Suburbia - Part III - Desire

Welcome to Part III of Suburbia.

In the previous part Tom wrote a song which Mark said would be a huge hit on the radio, Clarissa cut herself and had a flashback giving us some insight into her days at school.

The ringing phone shrilled loudly through the silence.

Juliet, being flustered and sweaty enough from slacing over the hot stove, banged pots and pans together as she turned the temperature gauges down. She brushed her hair hurriedly out of her sweaty face with her wrist to avoid her dirty hands as she rushed past the dining room and into the hallway where she could not avoid using her hands to answer the phone.

"Hello? Cooper residence. Juliet speaking." Juliet sighed happily as she thought of herself one day becoming Juliet Cooper.

"Yes. Hi, Juliet, it's me, Andrew. I won't be home till late. Me and Julian are going out for a bite to eat, I hope you don't mind looking after Alexis for a few more hours." Juliet's disappointment filled her gut as she thought of the wasted time she had spent on the surprise dinner for Andrew. She sighed again, still heavy, but with more emphasis.

"No, Andrew, I don't mind. See you later honey." Juliet put the receiver back on its hook without waiting for a reply, and leant her head against the wall, annoyed at the wasted meal and effort.

Juliet trod gravely up the stairs, almost fearful of telling Alexis that she was going to have to spend even more time in the house alone with her. She walked hesitantly up to Alexis' bedroom door and knocked sharply before speaking through the door.

"Alexis. Can we talk?" Juliet hoped that Alexis would get up and open the door so that they could speak without the irritating door blocking communications.

"Whatever you want to talk about you can say it there, there's no need for you to come in." Juliet leant back against the wall and refrained from banging her head against it, infuriated by Alexis' arrogance.

Alexis leant back contentedly on her pillows and fiddled with her pigtails all the while smirking at the continuous effort Juliet was going to when she received nothing in return. Juliet's voice made its muffled way through the door again and Alexis listened and brushed a stray wispy hair away from her face.

"It's your dad." Alexis' heart skipped a beat as she thought the worst. "He won't be home till late tonight, he went out with Julian. But the dinner I have worked extremely hard on is just about ready... do you want to eat?" Alexis listened to Juliet's uncertain and quivering tone and laughed to herself at the fear she heard.

"I'm not really hungry..."

"Come on Alexis, you have to eat, it's not healthy... your father won't be very happy with you if you don't eat." Alexis heard the slow turning of the doorknob and quickly rolled over and lay face down on her pillow.

The door opened gently and Juliet poked her head slowly round the door.

"Alexis?" Juliet caught sight of Alexis, her face buried in her pillow. "Are you crying? I know you wanted to spend as little time as possible with me today and your father is making it impossible for us to be apart from each other, but..." Alexis pushed herself away from the headboard roughly.

"I'm not crying, Juliet. I just want to be left alone." Juliet sighed once more and edged around to the other side of the bed and sat down.

"Alexis, trust me, you don't want to be alone."

"Why should I trust you? I barely know you!" Juliet could feel Alexis weakening to her, at least she was talking, and felt a small pang of relief; a heat around her face and a dampness in her eyes.

Alexis felt Juliet's light form weigh down the other side of the bed as she brought her legs up to rest. She turned away pointedly as she felt an emotional conversation coming on.

"Alexis, will you please listen to me? Even if it's just this one time... I won't ask again if you don't want me to..." Alexis felt Juliet's eyes on the back of her head and took a deep breath.

"Yes all right." She said with emphasis so that Juliet could tell she was annoyed.

"I know that your father didn't really give you any breathing space when he asked me to move in right after your mother walked out - that is why we have never really made friends, but I wasn't the reason..." Juliet felt the lump in the back of her throat and the stinging in the back of her eyes, but continued. "When I met your father I didn't know he was married." Juliet took a deep rasping breath as the tears overwhelmed her and came pouring down her cheeks. "When I found out I wanted to break it off... your father wouldn't let me, he told me that he loved me. He told me that it was almost over with his wife and that I had nothing to do with it." Alexis looked at the ceiling, her eyes brimming with tears.

"I'm sorry that you feel this way about me. I'm sorry... for everything: your mother walking out on you, your father not paying as much attention to you... I'm just sorry for everything." Juliet buried her face in her hands and began to sob. Alexis crawled off the bed and watched Juliet tentatively, she had never seen an adult burst into tears in front of her before. It wasn't what adults did, and it frightened her. Juliet dragged herself from the tangle of bedclothes and stumbled bleary-eyed towards Alexis.

"Alexis." Juliet held out her arms and leant in to Alexis for comfort and to comfort.

"No..." Alexis waved her hands in front of her face as she began to sob harder. "Juliet... I c-can't... I don't l-like you... I don't need you." Alexis covered her face with her hands and ran from the room, leaving Juliet to collapse on the bed.

Alexis ran to the bathroom, her vision blurred by the tears streaming down her hot face, and slammed the heavy door shut behind her before she swiftly turned the key in the lock and absorbed the bue coolness of the room which reflected her mood. The tiles were cold under Alexis' numb feet and she shifted her weight from one foot to the other to avoid the chills that kept shooting up the backs of her legs. She ran to the sink and turned the taps so that the water flowed thick and fast into the palms of her sweaty hands. She looked at her reflection in the mirror and caught sight of the raw redness of her face as she scrubbed the tears from her face furiously. She splashed the cold water against her hot face and almost saw the steam issuing from the contrast. It wasn't fair. She wanted to hate Juliet, blame Juliet. She wanted loads of horrible things to happen to Juliet for pushing her mother away. It wasn't fair that Juliet insisted on making it so hard to hate her. It wasn't fair.

Juliet stumbled bleary-eyed into hers and Andrews bedroom closing the door with a definitive 'click' and leaning against it before letting out a deep breath as her body trembled and shivered. She stepped towards the bed wiping the tears from her face with the soft cotton of her sleeve and picked up one of Andrews discarded shirts from somewhere she didn't even notice. Juliet peeled her clothes off, her delicate fingers fumbling with the edges of the fabric and felt the chillness of the air as the heat escaped her body. She wrapped the shirt tightly around her slim body, not even considering the bothersome buttons and clambered swiftly into the bed, almost collapsing into the soft, velvety bedsheets and slipping away into a dream.

As she slept, Juliet relived the minutes that she spent explaining things to Alexis and one thing sprang to her dreams over and over again. "Alexis, trust me, you don't want to be alone." As the words floated over and over again in her mind, her dreams strayed away from the argument and to her past when she was surrounded by people and still felt extremely alone.

It had been one of those long, hard days and Juliet chose as she did most nights to sit in a bar and unwind with her friend Sarah - Juliet wasn't exactly friends with Sarah, but she was with her most nights in which they hopped bars looking for guys to go home with. They stopped bar hopping when they found a homely place quite close to where the lived, it was quite popular and never failed in providing a guy to go home with. It was called The Grange and, due to its sophistication and expensive prices, Juliet could only afford to visit the bar because she got discounts from the barman for being a regular and because she had a relatively well paid job as an entertainer in another bar, quite a while away.

Juliet sat at the bar wondering why she did what she did. It wasn't as if she was sleazy, she would never let the men touch her and she was very adamant about keeping her clothes on. She wasn't desperate for money and could sustain a more socially accpetable job if she wanted, but she strangely enjoyed the sensation of everyone's eyes being on her, she liked to be thought of as beautiful, as someone to be admired.

Sarah's voice penetrated her thoughts and awoke her to her surroundings.

"Do you want another drink, you've finished your first?" Juliet nodded in reply and glanced quickly at the good looking barman as Sarah called him over to order the drinks. Juliet always took a strong drink, something that would losen her up quickly and make her more willing to leave with a random guy. She wasn't like that, she didn't like doing it; it was just habit.

Sarah tapped Juliet on the shoulder and looked at her intently, Juliet looked back and took in all of Sarah's features. Sarah had jet black short, choppy hair which was pulled back away from her face in a scruffy ponytail apart from a stray sweep of hair which covered her right eye, her facial features were unique and she had to be the most beautiful person Juliet had ever met in her life, but Sarah was eccentric and liked to over-indulge with make-up which only drew away from her attractiveness.

"So how was work tonight, busy?" Once again Sarah's voice penetrated the fog in Juliet's head and awoke her to her surroundings and the present conversation.

"I suppose, but business isn't as booming as usual, I think too many people are getting married, and the ones who aren't... just don't know about us." Sarah nodded interestedly, Sarah had a good job, she was a secretary in a prostigious law firm, Davis and Davis, but she had never been able to settle down, she was too restless, always wanting something else to do.

Juliet turned back to her drink, only just realising what the dwindling popularity of her bar meant - she could be out of a job soon. She began to think of possible career prospects, ones that would interest her, ones that would provide her with a satisfacory life, ones which would ground her and show her the proper place for her in this world.

"Well, I'm sure business will pick up soon." Sarah stated brightly. As if reading Juliet's mind she added: "They won't sack you, you're one of the main attractions." Juliet looked once again into Sarah's striking face, still thinking of her possible future; of marriage and children.

"The thing is," she stated quietly. "I kind of want to be sacked... I want to get a proper job, I want to be accepted in a community. I don't want to be ashamed of who I am." Sarah cleared her throat, not really knowing what to say, did Juliet need words of comfort or encouragement? Instead she looked behind her into the relaxation area and smirked.

