Being slapped in the face is never a good way to start the day.

"Lilly (!)... Lilly! Get up now!" A second slap followed, accompanied by a heavy weight pressing down on my chest and stomach. I groaned and tried to push whatever it was off me.

"I'm up, I'm up," I wheezed and suddenly I could breathe again.

"Come on! Get up!" The bed squealed and rocked as someone bounced on it. My arm was being pulled and my hair became caught in their hand and pulled. That made me shriek and leap out of bed.

"Finally!"

I forced open my heavy eyelids to glare at Sheridan. She grinned back, trying to look innocent, her eyes mischievous.

"Time to go shopping!" She exclaimed, then laughed at my expression. I hate shopping!

She bullied, pleaded and moaned at me until I was ready to go. Then she marched me out the front door and into the back of a waiting taxi.

***

We arrived in town and Sheridan paid the driver. As I climbed out into the cold wind, my hair was whipped around my head and I nearly choked on it. Sheridan stood a little to my left, apparently oblivious to my coughing and spluttering. She had her hands on her hips and was scanning the store fronts with a frown. Then her face cleared and she grabbed my hand.

"Come on! We're going in here!" She yelled, dragging me into a vintage clothes store.

The shop attendant jumped up when we entered and grinned widely. Perhaps a little too widely.

"What can I get you ladies?" She asked cheerfully.

"We're looking for dresses."

"Come right this way." The woman headed off through the racks of clothing.

When she was out of earshot, I hissed, "why are we looking here?"

"You want to look unique, don't you? You want to stand out f-" She broke off, realising she had said too much.

"For who?" I asked but Sheridan elbowed me and I tuned into what the woman was saying.

"-here, we can provide anything. What sort of dress are you looking for?"

"Party dresses, for her." Sheridan said indicating me with her thumb.

"Any particular style?" The woman addressed me now. I simply shrugged and Sheridan took over.

"Nah, just give us some options."

The woman disappeared and soon returned with an armful of dresses. She laid them out on a chair and I heard Sheridan gasp in horror, making me struggle to keep a straight face. They were made of an old fabric with set in creases. Some did have the plus of a handful of sequins but most of those were hanging on by a single thread.

Sheridan picked one up and grimaced. She sent me a look that said 'maybe this wasn't such a good idea' and I replied with a smirk.

She turned back to the shop assistant and smiled. "I'm sorry but there's nothing that would suit us."

"Wait! I'm sure I could find you something, if you just wait. I can alter if nee-" Her protests were cut off when the door slammed behind us.

"Oh, God," Sheridan looked at me and couldn't hold in a laugh at the smug look I was giving her.

"I told you so." She whacked me and tugged on my arm.

"Enough of that, come on." She led along the main street.

I sighed as we turned the corner and saw the crowds of people entering and exiting the store.

It was going to be a long day.

***

Sheridan and I stumbled through the door, almost collapsing under the weight of our bags.

My mother stopped me in the hallway, wanting to know what I'd bought.

In the end Sheridan and I both modelled our dresses, performing an impromptu catwalk. My mum seemed to enjoy it a lot and I felt closer to her than I had in a long time.

"So you did all this for him?" She asked suddenly.

"Yeah, I actually did," I realised with a painful twang. It would be pointless.

Mum beamed at me and then pulled me in for a hug.

"Look at you, all loved up," she said, looking close to tears, of happiness or sadness I couldn't tell. "Turning into a grown up," she rubbed my back then gently pushed me off her and shooed me away. "Alright, you two beautiful ladies go get ready for your big night."

"'Kay, mum," I smiled and headed out the door.

"Thanks, Mrs Daniels," Sheridan added with a smirk. A few seconds later her trademark reply echoed through the house.

"It's Maggie to you!"

I woke to find Caitlin staring at me, a half smile flickering around her mouth.

"Hm," I moaned, "What is it?"

"Nothing," she leaned in for a kiss, "you just look so sweet while you're sleeping."

"Do I?" I yawned, rubbing my eyes and stretching backwards.

"You do," she said, running her hands through my hair.

