"Well, Ruby, it was certainly nice to see you after the break in our sessions, I do hope your exams went well," Mr Hibbert says, adjusting his grey tie as he closes my folder. I smile back at him, distantly thinking of how I want this meeting to end soon so I'm not caught in the rain storm that the weather forecasts have been warning about all week when going home.

"You really are such a different girl to the one I met a year ago," Mr Hibbert goes on to say. "If you think about just how much you've overcome it really is outstanding."

I smile embarrassedly, not quite knowing what to say. I feel he's right though, I've changed drastically these past few months, problems that once ruled my life have now taken a back seat. Last year things had been bad, to the point at which I needed to make a change or I wouldn't be able to cope.

I was receiving little hours of sleep, my days would leave me exhausted and drained and the night became a whole lot more unbearable. Then there was the crippling fear that's always shadowed over my life, a fear that even now I'm not sure I'll ever fully overcome. Death.

Now, I can think about it a whole lot more calmly and rationally but even now I feel a horrible rush of discomfort whenever the subject's brought up, but Mr Hibbert assures me that's to be expected.

"Well I'll see you next week, Ruby," Mr Hibbert says. I nod, pushing my chair up to stand before saying goodbye and leaving, feeling much lighter than I'd done when I first stepped into the room this afternoon. This week's meeting's gone pretty well.

I walk quickly down the corridors to the school entrance. I want to get home as quickly as possible, which unfortunately for me means at least a twenty minute journey of fast-paced walking if I want to avoid getting caught in the rain's that sure to come. Pushing the exit door open, I head outside, frowning at how grey everything looks. It's as though the surrounds are a black and white picture, things look so gloomy.

Walking down the school's front, I get my phone out to text Mum that I'm coming home. Glancing up from my phone, I feel a jolt of surprise to see Levi standing outside the school gates. He's absentmindedly nodding along to the music playing through the black headphones he's wearing and sipping a cup of coffee.

As if sensing someone's behind him, he turns around and his gaze lands on me. I immediately narrow by eyes, suspicious at finding him out here. Never on a Thursday afternoon after one of Mr Hibbert's meetings have I seen Levi out here. Well, not since the, uh... incident, anyway.

"What are you doing out here?" I ask, heading over to him as he takes off his headphones and leaves them resting around his neck. The smell of his coffee drifts over towards me and I start to want a hot drink for myself, things are so chilly and cold it's making me miserable.

Levi returns my blunt greeting with a mocking smile. "Nice to see you're as welcoming as ever."

I scowl harder. "No, really- what are you here for?"

Levi just raises his eyebrows, apparently not that bothered by my rudeness, before rummaging around in his bag. He pulls out my Geography notebook that I've forgotten all about.

"Oh," I say, feeling my face grow rapidly hot in embarrassment. "Er, thanks."

Levi hands over the notebook saying nothing, I'm surprised he doesn't poke fun at my paranoid demands as to why he's here but the amusement brightening his eyes tells me he hasn't failed to notice my slipup. I take the notebook and hurriedly shove it into my bag, hoping to turn around and leave him while I still have some dignity.

It doesn't quite go that way.

Because then the sky gives a deafening roar of thunder and the sky opens. Rain begins to hammer down on us without so much as a forewarning of a few drops- instead we're rapidly soaked by a pounding, startling torrent.

After giving a small shriek of shock at the impact of icy cold water plummeting down on us, I hurriedly search around in my bag for an umbrella I hope I have in there. My wet fingers slip on the cool metal of the handle before I finally manage to open it and lift it up over me.

Levi ducks underneath before taking the umbrella from me and holding it over the both of us. I breathe heavily in relief; wiping my face and blinking the water out my eyes. Within only a few moments I've gotten pretty drenched- my hair lies in matted, wavy tresses around my head, my coat has darkened a shade from being saturated and I can feel heavy drops of water rolling down my neck into my clothes.

Levi uses his free hand to drag a hand through his hair, pushing the wet locks back before looking down at me with his lips slightly upturned, amusement fills his dark eyes. "Nice, red umbrella," he says as he points up the scarlet coloured umbrella. I reply with a glower. I honestly can't believe Levi found out haven't noticed just how many of my belongings are red and Levi finding that out before me is somewhat irking.

