MINI POV

Franky avoided me for days. At college when she saw me walking down a hallway she would duck her head and frantically look around for a way out. She reminded me somewhat of a hunting animal caught in the crosshairs. I didn't smile or wave or do anything that would indicate I was approachable. I didn't particularly want to talk to her either but I certainly liked having the upper hand in our non-argument. What we had was what existed in the absence of confrontation.

Although I was happy Franky avoided me for now, I needed to know why. If it was simply because she felt guilty about lying to Liv and I (which she should anyway) that would make life so much simpler. But if it was because she sensed...what I felt, and knew the news of her and Matty would upset me well, then that needed to be dealt with. I still didn't completely know my feelings let alone understand them so there was no bloody way I was ready for anyone else to know or to pass judgement. Events in the woods had made me weak and too many times I had let my feelings show. As they had changed over the last few weeks I had given myself pep talk after pep talk, convincing myself it was all nonsense. I mean really, what was I doing? I was Mini McGuiness for God's sake! To myself just as much as the others I had hid my feelings behind friendship, fiercely telling anyone that questioned it, like Matty, that Franky was my best friend, and I was only protecting her. It wasn't a complete lie.

As I walked out the main doors of college, I spotted a familiar little figure walking up the steps towards me. She had her head down, pushing against a crowd, so she hadn't noticed me yet. Feeling evil I moved myself straight into her path. I waited until she was directly in front of me before I loudly called her name. Her eyes flicked up to me, a look of panic on her face.

"Mini," she gasped. "I...I'm running really late, sorry. I need to..." she trailed off as she stepped around me, practically fleeing up the steps and through the doors. I smiled to myself. I was being cruel and petty I know, but the other option was screaming my lungs out and throwing things at people's heads.

As I reached the bottom of the steps I saw Matty leaning against the fence, staring at me with those stupid eyes of his. I marched over, pushing past him angrily.

"What is your problem Matty?" I demanded. Before I could shove away from him he gripped my elbow in a lightly but firmly.

"Mini. What are you doing?" he asked me in that dangerous-quiet tone of his. His eyes blazed at me, pinning me with their intensity. Huffily I tried to pull my arm out of his grip but he wasn't letting go.

"What the fuck do you think you are doing? Matty let go of me!" I hissed at him.

Swiftly he turned away from the college, still dragging me by the elbow. I screeched at him furiously as he pulled me along behind him, headed for the park. When we arrived behind some trees he roughly let go of my arm and turned to face me.

"Now. Tell me Mini. What is going on?" He glared at me angrily, clearly expecting an answer. I stared at him incredulously. God knows what he was expecting me to say? Was he anticipating some sort of confession? Because he sure as hell wasn't getting one.

I laughed disbelievingly, throwing my hands up in the air in exaggerated outrage. 'What are you on about Matthew?" His expression didn't change. The intensity of his gaze made me falter slightly. I moved to push around him but he stepped to block me. I took a few steps back, sizing him up. I wasn't laughing any more.

"Matty..." I began. He shook his head seriously, sensing the lie on my tongue.

"Tell me what is going on Mini. Why are you being such a fucking bitch again? You and Liv, you're not exactly being subtle. So what's the problem?" I glanced down at the ground guiltily. I knew I was being a bitch but to have someone confront me with it was difficult. Something in my mind snapped.

"We know Matty. You and Franky have been sneaking around, thinking you're so clever but it's so bloody obvious!" I burst out angrily. My hands were clenched in angry fists.

The smallest look of surprise flashed across Matty's eyes, but he hid it quickly. The tension in his body eased. If I didn't know better I would say he was relieved. And that made me angry. "Come on then. Shouldn't you look a little guilty?" I demanded. "You betrayed Liv and you lied to us all. We are supposed to be your friends but you two, you just lied to our faces!" I felt my anger spilling out. Everything I had been pushing away for days suddenly flooded into my mind, blurring my reason.

"I'm sorry Mini. We didn't do this right. It's...been strange, we didn't even know what was going on." His voice was sincere and his eyes were apologetic. I felt myself soften slightly, looking upon his face. "But...I love her" he finished, raising his eyes to mine. As quickly as they had arrived all thoughts of forgiveness fled from my head as a wave of anger washed over me. This anger directed at Matty confused me just as much as my feelings towards Franky did. I shot him a deathly look channelling all my anger and bitterness into it.

"So you've worked out what you feel then" I spat at him. This time he did not hide his surprise. He understood my initial anger but could not understand the strength of my hatred. His gazed changed to quizzical. I continued to glare at him as he studied my face, my clenched fists, and the tears that I now realised were trickling down my cheeks.

His eyes widened slightly. "You love her," he said softly, in slow realisation.

I flashed him a look, panic betraying itself in my eyes. I took a step backwards shaking my head. "You don't know what the fuck you're talking about Matty" I mumbled.

A wicked smile broke his face. "I think I, of all people, know."

Suddenly anger blazed in my mind. I pushed past him angrily and stormed off across the park. I didn't look back at Matty but I knew he was watching me leave with that annoying gaze of his. Behind me he called out.

"You can't hide forever Mini."