FINALLY! I have been so busy I kind of forgot about this story but as I've been on holidays and with less exams, I'm back. Also I've been writing a lot of other stories (GOT, Chicago Fire, …) but I don't know if I will publish them… And I guess I wasn't really motivated to write since I haven't had a lot of reviews. I don't really know where I'm going with this story but I'm going anyway.

Sometime I stick to the script but this isn't the point of my story. I'm not here to publish the written version of the series so don't be surprised if I make some changes or invert some parts. I didn't double checked so sorry if there is some grammar mistakes. Enjoy your reading.

The title is indeed from Modestep's song which is great, as its video. Bisous de France ! :)

PS: I don't own the characters nor the story of 'Skins' but I do own mine (Alice and her story + characters related to her such as her brother, or Sammy for example) so that's it. And it applies to the whole story. (blah blah blah)

-The sunlight hurts my eyes-

"Where do we have to meet again?" Effy raised her head and sighed. As Panda answered for what seemed to be the millionth time, Alice let her mind wander. They had been in the cab for nearly 40 minutes as Cook had set their meeting on the other side of the city. They needed to help Thomas, a guy Panda and Effy had apparently met two days ago, to sell some drugs to repay a mad man, some guy named Johnny White who apparently ruled the city. Therefore, while they were still babbling about 'marketing strategies', Alice allowed herself to think again about her nightmare. It had been more vivid than ever this time and she was thankful that Effy had waked her up and stayed with her for almost an hour, whispering in her soft words in her ear and cradling her. She shivered and one single tear escaped from her eyes. She quickly wiped it away, hoping that no one had seen her. She breathed out and concentrated again on the conversation. Effy took her hand and squeezed it.

"Alice, we're here." She cleared her mind, shaking her head a little and gave her a nod before getting out of the car.

They were quickly met by Emily and Katie and headed toward the group of boys in front of them.

"Girls! We were just discussing breasts and there you were." Cook smiled cockily as Alice and the girls waved the boys, Katie giving the appropriate answer to the statement. Effy being Effy, she just went straight to the point and Alice was glad for it.

"This is the guy you're gonna help out tonight." She pointed Thomas who was holding his bag full of weed and a genuine smile. From the very first moment Alice had met him she had appreciated the boy, because he was truly kind and also because he spoke French which was a relief to her.

"So glad." He looked up at the guys.

"Thomas has gotta get 300 quid by Desperate Housewives, and that's tomorrow, otherwise Johnny White's gonna make him eat…" Panda was frantically trying to explain the situation but just end up rambling as always. She was cut mid sentence by Freddie.

"Johnny White?!" he seemed to be truly shocked. Wait who was this guy? Alice knew he must be dreaded enough to rule some part of the city but the way Freddie said it made him look like a gangster or something. Not that she wasn't used to those though. Her attention was also drawn by Cook who shivered before looking her in the eye.

"He's got 13 ounces of weed in the bag." Effy finally said, cutting the discussion short. All the boys indeed shut up while Thomas showed them his bag. They couldn't add something because Naomi arrived. Alice waved at the blonde while Katie couldn't help another bitchy comment.

"Oh, Christ. Not again. Who phoned her?" She was glaring at her sister who, for once, stared back.

"Please, Katie. Don't." Alice, as anyone else she guessed, could feel the rivalry between the two sisters as the blonde made her way to the group.

"Hi, sorry. I couldn't find a bus. You said somebody needed a hand?" She was all smiles and sincere, and Alice couldn't hold her back from growling at Katie's sharp comment.

"You like giving hand. Don't you?" Naomi instantly turned back and I mouthed Effy 'What the fuck?' while she looked at me and then stared at Katie for a second. They were both quite taken aback to hear Emily stand up to her sister.

"For fuck's sake! She didn't kiss me, OK."

"Yes she did, she practically jumped on you"

"I kissed her! I was drunk and … someone gave me MDMA, and … I felt like fucking kissing someone! Satisfied?" The two hadn't stopped to interrupt themselves but Alice was glad that Emily had had the last word, leaving a shocked Katie right where she belonged. Actually Cook got the last word.

"I'm satisfied! Be better if you showed us!" He was beaming and I rolled my eyes.

"Shut the fuck up, Cook, You promised me a party. Where is it?" Effy asked the one question everybody was wondering for they were somewhere on a car park, in the middle of nowhere.

