"Mum I'm sorry I didn't tell you." Jody said, breaking the silence.
"It's okay, I completely understand. Now, my shift starts in ten minutes. You have two choices, you can crash in the staff room or up in Nick's office."
"I'll take the staff room." She said.
"Okay, but no leaving there, if you need something, text me." Zoe said, sternly.
"Okay, thanks mum."
"That's okay, come on you." She stood up, took hold of Jody's hand and, together, they walked to the staff room. Once there, Jody headed to the sofa and lay down, Zoe took of her coat and hung her stethoscope around her neck before turning to Jody.
"Right, love you loads, see you later. And remember, under no circumstances are you to leave this room without telling myself or your dad."
"Promise. Love you, see you later." With that, Zoe left. Jody switched on the TV and sat down, happily watching friends. After it was finished. She made herself a cup of tea. She sat down on the kitchen floor and sipped away happily, feeling that she couldn't be bothered to move from there.
"God, why am I so tired?" She thought out loud. Only moments had passed, then she heard the door open. Thinking nothing of it, she remained where she was, happily sipping her tea.
"Fletch, not here!" She heard Tess saying.
"Live a little." Fletch replied, chuckling.
"Oh all right then!" Tess said, quite seductively. That couldn't be right, Jody though. Tess? Seductive? No, that isn't right. She stood up to make herself known in the room, however, she got quite a shock at what she saw. Fletch and Tess were making out in the middle of the staff room! She sank back to the floor, thankful that they had been too distracted by their kiss to notice her. After a while, Tess spoke again.
"Come on, we'd better get back to work."
"Yes boss." Fletch replied, again, laughing. The door opened, then shut again, quietly.
"Well if that wasn't the very definition of weird, I don't know what is. She whipped out her phone and quickly texted Zoe.
Just heading to the loo's, I'll go straight back to the staff room after. Jx
Within a few seconds, Zoe replied.
Okay sweetheart Mx
She had to find Tess, she'd have to tell her that she knew. She couldn't look at Tess now and not see her snogging Fletch. If she told her, she'd feel better. She knocked on Tess' office door and awaited reply.
"Come in!" Came her cheery voice. Jody entered, slowly, and shut the door behind her. "Ah, Jody! What a pleasant surprise! We're yo-"
"I know." She cut her off.
"I don't understand..."
"I have been in the staff room all morning. I haven't left it until now. I saw you... I just had to tell you that I know and that you haven't to worry because I am not going to tell anyone. Promise." Tess fell silent, sat back and allowed the girl's words to sink in.
"Oh." She said finally.
"Yes. But like I said, I won't say a word. I just had to tell you, my knowing would have been a terribly hard secret to keep from you. Especially as you know me inside out and can tel when something's up. So I had to tell you."
"I understand. Thank you."
"That's okay. I have to go back now. I told mum I was only popping out to the loo's."
"Okay." Tess managed.
"Okay. Bye." She said
"Mhmm." Jody exited the room and, just her luck, bumped straight into Zoe.
"Jody?" She asked, inquiringly. "I thought you were at the toilets?"
"W-well, I... Uh... I had a headache, Tess just gave me some paracetamol."
"Oh right, so that's the story Tess will give me too then?" Jody felt her stomach twist. She'd never lied to Nick or Zoe.
"Yes."
"Right then. You'd better get yourself back to that staff room, and don't let me catch you where you're not supposed to be again." Zoe said, firmly.
"Actually mum, could I go up to dads office?"
"Sure, knock before you enter though, you don't want him to stuff up the precious paper work." She said, making Jody giggle.
"Okay, love you, see you later." She said, giving her mum a quick hug before scuttling off to find Nick. She headed upstairs to his office, knocked the door and waited.
"Come in!" She heard him shout, so she headed on in.
"Hi dad, mind if I stay in here?" She asked him. He smiled warmly at her.
"Not at all, I was missing you!" He said, matter-of-factly. Jody beamed and bounded over to him, threw herself onto his lap and wrapped her arms around him.
"I was missing you too." She told him.
"Hmm. Well, I've got loads of paperwork to get through... How about you lie on the couch, and I'll put on the music?"
"Classics?" Jody exclaimed, enthusiastically.
"The very best." He said, happy that he had someone who shared his interest in classical music.
"Good."