Emily~3

Tess, Thomas, and JJ walked down the street, the distant bass from the party vibrating through the pavement. As they got closer, the scene didn't exactly inspire confidence—blinking fairy lights sagging from the windows, some lad already passed out on the front lawn, and a couple shouting at each other by the bins.

Tess slowed to a stop, eyeing the house. "This looks shit."

JJ shrugged. "Most house parties are."

Thomas stayed quiet, hands stuffed in his pockets. He'd been off all night, not saying much since they left.

Tess nudged him. "What do you reckon, then?"

He exhaled through his nose. "It'll be horrible."

She smirked. "Can't argue with that."

A guy in a tracksuit who looked far too old to be at a college party, stumbled out the front door, took one look at them, and muttered, "Don't go in the downstairs loo," before staggering off down the road.

JJ blinked. "Well. That's encouraging."

Tess sighed, then straightened up. "Fuck it. Let's go in."

The three of them stepped inside, immediately hit by the heat of the crowd and the thumping music. The living room was already packed, bodies moving under dim, flickering lights.

As they pushed through the crowd, Freddie passed by, catching sight of them. "Alright?" he greeted with a nod before slipping away.

JJ watched him go, then glanced toward the centre of the room. "He looks happy."

Tess followed his gaze and spotted Freddie on the dance floor with Effy, the two of them lost in whatever weird, magnetic thing they had going on.

JJ nodded. "That explains it."

Tess scoffed. "At least someone's worked their shit out."

Before she could say anything else, someone grabbed her wrist—Panda. "Come onnn, dance with me!"

Tess raised a brow. "Bit early isn't it?"

"Well, you see," Panda said dramatically, "I am letting loose. Dancing with absolutely lush guys."

Tess smirked. "Since when?"

Panda twirled on the spot. "Since I decided I'm not letting some boy determine my evening, y'know?"

"Good for you, Panda."

"This is all bonkers," Panda giggled, twirling again. "I feel like I can do anything!" And then, without another word, she ran off into the crowd.

Tess barely had a second to process that before someone knocked into her, spilling beer down her arm. She turned to tell them to piss off but was immediately dragged by a girl she barely knew, pulling her into an impromptu dance. She searched for Thomas but he had disappeared into the kitchen, he was clearly not in the mood for a party.

JJ and Tess were already being roped into a long-winded story by some stoned lad on the sofa, they nodded along politely but Tess couldn't help laughing at every new life lesson the guy was telling them about...

The music thumped harder. The night blurred into movement, drinks, and flashes of overheard conversations. This was not exactly where she wanted to end up tonight...

----

Tess barely had time to register what was happening before Katie's hand closed around her wrist, yanking her out of the crush of bodies. She stumbled slightly, half-tripping over someone's discarded beer can, but Katie was relentless, dragging her through the kitchen, past the lingering smell of sweat and smoke, and out into the backyard.

The cold air hit her instantly, sharp against the warmth of the party. Tess exhaled, rubbing her arms as she tried to steady herself. She was a bit tipsy, sure, but she still had her head screwed on.

Katie, on the other hand, was fuming. But not at Tess.

"You will not believe what my psycho bitch of a sister did!"

Tess blinked, barely catching up. "What now, Katie?"

"She fucking left me, Tess!"

Tess frowned. "What do you mean left?"

"She moved out!!" Katie threw up her hands, pacing furiously across the dead grass. "She's such a crybaby. Just because Mum didn't invite Naomi over to dinner or whatever."

Tess tilted her head. "I'm sure that's not all it is."

Katie shot her a glare. "Oh, so you're on her side?"

Tess sighed. "No, I'm not on a side. Just saying, could be more to it, y'know?"

Katie huffed, arms crossing tight over her chest. "I just can't believe she would do something like this. I mean, sure, we've fought a bit—"

Tess gave her a look. "A lot more than a bit."

Katie ignored that. "—but I never thought we'd be apart... at least not yet. She's left me with our mental and now fucking bankrupt family."

Tess leaned against the wall, watching her carefully. "How are they? Your mum and dad?"

Katie let out a sharp laugh. "Feels like Dad's barely there at the moment."

Tess frowned. "How so?"

