Finally, here is Chapter 3. I have had a few problems, with this and have reworked it a few times. I am not entirely sure I am completely happy with it, even now. Thank you so much for the reviews and encouragement so far. So here it is, Chapter 3. I hope you enjoy it.

Chapter 3

Gill awoke the next morning with a banging head and a feeling of dread that she couldn't quite grasp the reason for. As she rolled over and tried to sit up the room swam in front of her, and she returned her head to the pillow.

'Uggh.' she said, or tried to, finding it difficult to speak, as her tongue was stuck to the roof of her mouth.. She opened one eye and looked around the room. It didn't spin quite as violently this time, so some progress had been made. She saw there was a large glass of water on her bedside table and a bowl on the floor. She had a vague recollection of Janet putting her to bed and trying to get her to drink some water. She hadn't listened, and she was paying the price now. She slowly sat up, arranging her pillows so she could sit up and started to drink the water. It was warm and not very pleasant tasting but she knew she needed to rehydrate. Gill took it slowly at first as she was still nauseous. She couldn't remember vomiting last night, but knew she must have, as her stomach muscles were sore and tender. She also felt an ache, that had no physical cause. As she had nearly finished the water Gill noticed a packet of paracetamol and swallowed a couple. She finished the water and lay back on the pillows, closing her eyes. Gill couldn't remember being this bad the morning after for a long time. Feeling slightly better, she drifted into an uneasy sleep.

Gill awoke sometime later with a feeling of being suffocated, gasping and crying out. She was aware of someone soothing her and as she opened her eyes she saw Janet by the bed wearing the ridiculous pair of penguin pyjamas that she had bought for Julie (but not got round to giving her) and an expression of concern.

'Gill..are you ok?' Janet asked.

Gill took some deep, steadying breaths and felt the rising panic in her subside. Looking at her, Gill tried to reassure Janet that she was. This was quite a tall order, as she wasn't entirely sure herself.

'I see you finally drank the water, at least.' Janet said.

'Mmm...Thanks for that . I hope I wasn't too...'

'Too wasted..sick..maudlin...?' Janet replied.

'Any, or all of the above.' Gill said, looking sheepish, lowering her head into her hands..

'Gill.' Janet began, 'How long have we known each other? The best part of two decades? You've done the same for me, many a time. That's what friends are for. You went through a significant trauma yesterday, and you are entitled to be a bit...'

'Drunk..?' Gill looked rather ashamed.

'No, emotional. You saw a very damaged woman kill herself after she'd made you drive her across the country, restrained at knife point, all the time thinking she was going to take you with her!' Of course it's going to take it out of you!'

'I should have cancelled the party. Sammy didn't need to see both his parents paralytic.'

'You weren't paralytic, and Sammy had a great time, believe me. He's just a little worried about you. He came in after I'd put you to bed. I told him I was going to stay the night, and he said the spare room was ready, as he thought Julie had planned on staying.'

At the mention of Julie, Gill's heart leapt , and thudded in her chest. Janet caught the fleeting pained expression that crossed her face.

'As you can see, I ,er...found the pyjamas. I'll replace them of course.' Janet said, trying to lighten the mood. She sensed that Gill wasn't quite ready to talk about Julie.

'No need.' Gill said, laughing. 'They suit you!'

Pleased that she had made Gill laugh at least, Janet asked 'Fancy some breakfast? I'll bring it up to you.'

'Breakfast in bed, can't be bad!'

'Tea and toast ok?'

'Perfect, cock.' Gill replied.

When Janet had departed, Gill was left alone with her thoughts. She picked up her phone. More messages from well-wishers, but nothing from Julie. Gill was really perplexed. Why had Julie not shown up? They were good weren't they? They had been best friends for years, nothing had ever come between them before. They'd been through so much together;seen each other through relationship breakdowns, bad cases, shared happy times. They'd also shared a kiss, several weeks ago which neither of them had acknowledged since. Gill wondered if that was what had kept Julie away, but she wasn't even sure Julie had remembered it. No, that's not true. You did everything to make her think that you didn't remember it and then moved on. Oh God, we're really going to have to talk about this.

Not looking forward to it one bit, but knowing something had to be done she picked up her phone and began to text.

Hiya, Slap. Sorry you couldn't make it last night. We really need to talk. Up for lunch? G, xx

Just as she finished the text, Janet returned with tea and toast. Gill gratefully accepted the tea and started nibbling on a piece of toast.

'Mm...' she said. 'This is lovely. I can't remember the last time I had breakfast in bed. '

'Well, you deserve it.'

