Lost in the Middle

Streetside Performance

As promised after Nikki had finished her English revision class she joined Jack outside the school gates and take a slow walk into the town centre chatting about the exam and school in general. 
The pair remove their ties and put them in their school bags before heading into a cafe, the two find a table and sit down together. The Cafe is quiet with only a few people dotted around in the building, "We don't have to go back to school today... so what can I get you?" Jack smiles glancing down at her hand unsure if he wants to attempt to take hold of her hand or not. 

Nikki glances up from the small paper menu in front of herself and grins at him, she notices something about the look of his hand and how he seemed to be looking at her hand and not actually her face, feeling self-conscious about the healing cuts on her wrists she pulls her school blazer down to cover her wrist. 

He realizes she may think he is watching her wrist to see if she had done any more damage since Jack clears his throat and takes the menu from her hands and glances over it picking something he wants. "I'm going to have the pork baguette what about you?" Jack sparks a conversation worrying she isn't interested anymore. 
"Hmm, I'll just have a packet of crisps," She responds. 

Jack's eyebrows furrow and he looks at her with a disapproving gaze, without thinking he reaches out and grabs her wrist causing her to hiss at him. "Shit sorry Nikki," He gasps loosening his grasp. 

She snatches her hand away and holds her wrist close to her chest in a big to soothe the stinging, she was due to have the stitches removed in a few days even the pain was getting better but she was still so self-conscious and feeling guilty for what she had done. "Nikki you need to eat better... look at you, you are literally skin and bone," Jack responds. 
Nikki snaps her head up at him again tears forming in her eyes, biting her lip she looks away from Jack hoping to compose herself. "Nikki... I-" Jack stumbles on his words. 

The tears then slip down her face and she looks away from Jack feeling stupid once again, she stands up and grabs her bag, and walks out of the cafe. "Fuck sake!" Jack mumbles under his breath and gets up, grabbing his stuff and leaving the cafe in search of Nikki. 

He notices her walking off down the street and runs to catch up with her, "Nikki... Nikki, wait up we need to talk!" Jack calls as he catches up with her. 
Standing in front of Nikki he carefully places his hands on her arms and looks at the blonde firecracker, "Leave me alone Jack... you are as worse as my Dad calling me that!" She cries and dodges him and hurries along the high street.

That was it Jack didn't want Nikki thinking every man she met would be just like her abusive father, rolling his eyes Jack attempts to keep up with her she may be sort but she did manage to cover some distance when speed walking. "I didn't mean it, Nikki I think you have a problem with food, look at you! You hardly eat and when you do you hardly touch anything, please I want to help you... my Da want's to help too. We are reaching out to you... Nikki, I'm doing this because I..."

"What you are doing this because you want to see me Fat?... and ugly?" She hisses looking him dead in the eyes. 
"No, not like that Nikki... I want to see you happy... and you make me happy."

Nikki frowns at him crossing her arms across her chest, "So I make you happy? so what? You just want to make me fat then tell me I am too fat... and... and that I should lose a few pounds... sick bastard!" She cries wiping the tears from her cheeks. 

Jack sighs he is very much in a losing battle with her now but he wants to help her even as a friend, "Nikki be honest with me... You can't be a healthy weight... when was the last time you had three solid meals?" He asks. 
Jack had clearly been paying attention during his Physical Education theory sessions about health and nutrition then again he did want to start hitting the gym to build his dream six-pack. He then wraps his arms around the young blonde engulfing her into a teddy bear hug, feeling Nikki eventually relax into his body he pulls away slightly and looks down at her clutching to his school shirt, "So? we're good friends... and anyway prom is coming up and I saw you looking at that gorgeous black dress... and I think eating regular foods will help you look amazing in that dress," He smiles stroking her back lightly. 

"I'm not going..." She mumbles. 
"Oh, why is that?" Jack quizzes. 
"Because I can't afford that dress and anyway people will be looking and talking about me..." She responds. 

"Oh that is a shame Nikki... you see now you're not going I've lost my date for the prom..." He smirks watching her pull away from the hug and look up at him raising an eyebrow at him. 
"You what?" She stutters wiping the tears away. 

Jack chuckles looking up at the sky, "Can you see it, Nikki?" He smiles taking a breath in watching her before continuing, "I want to go to the prom with you... because you are the more prettiest girl I have ever laid eyes on... I kissed you last week because... well Because I love you..." Jack smiles awkwardly feeling his cheeks turning a warm pink. 

Nikki gasps at the comment she could feel her heart racing in her chest no one had ever called her pretty apart from her mother and grandmother, "I'm messed up..." She breathes. 
"The best of us are... My Ma she left Dad for another man, I don't see her anymore, see two broken families maybe we could be a fitting jigsaw piece? He asks. 

"Cringe," She giggles wiping her damp cheeks down with her blazer sleeve. 
"I really like you, Nikki," He mutters. 

She bites her lip her cheeks glowing red, Nikki shyly brushes her hair behind her ear before looking back up at Jack, "I like you too Jack..." She smiles. 
Before she can say anymore Jack has wrapped his arms around her tiny body and pulled her into a kiss. Still, as terrible as last time the pair deepen the kiss before pulling away looking at each other stunned. "I could get used to kissing you," Jack mutters pulling away from the kiss their noses brushing briefly.