Ok, so, my last part of this story only received 100 hits, and I only got 2 reviews. I don't want to seem like an obnoxious twat, but if you could please review after you've read it, then I'd be grateful! Unless I get, say, 5 reviews on this chapter and the previous one, I probably won't update again. Soz.

I really didn't want to speak to Michael again after his outburst the other week, but seeing as I'm the schools benefactress, I probably should. Stepping through the front doors, I sighed; this place really was my dream come true, but God, it wasn't half stressing me out. Ever since I was 15, money wasn't something I had to worry about, and as I'd got older I'd just got more of it. Now, at age 32, I was struggling and it scared me so much. I felt way too out of control and vulnerable, and with Michael throwing new ideas at me every day, I wasn't sure if I'd be able to cope much more.

Truthfully, talking to Nikki about all of this was really helping. She always knew what to say and when to say it, always forcing me to speak about what was bothering me. It was annoying at first, but it helped me to feel, well.. Slightly more human.

I checked my phone again, making sure that I was on time, early even. I didn't want to give Michael any reason to have a go at me, I really couldn't be bothered for it today. Maybe, just maybe, seeing my sister would cheer me up. She always had something funny to say. Stepping through into the secretaries office, Sonya was busy typing away for a change, instead of chatting to one of the pupils or one of the staff… A nice sight to see, but it could be a worrying one.

"'iya Son, you alright?" I asked, my accent shining through as always.

"Yeah.. You going in to see him?" She looked concerned, not exactly how I wanted her to reply. Shit.

"Why? He in a bad mood or something?"

"Um.. He broke up with Christine. And Christine's.. well, she's resigned as head of year 12, she wants to concentrate on her teaching, apparently."

Great. Just great. Now not only do I have to confront a most likely moody, and pissed off Michael, I also have to find someone to replace Christine as the head of year 12.. More money problems, just what I needed. I hadn't even stepped foot into Michaels office and my emotionless charade was already breaking, something which Sonya had picked up on. Just as I was about to stride into his office, all ready for some sort of battle, she got up and put her hand in front of the door.

"Lo, what's wrong? You can trust me you know.." Ugh, more talking. More laying my emotions out for people to see. I'm going to kill Nikki for this when I got home, ever since she'd told me to 'let my emotions out', as she'd put it, I was finding it harder to keep them locked away even when I needed them to be. Still, I should be able to trust Sonya right..? She is my sister after all.. But then again, it was because of her shooting her mouth off that Nikki was my girlfriend that we'd broken up.. No, it was my fault. I had to stop blaming her for that.

"Not now Son, ok..? Maybe later? I'm just worried that ol' grumpy git might be a little too grumpy for me today" I added, trying to sway the conversation with a little laughter. Hoping she'd buy into it and leave me alone so I could get this hell over and done with. Still, she did look slightly shocked by my response, probably because I'd practically said I'd open up to her. Shit.

"Ok… Well, see you later then? And.. I sort of know you and Nikki are back together. I'm happy for you Lor, you deserve some happiness and so does she." What the? Wait, what? How did she known?

"Sonya, wait. How the hell do you know about me and Nikki being back on?" I asked, verging on shouting. I didn't want people to know about us, not yet anyway. It still scared me. Imagining people's responses scared me, especially from the likes of Christine, Tom and Audrey. I wasn't exactly liked around here, and I really didn't want to add any fuel to the fire. I knew Nikki wouldn't of said anything so.. Michael. It had to be him. About to storm into his office again, I felt Sonya's hand on my shoulder.

"Son, get off me. He's so.. Ugh. He had no right to tell you!" Shouting now, letting my frustration out.

"No, he didn't tell me! He more… Shouted it, not to anybody though" She added quickly, clearly seeing the expression on my face worsen. "He was shouting it to himself as he came in here the other day, he didn't tell me. Lo, don't do anything stupid, please? Not to him, or Nikki.."

No.. I wouldn't do anything to hurt Nikki, not again. We'd finally got back together, and I'd already fallen too hard for her. Michael however, he was another story. Barging past Sonya into his office, all ready for some major war over it all, I found him sitting on the sofa closest to the door with a smirk on his face. Fantastic, he'd been listening in to mine and Son's conversation, and clearly something had amused him.

"What? Something about this whole thing strike you as funny, Mr Byrne? I would've thought you'd be slightly upset after splitting up with the love of your life." I added bitterly at the end, maybe it would be good for him to experience some of what I've been going through lately. Although, he didn't exactly seem too cut up about it.

"Love of my life? Oh please, Lorraine, everybody knew I didn't love her." He replied, laughing. I'd never known him to be so.. Heartless.

"What, so you've never loved her then? Someone else? A bit on the side maybe?" I wasn't sure why was sticking up for Christine exactly, she'd never liked me and God, she loved to make that clear. Something about the way that Michael was acting however, it reminded me of one of my past relationships. The memories came flooding back, and so did the anger.

"I just liked someone else. I only used her as a distraction!" Smirking again, like her feelings didn't matter at all. I knew I shouldn't of asked, but my curiosity overruled my head.

"Who?"

One word, one simple word reply. One word that would turn my life upside down completely.

"You."