TNN ONESHOTS

Favourite- J & MK & AMR

Jamie had always been a straight forward little boy, unafraid to speak his mind, and everyone knew where he got it from. He was very smart for his age, and his understanding was amazing. One sunny afternoon, as he sat on the seesaw at the nursery, in the garden, and he found himself in a conversation with Marjorie, she was covering while Charlotte dealt with cleaning the room. Jamie was discussing his favourite teachers, and Marjorie, with a slight hopeful smile, mentioned how much she admired Winter because he was funny.

With a slight frown, Jamie replied, "I like winter, but Charlotte is my favourite teacher." The words hung in the air, and Marjorie's face fell, but she hid it quickly. She had been so eager to be someone's favourite, longing for admiration, and now she felt a pang of disappointment.

Seeing her reaction, Jamie quickly realized he might have hurt her feelings. He hopped off the seesaw and walked over to her, his small frame radiating concern. "Hey, Marjorie," he said gently, "it's okay. You're still really smart and nice. Just because I like Charlotte doesn't mean I don't think you're great."

Marjorie smiled, trying to hold back tears. "that is very sweet of you, Jamie, but it's okay. We all have our favourite." she said, her voice wavering but trying to cover it quickly.

Jamie thought for a moment, doing his best to make the situation better. "At least you have a mummy and daddy at home who love you," he said, his tone comforting and his eyes bright.

Marjorie managed to force a small smile. Jamie's words, simple but very serious to her, wrapped around her like a tight hug, holding her in place. In that moment, Charlotte walked out and relieved Marjorie. The manager rushed back inside and made her way to the safety of her office.

Just at that moment, Mia was on her way to the preschool room to collect Charlotte at the end of her shift, when she spotted Marjorie. Mia was ready to make a sarcastic comment, but then she spotted the look of hurt plastered on the managers face she held back her thoughts. The readhead followed behind Marjorie as she went into her office. As much as she wouldn't admit it, mia secretly cared about Marjorie even if she was quick to deny it.

"What's going on?" Mia questioned as she shut the door behind them both, locking it to give Marjorie the space she clearly needed. "My dad is dead and in a fucking box underground somewhere and my mum despises me so does that just make me unloved or something." Marjorie ranted as she paced back and forth across her office, trying to hold back tears. "Marjorie stop, what ever has happened this is silly... you know you are loved." Mia told her as she stepped infront of her somewhat friend to try and stop her pacing but she just moved past her and carried on walking back and forth.

As much as she hated the other woman she couldn't let this carry on. As soon as Marjorie went to walk past Mia again, she caught her in her arms and just held Marjorie against her chest. She broke down instantly as she held on tightly to Mia. "Do you want me to call Reecey?" She questioned quietly while rubbing her back to try and calm the distressed state Marjorie had got herself into. Marjorie nodded slightly before shaking her head. "He doesn't need to see this, not yet, please." Marjorie mumbled.

Mia didn't particularly like Marjorie. She couldn't ignore the sight of her sadness. After a moment of hesitation, she took a deep breath and approached her.

"Hey, Marjorie," Mia said softly, trying to sound warm despite her reservations. Marjorie looked up, her eyes glistening with unshed tears that she was still fighting back. "What's wrong?"

Marjorie sniffed and wiped her nose. "I just... I feel like nobody loves me," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Mia sat down her down before sitting beside her, feeling a tug at her heart. "That's not true," she replied, her tone more compassionate than she intended. "I mean, I don't know why you feel that way, but I don't think you're that bad. Not really."

Marjorie looked at her, surprised by the unexpected kindness. "Really?" she asked, her voice tinged with hope.

"Yeah," Mia said, shrugging slightly. "You're just... different. But that doesn't mean no one likes you." As she spoke, she felt a sense of vulnerability creeping in, realizing that sometimes, stepping out of her comfort zone could lead to unexpected connections.

Just then, Charlotte walked into the office, her presence radiating warmth and encouragement. She paused, taking in the sight of Mia comforting Marjorie, her girlfriend, and her best friend. A proud smile spread across her face as she watched the two girls share a moment of understanding. "Mia, im so proud of you."

Mia caught Charlotte's eye and felt a surge of confidence. "You have friends, Marjorie," she added, her voice stronger now she had confidence from her girlfriend. "And even if we don't always get along, it's okay to lean on each other sometimes."

Marjorie smiled through her tears, and for the first time that day, she felt a flicker of hope. Charlotte's heart swelled with pride as she observed the two girls, knowing that even small acts of kindness could lead to healing and growth. In that moment, the office felt a little brighter, and the bonds of friendship began to weave a stronger tapestry among them all.