Chapter seventy two

Daniela

Daniela leant against the wall and took another series of deep breaths.

"You can do this, Daniela." She muttered to herself. "Just another corridor to go."

A wave of nausea hit her and she placed her head between her legs, briefly considering just knocking on the door nearest to her and using their toilet to throw up into.

However, the nausea seemed to abate slightly and she immediately began moving again, hoping above everything that it will stay away until she reached Christiana's flat. And it did. She breathed a sigh of relief and opened the door.

"Hello?" She called out, not sure what she was potentially walking in on.

Christiana was alone, eating cereal on the sofa in her usual concoction of grey sweats.

"Oh thank God." Daniela said. "Does this mean that you didn't do anything?"

"Don't even get me started." Christiana said, glumly.

Daniela was about to question further when another wave of nausea hit her and she ran as fast as she could to the toilet, reaching it just in time to empty the contents of her stomach into it.

"You okay?" Christiana asked.

"Does it look like I'm okay?" Daniela snapped before she started throwing up again.

Christiana ran forward and pulled Daniela's hair back. Daniela continued to heave, although there was absolutely nothing left to throw up.

"Seriously, what the hell?" Daniela said as the vomiting ceased once more. "I thought the one good thing about not drinking was that I'd be the only one not feeling like crap the next morning. But no, apparently the world isn't done screwing me over."

"What happened?" Christiana asked. "Did you eat something bad?"

"I have no freaking idea but I have been like this on and off for about five hours now. If it is something I ate, I think it's safe to say that it is no longer in my stomach anymore."

She sat back on the floor of the bathroom and rested her head against the cool tiles. Christiana flushed the toilet and started wiping Daniela's face with a flannel.

"I thought the whole point of us taking these sodding injections meant that we wouldn't have to feel sick anymore." Daniela complained.

"We haven't finished them yet, maybe that's why." Christiana offered.

"So I manage to get sick in the last days of being able to? Figures."

Christiana let out a little laugh.

"Oh I'm sorry, it's not funny." She said.

"No it isn't." Daniela said. "And what the hell is the deal with you living so far away from Jason? I almost left a vomit trail across half the corridors."

"I'll get onto the people who designed the place, clearly they had not anticipated such a situation as this in their planning. Probably focusing too much time on trying to make it safe and crap like that."

"I wouldn't bother, they're probably dead now. Because that's how we thank people for saving the human race."

"Wow, so vomiting brings out the bitter in you." Christiana said. "I like it."

"Yeah well, it also brings out the bitch in me too. You might not like that."

And then the nausea was back and Daniela was back over the toilet bowl. After a couple more episodes of heaving nothing but bile, she let out a groan of frustration.

"Why?" She cried out. "No one else is sick! Why me?"

"Yeah well, at least by being stuck in that room for so long, you know you can't be pregnant."

Daniela's head shot up at Christiana's words. She threw Christiana a panicked look. Christiana's mouth fell open.

"You're kidding me. Already?" She asked. "You've only been out for five minutes!"

Daniela fiddled with her jacket sleeve, giving it her entire attention.

"I had needs." She said.

"When?"

"The night before they left."

"With Duncan?"

"Of course with Duncan! I said I had needs, not that I was a whore."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Daniela shrugged. "You were going through all that stuff with Connor, I didn't want to sit and brag about how great my relationship was going."

"Of course you can tell me!" Christiana said. "This kind of thing is a pretty big deal! Wait. This really isn't the point. Daniela, do you think you might be pregnant?"

Daniela tried to do the math. She was late but not by much. Her hands shot to her breasts.

"What are you doing?" Christiana asked.

"I'm checking to see if they're tender, that's meant to mean your pregnant, right?"

"And?"

"They feel alright."

"Well, as foolproof as that little test was. I'd suggest an actual pregnancy test, just to confirm."

"Where are we going to..."

Christiana pulled out a first aid box from under the sink.

"I stubbed my toe in the first week, I was looking for a plaster and I found this."

She flipped the box open and inside was a small pharmacy of pregnancy goodies from pregnancy tests to menstration sticks.

"I had thought it was a little OTT at the time, but I guess when you're all suddenly the only chance of repopulating the earth, it kind of makes sense."

"Woah, I bet the Sheep clan have already used their box up."

"I think I will officially love you forever if you manage to get pregnant from one night after all of their unsuccessful tries."