"Yes, well, you have an admirer." Juliet glanced quickly at Sarah, who was still smirking, with a confused look on her face and her eyebrows raised.

"What? Who?"

Sarah nodded in the direction of the relaxation area, her smirk more evident as Juliet turned around to glance behind and blushed a deep crimson, as she too caught sight of the guy watching her.

"I don't know if he followed you from work, or if he noticed you the moment you walked in here, but he has had his eye on you the whole time. I've been watching him too." Sarah threw her head back with a peircing laughter and looked quickly back to the barman who was listening idly to their conversation as the guy headed over, his friend following closely behind him.

The barman grinned as Juliet turned around and came face to face with his naked chest which was right at her eye level. Juliet blushed again as she looked down at her empty glass.

"Er, the same again please." she stuttered shyly, as she thought of the relief it would provide when it came to talking to the fast approaching fellow. The barman put her glass down in front of her, still smiling.

"There you go, Juliet." Juliet looked up into his beaming face and smiled politely back. "If any of those guys give you any trouble, just call on me alright?" Juliet knew it wouldn't come to that but nodded in reply.

"Yeah, thanks Doug."

"It's no problem, here they come now." Doug whispered and quickly turned away from Juliet. 'They'? What did he mean by 'They'? She found out soon enough.

Sarah glanced back behind and quickly struck up a fake conversation with Juliet, so that things didn't feel too awkward. The conversation was actually going somewhere when they were interrupted by a rather posh, English accent.

"Hi, may I get you two ladies a drink?" Juliet could already see the tactics this man so eagerly played, ordering both her and her friend a drink so that it didn't look like he was just targeting her.

"Sorry, but we already have a drink each right here." Juliet replied smartly, holding up her half empty glass.

"Well, perhaps when you are finished, I might buy you another?" Juliet smiled, so this man was intelligent.

"Sure, I'm Juliet and this is Sarah."

"I'm Joey and this is my friend Luke."

Joey seemed harmless enough, Juliet thought, he was extremely charming and he was very likeable with his queen's English accent and his polite manner. He was well educated and an interesting conversationalist, he was different when compared to other guys Juliet normally hooked up with in this bar.

"So, do you want to start getting your things together, then we'll head back to my place?" Juliet frowned in confusion, she didn't understand what he wanted, she would have had it been a less polite man, but it didn't seem right coming from Joey.

"What for coffee?" Juliet asked hopefully.

"Yes. For coffee." Joey repeated as he waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

"I don't think that would be appropriate Joey, I think it might be better if we were just friends." She saw a flash of anger behind Joey's eyes and she felt suddenly fearful, she looked away as Sarah called her name, and when she glance back the anger was gone.

Sarah approached and stopped in front of them with a smile on her face, she stumbled slightly in her heels from the amount of alcohol she had consumed, but managed to remain in an upright position.

"So, me and Luke are heading out and back to his place." She smiled impressively. "Will you be alright making your own arrangements?" She asked with a wink. Juliet glanced back at Joey quickly and gave Sarah a worried look, before smiling.

"Yeah, I think me and Joey will be fine won't we?"

"Yes, we will be fine." The accent that once could have been used as a seduction technique, now repulsed Juliet. She watched as Luke picked up Sarah's coat and wrapped it over her shoulders, leaving his arm there as comfort on their way out of the door.

As soon as Srah left Joey swung round to face Juliet once more.

"So back to my place is it?" He snarled with a fury burning deep inside his pale blue eyes which now felt as cold as they looked. Juliet screwed her face up fearfully as Joey wrapped his hand tightly around her wrist and pushed himself onto her. Juliet pressed her palms up against his muscular chest defensively and tried to haul him off of her, but he was stronger and had had less to drink. He smothered her mouth with his own and knocked his teeth and gums against hers as he pushed his tongue into the warm haven, that was Juliet's mouth. Juliet fought and squealed as Joey pushed her up against the wall, hoping to get someone's attention.

"Oi! What do you think you are doing? Get off of her!" Joey pulled away quickly to acknowledge and confront the intruder.

The woman approached with a furious look on her face, but Joey did not seem ashamed at what he had done, in fact he seemed to welcome the confrontation, thinking that his accent and charm would let him get away with it.

"She did not want you to kiss her! She does not want to take this night any further with you! Leave her alone! BOYS like you should not be walking the streets!" The woman breathed heavily like a stampeding bull. Joey seemed relaxed, his shoulders were back, not raised in offense or defense, he grinned at her incoming attack and fought not to laugh.

"Juliet wanted me to kiss her. Didn't you Juliet? Tell this woman that everything is alright... go on." Joey continued to smile, but Juliet continued to look at him in fear, her heart was racing and she was confused, what did he expect her to say?

"Thank you, Joey will be leaving now. Won't you Joey." Juliet stated firmly with a quick glance at Doug who was fast approaching, Joey raised his eyebrows in surprise and slowly and quietly left the bar.

Juliet turned to face the woman, she seemed well off, her hair pulled away from her face revealing her high cheekbones and expensive make-up. Juliet looked at the expensive clothes that adorned the slight frame of this intimidating and powerful woman, who also shared the queen's English accent.

"Thanks again... but who are you?" The woman held out her perfectly manicured hand politely for Juliet to shake.

"I'm Tara, Tara Banks. Pleased to meet you, I'm glad I could help you, seriously, I am sick of men who think they can get away with doing what they like to a woman." Juliet let go of Tara's hand and smiled.

"Perhaps I might be able to return the favour sometime, do you come here often, maybe I can buy you a drink sometime?" The experience Juliet had just been through; having to be rescued by this woman, made her realise just how much her life needed sorting out, and vowed she would find a 'proper' job immediately. But she knew that she was going to be entirely alone.

Juliet opened her eyes as she heard Andrew close the door behind him and begin to take his clothes off hurriedly. The smell of alcohol wafted up her nose as he tore at his clothes drunkenly trying to keep upright, he eventually layed his clothes in an untidy tangle on the floor and slipped under the duvet. Juliet felt his warm body invade the cold sheets as he wrapped an arm around her waist and rested his chin against the back of her shoulder, snuggling his nose into the back of her neck. He sighed heavily with his mouth open as he found a comfortable spot for his body and closed his eyes. The smell of strong licquer wafted once again up Juliet's nose making her feel nauseous, she closed her eyes again, trying to ignore the stench on his breath. She opened her eyes almost at once as he began to snore, his mouth open, his breath constantly billowing against the side of her face. Then and there Juliet promised herself she would never let him go out with Julian again unless she was invited too.

Juliet closed her eyes once more, pushing Andrew away from her, so she could cover her head with her pillow to avoid the sound of his snoring and the stench of his breath. She thought once again of her past, how she used to get drunk like Andrew... but that was when she didn't have responsibilities... well, except for herself. Andrew had Alexis; He had HER. Surely he shouldn't be going out and drinking like this, especially since he only just went back to work. How was he supposed to get up in the morning? Juliet's face began to get hot with anger and with the added heat from being under a pillow she found she could no longer stand being in the same bed with someone as irresponsible as Andrew. She pulled herself off the bed, and quietly made her way out of the bedroom, snapping the door shut behind her.

Juliet tiptoed down the stairs, managing to avoid the one that creaks extremely loud, and made her way into the living room. 'If Andrew wanted to behave like this, he should never have had a child.' Juliet said to herself, her rage overcoming her, Juliet was usually a calm, shy person. She was not the type to get angry at anyone; but the situation of the household was a tender one, and Andrew should not be abondoning his family to go for drinks with his friends. Juliet shivered as the chill in the living room gave her goosebumps on her bare legs, she stumbled blindly in the darkness looking for the couch where she would rest her head for the rest of the night. When she found it, she slumped down into the soft cushions and closed her eyes, relieved for the silence and clean smelling atmosphere.

Upstairs, Andrew rolled over in his sleep and opened his eyes, staring at the tangled mess of his clothes on the bedroom floor. A guilt flooded his stomach as he realised he may have disrespected Juliet by staying away late, and now he had forced her out of her own bed. Andrew's head span and his vision blurred as he looked at the canopy above the four poster.

'I'll sort it out in the morning.' he told himself, before closing his eyes. But even after closing his eyes, Andrew wasn't peaceful, the guilt continued to overwhelm him and he began to sweat as he panicked. He had lied. Lied to the woman he most cared about in the whole world. He had lied to Juliet. As his eyes remained tightly closed he relived the night he had just had.

Andrew stepped lightly out of the frame of red which was his car and brushed a stray hair from his face as the wind blew roughly overhead. It was cold outside and Andrew pulled his suit jacket tighter around him to stop the invading chill that the wind caused.

Andrew thought of Juliet at home, eating dinner with Alexis, hopefully bonding with Alexis, he had to give them both this chance... otherwise it would be impossible to live with.

A pang interrupted Andrew's thoughts, a twist in his gut. Was he doing the right thing? He knew he wasn't and realised that the pang was of guilt, if what he was doing was right, he never would have lied to Juliet about who he was going to dinner with. 'Yes but I only lied because I didn't want Juliet to become needlessly suspicious - there is nothing going on, I am just getting to know my new business partner.' Andrew reassured himself before turning back and dipping his head through the door.

"Are you coming?"

Andrew and Clara stepped into the warm orange glow of The Grange and felt the chill leave him as the warmth of the room immediately soothed the cold spots.

