She was shaken as she moved the nearest bathroom to collect herself before she faced anyone. Luckily the small bathroom was empty and she closed the door behind her. Her lipstick was a little smeared and she took some tissue to clean it up.

Still reeling from what Jim had said she faced herself in the mirror and held the sink, holding on so tight she could the whites of her knuckles. She took in a breath and exhaled trying to rid herself of the memory of what had just happened and erasing what he had said. He didn't know her.

But there was some truth in what he said that she couldn't ignore and that stuck with her.

No matter what she thought she had with Maddox now, no matter how special she believed it was, after he graduated he would leave for college and she would stay behind.

She didn't want to believe she was like her mother but didn't a lot of kids follow in the parents' footsteps because they didn't know any better? Was she destined to repeat the mistakes of her parents had made. The incident with Maddox did nothing to ease her anxiousness at the thought that there was some truth to what Jim had said even though she didn't want to face it.

Her phone began to ring and then she remembered where she had been headed. Her friends were outside and they were waiting for her.

She took a steady breath and then unlocked the door.

She hurried to the front door, scanning the crowds for Jim but luckily there wasn't any sign of him. Diane and Sally were waiting outside.

"Where have you been?" Diane asked. "It's been ages."

"Yeah um..I'm sorry...it was a mission getting through the crowd." The lie was effortless, even though under her calm exterior her heart was still erratic and her head was starting to pound.

"You alright?" Sally asked, taking a closer look at her.

"No. I'm fine," she assured her. "Come on Maddox is in the backyard with his crowd."

"So it's official now?" Diane asked as they made their way to the front door and into the house.

"Yes." There was no beating around the bush or making excuses. No matter if it lasted or not, for now it was what they both wanted.

"You seem different," Sarah said, when they got to the kitchen. She studied her and Ashley hoped there was no outward sign of what had happened with Jim.

She tapped her finger against her chin as she studied Ashley. "It's like you're more relaxed...like you're comfortable in your own skin for a change."

Man, she was observant. Her confident assessment left her feeling like an open book. Could other see what her friend had? Was she so easy to read?

"It's nothing. I've just had a bit to drink, you know. My relaxed." Ashley wasn't ready to let anyone she had slept with Maddox. It was something only shared between them for the moment. When she was ready she tell her friends.

Sally frowned for a few moments before she shrugged. "That's probably it."

They got drinks and headed for the backyard. It was getting cooler and Ashley shivered a little as they walked down to where Maddox was.

When they reached them Jasper introduced them to the girl whose name she couldn't remember. It was Leigh. She repeated the name so she wouldn't forget again.

She took her seat beside Maddox and he gave her the drink she had left behind with him. She gulped it, hoping it would calm her because she still felt shaken. Maddox touched his hand to her back and she winced.

Almost instantaneously she realised her mistake when Maddox frowned.

"It's nothing," she whispered to him. "I think I slept a little awkwardly because it's a little stiff."

She was astounded that she had managed to lie to him so easily with only seconds come up with a reasonable way to explain the soreness in her back.

A little while later Ross got up and headed in the house.

Jasper spoke quietly to Leigh and Ashley watched their interaction trying to figure out if they were an item or not. Not that it really mattered. Jasper was a bit of a an enigma. She had never seen him with a girl at school, was it because of Leigh.

Her head was still pounding and she touched the back gently trying to figure out if there was a bump or not. The plastic cup she held was empty but there was no chance she was going back into the house for fear of another run in with Jim. She was already sore and bruised and knew she wouldn't be able to keep another incident with him quiet.

She leaned her head against Maddox's shoulder and he pressed a kiss to her forehead. It was effortless, like something they had shared a thousand times before but she didn't miss the knowing look she got from Diane or the thumbs up she got from Sally.

When Ross came back with some drinks he handed her a cup. "Thank you," she murmured and he nodded.

"I didn't see Jim."

"You think he left?" Jasper looked over at Maddox.

Maddox twirled his cup with a contemplative look. "Maybe he decided it was best to make himself scarce." He raised the cup and took a gulp of it. "Perhaps he isn't as stupid as we think he is."

She made a concerted effort not to look anyone in the eye incase she gave something away unknowingly as she took a gulp of her drink. The alcohol was helping to mask her nerves but it wasn't helping with the headache she had developed.

"Good riddance," Ross added.

"So what did Jim do?" Leigh asked, looking from Rob to Jasper.

"He was spreading rumours about Ashley," Jasper explained. "The guy is a real piece of work."

Little did all of them know that Jim had done a lot more than that earlier. Her head was still pounding and her back hurt. There was definitely going to be bruising. But she told herself it would be worth it if it kept Maddox

She didn't want to think or talk about Jim anymore.

Her headache worsened.

"You're very quiet," Maddox said beside her.

She was playing with a few blades of grass. "I have a headache. And it's just getting worse."

"You want me to take you home?" he asked.

She had tried to push through it but she was feeling miserable and just wanted to get out of there.

She nodded, feeling relieved.

"Come on," he said, as he rose and held her hand to help her to her feet.

Her body was stiff and sore.

She said good bye to everyone leaving her friends with Maddox's friends. They all seemed to be getting along and it was nice.

Maddox put his arm around her and walked around the house to the front to his car. He opened the car door for her and she slid inside. She sighed and rested her head against the head rest, closing her eyes.

"You sure it's just a headache?" he asked when he got into the car.

"I'll be fine. I just need some painkillers."

She kept her eyes closed for the entire ride and only opened them when he parked in front of her house.

"I'm sorry I wasn't great company tonight," she murmured.

"I don't mind."

She gave him a brief kiss before she left and went into her house. It was only when she closed the door did she hear him leave. For a few moments she rested her back against the door and took a deep breath.

She felt like she had gone ten rounds with a heavyweight boxer and decided the best way to tackle the pain was painkillers. She sighed as she headed to the kitchen and took some painkillers.

Then she went quietly up to her room. Inside her bathroom she studied her reflection in the mirror to see Jim had left any outward marks that would show what he had done but luckily there weren't any. Her lips still felt a little sensitive. Slowly she removed her shirt, very aware of the soreness in her back. She looked over her shoulder at the mirror and could already see the darkening purple bruises Jim had left all over her back.

Shit. She would have to hide them or come up with a lie to explain them away.

She had a quick shower and got dressed for bed. Once she climbed under her covers she heard a message on her phone.

Is there something you need to tell me?

She held her phone trying to decipher what he was trying to ask. Unsure of the best way to respond she simply messaged him back a one word answer.

No.