Hey guys! Thank you to all my readers, reviewers and followers. I just want to say that I have fudged with the timeline and it has been pointed out (which I appreciate :)) I probably should have said that at the beginning of the last chapter but I just want to say that it's on purpose, don't worry ;) So here we go, enjoy! :D I love you all x

-Sailor

When I was getting out of the car, Freddie told me he had some business to take care so he drove back towards the city centre as I walked up the steps of the flats. I barely even got to my door when my mother flung it open nearly taking it off its hinges. She looked down over the balcony as Freddie's black Mercedes sped off.

"Were you with that little scumbag?" she sneered.

"What?"

"Freddie!"

"No I wasn't…I was in college…I had to bring in my art project" I said holding it out. I wasn't actually lying after all.

"Funny because when I was out here looking over and I saw that black Mercedes pull up with a familiar blonde head in the passenger seat"

"Mam…I get the bus home"

"Don't you dare stand there and lie to me!"

"I'm not…"

"I tried so hard to keep you away from that life! And now you're just waltzing straight into it! What is wrong with you?"

"Mam…you don't understand"

"O I understand perfectly well…you are a stupid little girl who doesn't appreciate anything I do for you! Do you think Freddie Jackson will look after you? Have you not seen his wife lately?"

"I know…"

"No you don't. So I've just got off the phone with your aunty Rose and I think its best you go stay with her for a while"

"What? No!"

"You'll still be able to go to college but you'll be living out of here. I think it's for the best"

"But Mam…"

"Look I don't want you to go either but this is the sacrifice I'm willing to make to stop you from going down that slippery slope" she said rubbing her forehead.

"Mam you can't send me away" I said going over to hug her.

"I have to…she'll be here tomorrow morning to collect you" she said walking into her room and closing the door.

I went into my room and saw some cases with some of my belongings already in them waiting for me to continue. I sighed, wiping away some tears and packed the rest of my stuff.

I dragged the cases down the stairs and saw my aunty sitting in her car. I threw the bags into the boot looking up at my floor. My mother had decided to stay in the kitchen while I left and it was too early for Freddie or any of his gang to be up, that's if he was even home.

"Hi Aunty Rose" I smiled, a fake smile but still.

"Hello my dear, how are you?" she said hugging me close.

"I'm ok…"

"Well I think you're going to really like it at my house"

Aunty Rose never had any kids of her own but she was always happy with her expensive vases and flash cars instead of a family. She had a long string of perpetual toy boys who she would ring when she needed someone to accompany her to her social evenings. Don't get me wrong, she was a lovely woman she was just the polar opposite of my mother who always wanted a man and a family and it all just blew up in her face. She lived in a big house in the suburbs of London. As we drove out from the city I threw my head back against the headrest and stared out the window, the last thing I wanted was to start a conversation.

"Your mother thinks it would be better living out here and I must say I agree. No choking exhaust fumes out here, lovely clean air help the inspiration flow" she said as we got onto the motorway, the shadows of the city falling behind us.

I didn't respond, just continued to stare out the window, the countryside now beginning to creep up.

"Your mother says you're doing well in college and that you're quite the little artist"

I remembered my sculpture of Freddie was sitting in my backpack that was on the back seat.

"She also told me about Freddie…"

My head rolled over to look at her. "What did she say about him? I can guess…"

"She just said he's this scumbag living down from you and has been causing trouble"

"He hasn't been causing any trouble" I mumbled.

"You shouldn't be hanging around with the likes of him…don't worry there's no one like that around me" she smiled turning off an exit and down a long street filled with evergreen trees and shrubbery. Certainly wasn't like where I had just come from. We pulled into a huge gravel driveway leading up to a large red brick house. I got out, got my stuff and walked up to the huge door as my aunty ranted and raved about how amazing it will be to have me here, young blood will liven the place up and how we're going out for a drink tonight to celebrate. I sighed loudly and dragged my possessions into my new home.

6 months later:

"Rose I'm home!" I called as I threw my keys on the table along with my bag as my voice echoed through the huge house that had become my home.

She waltzed into the kitchen in her silk dressing gown and a cigarette in her hand. Clearly one of her toy boys had just left.

"Good to have you home darling, how was your day"

"Oven blew up today…" I said filling a glass from the tap.

"O God, was it you?"

"No, it was some other girl but just means my clay won't be able to go into the oven for another week or so"

"Will it matter?"

"No won't make that much of a difference" I said taking a long drink. "So how was your day?"

"Good, I've booked a holiday to the South of France for a week with Martin"

Martin I'm assuming is one of her toy boys. She usually doesn't use their name.

"O very good, when are you going?"

"Next week"

"That soon?"

"Well yea we just decided to go, you know on a whim!" she laughed.

"Well good for you, I hope you have a good time"

"Will you be ok here on your own?"

"Of course"

She hasn't taken a holiday since I got here; she must be itching to get away considering this is a woman who goes on a holiday nearly every two months.

"Don't worry about me Aunty Rose; I'll be fine besides I have a lot of college work to do" I smiled.