It's not until I fold my arms to show I'm not amused do I realise how little space there is between us- my elbows end up knocking his chest as I attempt to cross them. It doesn't take a genius to realise an umbrella hardly gives a large amount of space to stand beneath, that's evident as Levi stands only a little way away, he's so close I can hear his quiet breath and suddenly I'm having trouble with mine.

The light that passes through the umbrella bathes everything in a red light; our skin, our hair, we're both illuminated in a red tinge. Levi moves closer slightly, the further decline in space is so small I'm partly convinced I must have imagined it but the sudden stammering of my heart disagrees.

Looking up at Levi, I see raindrops clinging to his eyelashes and that the humour's left his eyes. He peers down at me with an expression a cross between bemusement and curiosity, as if he's got some confusing algebraic equation before him instead of me.

"You have a bit of hair..." Levi says, before leaning in and pushing away a piece of damp hair that must have been clinging to my cheek. The feel of his fingers brushing against my skin sends my heart rising up into my throat. His closeness overloads my senses and, for a moment, I can't even speak a word.

Levi thankfully can.

"Do you want a lift home? I've got my car," he says, drawing away and pointing his thumb backwards in the direction of the school car park.

I swallow, contemplating his offer. A car ride with Levi? Distrust rushes through me as I look at him sceptically. I'm not even sure why he's offering help, surely he'd much rather just leave me out in the rain and driving home laughing? That sounds much more like him.

His offer's got to be a joke. "I don't think-"

Levi cuts me off with a flat look. "What, you'd rather just drown in this rain than endure a ten minute car ride with me?"

As much as it paints me to say it, he has a point. Walking home in this brutal rain won't be fun at all, but how much more enjoyable will a car ride with Levi be? "Uh..."

Levi rolls his eyes before regarding me wryly. "I'm not going to drive us off to the edge of a cliff or something. Just come on," he says, before turning around and walking off- taking the umbrella with him and leaving me no choice but to follow him unless I wanted to be soaked.

He probably thinks I don't want to go with him because of how much he infuriates me and that's partly the reason, but there are also the faltering butterflies that are filling my stomach which send warning bells ringing at the notion of going with him. I manage to ignore them.

We both walk to the car park and Levi leads to me a car that's one of the few left in the car park. Just as I guessed, his car isn't some rusty, metal box but a new-looking, dark blue Ford that I recognise as one both recently released to the market and highly praised. I feel a little jealous; I'm yet to pass my driving test let alone get a car. But on the positive side, I should be starting lessons soon in the next month as soon as I turn seventeen.

Levi hands me the umbrella before getting out his keys to unlock the car before striding round to the other side to get in. I hesitate for a moment, my hand hovers before the car door handle, thinking of how wise getting it with him would be. Logic tells me it won't be the best decision I'll ever make.

The rain's still battering as hard as ever on the umbrella.

Huffing, and hastily praying that the traffic isn't going to be bad so it's a quick journey, I open the car door and get in before closing my umbrella and shutting the door. I sigh in relief, glad to be finally out of the door and somewhere dry. Levi's already turned the engine and heater on and the surroundings are getting warm. He takes off his headphones and leaves them resting on the dashboard.

We both sit in silence for a moment, each of us staring out at the rain that hits the windscreen like liquid ammunition before sliding down, merging and running together down the glass.There's something calming about watching the rain, being caught in it's awful but watching the clouds burst is oddly kind of... romantic.

I suddenly cough loudly, trying to hide and forget the fact I just thought of this situation I'm in with Levi as romantic. Levi glances over to me, looking more inquisitive than concerned, like the gentleman he is.

"Er... Are you OK?"

I wave my hand dismissively as an answer and begin to rummage around in my bag for my water bottle, just for something to do. If I don't busy myself god knows what might happen... I might have more ludicrous thoughts or even end up actually doing something stupid.

Thankfully then Levi turns away, after giving me a distrustful look, and starts driving, pulling away from the car park before driving out onto the road.

