Chapter 16

March 25, 1996

The next morning, Tiegan woke up at eight-thirty. For some strange reason, Pippa didn't wake her up like she normally would if Tiegan or any of the other kids had slept in. Not that it mattered because Tiegan had spent half the night crying her eyes out. Tiegan eventually got dressed and slowly walked to school. She arrived at Summer Bay High two minutes after the first bell went off and saw Mr Fisher outside his office.

"You're late, Miss Brook." Donald said.

"Yeah and?!" Tiegan snapped.

"I would normally give you a late slip, but under the circumstances that you are grieving for your friend I'll let this one slide." Donald said calmly.

"Thanks." Tiegan managed to reply.

"Head to class."

Tiegan made her way to her Ancient History class and sat next to Stephanie, who looked really tired.

"How was your sleep?" Tiegan asked her.

"I've hardly slept." Stephanie replied. "All night, I've been tossing and turning."

"I cried." Tiegan told Stephanie.

"I cried when I woke up this morning." Stephanie admitted.

Their teacher, Miss Andrews, walked over to them.

"Why are you girls talking and not working?" she asked them sternly.

"We're getting to it." Stephanie said.

"That's the trouble with some of you teenagers today." Miss Andrews said. "You spend most of your time partying and doing other typical teenage things instead of thinking about your education. I mean, look at what happened to those teenagers involved in that fatal accident on Canterbury Road yesterday."

Tiegan's anger slowly started to rise. Miss Andrews was making a remark about the accident that claimed both Louis and Corey's their lives.

"It just goes to show that you don't get drunk behind the wheel. Only an idiot would get in a car with a drunk driver." Miss Andrews went on.

"SHUT YOUR FUCKING MOUTH!" Tiegan screamed at her, pounding her fists into the desk.

"I beg your pardon, Tiegan?" Miss Andrews asked, unimpressed by Tiegan's outburst.

"STEPHANIE AND I KNEW TWO OF THOSE BOYS THAT WERE KILLED IN THAT ACCIDENT! HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT ABOUT LOUIS AND COREY?! YOU DIDN'T EVEN FUCKING KNOW THEM!" Tiegan screamed.

"Don't speak me to like that!" Miss Andrews snapped at Tiegan.

"THEN DON'T SPEAK ABOUT MY DECEASED FRIENDS LIKE THAT YOU STUPID BITCH!" Tiegan continued to scream.

Miss Andrews' face went crimson.

"I will not have such disgusting language in my classroom, Tiegan!" Miss Andrews shouted. "If you want to carry on like that, then you can get out!"

Tiegan got up and threw her chair at Miss Andrews before storming out of the classroom.

"I hope you're pleased with yourself!" Stephanie yelled at Miss Andrews.

"Do you want to join Tiegan, Miss Mboto?!"

"Of course I do!" Stephanie shouted.

And with that, Stephanie left the classroom to find Tiegan. She found her in the ladies room crying.

"Tiegz, it's okay." Stephanie said, hugging her friend.

"Miss Andrews needs to shut her mouth!" Tiegan sobbed. "She didn't know Louis and Corey!"

"I know." Stephanie said.

Tiegan continued to sob, while Stephanie fought back her own tears.

During lunch, Selina was watching Jerome play rugby when Stephanie approached her.

"Hey, Steph." Selina said.

"Hey." Stephanie said.

"I suppose you heard what happened with Tiegan in Ancient History this morning?"

"Yes, I did." Selina responded. "I hope she's okay."

"She got sent home just before second period." Stephanie said. "In my opinion, Miss Andrews was totally out of line!"

"Miss Andrews is such a cow!" Selina said angrily. "I had her in Year 10 for History and she was so mean to me!"

Stephanie burst into tears again.

"Come here."

Selina gave Stephanie a hug. "I'm really sorry for your loss."

"I loved him so much, Selina." Stephanie cried. "My feelings for him were so strong."

"You loved Louis?" Selina asked her.

"I did." Stephanie replied, still crying.

Selina gave Stephanie a sympathetic look.

"I was going to openly admit my feelings to him in a few days, but I can't now that he's dead." Stephanie sobbed.

"You just let it out, Steph." Selina told Stephanie.

Stephanie continued to cry as Selina held her.

"I had a bad weekend too." Selina said. "I had a rather confronting encounter with Melanie."

"I heard about that." Stephanie said, sniffing. "What happened?"

"The police think Melanie had a nervous breakdown." Selina responded. "Her parents have decided to take her out of Summer Bay High and send her to Yabbie Creek High."

"I feel sorry for her." Stephanie said.

"Same." Selina said.

Suddenly, Stephanie started to cry again.

"It's going to be okay." Selina told her.

A devastated Stephanie hugged Selina tight.

At the caravan park, Pippa has gotten off the phone with a social worker from the department when Tiegan comes downstairs.

"Who was that on the phone?" Tiegan asked.

"That was Helen James from the department." Pippa replied. "She has asked me to foster another child."

"Who?"

"A 15 year-old girl named Kerri Winslow."

"Nice." Tiegan said.

Pippa soon noticed Tiegan looked upset. "Sweetheart, are you okay?" she asked her foster daughter.

"I'm still sad, Pip." Tiegan replied.

"I think I'll go down to the school later this afternoon and have a word with Miss Andrews." Pippa said.

"Louis and Corey were such good friends to me and Steph." Tiegan said.

"I know." Pippa said.

"The funeral is this Thursday." Tiegan said. "Can I go?"

"Of course, sweetheart." Pippa replied.

Pippa and Tiegan then hugged.

NEXT TIME...
- Pippa has words with Miss Andrews
- Tiegan and Stephanie's friendship strengthens