Hollie wouldn't deny that she deserved being sent to the Cooler by her Geography teacher part-way through the double lesson after break. She refused, however, to apologise for telling Mr Hart to fuck off when he announced, in front of the other students, that her work was sub-standard and she wouldn't get preferential treatment in his class. The implication that Tom and Nikki went easier on her than anyone else was one that stung and the teenager reacted angrily on instinct.

Slamming her bag down onto a table in the back corner of the room, the seventeen-year-old slouched down in the seat and folded her arms obstinately across her chest. She completely blanked the other students in the room, not even entirely sure who they were. It was only when one of them spoke to her that the red mist rose and she managed to calm down enough to talk to them.

"You alright?"

"Do I look alright?" She snapped sarcastically. Then she exhaled sharply. "Sorry… sorry, Kacey."

"What you in for?"

"Told Mr Hart to fuck off." The older girl replied with a shrug. "What about you two?"

"I threw some books around in the library and told Miss Boston I hate her and she ruined my life. Stevie decked Mr Lowsley."

Hollie laughed. "Nice one."

"You aren't mad about what I said to your mum?"

"I've told her worse." Hollie said with a shrug. "She's a big girl; she can handle it. Besides, it's none of my business, is it?"

"You've ended up in here more than once for defending her before." Kacey reminded her.

"Yeah… but this is different, isn't it." She reasoned. "I don't agree with you; it's not Mum's fault your money is gone. But I know you're angry and upset and hurt, just like I was when I called her a bitch and slapped her. At least you didn't physically hit her… or I would have had to beat your ass up."

Kacey laughed. "I'd like to see you try. Boxing champ, remember?"

"Yeah?" Hollie raised an eyebrow. "Shot and survived, remember?"

The door to the Cooler opened as the three of them laughed companionably and Mr Lowsley appeared. He reprimanded them half-heartedly for talking, before perching on the edge of the table beside Stevie's and talking to him in a low voice. He was obviously a little embarrassed about having to have the conversation in front of the two girls, but he blocked them out for the most part and focused on the boy instead.

They left a couple of moments later, leaving Hollie and Kacey to continue their conversation. They largely steered clear of America and boxing, the older girl realising it was an uncomfortable topic for her friend. Instead, they chatted about Eve and Dynasty and Kacey mocked Hollie for her relationship with Barry. Hollie rolled her eyes and pulled a face, laughing at the disgust that was sent her way.

When the bell went for lunchtime, Mr Hart appeared and asked his student whether she'd had time to reflect on her behaviour. Hollie shot him a wholly fake smile and apologised in her most insincere manner. The man, clearly not in any way bothered by the whole situation, shrugged and said she could leave.

Squeezing Kacey's arm as she passed, Hollie shot her a sympathetic smile. The younger girl sighed deeply, folding her arms on the surface of the table and rested her chin on her forearm.

Meeting up with Kevin and the others in the Common Room, Hollie was informed that Kacey's presentation was back on and was unceremoniously dragged back down to help set up. She frowned, wondering what had happened and whether the money had been returned. The girl was pleased, however, deciding that if anyone needed a break at the moment it was Kacey.

"Here she is!" Lula announced a while later, after everyone had rushed around like headless chickens trying to re-decorate the room that had been returned to normal after the news of the missing money had been made known.

"OK, thank you, everyone!" Nikki called over the loud applause that rose as she and Kacey walked in. "Kacey going to America isn't just her dream come true. It's been everyone's and you guys have raised over £9,000, so thank you so much!" Another round of cheering and applause broke through and the woman had to shout to make herself heard. "So let's hear it for Kacey Barry!"

Kevin handed Hollie a drink, grinning as she downed it in one. "It's not alcoholic, you know." He teased.

She slapped his arm lightly. "I know that, idiot!"

"OK… I have to go and sort out the video Dynasty's been making for Kacey. I'll be right back."

Nodding, the girl moved to stand with Scout and Zoe while Kevin fiddled with the laptop that was attached to a television screen. He introduced the video and another round of cheering started up as Harley's face appeared.

As Barry's part of the video started and they listened to his uncharacteristically sentimental monologue, Kacey moved forward and motioned for Nikki to follow her out of the room. Hollie's eyes followed them suspiciously as they left, before flicking back to Barry who, if she wasn't very much mistaken, looked uneasy at their sudden departure.

Moments later, the girl returned and stopped the video. She laughed mirthlessly. "What a beautiful speech, Barry. I'm actually quite choked. What a lucky sister I am." There was a long pause. "But… but it's all lies, isn't it? All of it. Every word he said."

"Are you alright, Kace?" Barry asked, acting the picture of innocence.

"My money… the money that you all raised for me… it was stolen by him." A ripple of muttered consternation ran around the room at her words. "My brother, the brother that loves me so much, stole it. Can you believe that?"

"You didn't, did ya?" Dynasty asked looking wary.

"What are you on about?" He tried to defend himself. It sounded so far from genuine that Hollie almost laughed at the attempt. "You've got the money; you're going to America. What's your problem?"

"Yeah I am." His younger sister agreed angrily. "But only because someone cares for me more than you do… someone who put that money up out of their own pocket." She shot a quick look over her shoulder at Nikki and Hollie followed her gaze. She frowned as she read the expression on her mother's face accurately.

"I have no idea what you're on about."

Dynasty took a couple of steps towards him, looking down at her brother in disgust. "It was you, wasn't it?"

"No!"

Carol leapt to her feet then, scowling ferociously at Barry and speaking in a low voice. "Right. Out… now."

Hollie stood back and watched as the Barrys left the room, accompanied by her mother. As Nikki left the room, the teenager caught Tom's eye and knew instantly that he understood the implication of Kacey's words about someone replacing the money Barry had stolen. She also realised that he hadn't known about Nikki's actions any more than she had. The dark look that crossed his face told her that this was just another nail in the coffin that contained the couple's relationship.

As everyone piled out of the room, Hollie rushed to her step-father's side and grabbed his arm and pulled him into an empty classroom. His face was stoney and set grimly as he surveyed the teenager seriously.

"Did you know?"

She shook her head. "No… I'm guessing you didn't, either?"

"No."

"Don't be mad at her, Tom, please…"

He scoffed. "Nine grand, Hollie? Nine grand! That should have gone to you and Eve and AJ! Why are you not angry?"

"Because she was doing something nice!" The teenager reasoned. "Kacey deserves to go to America… it's not fair that she misses out because of Barry!"

"It wasn't like she gave her twenty quid!"

"It wasn't like she spent the money on clothes!"

Tom exhaled sharply, turning away. "It's not even about the money. Not really. She… she did this without bothering to even mention it to me. She gave Kacey Barry £9,000 without thinking that she should bother to tell me. That's not… that's…"

"Tom… it was probably just because it was a last minute decision or something… I doubt Mum meant to keep it from you…"

"This should be between me and Nikki." He said after a moment in a closed tone, signalling that she wouldn't be able to get anything else out of him.

With a sigh, Hollie nodded and left the room. She followed the crowd streaming towards the entrance, leaving through the main doors and descending the steps to stand beside her mother. Slipping an arm around her waist, they watched Kacey walk through the gates and Hollie rested her head on Nikki's shoulder. Pressing a kiss to her daughter's hair, the woman closed her eyes and breathed deeply for a couple of moments, dreading what was facing her when she spoke to her boyfriend.