The next thing Nikki knew the bell was ringing shrilly and Sonya was standing just inside the door of her office. Jerking slightly as she realised that she must have fallen asleep, curled up in a chair with her daughter, the woman gently disentangled herself and stretched her limbs as she moved over to speak to the secretary.

"Aww… sorry to wake you. You two looked so cute."

"It's fine." Nikki assured her; embarrassed that she had needed to be woken. "What's up?"

"Simon wants a word."

Following the secretary out, sending a glance at her daughter over her shoulder as she went, Nikki pulled the door to. As soon as she was outside, Hollie opened her eyes. She was mortified about her breakdown during assembly. After the counselling sessions she had attended she had barely thought about the events surrounding Natalie's death at all.

Creeping towards the door, the teenager leant against the wall and pressed her ear to the gap to try and hear what was being said.

"Simon… that assembly? What was that about?" The woman snapped in an incredibly irritated voice.

"A bit of theatrics to grab the pupils' imaginations, Nikki." He replied cheerfully. "Got everyone buzzing. The resilience initiative's gonna be great."

"If you didn't notice, most of the kids were traumatised by being locked into the hall while a masked intruder appeared to beat you up! That's not even mentioning my daughter who might have just been pushed back months in her recovery after being kidnapped and shot!"

"I'm sorry about that." Mr Lowsely said and in the office the teenager could hear the apologetic tone of his voice clearly. "But in the long run this could be brilliant for Hollie. She's just the sort of kid who would benefit from the resilience initiative."

"Yeah? Well I'm gonna take a bit more persuading than that."

"Oh, Nikki, I was just like you when Simon told me his plan." Miss Spark joined the conversation. "I thought, uh-oh! This is a bit bonkers!" She laughed. "I mean, a rubber baseball bat?"

"It took me ages to get that online, didn't it?"

"And he doesn't even like ketchup!"

"I don't, do I?"

Hollie could easily picture the expression of bemused disgust that would be twisting her mother's features at that moment. She was sure that her own face was wearing an identical mask.

"However, the statistics from Hector's last school are really impressive."

"Yep, they are. So is Hector, don't you think?"

"No!" Nikki called over the sound of retreating footsteps along the corridor. "I think he's a prat!"

Hollie moved away from the door, just as it opened and her mother walked in. Nikki smiled at her and began gathering things up from the surface of her desk. She flicked through a notebook, running her finger down the page before scooping a stack of novels into her arms.

"You OK now, babe?" She asked softly, glancing over her shoulder at the teenager.

Nodding, Hollie slung her bag over her shoulder. "Yeah… I'm fine. I feel so stupid."

"Don't." Nikki ordered firmly. "After everything it's only natural that you panicked. I'm just sorry I couldn't warn you or tell you not to come into assembly. If only that pig-headed moron had–"

"It's fine, Mum. It's not your fault." She shrugged. "It's not Mr Lowsley's either. He probably didn't even know about Nat and… things…"

"Even so, why on earth would they think staging something like that was a good idea?"

Hollie shrugged and smiled weakly, kissing her on the cheek before leaving her office and heading along the corridor. She glanced at the time and wracked her brains for a moment, trying to work out where she was supposed to be. They had managed to sleep through until the bell had rung to signal the beginning of period three, meaning that they had missed break and the previous lessons completely. Hollie supposed they had needed it, neither of them having managed to get much sleep recently with various things going on, but it was embarrassing and awkward nevertheless.

Knocking on the door to the history classroom where the lesson was in full swing, Hollie waited for Miss McFall to admit her and took the only spare seat at the front of the class next to a blonde girl who was evidently new. No one mentioned her lateness or what had happened in the assembly and Hollie was grateful for their tact. Only the new girl stared at her and the brunette took an immediate dislike to her.

"And not only was this a period of huge social and political upheaval in France, but it had a radical effect on the rest of Europe too." Miss McFall continued with the lesson as though there had been no interruption. "It's not so far from modern dramas we enjoy reading and watching today. In France alone, a monarchy collapsed, a society was transformed and the poor took control from the privileged elite. As with all great historical events, what actually happened is far, far more exciting than any work of fiction that you're likely to find today." The woman stopped in front of Hollie's table. "Now perhaps our newest class member can enlighten us further? Gabriella? Would you care to share your thoughts on the French Revolution? There's no need to be shy. Did you cover this in your last school?"

"Actually, we spent quite some time on the conditions of France that led to the storming of the Bastille." The blonde beside Hollie said in a smug voice.

"Eurgh… stuck up or what?" Rhiannon called from the back of the classroom.

"Rhiannon, that's enough! Please, carry on, Gabriella."

"We studied the rise of Napoleon, the war in Europe and the Battle of Waterloo."

"Very good!" Miss McFall grinned. "Now, as Gabriella has–"

"–which was won by the Duke of Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, who went on to become Prime Minister." Gabriella interrupted.