"Thanks," I mumbled, almost drifting back into sleep. Caitlin's hands drifted down to my neck and she gently massaged the muscles there.

"You're welcome," she breathed. Her hands drifted lower and I was instantly awake.

***

Hours later, when Caitlin had to leave for work, I got up and showered.

Douglas had messaged me an hour ago, reminding me to help him supervise the graduation party tonight. I didn't want to think about how he'd gotten my number but was thankful for the reminder, without which I would have forgotten.

I had the perfect dress in my wardrobe. It was a deep, rosy red colour and reached below my knee. The cleavage was perhaps a little too low for a school occasion but it didn't matter. I wouldn't be seeing any of them again.

When it came to getting ready I spent too long on my makeup.

Due to the attention I'd given my appearance I was late and had to push the speed limit until I got there.

The parking lot was full of cars and I had to be careful not to hit a child or their already drunk friend.

I climbed out the car smoothing my dress behind me. Pausing for a second I took a deep breath before going inside.

The hall was packed with people dancing and the air was thick with the smell of sweat, alcohol and cigarette smoke. It was dark, the only light coming from two disco lights positioned at the end of the hall casting patterns across the entire room.

There was a second hall connected to the first which I pushed through people to reach. This one was much emptier because there was no DJ. Most people here were making out or resting after wearing themselves out dancing.

There were a few dancing in the middle of the floor but they were in the minority.

Douglas was (unfortunately) in this room and beckoned me over to him. I didn't have enough time to plan an escape and had to make my way over.

"Hey, Laura," he leered at me and I wished I'd worn a different dress.

"How've they been?" I asked pretending not to notice his eyes hadn't left my chest since he saw me.

"Fine...fine..."

"Great... I'll just, uh, get a drink."

"Wait! Don't you want to dance?"

"Not particularly."

"Why not?" He asked, meeting my eyes for the first time.

"I, uh, you're not exact-" I was interrupted when he slapped himself on the head. I flinched at the force and wondered what was wrong with him. Was he drunk?

"Of course," he winked at me, "I'm not your type, am I?" Then, before I could stop him he shouted, "Hey you...yes you, come 'ere!" He grinned at me, "There you are, someone to dance with."

I looked at the girl standing beside me and nearly voiced my groan. Anyone but her.

Anyone.

I'd thought she wasn't coming. I had watched the door for ten minutes without seeing her. When Tanya got fed up of me moping around and dragged me off to dance I'd tried to keep an eye out. Obviously I'd missed her.

Sheridan had messaged me to tell us she was in the other room so Tanya and I had gone to meet her.

"Hey you!" Mr Crawford had shouted as we entered. To my surprise he'd been looking at Tanya and I. We had glanced at each other then back to him, "Yes, you!" He'd pointed a finger at me, "come 'ere!"

I'd gone over to him and the tall woman he was standing with. He had looked at her with a smirk and said, "there you are, someone to dance with."

She turned to face me and I nearly fallen over with surprise. Literally.

She grabbed my arm to steady me. "Are you alright?"

"Fine," I replied, my face burning up. "You?"

"I'm fine." She answered, looking very much like she wanted to disappear.

We stood awkwardly for a few seconds until Mr Crawford demanded, "well? What you waiting for? Dance!" He pushed Miss Hart towards me and she nearly toppled over but managed to right herself. I nearly glared at him, suddenly angry. That was no way to treat someone.

I didn't think it showed but when I looked at Miss Hart she was smiling at me. I had to wonder if my poker face wasn't as good as I'd thought.

She took my hand, making my face suddenly glow bright red, and led me towards the small cluster of people in the middle of the floor. We stopped and she turned to face me, placing her hands softly on my hips.

"Sorry about this," she breathed into my ear and I became even redder. "I just want to keep him off my back."

"It's fine." I mumbled.

She didn't say anything then, just looked at me. She was so close her breath hit my face. My insides were turning to liquid, my senses completely overwhelmed with her scent.

We slowly swayed around the room. It was just my luck that a slow song had come on as we began dancing. One of her hands left my back and I nearly jumped when I felt it on my back, stroking it gently through my dress. I struggled not to pull away and my breathing came a little quicker.