"Can't you feel it, kids?" We all looked at each other, well except for Panda who looked at the sky like she was expecting some storm or something.

"It's the sound of the underground." And with that he revealed a hidden entrance, leading to an underground club. Coolest thing ever. They all cheered as he led the way to the club.

"Come on you suckers. Let's go!"

Alice was the last one to get down and she saw that Thomas had already dispatched his weed and they had gone through the people. She was about to go after them when she felt someone grabbing her hand.

"Hey, you alright?" She saw Cook, giving her some drug for her to sell. She avoided his gaze and merely nodded.

"What's the problem?" He insisted, grabbing her chin to make her look at him. She clenched her teeth.

"Yeah. It's nothing…" He frowned and didn't let go of her hand.

"Hey I can see it's not 'nothing'." He had to shout because of the loud sound and she leaned into him and got closer to his ear.

"It's nothing you can fix." She twisted her wrist to make him release his grasp. Before she could escape from his gaze she heard him shout something else but didn't understand. She turned around only to see him point his forearm. With a smirk she showed him the numbers she had rewrite this morning. She didn't know how it would be useful in a crowded club and without a phone for herself but he insisted for her to have those everyday on her. Some part of her thought it was some sort of 'marking his territory' thing. She shook her head and melted into the crowd.

Within an hour she had sold for about 75£. She caught sight of Effy and quickly made her way to her. She smiled and say 'Hi' but Effy put her index on her mouth, glancing towards Naomi and Emily talking. It must have ended bad because Emily kept repeating 'Shit' after Naomi left. When she faced us, Effy smiled proudly at her. It was obvious that the poor girl was lost on her feelings but to Effy, as for Alice, she was as straight as Alice was gay. Although to be honest, she had done things that could deny this statement but concerning Emily, she definitely had feelings for Naomi. It was just a matter of time, and guts before she admitted it.

Thomas came to see her and he was beaming for he had already gathered 100£, minus my 75£ and Effy's 80£. He would definitely have his 300£ by tomorrow. At least that was Alice thought until he was interrupted by some skinny white guy and his two goons. Shit, Johnny White. He threatened Thomas who did the one thing anyone would have done. Run. They came after him, shoving the girls in the process. When Alice finally made her way through the crowd she couldn't spot Thomas anywhere. They spotted Freddie and JJ, and she felt Cook behind her.

"Where is Thomas?" He was shouting in her ear and she was about to answer when she caught some French words. And then it hit her.

"He's on the stage!" Cook looked at her, not understanding at all. She pointed at the scene while telling the others.

"Look! He is up there! Man he is good!" They all cheered up and Cook even lifted Panda on his soulders when he was done. Alice had understood part of his rap through the noise and she was very impressed. After that, they made their way to the exit. Cook was holding tight Alice's hand and to be honest, she was glad to be with him because she never would have escaped the crowd without him. When they were on the street again she finally allowed herself to breathe. Cook quickly counted the money, note by note, and ended up with a total of 295£. They were all happy for him and glad it had ended up well. Well, until they were circled by cars. And from one of them got out Johnny White. Shit.

He challenged Thomas for the money and they headed to his apartment. Alice had felt Cook instantly tense when he had arrived and grabbed her waist. What has he done?

She couldn't help but raise an eyebrow when Johnny White revealed his big challenge. Red peppers? Really? Not that she would eat it happily but she had thought of something more 'gangster'. Well after seeing the face of Johnny White becoming redder than the twin's hair she had taken back this statement.

They couldn't stop laughing after the gang had left and now they were about to party and party good. Weed, alcohol, fun, that was all Alice needed to clear her mind from all the reminiscences of her dream. She was lying on the couch, her head on Freddie's laps and her legs on JJ's. Freddie was stroking her hair as JJ was rambling on, pretty much as Panda usually did. She smiled up at the tanned boy she had first ran into and giggled when he started playing with her nose. She was so high she barely noticed Cook and Effy undressing and making out in the corridor. But she definitely heard the woman shouting in French at the door.

"Prépare tes sacs! Prépare tes sacs! Toi, tu vas rentrer à la maison. Vous êtes dégoûtants!" She entered the apartment, followed by two kids and under the gaze of a devastated Thomas. Alice was suddenly aware of the situation and stumbled until she was sure to be steady. She met the furious glare of the black woman and knew that she wanted nothing to do with her. She grabbed Freddie and JJ's hand and got out of the apartment, offering a sad smile and squeezing lightly Thomas's hand before exiting.