"That's not an area we're going to be covering."

"Why not? Surely the Peninsula War is as an important a topic? The Battle of Talavera alone is a historic event of such magnitude."

"I think you'll find I'm the teacher, dear."

"Well, dear, I suggest you teach me something I don't already know then."

Miss McFall was evidently doing her best to keep her temper. Her face fell instantly. "Go to the Cooler, please."

"I don't know where that is."

"I can show her, Miss." Rhiannon offered enthusiastically at once.

"Everybody read chapter six of your books quietly, please." Miss McFall ordered. "And you, madam, come with me."

As Gabriella gathered her things and walked towards the door, she bashed Hollie with her bag. The brunette swore loudly, rubbing the back of her head and scowling after the blonde. Miss McFall didn't even bother to chastise the teenager for her language, glaring at the newcomer as she stalked through the classroom door and into the corridor.

"What a bitch!" Hollie muttered, swivelling in her seat to talk to Zoe and Dynasty on the table behind her. "What is her problem?"

"Rhiannon's right… stuck up cow." Zoe sighed, flicking through the textbook for the chapter their teacher had asked them to read. "Are you OK?"

"Fine."

Dynasty looked at her carefully. "Really? 'Cos you know you can tell us, babes."

"Seriously, I'm OK." She buried her head in her textbook to avoid any more questions.

Miss McFall returned to the class in time to set their homework before the bell rang and Hollie was one of the first out of the room. She couldn't bear to see anyone looking at her with anything resembling pity and she didn't want to have to fend off questions about why she had freaked out as badly as she had or where she'd been for most of the morning.

Hollie only made it as far as the end of the corridor before Dynasty and Imogen caught up with her. They each pushed an arm through one of hers and almost frogmarched her towards the science labs. Neither of them said anything about her strange behaviour that morning, but they chattered about inconsequential things as they settled themselves at their table.

"So, when a substance dissolves in liquid it forms a solution." Mrs Lowsley was explaining, although none of the trio was really paying any attention at all. "Now, the substance we're using here is sugar crystals and the liquid is water."

Hollie prodded at the water unenthusiastically, before she noticed Dynasty pushing a mobile across the surface of the table. She frowned in confusion, looking between the two girls as Imogen grabbed it hastily and moved it into her lap and out of sight.

"Is that Connor's? How'd you get it?"

"Don't worry. I'll put it back." Dynasty assured her. "You wanna know who he's been talking to, don't ya?"

"I dunno…"

"Uhh… I hope you're focused on the experiment, girls?" Their teacher demanded irritably from the front of the class.

"Sorry, Miss Spark." Dynasty apologised with absolutely no sincerity at all.

"It's Mrs Lowsley, now." She corrected her. Hollie pulled a face at her friends as the woman continued. "So, the aim of what we're doing is to see how by changing the temperature of the water how it changes the speed at which the sugar dissolves. You could probably have that a little bit higher, Rhiannon."

"Connor's been acting weird and kissing random girls and you don't wanna know what's been going on?"

"Wait… what? Connor's been kissing random girls?" Hollie demanded, looking between them with a frown. "What?"

"Hollie, concentrate, please."

"Sorry, Miss Spark."

The teacher huffed. "Mrs Lowsley!"

Dynasty waited until the teacher had wandered away before elaborating. "This morning that Gabriella girl kissed him in front of everyone."

Hollie shook her head. "That's not really Connor's fault though, is it?"

"But is she the only one he kissed?"

"It sounds more like she kissed him and he didn't really play an active part in it."

Dynasty shrugged. "I'd still want to know."

"I don't know his password."

"Oh, you don't need to." Dynasty grinned. "I've unlocked it. Our Barry showed me how."

Imogen tapped at the screen for a moment, before her eyes widened and she raised the mobile so that her friends could see the display. Hollie and Dynasty shared a look, their eyes widening as well as they read the name in the messages list.

"Who is Cookie?"

"I don't know…"

"Call the number." Dynasty suggested.

"No!"

"If you don't you won't know." Hollie reasoned.

"No more talking girls!" Their teacher snapped.

"Sorry Miss Spark."

"Mrs Lowsley!" She exclaimed, clearly exasperated. "Excuse me! If there's something that interests you more than my class, I'd like to know what it is."

"Ooh… bad move." Hollie muttered shaking her head. "I can think of a million answers to that one…"

"Things more interesting than this class?" The irritating voice of the new girl met their ears and Hollie was annoyed to realise that they might have been on the same wavelength with their answers. "How long have you got?"

"Put the phone away, please, or I'll be forced to confiscate it." They watched as the blonde completely ignored the woman and continued tapping away at her mobile. "OK, hand it over."

"Oh, I love your ring, Miss."

"Oh… thank you."

"It's amazing what you can get in pound shops these days."

"Cooler now, please!"

