Chapter One

"C'mon Stewart! Just because you've spent the whole summer in Spain doesn't mean you can keep slacking now."

"Leave me alone, Claire - I'm knackered. I am totally jet lagged."

"Jet lagged? From Spain? Not buying it, Stewart. Up."

"You sound just like my Dad with your lectures." Thankfully Claire couldn't hear Helen's muffled complain from under the duvet as she entered their bathroom to brush her teeth. When she returned Helen hadn't moved an inch.

"Helen, it's the first day of the new term. You can't miss it. You need to pick up your timetable, otherwise you'll be lost for the rest of the year."

"I was lost all of last year too…not picking up my class timetable won't make a difference. Now piss off and let me sleep!" Helen moodily pulled the duvet back over her head to block out the incessant nagging of her friend and the bright sunshine that ebbed through the window and disturbed her dream-like state.

"No, I will not "piss off" as you so pleasantly put it. You're coming with me, and that's final." Yanking back the bed sheets Claire tugged at her friends upper limbs until she gave in and stormed off into the bathroom that separated their rooms.

"That bloody Irish determination in you annoys me, do you know that!"

"Yep, that's why I do" Claire laughed heartily while she ducked to avoid Helen's t-shirt that was projected at her like a missile.

"Hey, never mind chucking things and get a move on lady. You're 22 years old...i shouldn't have to nag you."

"Yeah, yeah, I'm ready." Helen appeared from the toilet fully dressed, in tight fitting top and jeans that sat snugly around her thighs, her hair immaculate and just a touch of mascara on her long lashes.

"How is it you can look so good in just 10 minutes?"

"Good genes." Helen smiled seductively, her tongue dancing at the back of her teeth.

"If you weren't my best friend…and so totally hetro…" Claire was practically drooling at her room mate.

"Yeah, I know, you keep telling me, just keep those hormones in check Miss Walker!"

Larkhall, North London's premier university was swarming with students, old and new, ready to begin a new year of study.

Helen Stewart was a forth year student getting ready to finish her Masters degree in clinical psychology, and if her marks were good enough, she would move on to complete a phD - just like her father wanted.

Claire Walker, her best friend and roommate was also in her forth year, studying criminal law. Her hopes and ambitions were equal to Helen's, although when it came down to being studious Claire won hands down every time. Helen, although intelligent, was easily distracted - especially when fun was involved. If Claire hadn't know her, she would have sworn Helen's chosen degree was the history of alcohol.

Both friends were complete polar opposites. Helen the mischievous Scottish girl who made living life to the max' an art form, and Claire the quiet Irish girl, born to wealthy parents who put her through the best boarding schools money could buy and sensible to a fault. How they ever became friends no one understood, but each shared a bond that was unbreakable.

Helen couldn't wait for the end of the week to approach. It just wasn't coming quick enough. First week back was always a nightmare. Getting back into the routine of long, tedious lectures, agonisingly boring slide-shows in badly ventilated lecture halls, taken by pompous know-it-alls, was no easy task. So when Friday afternoon finally came it was with a huge sigh of relief. One week gone, and only another 30 or so to go until graduation, then onto the big, bad world of work experience.

"Fancy a night down the local? My treat for making you drag me out of bed every morning in life." Helen practically skipped her way down the stone stairwell and onto the gravel pathway at the front of the old Victorian building.

"To be honest Hel, I'm not really in the mood. I have some case studies I want to go over before Monday."

"You're joking, right? Come on Claire, it's Friday…the weekend starts here!" Helen threw her hands in the air in an act of celebration, but Claire couldn't muster the enthusiasm to join in.

"I know, I know. I'm a boring bastard, but honestly Helen, I'm not up for it…you go though. You'll have more fun with me not being there to nag you about how much you're flirting, or drinking." Claire's eyes met the gravel, never once looking up to make eye-contact with her friend. She knew if she did Helen would tell she was lying…but this was just as much of a giveaway.

"Wait. You're not going home to go over case studies at all, are you? You're meeting up with that girl you met last weekend!" Claire's eyes bulged from her head in shock.

"How the hell did you find out about that!"

"I may have been in Spain, but I still have my sources at home you know." Helen patted the edge of her nose and laugh infectiously. She loved to get one over on Claire who always played Miss Innocent.

"Helen!"

"Yvonne told me this morning when I went to see if she needed any volunteers for student services."

"I don't know what I'm more shocked about…the fact you know about Caroline, or that you actually volunteered for something!" Claire laughed.

"Hey, it's a worthwhile cause you know. There's a lot of students out there that need and help and advice…I always fancied being a surrogate big sister to someone. Being an only child must do that to you." Claire raised her eyebrows and waited on the truth.

"Okay, that and it earns me extra points towards my degree."

"Andddd?" Claire knew there was much more than extra points at the bottom of Helen's new-found enthusiasm to help fellow students.

"And what? isn't that reason enough?" Helen tucked a stray strand of hair behind her right ear, fidgeting under her friends interrogations.

"Nope. I know you too well. Now come on, spill…who is he?"

"Why do you presume a man is my ulterior motive?"

"I just told you. I know you too well. A man is always at the root with you. Now are you going to tell me or do I have to find out for myself?"

"Bloody hell Claire, the Japanese would have loved you in world war II. Water torture is nothing compared to you! His name is Thomas Waugh, he's In his last year of an MD, gorgeous eyes and perfect manners. We met in Spain. He was there with his friend Sean Parr. They're a nice couple of guys - pity men aren't your cup of tea or we could have double dated."

"Yeah, well I'll stick to Caroline thank you very much."

"Ohhh, Caroline…" Helen mocked to embarrass her friend more. "So, where are you both going tonight then?"

"Well, I was planning on taking her for a meal…but since you're going to be going to the pub, we may just stay in and have a cosy night in front of the television instead."

"Nice. I'll stay out as long as I can in that case. Perhaps things will get overly cosy." Helen gave Claire a wink and followed it up with a quick kiss on her scarlet cheek as they parted ways. Claire left to go to a perfect night at the start of a wonderful relationship…and Helen to a night that would change her life forever.