-----------------------

Dedication: Blowmeakiss for the awesome cover! Thank you!

Recap:

I turn my head so that my right cheek is pressed against his chest. I let him hug me, as I try to pull myself together. He rubbed my back soothingly. I blink wearily as I see Miles appear at the end of the hallway. He took in the sight of me, in Alec's arms.

A look of pure fury passed his face as he turned his back to me, walking away.

I should have known not to get anywhere near Miles again.

He's bad news.

-----------------------

I sit in bed, my legs folded beneath me as I continue to binge-watch Netflix, a jar of Nutella perched in my hands.

"Why did you leave school?" Finn bursts through my door, placing his hands on his hips, looking down his nose at me.

I pause my show, flicking my eyes to his. I lick my spoon clean as I shrug.

"Felt sick."

"Bullshit. Something happened with Bentley, didn't it? Or Miles? Since when are there so many guys in your life?"

"Breathe before you give yourself a hernia." I laugh, quirking an eyebrow at him. "And no, I'm allowed to feel like shit sometimes and skip school."

"Physically or mentally?" he asks me skeptically.

"Bit of both, I guess." It is half true.

He sits on the end of the bed, watching me. "What's wrong?"

"I can't talk to you about it," I admit honestly. "You won't get it."

"Try me."

I let out a sigh. "It's about Miles."

"Here we go," he replies, throwing his hands up in the air. "What now?"

I let out an annoyed groan. "See? I feel like I can't talk to you about anything anymore. You don't understand or even try to."

His face transforms into a look of hurt, straight away. "Ouch."

"Sorry, I'm being honest."

He raises his eyebrows. "Okay, fine. Tell me."

"Don't interrupt and get all pissy."

"I'll try not to," he frowns, not appreciating my choice of words.

"Miles was talking to Ashley - Dr Byrnes - this morning. She told me, off the grid, that he's going through a really hard time and then I found out his mum overdosed. That's why he moved back here." I inhale quickly. "Finn, she died."

He looked at me, perplexed. "Serious?"

"Yeah."

"Fuck. I had no idea."

"Me either," I sigh, taking my bottom lip in between my teeth. "I'm not saying we should jump in and forgive him, but he's going through some stuff and honestly, he doesn't have the close family around him, like we do."

He leans forward so that his forearms rested on his thighs. He rubs his hands roughly across his face.

"Alright. I'll try to back off."

"Okay," I say weakly.

"You're not, like, falling for him again, are you?"

"No," I murmur softly. "I don't ever want to be involved with him again."

"Good. He will only hurt you."

"I know."

"I saw his dad the other day, when I was down town with The Boys. He was with some woman. It looked like they were together." he says after a few moments.

"Really? That's good. Isn't it?"

"Mm," he mumbles, looking like he is deep in thought. "Anything else you wanna' talk about?"

As he meets my eyes, I find myself shrinking back into my pillows, trying to figure out whether his tone is accusing or not.

"I don't think so."

His eyes stay on mine for a few moments, before he finally looks away, nodding. "Okay, cool. I'm going out tonight."

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going out with Becca, we're going to the movies."

"The owner of the bra I found in your car?" I ask. "I thought she wasn't 'getting a piece of this', again?"

"No, that was Tiana. Keep up." he replies with a devilish grin.

"It's hard to!" I protest. "Is she the blonde girl you were with at Wesley's?"

"That's the one."

"I thought you were a 'casual' guy?" I ask, quoting him. "You don't usually take your hook up out on a date."

"She's hot and I'm bored."

"I call bullshit," I announce, pointing my spoon at him. "You like her."

"Do not!"

"Do so!" I argue back, grinning triumphly.

"Whatever helps you sleep at night, baby sister."

"I'm not your baby sister," I say with an eye roll, annoyed at that he always calls me that, when he's literally only minutes older.

He grins again, flashing his perfectly white, straight teeth. "Alec is coming over later to grab my football. If he plays the Xbox, can you make sure he doesn't mess with my profile again?"

I try not to perk up at the mention of Alec. "I can try, no promises."

With a salute, he exits my room and I press play. I sink into my bed, hugging my pillow to my chest. I hardly focus on the T.V as my mind keeps wandering back to the scene with Miles today.

He looked so tortured and heartbroken, but at the same time, dished out some razor-sharp insults at me, when I mentioned that night. He admitted that he knew I was waiting but didn't care while he had sex with another girl.

I'm so confused with his intentions and what he wants from me.

It almost made it seem like he wanted to date me...? Or at least give "us", a second chance? The Miles Carter I once knew, never dated.

Shaking my head as if to clear my thoughts, I refuse to think about it any longer.

Sometime later, Finn walks through my room.

"Do these jeans make me look gay?"

With a sigh, I pause my show and peer up at him. "What?"

"Do they?" he demands, peering down at them, moving his knee in a rotating circle.

I look down to his jeans and noticing they look identical to the ones Miles had on today. They are black, tight-fitting jeans, with the knees intentionally ripped.

"No, I like those jeans." I told him with a smirk. "Can you let me borrow them some time?"

"Fuck you," he groans, throwing my school shirt at me.

