Moving on (Waterloo Road)

Chapter 15

On the Wednesday morning, Rachel awoke and sighed; she grabbed a quick shower before getting ready and waking Nikki up. Later that morning, there was a knock on the door; as Nikki stayed with her Nan in the living room, Rachel let Eddie in.

"Hi" she whispered.

"How you holding up?"

"Okay, just about"

"And Nikki?"

"As you'd expect; wanna come in?"

She stepped aside a d let him in; after the funeral, Nikki sat alone at her moms Grace as Eddie and Rachel leant against the car, watching her. Mary had already gone back to the wake.

"She was very popular" Eddie commented.

"Yeah she Was, considering; thank you...for been here today and I'm sorry about..."

"It's forgotten about; you're grieving and missing Tom and trying to deal with everything..."

"And I'm sorry for offloading on you again; I just needed someone to talk to"

"And like I said...anytime"

"I'd better check Nikki's okay"

Rachel went and sat next to Nikki as she wrapped her arms around her, keeping her warm.

"You were very brave"

"Can we go home?"

"You don't wanna go to the wake?"

"I wanna be alone"

"Okay, come on"

Rachel put her arm around Nikki as they walked back to the car; when they got home, Nikki went into her room as Rachel and Eddie went through to the kitchen and put the kettle on.

"You want a coffee?" She asked.

"Let me do it"

"I'm fine"

"Come on, sit down"

"Eddie, please"

As she accidentally it tea bags into the cups, she broke down; Eddie put his arms around her as he ran his fingers through her hair.

"It's Okay, it's gonna be okay"

He led her to the sofa where she slowly dozed off on him; he gently put her head and feet on the sofa before covering her with a blanket. He got a can of soda from the fridge before going and knocking on Nikki's door; he sat on her bed and handed the drink to her as she sat up.

"How you doing?"

"I dunno; I guess it hasn't really sunk in yet and I've already done my grieving"

"You need anything?"

"No"

"I should get going; Rachel's asleep on the sofa"

"Can i ask you something?" She asked.

"Course"

"How long have you been in live with my auntie Rachel?"

"Sorry?"

"It's so obvious"

"Long enough" he answered. "But she's taken"

"Have you told her how you feel?"

"No...and I don't plan to"

"You should"

"She's with Tom"

"But she's not happy; he's always away and...she needs somebody to help her through this. She's not coping..."

"I know...but I'm not going to tell her and neither are you"

"Okay"

"Good; I'd better check in at the school. Get her to ring if she needs anything"

"I will"

She turned on her tv as Eddie left; a couple of hours later, she left her room where Rachel was in the kitchen, getting a drink"

"You okay Nikki?"

"Yeah, I had a good talk with Mr Lawson"

"What about?"

"Nothing in particular; you Okay?"

"I'll be fine, you hungry?"

"A little"

"Take out?"

"That would be nice; I'm gonna phone Ros and Chlo"

"They can come round if they want"

"I'm okay; I'll see them at school tomorrow"

"You don't have to go in" she said as she pulled the menu out of the draw.

"I want to; things have to get back to normal eventually and I don't want to let mom or you down"

"You'll never let us down; I'd better order the food. You want anything specific?"

"Not really; I'll be in my room"

"Okay"

As Nikki left the kitchen, Rachel ordered the food.