Chapter 1 - It's been three years

Third POV:

It was a rainy Wednesday night, and Effy was in a local pub with her boss, Jake. It was just a usual meeting, discussing the final changes that should be made to this project they are all working on. Effy hated her job, but somehow – Jake made it bearable. Sure he was married and had two kids but that didn't stop Effy from wanting to be with him. She loved all of the attention he was giving her, sometimes she even thought he loved her more than his family.

Effy's POV:

I looked at my watch and it read it was 12:00 AM already. "Well shit "I thought to myself, Naomi must have been wondering where I am. After all these fights she had with Emily, I don't think she wants to engage in any fights with me, wondering where I am.

I whispered into Jake's ear "I have to go. Drop me off?"

Jake nodded and then we proceeded to get out of the pub, saying goodnight to my colleagues.

"Thanks for dropping me off, Jake."

"Hey, it's no problem. Anything for my Effy." Jake smirked and then kissed me, letting me know that he really does care about me.

I went upstairs to find Naomi sitting on the couch, all worried.

"Where the fuck have you been?"

"I was at some pub with Jake and my colleagues. Problem?"

"Yeah it's a problem! You were meant to pick up drugs like three fucking hours ago. I'm not even sure if the drug dealer is even near the drug store down the street anymore." Naomi replied back, angrily.

"For fucks sake! Fine, I'll go pick them up now. You have any cash?"

"Yeah, here take the 100 quid." Naomi handed me the 100 quid and then I went out the door, making my way to the drug store – apparently the drug dealer was in some old Volvo car.

Cook's POV:

I finally reached London. After all of this shit of trying to get away from the police, I've probably been in all of Britain. I don't even have a proper job – drug dealing ain't something I like to do, but at least it brings in all of the money that I need.

"Hey man where the fuck is your client?" I was talking to Alex, my supplier. He basically sends in all of the desperate little druggies who need to buy shit from me.

"It's been like three fucking hours. I'm waiting near the drug store and no one is here. If this bitch doesn't come in like what, 20 minutes then I'm getting the fuck out of here. Alright?"

Alex told me she should be here any minute now, which I find hard to believe since I've been stood up for. But hey, at the end of the day, I still get my fair amounts of cash.

Effy's POV:

I was walking all over the place, trying to find some beat up Volvo car near the drug store but there was nothing. I was tired and freezing my ass off – all just for a pack of coke. I hated to admit it, but after everything that went down three years ago I've been a mess. Freddie's death was just so much to handle for me that I've resorted to drugs to forget about him but nothing works. I've tried mindless sex, being with Jake and even trying a shitload amount of drugs and yet I'm still dwelling about Freddie.

After walking around and examining every car near the drug store, I finally found the beat up Volvo. Whoever drove this car sure as hell didn't have any money.

"You in there?" I knocked on the window.

"Yeah, just come in" A familiar voice motioned me to enter the car.

Cook's POV:

I looked up the woman who was sitting next to me, and she certainly was no bitch. She was someone I knew all too familiar. It was Effy. I haven't seen her in three years, certainly not after Freddie's funeral where she was a total mess. But she looked so different, she looked grown up. Not the Effy I knew – She looked as if she had the whole world in her hands, she looked like she got her shit together – as if she was never in a loony bin.

"Effy Stonem?" I looked up at her, she sure as fuck looked beautiful.

She didn't seem to say anything; she had the look of uncertainty on her face – as if meeting me after three years was the biggest shock of her life.

She then looked at me, and said, "You got the coke?"

I took the coke out of my pocket, "That'll be a 100 quid."

Effy's POV:

I entered the drug dealer's car and to my surprise it was Cook. I haven't seen him in three years and the thought of seeing him now, triggers everything back to 2010. I was so confused – why was he working as a drug dealer? What is he doing in London? There were so many questions I couldn't get my head around.

"Yeah sure, here you go." I gave him a 100 quid.

He looks so different, it looks like he's been through hell. I couldn't bring myself to exit his car without making any amends. This was Cook after all.

"Cook, are you okay?"

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine. What about you, then? You seem to be doing real fine after all the shit that went down."

I just looked down. Funny how after all these years, he still didn't know shit about me.

"And you seem to be working as a drug dealer, that is so surprising." After his rude remark, I just decided to leave the car. I couldn't be bothered anymore, let alone that thought of making amends with him.

Cook's POV:

Effy didn't change one bit. Her rude comeback and the fact that she left the car all of a sudden just hints me back to the old Effy. I couldn't bear the thought of not seeing her again – even though I was with Emma. I just missed Effy so much – it's been three years for fuck's sake.

I stepped out of the car, "Ef, look let's not leave this at a bitter ending. It's 12:30 AM, I'm bored and you seem bored so let's get the fuck out of here and go clubbing."

She turned around and smiled, "Fine, let's go."