We are getting to the pointy end of the story now guys. Hope you enjoy this chapter :). x

FRANKY POV

We had arrived back at Mini's house. Her mum was out again with some man, and it was dark and quiet. After the club Mini had not very subtlety suggested that Nick leave with Lottie. The two of them seemed perfect for each other. We hadn't even been properly introduced, all we had known was that Mini's bombshell of a cousin was bounding along with us all blonde curls and lip gloss smiles. In many ways she was like Mini; stunningly beautiful, obviously confident and incredibly dramatic. And there was something childlike about her that reminded me of Mini too. Despite the way she was fluttering her eyelashes at Nick like there was no tomorrow I could believe that she was a little bit naive, an innocent. I found myself smiling at the irony that she was practically throwing herself at nick. I wondered if she knew he was her cousin's ex. Mind you, I had a feeling it wouldn't have mattered a great deal. And Mini had seemed to think it was a great idea. Maybe she had just wanted to get rid of her, she seemed nice but such high energy that I could understand even Mini finding her tiring.

So our straggling little band had wandered, skipped and stumbled our way back to Mini's house. A few blocks from hers we lost Nick and Lottie who wandered off towards a park. No one seemed to notice. I watched them go with mild curiosity. Grace and Rich were leading our group, arms tucked around each other waists. Alo followed some distance behind, singing some drunken ballad loudly to himself and Matty wandered behind him occasionally being pulled into a rough embrace by Alo. Mini and Liv walked together after them. I think they were talking quietly and Mini kept glancing around her nervously. That was in between the dark looks she was throwing at Matty's back. I trailed along a fair distance behind them. My girl skills weren't the best but lately even I could sense that something was terribly wrong with our friendship.

I thought back to that sports class in the gym. Mini had swung between cheery smiles and deathly stares and I couldn't understand her at all. She had acted like she was angry at me for what had happened in her kitchen with Matty, but she wouldn't even tell me that she knew, which it was obvious now she did. In fact, most of the time she had been trying to make it clear that she didn't notice him at all.

I had come very close to telling her the truth then. That the kiss was all there was. Because nothing had happened. Nothing ever happened I thought bitterly. And it was all my fault as usual. I wanted Matty, yes perhaps I had been telling the truth and I even loved him, but I still pushed him away. He let me too.

We hadn't touched since that night in the kitchen, not really, and he had just circled around me, smiling, laughing, being there. He said it was alright, that he just wanted to take things slow and I didn't have the heart to tell him that it wasn't even a matter of taking things slow. I was scared and I wasn't sure that I would ever be ready for this.

And then everything with Mini had started. She had reverted back to her queen bitch days of when I arrived. Our gang had fallen apart, no one really sat together anymore and when we were together everyone glanced between Liv and Matty or Mini and I. I didn't know what was going on and all I wanted was Mini. I wanted to be able to tell her everything. She was so good at listening and saying the right thing and I couldn't have that. Instead I had added her to my list of problems, of people to avoid.

Tonight at the club had confused me even more. It was obvious there was something going on between Mini and Matty. When I walked in and saw Mini dancing with that guy, an empty bottle of vodka swinging from her hand I had been surprised. It was a very Liv stunt to pull. Normally Mini would have been far too classy for that. And then I had noticed the way she was staring at Matty, and the way Matty was staring back. It was like they were having a whole conversation with their eyes, an important one. It looked to me like Matty was challenging her and the second that he moved she had flung herself at the guy she was with. Matty had just walked away but I had been transfixed by the sight of them. I couldn't tear my eyes away and I couldn't help but think of the moment in Mini's house, in the bathroom, when we had been so close and the tension had felt like it would break us in two. I realised that I knew Mini, and this wasn't how she behaved when she was happy, so what was she playing at. She had seen me looking at her, over the boys shoulder. I could have sworn I saw tears in her eyes. But it must have been the lights. The next second she just pushed away from him and ran outside. I had wanted to follow her but I knew she wouldn't let me so I had found Liv, told her what had happened and watched her walk out the door after Mini instead.

Matty wouldn't tell me what was going on, he just smiled at me in an annoying way. So I had decided to wait, wait and hope that everything would become clearer. Perhaps tonight was the catalyst. I don't think we had all been together like this in a while. I was surprised that everyone had gone back to Mini's. By everyone I do of course mean Matty and I.

We all stumbled up to Mini's front door. Liv, Matty and Mini went in. Alo was still singing at the top of his voice on the doorstep. Grace frantically tried to shush him glancing around the houses. A few lights had come on in upstairs rooms. Alo only dramatically took a bow and wrapped his arms around Grace's neck.

"Let the audience applaud Gracie. They love me. Oh they really love me!"

He was so drunk. He pulled her into the house. I followed more sedately. The hallway was still pitch black, it seemed no one had found the light switch yet. I fumbled around on the wall near the door till I found it. As the passage was lit up I saw that everyone had found their way to the kitchen. Except for Mini. She was halfway down the stairs when the light went on. She froze, looking at me. We stood for a while, sizing each other up. I couldn't read the expression on her face clearly. When she first saw me I swear happiness flashed across her eyes but she quickly hid it by something else. Contempt? Distaste? Hatred?

"I left my...upstairs" she mumbled, turning tail and disappearing onto the landing, leaving me standing alone in the hallway, looking up the stairs after her. Sighing I headed towards the kitchen. I got as far as the door. I heard the others inside, shouting and laughing. Alo was singing again, and I'm pretty sure Grace had joined him. Making a decision I spun around and marched up the stairs.

Mini was in the bathroom when I got onto the landing, cleaning mascara of her face. She turned around in surprise when she heard my footsteps. I stood in the doorway of the bathroom, contemplating my next move. I hadn't actually thought this far. She looked at me coldly.

"What do you want Franky?" she said in a tired voice. She glanced away from me dismissively but I didn't leave. Silently I moved further into the room and shut the door behind me. This was familiar. Leaning against the door staring at Mini I was reminded of the night after the not-wedding.

Mini was watching me in the mirror. "What are you doing?"

"We need to talk Mini" I said. "What's going on?"

"Well you've practically locked us in the bathroom that's what's going on."

"What was with all that shit you were pulling tonight? And don't give me some bullshit about having a good time. I know it's not you."

"What? Having a good time isn't me? Gee thanks." she said sarcastically turning away.

"You know what I mean."

She wouldn't look at me. Instead she was busily organising little bottles on the counter top.

"Mini just tell me please. Coz I really don't think I can handle m..."

"What's going on with you and Matty?" she interrupted me. She turned around to look at me, leaning against the countertop.

I thought about my answer for a second. "There's nothing going on" I told her truthfully. She nodded thoughtfully, processing this.

"But that night in the kitchen- something happened?"

I nodded. "Yes. Something happened. But I don't know what it meant, what it means. Right now there is nothing going on."

She glanced down at the floor trying to hide some thought or emotion. I looked at her keenly. "Mini. Would it matter if there was something going on?"

"I'm sorry" she said quietly. She lifted her head and I could see there were tears pouring down her cheeks. "I've done it again haven't I? Always the bitch" she said with bitterness. I moved towards her and wrapped her in a hug, this was strange for me but it felt alright. She froze, resisting for a second before hugging me back.

"Oh Mini what's the matter?" I asked. She shook her head sniffing.

"I've been horrible. I thought you two were...you know...together. And I was angry because I thought you had lied to us. And..." she trailed off.

"And what?"

But she wouldn't answer me. She looked into my eyes and placed her hands on my cheeks. I looked back at her blankly. Her eyes moved from mine to my lips and back again. I held my breath and waited for her to say something.

"And I love you."