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

Dedication: Alaskanrain for your nice comment on the last chapter <3

Recap:

He scoops me back into his arms and I smile, loving the feel of this.

"Can we stay like this?" he asks me.

"Like what?" I ask him.

"Like this," he says, hugging me tighter. "Uncomplicated and together."

I lean back into him and smile.

"I hope so."

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

"Don't go."

"I have to."

"No," he protests with a pout, reaching for my hands. "Stay."

"I can't," I laugh with a smile. "Mum will be worried."

He makes an adorable sad face and I bite my lip. "Please?"

"I would love to. You know that," I tell him with a sigh.

He gives me a tight hug. I smile into his chest as his warm arms wrap around me. "I'll drive you home."

"That's okay. The motorbike will bring up too many questions," I tell him with a sigh.

"I want to come see your mum, anyway. I want to talk to her."

"Is that a good idea?" I ask him, chewing at my lip.

"Yep. How about I borrow a car and I'll go get her a card and flowers?" he suggests.

"You don't need to do that."

"I want to."

"Who's car are you going to borrow?" I question as he shrugs a jacket over his shoulders.

"Well, I doubt Emily will say yes, after I threw her drink at her," he rolls his eyes. "I'll ask Damon."

"Is that the scary looking guy with tattoos?"

"That's the one," he nods, pulling his converse over his feet.

I watch him fumble around his room, getting everything he needs.

He pushes his hand through his hair and grins. "Ready?"

"Yeah," I laugh, shaking my head.

I step out of Miles' room, for the first time since last night. I try not to look down and screw my nose up at the rubbish lying on the floor. We get to the kitchen, where Damon is wandering around looking exhausted, carrying a garbage bag. He swipes his arm across the bench and slowly clears away the plastic cups, empty bottles and tobacco-packaged products from the bench.

"Morning," Miles greets him.

He gives a casual wave back, his eyes sweeping over me for a moment.

"I have a favour," Miles continues with an easy going smile. "I'll give you a tenner, if you let me borrow your car?"

"I need it," he says gruffly.

"I'll be half an hour, tops." Miles insists.

"Make it twenty," he mumbles.

"Fifteen?" Miles negotiates.

"Deal."

Miles withdraws notes from his wallet and throws them at Damon. They land on the table, where Damon greedily picks them up, shoving them into his ripped-jean pockets.

"Keys?"

Damon tosses them at Miles and he catches them easily. He makes a click sound with his tongue and gives him the thumbs up, before guiding me towards the door.

When we get outside, I cup my hand over my face, to shield myself from the bright sun. Miles leads me towards a heavily modified Hilux. I make an impressed face as I climb into the passenger seat.

"Nice set of wheels," I say with my eyebrows raised.

"He's a carpenter. Needs the room for his tools," Miles explains.

The car is loud when he starts it. He lets it warm for a minute or so, before we make our way into town. I help Miles pick out the card. He makes the choice of pink and white lilies for the flowers. They look beautiful and match the card pretty well.

I find myself smiling the entire time. It feels so normal to be doing this with Miles, even though almost two years ago, he wouldn't be caught dead with me in public. It's crazy to think how much has changed with time.

"Is it weird that I'm nervous?" Miles asks me, once we're back in the car.

"Of course not."

He taps his fingers restlessly on the steering wheel. I reach out and rub his bicep gently, trying to be of some sort of comfort, while also enjoying running my fingers over his muscles.

"That feels nice," he mutters with a sheepish smile.

When we pull up to my house, the first thing I notice, is that Finn's car isn't in the driveway. I can't decide whether that's a good or bad thing. It would have been nice to get this over with, with the both of them.

"Ready?" I ask him quietly.

He nods, giving me a nervous smile. "Yeah, let's go."

I hold his hand as we walk up to the front door. I squeeze it tightly, before turning the knob. I frown when it's locked. I pull my keys out and step inside. It's unusually quiet. When mum is home, she usually has the T.V going or music. It's deadly silent.

"Mum?" I call out.

Miles and I exchange a look. I walk through the house, calling out to her. After checking all of downstairs, I take the stairs two at a time. I lightly knock and poke my head into her room.