When they reached the street, Alice realized that Effy wasn't out and she was left alone, homeless again.

"You can still come at my place if you want?" She looked up at Freddie.

"Unless you want to wait for them to finish their business because I'm pretty sure they're still doing it." He pursed his lips like he was annoyed and JJ nodded in agreement.

"Well if you insist… Ok then!"

"Great! We will show you the shed!" JJ grabbed her hand and started to drag her down the street.

"The shed?" She was dreading Freddie was about to make her sleep in the same place she used to but he merely shrugged.

She was relieved to see that 'the shed' was just an old garden shed, where the three boys would always hang out as kids and still now. It was pretty comfy, despite the 'piss bottle' and the porn magazines which were quickly hidden. They'd been there for a half an hour when they heard a loud noise outside. Alice jumped out of surprise, always being on edge which got her an odd look from Freddie but he didn't push it. Finally, they saw Cook enter but he didn't notice her.

"Oh man you should have seen the look on her face when she saw Effy riding me! But you should also have seen the look on Effy's face while she was doing it, if you know what I mean! It's too bad that Thomas has to leave, this guy is sick! Anyway, what are you up to?" And that's when he spotted her. Well only because she was now standing and leaving.

"Wait!" Freddie was struggling to catch up with her so she stopped.

"Sorry, but I'd rather not be there right now. But thanks for offering me a place to sleep." She saw him rub his neck and finally grab her hand.

"Come, I'll take you in the house, they won't even notice." She nodded and followed him.

Once she was settled in his bed and asleep he got back downstairs. JJ must have gone during this time for he only found a pacing Cook in the shed.

"Where is she?" Cook looked over Freddie's shoulder but find no one.

"She didn't want to stay anymore." Freddie was vague enough, not wanting to betray his friend. He knew she didn't want to confront Cook now so he'd cover for her.

"No, but you don't understand, she has nowhere to live! Where did she go?" Cook was now facing him, almost threatening him as his anger raised.

"Well maybe you should have thought twice before bursting in here, blabbering about your amazing fuck!" Freddie was not about to make him feel guilty. He was the one responsible of his actions and he was tired of always looking after him, always repairing what he eventually always broke.

"Ah I see. We're not talking about her anymore right? I'm sorry Freddie but if you're not with Effy, that has nothing to do with me." He gave him his most cocky look and right now all Freddie wanted to do was beat him. He wanted to rip off this smile from his face because he knew damn well he was partially right.

"Yeah whatever, I'm going out, close the door when you leave." He was almost out when Cook reached for him again.

"But seriously, is she ok?" There was no arrogance or irony in his tone and it kind of surprised Freddie enough to look at him again. He simply nodded and headed back home.

Cook was sitting in the armchair, rubbing his face with both hands. He had really screwed up on this one. It wasn't such a surprise coming from him but still. Her eyes were haunting his mind and it was hard for him to fall asleep while knowing she was upset. Of course he had acted like a prick but he didn't know that would hurt her. He didn't want to hurt her. She was so fragile, like she was about to break into pieces with every touch and he had barely seen through her shell once, before she'd withdrawn again. He knew she had a harsh past but she wouldn't share it with anyone. God, when has he become so caring and all? If she didn't want to share, well that was her problem not his. He had to stay away from her and keep living his life like he always had, the fun way. Not caring, not giving a shit and just enjoy. Effy was making him feel that way. He had to stick to Effy. Plus she was the better sex he'd ever had. Yes, no more problem, just fun…Fuck, then why couldn't he sleep?

Alice woke up in unknown sheets and room, struggling to remember the last night. Weed, music, shouting… right, Thomas! Then the shed, JJ making magic tricks, oh… Cook. Right. She shook her head, not wanting to allow the thoughts about him and Effy cloud her mind. She let her gaze wander through the room and finally spotted a lying body on the floor. She giggled when she recognized Freddie, sleeping in a very odd and undoubtedly very uncomfortable position. His snoring was the only noise breaking the peaceful silence and she finally fell in all the thoughts she had pushed back. The accident. Her brother. Eventually, his snoring was met by her sobbing and she reluctantly got out of the bed to calm down. In the darkness, she struggled to find the doorknob not walking over Freddie's body. When she reached the door at last, it came open to reveal the one face she was dreading to see right now. He was as taken aback as she was but he spoke first.

