comeoutwrong | A Bus Stop in Bristol, England [Wednesday, Afternoon]

This was one of the things Effy hadn't really missed about home. Standing around in the cold and grey, despite the fact it was technically still summer. Pandora did at least make that a little more entertaining, but it was never going to be a favourite of hers. She almost missed the muggy heat of Fandom.

"My mum still thinks you're out there doing missionary work," Pandora said to her. "I said you're packing gifts for the poor in Africa."

"Why couldn't I do that in Bristol?"

"Because it's close to there!"

It was not anywhere near being close to there, but Effy decided not to enlighten poor Pandora on her misunderstood geography, and just arched eyebrows in a little amusement. "Of course."

It was only then that Pandora leaned forward to peer at the boy sitting next to them. "Wow. You got a whacker lot of donuts," she told him, wide-eyed.

"Yes." Poor guy looked a little bemused. Then realised what she might be getting at. "Of course! I have too many." Even politely offered them.

"Crazy! Ta!" At which point, Panda reached into his bag for one with a bright grin.

Effy eyed it carefully when he offered the bag to her, and shook her head. "No thanks."

"Effy doesn't do donuts," Pandora offered brightly, busy stuffing her face with one herself.

"So what does she do?"

"Drugs! We just been to buy a bit skunky, ain't we Eff?" Panda spoke through a mouthful of donut.

Effy slanted a sideways look at her friend. Pandora had an unfortunate habit of just talking, without really thinking. Subtlety was not her strong suit, that was for sure.

"I could eat six of these, no problem, cept mum usually hides them behind the fridge. Loser. Wow, these are blimmin' amazing. But I need juicing!" Somewhere in that time she'd grabbed an extra donut from the bag."

"... You need juicing?" Oh Pandora.

"Yeah." She wanted juice. Juice, which Effy helpfully handed her.

Thomas just smiled brightly and offered a hand once she'd handed off the drink. "I am Thomas! It is very nice to meet you," he greeted in slightly stilted English.

"Very nice to meet you," Effy returned, even shaking that hand. Look at her, all polite.

Of course, as soon as the niceties were out of the way, Pandora went sickly pale. One very stoned girl. Two donuts went in very fast. Third step was to watch her hurl all over her shoes, and Effy pulled a face and turned away. Ugh, great.

***

The trip home wasn't the most enjoyable thing in the world after that. Effy was just considering herself lucky they'd found the most generous stranger in Bristol. Pandora had eaten half of his donuts, puked all over the place, and still he'd offered to help get them home.

Thomas just followed her back to her house, toting an out-of-it Pandora over his shoulder.

"This way. Bring the dozy cow up here," Effy told him, sighing as she led him through the front door and started up the stairs. She'd have to sleep it off here before she went home. Her mum would have a fit otherwise. At least Effy's didn't really give a shit what she did anymore.

Thomas halted in the hallway, staring around him in wonder. "C'est magnifique."

She turned to look at him skeptically. "What?"

"Your house, it is amazing."

"... Thanks." Apparently, they did not agree on that point. Still, who was she to ruin his perception, right?

Didn't have long to think about that, before she caught the sounds from upstairs, and her forehead furrowed in a frown. That sounded... and her dad was at work. She knew that.

"Mum..." she called, slowly making her way up the stairs. "Mum?"

Tell-tale scuffle of panicked reclothing and the occasional curse, and she felt a sudden weight in her chest as she went to push the bedroom door open.

And that... was definitely not her dad trying hurriedly to re-button his shirt.

Having some idea, and seeing her affair with her own eyes were two very, very different things, and Effy froze in the doorway as she watched her mum try and straighten her hair and the sheet wrapped around her.

"Uh, E-Effy. I... uh, didn't expect you back this early." Obviously she didn't. "This-- You've met Steve..." Of course she had. Screwing her husband's boss. Classy.

"Pandora got sick," Effy stated after a moment, still not able to take her eyes off the scene.

"He's... been helping me. With my-my... my project?" Sure. Her project.

Thomas, completely oblivious to the awkwardness of the whole situation, just strode up to shake hands. "It is so very nice to meet you."

[[NFB for obvious distance-related reasons, and dialogue modified from Skins 3x03.]]