"Well, he is there, physically, but it feels like he's just completely fucking tapped out. Maybe it's because all Mum does is scream at him... as she should. He fucked it all up, didn't he?"

Tess exhaled, unsure what to say to that.

Before she could think of anything, the back door swung open, and Sam poked his head out. "Katie, are you coming back in?"

Katie groaned, rolling her eyes. "For Christ's sake, babes, can't I leave you alone for two seconds to talk to my friends?"

Sam didn't bother answering, just gave her a pointed look. With a final huff, Katie followed him back inside, muttering under her breath. Whether they were arguing or not anymore, Tess couldn't tell.

She lingered outside for a moment, letting the cool air clear her head.But then she saw two people, clearly more than a little tipsy, getting awfully close in the yard. She quickly turned her gaze away, feeling awkward, but she wasn't exactly in the mood to go back into the chaos inside.

She slipped quietly to the side of the house, down a little alley that was quiet and dark, away from the noise and mess of the party. Tess pulled out a pack of darts, flipping it open with a practiced flick of her wrist, before taking one out and letting it dangle between her fingers.

Her mind wandered. Emily moving out to Naomi's was something that made sense, even if Tess didn't know all the details. Naomi and Emily hadn't exactly been the picture of stability lately. Naomi had been tense since Sophia's death and the things Emily had found in Sophia's locker were far from normal.

But one thing she knew for sure was that something bigger was going on. Sophia's death had shaken everything up. The tension between Emily and Naomi was just one piece of a much larger puzzle, and Tess had no idea what the full picture looked like. Maybe she didn't want to know.

She took a deep drag from her cigarette, letting the smoke curl up into the cold air.

Before she could think much further, she heard footsteps approaching. A figure emerged from the shadows. Tess whipped around, startled for a moment, but her heart gave a little leap when she saw who it was—Cook, leaning casually against the back gate.

Tess raised an eyebrow, flicking the cigarette between her fingers. "How many times have you done that this week?"

Cook grinned, a hint of mischief in his eyes. "Not enough," he said, almost smugly "Should I be keeping count?"

"Why are you out here anyway?" She said keeping her tone casual.

Cook leaned against the gate, his eyes fixed on her. "Came to pick up," he said, his voice lower now, like it was a private joke they shared. "Just a bonus seeing you, I s'pose."

Tess raised an eyebrow, the corners of her lips twitching into something close to a smile. She let the silence stretch between them for a moment, watching his eyes flicker with...something.

"Shit party." She chuckled, making conversation.

"Nah it's tip top shit, just gotta look at it differently." He said, grabbing the cigarette from her

Tess studied his face, confused by what he just said. "Right."

"You should've seen Panda in there—fucking mental." Cook laughed.

Tess couldn't help but smile. "Yeah I saw, she's really going for it."

"Reckon old Tommo's pretty bummed about it," Cook said, his grin turning into something more amused.

Tess let out a quiet snort. "As he should be."

Cook glanced at her sideways, raising an eyebrow. "Hey, you looked pretty chummy with him before."

Tess shot him a playful look. "You been watching me?"

Cook shrugged nonchalantly. "Course."

Tess couldn't stop herself from smirking, the warm feeling spreading in her chest. "I love them both. They're my friends. They both deserve better, right?"

The atmosphere between them shifted, as though the air itself had thickened. Tess caught herself staring at him longer than she intended, something unspoken flickering in her chest. Cook met her gaze, eyes darkening for a split second before he quickly looked away, clearing his throat.

"Yeah," he said quietly, "But sometimes... people just get lost in their own shit, you know?"

Tess nodded slowly, her heart beating just a little faster. "I guess we all do." Her voice was softer now, the words hanging between them like something they both understood but didn't fully say.

There was a long silence, and the space between them felt smaller. Tess inhaled another drag from her cigarette, trying to focus on the steady rhythm of her breath rather than the way her pulse was quickening.

Cook shifted a little closer, his body language slightly less guarded than usual. "I'm glad you're out here, y'know? Even if you're pissy at me most of the time."

Tess smirked, the corners of her lips lifting just a little. "It's not always you I'm pissy at," she replied softly, her gaze dropping to the cigarette she was holding, a small flicker of heat creeping up her neck.

