A/N: Sorry for the delay in updating. I've been distracted by other projects.

Thank you to: JustAnotherObserver, Miss Peg and Anigen for reviewing part two.

x tromana

Part Three - Liv

She knows that she's watching. Can feel her eyes practically boring into her soul. It makes her squirm and feel a little, no, very uncomfortable.

Then again, Franky Fitzgerald has that kind of effect on people. It's something about the way she looks at you. Knowing eyes, that's what Liv's always thought about her. She just knows too much.

And in some respects, that's true. Good grief, the girl's seen her naked. Not only that, she's seen her having sex, fucking Matty, and on more than one occasion. That's something that is meant to be intimate, private. Definitely not to be watched by prying, uninvited eyes.

Yet, Franky invites herself. And continues to do so.

It's a violation and she knows it. Yet somehow, Liv can't bring herself to stop Franky. The odd dry, sarcastic comment is the most she can muster. Each and every time the snide words drip off of her lips, Franky flinches in reaction and then pushes it to one side as if it means nothing. Liv knows that if she were to try harder, then Franky would stop watching. The girl is obviously scared of human contact; the only way she can experience it is by observing others. If Liv were to push her that little too far, then that would be it. She would have her privacy back. Be able to keep all intimate liaisons to herself once more.

But does she want that? Really? There's a dark thrill in the whole situation. About knowing that somebody else is there, peeking through the cracks. If it really unsettled her, then Liv would drag Matty somewhere much more private to fuck. Instead, she practically encourages Franky to watch because it makes the whole thing seem a little more… dangerous.

Liv tries to dispel the thoughts from her minds. She spots Grace, tries to corner her. It's as good a distraction as any. However, it's soon clear that Grace is far more interested in her boyfriend. Her eyes are clearly fixated on Rich, at the expense of anyone and everything else. There's no denying that the girl has changed since getting together with Rich. Everything Liv has known since before Roundview has changed.

Mini seems to have forgiven her for sleeping with Nick, after all, she did invite her to this party but then again, she can't entirely be sure. It might just be an act, like she wants to lure her in before hurting her yet again. She can't tell, not really, because Mini has this deep-running manipulative streak, despite being genuinely sweet on the outside.

Liv's not blessed with Franky's intuition for these things. If she were, then she would have been able to get inside Mini's head and work out what the fuck she's thinking.

Part of her wishes she can go back to the good old days. When sex, drugs and alcohol weren't all that seemed to fuel her. Back when her mum seemed like a responsible adult, her elder sister wasn't imprisoned and Maude was still a baby. It was all so much easier back then. She knew who her friends were, that they weren't about to stab her in the back at any given time and things were just fun. Instead, it's all complicated now. Men seem to make everything more difficult. Then, there's the prospect of university looming. They'll be spread across the country then and if they are definitely close friends, then how can they guarantee that they'll last the distance?

Even in the age of social networking, it's easy to fall out of the habit of e-mailing or texting somebody. People get lazy, get distracted by new mates, new men, new pubs and clubs. The old ones just get left by the wayside.

Liv shakes her head again. This is not the time to be thinking like this. It's a party, for fuck's sake. She's meant to be having fun, getting pissed, getting high. That's exactly what everyone else is doing, after all. Briefly, she glances over at the sofa where Grace had been headed. Her friend is already getting very comfortable with boyfriend, without a care in the world. Obviously, whatever cocktail of substances Little Miss Gracie is on has gone straight to her head. Normally, she and Rich left displays of affection behind closed doors. Unlike herself and Matty…

Then, she spots him, across the room. His trademark crooked smile creeps across his face as their eyes connect. Liv feels that familiar rush of adrenaline course through her veins. She shudders slightly as she weaves her way through the crowds.

It's more difficult than it sounds. Half-clad bodies of people she barely knows writhe around her. Where Mini knows all these people from, she hasn't a clue. And quite frankly, she doesn't care either. Besides, it's also entirely possible that Mini doesn't know everybody here. News about parties spreads like wildfire and everyone seems to like to gatecrash.

Eventually, she makes it, however. Briefly, she glances to one side. No Franky. Yet. Then again, she seems to be able to hide in the shadows, so that's nothing new.

Matty doesn't say anything to her. He just wraps his hand around her own and drags her outside, into the back garden. The cold air hits her like a rush and almost immediately, she regrets wearing so little. Then again, clothing designed for partying was never designed for the Great British weather. She'd have to move a long way if she wanted half her wardrobe to be deemed 'practical'.

He notices she's shivering and slips off his jacket. With rounded eyes, she notices the telltale packet in the inner pocket. A familiar white powder; she doesn't even need him to tell her it's MDMA. As he places the garment around her shoulders, he hands her the bag. Liv's slightly disgruntled when he disappears on her briefly, but she understands why. This kind of thing is far easier to swallow with something else. The taste is foul, even if the after-effects are so, so worth it.

Minutes later, he produces a drink. Wine, she thinks, but she can't quite be sure in the dim light. Swiftly, he opens the bag and almost automatically, she opens her mouth. Gently, he places the drugs on her tongue and she takes a quick swig of the booze. Then, she returns the compliment. It's the least she can do. After all, he's the one who's making this stupid fucking party interesting for her.

Like he always does.

For a short while, they sit in silence, smoking spliffs and staring at the night sky. It's good to be alone, in the peace and quiet. Good to stop worrying about whether or not she's constantly being watched. And it's especially good being beside Matty, who's more than happy to bend to her every whim and supply her with whatever she wants.

She smiles as the MDMA finally hits her system. This is going to be good.