The morning sun nudged me in the eyes as I felt its dawning light touching my lid. I blinked a few times, squeezed it shut and readjusted the sharpness of my vision. I could tell it was already past 7.00 am when the cold draft seeping into the room slowly, indicating the heater had automatically turned off according to its set time. Yet, I felt the warmth of Nick's body heat hugging me in between the sheets, making me not want to get out of this bed.

Nick was dead asleep with his head resting on my arm as a pillow, burying his face in my chest while I wrapped my arms around him. I watched long lashes beneath his monolid eyes fluttered, like his having another action-packed dream. A streak of sunlight passed through the window touched his dark head, revealing his natural dirty blond strands of hair.

I shifted my body to lie on my back while my arm under his head remained unmoved. I looked up onto the ceiling and my thoughts began to ponder. I weighed them between my feelings and my obligation. Having him in my arms professed many feelings; satisfaction, happiness, accomplished and odd at some point. I never thought I had someone with me on the bed who was my enemy. But there was also another feeling that emerged weighing my elation; the feeling of being a sinner.

I exhaled a discontent sigh, feeling sick with these thoughts that I need to go out for a walk. I propped myself up, slowly replacing my arm with a pillow under his head and kissed him gently. Delicately I shuffled my bum towards the edge of the bed, making sure he didn't wake up and tiptoed towards the common bathroom to clean myself and get ready.

As I left the gated compound of his posh residence, I texted Nick of my whereabouts. Then, I got into the No. 50 First Bus after seven minutes waiting and headed for Salford Shopping Centre. It was my first time coming into Salford Shopping Centre and I was aware that it wasn't that hype, somehow thrived to survive with its 80s style building consisting a variety of medium range retail shop and an attached wet market area.

I browsed around without any specific direction, allowing my feet to navigate my path. And when I grew tired of the mall, I headed out to the back of the building and towards a large quiet car park heading towards an ice cream shop which was across it.

Then from the distance, I caught a glimpse of a familiar figure, ginger haired with pale blotchy face, walking in the opposite direction. Jason Stuttart, Abs' rude friend who often picked on me for being a tomboy.

"ZJ?" he squinted his eyes at on me. "It's you! You alright?"

I groaned in frustration and wasn't up to meet anyone within Abs circle at that moment especially on a drowsy Saturday morning like this. So, I turned away while he called out and quickened his pace to catch mine. He followed me to the side, and I could tell that he was drunk and stoned from the funky smell of his breath and on his shirt.

"Go away, Jase. I just don't feel like seeing anyone right now. Especially you," I retorted.

"What's wrong, mate. I'm actually excited to meet you. Why are you dressing like you want to go for a shag?" he said mischievously.

"I'm in my long shirt and jeggings, Jase," I snapped, increasing my speed while he followed. "What's so shaggable about it?"

"I don't know, just different. You smell different too," he wrapped his arms around my neck.

"Well, I had a bath and you don't!" I fumed, pushing his arms away but he grew persistent.

"With who?" he asked but I didn't reply, continuing my strides. Swiftly he grabbed my wrist and twisted it until I felt a sudden sprain. "Can you bathe me too?"

"Go to hell, Jason!" I wriggled, trying to release my wrist while my other free hand smacked him in the face.

Jason suddenly yanked my neck and chocked me. I felt my air supply instantly cut off through his tight grip and my torso almost detaching from my lower body. My screams became a yelp when he dragged me to a nearby van and pinned me to its side, continuing to strangle me. But I managed a single blow on his face with my strongest fist.

He staggered backwards before slumped onto the ground, giving me the opportunity to flee. But he was fast enough to grab me by the ankle that I tripped and fell onto the tarmac on all four. He swiftly straddled on top of me as I was lying facing down. I screamed for him to stop and I screamed for help, but car park was still dead.

"That ass!" he giggled in intoxication. I tried to muster every energy I had to toss him away like a raging mechanical bull in revenge. But then there was a thump above me, and Jason was thrown to the side, like someone knocked him in the head. I looked up and my eyes met the sole of a familiar black Lanvin sneakers next to me.

Nick was standing in front of me.