Yup, a double upload ^.^
Now to finish watching Mamma Mia for like the 50th time in my life.. ~prides herself on not being girly but is secretly very very girly, nellen :L xx

"Ughh, what time is it?" Flora whispered, eyes fluttering open as she reached for her phone. Five thirty.
She groaned again, rolling out of bed and checking her texts. Two spams, three chain messages, and a new one from Mark.
She ran to the mirror, scraping her hair out of the way and gently traced the bruises blossoming down on her neck and shoulders, double checking the very faint black eye she'd disguised with makeup. The makeup was still there, still working. Thank God Clive hadn't seen her without it.
Gulping back a fresh load of nerves, she looked back down at her phone, and began reading the message.
It was the usual day-after text, and she knew she really should have seen it coming.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it, I'm just really stressed about Uni and work and everything. You know I love you, let me take you out to prove it. M"

She sighed, beginning to get changed. She knew she'd have to go, she just prayed he wasn't drinking.
Clive had been out then home then out again when she finally drifted downstairs, leaving her with nothing but a note.
"Took Bruno for a walk, just needed some fresh air. Hope you're alright, Clive x"
Then, scribbled along the bottom, "came home again, you were still asleep and I didn't want to bother you. Gone to the pub again, it's been too long since I last sang. P.s. I left Bruno behind this time, Sally's not a huge fan of dogs. Clive again x"

She sighed once more, rereading the note before tearing off a scrap to write one of her own.
"Mark asked me out, don't worry about me, there's money for pizza in the key dish, I'll be back before you know it. Flo xx"

"That should do," she smiled, saying goodbye to her pets and locking the door behind her.

She checked her phone again as she closed the garden gate, finding yet another text from Mark.

"The Old Benbow in half an hour, M."

Flora's smile soon fizzled out, morphing into a horrified frown.
She loved the Old Benbow, sure. The people were lovely, the food was nice, it was even named after the inn in Treasure Island, sort of, which was one of her favourite ever books.

There was only one major problem with the Old Benbow, one very major problem indeed.
Clive sang there.