"Where's your house?" he asks.

"Er, it's on Bodmin Road, it's number 24," I reply, silently thinking why couldn't my house be nearer and only a few streets away instead of being located a mile and a half away. Levi nods in recognition at the road name and carries on driving. That is until we reach a long line of cars stretching from a place too far to see.

To utmost horror I realise we've been caught in traffic.

"Oh god," I breathe inaudibly, slumping in my seat whilst a flurry of curses race through my mind. Judging by the amount of cars ahead, what would have been a ten minute trip is now probably going to be double the time. I'm in alone in a car with Levi, for potentially a while.

I glance over at him and see he's taken the traffic as an opportunity to search through his collection of CDs he has in the car, as he does so the skin between his eyebrows is creased a little in apparent concentration as he hunts for a CD he wants. He makes his choice and soon after a Radiohead song begins to play. Levi sighs in appreciation and relaxes in his sear as he begins drumming his fingers on the steering wheel along to the beat.

His reaction to the song oddly seems kind of cute. I've never really seen Levi so comfortable and at ease, his expression is calm as he looks ahead at the unmoving cars, quietly murmuring the lyrics under his breath. An actual content Levi and not one that's mocking or moody is a surprise to see and undeniably... endearing.

Levi suddenly turns around, looking at me with an expression both suspicious and confused. "How come you're looking at me like that?"

My stomach lurches at the fact I've been caught gawking at him. A surge of heat floods my cheeks and my mouth opens a little but no words come out, instead of replying I twist my head to look towards the front, mumbling nonsensical noises- all the while humiliated that I've been caught red-handed just staring at him like an idiot.

I can practically feel the amusement radiating off Levi as though it were heat as he continues to look at me. "You've gone pink."

My face grows even warmer and I don't know whether to unscrew my water bottle and chuck it at him to shut him up or at me to cool myself down. Levi's eyes glint with humour and, slowly, he leans in, his breath hot against my ear as he whispers, "Are you blushing?"

What feels like electricity shoots down my spine as his lips graze the shell of my ear. This is the closest he's ever been since he kissed me, the closest contact he's made and it's setting my skin on fire and burning like a funeral pyre.

A fragment of me wants to close my eyes, to relish the feel of his mouth against my skin but the majority of my mind, the part that's manoeuvred by sensibility tells me I should be angry at the notion he's suggesting and at how close he is.

"No," I say defensively as I swerve round to look defiantly at him. Awfully, I've forgotten Levi's inclined closer and suddenly there are only mere inches between our faces. I can't really think because it feels as though the butterflies have left my stomach and are flurrying through my mind, sending all thoughts into disarray.

"I'm just hot," I manage to stammer as Levi stares back at me, apparently unruffled at the sudden reduction of space between us. He just calmly sits there as a new Radiohead song comes on, this one slower than the first.

And for a fleeting moment, I could have sworn his eyes had glanced down to my lips.

As soon as the action I'm not even sure happened passes, Levi suddenly looks away, resuming his usual position in his seat as the cars ahead finally begin moving. All the while my heart's thumping erratically, pounding so fast it's as though I've just ran a mile.

I don't fail to notice how Levi's mouth twitches at one corner as he stares ahead, letting me know he probably finds my awkwardness entertaining. When doesn't he?

I don't know if it's because of the sudden adrenaline that's rushing through my veins, or because of the smirk I've just witnessed, but suddenly I can't just sit here anymore. It feels as though my mind's just a whirling carousel of emotions, going at a break-neck speed that's out of control.

Confusion's more prominent than anything else I feel. Infuriatingly, I still don't know how to make sense of the emotions Ii feel toward Levi, is it hate, is it... Is it something else?

Sighing heavily, I slouch further into my seat, dragging a hand through my hair to get it out my face. I decide on focusing my attention elsewhere to try and calm myself down and to stop my heart pumping so rapidly.

My eyes fall upon a lollipop wrapper on the car floor, its pink wrapper suggests it once protected a strawberry-flavoured sweet and I'm reminded of the ones Elle always has during class. Suddenly I remember all about their relationship and feel shocked to think I'd even forgotten it.