Cook's eyes lingered on her, and for a moment, everything felt like it was drawn out, suspended in time. The only sounds were the rustling of the leaves and the quiet crackle of the burning end of Tess's cigarette.

Then, just as she was about to say something else, the roar of a motorcycle engine interrupted the moment, and the bike pulled up beside them, its headlights harsh in the dark. Tess stiffened, glancing at Cook, who seemed unbothered.

"Guess that's them," Cook said, his voice back to its usual easygoing tone.

Tess straightened up, suddenly feeling the shift in the air. "Right," she muttered, her heart still racing. "I'll leave you to it."

But as she turned, she couldn't shake the feeling that, for just a moment, something more had passed between them.

Cook didn't stop her, just gave her a small, almost reluctant smile. "Don't go yet," he said, his voice low. "Stick around a little longer. It's boring out here."

Tess hesitated, her fingers still holding onto her cigarette, and then, with a soft exhale, she said, "I'll see you around, yeah?" She turned, taking a step away before glancing back one last time.

"Yeah," Cook's voice came from behind her, his tone softer, almost disappointed. "See you."

----

Tess stepped back inside, the loud chatter and music hitting her immediately. The warmth of the house contrasted sharply with the cool, fresh air she'd just left behind. She walked through the living room, weaving between people whose faces blurred into one another. As she passed the entryway, she saw JJ and Thomas leaning against the walls, looking absolutely bored out of their minds. Thomas held a drink in one hand, but his eyes were completely fixated on Pandora across the room.

"There you are," Tess called out, approaching them.

JJ raised an eyebrow. "Where'd you run off to?"

Tess shrugged. "Uh, urgent Katie situation, you know how it is."

JJ chuckled, nodding. "Ah, of course."

Just as Tess was about to join them, Emily walked in, fresh from the outside. She smiled brightly, her eyes scanning the room before landing on Tess. "Hi, how are you doing?"

Thomas groaned, his voice thick with sarcasm as he took a long swig of his drink. "This is the worst party I've ever been to."

Tess couldn't help but agree. "Seriously, the worst."

Emily blinked in surprise, clearly not expecting that answer. "Really?"

JJ leaned in, his voice playful but with a hint of sincerity. "Pandora's giving Tommo a dose of the good old 'look at me' routine. You know how it is—letting your exes know that you're out there. That other people find you attractive. That everything you thought you had together? Well, they can do without it. They don't need you."

Emily seemed to process the words, her gaze flickering toward Naomi briefly before she walked off without saying another word.

JJ, sensing the change in the air, leaned back against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest. "I merely observe," he said, his tone almost apologetic, trying to break the tension.

Tess stood still, watching her go, and for a split second, her thoughts strayed back to Cook. The way things had been between them... The way he'd looked at her just moments ago—like there was still something. But then, just like that, he was gone again, like a shadow slipping into the dark. She knew there was something still there, and he definitely knew too. Tess let out a breath, shaking her head slightly as she tried to push those thoughts aside.

Tess glanced at him, forcing a small smile. "Alright, I'm going back in," she said, her voice a little lighter than it had been a moment ago.

Thomas, looking unimpressed as ever, raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

Tess shrugged, glancing around the room. "Nothing better to do, right? Coming?"

JJ and Thomas both shook their heads, clearly not interested in rejoining the madness of the party.

"Fine," Tess said with a small roll of her eyes. "See you later." She turned and made her way back onto the dance floor

---

COOKS POV:

Cook stood there for a second, watching Tess walk away, her back slowly shrinking into the distance as the sounds of the motorcycle buzzed around him. He didn't move right away. Instead, his eyes lingered on her, letting his thoughts wander for just a moment longer. The way she moved, the little sway of her hips, the soft bounce in her hair, and yeah, maybe they dipped lower for a second- he wasn't fucking blind –but that wasn't the point. it all made his chest tighten.

Fuck, she still had that effect on him.

But there she was, walking away. Again.

And he hated it.

The dealer was getting more impatient now. Cook absentmindedly gave him the money before heading back inside, too distracted by her to really notice where he was going.

