This has been the hardest chapter to write so far! Had so much that I wanted to try and get across so hope i've done a good job!

Review please :)

Also, I love getting PM's telling me that you're liking the story! They spur me on to write more!

xxx

"Ex-girlfriend." I corrected Tristan, shaking his hand from my shoulder and turning to face him.

His best friends stood behind him. Spencer. Or "Spenny" to his nearest and dearest. The single most annoying human that had ever graced our fair planet. He and Tristan had been best friends since Primary school. They did everything together. Spencer was the bad smell that just lingered around until somebody tried to waft it away.

"Oh brilliant..." I sighed. "The whole gang's here."

"Nice to see you Lola."

"I'd offer the same pleasantries Spencer but I don't like you and it isn't worth the waste of oxygen."

He smiled. He had one of those horrible malicious smiles that hid a thousand sins. The kind of smile that never met the eyes. Truth being told, I had always suspected that Spencer disliked me because he had very confusing feelings towards Tristan something which Tristan vehemently denied, of course, but still, it was my opinion and I wasn't going to forget it.

"I see you've still got quite the hurt pride after Tris dumped you."

"Ehhh." I made a sound like you would hear in a gameshow when somebody answered a question incorrectly. "Wrong. He didn't dump me, I dumped him." I narrowed my eyes at him. "Get your facts straight Spenny."

"That's not what I heard." he said in his annoying sing song voice.

"Well you heard wrong." I sang back at him, my hands balling into fists.

Corporal Dunn cleared his throat. Tristan was still glaring at him.

"Oh Good, here's Seb and Francis." Spencer said, nodding his head towards the other two members of their group. "They'll back me up."

I stared at Tristan. "Hey, pal..." I said. "Want to call your dogs off now?" I nodded my head at Spencer. "You and I both know what happened." I looked at him with imploring eyes. "Let's just all start to move on with our lives now."

"I was trying to talk to you but you ran off." He said. "I want to try again."

"Well, I don't, so..."

"So that's it?" he asked me, voice changing from soft to hard in a matter of milliseconds. He was an only child and had a very quick temper. He closed the distance between us. "I'm supposed to just let you run around and kiss strangers while dressed like some cheap, common whore?"

Wow. My kissing partner, Corporal Dunn stepped is big, bulky body in front of mine. He was bigger than Tristan in both height and width but that didn't stop the latter from stepping up to him. I put my hand on Dunn's shoulder and he turned to look at me. I've got this. He nodded at the silent statement and moved out the way.

"Okay." I hissed. "One. These shorts cost me £595 and the shoes are worth a grand at least. So, if I was a whore I wouldn't be cheap."

He glared at me. From the corner of my eye I could see the crowd that had formed to watch the impromptu kiss was growing larger at the prospect of a stand off.

"Two. Just because my family isn't sitting on some stupid plot of land with some ridiculous title that sounds COMPLETELY MADE UP doesn't make me common." I shouted. "And three. We broke up. You don't get to choose who I do, or don't kiss. Nor, do you get to involve your stupid band of merrymen." I turned to Dunn and kissed him square on the lips. Not exactly the Hollywood kiss he had given me, but a hard kiss. He responded magnificently and wrapped his big arms around my waist as my hands framed his face. It was a great kiss. You know how you get those? Those amazing kisses that just make you melt into a big puddle of oestrogen and everything just works. I pulled away and smirked up at him.

"If you ever find yourself in a sleepy little English town called Beaconsfield, come and find me." I shot a look at Tristan over my shoulder. He was practically puce with rage. "I OWN a house there now." I saw the shock register on his face. "And I can be very, very accommodating."

"Oh I bet you can..." He drawled. I practically melted on the spot.

"Also, if you're still around later, I'll be out with my friends later at The Box. Come and find me."

I turned away and stormed away from the group of men. I was feeling proud of myself. I was really taking my dads advice. I had never been so bold. If this had happened a couple of months ago, I'd have been a wreck but now... I was a changed woman. I had discovered a terrifying level of self confidence. Fuck. I wasn't scared of anything. So what if I wanted to kiss some stranger? Who cared. So what if Tristan and his group of friends said I looked like a whore?

"Lola!"

"I've said all I needed to Tristan." I carried on walking. Hey, remember when I was looking for the medics. No point in trying to look at that stupid map again. I'd probably end up in Scotland if I looked at that.