"We should talk about the other day," she said, looking concerned.

I stopped moving briefly, everything from the last day of school coming rushing to the forefront of my mind. I twisted out of her grip.

"No."

"What are you doing?"

"I'm sure you don't want to be talking to a freak like me!" I spat and strode away from her, towards Tanya.

"Lovers tiff?" She asked. I glared at her. I was too annoyed to care what she was talking about.

"No!" Tanya smirked widely. "Come on," I pulled her arm, "let's get drunk!

***

I knocked back my millionth glass, not even sure what it was anymore.

Tanya was laughing beside me and chatting with some guy. Sheridan sat on the other side with a line of empty shot glasses in front of her. People were gathered around her, cheering and checking the stopwatch. There were many bets as to how long it would take her to finish all ten. I, for one, didn't care. I was just glad she was the centre of attention so no one would notice how much I was drinking.

Someone tapped my shoulder and I swung round. Miss Hart stood behind me, bent over slightly so she could look me in the eye while I was sitting. I noticed a few guys checking out her ass and anger rose. Didn't they know she was mine(!)?

"What?" I snapped, directing my anger at her.

"I think you should stop drinking," She whispered.

"Why? I don't wanna."

"Drinking too much too quickly could seriously harm you."

"Why do you give a shit?"

"You're my pupil. I'm supposed to look after you." I could tell she was trying not to get annoyed.

"Ex-pupil!" I declared, "So you can't tell me what to do!" She sighed and took my hand. I tried to wrench it from her grip but she was surprisingly strong.

"Don't get yourself hurt because you're angry with me."

"Who says it's anything to do with you?"

"Lilly!" Tanya elbowed me, "want another dri-... oh." She had turned around and spotted Miss Hart, who immediately released my hand. Miss Hart stood up quickly.

"Look after yourself."

Tanya watched her go then whispered, "what was all that about?"

"Nothing."

Luckily she was drunk enough not to notice, and I was drunk enough to soon forget.

***

My throat burned with acid. Being sick sucked. I sat on the floor beside the toilet which had become my best friend. I'd named him Harry because he was always there for me, like my brother.

I laughed at my own genius but it quickly turned into tears. My brother who was dead. Why did I miss him so damn much? When did this end? I wanted him back. I wanted him back so fucking badly.

"Harry," I gasped, wishing he was there. Wishing his hands held my hair back like he did when Tanya sneaked several bottles of Vodka into one of our sleepovers. "Harry!" I shouted, sobbing hard.

I had to keep an eye on her. I'd tried to tell her to stop but that only seemed to make her worse. I didn't want to be responsible for a trip to A&E. I lost her for a while, until a girl with short red hair approached me.

"There's a girl in the toilet screaming and crying. I think her boyfriend broke up with her or something."

I rushed to the girl's bathroom to find a small crowd gathered around one of the closed doors, urging the person behind it to come out.

I ushering everyone out the door, despite their groans and wishes to 'get the goss', or whatever it was they called it now. When the bathroom was empty, I gently rapped my knuckles off the door.

"Open up."

There was no response. The bathroom was eerily silent.

"At least tell me what's wrong," I tried. "There's no one else here."

"I miss Harry." The girl's speech was slurred and thick with upset.

"Who's Harry?" There was no reply. "Why don't you visit him?" I suggested. That was met with quiet sobs.

"I can't," the girl choked out, then there was a lot of movement behind the door and it was opening and a girl was flinging herself into my arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

I comforted her gently, giving myself a few minutes to think of a response.

"I'm sure if you got in an argument with him he'll be willing to talk it out. Pay him a visit."

She sniffed and wiped her running eyes and for the first time I saw who it was.

"I will," she tugged the hem of her dress down. "Thanks." She flashed me a grin. I forgot myself for a second, wondering how I'd never noticed how beautiful her smile was.

"You okay, miss?" She nudged me and I gave a small nod in response.

"Are you?" I asked suddenly, too long after she had.

"Just fine!" She laughed and I could smell the drink and vomit on her breath.