"Fuck! I see you got your ways to have a roof over your head!" He was already half the stairs when she ran after him.

"Cook, wait!" She managed to catch his wrist before he opened the door.

"No, I mean I get laid, why shouldn't you? You're pretty you must have them all to their knees, right?" His words were sharp as knives and cut her skin. It wasn't the first time somebody spoke to her like that but not since she had moved to England. She was supposed to have change but she guessed she hadn't at all.

"We didn't! Ok? He offered me a place to sleep and I agreed because Effy was too preoccupied with you." She looked down and mentally swore for allowing him to affect her. She shouldn't react like she was. It wasn't like he would care.

"Wait, have you been crying about this?" He seemed to be suddenly aware of her condition. She kept avoiding his gaze so he grabbed his chin and forced her to look at him. She then realized it would be better to let him think that than the real source of her trouble.

"Yeah I've been suffering about your love life the whole night…" She escaped his grasp and stepped back. Maybe the ironic tone wasn't such a good idea. Yeah he definitely didn't fall for that for he grabbed his waist and pulled her outside.

"Wait, Cook, let go!" She struggled a minute but saw there was no use. He pushed her in the shed and sat her in the armchair. Shit she was screwed.

"I don't believe any bullshit, why were you crying? And don't tell me it's because of Effy because you don't seem to be the type of girl who cries for… I don't even know why you would cry about it!" He had crouched so their faces were only a few inches away.

"Why do you even care?" She said as she sank into the armchair, knowing that he wouldn't back off.

"I always care about you. Since the day you called me I care. Why do you always doubt me?" His voice was soft and she felt his fingers gently brush her bare legs.

"Bad dreams." She muttered after a few minutes. He sat in front of her in the old car, his elbows on his laps.

"About what?" He didn't want to be insistent but he felt like it was one of the slight opportunities he would have her to open up a little.

She sighed, tilting her head back and resting a little on the back of the chair. She took that moment to weigh pros and cons about telling him but she gave in. When she faced him again she was surprised to see that he hadn't moved a bit. And then she told him. Everything. Her sister. Her past life of 'débauche', all the stupid things she'd done, drugs, fuck, run away. And then the accident. He hadn't interrupted her at any point and she was getting close to the one moment she dreaded the most. The funerals.

"You see… When I woke up in the hospital, they had already called my brother. He was there before I could realize what had happened. He didn't say a thing except that he loved me. He said he loved me and would be there for us, taking care of me. But you see, I don't deserve to be loved. I don't deserve the caring. They died because of me. I killed them." At this point she fell to the floor, tears streaming down her face. He crawled to her and she buried her face in his chest. He cradled her best he could, leaving light kisses on the top of her head. Eventually, her sobbing stopped.

"It's okay, you told me enough, I didn't want to –"She interrupted him. She hadn't confessed to anyone and she felt good about it, relieved from a heavy weight. She looked up at him.

"I wanna tell. When we got back to our home, he told me: 'Be ready at 7 on Saturday, I'll pick you up for the funerals'. I wanted to. It meant more than the world to me. But Sammy got in the way." She felt Cook tensed under her. Sammy had been her boyfriend, or what was the closest to that definition for 3 years and he also was the main reason of all her problems. He had dragged her down with him when he had started doing drugs and hanging out with gangs in all the bad neighborhoods of her city.

"He called me the night before the funeral and like a fool I fell back in his arms. The next morning, he dropped me at my house late and looking like a shit. I saw the look on his face and I knew he'd had enough. He'd had enough of me. He didn't even look back and left. When I got to the funerals it was already over. I wasted my only chance to tell them goodbye! I'm a piece of crap, you understand? You shouldn't even be here, I don't deserve it." With that she stood up and stormed out of the shed. She was surprised to see the sun had risen but they must have been talking for awhile. She was standing still, unable to move forward or get back. She felt his arms wrapped around her and he rested his chin on her shoulder, his nose tickling her neck.

"You're not a piece of crap." One tear escaped from her eye, slowly rolling down her cheek.

"Just the fact that you feel bad about it and guilty shows that you care. And you deserve to be loved and that someone takes care of you." She turned around and he hugged her wrapping his arms around her neck while her hands remained on his chest.

"Can I come back at your place?" She murmured, her face still in his neck. She sighed contentedly with his chuckle.

"You're going nowhere but with me." He grabbed her neck with the crook of his arm and headed to the house.

