Note from Author: Thank you all who have reviewed. I'm really burning through these chapters. There are a fair few different themes in this chapter and i've done my best to prevent it from becoming too disjointed. I have re-written this a number of times, and infact there was one scene where i had a complete change of heart, but I'm still not completely happy with it, but here it is. Hope You Enjoy

Roo Brown

Chapter 4

Was it possible to dread something so much at the same time as looking forward to it? Katie assumed it must be because that was exactly how she was feeling. Today was the first day back at college. She was dreading facing the people she knew may be less than happy to see her. But at the same time there was a huge amount of relief that her period of isolation was coming to an end. People couldn't avoid her at college as they had during summer.

Emily peered through the door at Katie. "You ready, Naomi's here to pick us up"

Naomi having recently passed her driving test was on lift duty. Being two of the youngest it was going to be a long while before either of them matched Naomi's achievement.

"Yeah one second" she grabbed her bag, slung it over her shoulder, and followed her sister. Katie couldn't help but notice the cruel irony of this situation. It was only year ago that her then boyfriend, Danny, had picked them up for their first day at Roundview. How things change. This was going to be an awkward journey and one she was going to have to endure everyday for the foreseeable future. Katie knew that she and Naomi were going to have to achieve some sort peace for this to work. Katie didn't pretend to have much time for the girl, but she was Emily's girlfriend. She was going to have to sit tight, and ride it out.

In more ways than one, it would appear. Naomi's driving was far from smooth. Katie however sat without comment, lips sealed tightly.

*************

She left the car swiftly after their arrival and went straight to her form room. She had been growing tiresome of Emily and Naomi's continuous flirting. She stood outside the door, leaning against a row of lockers. Her eagerness to leave had caused her to arrive early. She waited patiently.

"Katie, can I talk to you?" a voice spoke quietly to her back.

Her whole body stiffened, she literally froze on the spot. Her whole body was shutting down.

"Katie, I just wanted to explain myself. Katie please, look at me"

Katie subconsciously touched the spot on her forehead. The bruise had long ago faded, but it still tormented her. She wasn't ready for this; she hadn't expected this, she thought Effy had left. She was ready to run but her legs wouldn't carry her. Her decision to leave Emily with the car had proved to be a poor one. She needed her.

"It's ok Katie" JJ's voice broke the tension.

Katie rolled round to face the three figures behind her. Effy stood at the forefront, JJ and Freddie at her shoulders. Effy wore an emotion she'd never seen her sport before. It was fear. She was just as scared as Katie, perhaps more. That gave Katie great encouragement.

"Effy" she breathed. She meant to say it coldly but it came out as barely a whisper.

"I know that sor...sorry well never be enough, but that's all I have to offer" to her credit she stuttered the words. An silence filled the void between them, time slowed. She wanted so much to become a new Katie, the true Katie, but right now she needed the old Katie. Shamelessly she reapplied the mask she had worn for such a long time.

"What about a free shot with a rock..." Katie snapped. Effy's weakness spurring her on. "...or a free fuck with your boyfriend" she gestured at Freddie who's face blushed guiltily "or both I'm easy" old Katie was really getting on a roll now, but was brought to a staggering halt by the look on Effy's face. She was nearing tears, she looked faint.

The silence gave Katie a moment to think. Katie could not deny that she had been partly to blame for the events of that night. She had hit Effy first, when she was tripping, never a wise idea, but she had done worse than that. She had manipulated Freddy's broken heart when she knew how he felt for Effy and she had known Effy had felt the same about him. She had taken advantage. Two times she had tried to stop love. Not only had she failed miserably both times, she had done so at much loss to herself. With Freddy and Effy, she had been hurt physically, by interfering with Naomi and Emily, she had lost all respect from others and all of her friends. Maybe it was time to admit that the circumstance she was in was one entirely of her own design.

She looked at Effy hard in the face. Examining her up and down, she looked sincere. She grasped Freddy's hand tightly, white marks appearing on his hand from the immense pressure. JJ just stood clearly unsure to do; he saw her watching him and gave her a weak smile. She didn't return it.

