Marcus was flicking through a book in an empty classroom. Beth watched him for a moment or two then knocked lightly and walked in. She was lonely and depressed. Tom was… somewhere, she didn't know, and she wanted someone to… care.

"Hey," she whispered.

"Hey."

She sat down on the table he was sitting at and smiled sadly down at him. "Joe and Leecie are on fire, did you know?"

He nodded. He wouldn't look her in the eye. Beth moved her head to catch his eye. "Marc?"

"Yeah?"

"You ok?"

"Course."

She looked away. The words were out before she even realised she had opened her mouth.

"I want someone to love me."

Marcus looked up at her in surprise. "Tom loves you."

"No he doesn't." She tucked her legs up on the table, wrapping her arms around them. "He loves the fact that he conquered me. No one really loves me. Not so that when I walk past they can't see anything else but me."

"That's not true."

"Yes it is."

"I know for a fact." He stood up and walked over to the window. Beth didn't even look at him. She was so used to telling him her secrets, but she couldn't believe she was being this trusting. Still, the words just kept tumbling out.

"Oh, really? And you know someone who loves me that badly, do you?"

"Did I say that?"

"You implied it."

"Well, yes I do."

"Ok, name them." She swung around on the table and planted her feet on the seat, her chin cupped in her hands. Marcus stood silently by the window. She remembered a conversation a lot like this they had a little while ago.

"You're too good to be mixing with the likes of Tom .You shouldn't even be talking to me."

"And who should I be mixing with?"

"I don't know, good people."

"You are good! Most of the time…"

"No, whoever gets you, though, they're one lucky son of a-"

"Like anyone would want me…"

"Anyone would want you in a second!"

"Name one."

"Anyone."

"Like? And if you say Tom, I'll slap you."

"Ok, I won't say Tom."

"Meanie. See, no one. You wouldn't ever like me like that, would you? See, no answer."

"Yeah, I would, though."

"You're just saying that."

"No I'm not. Look, what I'm saying is… actually, I don't know what I'm saying."

Both had pretended that discussion never happened afterwards. But now it came back into Beth's mind, every small detail, the way he had glanced at her, the colour in his cheeks, his deep brown eyes…

"See, no one!"

"There are some!"

"There aren't!"

"There are!"

"Name one, just one!"

"Me! Happy? Me, me, me, me, me!"

Beth reeled back in shock and slid to the floor, turning to face him squarely. "What?" she gasped.

Marcus dropped his head in his hands, biting his lip.

"You're lying."

"I'm not. I wish I was, it would be so much easier."

Her heart was pounding, he loved her! He loved her and she… she was with Tom. She couldn't stay with Tom, she couldn't, not now! He didn't want her half the time, if any reason, just to say her had her. But someone loved her and she wanted Marcus, so… so much.

"I have to break up with Tom."

"No!" he spun around. "No, you two were meant for each other."

"Give me a break, it's not me he loves and I…"

"I won't let you."

"Don't you want me?"

"No."

Beth staggered backwards. He doesn't… She turned away, her face unmasked. She was so hurt, beyond words. She didn't know what to do or say. Beth leant back against the edge of the table weakly, her eyes closed.

Marcus sighed and ran his hand over his face. "I love you, I love you so much… but do you think it would work with us?"

She wanted to scream in his face, Yes, yes it can, we can try! We can make it, I know it, so long as we love each other, that's all that matters! But the words stuck in her throat and all that came out was a tiny muffled sob.

"Beth, say something."

What could she say? Why can't they try? Why couldn't they bother? Why should they just let this chance pass, why should she say something?

"Why..?" she breathed.

"I didn't mean that."

"Yes you did." Her voice had returned. It was impersonal, fake. Dead. "People always mean the things they blurt out."

"I… I said it because I thought it would be easier." His face was white and he looked at her desperately. "Beth, if you and Tom broke up and we got together, then it didn't work out, what would happen to our friendship? Two perfectly good relationships ruined. Plus, you're probably better off with him. I'm an idiot, I'd wreck it somehow."

Beth took a deep breath. "You're not an idiot," she said slowly. She couldn't look at him, it was too hard. So close, she was happy for one blissful second and now…

"I am. No one but a complete and utter idiot would tell someone that they loved that they didn't want them."

"Forget it." She threw up her hands in surrender. She hadn't the strength to fight anymore, and she had given up. "Just forget it, you know what, forget everything! I'm sick of trying, I've loved you since… I don't know when it started, it's been growing for ages! I've tried so hard to fight it and hide it, hoping that if I was with Tom I could forget you, just… forget it…" Beth turned away with an involuntary sob.

"Truthfully, I have loved you for so long… so long! It was painful having to pretend I wasn't jealous of Tom all this time. It's been driving me crazy. But on the other hand you're the best friend I've ever had and the thought of losing you it's just... too… crazy."

"You've already said crazy. Unbearable."

"Even if you are a bit pedantic."

Beth bit her lip. She hadn't cried yet and she wouldn't. She won't.

"So, what now? Do we just keep on going as if this never happened? I can't keep living a lie, Marcus!"

He shook his head. "Maybe. But I won't be the reason you break up with him." He turned and walked briskly out of the room.