This is a bit of a pain but I'm reposting my fic as it's more or less lost in amongst all of the chat and it's confusing trying to find where it is. lol. So the first few posts will just be parts that have already been posted.

Kris Fisher had been at HCC for almost a whole year, sure he’d made friends in his time there but for just about every friend me made there was an enemy waiting around the next corner for him. Take Nathan for example, he befriended him in more ways than one and then Jess became public enemy number one. Then whenever he tried to be nice to her again she threw it back in his face or he’d end up in Nathan’s bad books for being nice to the spoilt little rich girl. Jess however wasn’t his only enemy since he’d met Nathan though he had another except this time it was his brother.
When Kris had first arrived in Hollyoaks he was finally able to be who he wanted to be, he didn’t have to take notice of his parents or pretend to be who they wanted him to be. He didn’t have to pretend to be happy when he was Kris, because he was, well apart from when he was busy having arguments and throwing strops. However one day Malachy just decided that he’d show up unannounced to visit his little brother Francis, and from that day everything just seemed to go wrong. Now he was sat all alone in his dorm room packing up all of his personal belongings he’d caused enough misery and animosity here so he thought that it was time to move on and start a fresh in his home town of Belfast.
None of his flatmates knew that he was planning on leaving but then again none of them would actually give a stuff. Since he’d been there he’d had his arguments with everyone of them no matter how small or pointless they seemed now. As he carried on putting his things into bags he remembered all of the arguments he’d had with Zoë, the one tat stuck in his mind and always made him laugh was when she called up his radio show asking for advice on how to get her two friends to admit they like each other. Samantha she said her name was and he’d believed her until he heard Jess barge in and start shouting at her. True it was a silly row but at the time it seemed serious and he’d gone on at her for days.
Next there was Zak, he’d never really had a huge fall out with him, just the occasional disagreement, but there was the time when everyone thought that Zoë had tried to kill herself. Kris couldn’t sympathise with her so Zak had a good old shout at him, it went on a short while, but they were soon back down the Dog drinking again like nothing had happened.
Then there was Will, the complete psychopath. Kris had always known that there was something that wasn’t quite right about that boy. He was always so sly and secretive and caused as much trouble as he possibly could but always ended up as the innocent party. Kris and Will had had a number of arguments where Kris wouldn’t talk to him at all for days at a time but it had changed when he had “HIV” though, Will couldn’t do enough to help him, however Will was finally forced to show his true colours with the whole Zoë thing.
And last but not least was Jess. The one person that Kris had tried so hard to hate that he’d ended up head over heels in love with her. It wasn’t planned, in fact it was far from it but something always pulled them back together. The first time they’d kissed was after an argument, and it was the same when they ended up in bed together. Kris had tried to push her out of his mind so many times but it was impossible, there was always something around to remind him of her in someway and it scared him. It scared him so much that he had to get away and sort his head out, after all what would someone like Jess see in a loser like Kris?

Kris had finished his packing, his clothes alone took up two rather large suitcases, well not just his clothes because he’d put a few sentimental bits in there as well and was planning on leaving everything else behind, he didn’t need most of it, as it was just rubbish that he’d collected. The one thing that he did leave though was the thing he vowed to have forever. It was silly how attached someone could get to a stuffed animal but sometimes Kris felt that his stuffed koala, Kris 2 was the only friend he had. He’d lost count of the nights he’d sat crying into the fur of his friend and talking to him, because there was no one else he could open up to. Plus it was much easier because it meant that he wouldn’t be judged for his thoughts and feelings.
Kris picked up the bear and took it into Jess’ room where he placed it on her bed with a note asking her to look after it while he was gone. The truth was though Kris didn’t know how long he was going for or if he was even going to return, it was something that he hadn’t anticipated all that he knew was that he needed to go. Before he left the room he seen a photograph of him, Jess and Zoë sat on her bedside table and it made him smile but it also brought tears to his eyes. They all looked so happy standing there together, Kris with his arms around both girls but he could remember that his arm was loosely placed around Zoë, whilst holding Jess closer to him and hugging her, but he’d just shrugged it off when she’d said anything to him and told her that he was doing exactly the same to Zoë although all three of them knew it was a lie. The tears were threatening to fall, but Kris wasn’t going to let them, he wiped his eyes with the back of his hands and walked out into the corridor and went to pick up his bags and wait for the taxi that he’d booked to take him to the train station where he’d board the train to Belfast and be picked up at the other end by his aunt who’d take him home with her.
Belle was fantastic, she was Kris’ only aunt and the only person that he could be himself around. She had always treated him as one of her own and for that he’d be eternally grateful. As a child Kris had never really got along with his parents particularly well, they’d both favoured Malachy over him and although they told him that it was all in his head he knew that he was right. His aunt had told him often enough that Malachy might be his parents favourite but Kris would always be hers. The real problem between them was that they didn’t understand him from one day to the next and he supposed that that was the reason for the way he was now. Well perhaps not the cross dressing but the whole attitude. As his parents were always so off with him he’d learned to become all defensive and lash back at people who had a go at him. He knew that he overreacted a lot of the time but he just couldn’t help it and that’s why people always seen his as arrogant and cocky when the truth was that he was just masking his insecurities. Kris Fisher may have had a sharp tongue but underneath the surface he was just as scared and vulnerable as most others, he’d just found a way to appear tougher.
So the cab arrived and Kris loaded his cases into the back as they were too big for the boot, he then climbed into the front seat beside the driver and secured his seatbelt asking to be taken to Chester train station and left Hollyoaks behind him.

Jess, Zak and Zoë were all sat in the SU Bar, they had invited Kris along with them but he said that he had some things to sort out and that he’d be there within half an hour. Jess had said she’d wait for him but he insisted that she go on ahead, after all he wouldn’t be joining them. They been there for almost an hour and Zoë had tried to call Kris but he wasn’t answering his phone so she gave in and finished off her drink with the others and they headed back to see where he’d gotten to. As they entered the flat it was completely silent, which was unusual especially if Kris was said to be in on his own, usually he’d be pumping out his music while no one was around to complain. Jess took a quick look around but she couldn’t find him, Zak went and knocked on his door but there was no answer so asked Jess to try to see if she could get him to talk but unknown to then he wasn’t there.
“Kris come on, talk to me. Why didn’t you come to the union with us?” she asked but still there was no answer so she tried the door which was unlocked and walked in to be greeted by an unusually tidy space. For a second she’d thought that she’d stepped into the wrong room, the floor was clear, and his bed was made. Something wasn’t right and she could tell but she didn’t know exactly what it was until she stepped into her own room and seen the bear sat on her bed with a piece of paper pinned to it. She walked over to her bed and picked it up and felt herself go weak. He’d gone and never even said goodbye to her. Did he hate her that much that he couldn’t even muster up the courage to say goodbye. Jess fell onto her bed clutching the bear and refused to let the tears that were building up spill. She’d wasted enough time crying over Kris these past few weeks and she wasn’t about to do it again. Zoë came looking for her as she hadn’t came back out of her room and found her sitting on the bed in total silence.
“Jess, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing, everything is fine. Oh erm Kris must’ve gone out”
“Are you sure you’re OK, you look distant.”
“Honestly Zo I’m fine, listen I’m just gonna go and get a few things from the shop, you want anything?” Jess answered her and Zoë could tell that something was on her mind but Jess being as stubborn as she was chose not to give anything away. “Right then I won’t be long. Make sure Zak doesn’t take over the TV while I’m gone.”
“Sorry hun it’s too late, the football is already on.” Zoë laughed and Jess sighed. Great that was all she needed; she couldn’t get out of the place quick enough. Once she was sure she was out of the way Jess pulled out her mobile and called Kris and was put straight through to voicemail.
“Hi Kris, its Jess you know your friend. Oh no sorry I must have got the wrong number because friends just don’t up and leave without warning. I always thought you were a selfish, arrogant pig and you proved it Kris. Oh and about that disgusting bear I’m sure he’ll be comfortable in the bin.” She said her voice full of hatred. “I thought you cared about me, about us, we could’ve tried to make a go of things, I don’t understand Kris, I really don’t understand you.” She said her voice getting softer and weaker and then she hung up from fear of the tears that were about to spill if she kept on going. Slowly she made her way to the Drive ‘n’ Buy and bought a magazine and a bottle of wine that she planned on drinking alone in her room that night with the cross dressing koala bear for company. No matter what she had said on the phone in that message she wouldn’t throw it away, she knew it was the only thing that actually meant anything to Kris. So she made her way back to the flat and locked herself in her room.

