Right I have no idea where this story came from, but my muse wants me to write it right now. I just want to see if you lot like it before I start to write the rest of it.

It's extremely AU about when Harry and Nikki were in their teenage years. They are both fifteen/sixteen at the beginning and I have no idea where this story is going to go to be honest. Both Harry and Nikki will probably be out of character by miles but I don't know how to write them as teenagers, so...yeah. Harry and Nikki are the same age, ish, in this fic just to make it easier for me and they go to the same school. So it's very AU of course, I just wanted to see where my muse took me with this one.

xxx

Nikki hated school. She hated the teachers. She hated the pupils. She hated where she lived. She wanted her mother back and she wanted to go back home to South Africa. She knew she couldn't though. Her mother was dead, she wasn't coming back and she had to live with her useless waste of space father who didn't seem to realise that he had a daughter. The fifteen year old blonde sighed and scooted back a bit on the swing she was sitting on, continuing to stare at the ground.

"Well look who it is" a voice from behind her said and Nikki couldn't help but flinch "Nikki Alexander"

Nikki forced back the tears that smarted her eyes, she refused to let the group see her being weak. They already teased her enough.

"Got any more A grades lately freak?" one of the girls shouted and Nikki wanted nothing more than to run away and hide from everything, get away from the god-awful place that she had been made to live in. "Only geeks with no lives get A grades as easily as you"

"Leave me alone" Nikki told them, regretting it instantly when her strong South African accent tumbled from her lips. She turned her head and looked through the middle of the swing to look at the group behind her, the uneasy feeling returning as she saw them properly. She felt physically sick and she wanted her mother more than ever. She was so alone and she didn't know what to do.

"Although you won't deny that she's pretty hot" one of the boys commented and Nikki wanted nothing more than to kick him in the balls to shut him up, put those karate lessons that she had been having to good use. "I wouldn't mind having a go with her" he took a step forward and at once Nikki felt more scared of them than she had ever felt in the five months of, unfortunately, knowing them. "I bet the little prude won't let me anywhere near her though"

"You're right, I wouldn't" Nikki snapped at him, standing up from the swing and walking away from them. She heard quick footsteps behind her and then a strong grip on her arm. She spun around with a terrified gasp and saw the older boy leering at her.

"Hey, leave her alone"

A loud male voice behind her made her turn her head and she saw another boy about her age making his way towards them, glaring furiously at the group. He took her other arm gently in his hand and pulled her away from the other boy.

"Leave her alone" he told him slowly "Do I have to say it any slower so you understand me?"

"Leave them alone" one of the other boys called out to them from a distance "They're both not worth it"

"See you at school on Monday Nikki" the boy leered at her before turning and walking back to his group of friends who walked off, laughing amongst themselves.

"Thanks" Nikki murmured to the boy, recognising him from her biology class. "But I was fine"

"Yeah you looked it" the boy told her as Nikki turned and walked off down the path in the opposite direction to the large group who were obviously headed off into town to look for more trouble.

"I said I was fine" Nikki snapped, whirling around to face him and moving her loose blonde hair away from her face and hitching her school bag onto her shoulder. "Leave me alone"

"Not until I know you're alright" he said softly and Nikki shook her head.

"I'm always alright" Nikki whispered sadly, bowing her head and shrugging "Thanks anyway"

"You're Nikki, right?"

"Yes" Nikki sighed, knowing that she wouldn't be getting rid of him anytime soon "Nicola Alexander, the new girl"

"You're in my biology" he nodded "Sorry. Harry Cunningham" he held out his hand to her and smiled kindly. "Nice to meet you, well, nice to be your knight in shining armour from that bunch"

Nikki couldn't help but giggle as she shook his hand.

"A bit full of yourself aren't you?" she chuckled, Harry's bright green eyes boring into her deep brown ones. She felt herself blushing slightly and looked away. "Sorry, I should be getting home"

"Would you...I mean.." Harry started and Nikki turned her head to look at him as he reached up and rubbed his nose, obviously nervous as he ran his hand through his floppy brown hair. Nikki felt herself blushing again and wondered what the hell was wrong with her, she'd only just met the guy. Sure she had been in the same class as him for six months but they hadn't even spoken before now, she hadn't even taken any notice of him. 'and his gorgeous eyes' her mind added 'Shut up' the other half hissed as he started to talk again. "For the biology project would you..you know..."

"No I don't, I'm not psychic"

"Fine, would you be my partner in the biology project?" Harry sighed "I mean there are lots of girls in the class who would want to work with me but..." he trailed off as Nikki raised an eyebrow at him.

"You're using humour to hide your embarrassment" she stated and turned around, starting to walk down the path again. She didn't want him messing with her like everyone else did, she wanted to get the next four years of her school life over and done with as quickly and as quietly as possible.

"Nikki please, I didn't mean..." Harry jogged to catch up with her. "I thought you might.."

"You thought I might want to partner up with you because I have no other friends" Nikki snapped, her accent more prominent than ever as she spoke.

"No, I didn't mean that I'm sorry" Harry spoke quickly, his eyes full of confusion "Think about it?"

"Why would you want me? As you said there are lots of people in the class who would want to pair with you"

"Because..well..you're good at biology?" Harry suggested and Nikki tutted, pushing away from him and shaking her head.

"Try harder" she muttered, walking down the path. She knew he wasn't following her and for that she was glad.

"Niks I'm going out" her father told her as he walked into the living room to see Nikki sitting with a book on her lap, reading intently.

"Right. When will you be back?"

"Not until tomorrow"

So it was one of those nights. Nikki sighed and nodded, giving her father a small smile as he leant down and kissed the top of her head.

"Bye princess"

"Bye" Nikki murmured, waiting to hear the door close before she turned back to her book, trying to forget about everything in her life. She had the entire weekend to waste now, no-doubt her father would come home for a few hours just to show that he was actually still alive and then go out again to god knows where to waste their money. Nikki felt her eyes fill with tears. She wanted to go home to South Africa, she had friends there, people who liked her, people who loved her, a place where she actually fitted in properly. The tears dribbled down her cheeks and she placed her hands over her face, sobbing loudly as everything crashed down onto her.

The next day she was up at seven. She had a nice long refreshing shower, ignored her stomach's need for breakfast and was out of the house by half past eight.

"Hello again"

"Oh God" Nikki sighed as she turned away from her book to see Harry Cunningham smiling at her as he sat on the opposite end of the bench from her. "Don't you have any friends?"

"Don't you?"

Nikki slammed her book closed and shoved it in her bag as she stood up.

"I'm sorry" Harry apologised, jumping up and placing his hand on her arm "I'm sorry I shouldn't have said that. My brain and mouth don't really..."

"Correspond?" Nikki found herself giggling and Harry chuckled and nodded.

"You could say that. I'm sorry"

"Stop apologising"

"Sor..what are you doing here?" Harry changed the subject and let go of Nikki's arm.

"Reading" Nikki replied slowly, wondering why the older boy was interested in what she was doing. "What are you doing here?"

"Walking"

"Right" Nikki drew out the word and looked at Harry incredulously. He just shrugged. "Aren't you spending the weekend with your family or something?"

"Well mum's away for the weekend and dad..." he trailed off and shrugged, rubbing the side of his nose. "What about your family?"

"What family?" Nikki muttered bitterly as she turned and walked away from him.

So should I continue or not? As I said, this just popped into my mind and refused to leave.

xxx