"Yes, because that's what we should focus on if I'm pregnant."

Christiana suddenly let out a squeal and opened one of the tests.

"Pee on it! Pee on it!"

Daniela looked at it apprehensively. She really wasn't sure if she even wanted to know.

"Can't I just leave it and see if there's a baby in 9 months?"

"Daniela Davids, I absolutely forbid you from putting this off. I would like to know if I need to start knitting jumpers now."

"Fine," Daniela said, taking the stick. "But if this thing is positive be ready for a stupid amount of freaking out from me."

"I'm completely prepared for that, I've had training and everything."

And with a squeal, she helped Daniela up and gave her a hug. She left Daniela to it, letting out another squeal as she closed the door. Daniela stared at the white stick in her hand, momentarily paralysed where she stood. She briefly considered what it would be like if she was pregnant, but the concept was so scary, she couldn't continue. She sat down on the toilet and buried her head in her hands. She couldn't be. She could barely look after herself, let alone someone else. And then there was the chasm of crap that she had only just begun to work through. She wasn't sure if mass murderers should even be allowed to have children.

“I don’t hear any peeing.” Christiana called out from her side of the door.

Daniela rolled her eyes and decided to just get on with it. The sooner she knew, the sooner she could work out what the hell she was going to do about it. She followed the instructions on the pack and sat and waited with baited breath as the stick figured out what it was that it wanted to do. Eventually the screen gave it’s answer and Daniela blinked stupidly at the result.

“Well?” Christiana asked, still locked out.

Daniela got up and opened the door, her entire body numb from the experience.

“When it says ‘Positive: 10 days’ what do you reckon that means?”

“Let me see.” Christiana said, and took the stick from her, looking down at the results herself with a mirrored shock expression. “Oh my days, Daniela. You are officially the first woman to get pregnant in Utopia.”

Daniela collapsed onto the sofa behind her, all the tell tale signs of a panic attack creeping up on her. She worked really hard at trying to keep her breathing under control, but struggled with the task. Christiana took her hand and walked her through the slower breathing, breathing with her to set a rhythm. When it was starting to get under control, Daniela’s eyes met Christiana’s and she suddenly felt an overwhelming desire to burst into tears. She couldn’t do this, she couldn’t be a mother.

“I can barely look after myself.” She said. “I’m constantly relying on people to pamper me, I can’t look after another person.”

“Yes you can.” Christiana said. “The same way that all women before us have done it. Nature finds a way to make it so that we can’t help but love them. You’ll figure it out. And you’ll also have 999 other people who will want to help. Not to mention Duncan.”

Daniela’s eyes widened at Duncan’s name and she felt her breathing increase once more.

“Duncan!” She said. “Duncan’s going to hate this!”

“Relax,” Christiana said. “Duncan loves kids weirdly enough. He grew up in a massive family, loads of nieces and nephews that he used to love spending time with. He’s pretty good with them actually.”

Daniela found some comfort in Christiana’s words and focused on keeping her breathing slow once more. A sadness fell over her then, she stifled a sob and met Christiana’s eyes.

“I don’t deserve to have kids,” She said. “Not after what I’ve done.”

Christiana thought about that for a moment and then gave her a reassuring smile.

“Think of it as restoring the balance,” she offered. “You ended a few lives sure, but now you get to work at bringing in new ones.”

“I have to do this 100 times??!” Daniela asked.

Christiana laughed, “I don’t think we need to look at it as literally as that.” She said.

Daniela’s stomach was in knots.

“I just don’t know if I’m going to be any good at this.” She said.

“You’ll be fine,” Christiana said. “And for the bits that you’re not so sure of, you have Duncan. That man is not going anywhere.”

Chapter seventy one

Adam

Adam stood there staring at the empty spot where Christiana had just been. He held onto the open champagne bottle, suddenly unsure what to do with it. His head was spinning, partly from the alcohol but mainly from what had just happened. He had been having the best night, it had been like a dream, a dream that he didn't know he had wanted as much as he did until the moment he was living it.

For one glorious night, he had pretended that Christiana was his. He had given in to the feelings he had been denying for so long and allowed himself to believe that Christiana had wanted him. It had been amazing and everything he had wanted and more. He realised that this was the woman he wanted and he had had a taster of just how amazing that would be. But that was all it had been, a pretend, a facade, an illusion of a world different to the one he was living. And now she was gone. She had taken it away from him.