Kris was sat on the train, he had seen that Jess was calling but he rejected it, he couldn’t speak to her yet in case she had found the note in her room. There was no way she was going to weaken his defences this time. So when his phone beeped to let him know he had a voicemail message he listened to it she sounded so angry, but upset at the same time and it was his fault. He should’ve said goodbye, but he knew that if he did he wouldn’t have the strength to leave however he decided that he’d call her back and tell her exactly why he left in such a cowardly way. Her mobile rang three or four times before Jess even bothered to look at it, she seen the name flash up and pressed the accept button as quick as she could hoping that he hadn’t rung off. Luckily he hadn’t but he was struggling to find the words to say to her.
“Kris, tell me what’s going through that tiny little brain of yours.”
“Honestly Jess I don’t know, all I do know is that if had stayed back there then I would have destroyed everything and everyone around me”
“So you ran away. Kris we’re your friends.”
“Exactly and none of you want to be dragged down by me so I decided to stop being selfish and do you all a favour.”
“You think this is you not being selfish. Because of you I have to sit and watch Zak and Zoë constantly flirting with each other.” She said trying to lighten the atmosphere but it wasn’t working particularly well.
“Yeah well for that I’m sorry but I’m not sorry for leaving. If I was in the same situation again tomorrow I’d take exactly the same action. I’m sorry that you think what you do but this is something that I have to do.”
“When will you be home?”
“I already am home Jess, I’m starting all over again in a new place, so this will be the last time you hear from me.” He told her and without warning the tears just began to cascade down her face and she couldn’t stop them, he heard her sobbing and he felt so low for making her feel like that. “Jess I only cause problems for everyone”
“That may be so Kris but you didn’t have to leave. Please come back.”
“I can’t. Goodbye Jess.”
“Kris wait” she said but it was too late he’d already put the phone down, leaving Jess an emotional wreck. As she lay on her bed all of her previous promises had abandoned her, of course she had to cry, she’d lost the one person that she’d actually let get close to her in a long time and vowed that she wouldn’t be making the same mistake anytime soon. Kris had broken her heart and he didn’t even care or that’s how it seemed to her anyway, but that was far from the truth. Jess sat on her bed crying for almost an hour with Kris 2 in her arms before wiping away her tears and deciding that she’d cried enough for one day. She quickly dried her face and reapplied her makeup before going out into the living area to talk to Zak and Zoe.
“You’ve been in there a while, is everything alright?” Zak asked and Jess nodded and smiled as she down on one of the sofa. “Did you call Kris to see where he got to?”
“Who?”
“Kris, you know the annoying Irish lad.” Zak joked and Jess just stared at him, no signs of a smile anywhere.
“Oh him. Yeah, and he’s gone.”
“What do you mean gone?”
“Zoe I know you’re blonde but don’t make me explain the definition of the word gone.”
“What I mean is where, and don’t you even care?”
“Erm I don’t know and no I don’t care. All he left was a poxy note, I called him and then he called back and he said he couldn’t stick around to screw us up so he packed and left. We’re better off without him though in my opinion.” Jess answered not fooling either Zak or Zoe.
“Come on J you don’t mean that.”
“And what would you know?”
“Well your face tells a whole other story for a start.” Zak said and Jess pretended not to hear him and asked Zoe if she fancied a spot of window shopping the next day since she couldn’t actually afford to buy anything.
“Sure, is that alright with you Zak?”
“Of course it is, besides I think the footy is on.” He said half laughing at her and she playfully hit his arm.
“Right well now that’s sorted who fancies a drink?” Jess asked and Zak and Zoe looked on knowing that she was finding this all a bit difficult. Zak left the room and called Kris who answered almost immediately. He’d been gone for as little as three hours and already he’d been on two trains and in three taxis.
“Kris where are you?” he asked
“Didn’t Jess tell you that I’d left? I’m sorry I didn’t say goodbye.”
“Never mind that, you have to come back, Jess is in a right state. She’s trashed her room, and yours for that matter.” Zak lied and he was unbelievably good at it, so continued to say other things to bring him back.
“Tell her I’m sorry Zak.”
“No I bloody well will not. Come home Kris she needs you, she might not show it but she does.” He said this time telling the absolute truth. “I need you to come back as well, who am I gonna go down the Dog with when the drama queens are off on one?” he asked and Kris began to laugh.
“Rhys, Gilly or Elliot”
“I do hope you’re joking mate” Zak said half laughing himself before asking him to change his mind again but it was firmly made up already.
“I’ve messed up so much though Zak. Are the girls in there with you?”
“Nah, they don’t know I’m on the phone to you, Jess would kill me. So come on tell me where you’re going.”
“Home. I need to sort things out and I can’t do that without facing them head on.”
“Oh so you mess up here and leave to sort out the mess you’ve made elsewhere. Come on Kris that’s hypocritical even for you.”
“Thanks Zak, my confidence is already in pieces as it is. I’ll call you tomorrow.” Kris told him as his taxi pulled up at his destination. He’d already called his aunt to tell her that she needn’t pick him up because he had a few things to do before he visited her. She wasn’t happy as she’d waited in for his call when she had loads to do without him adding to her job load. This was the one moment that he’d been dreading for the past two hours and he’d brought it all on himself for causing so much trouble. Before he went and knocked on the door he had to build up his courage, he had keys, obviously but he wanted to make an entrance as usual, he was just a little nervous at the moment. He picked up his cases and made his way up the steps and knocked on the all too familiar door. After a few minutes the door was answered and the person stood in front of him was clearly in shock.

“Hi to you too. I take it I’m the last person you expected.”
“Well that’s one way of putting it. Come on get in here wait ‘til the others see you they’ll be gob smacked”
“I was hoping for speechless but that will do.” He said as she helped him with his bags. “Right I’ll take these and put them away for the night and sort them out in the morning.”
“No problem, I’ll pour us all a drink. But I think that maybe you have some explaining to do.” That was all Kris heard before he made his way to put his bags away. He came out of one room and knocked on the door of another. This was the part he was dreading. However a muffled voice told him to go in, Kris slowly opened the door and was greeted by all sorts of things flying at his face.
“What are you playing at?” he asked trying to shield his face.
“No, question for you, what the hell do you think you’re playing at Kris?”
“I thought that it was time we sorted this out once and for all, I didn’t think I’d get this reception. I know that you’re angry but this is a bit much. I thought you’d be pleased” He said and Jess glared at him.
“Well you though wrong then didn’t you. In the space of three hours you’ve messed up everything. I don’t know why you even bothered coming back, you’re just a waste of space, and you were right we don’t need you to drag us down.” She shouted at him before throwing yet more things at him, one of which caught his eye and left a mark.
“Ow that hurt”
“It was supposed to”
“No I mean really hurt, my eye is going all funny. I can hardly see out of it. If I go blind I’m suing you for all your worth.”
“The word Bankrupt, does that mean anything to you?” she asked leaving the room to get something to clean his eye up with.
“Designer clothes Jess, you have plenty of those. I’m sure you could spare some of them for me.”
“Shut up and let me see that eye.” She told him and he turned to face her. “So how far did you get?”
“Not very, but I wish I had the strength to keep on going I doubt my aunt would’ve thrown things at me” he answered as Jess carefully wiped his eye with a cloth. “Have you been tidying?” he asked knowing that the answer was no because everything was still in its place as before but he gave it a try anyway just to see if Zak had been telling the truth.
“No, my room was perfectly tidy anyway, why would I need to?”
“Just wondering that’s all. Calm down before you actually do some more damage.”
“You want another one it can be arranged, especially if you keep moving” she shouted at him and he reached out and took hold of her arm and she stopped for a moment and just looked at him before getting up to tidy the bowl of warm water and the clothes away. “Right you’re done you can go now.”
“Can’t we have a chat first?”
“Not tonight I’m tired, and really not in the mood.” She said and walked out of her room having wasted twenty minutes talking about nothing at all. Not in the mood to face Zak or Zoe, Kris went straight to his room and flopped down on his bed. He could hear Zak and Zoe speculating about his relationship with Jess and all he could think was if only there was a relationship to speculate about.

At around 9pm Jess came out of her room again looking tired, she got herself a glass of juice and went back to her bed where she lay hugging the stupid stuffed koala that Kris had left behind. She didn’t realise at first as it just a natural reaction, she’d clung to it since she found it there earlier, but now that he was back she didn’t want it and took it back to Kris.
“You forgot this” she said handing it to him
“I left him for you. Keep him.” He said but Jess didn’t want him and made a point in telling him that she didn’t want it. “Keep him, please. It would mean a lot to me.”
“No it’s not right, besides I know how much he actually means to you.”
“I thought you said you were going to put him in the bin”
“And didn’t you say you weren’t coming back?” she shot straight back at him and he smiled at her, but she kept her face expressionless. She didn’t want him to think that she was going to forgive him that easily. It took more than a scruffy little toy to win her round.
“I wasn’t planning on it believe me. You know how weak I am coming back here after a few hours, I took the easy option.”
“Yeah well I’m not going to pretend that I’m flattered because I’m not.”
“You know I can’t believe that all of the places I could’ve chose to sit my courses I chose here. Life would’ve been a hell of a lot easier if I never even bothered. For a start I wouldn’t have met you.”
“Yeah thanks for that, you know how to make someone feel a whole lot better. I’m going back to bed, you probably won’t be here in the morning so I’ll say goodbye now.” She was shouting at him again and Zoe and Zak could hear every word as though they were sitting in the same room, but it didn’t annoy them like it usually did, they were just glad that Kris had cam back so Jess had someone to have a good argument with and they both knew that it wouldn’t last long.
“Jess, I didn’t mean it like that honestly.”
“Whatever I’m going.” She told him and she went into her own room still clutching the one thing that she’d went to give him back but by the time she realised she was determined that there was no way she was going for another slanging match.

