I craned my head back into the classroom. “The rest of you, create five questions that you have about the Islamic faith in the back of your books. I’ll be back in a few minutes, and no talking!" I shrilled.

Boleyn was against the wall and was angry as hell as she used the sleeves of her shirt to mop up her wet cheeks. I turned to face her. “Right, what is going on? If you have a problem you can talk to me about it. Lashing out in class is not like you.”

She laughed scarily. “Oh, I do have a problem…you!”

Ah, so she did see the photo then. Get yourself out of this one then, Tash!

I nodded, trying to be a calming presence. “And why is that?”

She moved from the wall to get right in my face. “Because you came into this school like Mary f**king Poppins and tried to make everything better, but you can’t, can you? You’re just like everyone else, helpless to do anything!”

I pinched in my brows, confused. “Boleyn, you can talk to me. Tell me what’s wrong, I’m sure I can help.”

She walked away for a few steps then turned back, furious, and shouted, “Why? ‘Cos you’re screwing my brother?”

I stepped back in shock. “W-What?”

“I know it’s you he keeps disappearing to. I saw the photo, even if he won’t admit to it!”

“Boleyn–” I stepped towards her.

“No! Get back. You know nothing about me, my family or my brother! Why don’t you just go back to England for good? No-one wants you here! I don’t want you here. I thought you would make things better but you have just f**ked them up more!” She began walking backwards.

“How? How have I made things worse? Boleyn, I don’t understand?” I tried to placate.

She scowled. “Just go away and leave us alone! I hate you! You’ve made it all come back! It’s all going to happen again, and it’s your fault!” And she fled out of the building.

Running back into my classroom, I quickly informed Ms. Thomas via the phone in my office, and was told that everything would be sorted without my help. She wouldn’t tell me any more than that, and I was left reeling.

With that, school broke up for the holidays.

Merry bleeding Christmas!

As soon as school was done – literally on the bell – I went straight home. I opened the door aggressively, ruthlessly taking out my anger on the eight-foot contraption, and there was Tudor, waiting on the couch.

Perfect!

I threw down my bag, walked straight past him to the kitchen and poured myself a large glass of wine. I took a long sip and turned towards my distant lover, who was now standing in the centre of the living room, looking incredibly awkward. “Where’s Tink?” I asked curtly.

“He let me in as he was leaving to meet with Tate; he flies back to LA tonight for the holidays. He went to say ‘bye.”

I nodded, remembering Tink had told me that earlier that morning, while at the same time noticing that Tudor was decked in all black, a perfect reflection of my less-than-stellar mood. He cocked his head to the side, motioning for me to sit down next to him on the sofa.

I walked over and dropped down beside him. He looked at me cautiously, judging my mood. “So, how was your day?”

I laughed bitterly and took another swig of wine. “Oh, just peachy! Your sister went bat-shit crazy at me in class and basically announced to the entire school that I was shagging you, and then guess what? I wasn’t allowed to have any say in her punishment or be clued-in as to why she went nuts at me for what seemed like absolutely no reason! Oh, she also told me to move back to England permanently as no-one wanted me here.”

He threw his head back and groaned. “She doesn’t need punishing, Tash. I’ve been with her the past couple of hours and she feels bad enough for everything she said, she's in a real bad way. She definitely doesn’t need any further punishing.”

“Really? Why, because she’s your sister? Because let me tell you, if any other student went off at a teacher like that, they’d be at least suspended.”

“Just leave it, Tash. Leave her alone,” he said forcefully.

I slapped my hands down on my knees. “Oh this is priceless! You won’t tell me what’s up with you, your sister throws the mother of all wobblies and she’s let off the hook, and you tell me to just leave it? All these secrets are making me crazy, Tudor. Any more and I'll be one flew over the cuckoo's nest!”

He stood up, glaring down at me. “You have no idea what we are all going through, so just friggin’ leave it alone, Tash. God!”