Christine had just got her class settled and reading through Mary Shelley's Frankenstein when she saw Connor appear in the window, his expression worrying her. "Just keep reading you lot I'll just be outside." She told the class before making her way toward the door, opening it and stepping outside, shutting it behind her. "What's wrong?" she asked, and she looked to Dynasty and Imogen. "What's happened?"

"It's Steve-O's mam, miss, she's gonna try and get him off." Dynasty said shakily.

Christine looked to the girl, wanting to take all her pain away, wanting to turn back the clock so she could stop her from suffering the same fate she did. "Dynasty, it won't happen like that." She told her.

"How d'you know? Would you 'ave gone to the police if it were you? Would you 'ave tried to prove it with everyone believing him over you?" Dynasty questioned.

Imogen and Kevin froze, and Imogen looked to Connor, who looked utterly devastated. She let go of Dynasty and stood by Connor, putting an arm around him in comfort.

"Yes. Yes I would have. But I will never get that chance." Christine told her evenly, keeping her nerves and emotions in check. "But you have this chance, Dynasty. I wish I could have spoken up when I had the chance, but if you don't do this you let him win."

"Is that what happened to you? Did you let 'im win?"

Christine nodded. "And I turned to drink, and took it out on the one person I should have been protecting. So don't make the same mistake I did."

Imogen looked up to Connor and then to Christine. "And you won't be on your own either. Loads of people they think they're on their own don't they." She spoke, glancing to Dynasty.

Christine nodded. "She's right. You've got the support of the teachers, your friends, your family."

"Not me mam if she finds out what I did… we never grass…" Dynasty shook her head. "He'd have been dealt with, but not by the police… But I don't want that, I'd rather he was banged up then lyin' in a ditch somewhere."

"Well then we'll help put him there. You just have to be strong, okay? Be strong and we'll get him there." Christine promised. "Now off you go, you four should be in class." She added, and looked to Connor. "Don't give me that look, I'm fine, now go."

"C'mon…" Imogen said gently and lead him away.

"I'm not goin'…" Connor turned to look at her.

"You heard her, she'll be okay. She has to be until later, but while she's here, she's okay. We can go back to yours later just to make sure…" Imogen looked up at him, holding his hands in hers. "I can't pretend I know what you feel after hearing that. But I know she's strong, and she'll be okay."

"I know, but-"

"But nothing, Connor. You have to look after yourself. She's a grown woman and is able to look after herself." Imogen told him firmly. "You shouldn't have to worry about her. I know you do, and you can't help it, and you've had every reason, but it's time to start living your own life. And I'll be here by your side." She finished, smiling a little.

Connor looked at her, managing a small smile, dropping her hands and instead he put his arms around her in a hug. "Thank you. For sticking by me through all…" He whispered.

"That's what I'm here for." Imogen smiled.

"Oi! You two comin' or what?!" Kevin called.

Connor looked over Imogen's shoulder to his friend, who was already walking down the stairs. "Yeah." He nodded, walking with Imogen and they both rejoined Kevin and Dynasty.

"So you gonna tell us what you two were talking about then? When you disappeared." Kevin asked, looking to Connor.

Imogen shared a quick glance and a smirk with Dynasty before looking to Connor and Kevin. "Nope. Not yet anyway." She spoke. "We'll tell you later."

Connor gave a shrug. "The wife has spoken, Kev, sorry mate." He grinned, keeping his arm around Imogen as they made their way to their next class.

The talk of universities was the topic when they finally got to their lesson.

"Ah nice of you four to join us? Would you like to tell us where you've been?" the teacher asked.

"Got called to see Mrs Mulgrew, sir." Dynasty piped up before the others had a chance to think of something.

"Right well you've wasted enough time just take your seats and start thinking about your future. You can't stay at school forever."

"Yeah like we'd want to!" Connor smirked lightly as they sat down, the comment caused other students to laugh and actually agree with him.

"Well I'd quite like to do dance, I reckon I'm pretty good at it… but it would mean travellin' too far from home and my mates." Imogen shrugged.

Connor nodded. It was true, she was. Definitely a better dancer than she was a singer, resisting the urge to laugh at the vivid memory of a party at his home and Christine and Connor had managed to convince her to do a bit of karaoke. She couldn't carry a tune to save her life but it didn't stop her trying to murder some supposed old classic he mother loved.

"Oi!" Imogen nudged him, and gave him a smile. "I know what you're rememberin'! An' I warned you I couldn't do it."

"Yeah but for a deaf girl you're better than most people on X Factor!" Dynasty chipped in, earning a light, playful kick under the table from the girl.

"Don't you ever compare me to them, Dynasty Barry." Imogen smirked. "An' I'd like to see you try and do better!"

"No, you really wouldn't." Kevin smirked. "Hey, I've heard you in the shower!" he yelped out another answer as he saw her glaring.

"Think it's time to keep your mouth shut Kev." Connor smirked. "I dunno what I'd do. Not good at much am I?"

"Your drawings are really good, maybe you could put them to good use?" Imogen suggested.

"Yeah you could do designin' and things like that." Dynasty added.

Connor gave another shrug. "Yeah maybe. What about you two?"

"Well… Mrs B. always says I'm mint at cookin'." Dynasty looked to the table. It was clear to the three of them that she didn't think she was up for much in her life, and it was more prominent now than it was before.

"To be fair, you actually are. Which is a good thing, cause most girls that are all hair, nails an' make up all wanna do hair and beauty and stupid courses like that, people can go months without steppin' into a salon." Kevin pointed out.

"But people are always gonna wanna eat." Connor finished. "He's got a point."

"I hate to say it, but Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee both have a point." Imogen smirked.

"Hey!" Kevin pouted.

"Which one's which?" Connor smirked.

"Don't be fair to the missus when she's taking the piss!" Kevin continued his sulky look.

"She's right!" Dynasty laughed, leaning forward to kiss him on the cheek. "Anyway, you're next."

Kevin smiled a little. "Might sound weird, but I've always wanted to travel, see the world."

Dynasty shook her head. "It's not weird. I think it sounds really amazin'."

Imogen nodded in agreement. "Yeah."

"I thought you'd carry on with the whole technical stuff, y'know like you did with your game?" Connor looked to him.

"Yeah, but that was just a bit of fun cause I got bored. I still give Chalky a bit of help every now an' again on the phone." Kevin shrugged. "Dunno if I'll actually carry on with it though. Might do." He sighed, leaving himself undecided once more.

"Well we got loads of time to figure things out." Imogen smiled.

The others nodded in agreement, and when the teacher had called on them for their choices, each spoke up in turn.

A/N: Bit shorter than the last one, but the next one will be when all hell breaks loose and Carol finds out about Dynasty going to the police.