This was too difficult. As much as Katie knew her own mistakes, Effy had gone far beyond simple mistakes, far beyond anything Katie would ever have believed her capable of. How could she ever trust her again?

She composed herself. She knew her next words could never be withdrawn. Katie took a deep breath.

"Sorry, I can't" Katie's now hoarse voice finally replied. Katie didn't know how long it had been since she had last spoken, but it had allowed the tension to rise exponentially. Effy looked dejectedly at the floor tears now leaking from her eyes.

"I can't...I can't just pretend like nothing has happened Eff" she didn't want to hurt the girl, but she didn't want to lie either.

"Ok" Effy said in barely a whisper "what do we do now?" Effy waited like a prisoner waiting to hear her fate and it was Katie wielding the axe.

"I don't know, everything's just fucked"

*************

Naomi could not believe her eyes. She had known this confrontation was going to occur, she had spoken to Effy since her return. Information she hadn't shared with Emily. She had expected harsh words even violence but she hadn't expected this. They just stood crying at each other, it was the most bizarre sight she'd ever seen in her life. She actually had to stop herself from errupting into hysterics. The reaction of the girl beside her was very different. Emily had gone very quiet.

She turned to her girlfriend. Anger wasn't a good look on her. She had gone very pale and seemed to have stopped breathing.

"Ems" Emily didn't hear her words she was already purposefully striding to where her twin stood.

"Haven't you done enough damage already?" Emily snarled, taking her place at Katie's side.

"Emily, I just want to make everything ok" Effy replied shakily

"Why didn't you just stay the fuck away then?" she was shouting furiously "cos does she look ok?" she gestured at Katie.

Effy mouthed the word 'no' but no sound escaped her trembling lips. Emily seemed satisfied she'd made her point, as she turned to Katie and embraced her offering her comfort. Katie accepted it gratefully half collapsing in her sister's arms. Naomi stood in void between the two groups unsure what to do. Both Freddy and JJ were standing like gormless idiots. So she offered some kind words to the girl who under different circumstances she would consider a friend.

"You ok, Eff?"

She managed a feeble nod. Before Freddie, finally taking some decisive action took her by her wrist and led her away.

Emily had released Katie from her grip and was staring up at Naomi with look very similar to the look she had given Effy moments earlier. She had momentum now and her anger had clearly not subsided

"You knew didn't you, you wankers knew!" she looked around at the guilt stricken faces.

"Yes" breathed Naomi

"and you JJ at least be man enough to admit it" his face answered for him, his eyes wandered to Naomi's seeking help. Cheers Jay, big help, she thought to herself.

She improvised "Emily, we only did it to protect you and Katie" her words sounded weak even to herself. Of course the real truth was she had been too cowardly to tell her. Emily's eyes bore right through her, Naomi shrunk away from their knowing gaze.

"To protect us or to protect her?" Emily was shouting now, and Naomi was grateful the corridor was empty. "You choosing her aren't you, choosing her ahead of Katie my own flesh and blood...oh Effy are you ok?" Emily made a poor imitation of Naomi's voice

"Emily" Katie finally finding her voice. "she was only trying to...there doesn't have to be sides"

"No Katie there does and she was choosing Effy, the girl that hospitalised you, ring any bells? So don't you dare defend her!" Emily gave a small snort of disgust, turned on her heels walking away. Naomi was frozen on the spot. What had she started?

JJ stood shocked for a moment, and then swiftly pursued Emily. Leaving the two old enemy's alone.

*************

Katie felt she had to say something. "Sorry"

"You have nothing to be sorry for" Naomi replied her words sharp. Naomi took a deep breath, closed her eyes and tilted her head to the heavens. "Thank you" she muttered reluctantly

"You have nothing to be thankful for" Katie echoed Naomi's choice of words

"You stood up for me" still staring up waiting for some kind of divine intervention, as if the words pained her.

"Yes and I fear I only made things worse. We should have just let her shout herself out"

She sighed and finally lowered her gaze. "Perhaps"

"Don't worry, I'll talk to her" Katie meant it

"Just don't do it too soon let her cool down a bit first"

"Will do" the two girls looked each other in the eye and shared something they never had before understanding.

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