Feel free to skip the author's note below, it's not relevant to the plot or anything and I realised it was quite long after writing it.

Hi! Here's the next chapter for you all and I hope you enjoy it. I was frantically trying to get it finished last night and I was going to post it then as I promised but I fell asleep while writing it. I know, I suck :(

I just wanted to write this note to take a moment to thank everyone who's followed or favourited or reviewed. It's coming up to new year's day and soon we'll be in 2014.

So this time last year I didn't think I'd be here today and as silly as this sounds, one of the reasons I am is because of you guys! These past six months or so have been awful and I started writing this as a sort of escape. Even on days when I haven't felt like writing I've read reviews you've left or watched the views go up to 25,00 (wow!) and it's made me feel like some people actually enjoy stuff I do and want me to carry on and it's sort of given me an anchor, if you get what I mean. Without getting too deep and personal because it's a fanfic site and this shouldn't be about me really, I'll just say that you guys make me feel so much less sad when I log on and read all of the sweet things you have to say and I can't thank you all enough for giving me a sense of purpose and something to carry on with through the nights. I know a lot of you who read this will probably wonder how on earth some follows and reviews on a fanfic can possibly mean so much to me but they do and again, thank you for all you've done. I hope that 2014 will be a better year for me and fantastic one for you.

All the love in the world,

Ash xxx

Matt didn't think of himself as a vain person. He didn't even consider himself particularly good-looking. He wasn't going to say he was ugly, far from it; but he didn't look in the mirror every morning and think to himself, wow. I look good.

So he was surprised at himself for scrutinizing his reflection for so long on this particular occasion.

He was about to leave to pick Jenna up for their rendezvous and he found himself nervous and wanting to look good. Since he'd admitted his feelings for her to himself he was more nervous around her and he hoped it didn't show. He'd accepted what he felt for her and that had opened up a floodgate, letting every emotion to pour in unchecked.

He finally went with wearing jeans and a button up shirt. He'd considered something more formal but then had shaken his head at himself and left the house and got into his car with a determined air about him. Today was the day to make Jenna feel better. He thought he'd helped the night before but he knew that it wasn't over just yet and even if he'd got her through the worst there was still some way to go. It would take a while to get that sort of ingrained self-hatred out of her system.

He tried not to think too much about the night before. The way Jenna had sounded so broken still made his eyes vaguely sting with tears and made him angry all at once. He thought he'd like to meet Daniel. But then again, maybe not. He wasn't sure what he might end up doing if he did.

He noticed that his knuckles were clenched tightly around the steering wheel, showing white through the skin, and relaxed them gingerly.

He devoted the rest of his journey to concentrating, more than was strictly necessary, on driving.

When he arrived at Jenna's apartment and rang the doorbell, it only took her a moment to answer. She was wearing a t shirt and black jeans with a jacket and he compared it to her outfits of old; skirts and blouses and vests and bare legs. And bare arms, too. His mind returned to the memory of his hands on those ridges across her arms. Those cuts. He hated the fact that she'd ever been that sad. He should have been there for her, but he wasn't. Couldn't be, because of the lies Daniel had fed her. His fists clenched again and he was brought out of his trance by Jenna saying his name.

'Matt?' She asked. 'Are you all right?'

'Yeah. Yeah, fine. Right.' He muttered and looked up at her. Then he grinned widely, and grabbed her hand. 'Let's go.'

She stumbled along with him as he pulled her towards the car and then sat beside him in the front seat. He smiled across at her and started the engine.

'How are you feeling?' He asked.

'I feel a lot better now that I'm not alone.' She told him.

'Good.' He said. 'That's good.'

They chatted about meaningless nothings for the rest of the car journey until they reached the bar.

Matt got out of the car and walked around to Jenna's side, opening the door.

She got out and they walked into the bar.

They took seats in a corner, away from the busiest part.

'It's quite hot in here. Do you want me to take your coat?' Matt asked, reaching out and waiting for her to take it off, and didn't realise quite what he had said until he saw Jenna bite her lip and shake her head.