"Now what?" He said to the empty room.

But there was no response. The question just hung empty in the air and suddenly an anger hit him, stronger than he had felt before. He threw the open champagne bottle against the wall and watched the glass shatter in front of him, it's contents splattering over the metallic structure and drip down to the floor.

Immediately he regretted the action. Not because of the mess, he suddenly found that he had wanted to drink it. He opened the fridge and grabbed a bottle of wine, unscrewing the lid and taking a swig.

And then he was moving, grabbing his keys as he made his way out of the door. He stormed down the corridor, making a beeline for his destination. He reached the door he wanted and knocked heavily. The door opened and a confused face peered out at him.

"Adam? What are you doing here?" Robin asked.

"You said that you wanted to meet up again."

Robin eyed him suspiciously.

"I had assumed that you weren't interested." She said. "Given all the avoiding me you had been doing."

"I'm an idiot." He said. "I don't see a good thing when it's right in front of me."

"You're also drunk." She said.

"Do you care?"

Robin considered this for a moment then shrugged and opened the door for him to enter.

"I'll get some glasses." She said and disappeared to the kitchen.

Adam sat down on the sofa and took another swig from the bottle.

"Or we could just drink from the bottle instead," Robin said as she walked back into the room.

"Sorry." Adam said. "I was just a little thirsty."

"Sure, because that's why people drink wine."

Robin sat down next to Adam and took the bottle from him, pouring them both a glass. "I'm a little surprised to see you here tonight. Judging by the way you and Christiana were all over each other earlier."

Adam shrugged. "Christiana's over-rated. She ain't as hot as she thinks she is."

"She shot you down then." Robin deduced.

Adam clenched his jaw. This was not why he was here.

"So, do you want to do this or not?" He asked.

"Not exactly the best way to seduce a woman, but I guess it's an improvement to the last time we were here."

Adam took both glasses and placed them on the table. He shifted closer to her.

"Look, this is hardly something based on feelings." He said. "We hardly know each other. But I can tell you that you are amazingly beautiful and when you're not being a complete bitch to my friends, we get along okay."

"Wow, so this is the famous Adam Gammon charm. No wonder Christiana turned you down."

"I really don't want to talk about Christiana right now."

Robin rolled her eyes.

"Look, I just need to know if your going to be picturing her during this. Because I'm pretty sure I deserve better than that."

Adam raised his hand to Robin's cheek and gently caressed it. He caught her gaze and held it.

"I am here because I am attracted to you." He said. "Nothing more, nothing less."

Robin considered that for a moment and then gave him a small smile.

"That's good enough for me." She said.

Adam smiled and closed the gap between the two of them. His lips met hers and suddenly every pent up emotion inside him poured out in a tirade of passion, Robin responding to his every touch. He lost himself in it and pushed all thoughts of Christiana from his mind.

Chapter seventy

Christiana

“Damn it, I can’t tell which one I’m meant to use!” Adam said, peering at the keys in his hands.

“How the hell can you get confused with this?” Christiana asked. “There is a total number of one key available for your front door.”

“I also have the keys to the Field, thank you very much.” Adam said. “Ah, finally.”

The door opened with a click and Adam guided Christiana into his flat. She sauntered in and headed straight to the DVD wall. She knew exactly what it was that she wanted to watch.

“Christiana, I swear, if the DVD you’re about to pull out has me in it…”

“Oh, relax.” Christiana said and pulled out her favourite movie, presenting it to him with a flourish. “Because tonight, you and me are going to be watching a blonde haired teenage version of yourself in full adolescent angst. I for one cannot wait.”

Adam looked at the DVD case apprehensively and then moved over to the sound system.

“I have a better idea.”

Immediately the room was filled with light, romantic music and Christiana raised her eyebrows at him, a small smile playing on her lips.

“Why, Mr Gammon, are you trying to seduce me?”

Adam smiled at her and pulled her into a dance hold.

“You have no idea how long I have wanted to do this.”

Something seemed to strike alarm bells in the pit of Christiana’s stomach at the sound of his words, but she chose to ignore it and instead smiled a welcoming smile back at him.

“And what does an Adam Gammon seduction entail?” She asked.

