Two words. Fuck technology. You never realise how much you rely on your computer till it fucking breaks.
Anyway, It's back up and running now so be happy, guys! Someone asked me in the reviews if there would be Ceffy in this story? If I'm honest there probably won't be, I'm a big fan of Keffy, so...

Oh, **IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT** and stuff. The other day I realised that there was another Skins story with the same title as this one, and it's only fair that I change the title of mine as that FF was published before this one. So, If you have any ideas for a title to this story I would be more than happy to hear It and If I like It then that'll be the new title. :)

Does it look like I own Skins?


We were just a few streets from the apartment when the pain started to become unbearable. JJ had been called and had told Cook what to do scene as though it was fucking well early in the morning and we had woken him up from his 'beauty' sleep. My side was still bleeding and with every step I took the jolt up my left side was excruciating. I had to act like everything was fine though, the girls kept shooting me worried glances every few steps, clearly knowing that the wound was worse than I made it out to be. Cook was the only one who looked like he couldn't give a shit, he'd seen me worse than this before, like the times when I was left terrified on the floor, jeans dropped to my ankles and covered in cuts and bruises.

He was worried though, I could tell. I could feel his eyes flit to my body almost as much as the girls, though he was definitely more discreet about it, keeping the cheeky grin he usually sports on his face, he's used to hiding behind it.

I knew he could tell the pain was getting worse, he knew the movements I did unconsciously with the different levels of pain I was in. Or that's what he told me when I questioned him, if I'm honest though I think he can just sense it, we're that fucking close.

A sharp pain brought me out of my musings and it took everything I had not to show the discomfort on my face, though I'm sure Cook caught my poorly hidden wince in his peripheral vision. I took a quick glance back to find the three girls oblivious to my actions as they were engaged in a hushed conversation. I felt myself relax a little before using my full concentration on blocking out the searing pain.

We had just gotten into the elevator when the dizziness came. Fuck living near the top floor. I felt my head become heavier as my vision increasingly became more blurry. I leant on my right shoulder against the wall near the corner of the elevator as it took us to our destination, trying not to smear my blood anywhere.

It was getting harder to keep the act up, the pain was getting too much. I closed my eyes and took a few deep breathes trying to compose myself. The conversation behind me was just humming in my ears, I knew Cook was trying to make light of the situation and normally I'd be right there with him, but the pain was too much. This wound was definitely deeper than I had first thought.

Mid exhale I felt a soft hand on my shoulder. I cracked my eyes open slightly and looked over my shoulder to find Emily. I could see the concern in her eyes and gave her a reassuring nod, it wasn't like I was going to fucking die was it? Though I could understand where her concern was coming from, it's not like my side wasn't gushing blood, I could feel it pouring over my fingers still.

The elevator doors dinged open as Emily lifted her hand off my shoulder. I pushed myself off the metal wall and instantly felt a wave of dizziness pass over me, followed by a shit load of pain. I couldn't hold in the grunt of pain that shot through my mouth and the four turned to look and me with concern etched across their faces.

"I'm fine" I managed to mumble before struggling through the elevator doors and down the corridor. I heard a scoff behind me but didn't have the energy to decipher who it was that made the noise, though my money would definitely be on, Katie.

With full concentration (and my left hand on the wall) I managed to make it to the front door of our apartment without any falling over, though there was a shit load of wincing. I leant my shoulder against the wall and fished with my left hand for the apartment key, finding it in my right side fucking pocket. Took me like 5 minutes to get it out.

It was a completely different story trying to get the key in the actual fucking door though. For one, I was using my left hand because my right one was covering my wound, and for two, I was dizzy as fuck and every time I got close to the lock it fucking moved place.

I was concentrating so hard that I didn't even realise that the four of them had caught up to me until I felt Cook's hand wrap around mine and take the key out of it before sliding it into the lock with ease and pushing the door open. I huffed in frustration and lead the way into the apartment, Cook knew I hated it when people helped me, I don't care how much I needed it.

"One of you three get everyone a spliff, back room. Cook you're with me," I announce quietly to the them whilst making a bee-line to the kitchen, not even bothering to check if people heard me, if I didn't have a fucking spliff waiting for me all hell was going to break loose.

Opening the kitchen door with a grunt, I snatched a large bottle of vodka from a random cupboard and leaned heavily on the counter, waiting for Cook to find the first aid kit and fill the bowl of water. By the time he was ready I had already downed around 1/3 of the bottle, eager to get myself numbed from the pain. Cook pushed through the door first then held it open with his foot for me, clearly seeing how much I was struggling. I nodded his was in appreciation as I went past, heading towards the living room.