The next morning when Kris woke up Zoe was already sitting in the kitchen munching on a piece of toast while mindlessly flipping through a magazine. When she seen Kris her head raised from where it had been and she smiled at him.
“Morning Kris”
“Hmmm yeah morning Zo.”
“What’s up with that face, aren’t you gonna give me a smile.”
“Nothing to smile about actually, in the space of one day I’ve done the one thing I tried not to, so tell me what I can do to fix it.”
“Sorry I can’t help there, your mess you clean it up.”
“I can’t though, I knew I shouldn’t have came back. This is all Zak’s fault.” Kris said getting himself a glass of water and sitting down beside Zoe who looked at him and asked how it was all Zak’s fault. He hadn’t dragged him back. “No he guilt tripped me.”
“So Kris is human then?”
“Shut it Zo.” He said before laughing at her for the faces she was pulling. “Zo this is no time to act the fool. I need to sort my life out.”
“Listen meet me in town at twelve and we can have a private chat, see if I can help you with anything.”
“You’d do that for me?”
“Well you might think you can run off and abandon us but well we’re friends and I’d never do that to you. You need help and like I said I’ll try.”
“Thanks Zo.” He said before getting up off his seat and going to get ready, in just over three hours time he’d be sat chatting to Zoe, trying to think of ways to apologise to Jess, who was pretending that she didn’t care at all and was planning on going out of her way to make Kris know how it felt to left heartbroken.
In her own room Jess was busy getting ready, she was making a lot of effort today and it wasn’t for Kris, she was determined to go out and get herself a man, not a cowardly, Irish cross dressing freak. Her make up was done to perfection and she had on the one outfit that always made her stand out from all of the other girls. She didn’t look easy but she knew that she looked good. It was only half past ten in the morning but Jess was determined that she’d find something to do before going to the SU Bar. When she came out of her room Kris was still in his getting ready and Zoe was still flipping through her magazine while Zak was messing about with the basket ball and net, trying to beat his record or something but Jess didn’t pay much attention.
“Going somewhere nice?”
“The union and then we’re going shopping remember?”
“Actually Jess, can we do that another time. I’ve just remembered I’ve got some things to sort out. Sorry.” She said having completely forgotten about making her plans the previous evening, then bang on cue Kris came out and told Zoe not to be late, and Jess was less than impressed, in fact Zoe was sure she could see smoke coming from her ears.
“You blew me off for that. Well that’s two friends in two days, not doing too bad. Zak you fancy a drink down the union later, or have you got an appointment with Kris?”
“I’ll be there Jess, you know me wherever there’s beer there’s a Zak” he said making Jess laugh a bit, something that was rare after the events of yesterday. “I’ll meet you there in about an hour if that’s alright, I just need to have a shower and that and sort a few things out.”
“No problem, just give me a call and I’ll get you a drink in.” she said and wandered off out of the flat and to the SU bar presumably. Zoe felt awful for dropping her like that but she felt that Kris needed to talk more than Jess needed to look at things that she couldn’t afford.

Twelve o’clock came and Kris was sat waiting for Zoe in the café t hat they’d agreed on. He’d ordered her a coffee and a panini for lunch. When she seen him she smiled and gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek before sitting across from him.
“I really appreciate this Zo”
“Yeah you better cos now Jess isn’t speaking to me. Kris what were you thinking running off like that, and to come back the same day.” Zoe started trying to understand what he was doing.
“I don’t know. I mean me and Jess are, well we were close. I really like her and it’s not just a crush Zo, I’ve had crushes before and this is different.”
“I wasn’t going to tell you otherwise, I can tell exactly how you feel just by looking at you. Only you and Jess are choosing to lash out at each other and pretend that it’s not real.”
“She doesn’t like me Zoe, I’m not sure I do at the minute and that’s why I decided I had to go”
“You hurt her feelings Kris, it’s gonna take a little while for her to forgive you so be patient.”
“What if she doesn’t forgive me and she ends up with someone else? I don’t think I could handle that she means everything to me.”
“You should be telling her this not me”
“She won’t listen Zo, I wasn’t running away from her, I was running from myself. My whole life I’ve been brought up believing that everything I’ve ever done was wrong. The only person that was there for me was my aunt, she was great looked after me and made me feel better about myself and then I met Jess and yeah we annoyed each other but not once have I regretted anything with her because we’ve always found a way to move past the silly arguments well until now. I hate myself Zo all I had to do was stick around and tell her that I needed to go away she would’ve understood.” He said finding himself in tears.
“You can’t change what’s happened but you can stop all of this from getting out of hand. All you have to do is go and tell Jess exactly how you feel whether she wants to hear it or not.”
“But how Zo, she won’t even come near me.”
“I’m sure if you two just happened to be the only ones in the flat and you couldn’t leave she’d have to and she’d get bored so she’d have to speak to you as well.”
“I couldn’t do that, it’s illegal to hold someone against their will.”
“You might not want to but if it means that Jess will talk to you then I’ll do it. I’ll say it was an accident. I thought you were out. The fact that I’ve got blond hair will make it all the more convincing.”
“Zoe I can’t let you do that.”
“Well it’s either that or you sort it out.” Zoe said with a huge smile on her face.
“I will, just give me time to figure out what I need to say.”
“Tell her what you told me”
“She might not believe me. Last night I kind of told her that I wish I hadn’t met her.” He said and Zoe just looked at him, prompting him to explain why he had said it. “I really didn’t mean it to sound like that though. I meant that if we hadn’t met then I wouldn’t have messed up so bad and she wouldn’t be so miserable and I wouldn’t keep…”
“Kris as much as I’d love to hear all of this, you keep telling the wrong person. Come on we have to go and find Jess. First stop is the SU Bar.”
“I have to go and change, I’ll meet you there.” Kris told her as they made their way back to the village. As they walked Zoe text Zak to let him know and he told Jess who rushed off to find someone else to talk to.

When Kris got back to the flat he knew that there was already someone else there, there were cups and cans that hadn’t been there that morning when they left and strange noises coming from one of the rooms. Upon further investigation Kris found that they were coming from Jess’ room, so now everything that he had prepared to say to her had gone and he took himself to the sofa where he tried to drown out the sounds with the TV. After about twenty minutes of complete torture Kris went to his room and wished that none of this was happening. Why didn’t he just go straight to the Union with Zoe? At the same time Zak and Zoe were now sat in the Dog talking about Kris and Jess, while Jess was sat in Il Gnosh staring into her cup of coffee. She’d been sitting with it for that long that it was cold. Since she’d known that Kris and Zoe were coming back she’d set into action to get back at Kris. She was sure that it would’ve worked and she had given it plenty of time, just in case he had gotten back a little later then Jess had planned. Because she felt angry, and upset she needed to hurt Kris so she’d told two of her friends that if they needed some alone time that they could use her dorm room, because she’d be out all day, and so would her flatmates. They gladly accepted, and hadn’t even realised that Kris had came back, or that there was anyone else in the flat when they left. Kris heard them leave though and went out in the kitchen to grab a drink and then went back to his room to think about his future and what it entailed.
So after discovering that her coffee was way to cold to drink Jess picked up her coat and bag and went back to the flat; knocking on Kris’ door as soon as she got there. She knew he was in because his jacket was tossed on the sofa and his mobile was on the table. He never went anywhere without his phone.
“I’m sleeping.” He shouted not wanting anyone near him, but Jess stood laughing on the other side of the door before pushing down the handle and opening the door to go in.
“Tough, I’m here anyway”
“Get lost Jess” he snapped at her but she wasn’t going anywhere. “I mean it Jess, leave me alone. I don’t want to be anywhere near you.”
“Have you been crying?” she asked knowing the answer already and suddenly feeling so small that she was practically non existent.
“My aunt called me, there’s trouble back home” he said icily, making an excuse because he didn’t want her to know the truth. “So now if you don’t mind I want to be by myself.”
“Aren’t you even going to look at me?”
“Why? So I can see the jumped up little tart you are? Well sorry but not today your majesty.” He said seething with anger, but he wasn’t angry at all he was hurt. Hurt at the fact that Jess could do something to hurt him so much.
“It wasn’t me Kris, I swear it wasn’t” she said not able to stop it from coming out of her mouth, but it was the truth.
“What wasn’t you?”
“In my room, I swear it wasn’t me it was Kelly and her boyfriend.”
“Like I care, what you do is your business. It has nothing to do with me.” He told her still not looking anywhere in her direction.
“Please, I know I’m a heartless bitch and I really did want to upset you, make you feel as angry as I was by making you think that was me but I couldn’t sleep with someone just to get back at you. I’d never do that not again, I just had to make you think it.”
“Like I said I don’t care you win. I’m tired of playing these games and always ending up the loser. Oh and I’ll try to say goodbye next time I leave.” He told her and Jess knew what was coming next and she couldn’t let him go.