Adam grinned at her and spun her out, pulling her back to him. Christiana giggled as she struggled to stay upright and, as a result, ended up falling against him rather than smoothly dancing back. She held onto his waist to steady herself, Adam’s soft chuckle at her ear. She realised that she liked that sound, it had a more velvety feel to it than Connor’s ever did. She squeezed her eyes shut at the thought of Connor and tried to push him out of her mind.

“So, where exactly is this extra bottle of champagne you’ve been bragging about?” She asked.

“Kitchen.” He said. “Come on, I’ll show you.”

Christiana went to move out of hold with Adam but he kept his hand tight at her waist and instead chose to dance them both through the living room and into the kitchen.

“You’re so weird.” Christiana laughed.

Adam ignored her comment and instead started to sing into her ear. Once they reached the fridge, he dipped her low and opened the fridge door. Christiana peered up from where she was held precariously in his arms and continued to giggle as he serenaded her, his eyes not leaving hers whilst his arm searched blindly in the fridge for the champagne bottle. Once he had the bottle in his hand, he swung Christiana back onto her feet, spinning her round as he shut the fridge door.

“I am going to throw up all over you, if you keep this up!”

“Rule number one of the Adam Gammon seduction experience, no talk of vomit allowed.” He said.

He backed Christiana up to the island in the middle of the room and seamlessly lifted her, placing her delicately on the counter surface. Christiana bit her lip and allowed Adam to insert himself in between her legs. He took her hands and directed them to the champagne bottle so that both of them were holding onto it, his hands covering hers. Slowly, he guided her fingers up the spout of the bottle and rested both her thumbs on the base of the cork. Christiana felt a tingle of anticipation run through her. His eyes had not left hers and his smile was slow and seductive.

He let go of the bottle with one of his hands and grabbed Christiana by the waist, pulling her closer to him and gently lifting her back down to the ground. Once she was on both feet again, he shifting himself so that he was standing behind her, his arms encompassing her entire body. He placed his thumbs on top of her and pressed down. The cork shifted and then popped off into the air sending bubbles flowing out of the spout.

“Okay, I’m going to stop you there.” Christiana said, turning to face him and rolling her eyes. “This is turning into some form of cheesy soft porn.”

Adam was grinning and Christiana couldn’t help but laugh back.

“You are such a loser!” She said. “Now where’s the glasses-“

And suddenly she wasn’t able to speak anymore, because Adam’s lips were on hers. Her body momentarily froze at the sudden impact but quickly softened again and she found herself melting into the kiss. This had been what she had wanted after all.

She wrapped her arms around him and concentrated on the feel of his lips and tongue against hers, allowing him to deepen the kiss. He was good, it was good. But something was off, she couldn’t put her finger on it. Then there it was; Connor’s face and arms and body and laugh and voice and everything flooded into her mind and with it came a massive urge to cry.

She pushed against Adam and pulled away, backing herself into the counter behind her. Both of her hands flew to her mouth and she just stared at him, her eyes filling with tears.

“I can’t do this,” she said. “I’m so sorry, I can’t. I… Connor… I’m so sorry.”

Suddenly all the humour had left the air and Adam stared down at her, a mixture of confusion and hurt all thrown in together. The light romantic music continued to play over the now otherwise silent room. Adam opened his mouth to say something but closed it again, a new wave of confusion washing over his features. Christiana couldn’t stand it any longer, she could feel wave after wave of panic flowing through her body, her breathing increased and she knew that above everything else, she needed to get out of this room.

“I’m so sorry.” She said again.

And then she turned and ran. She didn’t look back, she couldn’t. She couldn’t bear to see Adam’s confused and hurt expression again, her heart wouldn’t take it. She ran out the front door and kept on running, past the many corridors that separated Adam’s room from hers.

When she eventually got to her door, her breathing seemed to have double in speed and intensity. She pushed her key in the door, ran in and shut it firmly behind her. Leaning back on it and focusing on her breathing, trying with all her might to get it to a decent speed.

“Daniela?” She called out, trying so hard to keep the sadness out of her voice. Why though, she didn’t know, as she fully intended on falling down into hopeless sobs the moment she located her. But no response came back.

She began to search the small confines of her little home and saw not only no sign of Daniela but no sign that she had returned at all since they had left that evening. She was all alone and she realised in that moment that she really didn’t want to be. She needed to see someone, to be with someone. She briefly thought about going back to Adam but the mere thought sent her breathing into another panicked tirade. She couldn’t think of anywhere else to go.

