Millie
When I said I would leave early, I really did have that plan in mind but then when me and Max woke up we got a little distracted and I ended up being late to work. Max said he made it just on time but people noticed he wasn't as early as he normally was. After getting changed into my uniform I walked into the briefing room 10 minutes late which meant I was on patrol with Smithy today as punishment. Of course Smithy wasn't a mean boss and I knew we would have words about my lateness but I was hoping he would be really nice and forgiving as it was the first time I had ever been late… ever. I hadn't come up with a cover story yet, over sleeping and traffic were lame excuses he heard everyday so I needed to be a bit more creative but have something believable.

Me and Smithy went out to the area car and he got in the drivers seat "So PC Brown, do you care to explain why you were late this morning… it's not very you" He said to me as we pulled out of the yard.

"I had a flat tyre and I had to get my neighbour to change it for me. I'm not very good with cars" I told him.

"So the love bite on your neck has nothing to do with it?" He questioned.

"What love bite?" I questioned.

Smithy pulled down the sun blocker and I opened the mirror. On the left side of my neck was a love bite, I hadn't even noticed it this morning when I was getting ready, I am going to kill Max when I see him! "Sarge I'm sorry" I said.

"Don't worry about it, we have all done it. Me probably more then a few times. Just don't make a habit out of it" He told me and I agreed "So… anyone I know?" He questioned. I couldn't lie to him so I just smiled "Ok so it is someone at the station but nobody else was late today… well no one in uniform anyway. Could it possibly be someone from CID?" He questioned "Mickey? Terry? Max? Or maybe you bat for the same team like Jo" He suggested.

"Sarge!" I exclaimed "It's no one… I'm sure if I was sleeping with someone from the station then everyone would know about, especially Mel she is always on top of gossip like that as I'm sure you well know. Anyway it doesn't matter who it is, I won't be late again" I told him.

"I must admit I am intrigued. I tell you what, when Mel notices that she is going to question you like a suspect… she might even record the interview to analyse it" He joked.

"Very funny" I replied.

"Look on a serious note, the only bit of advice I have for you is this; if you are with someone that is a little higher up then don't get involved in the diplomacy of things. Do not let yourself get involved with things you shouldn't be involved in because you are a good copper and you are going places. I would hate to see things get messed up" He explained to me.

"I'll be good, I promise" I replied.

"That's what I like to hear" He stated.

I still cannot believe Max had given me a love bite. The next time I see him I am going to remind him that we were keeping everything quiet about us and I was going to be interrogated by Mel, of that I was sure. She wasn't going to let gossip like this go without a fight so now Max needed to help me come up with some sort of cover story, one that was believable and would get Mel off my back. We had spoke about this and he agreed he wouldn't leave marks where anyone could see them, I was going to kill him!

Me and Smithy came back to the station for refs and Smithy went straight to his office, I was hungry as I had missed breakfast this morning and wanted to go to the canteen but I knew everyone else was going to be in there and they would see my love bite that Max had left. No doubt I would get questioned and it was going to be really embarrassing and uncomfortable for me. I had put a little make up to on to try and cover it but it was no use, it was still noticeable… great.

"So Millie how was your TV and pizza?" Mel asked as I sat down next to her.

"It was fine" I replied.

"From the marks on your neck I would say it was pretty wild" She commented and she started laughing along with Ben, Nate and Sally.

"So who is the lucky guy?" Nate asked.

"Never you mind" I replied.

"Oh c'mon Millie don't take all the joy away from us. Is it someone in the station?" Sally questioned.

"No" I answered.

"You have to tell us who it is" Ben said.

I watched as Max came through to the canteen and I knew he heard what was going on, he stood in line smirking to himself "How was it, he certainly enjoyed himself" Sally stated.

"It was ok" I replied with a shrug. I really hoped he could hear me and I hope he knew I was pissed "Now if you excuse me I have to go and have an adult conversation with someone" I said and stood from my seat. I walked out of the canteen and made my way into the office me and Max had occupied yesterday, he must have known he was in trouble because he walked into the office and locked the door behind him "I am so mad at you right now" I told him.

"What have I done?" He asked in shock.

"Well I was late to work this morning, I was rushing to get ready and I was paired with Smithy as some sort of punishment. I gave him a rubbish excuse and he pointed out my love bite, that I didn't know I had" I explained to him and showed him it "I thought we discussed keeping us quiet. I can't very well do that if you placing love bites on my body so that everyone can see them, it leaves a lot of people curious and I have been grilled by Smithy and Mel already. I know as the day goes on it will probably be a little worse and it is all your fault" I said and crossed my arms over my chest as I finished my rant.

"Have you seen my back?" He asked.

"No" I replied.

He lifted his shirt up to reveal scratches on his back that I had obviously put there, I felt my cheeks start to warm up and I knew they were going red but that did not excuse his behaviour "No one can see those" I stated matter of factly.

"Ok I'm sorry for 'branding' you. I will be more careful next time" He promised.

"You better hope this is gone by the time we go to my parents" I pointed out.

The rest of the shift went on and I was supposed to be seeing Max after work but he came to see me at the end of my shift and told me that he had finally had a breakthrough on the case he was working on and he needed to stay. I was a bit gutted as we really only see each other after work but I knew he had been waiting for a breakthrough on this case so I told him that it was fine, I had gotten so used to spending time with Max outside of work and if he doesn't stay at my place I normally stay at him. I felt a bit lonely in my apartment when I was on my own.

"Millie do you wanna come to the pub with us or do you have booty call tonight?" Mel asked as we were getting changed.

"No I have no plans tonight and I will come for a drink, IF, you all stop with the questions and theories" I said to them.

"Fine Mrs Buzz Kill" Sally replied.

When we got to the pub Nate and Ben went to order a round of drinks in as the rest of us went and found a table we could sit at. I sat around the table with the girls and I realised that it had been a long time since I had done this and apart of me misses it. These people were my best friends and we looked out for each other at work, I don't spend much time with them anymore outside of work and I have no one to blame but myself for that. I have put my boyfriend first and my friends second, which makes me a very horrible friend and person.

Nate and Ben came over with the drinks and everyone started talking amongst themselves about what gossip they had heard, I was out of the loop. I didn't know anything really as the only time I spent with them was at work when we had other things on our minds, like catching the bad guys. Maybe tonight I could remember what it was all about and they might forgive me for being such a bad friend.

"Whoever finished their drink last has to get the next round in" I said to everyone and we all started downing our drinks.