“Kris you can’t go. Please stay, whatever this is we can sort it out and get along.”
“I don’t think so Jess, I came back yesterday because I thought that I had to for you. I was all ready to tell you everything but there’s no way I can stick around so that we can try and score points against each other. We don’t talk we shout, we don’t have a laugh together, we play games to see how much we can upset the other and well I’m done with all of that.”
“No more games, no more shouting.” She said now sobbing and begging Kris not to go. “If you go then there’s nothing for me here. I might as well pack up my things and go back to St Albans.”
“I can’t stay because you shed a few tears, it’ll back to normal again tomorrow.” He said sitting up and pulling her into a hug to try and calm her down. “I really haven’t got anything left to do here, after exams I’m going.”
“Two weeks, we can change everything in two weeks.” She struggled to get out what she wanted to say but she was going to fight against it because Kris needed to hear what she had to say to him. “You can’t go Kris, you have to stay. I love you.” She sobbed into his chest and his grip began to tighten but he didn’t want to give her the wrong impression. Jess continued to cry and repeat that Kris couldn’t leave her.
“Jess please don’t do this. Stop crying. Please” he said softly but it was no use because she couldn’t stop, she was hurting so much, and she began shaking. Kris couldn’t believe the state she was in, here she was pouring her heart out and here he was smashing it up into tiny little pieces. Jess clung on to him, so that he couldn’t move away from him but he slowly removed her hands from him and went out into the bathroom and locked the door behind him, he needed to think. Jess realised that after ten minutes of him being gone that he wasn’t going to come back until he was sure that she wasn’t there so she stood up, left his room and went into her own where she sat with her arms wrapped around her legs pulling them closer to her, resting her chin on her knees. She was still crying and rocking herself back and forth. Kris had heard the closing of her door and got up and went into the living area to grab his phone before going back into his room and throwing himself onto the bed. Why was he doing this? He’d already sat and told Zoe what he wanted but here he was going in the total opposite direction and pushing Jess as far away as possible. Lost in his thoughts of what Jess had said, the sound of his mobile brought him back to reality, he had a message from Jess. She figured that if he wouldn’t talk to her, or even listen then he would have to read what she had to say to him, and it was easier than hanging around until he was ready to talk. He opened up the message, and read it over and over again, knowing how hard it was for her to be telling him to do whatever he had t do, and that she would be fine. He knew exactly what he had to do and without realising it he found himself furiously tapping away at the buttons on his phone. Within seconds he had finished, building up the courage to send it though was something else. He sat staring at what he had typed and after a few minutes he decided to send it. An instant later Jess was sat reading his reply:
I’m sorry too, I can’t do it though Jess…
She read it over and over again in her head, trying to prepare herself for the fact that she’d have to say goodbye to him in as little as two weeks, and was about to throw her precious mobile across the other end of the room but then she noticed that that wasn’t the whole of the message. She scrolled further down and read the rest and she began crying even more than she had before:
I can’t leave you xxx
She was finding it all too difficult to take in, she got up from where she was sat and made her way to the door to go to Kris’ room but she never made it that far. When she did open the door he was already standing there waiting for her and she collapsed into his arms, not crying because she was upset, because she had finally been able to have what she wanted most. Kris. He stood just holding her while she buried her head in his chest for a little while before she stood back took hold of his and pulled him over to her bed in the corner of the room. She lay down and he sat beside her, Jess still wasn’t letting him go she had his hand firmly locked inside of hers, she was too scared that if she did let go she’d lose him.
“I hate myself for doing this to you” he said to her as he wiped away the tears that were falling down her face with his free hand. “Why do I always mess up?”
“This is just as much my fault. Why did I have to play all of those stupid games just to try and get back at you?”
“Probably the same reason I tried to play them. We’re both as bad as each other, but I really didn’t mean to cause any of this trouble. I just thought that if I left then everything would go back to how it was before I came here. You wouldn’t be so miserable all of the time because of the way I drag you down.”
“I don’t care about the put downs, I can handle them. It’s you making me feel so small that I might as well be non existent, like with Nathan. I felt like someone had ripped my heart out.”
“You mean like I did today when I heard those noises coming from in here.” He said and Jess sat up and looked deep into his eyes, she could see that they were full of hurt but also love. She slowly moved closer to him and their lips met. At first the kiss was slow and passionate but it soon became more heated, like they’d never wanted anything more in their lives. Although they were only centimetres apart Kris pulled Jess so that they were pressed against each other and he lifted his hand and pushed her hair back and rested his hand on her cheek. They eventually pulled apart but it wasn’t for long. Jess who had been crying before now had an innocent smile on her face and moved back in to find Kris again. “We can’t do this”
“What, why?” she said feeling rejected again.
“Not in here, my room” he whispered in her ear and she smiled as he picked her up and carried her to his bed. “We don’t know where those friends of yours have been.” He said making her laugh and he placed her down leaning over her, their lips connecting again. He then moved so that he too was on the bed, but Jess was lay down flat pulling him, and he was knelt over her his neck craning down and his hands lifting her heads up towards him, pulling her even closer than they already were. When they eventually parted it was only for a few seconds, just enough time for Kris to tell Jess that she was the most amazing person ever. She giggled at his comment before dragging him back down and tugging at his shirt trying to get it over his head, but she was failing miserably.
“Allow me” he said and swiftly removed it and their lips met again, their hands roaming each other. This is what they’d both wanted for so long but were too scared to go for. Now though neither of them was holding back. It was like the most amazing experience of their lives. “You sure you want this?” he asked barely able to speak, as Jess pulled him further down towards her in answer to his question.

When Jess woke the next morning Kris was no where to be seen. She didn’t understand where or why he’d gone. Last night was perfect and Jess was looking forward to waking up with him by her side but he obviously had other ideas and problems with it. Jess found herself in a foul mood already, she got up from his bed and pulled on his dressing gown to go out into the living area when the door opened and Kris walked in carrying two mugs of tea. Suddenly the smile came back to her face as he placed the mugs on the side and climbed back into the bed taking her with him. Kris had seen the look on her face as he walked in the door and he didn’t like how he’d made her feel. “I’m not going anywhere, and if I do then you are coming too” He told her as he wrapped his arms around her.
“You promise?”
“Cross my heart.”
“Kris can I ask you something?”
“That all depends on whether I can answer it.”
“What changed your mind?”
“I had my eyes opened. I can’t tell you who made me see what I was doing was pathetic but I owe that person a lot.”
“So it was either Zak or Zoe, and since Zoe didn’t leave me for a second I take that it was Zak.” She said feeling satisfied with herself for working it out but it wasn’t hard, cos like she said Zoe hadn’t left her side.
“No fooling Sherlock is there?”
“Isn’t there anyone better looking you could have said?”
“Why you look just like him.” He said and started to laugh and launched himself off the bed before she could whack him for his comments. He only made it as far as the door, because he couldn’t open it quick enough and she jumped o his back which made him fall over, with her underneath, and trying to push him up. “Ow watch what you’re doing you moron”
“Get off me then, you’re a tonne weight”
“Pot, and kettle there love, anyway it’s your fault we’re down here.”
“Just get up.” She said hardy able to talk anymore, as he was still lying there relaxing. “Kris…I can’t…I can’t breathe.”
“Well stop talking woman, you’re wasting that valuable oxygen” he said getting up and offering her a hand which she took. Then the door flew open and Zak stood watching them as Jess was pulled to her feet. He also took in their appearance. Kris was in a pair of boxers and Jess was wrapped in his robe.
“Aye aye, what’s going on here then?” Zak asked knowing fine well what had been going on.
“You ever heard of knocking?”
“I heard a bang, sorry mate. I mean you could’ve been unconscious for all we know. Next time I’ll leave you to pop your clogs shall I?”
“I’m not popping my clogs as you put it though am I so off you go, and no gossiping.” Kris told him and Zak left pulling the door closed behind him. As soon as he’d gone Kris and Jess burst into a fit of giggles, knowing all too well that the first thing Zak would go and do would be to tell Zoe. “You think he’s told her yet?” Kris asked after a few minutes had passed and he took Jess in his arms and gave her a huge cuddle and rested his head on her shoulder.
“Only one way to find out. Was she up when you went out there?”
“No”
“Right well I’ll go off first and get changed into something more appropriate. We can’t go out together.”
“And why not? Worried they might laugh?”
“Of course not, there’s nothing funny about us. We might escape interrogation though.” She said turning round kissing him quickly and then slipped out of his room. Kris watched her go, wrapped up in his dressing gown. It was way too big for her, but she looked gorgeous in it.

However as soon as she slipped out Zoe and Zak were stood at Zoe’s door with their arms folded, and smiles spread across their faces. Jess took one look at them and made for her room without saying a word. Once she was in the confines of her own room she stood back against the door and smiled, wrapping the dressing gown around her tighter and pulling the neck piece up further taking in Kris’ scent that was all over it. She stood there for a few minutes before even moving to get dressed. When she did move away from the door there was a knock at it. She called for whoever it was to come in and Kris popped his head around the door, and smiled at her.
“I’m glad you have nothing in your hands.” He said and Jess laughed and looked at his eye, the one that she’d marked last night, it looked worse now, and she hadn’t taken much notice of it before.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it.” She told him but Kris told her it was nothing more than he deserved. “I still shouldn’t have thrown it at you though.”
“Like I said forget it, it really doesn’t matter.”
“It does to me.” She said and he knelt down beside her and she kissed the cut that was there and Kris smiled at her, and told her to stop being so soft and he gave her a peck on the cheek before sitting on her bed and watching her sort through her things on her dressing table. “I’m just going to wash, won’t be long”
“Sure, I’ll sit here and wait.” He told her as she once again left the room. She was only gone a few minutes, which was enough time for Zoe to pop in the room and ask what was going on, but Kris wouldn’t tell her a thing.
“Oh come on, tell me.”
“Sorry, but I can’t. Jess might not want you to know”
“I’m her best friend”
“Yeah that was quick to drop her when she needed you”
“Er hang on a minute, that was your fault. What was I supposed to do?” Zoe asked starting to lose her temper with Kris. “Zak, can you come here a second?” she said raising her voice so it travelled further so he could hear. “Tell this excuse for a moron that if he hadn’t asked me to go into town with him then I wouldn’t have let Jess down.” She said when he walked in the door and Zak looked at them both and just shrugged. “Aren’t you gonna help me here?”
“Erm what she said Kris, now can you leave me out of this argument?”
“Sod off then go on. I’ll defend myself, who needs you anyway?” she ranted and Zak walked out of the room muttering under his breath., passing Jess in the corridor.
“What you doing in here?” she asked and Zoe stormed out. “What’s up with her?”
“I may have said something to upset her. She’s a right tetchy cow, and I thought you were sulky.”
“Watch it Kris, I have more things over here and I can throw.” She joked as she sat back down at her dressing table and started to apply her makeup. She did it with such perfection and Kris was mesmerised by her. When Jess turned around to look at him his eyes were fixed in one place, and he hadn’t even realised that she was now staring at him. “Earth calling Kris” she laughed and he snapped out of it and noticed that she was sat right beside him. “What you thinking about?”
“You’d laugh if you knew”
“Try me”
“Promise not to laugh” he said and she promised but she had her fingers crossed behind her back and rested her head on his shoulder while he began to speak and she started to laugh at him. “You promised not to laugh”
“I know, and I’m sorry, but I’m not laughing to be nasty. “I think what you said was sweet and well for you that’s like …I don’t know what it’s actually like but it hardly ever happens.”
“I can be sweet when I want to. I just never feel the need to be nice to people.”
“Well we’re going to have to work on that.” She said and he started to tickle her, her eyes started to water from laughing so much and her mascara started to run. “I look like a panda now don’t I?”
“Yeah, but a very sexy panda.”
“Eugh Kris, there’s no such thing you weirdo. Now let me get dressed and then you can take me for breakfast.” She said taking his hands from off her so that she could get up. She walked over to the wardrobe and started browsing through her clothes. “This?” she asked holding up a pair of long white shorts, and Kris shook his head. “How about this?” this time she pulled out a smock type top with a floral print on it and again Kris shook his head. “What then?”
“I don’t know, you look pretty good in what you’ve got on.” He said and Jess laughed telling him that she couldn’t leave the flat wearing a dressing gown. “Who said we have to leave?”
“I’m not staying in here all day.” She said before they were interrupted once more. “come in” she called and Zoe walked in looking quite upset.
“Jess, I know I shouldn’t have ditched you because Kris asked me to talk with him but you have to understand that I did what I thought was right, and if I hadn’t then you two wouldn’t be sitting here right now all happy, but I’m really sorry.” She said without taking a breath and Jess walked over to her and hugged her. “Are you mad?”
“I was yesterday, when it happened but no of course I’m not.” She said letting go of her and walking back over to decide what to wear. “Why did you think I was?”
“She’s just a soppy cow, aren’t you Zo?” Kris winked at her but she scowled and ignored him and told Jess that she just wanted to make sure that they were fine, then she left, and Kris shouted that he was sorry. She popped her head back around the door and stuck her tongue out at him and he just laughed at her and she disappeared again. She then went to make two cups of coffee before going to apologise to Zak, for her outburst at him, while Kris kept telling Jess that the clothes she was pulling out were ugly.