So instead, she crawled onto her bed, grabbed hold of her pillow, held it tight and let herself cry uncontrollably once more.

Chapter sixty nine

Jason

“Have I told you how much I love you?” Jason asked Aishani.

“About ten times now, but it’s okay, I like hearing it.” Aishani said, a wide grin on her face.

“I just can’t get over how amazing you were,” Christiana said. “You completely showed her.”

Jason nodded his agreement and took another gulp of his champagne. He was completely buzzing and not just from the ridiculous amount of alcohol he was drinking. He was finally cleared of everything! Michelle had run off shortly after Aishani’s big reveal with her tail firmly between her legs and since then people had been pouring over to him with massive apologies and looks of complete dismay over how they could have been so tricked into believing what had happened. Even Robin had made her way over, her gossiping ladies trailing behind and looking extremely sheepish in every meaning of the word, and had apologised for the way she had treated him. That was something he had never thought she would be capable of doing, and Jason had to hand it to her, it had taken a lot of guts, his opinion of her slightly rising from the gutter where it had been circling.

“How did you know it was make up?” Adam asked.

“Oh that bit took a bit of researching,” Aishani explained. “I was looking through her files, trying to find a way of clearing Jason’s name, and there it was, she had been a make up artist for movies prior to her employment with us.”

“Amazing,” Daniela said.

“I just felt so bad that we weren’t able to confirm what you were saying about the injections,” Aishani continued. “I had promised Gary that it would stay a secret until the entire course of the injections were through, the chances of people refusing to continue with the medication was too high and we didn’t want people stopping the course, we didn’t know what effects they would have if they did. However, I’d be damned if that woman got away with what she was doing.”

“Well, I do believe you have well and truly redeemed yourself,” Jason said, his grin not leaving his face, no matter how much his cheeks now hurt because of it.

“I still think that you should be telling people,” Christiana added, “But yes, I do also love you for what you’ve done.”

Aishani shrugged, “We never told Michelle about the injections and the fact that she still didn’t believe that the injections were doing what you said, proved to me that she hadn’t actually caused herself any harm. It was just a matter of exposing her after that.”

Jason leant back in his chair and sighed a deep, contented sigh. “Today is a good day.” He said.

“I’ll drink to that.” Adam said, lifting the champagne bottle and realising it was empty. “As soon as I get us another bottle.” He added and disappeared back over to the bar.

Christiana laughed loudly at that and Jason looked at her suspiciously. She was a lot happier than she had been and Jason knew that wasn’t entirely down to him. There was something else going on; she had been flirting shamelessly with Adam all night, this was only getting worse with every new glass of champagne she drank.

“Well, if you will all excuse me, I’m going to take Christiana away for some much needed girl talk.” He said, pulling at her elbow and leading her away from the table.

Christiana looked at him, confused but followed anyway, grabbing her full glass as she went.

“What’s up?” She asked.

“I was going to ask you the same question.” Jason said. “What’s going on with you tonight?”

“What? I’m celebrating your freedom.”

“By throwing yourself at Adam?” He asked.

She grinned guiltily at him, her eyes hazy.

“He likes me, you know.”

“Everyone knows that.” Jason said. “But last I checked, those feelings weren’t mutual.”

Christiana shrugged. “I’m single now, why not enjoy it?”

“Because you’re rebounding and Adam is a good friend, don’t ruin that with him.”

“Relax Jason, I’m not going to do anything with him, I’m just tired of feeling sorry for myself and have you seen how beautiful Adam is?”

“Christiana Edwards,” Jason said, his voice stern. “I absolutely forbid you from getting together with him. I have just got out of one awkward situation, I don’t want to find myself in another one.”

“Who says it has to get awkward?” Christiana asked. “Adam’s a catch, any woman would be stupid not to grab him up.”

“Yes, any single woman who isn’t completely in love with another man would be stupid not to get together with him, but you are not that woman.”

“It’s over between me and Connor, he made his decision.”

“And he’ll come back and you’ll take one look at him and change your mind.”

“What would be the point of that?” Christiana asked, becoming irritated with the conversation. “He’ll just do it again, I’m tired of making excuses for him. He clearly doesn’t feel the same way about me as I do for him, so why not date someone who does?”

“Connor loves you, you know that.”

“Yes he does. But not enough.”