A hand found its way around my wrist and yanked me back with such a force that I lost my footing and fell. I banged my knee against the old stone floor. Tears rushed to my eyes as I reached towards the spot. I felt a hundred set of eyes on me. I couldn't cry. I couldn't give him the satisfaction. I turned to my left and made eye contact with a man who I had noticed stood in the crowd of people who had watched me kiss Dunn. I don't know what made me turn to him but I saw something flash behind his eyes. Something that told me to get on my feet. Something that told me if I cried, I'd lose any of the power I had against my gang of bullies. He reminded me a little of my dad. He had a bushy moustache and goatee. Straight roman nose and dark eyes. He watched me with his arms folded against his chest. He was dressed in a tight black T-Shirt, black combat trousers and black lace up boots. I turned away from my spectator as three more pairs of feet came into my peripheral vision.

"Oh Lola." Spencer goaded. "If only mummy and daddy could see you now hey? Do you think they knew how much you liked to be on your knees?"

I felt bile rise in my throat. I had to get on my feet. I couldn't stand up to anybody while I was knelt on the floor.

"Do you think that they thought of you while they were on that bus?" he carried on.

"Stop it." I hissed. I felt sick. How could he talk about them? He had no right to.

"Do you think they were excited to see you?"

I pushed myself up and stared into Spencer's eyes. Don't cry. Don't cry. Don't be sick. Don't cry. I hated him. I narrowed my eyes. He smiled that horrible malicious smile. I wanted to hurt him.

"Do you think they even noticed the bomber?"

I shook my head and my eyes flickered over to Tristan. He wasn't going to stop his best friend. Another strange pull towards the stranger watching from the sidelines. He cocked an eyebrow at me. What's your next move, girl?

"Look at it this way, Lo..." Spencer said, bringing my attention back to him. He placed a hand on my shoulder and pulled me towards him. "At least they died before they got a chance to find out what you really were." He spat. "A nasty, trashy little slag."

Don't cry. Don't cry. Don't cry. I straightened my shoulders and stood up tall. The words from my dads letter jumped out at me. Be strong. I clenched my jaw and balled my fists up.

"Go on..." he goaded. "Hit me."

I shook my head. "You're not worth it you pathetic little worm." I growled.

I turned around. I had to find the exit. Had to get myself out of there before I ripped his throat out. He had spoken about my parents. My wonderful parents. My dead parents. Who was I to compete with a man who had no qualms with bringing up the final moments of my parents life? I heard him shouting my name. Heard the complete disgust dripping from his voice. My phone began to buzz against my hip. I pulled it out. Steve.

"I'm here but I'm leaving." I spat out. Don't cry. Don't cry. "Spencer is here with Tristan." I pushed past a couple of people. I had lost my bearings. I needed to find the exit. I could still hear them shouting my name. I felt like a trapped animal. "He said some things about my mum and dad and -"

"-I'll kill him myself." Steve hissed. "Head towards the exit. We'll meet you there." He hung up and I pushed my phone back into my pocket.

Where was the exit? I needed to think. If only the loud bangs would stop. Gunshots? A lightbulb went off in my head. The shooting range. It was next to the exit. Follow the gunshots. Find the exit. I listened for the shots. Following their sporadic noise. Don't cry. Don't cry.

"This way girl." A hand was at my elbow, pulling me towards the noise. It was the man who had been watching me.

"I don't need help." I told him. "If I can find the shooting range I can get out and away from them."

"And that's it?" he asked. His voice was thick. Cockney. Gruff. Something about his hand on my elbow made me feel safe.

"What else do I do?" I asked.

"Where I'm from, we make sure that people know that we aren't the people to disrespect."

I looked up at him. Was he right? Did I have to make sure Tristan and his gang knew that I wasn't to be messed with? The stranger continued to pull me along. The sound of the gunshot was getting louder now.

"Who's that Lola?" Spencer shouted. "Another man? Mummy and daddy would be so proud."

Don't cry. Don't cry.

"I'm not sure what the deal with your parents is but -"

"-They're dead. Killed in the London bombings." I cut him off. "He's mocking my dead parents."

The man cocked an eyebrow and pulled me into a clearing. The firing range was in front of me. I looked at the hopeful recruits hold onto the guns as if they were babies that they were scared to drop. That's not how you hold a gun when you want to hurt somebody.

"What's your next move Lola?"

"Who are you? Why are you helping me?" I asked.

"Not important..." he brushed my question aside as if I had just asked him what his favourite colour was. "The important question now is, what the hell are you going to do?"

Tristan and his friends appeared to my left. Spencer's eyes lit up like a kid on Christmas Day. More gunshots punctured the air. Rubber bullets filled with paint. That's what the girl at the reception had said.

