A hand touched my arm, and I jumped looking up uncertainly.

'Hey, it's me…it's okay.' Harvey said, and without a thought I fell into his arms and cried- we were lucky no-one walked in. I noticed the classroom to be empty, just Shane at the door.

'Do I need to stay?' He asked from the door.

'No I got her.' Harvey said, giving him a quick look before Shane left and shut the door behind him. It was as if I was broken, I clung to Harvey wedging my head into his shoulder as he rubbed my back and hugged me close.

'It's okay, I got you.' He kept repeating with each stroke of my back till I looked up at him.

'I…'

'It's okay, come on let's get out of here.'

'What?'

'Well I don't think you want to see him, or do you?' He said his brow creasing.

'No!' I squeaked.

'Well move, we'll be back by lunch.'

He basically lifted me up and with an arm slung casually over my shoulder he made sure I stayed up, looking at my face his brow creased and I could see a glimmer of pain in the iris of his eye. I walked with him, keeping my head down trying to keep a low profile. He stopped beside my car, taking the keys from my coat pocket he threw my files and bag in the boot and went around to open the passenger side for me.

'You can't drive, you don't have insurance for this!' I sighed.

'We'll take our chances.' He said keeping the door open, I sat in the passenger's seat resting my head against the headrest and closing my eyes as I heard him get in the car. We didn't talk but when I stretched a shaking hand over to his he gripped it tight, keeping hold of me and without even knowing it holding me down to earth when I was ready fly a million miles away. Driving one handed I didn't even ask where we were going but kept my shut and tried to take myself away from the horrific turn today had taken.

'Hey.' He whispered, as the car came to a stop. I opened my eyes gingerly and noticed us to be outside a large town style house; in a nice neighbourhood, with blinds and curtains at the windows.

'Where are we?' I asked, still not letting go of his hand.

'My mums.'

'Your mum's?'

'Yeah, I just want her to check you over.' He said softly.

'But…'

'She won't say anything, trust me.'

And despite everything I did, and as I got out the car and walked up the gravelled pathway with Harvey at my side a very handsome woman came to the door; her eyes locked on Harvey's face- a massive smile on her face. He hugged his mother, and she hugged him back tightly.

'Oh and who's this?' She said spying me.

'My friend Kate, she walked into a door.' He said giving his mother a look. 'I was wondering if you check her out, I don't think there is anything wrong but I wouldn't want to miss anything.'

'Course son, come on in Darl I'll see you right.' Harvey ushered me into a beautiful house, all high ceilings and window seats. Vases of fresh roses sat on side tables, paintings adorned the walls; the whole place gave off the vibe of expense but the smell was that of a home. I sat in the big arm chair that was in front of the hugest mirror I'd ever seen; one look at my face told me I was right to wear waterproof makeup; my left cheek and under my eye were red, that puffy red when you know there will be a bruise. Harvey's mum prodded at my cheek, making me blink and look into a light; she worked with efficiency that would make her a brilliant nurse but all the same when she squeezed my shoulder and told me I'd be okay I understood that her true job was being a mother because she was as loving a mother as I'd ever seen. The quick looks in Harvey's direction, the way she smiled to make me feel warm and welcome; she was a mum more than she was ever a nurse.

'You two able to stay for tea?' She asked as she put away her little medical kit; Harvey's eyes flicked over to me and I smiled openly.

'Yeah if we have the time.'

'Yeah sure mam.' His mum went off into what I expect was the kitchen and Harvey sat just looking at me, the same look of pain marring his features.

'You trust me.' He said, it wasn't a question just a statement but I answered anyways.

'Yes, I do.'

'Why?' I took a long time to answer, I watched his face for a moment before I took a breath and without thinking or over analysing told him honestly.

'Because I don't think you like to see him hurt me and because I don't think you're as much alike as you make out.'

'So, you don't trust him?' He asked quickly but then shook his head. 'Stupid question.' He smirked. 'He's a character you know, I don't know why I'm defending him because even as a best friend I know how wrong that all was but with you he pretends everything is okay…he pretends it's all normal.'

'What does that mean?'

'It means the boy you know and the boy you saw today are the two different sides of him; these last few days have been tough on him and he hasn't showed you.'

'Tough how?'

'I wish I could tell you.' He breathed as his mother walked in holding a big tray; which held a tea pot, cups and a plate of iced cakes.

'Freshly made this morning.' She smiled, pointing to the cakes which Harvey grabbed.

'Will he ever learn manners?' She laughed, a girlish giggle as she smiled in his direction before offering me a cake.