“He made a mistake, let him make it up to you.”

Christiana shrugged. “He can try, but I’m not doing anything wrong. We’re broken up, I’m single and I want to have fun for once. This place is too depressing. Something needs to change.”

“Christiana, I…”

“Hey guys,” Adam walked over, waving a bottle of champagne in his hands. “Anyone want a top up?”

“Ooh, me, me!!” Christiana said, finishing the last of her glass and grabbing hold of Adam’s hand. “And Jason needs some more as well, he’s not nearly loose enough.”

“I believe you’re being loose enough for the both of us,” Jason said.

Christiana just rolled her eyes at him and handed him her now full glass.

“Take this, drink it, and see if there’s not some guy in here who might be up for experimenting his sexuality.”

“My money’s on Mike,” Adam said. “That man is way too aggressive towards you for it not to be about his own insecurities.”

Jason thought about that for a moment. “You think?” He asked, but then shrugged it away. “Nah, he’s not my type, too big and macho. Plus, closeted gays are a lot of work.”

“I hate to break it to you, but I reckon that’s the only kind of gay you’re going to find here.” Christiana said.

She wrapped her arm around Adam’s waist and he looked at her surprisingly, although clearly ecstatic with the attention he was getting. Jason looked at them both wearily, neither person at the moment was sober enough to make any kind of sane judgement about what they were doing. He briefly considered inserting himself physically between the two of them but realised that keeping them apart for the entire night would involve a lot more effort than he was prepared to give. This was his night of celebration and if they were both so intent on making this mistake, he would just leave them to it, he had tried to prevent it and that would have to be enough.

They all made their way back to the table where Daniela was also giving Adam and Christiana a questioning look. Jason rolled his eyes and sat down next to her.

“Don’t bother,” he said. “I tried to convince her otherwise, but it would seem that Christiana is hell-bent on making that mistake.”

“Looks like I’m going to need somewhere else to sleep tonight then.” Daniela said.

Jason remembered that Daniela had been staying with Christiana since the team had left Utopia. She wasn’t too great being on her own yet.

“Well, if you don’t mind holding back my hair as I vomit into a toilet later, then you are more than welcome to stay at mine.” He offered, and then added with a grin. “I was always the big spoon when sleeping with Mark, so you can be guaranteed warm arms around you tonight.”

Daniela laughed. “I might just have to take you up on that offer.” She said and glanced over at Adam and Christiana once more. “I really don’t like the look of those two, Christiana is not going to be happy in the morning.”

“If you want her to yell at you as well, then be my guest and try to stop them. But I say, why ruin our evening?”

Daniela pouted at her glass of coke. “I really hate being the only sober one at the party.”

“Oh sweetie, I’m sorry. When are you allowed to drink again?”

“When I can last an hour without having an anxiety attack, I guess.” She said with a shrug.

“You sure you’re not up for one drink?”

“Trust me, if you want to enjoy this evening and not spend it talking with a crying mess, then I’m better off with the coke.”

And for one moment, Jason saw Daniela’s walls fall down and deep pain was evident behind her eyes. He pulled her into a hug. This was one tough woman, she did not like to show herself as vulnerable. She gave him a tight squeeze and quickly pulled away, proving this.

“Don’t stress about me,” Daniela said. “I’m fine, now let’s see what we can do about getting you as drunk as possible, hmmm?”

Chapter sixty eight

Adam

“I want to go.”

“Jason, I swear to God, if you don’t start relaxing soon, I’m going to punch you in the face.” Adam said.

“Might as well,” Jason said. “Mind you, it will just start everyone else off. They’ll all be queuing up for a go.”

“Hey, you could charge.” Daniela offered.

“Aishani said that she would be here soon.” Adam said.

“What have I missed?” Christiana asked, sitting down at the table.

Adam had to do a double take at the sight of Christiana. There was no other word for it, she looked rough. Her face was pale and without make up for the first time since Adam met her. Her hair was limp and greasy and her eyes were blood shot. She appeared to be wearing a mesh of grey baggy clothing that didn’t go and Adam suspected had never been intended to be worn outside of the comfort of the buyer’s home.

“Woah, Christiana. You okay?” Adam asked.

“I’m fine,” Christiana said, wiping a stray piece of hair out of her face.

“It’s just… well…” Adam started.