He pulled the pills out of the bag, the usual distraction. He popped a couple into his mouth and swallowed them without hesitation, trying to chase away the gnawing anxiety in his gut. The pills hit fast, dulling the edge of everything, but Tess—her smile, her laugh, the way she'd leaned in just a little closer to him outside—stayed with him.

It was getting fucking old, this dance they'd been doing. He hated it, hated the way things had unraveled between them without either of them actually talking about it. There had been moments, sure—little flashes of her. Tess, the real Tess. The one he'd spent all holidays with. But those moments were fewer, further between, and every time she pulled away, a little more of her seemed to disappear.

Not that he cared.

Obviously.

He just... noticed, that's all. Noticed the little things—how she wasn't around as much, how she kept to herself more, how she'd slipped into this new rhythm, one that didn't include him. And maybe that was his fault too. He could've said something. Could've tried harder. But instead, he'd shut the fuck up, kept his distance, because it was easier that way.

Fuck, it was easier.

He should've said something. Maybe he should've asked. But he hadn't.

Because fuck that. Because she'd been the one to walk away first. After Holly's birthday. After his run-in with her dickhead of a dad. After she looked at him like—like she regretted ever letting him close.

And yeah, Cook hadn't exactly helped after that. Maybe he'd made a point of being stubborn, of not giving a shit, of getting with other girls just to prove a point he wasn't even sure he believed in.

But even through all that, even when things had gotten messy, when there'd been this unspoken rift between them, they still acted like they were something. Friends, maybe. If you could call it that. It wasn't, not really. They both fucking knew it. There was more there, always had been, and it pissed him off that he still felt it

And yeah, alright, he'd had a lot of sex, but nothing—nothing—was like her. It wasn't just about that, though, wasn't just about the way she felt under him, around him, the glimmer in her eyes just before she kissed him, the way she dug her nails into his back like she didn't want to let go.

It was the way she looked at him, really looked at him, like she saw more than the reckless, loud-mouthed fuckup everyone else saw. The way she could call him out on his bullshit. The way she laughed, sharp and quick, like they were in on a joke no one else got.

But that part of her had been slipping away since summer.

And maybe—maybe—he hated that more than anything.

Maybe he wanted her to look at him like that again.

Because somewhere along the way, he'd lost it. Lost her.

But tonight, something shifted. The conversation they'd just had—the way she looked at him out there in the alley. For the first time in a while, there'd been something in her eyes. Hope? Maybe. A little spark that hadn't been there in months.

He shoved his hands into his pockets, making his way back into the house, the pounding music filling the air around him. The noise felt like it was miles away, and he found himself lost in his own head again.

it had given him a little hope. A little bit of the old Tess was still in there. She hadn't completely shut him out. Not yet.

---

Cook felt the bass vibrating through his chest as he swayed to the music, the neon lights flickering around him in chaotic, colourful bursts. He just wanted to feel something, anything, that could distract him from all the noise inside his head.

It wasn't long before he felt the pressure in his bladder. So he slipped through the crowd, pushing past a few bodies, making his way to the bathroom.

When he opened the door, he immediately froze.

Emily was leaning over the sink, talking to herself—he didn't know what about, but it was clear she wasn't expecting anyone. The whole Sophia thing had especially shaken her up.

"Let it go. Let it go before you screw everything up..." She muttered to herself, her words trailing off as her eyes snapped to him, wide in shock.

Cook didn't care. He was too far gone to be bothered by walking in on anyone. Without a word, he simply moved into the bathroom, unzipped, and aimed himself at the bathtub.

"Cook, excuse me? I don't want to see your muff," Emily said, her voice laced with disgust.

"Emilio," Cook said, laughing as he leaned over the side of the toilet. "It's probably still not too late to be overcome by desire with me. I could turn you, deffo."

"Fuck off," she snapped, but Cook just grinned wider, still pissing as if nothing was out of the ordinary.

"It's probably been a while, innit?" Cook continued, his tone almost taunting. "Since you've seen one of these. Mine's totally outstanding, man."

"Cook," Emily said, clearly annoyed, but Cook could hear the faintest bit of tension in her voice. 

"What's up, Emilio, man? Why are you hiding in the pisser?" He finished up and turned, leaning casually against the bathroom sink. 

"Do you ever get jealous?"