He wanted to slam his head against the wall repeatedly for the stupid mistake.

'I'm sorry.' He said, and his outstretched arm wrapped around her waist and drew her against him tightly instead.

He let her go as they sat down at the table.

'I'll go get drinks.' Jenna said. 'What do you want?'

He thought she sounded a little odd but he couldn't work out what it was. So he told her what to order and resigned himself to waiting. He really ought to be the one getting drinks, he thought.

He tapped his foot impatiently; drummed his fingers on the table. He was a naturally impatient, energetic person while Jenna was calm and yet bubbly in a reserved way. But rather than their differences dissuading him, he found that it attracted him to her even more.

He sighed and rested his forehead on his palms. She would be the death of him.

When she came back, looking flawless as usual as she almost stumbled over a woman's outstretched leg, he tried to bury the thoughts. Now was not the time.

'Thanks.' He said as he took his drink.

'You're welcome.'

He watched her gulp her drink. She seemed to be trying to take her mind off something; that was what was off about her.

'What's the matter?' He asked.

'Oh, nothing.' She said. 'Really.'

He gave her a sceptical look. 'You've got to open up, Jenna. You know I'm only here for you.'

She smiled. 'I know, Matt. And honestly, there's nothing wrong. I just haven't been out like this for a while, that's all.'

Matt nodded and leant back. 'Okay.' He said. 'But if there's ever anything wrong, tell me, okay? I want you to know that no matter what it is I'll be there for you and you don't need to worry about anything you tell me.'

'I'll remember that. Thank you.'

Then Matt grinned and leant forward, a devilish look on his face.

'Now, Jenna..' He said. 'Time for the shots.'

She grinned back and gave a small fist pump. 'How did you know? I've been waiting for that all evening.' With an expression of mock-delight she started to stand to order the drinks before Matt pushed her back down.

'You stay right here.' He told her. 'I'll get them this time.'

He came back with a tray laden with shots. Jenna picked one up and sniffed it gingerly, and then recoiled sharply. 'Blimey,' she said. 'What on earth is this?'

'No idea.' Matt told her cheerfully. 'Just asked for something strong.' He took a sniff of the others. 'I think it's a mixed lot, though.'

He lifted a glass of green liquid, eyeing it dubiously. 'Anyway.' He said. 'On the count of three...one, two, three!'

They downed their glasses, grimacing as the strong liquid slid down their throats. Jenna winced. 'I don't think I'll ever get used to that.' She said.

'I'll teach you. You have to learn from an expert, after all.' Matt said, and then went in to a coughing fit.

Jenna laughed, a clear, pretty sound. He loved hearing it and he wished he could make her do it more often.

'Definitely not.' She told him, picking up another glass. 'In fact, I think that by the end of tonight I'll be the expert and you'll be the one learning from me.' She downed her shot and then winced, joining him coughing. 'Or not.' She said, and now Matt was the one to laugh.

'Definitely not.' He agreed.

It was only after they'd finished the tray of alcohol and were about to leave, extremely drunk and falling about, that he remembered that they'd driven to the bar.

'Bugger.' He slurred. 'I'll have to call a taxi.'

Jenna didn't reply; just giggled and started to walk vaguely in the direction of the exit. 'Matt.' She mumbled, and she sounded like she was talking through a mouthful of sweets.

'Are you drunk?' She asked.

He eyed her dubiously. 'Not as drunk as you.' He said, and turned her so she was facing the right direction. 'The door's that way.'

'Me?' She looked up at him with wide eyes. 'I'm not drunk.'

He laughed. 'Of course not. Of cou-' He broke off as he stumbled on the carpet. 'Oopsie.'

'Oopsie, oopsie. Ooopsie-daisy!' Jenna repeated vacantly as she pulled out her phone. 'Taxi?'

'Oh, yeah.' Matt said.

'Where to?'

'I don't know. Wherever. Yours! Your place.' He said and she nodded.

'Okay.'