I could see that the three of them had already made themselves at home, Katie and Emily sat on the single armchairs and Effy on the sofa calm with spliffs hanging out of their mouths. Once they caught sight of us Effy stood and handed us each one of the extra spliffs she had. I didn't have much energy left so I just grunted my gratitude and placed the spliff between my lips and Effy brought her lighter to it. I inhaled the smoke gratefully and held it in my lungs for as long as possible, already feeling the drugs taking their effect on my weak body.

I stood next to the sofa and alternated between taking drags of my spliff and swigs of the vodka whilst I waited for Cook to get himself ready. He placed his spliff on the table for when he had finished with me and opened the first aid kit, placing the water bowl next to it and took out the scissors. In the time when this was happening, Effy had casually slipped into the kitchen and found a few extra bottles of alcohol and had sat on Katie's lap, the three of them staring intently at Cooks movements.

Knowing what was about to happen next I took a final gulp of vodka and placed it on the table then putting the spliff between my lips. Cook, always one to try and lighten the mood, came towards me slowly, snipping the scissors acting like a fucking ninja or something. I wasn't taking him on so I just rolled my eyes and quickly switched the hand covering my wound from my right hand to the left, giving Cook full access to snipping the fuck out of my shirt.

"Favourite fucking shirt this," I grumbled, not entirely pleased that I wouldn't be able to wear it again. I wiped my blood coated right hand on the other side of my shirt and moved the spliff from my mouth, picking up the vodka and taking a quick swig, making extra sure I'd be numb for this shit.

Putting the vodka down I felt Cook lightly lift the bottom of my top and begin his cutting. Cook and I were so used to doing this, there had been plenty of times when we had gotten pretty bad wounds and had to stitch each other up, we were pretty much professionals at this stuff, obviously with the help from JJ who I should probably mention is our private doctor.

Cook finished cutting in a few seconds and carefully help me out of my top, knowing how fucking painful it is if you try to do it at normal pace. I lifted my left hand from my wound so the top could come of my whole top half and give Cook a good view at the wound.

I heard loud gasps coming from the two armchairs and looking up to see the three girls looking at my torso in horror, though I'm not sure if they were looking at my open wound or the many scars that covered my back and front.

I just shrugged my right shoulder casually and lay myself down on the sofa, wound facing upwards for Cook to clean and stitch. I took a quick glance down at the wound but it was pretty impossible to see, there was too much blood round it and pouring out. I took a puff of my spliff.

"So... Is someone going to tell us what happened now?" Emily's husky voice broke through the silence, alternating her eyes from me to Katie then t Effy expectantly.

Both Effy and Katie turned to look at me, obviously not wanting to explain, but I just scoffed and gestured with my head to where Cook was leaning over my wound about to press the water filled cloth to it. Plus, if I'm honest I don't remember much from when I stormed down the alley, the adrenaline had took over my body. Pain shot through my side as I felt the cloth against the wound. My head snapped to Cook as I hissed, he had the decency to look at least a small bit apologetic through his smirk.

"Well I should probably start anyway," Effy spoke through a cringe after seeing my discomfort. "Well, as you all know I went outside for a fag and when I lit up the three lads were walking past looking pissed and probably high as fuck." She closed her eyes tightly and hung her head at this point. Katie obviously sensed her discomfort as her arms wrapped more tightly around Effy's waist.

"For fuck sake, James, be fucking careful!" I couldn't help but interrupt when Cook decided he was going to put more pressure on my already sensitive wound.

"Sorry," he mumbled looking down, knowing he was in the shit as I used his first name.

I knew the girls were pretty shocked that I had actually used his first name but they didn't comment, Effy just let out a small cough and continued, "So, the guys started to try and come on to me and groping me but every time I tried to get back into the club they blocked me. After a bit one of them grabbed my arm and pulled me down the alley, they pushed me to the floor and two of them started trying to rip my clothes off, I couldn't do anything but scream." She finished there, clearly remembering it was too painful because she scrunched her eyes shut tighter and turned, burying her head in the crook of Katie's neck.

Seeing Effy like this made the anger start to burn through my veins again, I could feel my body tensing and my hands changing to fists getting ready to punch the shit out of something. Cook could obviously sense my change of mood because he stopped wiping my side and leant up and kissed my temple, instantly relaxing me. Usually we don't show each other affection but I'd say this was probably a better time than ever of I would be up and punching a wall through.

Emily and Katie turned their heads at Cook's movement to see what was happening, but when they locked eyes with me I just rolled my eyes and went back to puffing on my spliff, calming me even more because I was about to get pissed when I hear the next bit of the story. Before a silence could take over Cook asked what happened next before turning his attention back to my wound, keeping his ears keen.

