"I'm back" The door of the little apartment slammed shut as Steph and her attacker walked in. He slammed the crate on the kitchen counter and signalled for her to come in. She took off her coat and hung it on the stair case banister.

"You took your time, Matt! I'm dying for a drink� what happened, get chatted up again" James walked into the kitchen and dropped his magazine on the table. He looked up, and grinned at Steph. He turned to Matt. "Mate� I was joking about the chat up�"

Matt smacked him round the head with the magazine.

"Shuttup... It's not like that. I'm helping her" He opened a can, and offered Steph one. She took it, and started drinking.

"I'm fine. Honestly, I'm fine" She placed the can down on the table. "Really, I'm fine." Matt smiled at her.

"Well the bathrooms up there if you want to sort yourself out. Have a shower if you want"

"Cheers." She smiled, and turned to head up the stairs, fully aware that the two lads were staring at her arse. * * * * * * * *

"So come on mate, what happened there then? She's gorgeous!" James sat on the sofa and put his feet up on the table and drank from his can. Charlie opened up a can, and poured its contents into the glass. "Y'know, I'm sure I've seen her somewhere before�"

"I hit her in the head with a door�" Matt laughed. "Didn't mean to, she was standing behind the door of the boozer when I opened it, and I knocked her over. I think I hurt the poor cow, she's been crying."

"Yeah, I noticed." James nodded. "She's alright though, I mean, she'll be fine after a shower."

"Shit. She's up there having a shower and there's no towels in there. I washed them all this morning" Matt stood up and headed for the kitchen "I'll take her some up now" Charlie followed him in.

"Here, mate, I'll take them, I'm going up anyway�" Charlie took the towels from the dryer and shook them. He folded them, and headed upstairs. Matt walked back into the living room.

"Wonder why he offered�." James grinned.

* * * * * * * * *

Inside the bathroom, Steph sat on the edge of the bath in a grey dressing gown and brushed her wet hair. There was a knock at the door.

"Steph? I've got some towels if you need them. I'll just leave them here-" The door opened, revealing a smart looking guy dressed in a deep red shirt and trousers. His hair was gelled to perfection, not a piece out of place.

"Oh, cheers�" She sniffed again. "Who's is this by the way? Hope they don't mind�" She pointed to the dressing gown.

"It's mine, actually� But don't worry bout it, it's fine." He started to walk away.

"Erm, its Charlie, right? I mean, that was James I met downstairs, and Matt told me you were the posh one.." She smiled. He laughed back.

"Yeah, that's right�What's up?"

"You haven't got a spare toothbrush have you? My mouth tastes of mud thanks to Mattie.." She giggled, as he walked in and opened the cabinet above the sink. He opened the box of the toothbrush, and handed it to her.

"Thanks�" she took it from him, added some toothpaste and started to run the tap.

"Are you ok then? Matt thought he'd really hurt you�"

"No, I'm fine� just grazed my knee�" She pointed to the scratch over her kneecap.

"Oh. It looked like you'd been crying, that's all, I thought something might have been wrong�"

She broke down into tears, and pulled her sleeve over face.

"Hey� What's wrong" He walked towards her and put his arms around her and held her against his chest. "Sshh� it's OK� its ok�" He reached behind him and pulled the door closed. He sat her down on the floor, and then joined her against the bath.

* * * * * * * * *

"He's taking his time..." Matt grinned at James, and opened up his fourth can.

"Wonder what he could be doing�." James giggled.