'Thank you.' I smiled, accepting the frosted madeira cake as she poured out cups of tea; offering us milk and sugar. I sipped at my tea and ate the cake even going back for another as Harvey and his mum spoke in the general way only a parent and child can speak.

'I hope to see you again Kate.' She said, hugging me as we left. She waved while Harvey reversed the car and drove us back into school.

'My mum likes you.' He said, as the news came on the radio. 'She told me when you went to the bathroom.'

'She's lovely.' I said, good-naturedly as Harvey parked the car and we got out, I looked at my watch and noticed we were ten minutes early for lunch. We walked slowly and leisurely to the dining hall and took seats at the table; Harvey I think deliberately took the seat next to me and we sat passing general conversation.

'What did you mean, you wish you could tell me?' I asked as conversation lulled.

'Exactly that.'

'Sometimes I think life would be so much easier if I'd stayed in Barcelona.' I laughed sadly.

'Don't say that.' He whispered as the lunch crowd came in bringing with it Sam and Dan.

'Where were…what happened to your eye?' Dan asked, his expression shocked.

'Stupid door, I turned to grab something and it hit me in the face!' I laugh softly, going with the story Harvey fabricated at his mother's.

'You are such a clutz!' Sam laughed, coming to hug me from behind. 'Honestly a fucking door, now it means I'm going to have to hold them all open!'

'Yep from now on you and door aren't trusted!' Dan smiled tucking into his sandwich.

Everyone arrived, the girls couldn't help but laugh at the redness on my face and well Martin and Reece just laughed too. Harvey sat with us which was unusual, he laughed with my friends and went with Sam up to the lunch counter, buying cookies for the table and me a tea with plenty of sugar. Chat was easy with them no-one mention that morning dispute and no-one even cast a second glance at the fact Harvey was with us instead of Arthur, Dan grilled Harvey on his plans for University- reminding him that the next day was the open day for the local university, something I'd forgotten.

'Oh shit I forgot about that.' I gushed.

'Well we're all going.' Dan said quickly, putting on his teaching voice.

'Looks like we're all going.' Harvey said softly, I merely smiled at him but his hand under the pretence of putting his wallet away squeezed my thigh softly in reassurance. It was as Dan was getting up the details on his IPad they walked in; all the boys looked at me, but Arthur only had eyes for Harvey who looked back as if exchanging a message. Looking at Arthur I was beyond reproach, I felt sick but angry sick because when you took it all away I wasn't angry at what he had done I was angry as too why- in my head the reason behind an action is more important than the action itself. He didn't even look at me, just sat at the top of the table; Harvey went back to talking to Dan and even took notes on what was being discussed when.

'So we'll go to the ten thirty marketing?' Harvey smiled at me.

'Yeah sure.' I smiled, sipping my tea.

'Honestly a bang on the head and she's as quiet as a mouse; seriously stay away from doors!' April chuckled. 'I want my lady back! Sorry Arthur!' People laughed and I smiled but inside I was breaking because how was I to deal with the shit storm.

'I don't mind sharing.' Arthur smiled at April, which only made me want to puke. I stood abruptly and walked out the door heading to the bathroom, to escape. Locking myself away in a cubical, I sat on the toilet seat gasping for breath and feeling beyond nauseated. My heart was pounding like a drum in my chest and I was feeling sweat bead at the back of my neck.

'Catherine?' I heard the voice which I recognised but couldn't place with a face.

'Yes.'

'Harvey is waiting outside for you.'

'Thanks.'

'Are you okay?'

'I'm…fine.' I said as I unlocked the door and looked up at…Rochelle. 'Oh…it's you.'

'Yeah, Harvey is like having a litter out there I'd go if I was you.'

'Right.' I smiled as I walked out the toilets and saw Harvey leaning against the radiator with an antsy expression on his face.

'You okay?' He said as he came up to me, resting a hand on my arm.

'No.' I answered honestly.

'What do you want me to do?' He asked with obvious willingness in his eyes.

'Nothing, just be there.' I smiled and felt despite myself that little flutter inside of me when he smiled back.

I walked back into the hall with Harvey at my heels, Arthur met my gaze and I just gazed right back not giving him anything more. I sat and I laughed with my friends with Harvey next to me, I felt safe…

'Come on Kate.' Sam said as the bell rung out, and people started dispersing to lessons.

Shit Religion. The words raced through my head but I couldn't show it too Sam or the others so I smiled brightly and linked my arm through Sam's and with one last lingering look at Harvey I set off hoping with everything in me that Arthur would have the decency to not turn up