Rebel (SVU Fanfic)

15

"Nicole, come on, get up," Olivia prompted. The daughter didn't budge.

Olivia moved the blankets from her daughter's face to see what she expected: tears.

"Nicki, you've gotta tell me what's going on."

Her daughter let out one awful sob before her mother pulled her to q sitting position so she could hold her. Nicole refused to show her face, especially to who was in her house right now, so she stayed with her hair covering her face.

"What's going on, baby?" Olivia asked.

Her voice was so gentle and understanding it just made Nicole cry more. She skipped school! Why was her mother not furious?! What the hell?!

"I can't," was all Nicole could squeak out.

"Why not?"

"Look at me! I have a black eye and a fractured nose! They'll just make fun of me! I can't go back there, Mom! I can't do it! Ground me forever or take away everything I have, fine! I don't care! I'm not going back!"

With every word, Nicole got louder, and Olivia hugged her a little tighter. It broke the mother's heart to hear her baby was in so much pain. She had made a promise to make things right, and now was the time to put that in action.

"It's okay," Olivia whispered. "You never have to go back there again."

Nicole looked up through her tears. The image of her mother was blurry but she knew she was there. "Really?"

"I'm getting you out of there. I'm already working on a new school for you to go to. Don't worry about it, baby. It's gonna be fine."

Nicole could not believe what she was hearing. She'd expected her mother to yell and scream and drag her by her hair back to school. But she didn't.

Nicole wiped her eyes and nodded. "Okay," was her answer.

Olivia hugged her daughter tight once again and kissed her head. "I love you, Nicki."

"I love you too, Mom." But she still had a burning question. "What about right now?"

"For now, you're staying home. As soon as I get the chance I'm going to get you transferred.

There was a short exchange of goodbyes following this response. Not Elliot had watched the entire thing. Olivia was so motherly and sincere it tugged at his heart a little. Just more reason to love this woman.

Today, Nicole would say home. It was fine with her and her mother. She needed the day off. Hell, everyone did.

Olivia left with Elliot. It was - surprisingly - awkwardly silent. Until Elliot said, "I've already talked to Mountain Elk. They said they're good to talk to you any time this week."

Olivia looked over and saw his hand creep to hers. She latched on, relaxing when his skin was touching hers. "Thank you," she whispered.

It was a very slow day, and Cragen let the squad head he early. Instead of that, Elliot picked up the youngest Bensons to watch while Olivia and Nicole went to Mountain Elk High. It was a much nicer looking building, both of them thought. As they entered, all of the after school clubs were in session, and walking past some open-door classrooms, Nicole saw lots of groups: an accapella choir group, a science club, mathletes, and a...tutoring club? That's what it looked like to Nicole anyways.

They entered the room that read "Main Office" and saw a row of deals with secretaries at them. The left-most one looked up and smiled. "Hi, can I help you?"

"Um, yes. I was wondering if o could transfer my daughter here?" Olivia told her.

"Oh, are you the Bensons?"

It took both women back that she knew this. "Yes," Olivia replied. "I'm Olivia and this is my daughter Nicole."

"Well, I'll let you talk to our principal. He can help you. One moment."

The secretary hit a few buttons to things on her desk, then spoke a couple words into a phone, then told them, "he's right in there. Go right ahead."

They did so and entered an office just like you'd see in movies: two chairs in front of a big, dark brown desk with a name stand that said "Principal Arison" on it. The one who belonged to the name looked up from whatever he was writing. "You are Olivia and Nicole, I assume."

Both smiled and awkwardly took their seats. "Yes, sir," Olivia said, feeling very much like a student again.

"So, Nicole, you do seem to have your academics in order. Very good grades. No major offenses."

Nicole nodded. Was he complimenting her? She wasn't sure so she stayed quiet.

"Well there's no reason we should not let you enroll here. Here-" He started showing her the books on the desk for her. "-is what you'll need. Our student handbook. Basic rules in every school apply here. Read the dress code and the consequence page and you should be good. You'll need this daily planner. Use it or don't but it's issued to every student. And...who was it...oh, Elliot Stabler. I'll get one of his children to be your guide."

Nicole relaxed at that. She wouldn't be alone. All the time. But she had never said more than three words to Lizzie and Dickie. This was going to be sufficiently awkward.

Nicole would be starting school here tomorrow. She knew she couldn't be who she used to. Her hair was the only reminder of her old new life. This was her new new life and had to make it count.

She had never been all that girly, but she wasn't a complete tomboy either. The next morning, when she got ready for school, she chose skinny jeans, a maroon tank top and a creme colored cardigan. She still had her black backpack but switched to cuter, lighter colored combat boots.

Nicole soon found herself at school with Lizzie Stabler. It was awkward as she'd assumed. Lizzie was clearly popular. A cheerleader, part of the choir, and on the Honor Roll. Plus, she said once football - and in turn cheerleading - was over, she'd be going out for volleyball. Students every five seconds were saying hey or wanting to chat with Lizzie. But she couldn't abandon Nicole. Nicole felt guilt and uncomfortable through the whole morning when that had happened.

Lizzie was really nice though. Even when they got lunch - Nicole packed food but didn't really eat - Lizzie made sure she was okay to sit and wait while she bought her lunch.

A couple girls - all in cheer uniforms - came up and sat on the other end of the table. They did not look all that nice, but Nicole ignored it.

That is, until one of them said, "So, are you like...new here?"