Andrew looked to his right as he politely waved someone away who had just offered to take his coat. A married couple were sat in the corner, seemingly celebrating their anniversary, their hands were clasped and they were both enjoying one anothers company.

"After a year together, I'm still madly in love with you, Tina. I couldn't have imagined someone more perfect than you to walk into my life the moment you did." The woman, Tina, smiled, her glistening diamonds and rubies tinkling around her neck and ears as they looked into each others eyes lovingly.

"Me too, Matthew I couldn't possibly love anyone as much as I love you." Andrew felt another pang of guilt as he watched the happy couple, he was reminded of Juliet at home without him, he should be there for her but someting was stopping him. What was it?

In another part of the restaurant Andrew caught sight of a family, a happy family, they weren't well off but they were treating their little girl to a meal out, presumably for her birthday. They were sat comfortably, looking at each other, the conversation flowing freely between them.

"So, are you having a good time, Gemma? We know how you like to go out for dinner on your birthday." The large woman, apparently Gemma's mum asked with a slight strain in her voice and Andrew realised just how much this meal was costing them and was jealous that even though they could barely afford this meal, they were still extremely close.

'Just shows money doesn't buy happiness.' He told himself.

"Yes, mum. But you didn't need to, I would have been happy still if you had just cooked a nice meal at home..." The girl was smart and knew of her parents financial situation, she just didn't let on.

"Yes but you know how we like to treat you." Her father chuckled as he stroked the back of her head, feeling the softness of her hair.

As Andrew watched them he was reminded of his family, his family which was seperated in all areas, and it was his fault. He had not gone home at the normal time tonight, if he had things might be different. He might have been able to fix it. As the girl blew out the candles on her birthday cake, Andrew couldn't help but laugh and clap with the rest of the restaurant and a sudden revelation hit him and he smacked his forehead in horror. It was Alexis' birthday at the weekend, that meant that he had two days to get her a present and organise something.

Andrew and Clara were politely seated by the host, Andrew placed his hands on his lap as his eyes fuzzed over and he stared at the different patterns the flickering candles caused on the red tablecloth, as he thought about what they could do for Alexis' birthday, something that would bring the family closer together.

Clara saw the distant look in Andrew's eyes and was confused as she had just seen him clapping and cheering along with the rest of the restaurant.

"Andrew, are you Ok?" Clara watched Andrew as his eyes slid back into focus and looked up into her eyes. She adopted a concerned look and continued to watch him. "Do you want me to get you a glass of water?"

"No, thankyou." Andrew clicked his fingers as a waiter approached. "Can I get a whisky over here please. And whatever the lady wants." Andrew said acknowledging Clara with a wave of the hand. Clara was frightened, she had spent all day with Andrew as they worked on the case and he had seemed calm and nice, but now he was acting strange; rude and inconsiderate.

"Oh, I'll just have a glass of water please." The waiter turned away and Clara turned to Andrew again. "Do you think it wise to be drinking when you're driving and we have work tomorrow."

Andrew looked at Clara as if it was the first time he had ever seen her, she had seemed really shy earlier; reserved and slightly elegant. But now she was different, she was nervous and unattractive.

"Relax, Clara, it's just one drink." Clara raised her eyebrows questionably as she doubted very much that it would just be one drink, but she let the situation drop anyway and let Andrew have his way.

"So anyway, the case." Clara said as she tried to get Andrew's mind back on work and remind him of his responsibilities. "I've been thinking, could it possibly have been a racial attack?" Clara was blunt and always suspected the most obvious things, she rarely took in all of the details and was not very analytical about things. She watched Andrew as he downed his whiskey in one, clearly she needed to talk about something else to stop him drinking.

Clara was about to open her mouth to say something else, when Andrew screwed up his eyes in deep concentration. He could already feel the alcohol beginning to have an effect on him - he wasn't a very heavy drinker, actually he rarely drank at all after Alexis was born.

"I think that it could quite possibly been a racial attack, Clara." Andrew said as he opened his eyes again. "But I have a reason to believe that it wasn't a racial attack..." Andrew appeared to be keeping that piece of information to himself, Clara thought, and so she pressed on.

"What, er, reason do you have for believing that?" Clara tried her best to be polite, but found it difficult on account of Andrew's arrogance and the distant look in his eyes.

"Well. Tracey was strangled." Andrew stated this simply and matter-of-factly as if it answered Clara's question, but she looked at him confusedly.

"And why does that mean it wasn't a racial attack?"

Andrew rolled his eyes at Clara's simplicity, and took a deep breath before leaning forward creating a dramatic effect and making Clara hold her breath in anticipation.

"Because, Clara, a racial attack is normally planned, so the death tends to be more gruesome. But strangulation..." He stated waving his fork about. "Strangulation is usually taken as a last resort, strangulation is usually an emotion filled murder. That is why I do not suspect that this was a racial attack." Clara raised her eyebrows in revelation and opened her eyes wide as she realised what Andrew was saying was true. "So shall we go home now? I'll give you a lift." Clara nodded and began to pick up her things ready to leave. "Wait." Clara looked up into Andrew's face still fiddling with her handbag clasp. "One for the road?" Andrew called the waiter over again and ordered a refill which he downed as soon as it reached his hands, spilling a lot down the front of his shirt and suit jacket.

Andrew paid the bill and they walked out of the warm restaurant and back into the chilly wind. As they headed out to the car, the air began to get crispy as the biting wind blew against them, causing them both to pull their jackets tighter around them. Clara knew that a storm was getting closer, the clouds filled the night sky covering the light of the moon, snow was coming even though it was only autumn.

Clara worried as she watched Andrew, although he had only had two drinks, he wasn't as steady on his feet as he should be and she wondered if he would be Ok to drive her home. But Andrew wasn't waiting for her to figure it out; he pulled open the door of the car against the fierce, biting wind and forced himself into the driver's seat and preceded to start the engine with Clara still standing outside in the cold.

Clara quickly followed suit and only just managed to secure herself in the car with a seatbelt before Andrew pulled away.

Andrew pulled into the driveway of his home, he had dropped Clara off at her home ten minutes ago. She had practically launched herself out of the door as soon as Andrew was slowing to a stop, fearful of his reckless driving, when Andrew did eventually stop he rolled down the passenger window and called out to her as she hunched her shoulders against the cold and falling snow and bent over to peer into the darkness of the car.

"See you at work tomorrow, perhaps we should do this again sometime." Clara's face went a stoney white and she nodded her head reluctantly as Andrew rolled the window back up, waved and pulled away again, leaving her standing there momentarily stunned before she quickly turned and made her way through the delicate snowflakes, being forced into a blizzard by the cruel wind, and into her warm and cosy house.

After Andrew had parked his car, he stepped out into the snow which was falling harder and harder with every step that he took. He shoved his hands deep into his pockets as they turned a pale blue colour and he lost all feeling in them. His cheeks and nose turned a rosy red as the cold wind bit at his bare skin, the snow landed in his hair and quickly melted from the heat sending droplets of freezing water down the back of his neck and chills down his spine.

As he stepped into the flooding light of the house, he could smell burning, not the burning that comes from a house fire, but the smell of burning food. The alcohol that had reached his bloodstream could have impaired his judgement and he could have ignored the smell and gone straight to bed.

But he didn't. He sniffed at the pungent, smokey air and over-enthusiastically followed the burning smell into the kitchen. Once there, he found the remains of Jluiet's painstaking effort at creating a nice meal for the family to share and hopefully bond with one another; understand each others situations. The knot in his stomach, which had been tightening all evening as he was reminded of his family, gave an almighty twinge as he once again found that all of his decisions he had made today were the wrong ones and he should have stayed home to supervise and encourage a good relationship between Alexis and Juliet. He knew what he had to do now. He knew what was right. He had to stay at home as much as possible, and what better day to do it than on Alexis' birthday. Andrew had a brainwave as he scraped the black, smouldering mess from the pan into the bin... the boat! He would take Alexis and Juliet to the boat for a birthday celebration!

Andrew stepped over to the sink and stuck his greasy hands under the cold, refreshing water that streamed out into his awaiting palms and quickly down the swirling plughole. He quickly dried his hands on a nearby towel leaving his hands still damp from the wash, left the towel on the counter by the sink and left the kitchen, staggering from the tiredness that alcohol comes with. He stumbled slowly up the stairs chuckling to himself at his clumsiness. He made his way into the bedroom, trying diligently not to make any noise but failing as it often does when you try your hardest not to, he closed the door behind him but he pushed too hard and it clicked into place with a loud echo across the bedroom.

He tiptoed, in his shoes, over to his side of the bed and began to fight with his clothes as he tried to take them off as quick as he could, the smell of the spilt whiskey lingered on his clothes and made him feel rather nauseous. He yanked at his tie, loosening it from its strong tether and ripped his shirt off taking the tie off with it. He undid his belt and let his loose trousers fall to the floor and he tripped up on a leg as he tried to reach the bed, he chuckled nervously to himself, fearful of waking up Juliet and lifted the covers before clambering underneath them.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, he could still smell the lingering whiskey but managed to ignore it as he moved closer to Juliet and wrapped an arm around her waist cuddling her into him tightly. He rested his chin on her shoulder and snuggled his nose into the back of her neck, showering her with his affections. He sighed deeply as he got comfortable, still persisting with the cuddles.

