"I saw you today" Mark stated as Hannah walked into his room which he was lodging in their house and she sat on his bed whilst he remained at his desk which he had fetched from his parent's home.

"I was in college this morning and I went for some dinner at a coffee house and ended up staying to do some work" she shrugged at him as he remained facing away from her and writing. He was still in his black polo shirt and trousers from work. His blonde hair was combed neatly but he had stubble growing on his chin which made him appear older.

"I was going to come in" he informed her "but you had company"

"Oh" Hannah said, picking up on his bitter tone "Mark…it was just a boy in my class…he's called Daniel"

"Oh right. What was you talking about?" he spun around to face her and she shook her head, her eyes wide in disbelief;

"Just college" she told him "what's gotten into you?"

"Nothing" he snapped "the two of you just looked cosy"

"Oh stop it Mark" Hannah snapped "the jealousy act doesn't work for you"

"No?" he asked her

"No" she confirmed "so every boy that I talk to you're going to berate me for?"

"You were laughing Hannah…you haven't laughed around me for ages" he said and Hannah sighed

"Don't do this Mark" she whispered "you know why we haven't laughed or been getting on"

"Don't I just?" he said rhetorically "but to see someone else making you laugh and smile…and I can't do that, can I Hannah?"

"Yes you can…we've been through a lot…Daniel is just some guy who I know okay? He has nothing that you have…I don't love him"

"Do you know how I felt Hannah? To see him sat there…making you smile…giggle…doing all the things which I should be able to do…is it any wonder I'm a little jealous?"

"Mark" Hannah stood up and sat in his lap on the leather chair

"I love you" she said "why don't you see that? Daniel is just someone I spoke to…okay? He has nothing on you…just don't be jealous"

"Is this going to work Hannah?" he asked her, dropping a kiss onto her forehead

"What?" she asked

"Us" and then there was silence in the room as Hannah rested her head onto his shoulder and felt herself want to cry at him asking her such questions;

"If you want us to work then we will…we have to"

….

Hannah saw an unknown number on her phone that night after she had left Mark. He had told her that he was just tired and needed some time on his own. She had regrettably agreed to let him go to sleep, saying that they needed to talk. He said there was nothing to talk about. It had been a month since Hannah had lost her baby and she needed Mark still. But he kept himself closed off from her, not wanting to let her in. He never smiled anymore and instead he lived in the spare room and only spoke to Hannah when she went to see him. He didn't even tell her that he loved her.

"Hello" Hannah answered

"Hannah" an eager voice said "it's Daniel"

"You're stuck already?" she smiled and he laughed down the phone, coughing once

"You could say that" he said "I need help on this essay we have to write…but I don't have some of the notes"

"Oh right" she said

"So" he continued "I was wondering if I could meet you tomorrow to get them off you? It's cool if you don't want me to" he assured her "I mean…I have a habit of losing stuff"

"I'll make you a copy of them and then bring them, okay? That way I don't fail" she joked

"Thanks Hannah…say ten at the coffee house we were in today?" he checked

"Okay" she agreed "bye Daniel" and then she dropped the phone.

…..

Mark had his hand ready to knock on her door but he stopped himself when he heard her joking and laughing. And then he heard his name. She had been talking to him, she was meeting with him. Mark looked at the wood and heard her printing out notes before he went back into his own room. Was it any wonder he was jealous? His relationship with Hannah was one that he could feel crumbling around him. He had given up his home for her and he still missed his mother. His father he could do without and he still hated him. But everything he had done had been for her and now he could feel himself losing her and he didn't know how to get her back. He had to admit he was the one who never wanted to talk to her but that was because every time he saw her he felt guilty about what he had put her through. The loss of their baby, the abuse she had received, the whispering behind her back. And he had contributed to it all. But he couldn't lose her because then he wouldn't know what to do.

….

"Where are you off this morning?" Don asked his daughter when he saw her walk down the stairs into the kitchen

"Off to meet Anna to give her some notes" she stuffed a piece of toast into her mouth and ate it quickly before kissing her dad on the cheek and reaching for her keys;

"See you later"

Hannah moved out into the hallway and began to shrug into her jacket when she saw Mark walk down the stairs, his uniform for work on his body but his eyes tired.

"Where are you going?" he asked her, knowing full well.

"Off to meet Anna" she lied to him "she needs some notes" and she even avoided his eye contact as she focused on buttoning her coat.

"I'll see you tonight" she said and moved quickly through the door as Mark remained stood where he was, unable to move. His relationship was turning into a lie.

Hannah had been unable to tell him she was off to meet Daniel. She knew he would only kick off again like he had the previous night and she couldn't be bothered with it anymore. She wanted to move on in her life and do what she wanted to do. She was fed up of being depressed all the time and being around Mark was stopping her from living how she wanted to. She knew he had a reason to be saddened by everything but she would help him through it if he gave her a chance. Instead he remained quiet and Hannah was fed up of it.