I snort with laughter, swatting the shirt away. "They look fine. They're trendy and they look good with your sweater. Are you only wearing them because Miles did?"

"No, of course not," he scoffs and I can tell he is lying. Finn and Miles used to be very similar with their style. From behind, if it weren't for their different hair colours, they would have been identical.

Miles did look very good in them today.

Finn has a grey, baggy sweater on with the logo Tommy Hilfiger. He looks quite nice. His skin is clear and clean-shaven, his dark hair actually neat for once.

"Wait, are you actually trying to look good? Is this an actual date?"

"No," he argues a little too quickly. "I was just wondering."

I grin. "Uh huh."

"Shut up," he mutters, striding back out of my room, slamming the door shut.

I vaguely hear mum yell up the stairs, something about no slamming doors. I get to my feet and stretch, before trotting down the stairs.

"I ordered some fish and chips, because it's only us two. I can't be bothered cooking," mum shrugs.

"Okay, cool."

"Are you feeling any better?" she asks me, a look of concern on her face.

"Yeah, a bit."

"I'm going," Finn calls, jogging down the stairs. I can smell his cologne and I give him a thumbs up.

"You smell good."

"I always smell good."

I turn to mum. "He's trying to impress his date."

"Date?" my mum echoes incredulously.

"Isobel!" Finn growls and I giggle as mum goes over to him starts fluffing over his appearance, asking him a series of questions. He sends me a look of death over her head and I smile innocently, waltzing over to the fridge.

He finally gets away from her and bolts to the door, hardly saying bye as he does.

"My little babies' are growing up so fast," she sighs deeply, coming towards me.

I push her away gently as she tries to hug me and she laughs. I give in and she wraps her arms around me.

"I love you."

"I love you, too, Ma."

"Aw, family hug? I want in!" Suddenly, two big arms are wrapped as both.

I squeak at the sudden constriction and laugh when Alec's big smile is in front of my face. He steps back.

"Hello Alec, my other son," mum jokes.

"Hi mum!"

"What's happening?" she asks him.

"I'm coming over to steal Finn's football," he explains, giving her his charming smile.

"Do you want to stay for dinner? I've ordered fish and chips."

"You know me, I can't say no to free food."

We both roll our eyes, knowing that's true. She shouldn't have bothered to ask.

"Do you know where he's hidden it?" Alec asks me and I know it's just an excuse to get me to go upstairs with him, without drawing attention.

"I'll take a wild guess and say it's under his bed," I say, turning, making my way to the stairs.

Once we're inside his room, I go to grab the football, when Alec shoves me onto Finn's bed. I let out a squeal of surprise, hoping mum didn't hear it, as he belly flops onto me. He flips me onto my back, grinning.

"Hi."

"Hi," I laugh, shoving him playfully.

"How are you? You were a mess at school today."

"I'm fine," I say, attempting to give him a convincing smile. "Thanks for that, by the way. I shouldn't have done that."

"Hot, crying girl pressed against me? I didn't mind," he teases, leaning down to tuck a piece of my hair behind my ear, much like Bentley did to me the other day. I cringe at the thought.

"Alec, we shouldn't," I say to him, dropping my eyes to his soft, inviting lips. "I hate lying to Finn and last time, with Miles..."

Gently, he lowers himself onto me, kissing me. I discontinue my sentence, letting his lips claim dominance over mine. I loop my arms round his neck as he grip my sides, his warm tongue brushing mine.

It then occurred to me that I've been self-indulging Nutella all afternoon and my breath probably reeks.

He doesn't seem to mind as the kiss deepens. Alec's hand slide up my stomach, his fingers tightly encircling my right breast. He squeezes it, a little roughly, and I let out a soft moan, my cheeks burning at the gesture.

He breaks away from my lips, sending a series of sloppy kisses down my neck, much like he did the last time we made out. My mind is screaming that this is wrong, this is Finn's best friend and we're on his bed.

I then realised, when I closed my eyes, I am imagining it is Miles I was with. Again. My body feels cold at the thought. I wanted to shove Alec off me suddenly, but I didn't want to make things awkward.

His fingers tug at my cardigan, kissing my exposed skin underneath. His tongue begins to make circular patterns on my shoulder, when I hear the front door shut.

"Dinner's here!" mum calls, breaking Alec from his trance and I send out a silent thank you to the universe. I mean, I thoroughly enjoy having Alec make out with me, but I feel wrong, picturing he is someone else. And thinking of Miles, after today especially, is a bit of a mood killer.

He rolls back onto his elbow, offering me a goofy, lope-sided smile. "Thank God, I'm so hungry, I was about to eat you."

My cheeks flame even more than they already are as he stands casually, extending his hand. I let him pull me to my feet, as I follow him out to the hallway. As we get to the stairs, he drops my hand. I dart to the bathroom, smoothing over my hair. My face is flushed.

As I walk into the kitchen a few moments later, Alec is already seated at the table, chatting to mum. I pull out my phone and quickly text Samara, asking her for her help.

These boys are going to get me into some serious trouble.

--------------------------

Thoughts? ;)