Now I can't be the only one to notice the suffocating tension in the last episode, so I decided to explore it.

Here we have an AU continuation of the end of Series 8, Episode 18.

Volatile

She was trying to convince herself that her hand was trembling because of the cold. Her whole body was shivering slightly as she slid her key into the lock. There was a strong gale battering the coast and was set to continue for the rest of the week. But it was so much more than that. She had felt eyes on her all the way along the solitary walk to her home, but reasoned that it was just delayed nerves from the drama of the day.

Unbidden images flashed behind her eyes. There was Kacey's face, streaked with inky tears; her screaming piercing the thick glass of the PRU; the manic look in Barry's eyes as he turned to look at her. Was she wrong in hoping that she had seen the barest flicker of regret? He hadn't paused for anyone else... yet he carried on nonetheless.

She understood how Tom felt; he wasn't the only one being emotionally drained at the hands of a Barry.

Even after the elder sibling's little display in the cooler she still couldn't be sure. He looked as though his entire world had been turned on its head, taking him with it. She couldn't fathom how his love for Kacey had dissolved into hatred so easily, by something she couldn't help. Kacey meant more to him than the rest of his family, perhaps combined, but that didn't excuse his appalling treatment of his little sister. Not to mention Sian. She could still feel him towering over her, his gaze physically pushing her down. She didn't know why he had such an effect on her. No other student had before.

She hitched her bag on her arm to keep from dropping it, and was about to enter into the warmth when something in her peripheral vision made her stop cold. Every fibre in her body tensed. Gathering up the courage she had failed to muster before, she faced him head on with the wind whipping at her hair.

Buttoned up to the collar and glaring at her.

Barry.

Please review and let me know if you enjoyed this (or not :P) and if I should continue.

Thank you :)