me feel like an adult, but it also helped me relax. She was like my mother. Hanging around her made me feel like I did when I was little, when my mother would take me to the shops. I'd be so happy with her. Trudy was the closest I had to a mother. I chose a nice, simple pearly grey top and light blue jeans with black Converse. Trudy wore her dark blue jeans and a patterned indigo shirt with a navy blue cardigan. "Wow. You look amazing." I told her. She giggled.

"Aw, love. You look lovely, too. Come on, I've already signed you out, sweetie."

We trekked ourselves out and enjoyed a nice walk to the cute coffee shop in the village. Trudy knew the prettiest places. I bit my lip, then chose to brave it and suddenly found myself asking "Trudy, who was the first guy you dated?"

"Hmm, good question. That was a good twenty four years ago..." She thought for a minute. "It was Martin Mitchell, when I was about fourteen."

"Why did you break up?" I asked, a little nervous. I didn't want to upset her.

She shrugged. "He started seeing someone else behind my back and his friend told me about it. Well, let's just say that it wasn't pretty." I felt guilty for asking when I saw her eyes change and sadness filled them.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."

She smiled. "Don't be sorry, honey. It was before you were born. No point getting all sad sack. Come on." She turned herself around. I wished I could be like her. She never thought of herself. I liked that about her. In the coffee shop, she smiled at a waiter.

The guy just ran over. "Here's your menu, ladies. Just call when you're ready to choose."

"Thanks, lovie." Trudy gave him a signature smile and the guy just looked stunned. After he left, we giggled. "Oh, men. They can be so lovely, but they trip over their own tongues sometimes." She told me with a wink.

I giggled. "That's only when pretty girls smile at them."

She laughed. "Hmm. Here, love, you choose what you'd like."

I skimmed over it. I fancied a caramel latte... "OK, there we go."

"That was quick, dearie. What do you want, sweetie?"

"Caramel latte, thanks."

Ten seconds later, the waiter came back. He was looking at a very giggly Trudy as though she was something between a meal and the prettiest woman he'd ever seen. "What can I get you girls?"

I watched her as she smiled, looking like she would treat him like a child if he made a move. "A caramel latte, a hot chocolate and two banana nut muffins."

"OK."

While he got our stuff, I giggled "He fancies you, Trudy."

That got a giggle. "He doesn't." She replied, her voice quiet.

"Yes, he does! He was practically drooling while you talked to him."

"No, he wasn't. And anyway, he's only a child. I'm a lot of things, honey, but I'm not a kidnapper." I stopped laughing when I saw that she was serious. She noticed, because her face softened. "Nina, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."

"You didn't." I told her. She hadn't, either. It was just because it was the wrong conversation to laugh in.

The waiter set down the tray. "Here you go." He told us. "You're really pretty, ma'am. Are you free tonight?"

"Sorry, I'm not. I've got a few hours off at the moment and as you can see, I'm with my friend. Thanks for your offer, though." She politely turned him down.

"OK, then." He smiled at her as she handed him the money. "Uh, you're two pounds over, ma'am."

"Take it as a tip." She smiled.

While we had our drinks, I giggled "Believe that he fancies you now?"

"So you were right." She laughed, giving up. "You win. But that still won't make me accept his offer."

I grinned. "I just wanted you to admit that I was right."

She laughed. "Cheeky girl!" She gave my hand a tiny tap.

"Ow, too hard." I joked.

She thought I meant it and started looking it over. "Will it bruise? Oh, sweetheart, I'm sorry."

I put my hand over hers. "Hey, no, calm down. I was kidding."

While we walked through the park, she asked "Are you alright, sweetie? You're a little bit quiet."

"Yeah, I'm good. I'm just thinking of a topic that won't upset you." I blurted, before being engulfed in a massive hug.

She whispered "I won't be upset, Nina, honey. You ask me anything you like."

I knew that wasn't true. But I still asked her as we walked, "How many people have hurt you?"

She sighed. "Uh. I'm not sure. All in all, about twenty. Five break ups, four friends spreading rumours behind my back, two fights, four familial problems that caused big rifts, and five rows with other staff in the school. You needn't worry, darling."

Suddenly, a horrible thought struck me. "Trudy, if the right man came into your life, would you marry him and leave?"

"Maybe, but you'll all be grown up and won't need me, then, sweetie. And even so, I'd let you kids know where I'd go."

The thought of Trudy leaving and getting married, as great as it'd be to see her happy, hurt like mad. I felt tears sting my eyes. She must have seen them because she wrapped her warm arm around my waist. I hugged her back. "You'd deserve a happy life like that, Trudy."

"You think so?"

"No question. You're an amazing person."

At the house, I helped her prepare the meal for when the others got home, watching her think. I liked it when she and I prepared food together but she was unhappy at the minute and it worried me. "Nina, sweetie, could you pass me the oregano?"

"Here." I handed it over and she seasoned the food with it. "Trudy, is something worrying you? Has someone hurt you?"

"No, no. Why would you think that, darling?" She asked, looking surprised.

"Because you look kind of scared."

"Oh, do I? Sorry, honey."

That night, I worried. Had I upset her? Was she mad at me? Would she still want to talk to me?I shouldn't expect anything of her, I might be disappointed, but she needed company. I had to wait until morning.