Hollie shook her head as the girl sauntered out of the room with a smug smirk plastered on her face. "She needs a serious reality check."

"She's a bitch."

"Girls! Concentrate!"

"Yes, Miss Spark." They chorused.

"Mrs Lowsley!"

On their way into English that afternoon, Dynasty grabbed Gabriella by the arm and warned her to stay away from Connor. The blonde looked her up and down with distain. Hollie stood beside her friend in a show of silent support, until Gabriella called Kevin chavvy and then it was Dynasty holding Hollie back, reminding her she didn't need another trip to the Cooler.

"Settle down, please!" Tom shouted as he entered the room and saw the girls virtually ready to come to blows. "Hollie, Dynasty, seats."

"You just watch yourself." Hollie threatened as she pushed roughly past the blonde and took a seat at the back table with Imogen, Dynasty and Rhiannon.

Tom handed out the novels and told them to think about what they'd take with them if they were stranded on an Island. The conversation on their table immediately turned away from Robinson Crusoe and the task at hand as Imogen filled them in on her conversation with Connor.

"Right, Dynasty." Tom called, focusing the class' attention once more. "What have you got?"

"Erm… lip balm." Everyone laughed at her answer. "What? I'd die without it in all that sunshine."

"What about something more practical? Gabriella?"

"Swiss Army Knife." The blonde said at once. Hollie and Dynasty rolled their eyes in unison.

"Good answer! Hollie?"

"A kettle. I need caffeine."

"True," he chuckled, agreeing from experience, "but where are you going to plug it in on a desert island?"

She frowned for a moment. "Solar panel."

Tom laughed and shook his head slightly. "I'm not sure that would work, but never mind."

When they packed up their things at the end of the lesson, Tom caught Hollie's arm and pulled her back. Her friends smiled and left them, but Gabriella shot her a curious look, glancing back through the window in the door as it shut behind her.

"Are you OK, love?" He asked, perching on the table beside her.

"Yeah, I am." She nodded with a warm smile. "I freaked out with that thing in assembly this morning… but I am OK."

"Sure?"

Hollie laughed. "I'm sure. What about you? Found a flat yet?"

He shook his head. "It's harder than it seems! I'm going to look at a couple after work. Maybe you can come and give me an opinion if I find something I like?"

"Sounds like a plan." The teenager agreed. "Look… Is there no chance that you and Mum can sort this out and get back together?"

Tom sighed deeply. "I don't think so, Hol, not this time. If I'm totally honest I don't think we should have got back together at all. It wasn't right."

"It was because of AJ, wasn't it?"

"Partly… and because of you and Josh. I'm always going to love your mum… but I'm not in love with her anymore and she's not in love with me, either. I don't know if she ever really was or whether she just wanted you to have a family."

"She did love you, Tom. She does love you."

With a smile, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her into his side. Hollie snuggled closer, closing her eyes and nuzzling her face into the crook of his neck. She had just got comfortable when the door opened and they both jumped slightly at the intrusion.

"Oh, I'm sorry to interrupt." Gabriella said, her perpetual smug smirk on her face as she looked at them. "I thought I'd left my pencil case in here."

"I can't see it." Tom told her casually, sliding off the table and moving to where the blonde had been sitting. "You're welcome to have a look, though."

"Oh, no, it's clearly not there. Sorry to disturb you."

"I'd better get going." Hollie said as the door closed. "I'll catch you later."

She hurried from the room, sending Tom a smile as she went. As soon as she walked out into the corridor, Gabriella pounced on her. Hollie narrowed her eyes as the girl backed her towards the wall.

"You and Mr Clarkson, eh?"

"Don't be sick." Hollie snapped. "He's my stepdad."

Gabriella snorted. "Really? Do you think I'm stupid?"

"Yes." The brunette answered immediately. "But I'm also not lying. Ask anyone."

"Like he'd go for someone as cheap and tacky as you, anyway." Gabriella smirked. "I bet he's got far better taste."

"I already warned you to watch your mouth."

"What are you going to do?"

The taunting tone of the blonde's challenge was too much for Hollie to cope with and she snapped. All of the tension that had been simmering inside her since that morning, all of the emotions that went hand-in-hand with the flashbacks that had consumed her, broke loose and she saw red.

Pulling back her hand, she rammed it into the girl's face with every ounce of strength she had, sending Gabriella crashing backwards into the far wall of the corridor. Letting out a startled scream, the blonde crumpled into a heap on the floor, one hand clutching her jaw as she stared wide-eyed at her assailant.

"Hollie? Cooler! Now!" Mr Lowsley ordered, evidently having seen what happened.

She didn't argue, knowing that she deserved the punishment but not being able to bring herself to regret her actions. Quickly, she walked through the corridors and into the Cooler. Miss McFall was sitting at the desk when she entered and sighed as the teenager took a seat at one of the tables, turning to write her name on the white board behind her.