A short while later and he was at that point where you aren't conscious of what you are doing, but still slightly awake, when his sinus problems kicked in causing him to start snoring.

Andrew woke up suddenly groggily and confusedly as he felt Juliet's palm on his naked chest as it forced him back onto his side of the bed. He lay there with his eyes open, just watching Juliet as she lifted her head gently, her hair cascading over the pillow, and lifted the pillow up and bringing it forcefully back down over her head. Andrew frowned in confusion and waited a while, before realising that his breath stank and the whole room smelt of whiskey. He shrugged his shoulders slightly, hindered by the fact that he was laying in bed, and decided he could do nothing about it at the moment, turned over and layed on his back. He was just about to fall asleep again when he was jerked awake by Juliet who suddenly threw her pillow from her face and sat up straight in bed.

Andrew lay there, awaiting her next move, but she just lingered on the edge of the bed for a while, presumably to wake herself up, then, as quickly as she had thrown the pillow from her face she was outside the door snapping it shut and on her way down the stairs.

Andrew rolled over and opened his eyes staring at the tangled mess of his clothes on the bedroom floor. A guilt flooded his stomach as he realised he may have disrespected Juliet by staying away late, and now he had forced her out of her own bed. Andrew's head span and his vision blurred as he looked at the canopy above the four poster.

'I'll sort it out in the morning.' he told himself before closing his eyes. But even after closing his eyes, Andrew was not peaceful, the guilt continued to overwhelm him and he began to perspirate as he panicked. He had lied. Lied to the woman he most cared about in the whole world. He had lied to Juliet.

Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed it.

The next part will contain another flashback on another characters past, I'm just deciding which one. I'd like to hear any theories you might have, who the murderer is, what you think might happen in future parts, just anything really.

Thanks again for reading and please come back for Part IV

Suburbia - Part II - On The Other Side

Welcome to Part II of Suburbia.

If you haven't read Part I, I would advise you to do so otherwise you might get confused. The Character Introductions is really not vital to your understanding of the story although it will give you some background on the characters.

In the previous part we met Andrew and his new girlfriend Juliet. Alexis, Andrew's daughter is not too chuffed with Juliet moving in such a short while after her mother walked out. Andrew has returned to work, and on his first day back has been sent to solve a murder case - let's hope it's simple.

The living room was noisy as the houses' inhabitants gathered on the couch with a tray of food and some glasses of wine for a late afternoon lunch. With a quick flick of the remote, Clarissa switched on the TV and turned it up so that everyone could hear over the background noises of people munching on cheese and biscuits and Mark's heavy sips of wine.

The news came on and with it the theme tune blurted out of the speakers. Suddenly, everyone lurched forward and grabbed some more cheese and buscuits and started chatting again.

"Guys, hush up. I want to watch this!" Clarissa half-shouted, as the newsreader began to speak.

"Clarissa are you serious?" Colin asked incredulously as he cast a questionable look at her.

"What?" She stated defiantly, folding her arms.

"Watching the news? Since when did you become an intellectual?" Clarissa laughed and hit him over the head with a cushion.

"Since when did you need to become an intellectual to watch the news? Now hush up, something could have happened." Clarissa threatened them all with a cushion and they all closed their mouths, and listened to the newsreader.

"A spokesperson has been over today listening to the days events and is going to indulge us in what has taken place. Over to you Cindy."

"Thankyou." The newsreader, Cindy, took a deep breath as the rain began to pour down behind her."Todays events have been tightly held under wraps, until just recently, when I was able to speak to Detective Superintendent Cooper, who has managed to give me some information on the grisly murder which took place here last night.

According to Mr Cooper, the woman, who has recently been identified as Tracey Watkins, was strangled to death at her office block where she intended to spend the night working late last night. As of now there are no leads as to who the murderer is, but the investigation is still going on as we speak. If we get a little closer we can see..." A blip sounded as Cindy was cut off and the previous reporter was back.

"Looks like Cindy was getting a bit enthusiastic. We have now identified Tracey Watkins and, as such, have been provided a photo, and for anyone who might have seen this woman or knew of her whereabouts during the hours leading up to her death we have a phone-in line and ask for any help you can possibly give the police to identify a killer.

On a brighter note the weather is sure to be dry and bright. David. Over to you..."

Clarissa closed her eyes in pain as her glass crumpled in her hand and sent shards of glass into her palms.

"Clarissa are you all right?" Mark enquired seriously as he saw the pain evident on her face.

"Come with me we'll get it all cleaned up." Mark held out his hand for Clarissa to take, but her face was blank and pale. "Listen Clarissa, I know you feel quite faint at the moment, but if you let me stop the bleeding, you'll feel fine." Clarissa said nothing, but stared blankly ahead.

"Clarissa, will you please listen to Mark, you're scaring us." Colin said quickly, turning away from Dana to see what was wrong.

"CLARISSA!" Dana screamed. "MARK WHAT ARE YOU DOING? GET HER TO THE KITCHEN NOW!" Dana took charge and pulled Clarissa to her feet and into the kitchen.

Dana quickly rushed Clarissa, pale-faced and stiff, over to the sink and ran the cold tap as fast as it would go and shoved her hands underneath the running water. Clarissa did not move, but just stared out of the window, as Dana left to get a towel from the cupboard.

"Clarissa what's gotten into you? Why did you smash that glass?" Dana questioned as she hurriedly wrapped the towel around Clarissa's wet and bleeding hand and applied some pressure to stop the flow. When Clarissa just continued to stare out of the window, Dana splashed some water in her face to wake her up.

"Why... What are you doing?" Clarissa shrieked as the droplets of water ran down her face and neck.

"Clarissa, I am trying to find out why you crushed the glass into your hand, and almost killed yourself." Clarissa looked at Dana incredulously and pulled her hand away appplying pressure to the towel, which began to drip onto the floor.

"I didn't nearly kill myself!" Clarissa scoffed, turning away from the sink and dripping more water onto the floor.

"No you didn't." Dana laughed. "But you were bleeding rather a lot." Clarissa looked back at Dana, a worried look plagued her face and Dana was slightly disconcerted.

"Did you hear the news reporter?" Clarissa asked tentatively.

"What?"

"Did you see the news?" Clarissa asked, more strongly this time, she had a crazed, blazen look about her and her dark hair seemed to crackle with electricity.

"No, Clarissa. You know I don't watch the news... have you stopped bleeding?" Clarissa gave a little nod. "Good, let's go join the others." Dana said as Clarissa turned away once more and she strode out of the kitchen, leaving Clarissa alone with her worries.

Dana sat back down on the couch and cuddled up with Colin again.

"Is she Ok?" Karl asked as he tried to ignore the now kissing pair next to him. A loud slurp was heard, and Karl pulled a face in disgust, while Dana was detatching herself from Colins lips.

"Yes, she's fine. Just a little shaken up I think... if you just leave her, she'll be ready to come out in a few minutes." Dana added this little piece of advice as Karl seemed just about ready to run into the kitchen after Clarissa.

"Hey guys." Tom smiled as he entered the living room, he had a wild look about him, as if he had discovered something of great meaning. "Mark, come and listen, I've written a new song." Mark was the first person Tom ever allowed to listen to his music, the only one he trusted. Mark sprang to his feet.

"You've written something new?" He paused slightly before turning back to the others. "Karl you should check on Clarissa in a minute, just to make sure that she is alright."

With that, Mark turned away and followed Tom up the stairs into his room, where he would listen to Tom's new masterpiece. Tom had a knack for creating emotions in his music, a way of ensnaring all who listened, hynotising them, Mark often found himself hypnotised and longed for more music.

Clarissa left the kitchen feeling a bit dizzy and glancing up she saw Mark and Tom going up the stairs."Hey guys. Where are you going?" Tom looked around and grinned at her meaningfully. "No way. You've written something new." Clarissa knew that Mark was always the first to hear and had learned the habit of not asking to listen when she knew she wouldn't be allowed. Instead she rubbed her forehead and said "I can't wait to hear it" before heading outside into the salvation that the garden provided.

Mark nestled himself comfortably on the floor as he flicked absent-mindedly through one of Tom's discarded magazines. Tom gathered himself and headed to the corner where he picked up his guitar and strung a few chords, before he began the introductory melody.

Mark noticed a difference straight away to how Tom usually wrote music, it had a melancholy sound to it, a slower beat which seemed to caress his ears as the waves hit him.

Paul opened his mouth to sing, and once again Mark was surprised by the sound that Tom projected. It was an emotional piece, a softer more feminine piece of music and Mark found himself mesmerised.

"On the other side.

That's where we'll go together.

I'll stay by your side.

And protect you, protect you from harm.

I'll cradle you in my arms.

I'll make you feel safe."

"The guilt that surrounds us.

We open our eyes in wonder.

As we realise what we have to do.

We see what's

On the other side.

That's where we'll go together.

I'll stay by your side.

And protect you, protect you from harm.

I'll cradle you in my arms.

I'll make you feel safe."

"The memory of a warm embrace.

That gentle kiss on the lips.

It was ours. Just ours forever.

Long lost through all your trips.

You never went.

On the other side.

That's where we'll go together.

I'll stay by your side.

And protect you, protect you from harm.

I'll cradle you in my arms.

I'll make you feel safe."

"For the two of us.

Ignorance is bliss.

We didn't know what was coming.

We didn't know what we would miss.

On the other side.

That's where we'll go together.

I'll stay by your side.