A question forms in my mind; I try and resist the urge to ask it but the desire grows to the point at which I can't keep silent.

"Are you and Elle still together?" I ask, my voice a quick stream of stumbling words and far too loud.

Levi raises an eyebrow as he moves the wheel to the side to make a turning. "Not holding back on subtly, I see."

He's completely right. I'm behaving like a nosey, next-door neighbour. I give an embarrassed smile and attempt to redeem myself. "Sorry, I just.... I was just wondering, what with the Christmas dance and the two of you-"

"Yeah, we've broken up," Levi interjects, his voice monotone and lacking any signs of upset.

I draw back in surprise, this is the first I've heard of a break-up between Elle and Levi. "Oh," I say awkwardly, having no idea what to say. I'm already wishing I'd never brought up this subject. "Are you okay about it?" I ask tentatively, unsure as to how he'd react.

Levi laughs but it sounds more derisive than humoured. "I think I'll get over it."

I frown. "What's that meant to mean?"

Levi breathes in, looking as though he'd rather be talking about anything else. "Elle and I weren't a great couple, at least definitely not at the end." He pauses as the speed at which the car's going at starts slowing. "Things got bad enough that I didn't really give a shit when she left,"

Levi's voice isn't cold as he talks, it's just empty, completely lacking any signs of guilt or sorrow. I feel surprise when I process the words: 'she left'. Was Elle the one who broke up with Levi?

Before I have the time to answer this question or even think about, Levi cuts in, "Anyway, why are you so interested?"

My cheeks begin to heat again and I shake my head. "I'm not, I was just curious that's all."

Looking out the window I realise that we've reached my street and the speed of the car drops further as Levi beings looking for my house.

"Seeing as we're on the topic of relationships," he says as he looks out the window, reading house numbers, "are you still with that Ryan guy?"

"Yes," I reply curtly, not liking how Levi makes him sound so unimportant. Levi comes to a stop and I assume he's found the twenty-fourth house on Bodmin Road.

He looks faintly surprised, but in more of a sarcastic way than in a genuine manner. "Huh," he says simply.

"What?" I ask, narrowing my eyes.

"Nothing," he says, shrugging his shoulders as his hands leave the wheel. His eyes look outside to the window behind me and I catch a steely look in them.

"Well, speaking of your boyfriend," he says, nodding towards the window, "isn't that him?"

Feeling unease well up in my stomach, I turn my head round to look behind me. Through the window I see the rain's stopped and Ryan standing in the front garden of my house, looking rather confusedly into the car, right at Levi and I.

"Yeah," I answer, giving Ryan a small wave. He doesn't return it. I glance back at Levi who I'm surprised to see is still looking at Ryan. His expression isn't particularly friendly.

"You better go then," Levi says.

I nod, undoing my seatbelt. "Thanks for the ride," I say awkwardly, apparently as crap at goodbyes as I usually am.

"It's fine." Levi shrugs. He regards me with a smile that's barely there but still has my heart feeling like it's being clenched tight.

"Thanks," I mutter again before hastily getting out, my feet clumsily stepping out the car before shutting the door close. I linger before the car for a moment, watching Levi press a few buttons of the car's music player before he drives away.

A small, isolated part of me wants to stay here, on the pavement, watching his car drive off until I can't see it instead of going over to Ryan. I'm kind of afraid of what he'll say. The look on his face when I'd seen him from inside Levi's car did not seem happy.

I don't stay waiting around on the pavement. It won't do. Instead, I drag in a breath that readies me before turning around with a bright smile to welcome Ryan. He returns it, thank god, and we both stride over to each other. His black hair and clothes are soaking wet but that doesn't dampen the warmness in his eyes. Warmness and... With a jolt I notice Ryan's looking at me a little suspiciously.

"Levi Parker gave you a lift?" he asks inquisitively, glancing towards the space by the pavement where Levi's car had been. "I didn't know you knew him."

I certainly know him, mate, I can't help thinking. I know Levi much more than Ryan probably thinks is possible. "We both happened to be leaving school together and he offered me a lift when it started raining," I say nonchalantly.