Hollie wasn't thinking straight when she ran from Barry. She headed for the first place she could think of, wanting to see her boyfriend. Kevin usually managed to make sense of things that she couldn't seem to get her head around. In the state she was in, however, she completely forgot what had happened to him, making her way to the School House and banging on the door.

"Hollie?"

"Can I see Kevin?"

The House Mistress frowned. "He's not here, pet. He's still in hospital."

Hollie blinked several times, reality suddenly washing over her like a tidal wave. She backed away and, before she could be stopped, disappeared back down the driveway and out of sight.

Maggie called after her but, when Hollie didn't stop or even turn, she sighed and pulled her mobile out of her back pocket, scrolling through her recent contacts and selecting Nikki's name from the list.

She waited until she thought the answerphone was going to kick in before the call was answered. "Nikki?"

"Sorry, Mags. It's not really a good time…"

"Hollie's just left here in a bit of a state." Maggie informed her friend before Nikki could make an excuse and end the conversation. "She asked to see Kevin and when I reminded her he was in hospital she just took off."

There was a sharp inhalation of breath from the other end of the line. "Where did she go?"

"I don't know."

"You didn't go after her?" Nikki demanded.

"Nikki, pet, it happened so fast. She didn't exactly wait around for me to ask where she was going." Maggie told her bluntly.

"I… thanks."

"D'you want–?"

"No." Nikki cut her off without even listening to the offer. "It's fine, thanks. I'll see you tomorrow at work, alright?" Hanging up, the brunette put her head in her hands and turned to glare at her cousin who was leaning in the doorway watching her. "This is your fault, d'you realise that?"

Jo laughed. "My fault? What have I done?"

"Obviously you said something to her in the kitchen, which is why she kicked off at Eve."

"Oh, obviously." The detective retorted, rolling her eyes. "Or maybe if you left your little Nikki and Vix bubble once in a while you'd realise that not everything's as rosy in the real world."

"What?" Nikki snapped. "What is your problem?" She scowled at Jo. "What is it? Are you jealous, is that it? Things not exciting enough with Sam anymore? Life getting too domestic and boring for you? Do you fancy Vix?"

"Don't be ridiculous." Jo laughed mirthlessly. "I don't trust her, that's all."

"You don't even know her!"

"Neither do you!" The volume of their argument was steadily rising as they grew more and more heated. "And yet you're putting her over your own children!"

"Get out!" Nikki screamed, physically pushing Jo towards the door. "Get out!"

She slammed the door behind her cousin, leaning heavily against the wood and balling her hands into fists. Nikki knew that she would have to let Jo back in so that she could gather her things and get her car keys to leave with her family, but she didn't want to see her. Opening the door, the younger woman fled upstairs, slamming her bedroom door behind her.

x-x

Hollie sprinted away from the School House, not sure where she was heading but needing to get away from the concerned expression that had been totally focused on her. Her instinct was to go to the hospital, but she knew that's the first place they'd look for her. She felt the tears streaming down her cheeks as she ran, but she didn't bother to wipe them away, she just wanted to forget.

With no money and nowhere to go, she just kept running until she found herself outside one of the dodgier bars on the edge of town. Taking a breath, she rubbed her eyes and tugged at her top, before pushing the door open and stalking inside. Her gaze swept over the area, looking for anyone who seemed an easy target to buy her drinks.

Eyes landing on someone sitting at a rather rowdy table in the corner, she scowled. Making up her mind, Hollie stalked over and stood with her hands on her hips until the young man noticed her presence and smirked.

"You gonna get me a drink then?" She asked, arching an eyebrow.

"What's it worth?" Barry asked with a grin.

"Buy it and you'll find out."

Chuckling, he stood up and indicated that she should take his seat while he went to the bar. Hollie wasn't interested in talking to any of the people around her. When Barry returned, she didn't even allow him to retake his seat before she took a long gulp of her vodka, draining the glass in one gulp. The crowd around them cheered and Barry grinned, moving away to get her another without being ordered. This time when he came back, Hollie let him sit down and settled herself in his lap.

The drinks came thick and fast, stopping the teenager from having to think. Before long she was drunk and had completely forgotten about why she had run away from home in the first place. Somewhere in the back of her mind an alarm was ringing, telling her that she was being stupid, that she was making a huge mistake. Draining yet another vodka, Hollie dismissed the thought and turned to look at Barry.

"What?"

"Thanks…"

"For what?"

"Not asking questions."

He grinned. "You didn't give me much of a chance." Tilting his head, he arched an eyebrow. "Why did you come looking for me?"

"Who says I came looking for you?" Barry just arched an eyebrow at her. Hollie sighed. "Maybe I just wanted some no-strings fun for once."

"Really? And what does this no-strings fun entail?"

Hollie smirked and leant forward, pressing her lips against his and grasping the lapels of his jacket firmly. Barry grinned against her mouth, manoeuvring them backwards, through the door that led to the back of the bar without breaking contact. Stumbling through the back door, Hollie giggled as he pressed her up against the wall in the alley.

"You sure?" He breathed in her ear.

Nodding, she guided his mouth back to hers and kissed him firmly.