And protect you, protect you from harm.

I'll cradle you in my arms.

I'll make you feel safe."

"That's what I told you.

That's what I said to make you leave.

I thought we'd be back together.

But now I see.

We'll only be.

On the other side.

That's where we'll go together.

I'll stay by your side.

And protect you, protect you from harm.

I'll cradle you in my arms.

And make you feel safe."

Mark looked on in wonder as Tom finished with a tricky little chord.

"Tom. That was amazing. I don't know how to explain it. You've done it this time, man.. You've done it. This is your hit. Your money maker." Tom smiled ecstatically as he set his guitar back down.

"Is it good?"

"Good? Are you serious? It's amazing! There's no way I could describe it. It's emotional, it's heartfelt, it's comforting, reassuring. I don't know! It's just everything music should be! I'm honoured that I am the first one to have heard it. And I know. And I am telling you, that is going to be on the radio." Tom and Mark just smiled at each other, before wrapping their arms around each other and jumping about the room in happiness.

Clarissa stepped in away from the humid air outside, her hand still wrapped in a towel and shaking tremulously from the recent loss of blood, her face pale and her bottom lip trembling slightly.

"Are you alright, Clarissa?" Karl moved cautiously off the couch eyeing her worriedly. The fire crackled in the grate and Clarissa's vision went blurry. Karl watched her stumble as she rested her forehead in one hand and tried to balance with the other. "Let's get you upstairs to bed."

Karl eased Clarissa gently onto the soft matress which she sunk into easily. He watched her as her eyes fluttered while she tried to keep herself awake. Her dark curls flowing gently around her sunkissed face, her hand delicately curled and just resting across her stomach. Karl smiled and stroked a stray curl away from Clarissa's face and watched her gentle breathing form. He squeezed her hand and, still smiling, backed out of the room as Clarissa let out a small sigh and rolled over.

Clarissa opened her eyes as she heard the door close behind Karl, she listened to the sound of his fading footsteps as he walked down the hall and into his own bedroom. She looked around her small and cluttered bedroom with a sad look on her face.

An e-mail popped up on her laptop screen and she scrambled off of her bed and stared at the address with a horrified expression on her face before clicking on the attached e-mail.

She read the e-mail over and over again, as if she were trying to imprint the memory of it onto the inside of her eyelids so she could read it forever. She tore herself away from the screen as tears welled in her eyes and she clambered back into her bed.

She lay there for a while as the tears rolled down her cheeks and onto the pillow underneath her, she thought of Tracey Watkins as she buried her face in her hands and sobbed herself into a stupour.

Clarissa finally calmed down and closed her eyes all thoughts of the e-mail; it's contents, who it was from, all swimming through her mind. As she dozed off, exhausted by her emotional outburst and tiring day, images floated through her mind, flashes of her life with her grandmother and her friends in school.

Clarissa opened her eyes wide, the smell of her grandmother's perfume wafted up her nose, as she heard the door swing open and hit the wall behind it with a loud bang, waking her up indefinitely.

"Happy Christmas, Clarissa." Her grandmother said stiffly as she bent to pick up the dirty laundry that was thrown about the floor. She shuffled about the room picking things up, banging drawers closed and just making noise until she couldn't tolerate Clarissa's ignorance any longer. "Are you going to get up of your own accord or am I going to have to pull you out of that bed?" She screeched, her voice a little more shaky than usual, she knew that Clarissa was growing old enough to defend herself and more.

"Well?" She pressed on as Clarissa continued to ignore her. Margery fussed over the dirt and dust covering the room and began to comment on random objects to get Clarissa to answer her. "I will need to get a cloth and wipe that computer screen of yours. It's filthy - Fingerprints all over it! Why do you have a poster of that loser on your wall, he's not even that attractive if you ask me. Why do you have to dump all of your clean clothes, that I have just washed, on the floor all of the time. It just means I have to do more... that's it Clarissa, get up, I'm sick of you ignoring me. If your mother were here, you know she would not let you treat me like this, I have done nothing but provide you with a decent life." Margery bit her lip hoping that Clarissa would finally listen, and fiddled with the reading glasses that were hanging from her neck.

Clarissa's eyes were still open, but in answer to all of her grandmother's questions, she just pulled the warm cover up over her face, hiding it from view. She felt the moisture of her breath on her face as she breathed into the duvet, trying to ignore her grandmother's continuous talking, tidying and fussing.

"Right that's it Clarissa! I've had enough! What would your father say? What would your mother say?"

Clarissa sat up furiously as blood rushed to her head.

"They wouldn't say anything. You have given me a decent enough place to live, I suppose. You do my laundry, you give me somewhere to sleep and give me money and food." Clarissa took a deep breath as she realised how emotionally she felt about what she was just about to tell her grandmother. "But you have never shown me any affection. You've never given me any indication that you actually care about me. You just treat me like I am a thorn in your side." Margery sighed and sat on the end of the bed.

"One of your friends is at the door. I'll get all this stuff cleaned up for you." Clarissa almost burst into tears at her grandmothers indifference, but satisfied herself with saying.

"Happy Christmas, grandmother. Send whoever it is up will you? I need to get dressed."

Clarissa turned around as the door swung open and hit the wall behind with a loud bang and just stared in shock."Tracey? What are you doing here? How did you know where I lived?" Clarissa was full of questions, but at the same time she felt her stomach drop with the feeling of disappointment that now filled her from seeing her old friend.

"Well, after you moved away, I begged my mother to move too. I had to be with my best friend. And so, here I am. Isn't it great things are going to be just like they always were." Clarissa nodded, but the feeling of disappointment had grown, it's not like she didn't like Tracey anymore... she had just moved on, made new friends. Friends with whom Tracey would not be welcome.

"And I have enrolled at your school as well, so you can introduce me to all of your new friends, and we can have fun, just like old times. Isn't this going to be great? Us together again?" Clarissa grinned uneasily and Tracey laughed at her. "Right you have to tell me everything! What's this place like? Have you met a boy yet? I hope I do! Do you have any hot friends?"

Clarissa entered the school grounds a week later, eager to see her friends again after the time apart for the christmas holidays. But for the first time ever she felt a knot of nervousness in her stomach, a small knot, but it still made her feel uneasy as she could hear Tracey's heavy footfalls behind her.

"Hey guys, where's Karl?" Clarissa said as she approached her friends most of whom were looking behind her at the new arrival.

"Library of course." Tom replied without taking his eyes off of Tracey, Mark had an air of annoyance about him as he eyed Tracey, who seemed completely at ease and very bold in character, up and down.

"Of course." Clarissa mimmicked.

"Clarissa, are you going to tell us who this is?" Dana, looked at Clarissa as she gestured with a slight nod of the head in Tracey's direction. All eyes of the group flickered at once to Tracey and then to Clarissa as if awaiting an explanation.

Clarissa nervously looked around at Tracey as the knot in her stomach tightened.

"This is - er, Tracey. She's a close friend from my old school, who has just moved here." She quickly gave the group an apologetic look as they all looked at one another with curious looks on their faces.

"Hi." Tracey introduced herself with a high pitched squealy voice, like that of a chipmunk, not taking her eyes off of Mark.

"Hi I'm Colin and this is Dana..." Dana flashed Colin a warning look and he leant back on the bench and closed his mouth.

"And I'm Tom and this is Mark." Tom emphasised Mark's name as he smirked at Tracey's interest in his blonde friend. Clarissa's face flushed as she felt guilty for Tracey and putting her in this situation, but also annoyed that Tracey was just standing and staring.

"So, we had better get to class." Dana said slowly as she eased herslef lightly off of the bench after the warning bell rang. "See you later Clarissa."

A couple of hours later and the group were all heading to the canteen for lunch, Tracey following behind, looking like a lost dog, while she watched the others chatting animatedly and throwing harmless insults at one another and laughing.

Tracey looked around the canteen and found it full of the usual cliques associated with a high school, but his group was so uniquely different, a mixture of characters and she felt that she needed to be a part of it. She didn't realise that she had to be unique herself to be able to join. But she saw the dozen other hopefuls that were also trying desperately to be included in any way that they could.

"Listen, Clarissa, I really want to be a part of this group." She cast a quick glance at Mark, which didn't go unnoticed by Clarissa who raised an eyebrow at her enstranged friend. "I can't stop looking at him, or listening to him every time he says something. I need you to talk to him for me, talk to the group. I want to be a part of it. I want to be with Mark. Please Clarissa - do this for me?" Tracey looked imploringly into the eyes of her old friend who had completely changed, it wasn't just her appearance, she had just become so calm, so friendly, so... nice.

Clarissa nervously glanced behind her and watched her friends eating, Karl kept glancing up occassionally, as he waited for Clarissa to join the table. She turned to face Tracey breathing heavily as she tried to make up her mind."I don't know, Tracey. You really aren't Mark's type. And the group never just lets random people join, something has to have happened to a member, something that bonds them."

"Please, Clarissa, just try?" Tracey was almost on her knees begging, her eyes welling with tears and her hot palms squeezing Clarissa's wrists.

"I-I'll try Tracey. But it won't be easy, and it might take them a while to decide... you might want to find somebody else to eat with today, give them some space." Tracey nodded and walked away, while Clarissa let out a deep breath as she could feel beads of sweat slowly forming from the guilt that flooded her as she watched her old friend walk away and knew there was no chance of her joining.