Zoe made her coffee and a one for Zak and took it to his room for him. He was sat on his bed looking through a magazine and sat up when he heard the door open. He knew that it wouldn’t take her long to come and see him, because whenever Zoe felt guilty for something she always tried to make up for it almost immediately.
“Zak, I’m sorry.” She said outing the coffee down on the drawers by the bed and sitting on the edge beside him.
“Oh come here you idiot, and stop feeling so guilty all of the time. It’s not good for you.” He said opening his arms to give her a hug and she smiled and hugged him, her arms tight around him. “Did Kris say sorry to you?”
“This is Kris we’re on about, he never apologises if he can help it.”
“What he said was bang out of order.”
“You didn’t hear him though”
“No but Kris is always out of order isn’t he.” He said and they both laughed abut what had happened. “Feel better now?”
“Yeah, thanks Zak.”
“No problem, listen do you fancy going out somewhere just the two of us.”
“Sure what do you have in mind?” she asked and he pulled her close and whispered in her ear. “Ooh that sounds fun.”
“It will be, me and you in the park having our own little picnic. Hopefully the school kids will be locked in the classrooms.”
“I hope so too.” She giggled and went to her room to get dressed, while Zak left the flat to go and get some food for their little outing.

Half an hour later Zak came back with a whole bag of food, and a few bottles of beer. Zoe was still getting ready which was unusual for her because she never took long, but today she felt like making an extra effort. When she came out of her room she looked fantastic and Zak joked about them not going out anymore, because what he had in mind after seeing her would get them both into trouble. He walked up to her wrapped his arms firmly around her and kissed her neck, and she began to giggle, but they were shortly interrupted but Kris’ annoying voice. Well it was only annoying because he had completely ruined the moment which he excused by saying he was paying Zoe back for all of the times she’d done it to him and Jess.
“Kris, you’ve already upset Zo once today you going for the double before lunchtime?” Zak asked him before running off to his bedroom to grab something.
“”Well, I’ve got plenty of time, I was thinking about the triple whammy actually.” He said smirking at Zoe and she rolled her eyes at him, and started to gather some things together and put them in a bag ready to go. All she needed now was for Zak to get whatever he wanted so they could go. “Ooh where we off to then?” Kris asked when he seen the food and various other things.
“Out, far far away from you.”
“Zoe, I’m hurt” he said which made her laugh but she still wasn’t telling him where they were going. “Tell Uncle Kris, you know you want to”
“Have you got a death wish mate?” Zak asked coming into the kitchen.
“Not that I’m aware of, I was just asking where you two crazy kids are going.”
“Mind your own. There’s no way you and Jess are tagging along.”
“We wouldn’t want to; going anywhere with you dressed like that would be criminal.” Kris said before running back off to Jess.
“Right guys we’re off. We’ll see you later yeah?”
“Behave yourself children, don’t get into any mischief.” Kris shouted back and the other two just walked out without even replying to what he’d said to them. “Those two have no sense of humour”
“Awww did they tell poor little Kris off?”
“Shut it you.” He said taking the clothes that were in her hands off her. “You won’t be needing these.”
“Oh yes I will and we’ve had this discussion earlier. Now I’m getting dressed and you are still taking me for breakfast, preferably before it reaches noon, now go and get ready yourself. You have twenty minutes.”
“I’ll never be ready. You’ll have to go without me.”

Half an hour later and Jess was still waiting for Kris to get dressed. He was sat in his room putting on his eyeliner when she burst in took it out of his hand and dragged him away from his dressing table.
“What the hell are you doing?”
“Taking control now move, come on.” She said his hand in hers and he rolled his eyes telling her that he couldn’t go anywhere with only one eye made up. “Kris take it with you and do it once we’re there.”
“I tell you what give me you’re shoes and I’ll give you them when we get to wherever you think we’re going.”
“Don’t be stroppy”
“I’m not, now let go and let me finish up”
“I’m going.” She said in her own little tantrum.
“Jess, hang on I’m coming. Just give me a few seconds to sort this out.” He told her and she smiled knowing that she’d won and Kris seen it and decided that he’d take a little longer. “Right I’m ready” he told her coming out of his room his eyes all made up and she sighed and they left. On the way to breakfast Kris started discussing what was going to happen after exams. “I’m going back to Ireland”
“But…what about us?” she asked the tears threatening to fall already and Kris looked at her. “You said that you weren’t going to leave. What was last night and this morning? An excuse to get me into bed?”
“No of course not. Listen to me”
“No you’re a liar”
“Do you think I came back just to jump into your bed? Not even I’m that low Jess.” He said to her and she quickened her pace and walked away from him letting the tears fall. He also quickened his pace to catch her up but he lost her she must have taken one of the paths that lead off the main one that he was on and down an alleyway. “Jess, come on Jess come out” he said, he couldn’t believe she was acting like this; she hadn’t even given him a chance to explain what he wanted to. “Please Jess” he said one last time before turning around defeated and walking back to Halls, while Jess was slumped against a wall crying her eyes out. Her once white shorts were now covered in patches of dirt. He called her phone and left a message for her to call him.

He sat in his room waiting for his mobile to ring but when it did it was just his aunt asking when he’d be arriving. She had plans for the next few weeks and didn’t want Kris to turn up and no one be there for him even if he did have keys. “I don’t know when I’ll be there…no, no everything’s fine. Trust me Aunt Belle….Yes there was a good excuse for coming back…Yes…Yes…Jessica, but I don’t know if it’s going to happen now. Bye Aunt Belle, see you in a couple of weeks” he said and hung up the phone when he heard the door to the flat slam closed. He knew straight away that it was Jess, especially when he heard her bedroom door slam. He got up off his bed and went to see her, he didn’t even knock, just barged straight in.
“Come to make sure you’ve really hurt me, or are you wanting to finish me off?”
“Don’t be stupid Jess.”
“You said that yesterday and you know what I was stupid then and I’m stupid now for loving you and wanting you to stay.”
“Are you going to let me finish what I started?”
“What’s that your packing cos I’ll help as long as you don’t ever come back?” she said and picked up the closest thing to her and threw it at him, but he managed to dodge it. Then she picked up his bear and a pair of scissors off her dressing table and went to cut off the ears. “I should’ve thrown it in the bin when I had the chance.” She told him but Kris grabbed it out of her hands and she flung the scissors, only this time not at Kris.