"Jealous?" He raised an eyebrow, unfazed. "If your shag's a shag, then you're always gonna get your heart ripped out somewhere, aren't you?"

Emily seemed to pause, chewing on his words. "What do you do about it?"

"You just burn, kid," Cook replied, his tone flat, as though it was the only truth he knew. "You just burn. You just keep it on the inside."

"Is that possible?" Emily asked, the vulnerability in her voice surprising him.

"Yeah," Cook muttered, his eyes narrowing a bit as he thought of Tess. "Because you look a bit stupid if you don't, don't you? Look at me, love. Happy."

There was a long silence before Emily finally spoke again. "Tess."

Cook froze. His eyes flickered to her as she said her name. "What about her?" he asked, trying to play it cool, but there was a slight edge to his voice.

"That's who you're talking about, isn't it?" Emily said, looking at him knowingly.

Cook's eyes narrowed, but he gave her a crooked smile. "You don't tell any of my secrets, and I won't tell any of yours. Or we could just go out there in a blaze of glory. Dance, muff monkey?"

Emily didn't miss a beat. "You got it."

Cook stepped back, holding the door open. "Come on, then."

They both headed back into the party, but as soon as they stepped out, Cook's gaze locked on Tess. She was dancing, her body pressed up against some random guy, moving in a way that made his stomach twist. It was too much—too close, too personal. She tilted her head up to kiss him, and Cook's heart sank, the scene in front of him becoming blurry as he tried to push past the feeling.

Just then, someone bumped into him from behind.

"Sorry, man—"But something in him snapped. And he lost all control....

----

Tess barely registered the hands gripping her waist, the lips trailing down her neck, the heat of the guy pressing against her. The music was loud, pounding in her skull, and for a second, she let herself slip into it—into the haze, the mindlessness, the nothingness.

And then she heard it.

A scream.

Not just any scream—someone in pain, someone getting hurt.

Her head snapped up just in time to see a scene unfolding before her eyes.

Cook.

His fists were slamming into some guy's face over and over, his knuckles already stained red. The guy barely had time to react before another hit landed, sending him sprawling backward. The people around them recoiled, some shouting, others frozen in place.

Tess pushed the guy she'd been kissing off her, barely noticing the way he tried to pull her back in, his mouth still grazing her jaw.

"Fuck—" She shoved him away harder this time, stepping back, her breath catching in her throat as Cook kept going, throwing punch after punch, like he wasn't even aware of anything else around him.

JJ tried to intervene, his hands grabbing at Cook's arms in a desperate attempt to pull him off, but Cook was too far gone. With a rough shove, he sent JJ flying back, knocking him straight to the floor.

"JJ!" Emily was already moving, and Tess was right behind her, dropping to her knees next to him. JJ clutched his side, wincing, his face scrunched up in pain.

Thomas appeared out of nowhere, his voice firm, but edged with concern. "JJ."

JJ nodded, sitting up slowly, but Tess barely had time to focus on him because Cook was still going.

"Fucking cunt! Fucking cunt!" Cook's voice was rough, raw, broken. His punches didn't stop, not even as the guy beneath him groaned in agony, barely even trying to fight back. "Fuck you! Don't fucking touch me!"

Tess finally stood up, heart racing. Pandora and Naomi were yelling at him to stop, but it was like he couldn't hear them.

"Cook!" she shouted.

For the first time, he hesitated. His bloodied knuckles paused midair, his chest heaving. His eyes snapped to her.

And then, just like that, he shoved the guy down one last time, panting heavily. His gaze flickered around the room, wild and unfocused, like he was still looking for a fight.

"Who fucking wants one now?" he spat, voice laced with venom.

And before Tess could move, before she could say anything, before he could even take another breath—someone swung.

A punch.

Straight to his face.

Cook's head snapped to the side. His body staggered back. And then he fell to the ground

Tess watched, frozen, as he collapsed.

Her stomach twisted, her hands clenched into fists at her sides, but she didn't move toward him.

Didn't run to him.

Didn't do anything.

She just turned and walked out.

----

Tess stumbled down the street, the cool night air biting at her flushed skin. Her limbs were heavy, her head pounding with every step, but she didn't stop. She didn't know where she was going, didn't care—she just wanted to be far away from the party, from the noise, from him.

