A pressure began to build behind Effy's electric eyes and a lump began to rise in her throat, she knew she had to get out before she started crying. Katie was fighting herself to say some thing but stayed quiet as she stepped out of Effy's way allowing her to exit the room. She rushed herself down the three flights of stairs, fumbling with her metallic blue Zippo as she tried to light the cigarette hanging loosely from her lips. Shoving the emergency exit open before stepping into the foggy streets, she scanned the road knowing exactly where to go. It happened each time she needed to lose herself or forget who she was; the one habit she hadn't yet kicked from her college days.

Her feet took the familiar seven-hundred and fifty three steps it was between Katie's flat and Cook's. Shame tugged at her long arms as she tucked them around her torso, her heart beating audibly. She knew Cook would open his door graciously accepting her shame as love. He believed with all his heart that Effy was still grieving over Freddie and once she accepted that he was dead her eyes would open and he would be her obvious suitor. Pain seized her chest, paralyzing her until she finally allowed herself to vomit. It felt good to have the bile flow from her, both cleansing and waking her system. Pulling her sleeve lazily across her mouth she forced herself to continue the trek down the thin alley leading to his flat.

She stopped as she approached his door, her eyes burning holes through the thin cheap wood. She envisioned Cook sitting in his knickers on a beat up couch laughing at some imbecile program with a mouth full of cereal, his dark blonde hair slightly mussed from a night of doing God knows what or who. She knocked softly once hoping he wouldn't answer.

"Eff!" He hollered as he swung open the door, his signature boyish smile plastered goofily on his face, "how the hell are you? Haven't seen you in a bit," he straightened up while making a show of fussing with a tie that was already secured around his neck. Effy tilted her head slightly before indulging in his bragging.

"Are you leaving?" she asked in the usual bored tone she adopted with him. He shook his head excitedly, Effy could swear she saw his chest expand slightly. "What is it then?" she asked stepping past him into his living room which was in surprisingly better condition than usual. His floor wasn't caked with dirt, the couch was put together with all the cushions facing the correct way, his coffee table was cleared of all rubbish and on it sat a candle, an actual fucking candle. Effy was sure she was in the wrong place until she remembered Cook had been the one to let her in.

"I have my hearing today, my tosser lawyer says if I can convince Judgey that I promise to finish out my sentence without problems then I'm looking at freedom," his smile got even wider as he closed the door behind him. His eyes flickered with something Effy couldn't place, ever since Freddy's incident he hadn't been the same and after her doctor was reported dead he had seemed to come even more undone. She felt like he was hiding something from her but she couldn't find the energy to care what it was.

"And what's all this?" she asked taking a long sweep of the room. He looked around as well shrugging his broad shoulders. He pushed a tanned hand through his cropped hair, and glanced sheepishly at his feet.

"Thought I'd mature or what ever it is that the ladies like," he said blushing slightly.

Effy narrowed her eyes, loosening his tie, "Maturity is definitely not why the ladies like you Cook," it sounded harsh to her ears but if it was Cook didn't acknowledge it. "So what time is your hearing?" she asked softening.

"I got more than enough time for you babe," he winked as he brought his defined arms around her pulling her into his body. She rolled her eyes knowing that his 'more than enough time' was actually going to be the seven and a half minutes he spent thrusting above her. His lips traveled over hers, down her neck leading a trail against her collar bone before aggressively tearing the long dress shirt from her.

He clumsily stumbled against her trying to pin her against the wall, his hands hot on her skin as they traveled under her tights and up her torso. She pushed off the wall and forced them to his newly cleaned couch, she did not have the energy to fuck standing up so she sank into the cushions as Cook pulled down his suit slacks and positioned himself over her. She kept her eyes open, staring at his cracked ceiling while he asked her to do obscene things between labored grunts. She ignored him as she usually did and tried to concentrate on his determined pumping hoping it would get her off. His hips banged against her as his rhythm gained speed. His fingers dug into her thighs as he pulled her into him with more force attempting to absorb her.

His breathing intensified and his body began to sweat. Effy compared the few and sparing orgasms she achieved with Cook to the many and intense shared with Katie.

Katie's soft hands would ask permission to explore the planes of Effy's body, they would move gracefully down her torso causing a wake of chills to cascade down her spine. Even the most innocent of kisses were passionate and exciting when her lips would brush Effy's. She would laugh snobbishly at her conquer. It was a constant battle between Katie and Effy working to please the other.

Cook controlled. He focused on himself assuming that his orgasm would be shared between them. Kissing Cook was obligatory and boring. Both she and him being full aware they were using each other as spare body parts within which they could blow off steam.

It was about self gratification and once she had been reminded of that her own breathing intensified. She moved against him to get where she needed to be, she threw an arm over her eyes as her muscles tightened and she began to feel the familiar tingle rise within her. Cook responded as well, his own body stiffening as he desperately continued pushing against her. Every thought about Katie vanished as she and Cook clung together in those brief seconds. Happiness radiated from his pores as he settles atop her, she sighed at her inability to come but allowed him his moment out of pity.

She could feel the pressure of his belly pushing into her hers with each inhale; the intense patter of his heart, and his hot breath blowing the hair behind her ear. He was comfortable with her and she had no one to blame but herself for their dependencies on each other. Since they were mates in college she had used Cook in this way and he was always more than willing to oblige. Cook believed that good sex was all required for a stable and lasting relationship.

"Alright?" He settled his hands on Effy's collarbone, locking eyes with a slight flush across his cheeks.

"I'm gonna go," she replied rolling from underneath him. She reached for his cigarette sitting in the ashtray, taking a deep inhale as soon as the flame touched it. She felt the smoke circle and curl around her organs, killing them slowly with the constant leak of toxins. Effy smiled, enjoying the idea of her body being an earth that she could save or destroy at any moment, she enjoyed the idea of being God.

"Don't go," he whined while pushing himself into a sitting position and allowing his manhood show through his knickers. "You could come to the hearing with me as moral support or some thing?" He reached for the cigarette but Effy pulled it out of his reach just in time bringing it to her own lips. She pointed a long finger towards his exposed half and smiled. He glanced down, tucking it back in sheepishly. She shook her head and grinned at her old friend, she took another drag before handing the cigarette to him, she leaned in to kiss his cheek knowing that this would be the last time she could do this with him.

"No thanks," Effy pulled her dress from the corner and slid it messily over her head, "good luck," she winked before sliding out of the front door.

Her mind felt a little clearer and the sun was poking through the clouds a bit giving color to the usual gray alleyway. She glanced at her phone noticing she had three new texts; the first being from Naomi, it read:

Naomi Campbell

15:32

14th March

Hello gorgeous, Ems and I are back

for the day it would be great to see you,

meet at yours?

Emily Fitch

I've talked with Katie, she says you're angry

with her again but I'm home and I would

really love to see the BOTH of you so kiss

and make up yeah?

Katie Fitch

Emily and Naomi came round,

thought you should know.

don't think I don't know where you are

right now. Slag.

Effy rolled her eyes, she knew that Katie knew where she was it was part of the reason she went so often. Katie despised Cook and Effy's relationship and Effy rationalized that her jealousy of their relationship could only mean she wanted a relationship of her own with her. Effy couldn't deny that she did want to kiss and make up as Emily suggested in her message. She had often wondered if Emily knew of their relationship as she always sent questioning glances to the girls. Which also meant Naomi should know as well. Effy groaned publicly as she realized Naomi would be insufferable. Katie would be mental by the time she got her hands on Effy so she walked slower knowing that she was just adding to the fire, she smiled anticipating how this get together would go.