“You look rough.” Jason finished for him. “I mean, seriously so. Like how I feel but multiplied by about 10.”

“Try 100.” Daniela added.

“Cheers guys, your overwhelming support in my time of need is heart warming, really.” She reached for the unopened bottle of wine in the middle of the table and brought out a massive wine glass from her bag. “I brought my own,” she explained. “No offence Jason, but the glasses at the bar just don’t cut it.”

She began to pour the bottle, not stopping until it’s entire contents were emptied into the abnormally large glass.

“We need more wine.” She said and began to drink from her glass.

“Well, if she’s getting pissed.” Jason said and reached for the other bottle, pouring himself a glass.

“I’ll go and get us another bottle.” Adam said, rolling his eyes at the both of them. He felt like he was going to be spending the entire night cheering his mates up. This was not how he wanted to spend it. He had hoped with one week having already gone since the team had set off, Christiana may have started to feel a little better, but apparently not. Although, as bad as it was, he had to admit it was an improvement from the drinking in bed she had been doing for the first three nights. He glanced back at her from the bar and decided to himself that he should probably begin to organise an intervention for her. She did not drink healthily at all.

“What can I get… oh it’s you.”

Adam turned at the sound of Michelle’s voice and returned her icy stare.

“Bottle of Chardonnay.” He said.

“You know that Jason is barred from drinking here.” Michelle said. “I can’t serve you if you’re sitting with him.”

“The only person who has sanctioned that is you,” Adam said. “No one else who has any say in this place gives a damn about your lies.”

“Well, as I run this particular establishment, I guess my opinion is the only one that matters.”

Adam glanced at Michelle’s yellowing bruise. He leaned forward, dropping his voice so that only she could hear.

“How are you keeping that shiner on your face?” Adam asked. “You must be hitting yourself in the eye every half hour.”

“Oh right,” Michelle said. “Because we’re all supposed to have super powers now, right?”

“I mean, I get how you’re keeping up the illusion of the broken arm. Just stick a sling on and no one’s going to question it, but the bruise? You must be really invested in this lie.”

“Have you ever stopped to think that your little friend over there isn’t as innocent as you think?” Michelle said. “I mean, come on. Even he will say that I piss him off, all it takes is for him to get the littlest bit angry and then next thing you know, I’m on the floor, pleading for mercy.”

Adam clenched his jaw, pushing down the tirade of insults that he wanted to pour out on her. Instead, he gave her the tightest of smiles, leaned over the bar, took a bottle of Chardonnay and moved back before she could react. She reached forward and grabbed hold of his shirt, pulling him back to the bar. He looked down at her tight grip, eyebrows raised.

“Careful now, Michelle.” He said. “You continue this way and people might not believe you to be the helpless little woman you’re claiming to be.”

Michelle let go of his shirt. Her trademark slow smile spreading over her face, signalling that she had begun to plot her revenge.

“Have the drink,” she said. “Enjoy it for now. It might be your last.”

“Wow. You know what Adam? That sounded to me like a threat.” Christiana was at Adam’s side, throwing icy stares at Michelle.

“Oh look who it is,” Michelle said. “Tell me, do you sniff out where a fight is going to be, or do they happen by accident?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Christiana asked.

“I reckon they just happen,” Michelle continued. “People see you and automatically think of reasons to piss you off so that they can get away as far as possible.”

“Well, I guess it takes a bitch to know one.” Christiana said.

“At least I’m not dating a man who was willing to risk dying just to get away from me.”

Adam saw Christiana freeze up. She had a look that Adam had never seen her wear before, but that chilled him to the bone. Michelle had crossed the line and Christiana looked as if she was going to kill her. He reached under the bar and grabbed her hand, out of sight from Michelle. Giving it a reassuring squeeze, he hoped it would be enough to calm her down. Michelle was trying to get a rise out of Christiana and he knew Christiana would hate it if she succeeded. He saw some of the tension subside and he allowed a little breath of relief escape his lips.

Christiana then smiled and let go of Adam’s hand, leaning over the bar and grabbing another bottle of wine. As she leant back again she looked Michelle straight in the eye.

“I guess you’d have to find someone who’d want to spend time with you before that would inevitably happen. Jason sends his thanks for the wine.”

And with that she grabbed hold of Adam’s hand and led him back to the table.

When they sat back down again, Jason seemed to be looking at them, his face a picture of blind terror.

