Lost in the Middle

Bad Influence

Ten minutes later, Nikki returns back to Jack who has since finished all the chips. Jack looks at her in shock as she walks across the grass towards him with a smug look on her face and a plastic bag with a few items in.
"You got it?" He asks and Nikki passes the bag down to him before sitting beside him on the grass.

Jack opens the bag to see two cans of cider and some cigarettes, "See told you I would get away with it now drink up," She smirks pulling the can out of the bag and opening it. She grabs the packet of cigarettes out too and pulls a lighter from her bag before lighting up and taking a drag. "God I needed that," She smiles lying back on the grass.

He nervously opens his can of cider and looks around before taking a sip, "Jack relax will you..." She smirks breathing out the smoke.
"Want some?" She asks offering him her cigarette.
"I don't smoke..." He mutters.
"There is a first time for everything."

Jack reluctantly takes the cigarette from her hands, a reenactment of the first time he met Nikki at school under the tree before his Aunt caught him, but this time Karen wasn't there to stop him from taking a drag.
Nikki rolls onto her side and watches him bring the cigarette to his lips and takes his first-ever drag, he quickly breathes out and begins to cough. "Steady on... don't knock yourself out," She giggles taking the cigarette back from him and taking another long drag.

Jack sips the cider again and watches Nikki almost completely smoke the cigarette in under two minutes. "For someone who wants to be a pathologist... you're asking for a shortened life, you should know the consequences of smoking," Jack speaks up earning an eye roll from Nikki.

It was clear to Nikki that Jack wasn't keen on smoking but she wasn't going to let him ruin her freedom to control her, "Lighten up Jack," She smiles taking in a considerable amount of her cider. Jack smiles at her and watches her closely as she continues to drink and smoke, she was clearly managed and in need of attention but from who he didn't know he just knew he wanted to help fix her before she reaches the point of no return and makes lasting damage to herself.

A couple of hours later Jack and Nikki return back to Conor's and head straight into the house, "And what time do you call this you two? You both missed dinner..." He says looking at the pair as they attempt to sneak up the stairs. "Jack... get down here, Nicola you too," He speaks standing as both teenagers freeze on the stairs and turn around heading back downstairs.

Jack stands beside Nikki as his father comes over and looks at them both, "You've both been drinking... what are you playing at, I can smell it on you both! Yor are sixteen both of you... not even legal..." He frowns but both teens remain silent not wanting to say anything.
Conor steps forwards again causing Nikki to back into the wall it was as if she was in front of Victor all over again she feared it, she couldn't take another telling off or another 'accidental' smack across the face.

Conor could see the fear in Nikki's eyes as she tries to hide behind Jack, he glances down and watches Nikki's hand slip into Jack's. "Don't be doing it again, if you are going to drink... do it in the house where I can keep an eye on you both... and Nikki hand over the cigarettes, please. I can smell it on you a mile off, when you are under my roof I expect no smoking..." Conor explains holding his hand out waiting for Nikki to hand over the cigarettes.

She picks up her school bag and rummages through it before reluctantly handing over her cigarettes, "Thank you... now go on get yourselves off to bed," Conor speaks allowing them to head back upstairs.