Clarissa sat down at the table and pretended to listen to her friends while she remained distant and didn't take anything they were saying in.

"Clarissa? Is something wrong? You're very quiet." Colin asked, leaning over Dana.

"Everythings fine - well no. It's not. Tracey wants to join the group... I know it's silly of me to even suggest it, I know she doesn't qualify, but I had to ask anyway - she's an old friend." Clarissa raised her eyebrows as she fought to hold back tears. "I just feel so bad because she really wants to, she wants Mark to notice her."

"Me?" Mark asked questionably. "What does she want with me? Tom is the one everyone fancies... maybe you have it wrong." He stated quickly and worriedly.

"Or maybe you have a new admirer." Tom said with a laugh, and quickly receiving a disgruntled look in return.

"You did tell her she's not my type didn't you?" Clarissa nodded as she adopted a motherly look on her face.

"Just out of curiosity, Mark. What is your type?" Dana leaned across the table. "You can just tell me if you want, I want to set you up with the right girl." Mark gave Dana an awkward smile and scratched his head.

"If we could get back to the original debate, rather than Mark's taste in girls..." Clarissa said forcefully as she looked around at her friends, who all had knowing smirks on their faces.

"There's no point discussing it, Clarissa. You know that the answer is no. Now let's have a good time and find out which girl we can set Mark up with." Clarissa shook her head in frustration.

"But we don't let anyone into the group who hasn't dealt with a difficult life, so unless you want to set Mark up with me which, no offense to you Mark, will never happen..."

"Erm, I don't really see the problem in letting her join the group, I mean she seems nice enough and she was friends with Clarissa before. So it's not like she is untrustworthy or anything..." Colin threw his fork down on the table in frustration.

"Yes but that was before Clarissa met us, she's changed now. I'd actually be extremely surprised if Clarissa herself wanted Tracey to join us!" Colin turned to Clarissa. "I'm sorry, Clarissa, you knew the answer before you even asked, there is just no way that Tracey can join us." Colin stood up just as the bell rang for class. The others followed suit, Clarissa only comforted by the thought that she wouldn't have to spend so much time with Tracey to feel the guilt that was tearing her stomach to shreds.

Clarissa opened her locker and began grabbing her english books and all of her study materials, before quickly locking it and turning around to head for her class when she was pounced on by Tracey.

"Well, what did they say? Am I allowed to join? What does Mark think of me?" Clarissa faced Tracey, a look of deep distress on her face.

"I'm sorry, Tracey. They don't want you to join, and like I told you, you aren't Mark's type. We can still be friends though." She finished brightly, smiling slightly at Tracey. Let's go to english, if I'm late one more time... well let's just say that the consequences won't be very nice." Tracey forced a laugh and followed Clarissa to the english class.

Mrs. Harrisson walked in through the door and silenced all of the pupils with a quick look before turning to Tracey who was stood at the front of the room.

"Oh, yes. I forgot we have a new pupil. Tracey Watkins isn't it?" Without waiting for an answer she told Tracey to go sit at the back of the room where there was a spare seat next to Christie. A spoilt brat who thought she knew everything. "Anyway, I'm sure you have all been acquainted with Tracey already, so I'll just skip formal introductions and make headway with our lesson. You all have your plays?" The class all raised a copy of Romeo and Juliet in the air. "Well you won't need them today, I have a practice exam paper for you all." The whole class groaned as Mrs. Harrisson went from desk to desk handing out leaves of paper and the question papers.

Clarissa and Tracey had just got back to Clarissa's grandmothers house, the weather remained chilly, but was still rather warm for the time of year. Clarissa trod gravely up the gravel path as thoughts of having to put up with her grandmother weighed heavily on her mind after what she had said to her earlier that morning.

Clarissa looked at the surrounding houses, the homes of her neighbours and wondered whether any of them had to face the sorts of dilemma's she had had to endure in just one day.

All thoughts escaped her mind, though, as Tracey grabbed her wrist and pulled her around to face her, Clarissa was disturbed by the furious and hurt look on Tracey's face.

"Why am I not allowed to join the group?" She cried furiously. "I only moved here so that I could be with you again! You don't even seem to appreciate that! I ask this one little thing and you just pretend to ask your friends if I can join the group, while I sit outside oblivious to the joke you are playing on me!" tears were running down Tracey's face, ruining her make-up but her frown and disappointment did not falter.

"Tracey I didn't pretend, I did..."

"Don't lie to me Clarissa! I know you didn't want me here the moment you saw me. And you definitely didn't want me to join the group!" Clarissa was frightened. Tracey had never shown this angry side of her before, if she was capable of this, what else was she capable of?

Tracey stood there breathing heavily as though she had run a marathon, waiting for Clarissa's excuse.

"It wasn't that I didn't want you to join. It was that I knew my friends wouldn't want you! Tracey the group is for the desperate, for people who have been rejected by all the other cliques. And I know, the group knows and YOU know that you are the type of person that will do well anywhere. You don't need me and you don't need the group!" Clarissa retorted angrily. She looked into her friends eyes which were wide with shock, Tracey's eyebrows were furrowed in confusion. What had Clarissa turned into?

When Clarissa saw that Tracey was finished, she turned and walked into the house slamming the door behind her.

Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed it. In the next chapter there will be another flashback, I think, showing another part of someone elses life.

I would love to see what conclusions you have come up with, any theories, just anything really. I love feedback of any kind. What did you think of the song?

Thanks again for reading, I hope you come back for the next part.

Suburbia - Part I - Complications

Welcome to Part I of Suburbia. We are in a different location today, meeting a few new characters. The others will be back, but I'm afraid not this chapter.

"Have a good day at work, honey." Juliet smiled as Andrew pulled her in for a quick peck as he left the front door. The breeze rustled Andrews hair and Juliet placed a delicate hand on his clean-shaven cheek, before taking a dark lock of his hair between her thumb and forefinger and placing it back into its rightful place. Andrew flashed his white teeth in a grin and placed his hands on Juliet's waist.

Juliet knew that Andrew didn't want to leave her home at this crucial point, but he had no choice; work was beckoning him and if he didn't turn up his job could be in jeopardy.

Juliet leaned in and rested her head gently on Andrews shoulder, snuggling her nose into his ear as she did so.

"I'll try." Andrew grinned as he received affectionate but playful attentions from Juliet. "I'll miss you though." Juliet giggled slightly as she buried her face into his neck lightly pressing her lips on his sensitive spots, while Andrew sighed in ecstacy. "Maybe when I get home we can spend a few hours together and - you know." Juliet grinned as she gave him one last kiss and pulled away, his arms still wrapped around her waist.

"That would be nice." Juliet paused, Andrew looking intently into her eyes, and lightly ran a finger down his nose. "But to come back home you actually have to..." A lightbulb appeared above Andrews head as his eyes widened as his mouth formed a silent 'oh!'. "Yeah." Juliet giggled. Andrew kissed her again and ran down the steps before turning back and kissing her again. "Go!" Juliet grinned as Andrew ran to the car and slung his briefcase into the passenger seat.

Juliet stood on the porch as she watched Andrew clamber into the driver's seat. She couldn't see him as he closed the door because the sun was reflecting from windows and into her eyes, but she could tell he was looking back at her as he began to pull away. She gave him a light wave, her delicate fingers pointing to the bluest of skies.Still smiling she waited until she could only see the red speck in the distance which was his car. Then she glanced up at the sky as if in silent prayer and turned to go back inside.

As she turned to go back into the house her smile evaporated from her face at the prospect of what she would have to face as soon as she entered.

Andrew and Juliet had recently faced a lot of troubles. Andrew's failing marriage with his ex-wife, Meygan, led him into Juliet's arms when he met her at a bar after a long day at work. One thing led to another and Andrew's failing marriage completely disintegrated and his and Juliet's relationship reached a whole new level of commitment. Juliet moved in, leaving a highly disgruntled family member.

Andrew's daughter, Alexis.

Alexis was a young girl who saw her family ripped apart by her father's infidelity. Naturally, she blames her father's new girlfriend who caused him to stray from her devoted mother and housewife. Alexis also knows, from listening on the stairs, that her mother refused to take Alexis with her, saying that she was better off growing up in a home she was familiar with. This left Alexis in a confused state, rejected from her mother, less attention from her father who is now devoted to his new girlfriend. All Alexis wants is for her family to be fixed back together. But that could take a miracle.

Alexis saw Juliet step backwards to come inside the house and turned away from the window as she fiddled with a lone pawn on the chessboard, while fixing a scowl on her face.

Juliet approached Alexis with an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach, she knew that the young girl detested her very existence, that she blamed her for tearing her parents marriage apart. But Juliet sympathised, she knew if she were in the same position that she would also be acting in the same immature way.

"Alexis?" She stammered as she looked the little girl in the eye. "Are you ready for school? The bus should be here in a minute, or if you want I can take you in the car and we can have a little bonding time?" She tried to lighten her voice and make herself seem excited at the prospect of spending more time with the little girl. When the little girl said nothing, Juliet began to get frustrated. "I know that you hate me Alexis." The little girl rolled her eyes and made a clicking noise with her tongue. "But I wish you would speak to me... you don't understand the situation of your parents' marriage, it was failing before I even met your father."