"Go get your stuff, I'll wait for you here."

"Cook…" He was lightening a cigarette but looked up when she called him.

"Thanks."

The next morning...

"Miss Champault you're late…" She had run all the way from Cook's place since he had thought it would be a great idea to unset all of her alarms. Indeed he had laughed his ass off when she flipped him off, leaving the small place half dressed up and the marks of his sheets still visible. Of course he didn't bother to come usually but she was surprised to see him enter the room a few minutes after her.

"James Cook, you're… here?" He winked at the teacher and took his usual spot next to JJ. Alice had noticed that Freddie was sitting next to her, and that Effy made a move on him halfway through the class. Alice and Naomi giggled and the latter winked at Freddie. Then she turned back to the brunette.

"So, what about you? What's going on with the "being late, my hair undone and my outfit clearly slipped on hastily, followed by a Cook eager to go to class" attitude?" She teased her and Alice burst out laughing which owed her a disapproving look from the teacher who could simply not be taken seriously while talking to her hand, but also an odd look from Cook and JJ full of curiosity. Alice had to acknowledge her wise choices for qualifiers.

"Dunno what you're talking about." She shrugged, laughing lightly.

"Yeah. Right." They were quickly hush by the teacher who asked if anyone else wanted to talk about the book. She didn't even know what book they were talking about but apparently, Naomi did.

"Hamlet is basically a teenage boy. He's got all these desires. But he doesn't have the balls to reach out for them. So, he goes mad, wanks off about Ophelia and ends up so boring: somebody has to kill him!" She told all that looking at Freddie and Alice couldn't help a soft chuckle. Effy and he were meant to be. And she wasn't saying that with any purpose on her mind. If the blue eyed girl could allow herself to delve in her feelings, she knew they were right. But then again, who was she to teach others a lesson she wouldn't take.

The teacher frowned, looking for wanking in Hamlet and that's about when Alice let her mind drift a little bit. Fortunately, Naomi was there by her side to cover for her when the teacher would ask her something. By the end of the class, she was starting to doze off a little when Cook threw JJ on the floor. She was relieved to see him tickling the curly boy. Slightly amused, she was watching them and didn't even notice Freddie until he gently tapped on her shoulder and she smiled back at him while he passed close to the boys.

"Freds!" Cook stopped messing around with JJ to concentrate on his friend, which he was thankful for.

"Come on mate, we're going down the boozer!" By the look on Freddie's face as he watched Effy leave, this wasn't going to happen any soon.

"Nah I'm gonna –" Freddie tried to escape from this but Cook insisted.

"Oh come on man, I need to get the fucking Dickens out of me head! Let's get fucking trashed." Alice watched the little scene from behind Cook but already knew how it was going to end.

"But –" He tried again but this time was interrupted by a JJ struggling to get up.

"Oh come on! Fredds it's been ages since we last went out!" Now Alice felt really bad for Freddie.

"Nah. I'm going home." Even from behind, she could tell that Cook was pissed off and she didn't even want to see JJ disappointed puppy eyes. But soon again he went back on tickling him and Alice sighed, rolling her eyes. It was so easier sometimes to be boys. Once they were done, Naomi grabbed her elbow and Panda's, and they went across the toddlers. The whole point of their outing was also to cheer her up after her boyfriend had been forced to go back to Congo. Before they left, Alice assured to lean to whisper in Cook's ear.

"By the way, it's Shakespeare, not Dickens."

"I knew that of course!" She heard him shout from behind and Naomi and she chuckled.

They all entered the bar, well all minus Effy, Freddie and Thomas, and sat down on a booth. Alice excused herself to the toilet and left with Emily by her side. Cook quickly made his way towards Christina to order some beers. He was about to greet her when he caught a conversation he was truly startled with.

"Hello, I'm sorry to disturb, would you know a girl named Alice, Alice Champault?" The man was standing in front of her, looking out of place not only by his tired and serious look but also because of his accent. An accent that reminded her of pretty brunette. Christina glanced at Cook, looking for some sign and he simply shook his head and frowned. Fortunately, the man didn't seem to notice.

"No I'm sorry, why are you looking for her?" She asked cautiously but he had not the time to respond as a scream broke the silence.

"Lewis?!" Alice was open-mouthed at the other end of the bar.

"She's my sister." The man eventually added, answering everybody's silent question.

Put on those shades

And wave to yesterday

The sunlight hurts my eyes...