“I want you to come with me.”
“Get lost, I hate you. I don’t want to hear it.” she shouted at him not even listening to what he was saying to her.
“Jess, come with me please.” He said, this time she listened and she stayed silent with Kris looking at her pleadingly. “I know it’s sudden but it only occurred to me yesterday that I have to go and I don’t want to leave you here.”
“You weren’t too bothered the last time you just upped and left.”
“I came straight back.” He said and she looked at him as though to ask if she should be thankful. “Jess don’t look at me like that. I want you to come too.”
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
“I don’t have to explain to you.”
“You’re my girlfriend, I’m sorry I asked why you can’t come away on a holiday with me.”
“I have parents back home that are expecting me to show up there. I can’t just run off to Ireland with a guy I’ve slept with a few times.” She told him through her tears. “My mum wouldn’t approve.”
“Last night we said we’d stop with the games Jess. I thought we were moving past sleeping together then arguing. I may be just some guy to you, but I can tell you that you aren’t just some girl I’ve fell into bed with.” He told her sitting besides her pulling her into a hug just like he had the previous day. “I told you that I loved you and I meant it. I didn’t decide to stay here because you made me feel guilty either. Please come with me”
“For how long?”
“A month at the most.”
“But that’s almost half of the summer gone. Kris I can’t mum and dad have plans too. I can’t just call them and say they’ll have to change them”
“For once in your life do something for yourself.”
“I tried that and I had my heart shattered. I opened up to you and it’s happening again.” She sobbed and Kris told her that it would be different this time; they’d be together wherever they went. “I don’t want to go over there.”
“I have to, tell me you’ll think about it, there’s still a couple of weeks before I go anywhere.” He said and she just shook her head and he kissed her on the forehead and walked out and into his own room and throwing himself onto the bed. Not even lunchtime and they’d had another bust up. He looked out of his window and the rain was starting to fall, then twenty minutes later he heard Zoe and Zak come back. They obviously thought that they had the place to themselves as it was silent, they couldn’t even hear Jess sobbing in her room. They’re clothes were soaked through and they threw the things that Zak had bought into the bin and lay back on the sofa together with the TV on not taking any notice of it at all they were ar too wrapped up in each other. Then Kris came in looked over at them and spoke making them jump. “Get a fright did we?”
“We thought you and Jess were out”
“Well we were and now we’re back alright? Anyway there’s a time and place for that and it isn’t here or now.”
“Double standards, springs to mind there” Zak said still messing about with Zoe, who was brushing him off, even more so when she seen the hurt in Kris’ eyes. “Come on Zo, ignore him.”
“You’re a right pig sometimes Zak.” She hissed at him so Kris couldn’t hear and then asked Kris what was going on.
“Nothing, absolutely nothing Zo. I messed up again. Messing up with Jess seems to be my specialist subject lately.” He said before walking back to his room feeling defeated and deflated.


A little while later Jess came out of her room and was making something to eat when she felt someone standing behind her. If the previous episode of events hadn’t have occurred then he would have wrapped her up in his arms and placed kisses on her neck and face, but as it was he didn’t even touch her. She turned around to face him and smiled weakly but he didn’t say or do anything until she’d moved. Jess took her sandwich and went and sat on the sofa, while Kris did whatever it was he needed to. Once he was done he also went and sat in the living area and along with the others, the only noise that could be heard was coming from the television. Even Zak and Zoe could feel the frostiness and told Kris and Jess to sort themselves out.
“I don’t have a problem with her when she thinks, before she jumps in feet first.” Kris said and Jest glared at him. “The truth hurts doesn’t it, you selfish, stuck up cow?”
“Just like old times then.” Zak said laughing to himself before once again receiving a whack from Zoe. “Oi stop doing that.”
“Keep it buttoned then” she warned him and he turned and looked at Kris as if to say “ooh touchy” and Kris sniggered a little. “Zak I’m warning you”
“I didn’t do anything that time”
“Oh so Kris is just laughing at nothing at all then”
“It just so happens that this time I am Zo” he aid smiling innocently before shooting a deathly look at Jess.
“I don’t know why you’re being like this. I only said I won’t come with you. We don’t have to argue about it.”
“We do when you think that I had no intention of asking you to come…” he said and he was interrupted by Zak.
“To be fair mate you did just leave without asking or telling anyone last time.” He said again earning himself another whack and surprisingly a word of thanks from Jess. “You can’t blame her from jumping to conclusions…” he started again before turning back to Zoe who was ready to raise her hand to him “And if you hit me just once more I’m never speaking to you again.”
“Sounds like a deal to me Zo, you should go for it.” Kris joked and everyone but Zak laughed.
“Kris, can we talk?” Jess asked him when things went quiet again and he sat and began a conversation with Zak asking if he fancied a drink in The Dog later on. “Kris, I know I overreacted before and I’m sorry alright. I really am, I should have listened to you. Now will you please listen to me?” she asked and he shook his head, this wasn’t the time or place just as he’d told the other two earlier, and they made their excuses to leave and give Jess and Kris some space. No sooner were they out of the door and Jess was up and beside Kris, practically sitting on his knee. “What I said before was because I was angry and upset.”
“So you’ll come with me?”
“No Kris, but everything else I said was out of anger. I just don’t want us to throw away what we’ve just found.”
“Luckily for you I knew you didn’t mean it” he said his fingers running up and down her arm, making her tingle. “Do you mind that I’m going?”
“Of course I mind, but I can’t stop you. Your aunt is expecting you and you’ve got things to sort out. I’ll be here when you get back”
“I can’t ask you to wait for me though, it wouldn’t be fair.”
“You’re not asking me to though are you, and you don’t have to either because I’m waiting whether you want me too or not.” She said snuggling up to him and he welcomed her back into his arms as though they’d been apart for months.

“You know I like it when we’re like this, just me and you.”
“Me too, and if you decided to change…” he said but was cut off by Jess who had sussed him already
“Nice try but I can’t. It’s only going to be a month, we’ll survive and on the bright side we have two whole weeks before that time comes.”
“I’ll still miss you like crazy, you know that don’t you?”
“Actually I didn’t, I never thought I’d hear those words escape those lips of yours, but I’ll miss you too.” Se said sucking her head under his chin and fiddling about with the chain that was hanging around his neck. “We will get through it won’t we?” she asked now sounding uncertain.
“Of course we will, you said so yourself.” He said and took hold of her hand, the one that had been messing about with his necklace. He lifted her hand up and kissed it and she smiled, Kris couldn’t see her expression but he knew that it had crept across her face because he could feel the way her cheekbones moved against him. When he dropped her hand she carried on with what she had been doing before and he told her that she’d end up snapping it.
“I’m being careful with it, and it’s not that delicate.”
“No but it’s precious and if you snap it I will have to hurt you.” He joked and she giggled a little before Kris nudged her forward a bit so he could reach around his neck and undo the catch. Within a few seconds the necklace was in his hands held out in front of Jess face. “Here” he said handing it to her.
“No Kris it’s yours and you said it’s precious to you.”
“And so are you, and if you’re both together I won’t have far to look when I get back. Besides I’ll have a reason to come and get you then won’t I?” he said and Jess could feel her eyes fill with tears. “Stop crying you soppy cow.” He told her and she let out a small laugh but the tears still fell, she couldn’t help it and told him that it was just because she was so happy.
“Can you put it on for me?” asked and he took hold of it once again and fastened it around her neck and she fiddled with the small cross pendant that was hanging from it.
For the rest of the day they stayed in the flat together, they didn’t even bother to phone the other two to say that they were alright. Instead they decided to enjoy the peace and quiet while they could.
When they did get back later that evening they knew that everything was fine straight away. Jess got up to go to her room for something though and Zoe followed her, hoping they could have a quick chat about Kris, and his trip to Ireland.
“Zo, I’m not going with him.”
“Why not?”
“I have my reasons and it’s only a month at the most.”
“But what if he doesn’t come back, or meets someone else?” Zoe asked hoping that it would encourage Jess to change her mind and go.
“Has Kris paid you to do this?” she joked before telling her friend that Kris had promised he would be back. “Look he even gave me this” she said showing Zoe the necklace.
“Didn’t he tell you to look after his teddy bear last time, and it turned out to be a leaving present and this could be the same.”
“Are you determined to ruin what’s left of my day Zo?” Jess asked and Zoe apologised giving Jess a hug and they both went through to the living area where Kris and Zak were sat chatting away about nothing in particular, because when it come down to it they didn’t really have that much in common, they were just flat mates and drinking partners.

The days were passing quickly and exams were almost over. Kris had three days left until he was due to leave and he was still trying to get Jess to agree to go with him. Every time he asked he would get exactly the same response and decided that he’d ask her just once more, and if she said no again then he wouldn’t press the matter any more.
Since their last major bust up a week and a half ago they hadn’t fought once. They’d had their usual disagreements but they were nothing because neither of them took them seriously.
So there they were just the two of them hidden in a corner of the SU Bar. They had invited Zak and Zoe but they had plans of their own and didn’t want to intrude on the little time that Kris and Jess had let together. Kris had just bought them a new round of drinks and was waiting until Jess had had a few before asking her, maybe then she’d agree. Jess finished off the drink that was in front of her before taking a sip of the new one and Kris decided that he might as well give it ago now.
“Yeah sure I’ll come” she asked placing her drink back down on the table.
“Really?” he asked sounding all excited.
“No Kris, we’ve been through this and I’m not coming. Take a picture with you.2 she said teasing him with that last little bit.
“I will be don’t worry. I’ve got loads, but I’d rather have the real thing” he said leaning over the table kissing her, before pulling her from off her seat and sitting her down on his knee. “I’ll get all lonely, and have no one to cuddle up to.” He whispered and she told hi m he’d survive, but all she could think about was the fact he wasn’t going to be with her for so long and she had to admit that she was having doubts and it was all Zoe’s fault, especially after what she’d said.

