Claire Scott walked out of lectures at the Northam community college with Christopher Stewart snapping at her heels no sooner she was in the corridor.

He had obviously been waiting for her.

"Claire! I've been waiting for you..."

Claire reached the exit doors and secured her bag on her shoulder, "what is it now Chris, we've said all there is to say"

Stewpot looked forlorn, "oh come on...why don't we go out this Saturday...just the two of us"

Claire was in two minds, why did he do this to her.

"I don't know...", she stumbled, "I'll think about it"

Stewpot knew he was pushing it with her, especially after his history of repeated cheating ,"great...anything you wanna do...just let me know"

Claire watched him go off with a couple of his mates in toe. Lisa Driscoll, a friend in her group tapped her shoulder, "what did he want?"

"Asking me out like he usually does"

Lisa laughed, " I suppose you told him you'll think about it like YOU usually do"

Claire sighed as she clutched her pink folder,"I know, i'm a right mug aren't I"

Lisa hooked up her pink cassette walk-man,"You and him have history...I suppose you just believe he will change or something"

Claire pulled a sigh as they crossed the street at the traffic lights, "I like him...I just wish he would not play around"

Lisa stopped.

Claire turned, "what is it? Don't tell me you've left something behind in class"

"No...it's about stew...and that Rachel girl in my English lit lecture..."

**GH**

Claire was sitting in the cafe. She had just about had enough of Stewpot messing her around. His affair with Annette was just about all she could take. It was classic affair material she used to love reading in girly magazines when she was younger. But in those stories, the couple would always get back together. That wasn't the case with her. And now it seems he was up to his old tricks with this Rachel.

Now she was angry. Christopher had been a right cheeky crappie when they first went out but...

"All right Miss Scott...I thought that was you sitting there"

Claire looked up from her Luke warm coffee and saw that once vile creature, Gripper Stebson, standing over her with his hands sunk deep into the pockets of his light brown sheep skin coat.

Claire was a little taken aback. Not much was heard about from Gripper since he got expelled a couple of years before.

He gave her a grimaced look, "what's up? Cat got your tongue"

She looked up and shrugged at him, "No...it's just really weird seeing you"

Gripper smiled at her, "I like playing on the video game machines in here..."

Claire looked back down to her book dismissively, "well don't let me stop you"

"I used to play on the one across the road, but they chucked me out"

Claire found that tad of information totally believable, "What did you do? Kick somebodies head in I suppose for being better than you at it"

Gripper shook his head, "No actually...it was a bunch of Neo-Nazi skinheads that were giving the black girl behind the counter some grief, they were asking for it"

This time, Claire found it totally unbelievable of what he was telling her, "what? YOU defended a black girl!"

Gripper sunk his head and frowned at her, "yeah"

Claire finished her coffee and grappled up her things, "well after all that racist bullying business at school and that, I find that a bit hard to believe"

Gripper was on the defensive as he followed her to the cafe exit, "oh yeah, that'll be right, go and ask her if you don't believe me...you should know the name it being Precious Matthews"

Claire was surprised and her face showed it, "it was Precious?"

Gripper nodded and backed off, "yeah...don't let me keep you miss Scott"

Claire realised he was literally showing her the door, because he was holding it open for her. She left through it and began to walk up the street. It was meant to be summer but it was dank and drizzly.

There goes my perm she thought. She then looked up and nearly dropped her bag. A bunch of grim looking skinheads were on the pavement blocking her way forward.

They were grinning at her. All ripped leather, piercings and chains.

She backed up, but they were amused at her unease.

"Alright sweetheart...fancy hanging out?"

Claire focused on the one that spoke, he looked about 23 or so, with an unfinished neck tattoo showing.

"Mind out my way will you! You are blocking the path"

The bunch of skinheads laughed at her.

Claire tried to go round them, but they pawed at her from a distance.

One grabbed her bag, "what's in there...give us your purse"

Claire dropped her folder. The rain was getting to her college work.

One of the skinheads picked a sheet of paper up, and read the heading out loud, "THE HISTORY OF FINE ART"

The skinhead's laughed at her, throwing the now torn sheet of paper around them.

All of them suddenly looked up after a cry.

"Oi!"

Claire turned around to see Gripper run up the street with his fists clenched.

The lead skinkead laughed, "oh look who it is boys... "

Gripper stopped in his tracks with gritted teeth, and a gave the lead skin a death glare, "leave her alone", he warned.

The leading skinhead came forward, "why don't you come here and say that, Stebson"

Gripper balled his fist, "now you are asking for it"

Claire shook her head at this act of mindless violence. Why do boys do this?

"Stop it...and anyway, there's a police car over there"

The bunch of skinheads turned around and whilst doing so, Gripper grabbed Claire's hand and they did a runner in the opposite direction.

After going around the block they stopped at the bus stop.

"Mindless morons, that's what they were" , told Claire getting her breath back.

Gripper looked at her, "they shouldn't bother you here...do you want me to hang about till the bus comes?"

Claire screwed her face up at him, "why would I want you too...you are just as bad as they are, you"

Gripper shot her a glare, "oh is that all I get? Thanks Gripper is not so hard, is it?"

Claire could see the bus coming up the street, she looked at him and smiled reluctantly, "thanks...happy now"

And then she jumped onto the back of the red London bus as bit came to a stop.

Gripper watched it trundle off, "well that's gratitude for you", he muttered to himself.

He turned and was slap back into the lead skinhead. He grinned at him and lunged in.

TBC