Katie was the one to pick it up next, "Well you remember when we were dancing and then I went to get us all drinks?" Katie questioned Cook and Emily who both nodded their heads not wanting to interrupt the story. "When I'd just ordered them, Naomi came up to me and asked if I'd seen Effy since she went for her fag. I hadn't so we both went outside to see if she was still there but we couldn't see her. We went to have a look down the alley to see if she was smoking there but we heard Effy's scream coming from it so Naomi pulled me behind her so she could have a look round the corner and see what was happening," Katie then turned to me with an expectant look on her face, obviously wanting me to continue.

I just grunted at her and pulled on my spliff, definitely not happening, I couldn't even fucking remember what happened. I opened my mouth to tell her just that but Cook cut me off, "Wow, fuck me, Blondie. No wonder it's been bleeding so fucking much, it's opened your scar," he spoke cautiously, he knew how much the events where that scar came from have shaped my life.

My eyes widened when he said it and my head lifted up to look at my wound. Fucking hell. I felt the bile rise in my throat at the sight in front of me, the memories coming back instantly. The wound was still bleeding pretty badly but the way the knife had cut into my side it had managed to slice straight across the large scar on my side, leaving the bumpy scar tissue looking very gruesome.

I felt tears welling up at the back of my eyes so I shut them tightly and shook my head, trying to get rid of the flashbacks, I already had enough of them in my fucking nightmares. I tried to keep my face as neutral as possible, I could feel everyone's eyes burning into my skin. I felt a large hand slip into mine and give it squeeze then leave just as soon as it arrived. I opened my eyes and was met by four worried faces staring back at me, "I'm fine. Katie just carry on, yeah?" I told them, forcing a smile onto my face. Fuck sake my spliff was finished, I stubbed it out on the table and began fiddling with my hands, I needed to keep my emotions under control, plus Cook had just started putting the fucking stitches in.

Katie nodded in acknowledgment, "Naomi looked round the corner and I heard her growl before she sped down the alley and she kicked one of the guys in the back of his knee then started beating the crap out of the three of them whilst me and Effy watched. She took down two of them before the last guy came up behind her with a knife, I tried to shout but he'd already cut her," Katie scrunched her eyes up and pulled Effy even tighter, if that was possible. I looked away from her to see what Emily's reaction was to all of this but she was just staring at Katie with wide, shocked eyes. Katie continued, "She put her hand to it and it had fuck loads of blood on it when she moved it away but she didn't even cry or anything, just got mega pissed off and snapped his arm then came over to us and started fussing over Effy to see if she was ok," Katie concluded.

It was silent for a few seconds where Katie recovered from her story telling and I took in Emily's shocked face, her eyes wide and her mouth making a tiny 'o' shape. Cute.

Cook's howl broke the silence as he began jumping up and down around the room, "Fuck me, Naomikins! Why couldn't you have shouted me before you did that? It's been fucking ages since I've seen kick the shit out of someone!" He howled again in appreciation, earning smiles all around the room.

I looked down at my side to see that Cook had finished stitching my wound. I let my fingers trace the stitch line momentarily before heaving myself to stand and announced that I was getting some more spliffs for everyone, not bothering to pull a top on, I know Cook likes me shirtless and I'd seen the girls eyeing me up, even if they won't admit it.

I took my time walking to the back room, feeling eyes burning into my back, examining my scars. Once I got to the room I picked up one of the pre-rolled spliffs off of the table and brought it to my lips, lighting it then taking a long drag. Fuck I needed that. With the spliff still between my lips I grabbed a large handful and walked back out, closing the door behind me.

Once I arrived back at the living room I knew something bad had happened, I could have probably cut the tension in the room with a knife. I examined the faces in front of me and got sort of an idea about what had happened. Katie had obviously asked Cook something pretty bad because she was looking at him expectantly and his face was irregularly paler. Enforcing my presumptions was the fact that Effy and Emily were giving Katie murderous glares. I decided to be the good friend and get Cook out of this kerfuffle, "What's going on?"

All heads snapped to me then, Cook with pleading eyes, Emily and Effy with an emotion I couldn't quite place and Katie with her mouth open ready to presumably ask me what she has asked Cook, "I was asking Cook what you meant about what you said in the alley before," she replied.

My eyebrows creased in confusion, what the fuck was she talking about? "The fuck you talking about?" I voiced my thoughts.

"You said, 'you learn a lot when you've lived on the streets'?" She quoted me.

My eyes shot wide in realisation. "Oh," was my reply, that wasn't supposed to have slipped out. Ahh fuck.


So, I know nothing really happened but did you like it?
Review? I like to know your opinion :)