CHAPTER THREE

"You slept with Lauren?"Shane asked Liam incredulously.

Liam glared at him. "It's not that crazy, is it?"

"Well, I guess I've learned that you sleeping with anyone isn't a surprise. Sasha was pretty much the biggest surprise you could spring on me. But really, Lauren? How drunk were you?"

Liam paused awkwardly. "Not very?"he admitted.

Shane looked at him hard, searching his expression for something. "OMG, you like her!" He paused before asking,"Why?"

"She can be difficult at times,"Liam admitted. "As I've found out living with her. But there's other sides to her too. She's…passionate. Strong-willed. And once she decides she cares about you, she's got your back."

Shane mulled this over. "Have to admit, if she was a guy, I'd do her."

"Talking of you, how are things going with Noah?"

"Good. He's great and he doesn't take nonsense from me, which is also great." Shane paused before asking,"Am I more close-minded than I think?"

"Is there a safe way to answer that?"Liam asked.

"It's just…I had trouble accepting Noah for what he is and I had trouble with Wade too, not that he was actually interested in the end. Am I just a really close-minded conservative person?"

"I would not call you that,"Liam said with confidence. He thought for a moment. "I guess even at Hester there's room for improvement."


Amy was only just beginning to catch a breather after the conveyor belt of visitors when another one came through the door, grinning broadly. "Morning, girlfriend!"

Amy just about managed to match the smile, although she wasn't quite sure how convincing it was. "Sabrina!" She was suddenly feeling a really big dose of guilt. After all, immediately after getting back together with her, she'd slept with another girl.

"You're not having second thoughts in the cold light of day, are you?"Sabrina checked jovially.

Amy tried her best to laugh without cringing inside. "No, of course not."

Sabrina kissed her lightly and then hugged her. "So, what do you want to do today?"

Amy thought the point over. "We could get a coffee?"

"Sounds like a plan." Sabrina offered Amy her arm and Amy headed out with her.


The nurse looked at her clipboard."Lauren Cooper?"

Looking around the waiting area of the STI clinic, Lauren had a sudden urge to call out that no, there was no-one of that name here and she had to get going. But instead, she got up. "Here."

The nurse gave an understanding smile, as if she'd dealt with hundreds of nervous and sexually stupid teenagers over the years, which she probably had. It didn't stop Lauren from wanting to hit her. "Did you want to come through?"

Lauren followed the woman into a partitioned off area and sat opposite her at a desk. "I might have an STI,"she blurted out eventually.

The nurse took the news in her stride. "Are you saying you have a sexual partner who might have infected you?"

"I guess so." Lauren hesitated. "I had unprotected sex with someone. It was my first time but it wasn't his. Not by a long shot."

"But you don't know if he's definitely got anything?"

"No." Lauren was beginning to get a feeling that the nurse considered her a timewaster and might even have been right.

"I take it you don't have any physical symptoms?"

"No,"Lauren answered again.

"Well, we can organise some blood tests to see if anything shows up but it can be months after the time of infection. We can give you the morning after pill if it's necessary…"

Lauren shook her head. "I'm intersex,"she explained, hoping the nurse understood what that meant.

The nurse nodded. "Well then.I'll arrange those tests if you're willing and maybe I could give you some literatures so you know what to do in future to avoid risk?"

Lauren began to relax. Astonishingly, these people actually seemed to know what they were doing. "Thank you."


Amy and Sabrina arrived at the café to the sight of Karma and Felix sat at another table. "Well that's new," Sabrina remarked. "Unless I'm reading this wrong and they're…"

"No, no, it's new,"Amy confirmed, steadfastedly keeping quiet about everything else that had happened in the last day. "Apparently they kissed last night."

"Well, that's good,"Sabrina remarked, before shooting a suspicious look at Amy. "Isn't it?"

"Yeah, sure,"Amy agreed. "I want them both to be happy."

Karma had also spotted the pair and couldn't help but glance over at them before turning her attention back to Felix, who was looking at her with some confusion. "It was a nice thing you did for Amy last night,"he remarked.

It took a moment for Karma to realise he was referring to helping Sabrina out. "Yeah, totally,"she agreed before realising that wasn't exactly the best response either. "I'm sorry I messed up your night though."

Felix took her hand across the table. "Well, you certainly made up for it later."

Karma smiled, then leaned across and kissed him. She was aware of Amy's eyes boring into her and that just made her want to do it more. "What say we go on somewhere?"she suggested.

Felix nodded, looking as though he couldn't quite believe what was happening. Karma took his hand and led him out, revelling in every disapproving look Amy was shooting her way. She waited until they were in the foyer before stopping and kissing him again, draping herself around him as he just about managed to encircle her with his arms. "Is your place free?"she asked, getting a nod in response.


Liam was surprised at how pleased he was to see Lauren in the street. He cheerily bounded over to her. "Lauren, hey! I was wondering if you were going to be home today, maybe I could cook something for us…" He noticed Lauren trying her best to tuck a stack of pamphlets under her arm and out of his sight. "What's that?"

"Nothing,"Lauren claimed, which had to be the most unconvincing lie ever.

Liam firmly took the leaflets from her and scanned the contents. "You went to an STI clinic?" He thought for a moment and then the penny dropped. "Because of me?"

"Well, yes, obviously because if you,"Lauren replied. "Given that, unlike you, I've only ever had sex with one person."

Liam was not impressed with the subtle insult. "You seriously think I gave you…" – he glanced at one of the leaflets in his hand – "…warts?!"

"I don't know what you might have done!"Lauren snapped. "Nothing like this has ever happened to me before! Why did you decide not to use a condom?"

Liam definitely felt that was unfair. And confusing. "I didn't. You did."

"Because I didn't know we needed to! Do you have any idea how many different infections there are you can get? What have you done to me?"

Liam thrust the pamphlets back at her. "Why don't you ask your friends at the clinic? I'm sure they'll tell you." He stormed off, whatever pleasure he had at seeing her long since forgotten.