It wasn't three hours later and Tom and Beth were halfway through a raging fight.

"What do you care?! You never cared about me!"

He didn't deny it. "You've been hanging around with Flint, have you kissed him?"

"No."

"Have you?"

"NO!"

"Better not have."

"Sure, like you care."

"If he takes what's mine."

"I'M NOT YOURS!"

Tom stared at her. Her face was red with fury and her blue eyes were flashing wildly. With her untamed curling hair, her fierce blue eyes and her bright red cheeks, she looked scary. Despite her tiny figure. "I never was, I don't love you, you were never there for me, ever! You were too busy flirting, nicking off, just not being there! Don't you know how miserable I've been lately? I can't do this anymore, even if I did love you! Just go away!"

Tom shook his head, in disbelief. "No, you don't mean that. Beth, please…"

"Don't, Tom. Just… just don't." She held up her hands and backed away. "Don't beg."

He stared at her then turned away. He breathed hard, hyperventilating. Tom's voice was harsh and quiet. "It's Marcus, isn't it? You love him, not me."

"This isn't about Marcus-"

He swore. "It bloody well is! You love him, not me! How much more can he take from me, steal-"

"He never stole me from you, you never had me to begin with!" She took a deep breath. "I don't love you. You need to accept that, I did, but now I don't. You were never there for me and now…"

Tom stared at her then, with a roar of fury, stormed from the room.

Two days later Beth was walking across the grounds. Tom's reaction had stunned her and she hadn't spoken to Marcus since she had told him about the split. Leecie had been great, giving hugs and always ready to remind her that "boys are stupid." Jessi had stayed well away, wisely, Beth thought.

Beth had decided to take a walk across the grounds to clear her head. Ever since she had… let's admit it, dumped Tom, she had felt terrible. He walked around the school miserably, sniping at anyone who was foolish enough to walk past. Joe had constantly been trying to get details out of her but Beth snapped her mouth shut if he probed just a little. Emily just sat back and watched. This worried Beth. Emily never sat back, she loved to be in with the gossip.

A raised voice floated over from the tress of the forest. Beth frowned. She crept over and froze at the sound of an argument.

"… you and her, like everyone else, just sticking their big oar in!"

Beth peered around a tree and gasped. Tom and Leecie were standing face to face, faces screwed up furiously. As she watched, Leecie pushed Tom in the chest.

"Well excuse me for caring!"

Tom glared down at Leecie then pushed her back, pinning her against a tree. Beth, staring in shocked horror, couldn't move.

"Watch it," Tom hissed. "Don't forget who I am! Though it looks as though you've forgotten… want a reminder?"

A dark smile lit Tom's features. Beth felt a terror-filled shudder run through her. Leecie struggled in vain.

"You don't scare me."

"Well perhaps I will, with a little does of pain." He raised his wand slowly and menacingly. Leecie froze at the sight of it. They were about ten feet from where Beth stood hidden in the shadows, but she could still see the glint of fear rising in Alicia's eyes.

"Tom… if you hurt me for trying to be a friend then… then you're a lot weaker than I thought you were."

A tear trickled down her cheek. It was the sight of this tear, glistening silver in the dim light, that jolted Beth into reality. She was running at full speed as she hit Tom, her hands held out in front of her. She caught him in the side and threw him away from Leecie with all the strength she could muster.

"Leave her alone!"

The horrible evil look in his eyes diminished and he looked at Beth like an abashed, guilt-ridden child. "What… what are you doing here?" he gasped.

She glared at him in disgust and fury. "I was going to talk to you, but it turns out I had to rescue a friend instead!" she spat, waving a hand in Leecie's direction.

"You were looking for me...?" A small smile flashed but disappeared almost immediately. "It's not like I was going to do anything, she's fine."

Leecie, rubbing her sore arms, huffed behind Beth and muttered something that sounded like a word you would not repeat in front of your grandmother. Beth turned, concerned. "You ok, Leece?"

Alicia nodded and turned to head back up to the castle. Tom scoffed.

"Shut up, you," Beth muttered. "And yes, I was coming to find you and tell you that there are a million other girls out there, I'm not the only one!"

Tom stared at her then shook his head, running his fingers through his spiked black hair. He looked up and fixed his grey-eyed gaze on Beth. "Yeah, there are millions of girls out there. And I could have anyone I chose. But I don't want anyone else… I want you." He looked at her then turned and walked off across the grounds, leaving Beth to lean back against a nearby tree to force her hands to stop shaking madly.