They sat in companionable silence as the tea and toast were consumed. The peace was interrupted by Gill's text alert. With trepidation Gill picked up the phone, and looked at the display seeing that it was from Julie. She opened the text with a mixture of anxiety and relief.

I'm sorry, too. How about Kelly's at 1? Jules, xx

Gill released the breath she didn't realise she had been holding, and replied, trying to keep the banter going between them and the tone light.

See you there, ya mad cow. G, xx

Gill looked up to Janet's quizzical expression, and sighed.

'Was that Julie? Is everything ok between you two?' Janet hated to think that because of her own troubles with Rachel, she had missed the fact that there was something wrong between Gill and Julie.

'Yes, and sort of.' Gill replied. 'Yes it was Julie, and I sort of think we're ok.' she tried to explain. 'But something happened a few weeks ago, and...'

'You had an argument?' Janet looked even more distraught that she had been so wrapped up with her and Rachel that she hadn't noticed Gill was in distress.

'No, no...nothing like that.' Gill tried to reassure Janet. Gill took a deep breath, and continued. 'You remember the night we all went to the Grapes, after Bevan's confession?'

'How could I forget! Rachel dragged me to some club in town, and..' she stopped, realising that Gill needed to speak.

'Yes, that one. Well Julie and I decided a couple of bottles of Shiraz and a catch up here, would be a better idea than a nightclub.' Gill swallowed.

Janet waited until Gill was ready to carry on, placing an encouraging hand on her arm.

'What happened, did you say something you regret? Janet said, when Gill didn't seem inclined to continue.

'Not exactly...' Gill said, and then in a rush, 'Ikissedher...'

Janet's brain took a minute to process the sentence, and then her eyes widened and she looked at her friend. 'You kissed her...And? Did she run away screaming?'

Janet was pretty sure that Julie would not have run away screaming. Over the years she had noticed a few things, here and there, that indicated that Julie was very much in love with their mutual friend. Julie had once hinted to Janet, when completely pissed one night, that she was; but Janet had never thought that Gill was anything other than straight.

'No, of course not. But things haven't been the same since.' Gill sighed.

'Do you regret it? Have you talked to Julie?

'No, on both counts...I just thought she didn't remember, or I hoped...so I tried to forget about it. But I can't, Janet. It's killing me. I don't know what to do. I feel..I don't know what I feel.' Gill closed her eyes,

'Oh Gill.' Janet pulled Gill into a hug. She was unused to seeing Gill looking so lost, in any situation. She was the one who always took charge, and knew what to do. Seeing her this lost tugged at Janet's heartstrings.

'I'm meeting her for lunch at Kelly's, you know that new bistro on King Street?' Janet nodded and Gill continued. 'I don't know what to say though. 'I'm sorry I kissed you, can we just go back to how it was?''

'Is that what you want?'

'Yes..no..I don't know! It was..' Gill's face took on a wistful expression a s she remembered the heat and the passion that she and Julie had shared. 'It was...' amazing, wonderful, something I want to happen again. She couldn't express herself, and looked at Janet. She knew she wanted to be kissing Julie again. She wanted to know the love, the sheer intensity of it, that she had felt as they shared the kiss.

'You need to talk to her. Tell her how you feel and let her tell you how she feels, and then work out what to do together.'

'I know, but what if she really doesn't remember, or she does, and she doesn't want to explore the possibility of a relationship, or we start a relationship and it all goes pear-shaped and then we have nothing. I don't think I can live without her, Jan.'

'Hey, slow down!' Janet cautioned. 'Stop speculating, and talk to her! Julie's probably thinking exactly the same right as you right now. You already have a relationship with Julie; you've a solid friendship. If you both decide you want something more then you can move forward, if not you've still got your friendship, but you need to talk, both of you. Look where ignoring it has got you!'

Gill smiled, feeling a little better. 'Thanks, Jan. I'd better get up and do some tidying up before I meet Julie!'

'No need; it's all done.' Janet replied. 'All you have to do is get ready!'

'Tell me you didn't do all my tidying up, Janet!' Gill exclaimed.

'No, Sammy and some of his mates did. He didn't want you worrying about it. I did 'supervise'' Janet said. 'Only a couple of broken glasses!'

'Oh...I don't know what to say!' Gill was close to tears, but determined that she wouldn't give in.

'You don't need to say anything. It was Sammy and Orla's party, and he was happy to do it. I'd better get home before they send out a search party!'

Gill felt guilty that she had kept Janet away from her family. She hadn't meant to, and she started to apologise, but Janet held up a hand to stop her.

'Listen, there's nothing for you to apologise for. You'd do the same for me,'

The two friends hugged before going to their respective rooms, to get ready for the day ahead.