Her mind was still reeling, flashes of what had just happened playing on an endless loop. Cook, fists flying. The sound of knuckles cracking against bone. JJ on the ground, wincing. Cook's voice snarling through clenched teeth.

Tess exhaled sharply, dragging a hand down her face. Why did he have to be like this? Every time she thought that maybe, something could change, he'd do something like this. Something reckless, something violent, something that made her feel like her lungs were caving in.

And the worst part?

She wasn't even sure who she was more disappointed in. Him, for being exactly who he always was, or herself, for still giving a shit.

By the time she reached her house, her whole body ached. Her legs, her chest, her throat—everything felt sore. She fumbled with the keys for a second before pushing the door open, stepping inside, and closing it behind her with a quiet click.

The last thing she expected was to see someone still awake.

Paul was sitting at the kitchen table, a cup of tea in front of him, eyes immediately lifting to meet hers. His brows furrowed slightly, taking in her mess of a state—her smudged makeup, tear-streaked cheeks, tangled hair.

Tess stiffened. "Why are you here?" she asked, her voice hoarse.

Paul raised an eyebrow. "Sitting in my kitchen."

She scoffed, rubbing her arms. "It's three in the morning... I thought you'd left."

He sighed, shifting in his chair. "I wouldn't leave just like that. It was just tense the other day, that's all."

Tess let out a sharp laugh, shaking her head. "Tense? Not how I would've described it."

Paul didn't say anything, just waited.

And maybe it was the alcohol, maybe it was the fact that she was already on edge, but Tess couldn't stop herself from breaking.

"She was fucking crying, Paul." Her voice cracked, but she powered through. "She was upset, like, actually upset. And do you know how rare that is? She bottles everything up and pretends she's fine, and the one time she let it slip, it was because of you." She gestured vaguely, anger rising in her chest.

Paul exhaled through his nose, nodding slightly. "Look, I know your family's been through stuff—"

"Yeah, we have," Tess cut in, voice sharp. "And you're just another thing to add to the fucking list."

He didn't flinch. Didn't look hurt. Just studied her for a moment before speaking again, voice steady.

"But just because you're used to it, doesn't mean it's going to happen again."

Tess frowned. "What d'you mean?"

Paul leaned forward slightly, meeting her eyes. "I'm not gonna leave, Tess."

She blinked. People always say that.

"You can say stuff and not mean it, you know," she muttered.

"I'm not giving up that easily," Paul said. "I love your mum. And I really care about you guys, okay?"

Tess didn't answer right away. Her mind was already elsewhere, still stuck at that fucking party, still replaying Cook's voice in her head— fucking cunt fucking cunt don't fucking touch me—still seeing the blood on his hands, on his face, on the floor.

She swallowed hard.

"...Okay," she finally muttered, barely even hearing herself say it.

Paul studied her again. "Are you sure you're okay?"

Tess exhaled, already stepping away. "Fuck off, Paul."

He only smiled, like he was already used to her dismissiveness, like he knew that was as close to affection as she was willing to get.

Tess didn't say anything else. She just turned and headed up the stairs, her fingers gripping the banister tight.

But the little distraction—the conversation, the slight shift in her focus—didn't help. Didn't ease the pain.

She stepped into her room, shutting the door behind her, and just sank.

Her back hit the door, her legs gave out, and suddenly she was curled up on the floor, her arms wrapped around herself, her chest heaving, her whole body shaking. Because for all her sharp words and cold dismissals, this—this was the part no one ever saw.

----

Tess pushed open the common room door, half-expecting everything to feel normal, but instead, the air was off—thick with something unspoken. People sat in their usual places, but there was a weird stillness to it all, a quiet tension lingering beneath every conversation.

Her eyes flicked around, landing on Emily as she walked in—alone. Usually, she and Naomi were glued together, hands linked, whispering, sharing smokes, whatever. But now? Naomi came in separately, barely even acknowledging Emily.

Tess arched an eyebrow, glancing at Naomi. Weird.

Tess smirked. "Trouble in paradise?"

"Not now, Tess," Naomi muttered, rubbing her temples like she was completely somewhere else.

Tess let out a small breath, raising her hands in surrender. "Alright, alright. Christ."