She's lying in bed. I frown, looking down at the time. It's past 12pm. My mum is one to be up before 7am, despite it being the weekend.

"Mum?" I say loudly.

She doesn't stir.

I walk to the bed slowly. I shake her shoulder, calling out her name. When she doesn't respond, I panic, thinking she might be dead. I hurry around to the other side and my foot kicks something. I hear a bottle roll against the floor, before hitting the wall.

I stare down at the empty bottle of wine. Oh. She's passed out. I pick up the bottle, my eyes pooling with tears.

"Find her?" Miles asks, walking through the door. He pauses, his eyes flickering from mum, to the bottle in my hand.

I inhale quickly, feeling shaky. I stride past him and down the stairs. I begin furiously rummaging through the cupboards, trying to find any alcohol in the house. Anything I find, I pour down the sink, not bothering to wipe the angry tears rolling down my cheeks. I begin searching the entire house, pulling things out of cupboards, throwing things around, feeling restless.

"Isobel," Miles says in a soft tone. "Stop."

I ignore him. I continue sweeping through each room, searching relentlessly for any bottles that could be hidden anywhere.

"Is," he says firmer this time.

He grabs my arm and pulls me to him. His hold on me is tight and I know he isn't going to let me go.

I let out a sob and crumple into his body. His arms feel secure around me as he holds me to him tightly. I let myself cry, realising that my mum really has a problem. I thought things were good... I thought things were getting better...

"Come on, let's get out of here," he says quietly, rubbing his hand up my arm.

My eyes feel swollen as I nod and follow him through the house.

My eyes drift up stairs as he leads me out.

What the hell am I meant to do?

***

"Ugh," I let out a groan as Finn's phone rings out, for the fifth time in a row.

"No answer?" Miles asks quietly.

"He's mad at me, that's why he isn't answering," I sigh, shaking my head. "I think he is with Becca. I don't know where she lives."

"It'll be alright. Let's wait to hear from your brother and go from there, okay?" he suggests.

I nod, rubbing my hands up my arms. "Sorry you didn't get to say what you wanted to say."

"Always another time," he assures me and I smile.

We pull up out the front of Miles' share house, as we have to return Damon's car. We pile out and he takes my hand in his, as we walk back inside.

"Thanks," he tells him, tossing his keys onto the semi-clean table.

Damon nods, not bothering to look up at us. Miles leads me into his room. I slide out of my shoes, my face feeling puffy from crying. I crawl into his bed, trying not to sulk. Miles kicks off his shoes and joins me soon after. I lay my head on his chest and sigh.

"I'm glad I have you, Miles," I whisper.

"Me too." he agrees with a smile.

***

As I get ready for school, I can't shut my mind off.

Mum didn't leave her room yesterday and actually locked herself inside. Finn returned home after I fell asleep and was gone before I woke up. Our family hasn't felt this disjointed for a long time. It's unsettling and has my nerves frazzled.

I've attempted to hide the dark circles under my eyes with concealer, and am only semi-successful. I tie my hair back into a neat pony tail, as I have double P.E today and we're not allowed to wear our hair down.

Hitching my skirt up my hips, I shrug my coat over my shoulders and grab everything else I need for today. I find myself rushing, having forgot to set an alarm this morning. I stop to get a coffee on my way to school and because I'm late, I get a park far away from my first class. I grumble under my breath as I stomp towards school, gripping my coffee a little too tightly in my hand.

I can't find Finn before class and remember that he has his counselling session on a Monday. The morning drags by and I stay in the library for lunch, once I realised I have an assessment due on Thursday and I haven't even started.

I feel disorganised and stressed as I highlight key words of the question and begin to brain storm ideas. I can see my pen shaking in my trembling hand when I pause. The rest of the day goes much the same, until the last two periods, which is our P.E class.

I drag my feet with me as I walk beside Samara. I haven't had a chance to see Finn all day and I hardly saw Miles, either. Luckily, or not so luckily, we are all in the same gym class. I walk into the girl's change room and swap my polo for the sports tee. I rummage through my bag for my shorts.

