Commuters packed into car like sardines in a tin. Marianne clung to a pole, not daring to look over her shoulder where Pete had taken a seat. She wondered how long she would have to ride on that line till she could get off without being noticed. Tapping her fingers on the yellow metal, she returned a friendly nod from an older woman knitting by the window. Relaxing a little, she didn't notice the shift in passengers behind her as they made their first stop.

"There, love, take a seat." She felt a tap on her shoulder and turned to see that Pete Dunham was offering her his place. His eyes widened as he recognized her. Giving a guffaw, he ran a hand over his shaved head. "Marianne called Mari is it? They kick you out already?"

Shrinking from his close proximity in the cramped car, Marianne trained her eyes forward. "They're going out on a date."

Pete scoffed. "Ain't that typical. Well, take the seat then."

"I'm fine."

The train gave a strong jolt and she fell sideways into him. She didn't have the chance to collect herself before he had moved her over to the seat. Gracelessly, she tumbled back into it.

"Yeah, you look like you're doin' fine."

He stood by the pole next to her, facing outwards and studying the crowd. Marianne crossed her arms over her chest and turned her body away, hoping he would get the hint that she wasn't interested in small talk. He didn't.

"So what are you doing out here anyway? Shouldn't you be going for a spa day with your sis or whatever it is you birds like to do?"

Marianne hugged her purse to her body. "They had plans."

"Plans?"

"Date night."

"So what does that leave you to do? Ride around on the Tube by yourself?"

The lady with the knitting gave her an inquisitive look as though asking if she was okay. Marianne smiled quietly and looked down at her chipped manicure. "Just looking for somewhere to eat."

"Personally, I think you look like you could use a drink," he commented, his tone dropping as he leaned towards her. "I'm heading over to a local place you might like, unless you were sticking to the tourist route."

Marianne stiffened. "I'm fine."

"Right. Sorry, I forgot." Pete snickered. "Oh well. Have fun then, Yank."

With that, he trotted off the train as it came to a stop. Marianne let out her breath and avoided watching him disappear around the corner as the subway car started again. Putting in her headphones, she got off at the next stop. She had no idea where she was as she emerged into a light drizzle. Studying the street, she found that she was less exuberant than before she had run into Pete Dunham. Keeping her eyes to her feet, she strode down the sidewalk until the drizzle turned to a heavier rain. She turned a corner and spied a shabby Cyber Cafe.

As she emerged into the warm air of the small cafe humming with the drone of a dozen PCs, she wandered towards the coffee bar and ordered an Americano. Steaming cup in hand, she slid behind a free monitor and decided to conquer her fear of the internet while she waited for the rain to clear. The chances of her seeing anything about the video were slim to none. She wouldn't check her MySpace page or the underground gossip site for BC students where most of the rumors were swelling. Catie had said it would probably be forgotten in a matter of weeks but Marianne knew it would take much longer for her.

Pulling up her email on Yahoo, she perused the numerous spam advertisements that gummed up her mailbox after neglecting it for so long. Towards the top, sent the day before she'd left, there was an unopened file with the subject box bearing a single word. Sorry. Marianne's stomach lurched as she read the sender. JmcRae83, Justin's handle. Pushing away from the desk, she sucked in a lungful of air. The nearby patrons glanced at her curiously before turning back to their monitors.

Gathering her nerve, she pulled the rolling chair towards the computer once more. She tapped her fingers rapidly on the mouse before taking the dive and clicking the email open.

Please contact me. I can't let it end like this. This wasn't my fault. I wish you'd believe me.

Justin

Marianne clicked the delete button then purged her trash bin. Downing her coffee, she rushed from the cafe like it was on fire. Thankfully the rain had abated though the sky was still a heavy gray. The weight of his words weighed her down as she walked, her steps jerky. She wished she had Catie with her to tell her that she had done the right thing. She needed to cut all communication with him or else risk further contamination. Even reading that email had made her feel dirty. Perhaps Pete was right, maybe she did need a drink.

Losing herself in Regina Spektor's album 'Soviet Kitsch', she pulled out one of her ear buds and looked around only to realize she was miserably lost. Cars lined both sides of a street with uniform buildings looming overhead. With a nervous clip to her step, she crossed the road and walked down towards a corner pub. An array of benches sat outside it, a scattering of people milling around them with plastic cups of beer in their fists.

"Excuse me," she called out tentatively as she approached the pub. "I'm sorry but-"

"Marianne?"

A young man rose from a bench and tossed his cigarette to the ground. An inquisitive smile tugged at John Bovver's thin lips as he sauntered towards her. Marianne stashed her headphones in her purse, trying not to feel pleased at seeing a familiar face. She reminded herself she barely knew him.

"I made it to my sister's alright," she said with a short laugh.

"Did yah? Then what are you doing all the way out here?"

She shrugged. "Just taking a walk."

"All alone?" He frowned. "Now I'm not tryin' to be your dad or nothin' but that might not be such a good idea later on. It's football day around here and things can get pretty dodgy."

"Yeah I heard but actually-" she winced up at him. "I think I'm lost."

"Again? Marianne, c'mon now," he replied playfully. "I don't think I caught your last name."

"Buckner."

"Can I buy you a beer and then help get you pointed in the right direction?"

Marianne cocked her head to the side, the sounds of laughter escaping from the pub as the door opened. Perhaps it would do her some good to be around people right then, forget about the email and what she was going to tell her sister. She nodded.

"Yeah, I guess that sounds good."

Bovver snorted. "You just guess? I can go with that. C'mon then. I'll introduce you to some other blokes. Don't usually like outsiders but I think we can make an exception."