"Oh Lola." Spencer came towards me. He looked at me as if I was his prey and he was about to deliver the killer blow. He was going to go for my jugular. Rip me open. "I'm glad your parents died before they could see you become the train wreck I've always known you were."

The words reverberated around my head. The stranger who had helped me had disappeared. Was he real or had I imagined him? Don't cry. Don't cry. I stared up at Tristan. He looked at me with pity in his eyes. Pity. The worst look of all. I didn't care that Spencer was talking about my mum and dad. It had always been his way. He was as subtle as a sledgehammer. Straight for the weak spot. No point in dancing around it. But Tristan was different. He had once looked at me as though I was at least somebody to be proud of. But now? Now I was the girl with dead parents who couldn't stand up for herself. He wasn't going to help me because he didn't think I deserved it.

"Fuck you." I spat. "Fuck all of you."

I stormed towards the firing range. They followed, hot on my heels. Spencer hadn't reduced me to tears yet. He hadn't reached his ultimate goal. I locked eyes with one of the lads holding a gun. He looked about 16. He stared at me.

"Do you mind if I..?" I gestured towards the gun. "Is it loaded?" I asked. He nodded in response.

"Great."

I span around and pointed the gun at my four followers. I held it like my father had shown me. I felt powerful. The four men stopped and stared at me unsure of what I was about to do.

"You two" I aimed the gun at Seb and Francis first, keeping my eye trained down the sight. "Fuck off." They shifted. "NOW."

Somehow, the entire hall had fallen silent as everybody stared at the blonde girl holding the gun. The Cockney was nowhere to been seen. But he was watching I knew he was. Nobody moved. Seb and Francis were glued to the spot. Fear? Stupidity? I didn't care. I was vexed. Blood coursed through my veins. The gun was like a talisman of strength.

"Fine."

I shot Francis first. Then Seb. Tristan was third. I saved Spencer for last. My four tormentors fell to the ground in a flurry of cries and groans. I had hit all four square in the forehead. The paint had already splattered before they had crumpled. Four perfect headshots.

"Thanks." I handed the gun back to it's previous user. The exit. I could see daylight. "If you want to take a couple of practice shots at them, be my guest." I whispered in his ear. "Especially the fat one with the blonde hair." I looked down at Spencer who was howling in pain. Rubber bullets still hurt apparently.

The crowds of people who had watched me unload my fury stepped aside as I headed towards the exit. I pushed past the receptionist. "This map is terrible." I told her as I placed the map down on the desk. "Just a heads up."

I passed through the airport style security again. The stranger appeared next to me. The machines beeped as he past through but none of the security guards made any movement towards him. I stared at him as he fell into step next to me.

"Good move." He told me.

I shrugged.

"Where did you learn to shoot?" he asked.

"Who said I learnt?"

He threw me a glance.

"My dad wanted all the males in the village to know that I could use a gun." I smiled. "It was a very effective form of contraception."

"Sounds like a good man." The stranger said. I saw the slightest smile at the corner of his lips.

"He was." I nodded.

We stopped as we reached the entrance.

"I was waiting to see what your next move would be." He told me. "I was hoping you had some balls."

I shrugged.

"I think I might have the perfect jobs for you." he told me. "You seem like the perfect girl for the role." We started walking down the steps that led up towards the War Museum. "You've obviously fit, and -"

I turned to him.

"-I'm not an escort." I sighed. "I know I have these shoes on and my shorts are really short and I'm braless but seriously..." I continued down the steps. "I don't suck dick for cash."

"Glad to hear it." He answered without skipping a beat. "But that's not what I meant."

Well. Now I felt embarrassed.

"Are you in University?"

I nodded. "Medicine. Just about to start my second year."

"Are you any good?"

We reached the bottom of the steps and I turned to look at him once more. In the daylight I could see that his skin was peppered with small scars.

"I'm okay I guess...?"

He reached his hand into his back pocket and pulled out a card and handed it to me,

A FRESHER SOD.

I stared at the card. A fresher sod? What the hell did that mean? My head was pounding with the days activities. Now wasn't the time for some bizarre riddle. I stared up at the stranger.

"Come and see me tomorrow. Show them the card at the gate and they'll let you in."

Was I missing something? Was this a real place? A fresher sod? I flipped the card over. Blank. The man sighed and began to walk away.

"Hold it up to the sun, girl." he called at me.

I held the card up to the sun.

HEREFORD

It was a location at least.

"And who do I ask for when I get to Hereford?" I shouted after him.

He stopped and threw a glance over his shoulder.

"Price." he answered. "Captain Price."