I threw my book bag onto the desk in the study which Rose has allowed me to use as a studio to house all the work I do at college. I picked my new project out of the bag careful that nothing fell off it; it was still wet after all. I put it on the window sill and the sun caught something in the corner. I walked over and pulled the cover off it. It was Freddie. I hadn't looked at it in months. I had actually forgotten it was there. But I hadn't forgotten Freddie; I did miss him I got to say. But Rose was keeping such a close eye on me I couldn't do anything. I threw the cover back over it and sat down at the desk working on my art history essay.

I got up early to see Aunty Rose off as her toy boy picked her up to bring them to the airport. I finally got to see the infamous Martin; he looked about my age I'm not going to lie. Fair play Aunty Rose I gotta say.

"Ok now don't burn the place down and if you do don't be here when I get back" she said hugging and kissing me as she clicked her fingers at Martin to take her case.

"Don't worry I'll be fine here and so will your house"

I waved her off and went back inside to work on my project. It was nice to have the place to myself I must admit. I could finally hear myself think unlike when Rose is here, she's always yapping and talking away so it was nice to give my mind a break. I glanced at the corner where the tiger of Freddie was sticking out. I shook my head ignoring the thoughts that were coming into my head. I worked for about an hour with Freddie constantly looking at me. I got up and went into the kitchen to make some tea. But then I grabbed my coat and keys and found myself locking the door and heading to the bus stop.

By the time I got to the flats it was mid-afternoon and I couldn't stop the feeling of dread coming over me. I walked into the square and I got a few looks and people whispering about where I was gone and stuff. I simply ignored them and walked up to the second floor. I ran my hand along the balcony walking past Freddie's door. Still looked the same, I didn't hear anyone inside so I moved along. I fished through my bag for my keys that I had taken the day I left and twisted it in the lock. My mother wasn't here; the place looked exactly the same. I peeked into my room. It was still the same, stripped just the way I left it. I don't even know why I came back here, what was I expecting to find? My mother standing welcoming me back with open arms? I wish, as much as I liked where I lived now I did miss home. I went into my mother's room and lay on her bed closing my eyes. It was nice to be back. About 20 minutes later I knew I had to leave before I either fall asleep or can't bring myself to leave. I grabbed a piece of bread and headed out the door turning to lock it. Just as I locked the door, chewing on my bread I saw Jimmy emerge with a panicked look on his face followed by Freddie. Something inside my stomach dropped when I saw him. He wore a light coloured suit with a pink shirt and brown wicker type shoes, typical Freddie. He turned around saying something to Jimmy, looked at me and looked away just as fast before doing a double take.

"Alyson…" he said as if he was imagining I was there. His eyes went teary like I remembered.

"Freddie…we have to go. Jackie's about to pop and we have to collect mam still…"

"Hi Freddie" I smiled meekly.

"Where…where have you been?" he said breathlessly.

"It's…complicated"

"Was it college or somethin'?"

"Freddie…we have to go" urged Jimmy again.

"Jimmy why don't you wait in the car, man?" snapped Freddie.

"No c'mon we gotta pick up Mam remember"

"Fack off Jimmy!"

"Is Jackie having the baby?" I asked.

"Yes and we have to go now" said Jimmy.

"Are you back for good?" said Freddie flashing me with that winning smile.

"No…I'm not even supposed to be here now"

"Freddie…"

"Jimmy! Can you just shut the fack up for five minutes and wait downstairs" he suddenly sneered.

Jimmy looked between me and Freddie and reluctantly walked down the stairs.

"Where did you go?" he said suddenly stepping towards me.

"I…" I wasn't going to tell him but I knew he'd know I was lying. "I'm living with my aunty…my mother thought it would be a better move for me"

"Because of me yea?" he said looking down.

"I know my mam doesn't get it…"

"I called to your place one night alright and she ran me"

"I didn't even get to tell you, she sprung it on me after…after she saw me getting out of your car that day you dropped me home from college"

"I've missed you" he said rubbing his watery eyes.

"I've missed you too Freddie"

I heard a car horn beep loudly from downstairs.

"You should go Freddie…"

"Yea…where are you living now?"

"Down in Oaktree…426 Maplewood Drive"

"Wow, posh!" he jeered and I laughed for the first time in months. "Babe…I gotta go, Jackie is gonna pop…" he leaned in and hugged me close "There's always something in the way…" he mumbled. He gave me a deep kiss and it stunned me slightly.

"I'll see you later babe" he winked.

"Bye Freddie" I said as he walked down the stairs before he turned and flashed another smile at me.

Something in my stomach jumped and I felt now I could leave happily and go back to my new home without that usual empty hollow feeling.

I got back to the house, the sun beginning to fade slowly. I sat down watching television for the rest of the evening quite content before falling asleep in front of the fire. But I was woken up by a series of knocks on the big oak door. I pulled myself up, walked over to the door and stood on my toes looking through the peephole. It was Freddie. I threw the door open but stopped dead in my tracks. He had a dark, murderous look in his eyes that I wasn't used to seeing. They weren't the eyes that I liked looking into. I looked away and down to his neck and saw it was splashed with blood along with his clothes.

"Can I come in babe?" he panted.