Alexis furrowed her eyebrows. "You think that I am going to be believe anything you say? I saw my mother walk out on my father the day she found out about you! And yes, I do hate you - I won't deny it. You tore my family apart!" Alexis throat was clogged and her eyes brimmed with tears. "I won't ever forgive you and I won't ever speak to you again! Oh, and I won't go to school. So you will have to call them up and tell them that I am sick." Juliet breathed a heavy sigh as her head began to ache.

"I will do no such thing! You need your education..."

"I need my mother, but you..."

"Alexis that is the end of it - you are going to school and I don't want to hear another word against it."

"I'd like to see you try and make me... there is no way that I am going and there is no way that you will get me on that bus."

"I'll call your father, he will..." Juliet knew she should not have resorted to this, it showed that she had no authority over the little girl and Alexis knew it too.

Juliet turned away as the little girl stormed up the stairs and out of sight. Juliet closed her eyes taking deep breaths, trying to ignore the now, heavy thumping on the back of her skull. She was out of control of the situation and she had to regain some authority, preferably before the school bus turned up outside.

Andrew drove up the many ramps in the packed multi-storey car park looking for an empty space, eventually he spotted one and quickly squeezed into the tiny spot. He pulled the handbrake up firmly and switched the engine off, the woman's monotone voice from the radio was silenced and Andrew took a deep breath as he thought of Juliet at home.

He cleared his throat and checked his appearance in his rearview mirror before taking his briefcase from the passenger seat and lightly stepping out of his immobilised vehicle.

The smell of petrol wafted up his nose as he stepped out into the damp and chilly car park, where a few people were clambering out of their cars to go into town. Andrew slammed the door shut behind him and set his briefcase on the floor beside his car so he could straighten his tie.

As he looked around he saw a close friend approaching him from the opposite row of cars.

Julian and Andrew had been friends ever since they started working together a few years ago, Julian had also been best friends with Meygan, Andrews ex-wife, since high school, but he did not begrudge Andrew for his lack of judgement since he had been aware of the failing marriage for quite a while after hearing both sides of the story from Andrew and Meygan.

They greeted each other with a warm but firm handshake.

"Long time no see." Julian exclaimed as he grasped Andrews hand. "I was missing you, I don't get sent on very good assignments without you... Anyway, I know why you needed time off, but boy did you take time off..."

"Yeah. Ok, Julian. I missed you too, but I have to make sure that Alexis doesn't murder Juliet in her sleep." Julian laughed but Andrew looked serious. "I'm being serious bro, they detest each other, and I know Juliet tries but Alexis just wants her mum, I don't know why Meygan refused to take her." Julian lost his smile and tried to look understanding as the screech of tyres was heard on the storey below.

"I see what you mean, mate. But what the hell is with your suit?" Julian laughed again, a heartfelt laugh, a heart-warming laugh. "I mean, you aren't exactly dressed for the occassion, no doubt we will just be sitting in the office again." Andrew playfully gave Julian a dig in the arm.

"Well when you get promoted and become someone's SUPERIOR and detective superintendent there are some benefits..." Julian raised his eyebrows."And they are?"

"Well a higher wage packet and do you know what that means?... It means that I can buy snazzy suits and wear them to work." Andrew stooped and picked up his briefcase.

He looked Julian in the eye and began to laugh. "The chicks dig it too!" They both laughed and Andrew took his keys out of his pocket and pointed them at the car as he pushed the button that set the central locking and alarm.

"I guess we'd better get going then, you don't want to be late after all the time off you have already had."

Julian turned around and Andrew followed as they headed towards the elevators. Julian grinned as his eye caught the woman walking in front of them.

"She sure is fine. Wonder if she wants to come and hang out with us at the station. I mean, look at that ar..." Andrew scoffed.

"Yes I'm sure that the best thing she can think of to do this morning is sit in the office watching us do paperwork, I expect she'd have a ball!" Julian waggled his finger in Andrews face.

"She might. You never know it could just be right up her street." Andrew looked Julian in the eye as another waft of petrol filled his nose.

"Yep I'm sure it is. Why don't you go and ask her?" Julian closed his mouth and walked quietly out of the car park.

A short while later and Andrew was waiting outside H&M for Julian to come out of the public toilets nearby. The street was paved with black, and was rather quiet but Andrew just put it down to the fact that it was pretty early in the morning for lots of people to be out and about.

The sun was already hot and it pierced Andrew eyes as his phone rang.

"Hello? Andrew Cooper speaking." Andrew heard the soft giggle of Juliet and a heavy sigh on the end of the phone, and he knew something was wrong.

"Andrew it's me, Juliet." His heart jumped into his throat as he thought the worst; something had happened to Alexis.

"What is it honey? Is everything alright? Alexis is Ok isn't she?" Juliet's heavy sigh on the other end of the phone made his heart stop for a brief moment and he held his breath in anticipation.

"She's fine. But she is refusing to go to school and she won't listen to me. I didn't know what else to do and I know you're busy with work and everything but I can't force her to do anything - I'm not her mother." Juliet sounded on the verge of tears and Andrew had no idea what to do.

He held the phone closer to his ear as he closed his eyes and thought about what he could do."Honey? Are you still there?" Juliet's tingling voice echoed down the phone soothing Andrews heart.

"Yes, sweetheart, I'm still here. I suppose we can just let her have the day off today, because there is no way I am going to be able to rush back home now, but I will be having words with her when I get back and she won't ever refuse to go to school again." Juliet stayed silent and Andrew could tell she had tensed up, fearful of having to spend a whole day with his nuisance of a daughter.

"It's only one day Juliet, I'm sure you can handle it, try and bond with her. Once you get to know each other..." Juliet's tone had changed now, it was shrill and her throat was clogged as she tried to hold back the tears.

"I've tried bonding with her Andrew... I keep trying. But she detests me, she wants you and her mother back together and she would do anything to get me out of the way. She blames me Andrew! She blames me for your mistake!" Andrew frowned as he fought to hold back his own tears.

"It wasn't a mistake Juliet. I love you. I will speak to Alexis when I get home and I will explain everything that happened between me and her mother. I will sort this Juliet. It will just take some time, everyone who knows you loves you and it will be the same way with Alexis soon... I have to go now honey, Julian is back. It's time to head to the office. I love you. See you when I get home. Bye."

"Bye." Andrew hung up and turned to face Julian.

"Family problems!" he said rolling his eyes. "Reasons to stay single." he said holding out his hand as if it were a sheet of paper. "Reason number one: To avoid the problems of a womans everyday life. Reason number two..."

"Ok, Julian. I am really not in the mood anymore." Julian gave Andrew an apologetic look as they headed towards the office, the woman they had previously been following had now disappeared.

"Alexis giving Juliet a hard time?" Andrew nodded.

"Yep, and I can't do anything about it because I'm stuck here and it's not like I can just go home otherwise I'll get the sack. Why can't everything just fall into place like it was supposed to?" Julian comforted his friend by patting him on the shoulder.

"That's divorce my friend."

Violet looked up as Andrew entered the office. She watched him run his large, firm hands through his dark hair and her heart fluttered. Her face flushed a deep red and she continued to look at him until he had reached his desk and started ruffling through paperwork.

As she turned her head back to her computer screen she began to think about things she could say to him. "Good to see you back. No too vague." She told herself. "I need to say something where he will get the hint. I would have thought he had already worked it out by now." Violet hadn't thought of anything to say, but her feet began acting of their own accord and she found herself walking straight towards Andrew.

Violet fixed a smile on her face as she approached him, he looked up and smiled back before looking down again and rustling through leaves of paper.

"Hi Andrew. I hear you are single again." Andrew looked up, saw the hopeful look in her eyes and felt a deep sense of guilt; not because he had ever given her a reason to think he felt the same way about her, but because he knew she was wasting her time in chasing after him.

"Hi, how's work been?" Andrew racked his brains, trying to think of something to say without hurting her feelings.

"Well it's been Ok, I guess. Work is work." Violet gave an awkward laugh. "But going out at night and meeting new people is nice, a benefit of living in town. Speaking of which have you met anyone new?" Andrew, relieved that she asked the question and that he was obliged to give her an answer without feeling so bad about it, smiled and looked up.

"Er, yes. I have been seeing someone for a few months now, and she has moved in to my place. Things are going good, what about you?" Andrew sighed in relief at the lack of hurt evident in her eyes, she was still smiling, but he could sense her disappointment.

"Oh, I've met a few new people, but none of them have the longevity factor." Violet refrained from saying 'unlike you' but only just. "It's good that you have gotten over Meygan so quickly, though, Alexis must not be happy with the new arrangement."

"Well, no, actually she isn't." Andrew stated, scratching his head awkwardly.

"Naturally, she probably hates... what's her name? You never said." Andrew was surprised at how interested she seemed in his personal life especially considering he knew she would be jealous, but told her anyway.

"Er, Juliet."

"Well, I suppose Alexis hates Juliet doesn't she? Just give them time to get used to one another, make a few changes and I expect everything will turn out Ok." Violet gave Andrew a reassuring smile, and watched him staring at her with a stunned look on his face.

"How do you know all of this stuff? How can you be so sure everything will be alright?" Violet's eyes glazed over as memories shone in front of her.

"It's a long story."

"Well we are only doing paperwork today so we have all the time in the world." Violet knew that this was a chance she should take, opening herself up to Andrew could only make them closer.

"Well, when I was younger I went through the same thing with my..."

"Andrew mate, Martin wants to see you in his office." Julian had trodden over and stated this with an angry look on his face.

