Step Monster (Holby City)

Chapter 17

The weekend couldn't come fast enough. I couldn't wait for Jac to come and visit me at school. Almost every weekend someone or other was being visited by their mum at school, but of course I had never had that opportunity until Dad started dating Jac. Zosia had visited me lots at boarding school, but being visited by your sister is not the same as being visited by your mum. I just wanted Jac to come and take me away, even if it was only for the afternoon. I think 'he' has singled me out from the other girls, because I don't go home a lot, and I hardly have anybody come and visit me. Zosia comes once in a blue moon but that's about it.

I was looking forward to the weekend so much, and the week passed by ever so slowly. When Saturday afternoon finally came, as soon as I got the text from Jac to say she was on her way, I was sat under the window waiting for her to arrive. I eventually heard the faint roar of a motorbike engine and I knew it was Jac. I watched her ride all the way up the school drive and park her bike outside reception before I moved. I ran as fast as I could through the boarding house, almost going flying down the stairs. When I finally got to reception where Jac was, I jumped into her arms.

"Someone's happy to see you!" The receptionist laughed at me, with a smile on her face. She knew how excited I was about this afternoon.

"Someone isn't supposed to be running because someone recently had open heart surgery!" Jac said sternly, raising her eyebrows, but smiling and hugging me back.

Jac completed the paperwork which gave her permission to take me out of school, and as we were about to leave, 'he' walked down the corridor towards us. I took Jac's hand and attempted to pull her out of reception, hoping to make a quick exit but I wasn't quick enough.

"You must be Ms. Jacqueline Naylor?" He asked as he approached me and Jac.

"I am indeed." She replied. I stepped away from this teacher and slightly behind Jac so I was further away from him.

"I've read about your work, it's very interesting." He said. I could tell what he was doing, he was trying to get her on side, so she stood less of a chance of believing me.

"Thank you, I would love to stand around and talk to you about it, but we should be going. I don't have a massive amount of time off this afternoon." Jac replied. I knew this wasn't true, she had all afternoon off, but I guessed she had picked up on my uneasiness.

"well I best be getting back to work anyway myself, lessons to teach, school to run!" He responded.

"Nice to meet you." He added.

"Nice to meet you too." Jac replied. He went to put his arm around me and I went as stiff as a board. She watched my reaction and I was so paranoid about anyone finding out that I thought she was going to question me right there and then on the spot

I followed Jac outside and she handed me the spare motorbike helmet for her bike.

"I will buy you your own, and some leathers, but for today that will do!" Jac smiled.

"Yay! Thank you." I replied, I had never been on a motorbike before I met Jac, but it had become common because she knew how much I enjoyed it.

"I thought we could go and hang out in the gardens of my university as its such a nice hot day?" She suggested.

"Yeah, that's cool with me." I replied, jumping on the back of the bike. Jac climbed on the front of the bike and pulled away.

As we rode away from the school, I turned to look. The sight of the school disappearing over the brow of the hill made me happy.

We were on the bike for about 45 minutes, until we got to the edge of a town. We pulled up in a carpark and after a short walk sat on a bench in the middle of a huge park. We sat sideways facing each other.

We chatted about our week and other trivial things, before Jac asked the question that had clearly been playing on her mind all the way here.

"Do you want to tell me why you were so upset about going back to school?" Jac asked me. I hesitated before I replied.

"I don't like that school." I said, trying to sound casual, but the question had caught me off guard.

"I'll rephrase the question, do you want to tell me why you were so desperate to get away from that teacher who spoke to us in reception, and why you were so uncomfortable with him putting his arm around you?" She asked. I remained silent, and didn't make eye contact with her.

"I am not stupid." Jac said softly, but firmly.

"I grew up in a care home." She added. I knew this, and she always talked openly about it if I ever asked her a question.

"and I was sexually assaulted by a man at Holby in my first year working there." She said, sounding more vulnerable than I had ever heard her sound. I didn't know this had happened to her.

"I've seen that reaction before, I know what it means" She whispered, gently placing her hand in mine and squeezing it reassuringly.

I refused to make eye contact with her but tears slowly began to roll down my cheeks. I blinked to try and stop myself crying but it made the tears flow faster.

"Come on pancake." Jac coaxed. She knew something had happened, but didn't know what.

"It's really important you tell me what has happened from the beginning." She said softly.

I finally gave in and I began to cry so covered my face with my hands.

"It's okay, in your own time." Jac said putting her arm around me and rubbing my arm to comfort me. I leaned on Jac and took a few minutes to calm myself down.

"I don't go home as much as the other girls... and I don't get as many visitors..." I started, still leaning on Jac, she wrapped both her arms around me and I pulled myself closer so I was sat in her lap with my back to her and both our legs were outstretched on the bench.

"...so I think he assumed I had no one...like no family and stuff...coz he knows mummy's not here anymore, and Daddy barely ever comes anymore...and Zosia never comes either." I mumbled. Jac reached up and wiped my tears with her sleeve.

"...and he started doing thing to me..." I whispered. It was hard to say it out loud to somebody, even if it was Jac.

"What did he do? I completely understand but you need to tell me." Jac coaxed. I knew she was right, it was about time I told somebody the truth.

"When it started he just touched me." I said.

"It was like he was testing to see if I was going to tell anyone, but then he started putting his fingers in places which hurt..." I continued.

"and then he started having sex with me..." I finished. There was silence between us while Jac squeezed me tightly to comfort me, and herself. I looked up at her and she had tears in her eyes. I sat up and reached my arms around her neck and gave her a proper cuddle.

"You should not have had to go through this." Jac muttered, I could tell she was angry, not at me but at 'him'.

"That's why I didn't want to go back...but he said he would hurt me if I told anyone." I whispered to her.

"It's okay, I understand. You don't have to explain or justify yourself to me. I am not blaming you for not speaking out, don't worry. You are not in trouble, you have done nothing wrong sweetheart." She said, and kissed me on the forehead.

"Right, we are getting your stuff and you are coming home with me. You will not be going back to that school" Jac announced

"I will send someone for your stuff in the week." She added.

I reluctantly agreed, with one last hug, we walked back to Jac's bike and set off for her flat.

After just over an hour of being on her bike we arrived at Jac's home. We went up to her flat and sat on her sofa.

"Right, I need to make a call, so do you want to go and have a shower?" Jac offered, I agreed and went for a shower. I wonder who she was calling?

When I returned Jac put on the TV and we sat and watched Disney's 'Frozen', until there was a knock at the door about an hour later.

Jac went and answered the door.