"Does anything hurt?"

"Nu-uh!" She shook her head violently. I'd almost forgotten she was drunk until she grabbed my face. "You're really pretty." She came closer to me and I stepped back. She stumbled and knock her head on my collar bone. "Ouch!" She whined, not moving her head. I tried to push her gently away but she wouldn't move.

"Come on, Lilly, move please." I tried to sound stern but still kind.

"But you're so comfy," She moaned, her breath tickling my neck. It tingled uncontrollably, goosebumps breaking out across my body.

"You should have fun with your friends, not fall asleep on me."

"Tanya," she mumbled before pushing herself off me and tottering to the doorway. She paused at the door and stared back, just long enough for me to start feeling uncomfortable, before leaving.

***

We'd been told to ask everyone to leave for midnight but, due to the huge amount of people still dancing and drinking, we had pushed it back an hour. Now it was nearly one am and we had no other choice but to end the celebration. Luckily a lot of people had already gone in favour of nearby pubs and clubs making our job slightly easier.

The DJ, to his credit, was still here entertaining the demanding crowd even though we hadn't paid him for the extra hour.

Douglas borrowed his mic and announced, "guys, party's over. Clear out!"

Groans and sarcastic retorts ensued but Douglas didn't back down. "You've had an hour longer than you were supposed to so don't you dare complain!" He bellowed, the mike squealing in protest.

The drunken youths slowly trickled out of the hall until only one person remained, sitting alone in a corner, crying her eyes out.

I made my way over to her and touched her shoulder gently.

"What's wrong?" I asked. Lilly looked up at me, her eyelashes thick with tears.

"Sh-she l-left me!" She wailed her eyes wide.

"Who did, honey?" I asked and would have lowered myself down on the floor next to her had Douglas not been watching.

"T-Tanya!" She sobbed, "She w-was supp-posed to take me h-home!"

"Did she forget about you?" I asked, wrapping my arm around her back and helping her up.

"She must have," She replied, calming down a bit as she wiped her eyes.

"Why don't we check outside, see if she's still there?"

"Okay."

She leaned on me heavily but I refused Douglas's offer to help carry her. It took a while but we reached the open door and exited into the cold night air. There was no point looking closely at the parking lot, anyone could see it was completely empty apart from my car.

"See!" She looked at me with eyes that brimmed with tears. I looked back at her and felt a wave of something wash through me. Anxiousness? Pity? Protectiveness?

No matter what it was I had to get her home by any means.

"Would you like me to call a taxi for you?" I asked but she looked at me with such despair that I ruled that out. "Could someone from your family come and pick you up?"

"I don't have my phone."

"Do you know their numbers?"

"Not by heart." She replied, cutting down that idea. We stood while I thought hard.

There was only one solution that I could see and I didn't want to do that. 'But it seems there's no other option.' I thought, knowing I couldn't leave her here. Especially not with Douglas Crawford floating around.

"Would you like me to drop you off?" I asked, a small part of me hoping she would refuse.

"Could you?" She asked, looking at me with shining eyes.

"Of course I could. Come on."

We made our way through the empty parking lot to where my car was, at the far end. By the time we reached it my back was aching from walking bent over under Lilly's weight.

I opened the front passenger door and placed her carefully into the seat. She wriggled and squirmed but I managed to get her seat belt fastened around her.

In the ten or twenty seconds it took me to walk around the car and sit in my seat she had managed to fall asleep. I watched her for a few moments before shaking my head at her foolishness and putting the car into gear.

***

I stalled the engine in the street I'd dropped her off in before. Leaning over, I shook her gently at first but became more violent as she stayed asleep.

"Huh," she mumbled, looking at me sleepily, her eyelids barely parted; the space she could see out of was nothing more than a slit.

"Where is your house?" I asked. She stared dumbly with bleary eyes and I repeated myself twice before it seemed to sink in.

"Follow this road until you get to the fifth exit on the left then continue up there 'till the end. That's m-" She yawned widely, "my house." She just about finished her sentence, already pretty much asleep as she mumbled the last word.

I drove slowly up the road, counting the left hand turn offs.