"Oh sorry Violet, maybe you can tell me some other time?" Andrew started making his way to the door of their boss's office. "Julian aren't you coming?"

"This new assignment isn't going to be you and me this time, mate." Andrew raised his eyebrows in confusion and headed to Martin's office.

As Andrew walked away from her, Violet closed her eyes, pursed her lips and let out a deep breath as she tried to rid herself of all her frustration. She had come close - so close, to opening up to Andrew and now she was back to where she started. When she opened her eyes again Julian was standing in front of her, watching her, and she felt her blood boil.

"Couldn't you just have waited a few more minutes before sending him to Martin's office?" She hissed at him - Andrew was still within earshot so Violet tried to muffle her voice. "You know how I feel about him, we were just getting to know each other on a more personal level!" Violet just looked at Julian furiously as she waited for him to reply.

"Violet. I know this is none of my business, and yes, I do know how you feel about Andrew, but it can't happen. His previous relationship was already destroyed because of him straying from his wife, you have to respect that he felt extremely guilty for that, and he would never do it again. He is now in another serious relatonship and I don't want to see that destroyed either." Violet looked at Julian flabbergasted.

"I'm serious about this too, Julian. I have been in love with Andrew since High School and that is why I followed his career path. You really think I like this job? I have to get him to notice me otherwise it will all have been for nothing! My life will have been wasted chasing a love that I can never have. Please, Julian, understand..."

"I do understand Violet, but you should start chasing a new dream now, because the one you are chasing is pulling away from you and you are being left behind." Violet folded her arms and furrowed her eyebrows as Julian walked away from her and back to his desk.

As Julian began to dial a number into his telephone, Violet approached Tara, who stood by her desk furiously rummaging through her drawers.

"Hey Tara, what are you looking for?" Tara jumped as she stood up quickly, startled by Violet's presence.

"Oh, just a stapler, I think I've lost it." Tara didn't seem too sure about what she was saying, Violet thought. 'Oh well' she told herself 'she can't be up to much it's just Tara.'

"Oh right, you can borrow mine later. I wanted to talk with you that's all." Tara looked up into Violet's face, confused. "How well do you know Andrew?" Tara's eyes lit up as Andrews name was mentioned.

"Oh he's very nice. I know him quite well, he's very polite and always says hello."

"Yes but what do you know about him?" Violet persisted, annoyed at Tara's lack of understanding.

"Well I guess not much more than you. He's always talking to you. Surely you know everything there is to know about him by now." Tara flushed red as she realised how little she knew Andrew. She fumbled with her hands as Violet just looked at her.

"Well I guess so..."

"You like him don't you?" Tara blurted out. "Sorry, it's just I see the way you look at him, how you act around him... you do know that he is in a long-term relationship don't you? You won't ever get him." Violet felt her face go red. Could she really be read so easily? Was she an open book? She shook her head and looked at Tara furiously.

"Why does everyone keep saying that? I just need to find out who this Juliet is and what is so great about her."

"Juliet?"

"Yes. Juliet. Wait, do you know a Juliet?" Tara realised she had said to much and shook her head quickly.

"No... I have to get back to work... Can I borrow your stapler?"

"Sure."

Violet turned her back on Tara suspiciously as she watched Andrew close Martin's office door behind him. How she wished she could tell him how she feels about him. 'Maybe he alredy knows!' She said to herself. 'If Tara could tell, surely anyone knows.' Violet flushed a deep red as this thought occured to her, 'maybe he just doesn't want me.' Violet held her head high and sat back down at her desk as her disappointment of being rejected filled her heart.

Clara looked around as the door opened and Andrew walked in with an annoyed look on his face. She was startled at the way she found it difficult to look away from him, only when he came to stand right next to her did she avert her eyes.

"Andrew. I would like you to meet your new partner, Clara." Andrew and Clara looked at each other and Clara lost herself in Andrews dark, deep eyes.

"What about Julian?" Andrew asked, Clara noted the power in his voice and his attitude and realised why he was detective superintendent.

"Julian will be given an office job, you have nothing to worry about, Clara here will keep you focused on the case in question." Andrew looked at Clara again and sized her up. Clara smiled awkwardly as their eyes met and quickly looked back at Martin. Andrew felt his face go red, and he too looked back at Martin.

Martin looked up at Andrew with a serious look on his face.

"The case in question. Right. So we have found a body, her name is, or was, Tracey Watkins. She was strangled to death... you might want to go check the scene out, see if you can't find anything to go on. Julian will look up Tracey's history for you, and you can take Clara with you, I believe she will prove useful. You will need to..." Andrew interrupted his voice forceful and irritated.

"I know the procedures, Martin." Martin frowned and waved Andrew and Clara out of his office.

"Oh, and welcome back to work, Andrew."

To Be Continued...

Thanks for reading and I hope you tune in for the next part and leave a nice comment if you liked it.

Suburbia - Character Introductions

I have been working on this story and have finished a couple of parts already, but for now, I'll just indulge you with this little taster of what is to come.

First off let me introduce you to six friends who have just left college and moved to the suburbs, for reasons that are, as yet, unknown.

The first of these friends is Dana Wilson, her parents the founders of MiRE furnishings, provided her the spoilt childhood of any rich kid. Her high school days helped to ground her rather than promote her ego which is common during that age period. And as such she was left to be unique and alone, until she met the five people that were soon to become her family.

Dana is very hung up about her appearance, she realises that a lot counts on first impressions, even though past experience has told her not to judge people, she knows that people: employers, future boyfriends, etc. will judge based on appearances.

She also, having grown up as that spoilt rich kid, likes to indulge in expensive clothes and jewellery.

This is Colin Mitchell, he and Dana have been together ever since the group first formed, there have been no formal commitments made but Colin is hoping to propose very soon.

Colin grew up in a dingy, cramped appartment. He saw his mother wither in front of him as she was plagued with mental disabilities, Colin took care of his mother from a young age and became a reserved, mature child... he changed though, he met Dana, and through her, he met the rest of the group; he opened up, explained what he had been through in life - he let go when his mother passed away and evolved, he became what he never could be - a normal child.

Colin relieves stress by exercising. He has constant memories flashing through his mind as he sees his crippling past over and over again. Running helps him to put it out of mind, helps him to regain a sense of humanity. He sweats and along with this his inner demons leave his mind - if only they would stay away.

This is Tom Davis, he was the one who everyone took a liking to straight away, he was the cool dude, the one who wore baggy jeans and let his hair grow long. He grew up after and cut it short, but his laid back approach to work and his love of music made him easily likeable.

Tom was also the kind of person who had rich parents, but they cut him off when he decided to take up music professionally instead of taking part in the prostigious law firm they had built from scratch.

Because of his parents' attitude toward his dream, Tom ran away from home at sixteen and moved in with his best friend, Mark. To this day they have been extremely close, it was almost as if they were brothers.

Tom has yet to be recognised as a professional musician and it can only get harder for him now he has moved to the suburbs.

This is Mark Roolsten. Tom's best friend.

Mark was the creative one, the one who was good at drawing, painting, writing.

It was he and Tom who persuaded the other, lonlier people in the school to be friends with them - and that was how the group was formed. Soon enough, everyone wanted to be in that, the people that judged on first impressions were jealous of the popularity of the group and the amount of influence they had over people in the school.

Mark had a relatively pleasant childhood, with his over-protective mother who try her hardest to provide him with everything he needed and wanted in life. His father who earned a fair wage at a nearby hardware store had managed to save up for Mark to go to college so he could pursue his dream of becoming a writer and an artist.

They had given him a good start in life and taught him what was right and wrong - for which he was eternally grateful.

This is Karl Morrisson, the "geek" of the group.

Karl had been a lonely child, being smart and having big glasses made him a big punchline for jokes made by the school bullies. This lonely and unique character, for he had normal social skills and was pleasant to be around, was pulled into the group of friends. This provided him with safety and he became a crucial part in the groups dynamics.

Karl grew up with loving, devoted parents. They however, were extremely poor and found it hard to keep up with bill payments and could definitely not afford to pay for Karl's tuition fees.

Karl grew up watching his parents scrape the bottom of the barrel for every penny they could to keep a roof over their heads. He promised himself after seeing this that he would never end up like them, that he would be able to support them when he was in a more secure financial situation.

He tried harder in school and his grades picked up, he survived college through scholarships and working two jobs. Now he is looking to find a long-term, secure job and go back and rescue his family from poverty.

And finally the last of the six friends, Clarissa.

Clarissa was the last member of the group to join, since she arrived at the school a few years after the group was formed. She had begun a shy girl who found it difficult to speak to anyone, natural for anyone starting a new school. This made it hard for her to make friends and she was left alone most of the time.

The group noticed her alone one lunch-time and invited her to join them. A short while later and they had broken her out of her shell and found five friends with whom she could share any secret and any dream that she might have.

Clarissa had grown up alone with her single mother, Anna. Her father had left a short while after finding out that Anna was pregnant. Anna had been a good mother, she managed well, but she suffered from depression and stopped eating. She eventually starved herself to death and Clarissa was left to live with her grandmother, who although gracious enough to offer her home to the child was unwilling to provide her with any love.

Clarissa had had to join a new school shortly after and this was when she met her new friends.

This isn't all of the characters by the way, there will be more to come in the next part.

Thanks for reading my Character Introductions and I hope you will read Part 1 when it comes out.