No banter. No bite. Something was definitely up.

She left Naomi to her weird, brooding mood and crossed the room, spotting Freddie sitting on one of the chairs, casually eating a sausage roll despite it being the start of the fucking school day.

"Breakfast of champions," Tess muttered, plopping down next to him.

Freddie glanced at her, chewing lazily. "Didn't have time this morning."

"Right," she said, unconvinced.

For a second, there was silence. And then—

"You saw what happened," Freddie said.

Tess didn't even have to ask what he meant.

She exhaled, leaning back against the chair, staring at the ceiling. "Hard to fucking miss, wasn't it?"

Freddie nodded, biting the inside of his cheek. "I mean, I know it's Cook and all. He's done shit like this before, but..." He paused, shaking his head. "He's never gone that far. Really hurting someone. Hurting JJ."

Tess felt something heavy settle in her stomach. She could still see it—Cook's fists, the blood, JJ on the ground. She had known Cook was reckless, violent, explosive. But that? That was different.

"I don't know," she muttered. "He just... I don't know what the fuck is wrong with him."

Freddie sighed, rubbing a hand down his face.

A beat of silence passed before Tess shifted forward. "Where is he anyway?" she asked, forcing lightness into her voice. "Decided to hide again, has he?"

Freddie stopped chewing. His jaw tensed, his expression darkening.

"Probably wishing he was here" he muttered.

Tess scoffed. "Yeah, right."

But Freddie didn't react. Didn't roll his eyes, didn't make a joke. Just stared at her, his lips pressing into a tight line.

Tess frowned. "What?"

Freddie hesitated, then exhaled sharply. "You don't know, do you?"

Her stomach twisted. "Know what?"

Freddie looked at her, unblinking. "Cook got arrested last night."

For a second, Tess just stared at him. The words didn't register. Like they just bounced off her ears without sinking in.

Then, slowly, her breath caught in her throat.

"Wait," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "What?"

Freddie didn't say anything. He didn't need to.

Her pulse pounded in her ears.

Cook. Arrested.

She blinked, once, twice, then abruptly pushed herself up from the chair.

"Where are you—?"

"I'll be back," she muttered, already walking away, not even sure where she was going.

Her legs carried her down the hallway, heart hammering, stomach twisting. The noise of the school blurred around her, fading into nothing.

Cook. Arrested.

The bathroom door swung open, and as soon as she stepped inside, her breath hitched.

Her fingers gripped the sink, knuckles white, shaking.

Why did this feel like a punch to the gut? Why did it feel like something in her had just cracked, deep and ugly and wrong?

Tess didn't have much time to think any more about it when she heard something—quiet, ragged sobs, the kind that got caught in your throat. They weren't loud, but they were deep, almost painful to listen to.

She turned sharply, eyes scanning the stalls.

"Hello?" she called out, hesitating for a second. No response.

She shifted on her feet. "Are you... okay?"

Silence. Then, a quiet click of a lock.

The door creaked open, and Tess's stomach dropped when she saw Emily sitting on the floor, knees pulled up to her chest, looking completely destroyed.

"Shit," Tess muttered under her breath, hurrying over. She crouched down beside her, unsure what to say, just instinctively reaching out, her hand resting on Emily's arm.

Emily didn't flinch, didn't push her away, just let out a shaky breath, her whole body trembling. Tess could still feel her own tears drying on her cheeks, but she quickly wiped them away, focusing on Emily instead.

"Hey," she said softly. "What's wrong?"

Emily just shook her head, mumbling something Tess couldn't quite catch.

"What?"

More mumbling—words, half-sentences, bits and pieces that didn't connect.

Tess tried to piece it together, her grip tightening slightly. "Emily, I don't understand."

Emily sucked in a sharp breath, wiping at her face, trying to get the words out. And then—

"Naomi and Sophia..."

Tess blinked, frowning. "What?" She really hoped this didn't mean what she thought it did..

But before Emily could say anything else, the bathroom door swung open.

Tess turned her head, and there she was.

Naomi.

Frozen in the doorway, eyes wide, face pale.

She looked scared. Not just nervous—scared.

And Tess didn't need to say anything.

Tess's expression hardened, realisation creeping in.

And just like that, the room felt even colder.