“Sorry babe, but I’m going to have to abandon you for a minute so move that butt of yours.” He said standing up, making Jess jump to her feet before she fell on the floor. He left all of thing son the table with Jess, he was only going to the toilets so he didn’t need any of it. Jess then noticed his phone just lying there on the table and picked it up and started to scroll through it. She wasn’t looking for anything incriminating or or suspicious she just needed a number. Luckily enough she found it before he came back and saved it into her phone for future use, and placed Kris’ back exactly where it has been before. He came back a few seconds later and resumed his position.
“You miss me?” he asked and she rolled her eyes at him before replying.
“Of course I did, you were gone all of five minutes” she said her voice full of sarcasm as they finished off their drinks and made back for the flat. It wasn’t really that late but Jess was tired and went straight to her room, after telling Kris what she was doing.
“I won’t be a minute”
“Well be quiet, I’ll probably be flat out by the time your minutes up.” She laughed and walked towards her room and closed the door behind her as she got changed and crawled into her bed clutching the pendant that hung around her neck. Almost forty five minutes later Kris came into the room and he was anything but quiet, but Jess didn’t stir. The blanket that had been pulled up over her was now almost on the floor so Kris picked it up and put it back on her and kissed her goodnight after deciding that it would be best if he slept in his own bed so he didn’t wake her. So he went off into his own room and changed before pulling back the covers and throwing himself down on to the bed. He tried always to fall asleep but he couldn’t, he was wide awake, and even heard Zak and Zoe bouncing off the walls when they came in at half past two. He was getting annoyed with the noise they were making and was tempted to go and tell them to be quiet so they didn’t wake Jess but he thought better of it because they’d only have a go at him for being soft. Eventually the noise stopped when he heard Zoë’s door slam close. As he lay there a bit longer he was just starting to drift off to sleep when he heard his door opening, then closing then a shuffling of feet across the floor that was getting closer to him. He turned his head and could see Jess’ outline in front of him and he signalled for her to get into the bed with him.
“You said you wouldn’t be long.”
“I know Princess but you were sleeping I didn’t want to wake you.”
“I forgive you then” she said cuddling up to him and going back to sleep and strangely enough Kris also fell asleep almost as soon as Jess was there in his arms.

The next morning when Jess woke up Kris was still sleeping soundly beside her. She glanced at the clock on the table beside the bed, it was just after ten, luckily they didn’t have anywhere to be. So carefully getting herself from Kris’ arms Jess crept out of the room as quietly as she could so that she didn’t wake him. Before she left though she kissed him on the forehead just like he’d done to her the night before. She entered her own room an looked around for something to wear and quickly went and washed in the bathroom. After she changed she applied her make up and then went for her phone. Before she even attempted to dial the number she popped her head around Kris’ door to make sure he was sound asleep, she didn’t want him to hear this. When she was satisfied she went back to her own room and locked the door behind her scrolling down the list of contacts looking for the one she needed and then pressed the call button.
The phone rang about six or seven times before she was greeted by a woman’s voice. It was soft and gentle and Jess instantly thought that it had to be her. She was so nervous about doing this, she hadn’t even met the woman on the other end of the phone and here she was about to ask her if she could stay in her house.
“Hello is this Belle?” she asked just wanting to make sure that she was speaking to the right person.
“Yes, may I ask who you are?”
“My name is Jess, Jessica Harris.”
“Do I know you?” Belle asked and Jess took a deep breath before continuing.
“No you don’t, I’m a friend of your nephew, Kris. I understand that he’s coming to stay with you for a while.”
“Oh you’re Jess, the girl that he stood me up for. Yes dear he is coming. Is everything alright, he isn’t in trouble is he?”
“No, no nothing like that. It’s just…I was wondering if…” Jess tried her hardest to ask but she just couldn’t do it, and Belle picked up on the fact she was struggling to get her words out. “Mrs would it be…”
“Jessica dear, you sound nervous. Why don’t you just say what’s on your mind.”
“This is so hard I don’t even know you.” Jess said but was comforted by the fact that this woman seemed to have the patience of a saint to be able to put up with her babbling. Once again she took a deep breath and started again this time coming out with her question the breathing a huge sigh of relief afterwards.
“Kristopher already asked if you could stay here, I told him it was fine.”
“Actually that’s the thing, Kris doesn’t know I’m going to be visiting. I’ve made such a big deal out of not coming and now it’s getting closer I can’t bear the thought of us being apart for so long.” She said opening up to a complete stranger, but she now felt comfortable, especially when Belle told her that she was more than welcome and even gave her the address which she jotted down on a piece of paper that was on her desk. By the time she’d hung up the phone Jess felt like she did know Belle, and was looking forward to meeting her. All she had to do was to book the plane tickets and call her parents. True they wouldn’t be happy but they couldn’t stop her from doing exactly what she wanted, she was no longer a child, and sooner or later they’d have to face up to that. She called the airline and booked her ticket which would be ready for her to pick up when she arrived to check in on Saturday at 12pm which was just an hour before Kris’ train was due. Her plan was to get off the plane and go straight to the train station and meet and surprise him there.

Not ten minutes after she’d finished on her phone to the airline she heard Kris banging about in his room and unlocked her door and went to see what he was doing. She stood at the door watching him as he hopped around his room trying and failing to pull up his jeans, when he fell onto his bed that was the last straw for her and she just had to laugh out lout making Kris aware of her presence which also made Zoe aware that something was going on with Kris. She came running along the hall and popped her head underneath Jess’ arms and had a giggle at him herself at the way he had landed. He still looked tired and he had a bit of a hangover and blamed that for what was happening to him.
“See this, you won’t get this at your parents house.” He told her and she said that if she ever seen her dad jumping around like that she’d die of embarrassment. At that point Zoe decided to go back out and finish cleaning up the dishes from the previous day because if she didn’t take care of them, there was no way anyone else would. Back in Kris room he’d pulled himself together and was now dressed and was sitting talking to Jess about the arrangements for his departure.
“Listen about that, I won’t be able to wave you off. I have to be out of here by ten on Saturday morning.”
“What? Why?”
“Mum and dad called, the arrangements have been brought forward and so I need to leave earlier.” She felt bad lying to him but it was all for a good cause and hopefully he’d be happy when he seen her there waiting for him when she stepped off the train. “I’m sorry, baby, it just means that we’ll have to say goodbye a little earlier.”
“Yeah I suppose, just as long as you spend today and tomorrow with me.”
“Exams Kris, we still have one left tomorrow afternoon.”
“Yeah I know, but afterwards. Come on, we’re going to be apart for so long.” He said and nuzzled her neck and she couldn’t say no, not that she would have anyway. “So what should we do then?”
“How about we go to the cinema?”
“What like a proper date?”
“Yes Kris, I know we don’t do normal, but it would be nice. Just the two of us”
“And a whole room of annoying brats sitting behind us kicking the chairs, throwing popcorn and their mobiles going every two seconds” he said knowing exactly how to ruin something. “I tell you what we can go out for dinner and then for a stroll. Then it will be just the two of us.”
“Sounds perfect” she said kidding him lightly on the lips before going out and talking to Zoe.

“You two really are happy aren’t you?” Zoe asked but it was more of statement than a question. “I’m glad he came back.”
“Me too, I don’t know what I’d have done if he didn’t. I can’t imagine him not being there when I need him and we’ve only been together what two weeks.”
“That’s why you should go with him Jess, and then you won’t be apart.” Zoe told her and a smile crept across her face but she couldn’t say anything in case Kris heard her so she asked Zoe if she fancied going out for a coffee. Glad that she could leave what she was doing Zoe practically jumped at the offer. Jess called through to Kris and said she was just popping out for half an hour and then she’d be all his.
She picked up her jacket and purse along with her phone and walked out of the door behind Zoe who was already desperate to know what was going on. When Jess was sure that they were well away from the flat she told Zoe what she was planning and she got all excited. She couldn’t believe what Jess was doing.
“Kris is going to be completely speechless and well he’ll be amazed you kept it from him for two days. You usually can’t keep anything a secret.”
“Thanks for that Zo, and I expect you to keep your mouth shut. This has to be a surprise.”
“My lips are sealed, I promise. In fact I’ll stay away from him as much as possible just so he doesn’t suspect a thing from me.”
“Well he’s planning on taking me out anyway, so we won’t see that much of you or Zak for that matter.” Jess said as they entered Il Gnosh and ordered their coffees and sat at a table where they continued to talk about Jess and Kris.
“How you planning on doing this?” Zoe asked and Jess told her every last detail unlike before when she’d just told her that she was going to turn up and meet Kris. “I wish I could be there to see his face.”
“I’ll send you a picture.” Jess joked and Zoe laughed, just then their drinks were brought over and they both said a word of thanks before carrying on with their conversation, this time it was leaning towards Zoe’s plans for the summer. She didn’t have a clue what she was doing. The most likely thing was going back to visit her parents, but she wanted to see if Zak had anything planned. Knowing zak though he wouldn’t and they have to spend the whole summer apart, just calling and texting each other to know how they were both getting on. “You can always meet up, I’m sure Zak will want to spend sometime with you. I know he’d a lad’s lad but he does love you. I can tell, and he’d be crazy not to want to see you.”
“Thanks Jess.” Zoe said and they chatted until they finished their coffees ands left the restaurant making their way back to the flat, chatting about anything all the way there, only to be greeted by Kris messing about in the kitchen trying to make himself some lunch.