"For fuck sake," I groan as I can't find them.

"What is it?" Samara asks as she yanks her shirt over her head.

"I left my shorts at home."

Our teacher, Mrs Price, is strict and cannot stand when one of us leave our uniform at home. A few of the girls do it on purpose, in attempt to get out of it.

"Rest in peace," she mutters as I stride out to the gym, where half the guys are already dressed and shooting hoops off in the corner.

"Mrs Price," I sigh. "I forgot my shorts."

She frowns at me. "You're still participating."

"I know. I didn't do this on purpose," I huff, trying not to show how frustrated and grumpy I am.

"I've given out most of the spare shorts already," she tells me as she sorts through what is left. "Will these fit?"

I take the shorts and scowl as it says extra small. "Going to be a tight fit."

"Should have remembered your shorts," she says in a firm voice.

I mutter under my breath the entire walk back to the change room. When I pull the skimpy shorts over my legs, I wince at the tightness of the elastic band. They're extremely short and cling to me.

"Swap?" I ask Samara in a sweet voice.

"My ass is too big for them," she snorts, before walking out.

I groan as I follow her. Bentley fox whistles at me as I walk out and my cheeks flare. I pull at my shirt, trying to get it to reach over them, but it isn't big enough. Finn looks at me disapprovingly and Miles smirks, clearly appreciating the view.

"We're playing indoor futsal today," Mrs Price announces. "But before that, we are going to run eight laps of the gym and do some other warm up exercises. Let's go."

I wish we had a substitute today.

I begin jogging with everyone else, pulling at my shorts as they keep riding up. I watch Miles run. He looks cute in his shorts. Him and Finn are leading. Alec is too distracted by Amy, a girl in my year that he has already hooked up with once. I look away from him and try to focus my thoughts into what I'm doing now.

After we complete the laps, we do a series of star jumps and other annoying exercises, making me sweat and puff. She finally lets us begin the game, making Bentley and Jai the captains.

The battle to pick the 'good' players continues and Jai finally picks me. So far on the team, includes me, Miles, Finn, Benji and Amy.

I'm surprised that Bentley chose Alec, but he is a very good player.

After everyone else is divided, Samara being on the opposing team, I get into position. The game takes off and it's highly competitive against the two teams. Miles passes the ball to me and I dodge Samara's weak attempt to get it from me. I shoot to score, but Alec blocks it and takes off. With the day I'm having, I should have expected it.

Finn gets the ball from Alec and boots it right at him, getting him in the face. As Alec didn't expect it, he topples over. Blood spurts from his nose and he covers his face, letting out a groan.

"What the hell?" he roars.

"Sorry mate," Finn says, holding out his hand.

He helps him get to his feet.

"Did you aim at me?" Alec asks him, clearly shocked, gingerly touching his face.

"Of course not," Finn says and I sigh, knowing that tone of Finn's and that things are going to get ugly from here. "I did this time, though."

He swings and punches Alec straight in the nose, which is already injured. Alec's head snaps back and he collapses to the ground with a yelp. Jai rips Finn back and I watch the outbreak between the two in horror.

"That's for lying to me," Finn spits at him. "Friend."

"Finn Collins!" Mrs Price shouts, storming over to him. "Principal's office. Now."

Everyone is confused as they watch Finn storm from the gym, his angry footsteps echoing in the almost-silent environment.

"What the hell was that about?" Jai asks me when I walk over.

"I told Finn about us," I explain and help Alec to his feet.

"Thanks for the warning," Alec snaps at me, his light brown eyes narrowing in my direction.

"Well, if you answered your God damn phone, then you would have got my warning," I bite back.

"Jai, take Alec to the nurse," Mrs Price commands, interrupting our glare match.

Jai nods and escorts Alec from the gym. I shake my head as I watch the two exit.

"Let me guess," Miles rolls his eyes. "That was about you?"

"How'd you know?" I reply in a dry voice as everyone's eyes swivel to me.

Will this day ever end?

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

Poor Alec. Do you think he deserved that reaction from Finn?

Instagram - laurenj_22

Snapchat - laurenj_22