-in which nellen gets very annoyed because she's had this chapter written for weeks but hasn't had access to a decent internet connection until now-

I am honestly SO SO SO sorry you guys! This was ready waay before the holidays started, but I've been having some problems with emails and my laptop and I've only just gotten chance to do this now! I promise I'll try and be a lot better with uploading in the New Year, oh gosh, I'm really really sorry!

So here it is, the long awaited 56th chapter of this thing, and thanks to everyone who reviewed in my absence!

I hope it's okay, and it at least makes up a little bit for how long this took to do. And again, I'm REALLY REALLY REALLY SORRY I WILL TRY HARDER IN FUTURE TO BE LESS NEGLECTFUL AND HOPEFULLY FINALLY GET THIS FINISHED!

Sorry you wonderful lot, you really deserve a lot better than this. Also wishing you a very belated Merry Christmas! I hope you all had a lovely day and have a brilliant New Year too! :)

Lot's of love and apologies, ~a very sorry and very slow nellen ^^ xxx

PS- Sorry about the swearing too~!


"Come on Luke, or we'll be late for school!"

"I'm coming, I'm coming!" He replied, sliding the black and white photo back into his pocket.

"I just need my shoes."

"Well hurry up then," Ari giggled, pulling on a jacket. It was unusually cold for an April morning, so the two teens had planned on catching the bus instead of walking, like they normally would at that time of year.

"The bus doesn't even get here until twenty to, dear."

"Yeah, and now it's twenty past."

"Oh, crap, sorry, I'm ready now," he smiled briskly, grabbing his keys from the mantelpiece, "come on, lets go."

"Bye Flora!"

"Bye you two, remember to call me if you need a lift anywhere, or if you're not feeling too well," the older girl called back from the kitchen, "oh, and remember you've got that thing later on, so don't be too late home."

"Okay! See you later!"

The door closed behind them with a quiet thud, fingers interlocking almost immediately after it had closed.

The couple made mostly small talk on the way to the bus stop, discussing the weather, and schoolwork, and plans for the weekend.

She'd complained about the cold, so Luke had wrapped his scarf around her, laughing when she'd pulled a face in surprise.

He'd jokingly complained about feeling unloved, and Arianna had giggled, and slipped an arm around his waist.

The bus arrived, five minutes late as usual, and the two of them had boarded with relatively little fuss.

It was a perfectly ordinary morning, right up until-

"-Ugh, lose the hand holding dearies, you're making me feel sick."

"Crow," Luke nodded, taking a seat beside his girlfriend. His grip on her hand tightened substantially at the boy's remark, and Arianna braced herself for the storm she knew was coming.

"You always were one for picking up other's trash."

Luke's shoulders tensed visibly, and the boy's smirk only widened.

"And you," he sneered, sitting up in his chair to stare directly at Ari, "you've really put some weight on haven't you?"

"Fuck off."

"Oh, and what're you going to do about it?"

"Leave it Luke, he's only doing it to get a rise," Ari muttered, lightly squeezing his hand. She gazed out of the window, praying that they weren't too far from the school.

"Shut it tubs, no one asked for your input."

Luke was out of his seat in an instant, fists clenched and hackles risen.

"Don't you dare talk to her like that," he growled, glaring down at the boy, "if I ever hear you say something like that again, it will be the last time you open your mouth."

"Ooh, I am afraid," Crow laughed, a little too manically for his old friend's liking. "Never thought I'd see the day you got your knickers in a twist over that," his eyebrows raised theatrically, as he jerked a finger in Ari's direction, "god, it's like seeing you defending Loosha all over again."

Luke couldn't respond to that, an animalistic snarl ripping from his throat before his mouth could form any words.

His fist had connected with the snickering boy's cheek before he could even register the action, a loud smack! ringing out throughout the now silent bus.

There was a warning shout from the driver, and Ari made a grab for her boyfriend's wrist, but the fight was now in full swing.

Crow's own fist flew towards Luke's stomach, missing only by an inch. Another punch to the nose saw a steady trickle of blood dripping down his chin, a quick jab to the stomach doubling him over quicker than he could defend himself.

The bus almost skidded to a halt, as the driver yelled once more. Realizing his words were barely reaching the pair, he pulled over and stood up, marching over and grabbing them both by the collars.

They yelped in protest, growling and muttering as they were dragged along the aisle.

"-And if I see either of you two," the driver grumbled, as he threw them roughly out onto the pavement, "or your missus," he muttered, pointing at Arianna, who had followed them out immediately, trying her feeble best to break them up, "then you'll find yourselves walking a bloody long way. Banned, the lot of you."

"Ugh, way to fucking go Triton," Crow tutted, dusting himself off and wiping his nose on his sleeve, smearing blood along the once clean white fabric.

"I'm not fucking finished yet," Luke started, lunging forwards and ready to attack. Ari grabbed his shoulders before he could do any more damage, pulling him back to stand beside her.

He sighed angrily, murmuring an apology and lacing his fingers through hers. A slip of paper fluttered past them in the breeze, and it was only once it had drifted past his own eyes that he realised what it was.

"Agh!" He cried, making a grab for the photograph before the other could see it.

Crow had noticed it straight away though, of course he had, and with a sinister elegance seemed to pluck it just out of the boy's grasp, twirling it playfully in his hands.

"Give that back."

"Make me," he sang, waving the picture just below Luke's nose, snatching it out of the way as he reached out for it again.

"Give it back."

"Hmm... No."

"Crow, please, stop fucking around. Just give me the picture back," Arianna muttered, eyes welling at the corners. She was tired, very tired, and wanted nothing more than to go home already.

"Why do you want it so badly anyways, it's just a-" Crow stopped, cocking his head as he finally saw the image the couple had been trying to get back, "a-an ultrasound scan?"

"Crow.."

His face was twisted into an unreadable expression, and his brain seemed to whir and tick as the pieces slotted together.

"Why... You're knocked up! Aren't you? Aha! The fucking nerd knocked up his teen queen girlfriend! Ohohoh this is precious! I can't wait for everyone to hear this! Aw, and look at you, carrying around the little picture and playing happy families!" He turned to Luke, a wild glint in his eyes that neither of them had either seen before. "Oh, you've fucked up now, haven't you Triton? You've fucked up well and proper here. Did you really think you could keep this a secret? Are you really that stupid?"