A/N: Chapter title taken for the song 'Friday Night' by Lily Allen.

"Mum, where's my bag? The black one?" Claudine rooted around the lounge frantically to no avail. No answer came and Claudine ran up the stairs, two at a time, to find her mother who was spark out asleep in the middle of her bed. Closing the door, Claudine ran back down the stairs, wrote a note to her mum and was about to leave the house (minus black bag) until she caught her reflection.

This time there was no covering it up with sunglasses - the blue bruising under her right eye was as clear as day. Suddenly having second thoughts, Claudine reached for her phone when it buzzed in her hand, making her jump.

You still coming?

- D x

There was no going back now Claudine decided. If she backed out now, it'd only make things worse. Grabbing her purse and securing her phone in her back pocket, she made for Bramwell Road, arms wrapped around her body. This was going to be it.

*

"Hey Claud-" Danny stopped short upon seeing her eye. "Claudine," he finished quickly, drawing his attention away from her face. "You alright?"

"Danny, it's a black eye. I'm sure you've seen one before." This was the Claudine that Danny remembered and nodded, affirming that he had indeed seen a black eye before.

"How'd you.." Danny began before trailing off. For one reason or another, Claudine had been avoiding them all, and Danny was trying his best to be as sensitive as possible.

"Ran into a door, you know what I'm like." Claudine cleared her throat softly, smoothing down the creases in her top.

"Is that why you haven't wanted to meet us?" Danny asked, handing Claudine his jacket after noticing goosebumps erupt on her bare arms. "Too many questions and stuff?"

"Yeah," Claudine felt the lie slip out, before she had chance to think. Still, it put Danny off the scent and was a feasible excuse for the time being. "Something like that."

"But I've seen it now; you can come and hang out with us again. The others won't even bat an eyelid." Danny sounded sincere as he spoke, Claudine watching and waiting for the laughter the appear and the joke to be on her. "The 'BH Gang' isn't the same without you," Danny added, coughing once unnecessarily to avoid Claudine's gaze. "I'm always the odd one out now," Danny continued, Claudine laughing as he spoke.

"You were always the odd one out Dan," Claudine commented, beginning to walk down the road, hinting at Danny to walk too.

"Yeah but," Danny paused quickly to catch up with Claudine, "It's different now. Lola and Lauren are always off shopping and BB and Jez are tight, you know? Then there's me, all on my own."

Danny pulled the saddest face he could, but instead of provoking sympathy, Claudine just laughed. "Danny, don't you think you're taking this to heart just a little too much?"

"Maybe," Danny grinned, shrugging his shoulders, "But if you were to come back, then I'd have someone too."

"Why don't we go to a restaurant?" Claudine said suddenly, steering the conversation away from places she didn't want to go. "Grab a bite to eat?"

"Yeah, of course." Danny admitted defeat, deciding he'd pressed Claudine enough for now.

*

".. and then Lola went and asked if it was really true!" Claudine peeled off into ripples of laughter, Danny grinning at her as her eyes twinkled under the restaurant's dim lighting. The lighting more or less covered her bruising, of which Claudine was thankful - for the first time in ages, she could go back to living how she used to. Tonight, she was happy and carefree, and it made Danny realise how much he'd missed her.

"I've missed you, you know," Danny said quietly, once Claudine's laughter had subsided.

"No, you haven't," Claudine affirmed. "You've missed the attention; mine and Lauren's, fighting over you all year."

"Well yeah that too," Danny winked, "But I really have missed you. I know I was a bit of a prat last year, but we had some good times, right?"

"We did," Claudine nodded. "And you were more than a bit of a prat Danny; you were the biggest prat on campus."

Danny smiled sheepishly, muttering a soft. "Sorry."

"Danny, you were forgiven a long time ago, by both me and Lauren."

"So then, everything's fine?"

"Yeah," Claudine lied, "Everything's fine. Shall we pay?"

Claudine motioned to Danny to attract the waiter's attention and ask him for the bill. Splitting it in half, they paid and left, without much talking involved.

As they walked down the streets, now dimly lit by the odd street lamp and the pale glow of the moon, Claudine handed Danny's jacket back to him.

"Keep it," Danny pushed it back into her arms, but Claudine looked at him sceptically. "I didn't mean forever Claudine, this wasn't some sort of romantic gesture."

Claudine blushed, proving to Danny that this was indeed what Claudine had assumed it was.

"I meant just keep it for tonight, you'll get cold walking home in this air."

"Won't you?" Claudine asked, the blush still evident on her cheeks.

"Nah, I'm too hot to get cold," Danny said with a wink, nudging Claudine on the arm in the process. She grinned and rolled her eyes, appreciatively placing his jacket back on her body.

"Could your head actually get any bigger?"

"Maybe," Danny grinned, placing an arm around Claudine's shoulders. She tensed momentarily, exhaled and then relaxed, so Danny left it there. " A few compliments from you now and again would do the trick."

Claudine felt Danny nude her again and she laughed. "I don't do compliments," Claudine pointed out, "Only on vary rare occupations."

"Like?" Danny probed with a smirk, finally feeling Claudine had relaxed enough to talk freely.

"Like on birthdays. Possibly Christmas. That sort of thing," she nodded and Danny rolled his eyes.

"God, you're hard work!" Danny said in mock exasperation. "Give a guy a break sometime. Might do you good."

"I doubt it," Claudine grinned, "If all guys are like you Danny, I'd rather steer clear."

"Now I'm just hurt," Danny pouted, stopping Claudine on the street and tickling her until she cried out an apology. Danny realised, as they stopped under one of the very few working street lamps, that he'd hardly seen Claudine laugh this much in the whole year he'd know her. Smiling, they continued walking, until this time, Claudine stopped them.

"Danny, you don't live anywhere near here. I'll be fine walking the rest of the way home on my own," Claudine protested, before adding, "Honest."

"And what sort of gentleman would that make me? It's fine Claudine, I don't mind," Danny informed her. Claudine sighed, discovering Danny wasn't about to give in and braced herself for the moment Danny met her mum. They walked the rest of the way in silence, Danny's arm firmly resting around Claudine's waist this time. As they arrived at her house, Claudine fished for her keys whilst Danny took a seat on the wall, watching her curiously.

"Thanks, you know, for tonight," Claudine smiled as Danny walked up in front of her and placed both hands either side of her waist. "I enjoyed it."

"So did I," Danny replied, his eyes solely focused on hers. He pulled her in for a quick hug, gave her a peck on the cheek and walked up the street, off in the darkness. Claudine sighed a breath of relief and entered the house, only to be confronted with something she didn't want to have to face.