So far Tom was quiet. It still couldn't escape my thoughts as I went down the hallway. At the same time there were good thoughts of the blonde benefactor; her eyes, her slim waist, how it felt to kiss her. I ran my hand through my hair and sighed. As usual Barry Barry was standing acting suspiciously around the PRU. ' are you going to go inside today at all?' I questioned. 'Anything for you Miss, or maybe not turns out I'm not your type at all!' he jeered looking in my face for a response. My immediate reaction would have been what did you say? How do you know? Years in the army had taught me to contain my reaction until later. 'Just get inside, NOW!' he sniggered before sliding into his seat.

It took less than 5 minutes before he made a valiant effort to disrupt again, a paper aeroplane gliding across the classroom, aiming slightly in my direction. 'Watch out Miss, we're going to Ibiza!' I interrupted before seeing where this was going. 'Extremely childish . Need I remind you that this is your final chance! Spit out the gum.' I put the bin in his direction pointing in it in case his brain was incapable of knowing quite literally where to stick it. 'Woahh Miss don't get too close, I don't want to catch it!' I froze for a second, what was he implying? 'Right everyone read chapter 3, I want to see some notes on the themes from Of Mice and Men especially the racism and how it is accepted in the society back then compared to today.' That ought to keep them busy for a while. Was Barry doing the work no, he was busy sniggering at something on his phone. 'Hand it over Barry.' Putting my hand in front of him. 'No way Miss you nosy homo!' he shouted. That was enough for me… 'RIGHT GET OUT!' I shouted. He didn't he just stood up, squaring right at me. 'Where are you getting this from?' I asked. 'Oh come on you know well especially Donnegan, I didn't think she was gay. But you, you've got the haircut and all!' Everyone stopped and looked. Some looked shocked like me, some laughed, and some had the look of horror. 'You gay Miss?' Scout questioned. 'Yeah she is and I've got the picture to prove it!' he shouted. I was trying not to cry, desperately. He ran around the room showing a picture, my guess was as good as anyone else's but as I looked up they were all gasping. 'Stop it' I didn't even have the strength to shout anymore, I felt terrified. Tears were threatening to spill out of my eyes. 'Everyone should know that you're a stupid dyke, why are people like you allowed in the school?' he screamed and everyone roared. Tom burst in. 'That's it everyone settle down, Barry out!' He managed to control the class in a heartbeat, usually that was me but they didn't look at me in the same way anymore.

I found myself sitting in 's office with a tissue held deep in the palm of my hands. Barry's phone lay on the table untouched with the could I say, a picture says a thousand words. We were sat in Lorraine's car, it was the morning when she had kissed me goodbye, quickly and gently yet it still happened. Barry had obviously been snooping around and snapped the picture. Michael wouldn't feel any sympathy, although it was outside school hours technically, it was on school property. I sat there timid. Lorraine burst in. Shutting the door behind her she made her way to his desk, Michael sat there stone faced and I sat there with the tracks of where my tears had been still wet slightly. 'Michael, you wanted to see me.' She spoke extremely business like even though she knew exactly what was going on. 'I think you'd better sit down.' He showed her to the chair that was placed besides mine, with a gap between on purpose. 'Actually no, I don't think that will be necessary.' She denied his offer, only Lorraine could get away with that. 'What you and Nikki did is….' Lorraine put her hands up in protest and carried on arguing her point. 'Michael you can hardly be one to judge, I mean you and Christine I see the looks between you too. Also it's not like you haven't seen a gay couple before god this is the 21st century or did I mistake the Michael I know for someone else?' she questioned raising her eyebrow at him and smiling at me slightly. A couple, the first time I had heard Lorraine say that to someone else out so clearly. She obviously really did care. I smiled slightly to show my appreciation but ended up being like more of a grimace just purely for the fact that after the things Barry had said it reminded me of being 15 in the school playground. 'It's not that Lorraine I mean it happened on the school property, that's the problem!' he was struggling of what to say back. Lorraine knew Michael well and as she always says she's a black belt in the dark art of persuasion. 'Well I think personally more to the point you need to do something about the respect people show in this school, homophobia is no laughing matter Michael. We're done here.' She gave him one last cold hard glance before talking to me 'Nik, come on let's get you home.' She took my hand gently leading me out of his office. Whether holding my hand was for comfort or to annoy Michael I had no idea.

'Thanks Lorraine, for everything today.' I sniffed. 'It's alright really Nikki; you're worth sticking up for.' Her perfect white smile put me off balance. I reached into her arms letting the last of my tears run down her blouse. She rested her chin on my head, her arms wrapped tightly around my waist holding me close. 'Tomorrow's going to be better Nik I promise.'