Jess walked over to him and kissed him and he immediately stopped everything he was doing and wrapped her up in his arms. Everything they had was perfect. It may have taken them a long time to admit it but now they had they were inseparable, and that was why Kris was dreading going, he’d even started to consider putting it off and staying with Jess. He did have things that needed to be sorted out back in Ireland, but they could wait, he’d left it for years already what harm would it do to leave it a bit longer? But he knew that if things were ever going to be put right with his parents then he had to do it now, because now he had Jess and hopefully they’d accept him for who and what he was than the way he dressed.
“Jess, I forgot to top up my phone while we were in the village, I’m just popping back out, if Zak’s up before I get back tell him for me.” She said running out of the door, but Zak was already up. He’d gotten up a while a go when they were out and had gone for a run. Kris told Jess, who asked why he hadn’t said anything and pointed out that Zoe was already out of the door before he could get a word in.
“I’ll let you off then, but just this once, now you finish what you were doing and I’m going to laze about in front of the TV.” Kris said he’d join her once he’d made some lunch for them and then he plonked himself beside her and put a plate of sandwiches on both of their knees so it was just balancing, if either one of them got up with out moving it then it would tip over. Jess turned the TV on but there was nothing decent on except the cheesy daytime chat shows. Kris rested one of his arms around Jess’ shoulders and she rested her head on his shoulder while they sat and watched together. Zoe came back in and seen them together and sat down on the seat opposite and began chatting to them.
“Oh Zo I would’ve told you before but you were left so quick that I didn’t have time” Kris started and Zoe asked what he was going on about. “Zak he went out for a run while you and Jess were out. He shouldn’t be too long.” He said before offering her on of the sandwiches that he’d made.
“Oh alright then, I’m gonna go and have a quick shower and I think I might head into town for a few things for over the summer.”
“Ok then Zo, we’ll tell Zak for you.” Kris said and once she’d gone asked Jess if there was something wrong with them, but she shook her head and said they were fine and asked why he thought that. “Well they keep missing each other I mean if I didn’t know better I’d say they were avoiding each other.”
“Trust me, Zo’s desperate to find out what he’s doing over the holidays, there’s no way she’s avoiding him. She’s hoping they’ll be together.” Jess said and Kris looked at her and smiled, she knew exactly what was going through his mind. Zak and Zoe were going to be together while he and Jess were miles apart. Once again she felt a wave of guilt wash over her but it didn’t make her slip up.

It was Friday night, the last night that Kris and Jess were going to spend together in Hollyoaks, and as far as Kris knew the last night they’d spend together for a whole month. He still had the feeling of dread in the pit of his stomach, and knew that by the time the morning came it would be far worse. Knowing him he’d probably cling on to her and beg her not to go, and for her to change her mind and take the trip with him. Or worse he’d cause a huge row just so it felt easier to be away from her, knowing that they were both mad at each other. However he was determined not to let anything ruin his night, he’d planned it all down to the very last detail. It had to be perfect. Jess already knew part of the plan, but she hadn’t a clue exactly what he’d been doing all day. At one point she’d even moaned at him for being totally distant and flitting in and out of the flat. Yesterday he’d made her promise that it would be just the two of them all day and here he was running in and out. But Kris knew that she’d understand once she’d seen exactly what he’d been doing.
So now it was almost seven o’clock. Kris had been sitting waiting for Jess to come out of her room for almost half an hour, despite the fact she’d been getting dressed for almost two hours. When she emerged from her room though Kris forgot about how long he’d been waiting. She looked amazing and was clearly planning on making the night one to remember. She wore a silk printed dress that slipped over her body, showing her curves perfectly. Her hair had been curled and pinned back leaving a just a few curls framing her face. If they didn’t have plans then Kris wouldn’t have been leaving his bedroom anytime soon never mind the flat.
“How do I look?” she asked, as she picked up a jacket, Kris didn’t even answer her though, he was totally speechless. “Kris, I’m talking to you” she said laughing and waving her hand in front of his face.
“Sorry, what were you saying?”
“I was asking how I looked, but since you can’t take your eyes off me I must look alright.”
“More than alright, trust me. You look gorgeous, and I’ll be the envy of every guy out there.” He told her as he wrapped his arm around her waist and ushered her out of the door and headed for their night out. Jess had expected to just go out in the village, and eat in Il Gnosh but Kris walked her straight past and she asked where they were going. “Just wait and see.”
“Come on I’m not good at waiting.”
“Patience is a virtue Princess, just remember that.” He said and Jess mocked him, as they turned the corner and walked through the gates to the park and across to where there was a blanket laid out on the grass. Beside the blanket was a basket that had been covered over, that had their food in for the evening. As they approached Jess couldn’t believe what she seen, and even more surprising was that Zoe was stood there adding the finished touches. “Thanks Zo, I think I can manage from here.” He said as he gave her a hug, just before she left she smiled at Jess and hugged her too, who thanked her for helping Kris to do all of this.
“Well he was my friend in need, and you two deserve this” she said and then wandered off, leaving Kris and Jess alone. Kris walked over to Jess, took her hand and led her over to the spot and sat her down, before pulling out a bottle of wine and two glasses to pour them a drink.
“I can’t believe you did this”
“Why not? I’m full of surprises; they just don’t make an appearance that often.” He laughed and Jess had to nod and agree, he’d surprised her more in the past two weeks than he had in the year that they’d known each other. Then he asked if she minded that they weren’t in some fancy restaurant.
“You can’t get anything more fancy than this” she said and he leant in to kiss her, and they both put heir drinks to one side and getting lost in the moment until Jess became aware of her surroundings again and pulled away from Kris telling him to save it for when they got back to the flat, and they both sat up finished off their wine.
“Why don’t we skip the food and go home?”
“After everything you put into this, it can’t all go to waste.”
“Well we can take it with us, have it later.” He said and Jess told him that she hadn’t spent hours getting ready to spend the night in. “Fine, how about we tae that walk and then go home?”
“I’m not going to win this one am I?”
“I don’t think so, you should just give in now.” He laughed and gathered up the things and carried them in one hand while his other was locked in Jess’ as they walked about, going nowhere in particular, and chatting about anything that came to mind, until they made it home just after nine. If it hadn’t have been getting a bit chilly then Jess would have preferred to keep on walking but she was starting to shiver and it was just the excuse Kris was looking for to finally go back.

Saturday morning came quickly, almost too quickly for Kris. It was just after nine and Jess was already up and about packing her case to go “home”. Kris had tried to get her to stay in bed just that little bit longer but she told him that she had far too much to do, so while he was lying in bed sulking she was drifting in and out randomly throwing things into her case. She still hadn’t phoned her parents to let them know that she wouldn’t be joining them, that was last on her list. She knew that if she called them before she got there they would tell her she was being stupid and talk her out of it so if she did it once she was there she’d have Kris to remind her exactly what she was doing.
“Kris you should be up now, come on you’ll miss your train if you don’t pack now.” Jess told him and he sighed before throwing back the covers and climbing out of the bed. “Are you up yet?” she called through and he shouted back telling her to stop acting like she was his mum, which made her stop what she was doing and confront him, whilst trying to control the urge to laugh in his face.
“Stop being so bossy. I mean it’s not like I’m in any rush I’ve got hours, you’ve got twenty nine minutes to finish and get out of here.” He said pulling her in to a hug, but she pushed his arms away and carried about with her packing. After what seemed like hours she eventually had all that she needed and had ten minutes to spare before her taxi was due.
“I’m all done, say bye to Zoe and Zak for me.” She told him and he nodded and helped her outside with her case. “I’ll miss you”
“I’ll miss you too, princess. Call me when you get there.” He said kissing her one last time and hugging her tight not wanting to let go, but when the taxi pulled up he had to. He lifted her case into the boot and she got in and rolled the window down and they said their goodbyes again, and Kris held onto her hand until the driver pulled away leaving him stood outside by himself. After a few minutes he went back inside and started putting the things into his case, ready for later on in the afternoon.

Jess arrived at the airport just in time for her check in, she still had just under an hour before her plane was due to take off but well standard regulations meant that she had to be there well before, luckily she wasn’t jetting off too far away otherwise she’d have to spend hours there completely bored out of her skull. She was still bored and as she wasn’t allowed her mobile on in the airport for security reasons or something, she found the nearest payphone and called Kris. He said call when she got to her parents but she was missing him already and wanted to hear his voice. He answered his mobile after a few rings and sounded a little flustered, but as soon as he heard Jess his tone completely changed. He asked where abouts she was because the noise in the background was quite loud, and as far as he knew she was taking a cab all the way to her parents and they were going to pay at the other end.
“I’m at the train station, it seems there was more than one change in the plan.” She lied thinking fast, she couldn’t say airport as her parents only lived a couple of hours away and well she didn’t need an aeroplane to get there, a train was much more believable.
“Really, if I’d known then I would’ve came and waved you off properly, and hung around until I had to go.” He said and she smiled at how caring and thoughtful he was being and told him she didn’t really know herself until the last minute. “Zo said to tell you she’ll miss you, and you’re to call her to let her know how things are going.”
“Of course I will, right after I’ve spoke to you when I reach my destination.” She said and they chatted a little longer before hanging up, as Kris told her that he had a few things to do before he left. So now Jess was bored once more, but her flight was being called so she could board the plane at least and settle in ready for the journey.
Back at the flat Kris was finishing off with his packing. His suitcase was sorted and ready at the door for him to pick up as he left. Knowing he didn’t have long left there he went and knocked on Zoe’s door and had a chat with her. Zoe told him that she’d miss having him about, purely because he was usually the main source of entertainment with his quick insults and sarky comments. It wasn’t long though before the conversation turned to Jess.
“The time will fly Kris, trust me it won’t be long til you’re both back here.”
“I doubt it, it might pass quickly for you but I’ll be stuck in Ireland by myself. I wish she’d changed her mind.” He said and Zoe sympathised with him, but she knew that he wasn’t going to be by himself.
“I’m going to be alone too. Zak said he’s going home to see his mum, she’s having a few problems with her new partner.”
“You’ll end up with him, even I know that Zo. He’s not leaving you here on your own. Just give him time to ask.”
“I wish I had your confidence” she said and then as if he knew they were ta