“How much worse have you guys made it?” He asked, his voice small.

“Oh relax,” Christiana said, picking up her giant glass once more. “She hates us more but it was barely about you.”

“Yeah, well, I’ll just be glad when Aishani gets here and can tell us what the hell this is all about.” Jason said, shifting in his seat uncomfortably.

“In the meantime,” Adam said, opening one of the new bottles of wine. “Have a glass of wine, compliments of Michelle.”

Jason shrugged and took the newly poured wine. Behind him, Adam saw Aishani walk into the restaurant, her clinic kit in hand. He waved her over but she merely gave him a nod and signalled that she was heading to the bar. Adam was about to wave the extra bottles of wine in the air to signal that they were well and truly stocked up but suddenly Aishani called out, loud enough for people in the area to hear.

“Michelle! There you are! You are a tough cookie to track down.”

Christiana, Daniela and Jason mirrored Adam’s questioning expression as they all watched Aishani address Michelle. Michelle looked less than pleased to see Aishani.

“I’m a little busy at the moment Aishani,” Michelle said.

“I know! You do like to keep yourself busy, don’t you?” Aishani said, again her voice a little louder than needed.

Adam spotted Robin and her minions glance down from where they sat at the bar, suddenly interested in the possibility of gossip.

“It has been, what? Just under two weeks since your alleged assault, and I have not once seen you in clinic.”

Michelle looked around at the audience Aishani was attracting, clearly uncomfortable by it. She glanced back down at the beer she was pulling and chose the tactic of just ignoring Aishani altogether.

“I have been so worried about you, since I heard.” Aishani continued. “And when the others from the medical team told me that they hadn’t seen you since that night either, well, I couldn’t sit around any longer. I figured, I’ll just have to find you instead.”

“Oh, she’s good.” Christiana said, a smile growing on her face.

“But how is she going to prove that Michelle’s been lying?” Adam asked.

“I really don’t have time to talk about this, right now.” Michelle said.

“I figured as much, which is why… ta da!” Aishani pulled out her clinic bag and placed it on the bar. “It will only take a sec, sweetness. I just want to check that the wound is all clean. I mean, when I heard that the bruise was still so prominent after all this time, I figured I should probably come and examine it, make sure there wasn’t any deep tissue damage.”

Aishani crossed round to behind the bar and walked over to Michelle.

“I can’t watch.” Jason said, turning back round so his back was to it.

Christiana dragged her chair closer to Jason and forced him to look back round.

“This is your moment, I forbid you to miss a single moment of it.”

Christiana was right. Aishani clearly had every intention to expose Michelle for the fraud she was, and in front of a growing public. What was even better was that Robin and her clan were now leaning in, a look of fake concern on their faces but Adam could see the flash of excitement over new gossip in their eyes.

“I really don’t want to do this in front of everyone.” Michelle said, backing away.

“Nonsense, it’s hardly like I’m giving you a smear test or something. Sit.” Aishani said and pushed Michelle down onto a stool.

Michelle tried to get back up but Aishani had her pinned.

“But how is she going to prove the bruise isn’t because of me?” Jason asked, with bated breath.

“I have no idea, but I cannot wait to find out.” Adam said.

“Have I mentioned how much I love that woman?” Christiana added. “I think I actually fancy her a bit.”

“Get in line.” Daniela said.

“Okay, well, I’m just going to use some wipes. You know, to clean the area around the impact, make sure it’s germ free and all.” Aishani said, reaching forward with an alcohol wipe.

“Get away from me!” Michelle screamed and jumped backwards.

But the deed had already been done, a small line of normal skin spread through the middle of Michelle’s supposed bruise. Everyone stared in amazement. Michelle hadn’t been as much of a sadist as Adam had thought. Instead of repeatedly inflicting herself with a bruise, she had just used make up. Michelle was looking at everyone in shock, her mind clearly trying to work out the silence. Eventually she spoke.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “It’s just, the way Aishani roughly pushed me down, I had a flashback of my assault and over reacted. I think I just need a lie down.”

“I think that’s best,” Aishani said. “Did you want to take the rest of your bruise with you?”

She held out the alcohol wipe in her hand, the yellowing make up evident on it.

“Oh snap.” Christiana said loudly.

Suddenly everyone turned to look at Adam’s table and a gaping Jason who’s whole face was lit up in pure joy.