Lost in the Middle

Emotions Running High

Nikki unlocks the bathroom door, holding her stomach she takes a deep breath in. She had been unwell for days but she was determined to put on a brave face as it's Jack's birthday today. As she goes to step out of the bathroom she feels the vomit rising in her throat again, she turns around slamming the door and throwing herself over the toilet.

Once she had emptied her stomach she grabs some toilet role before standing up. Turning the sink on she splashes some water into her mouth and rises it out. Nikki opens the door and is greeted by Natasha giving her a sympathetic look.

"Come on young lassy, Let's go get you some peppermint tea and we'll have a chat" she smiles.

Without thinking or responding she follows Natasha downstairs and into the kitchen. Sitting herself down at the kitchen table Natasha flicks the kettle on and glances over at Nikki who still seems as white as a sheet.

She makes them a drink before bringing it over and placing it in front of Nikki. "Do you want to talk?" Natasha asks.
"About what?" Nikki responds.

Natasha pauses and listens to the silence making sure no one is about. "About your illness? Only ill in the mornings?" She asks.

Nikki freezes and looks at Natasha, she was onto Nikki and she had no escape from it. "It's a stomach bug, I've been sick all times of the day" Nikki defends.
"Aye, I've seen this before. Only happens with a Hodgson child, trust me I've had two" she smiles as she carefully reaches out and takes Nikki's hand.

Giving her hand a reassuring squeeze she waits for Nikki's response. Nikki drops her head and thinks for a moment she had been lying to herself for days about her missed period. "I... I didn't... it's not what it... I'm sorry" she stutters.
"You've got something to be sorry about. How far along?" Natasha asks.
"I don't know, it sorta just happened. But we were safe..." she breathes.

Natasha sits back still holding Nikki's hand and watches the teenager, "safe how?" She asks.
"I'm on the pill, but Jack he... always... look I will save you the gory details" she begins.
"You know Nikki if he just 'pulls out' there's still a chance. But you need to take your pill all the time" Natasha explains.

"I know that, everyone knows that. I don't know what to do" she breathes as she lets go of Natasha's hand.
"Have you taken a test?" She quizzes the young girl.

Nikki shakes her head and looks down at her lap in shame, if her Dad found out she was potentially pregnant she knew he would kill her and Jack for this. "Let me pop to the chemist, grab ya a test. I can keep Jack out the way if you need time."

Nikki smiles with a nod, she had never been more grateful for her boyfriend's family looking out for her like this. Natasha stands and grabs her coat and purse, "right I'll be back in a wee while, help yourself to food in the pantry. If Jack comes down before I get back tell him I said no presents until I get back!" Natasha smiles spilling out the door and down the road to the chemist.

With the house being silent due to it being so early, Nikki takes pleasure in the silence and just sits thinking trying to get her head around how she could potentially be pregnant. Running her hands through her unbrushed hair she takes a deep breath and attempts to drink the peppermint tea, Natasha has put together for her.

Within what felt like seconds Natasha reappears in the kitchen and places the pharmacy bag down in front of Nikki. "How much do I owe you?" Nikki asks."Nothing, now go get it gone. Put your mind at rest" Natasha smiles warmly.

Nikki peers into the bag to see a clear blue pregnant test kit, "I'm scared, what do I tell Jack?" Nikki quizzes.

"Nothing until you know the result" she explains to the teenager.

Nikki nods once again and takes a deep breath before collecting the bag off the table and heading to the downstairs bathroom. Locking the door she opens up the pregnancy testing kit and reads it thoroughly.

This was the last thing Nikki expected to be doing at this age, she wasn't even sure what she wanted the result to be. Part of her craved a baby but the other half of her feared that she would be useless and her child would end up in care.

Either way, she takes a moment before taking the test. Once she's finished she places the test on the sink, washes her hands, and pulls the toilet lid down before collecting the pregnancy test.

Sitting back she waits for the result to come back. Her mind flicks to Jack she knew he wouldn't be best impressed by this, but she dare not think of her fathers' rage just yet.

The three minutes pass by and soon Nikki looks down at the test in her hands. "Please, please, please" she whispers to herself wanting nothing more than it to be negative or a dream.

She looks down at the rest in her hand to see two very faint lines on the test. Her heart races as the tears form in her eyes "No!" She breathes. Grabbing the box she takes the second pregnancy test out and once again takes another test. She takes the second test and waits another three minutes, in this time Natasha knocks on the bathroom door and asks if Nikki is okay. Thinking of a quick on-the-spot lie she responds "yeah I'm fine."

Another three minutes pass and soon she looks down at the test to once again reveal two very faint lines. The tears begin to form in Nikki's eyes how could she been so stupid to get herself in this way. Gathering the rubbish she places it all in the pharmacy bag apart from the two tests. She unlocks the bathroom door, heading back into the kitchen she makes eye contact with Natasha and instantly starts to cry.

"Nikki? Darlin' what's the matter?" She asks rushing over to the seventeen-year-old.

Natasha pulls Nikki into a hug and holds her still before noticing the pregnancy tests in her hands. Pulling away from the hug Natasha takes hold of Nikki's wrist. Lifting it she takes the tests and looks at them. "Oh darling, this wasn't what you wanted was it?" Natasha speaks as she drops Nikki's arm and cups her cheeks.

"No... I mean, not yet. I wanted to be older have a job, and a house... and, and... be with Jack" Nikki shakily responds.

Natasha pulls the teenager into a hug and holds her there for a while. "You need to tell Jack," Natasha announces.

Nikki pulls away and wipes her tears, "he will hate me for this..." she stutters.
"Will he? Look at you pair thicker than thieves. You're in a very stable relationship for your age. You two can make this work for your baby's sake."

"I could never get rid of the baby. But I don't want to hurt Jack, what if he doesn't want it?" She breathes wiping the flowing tears away.

"Want what?" A voice comes from the kitchen door and both Natasha and Nikki turn to see Jack door in the doorway. Before either of them can say anything Jack notices the pregnancy tests in Nikki's hand. "You better not be..." he stutters.