My gaze flitters from one guy to the other, embarrassed that I was caught in such a situation in front of them. Brody's words slowly register, and I focus on him.

"What happened?" I ask, my voice still slightly shaky from the panic.

Brody pulls the phone out of his pocket, swiping on the screen before turning it to show to me. I reel back when I see my face staring back at me.

"What the hell are you doing?" Colton asks, swatting his arm down so I don't have to look at my panic-stricken face anymore.

"I was reflecting it back to her, you know like a mirror." I can't help but let out a small laugh.

"That's not how that works," Ryder tells him. Brody just shrugs, but I still don't get an answer.

"Happy Birthday," I blurt out desperately, frantically going from Ryder to Trystan when I realise that it's not an ideal way for your birthday party to start. "I'm sorry, I-" I start, cutting off when I don't know if I want to tell them. If it were any other meaning I would feel happier about opening up about it, but I don't want to bring it up, afraid that it could cause another. It was hard enough to talk to them about Sophie, but to talk about the night it happened is too much of a stretch for me.

"You don't need to apologize, Bambi," Trystan promises. "Are you OK?"

I swallow, nodding eventually when I feel I actually am. Now I'm out in the fresh air, and it's a lot quieter, the panic has lessened significantly.

Ashton squeezes the wrist he has in one of his hands. "Are you sure? We can leave-" The other guys voice their agreement, and although I'm grateful for them making sure I'm alright, I don't want to ruin their birthday party further.

"I'm fine, honestly." Ashton's gaze doesn't stray from mine for what feels like an age, but he must see that I am honestly feeling better now because he stands. Colton falls onto the seat next to me, sending me one of his signature grins that Colton wouldn't be himself without.

"Brody's got a new boyfriend," he tells me, as Brody himself sits in a chair opposite me.

"I'm just that hard to resist. He saw his chance and took it," Brody agrees, sending a wink in my direction. I glance between them, wondering what joke I'm missing. If there is a joke.

"Or you're just a delinquent. It's kind of hard to tell," Levi joins in on the conversation.

"Look, the bouncer and I have started a sordid affair, and you're just jealous he took a liking to me," Brody responds, resting his leg on the other knee. Storm sits next to Brody, and I see that he's equally confused as I am.

"Or you're a delinquent, like I said," Levi responds.

"What have I missed?" Jesse asks, placing a glass of something fizzy in front of me. I assume that it's cola.

"Brody got frisked on the way in," Trystan offers as an explanation. Ashton gives a glass each to Jesse and Storm before pulling a chair closer to where we're all sitting, and joining us.

"Excuse you, his name is Dave and we're very happy. It wasn't just a "frisk"." I don't know if that's his real name, but I let a laugh all the same.

"When's the wedding?" I ask, and Brody smiles at me.

"See, Bambi gets it. You can be my maid of honor."

My laughter dies out when I see Trystan and Ryder's mother making her way to us. Her eyes assess the group quickly with an almost cruel gaze before she calls out in her fairy-like voice for them.

"Boys," she says, placing her hands on her hips, giving a dazzling white smile that doesn't seem completely genuine. "Why are we out here and not in the party? We have guests to thank and entertain."

She turns on her heel before they can respond, calling out to an older woman standing by the doors to the apartment in greeting. Trystan tells me they'll do it later when I ask if they should follow.

Chatter starts up again in our group, and soon we're laughing again, but every time we do, it's like their mother has a sixth sense. She'll come over to either introduce someone to Ryder and Trystan or to hassle them about socialising. Ryder and Trystan will always be polite but never move from their positions, appearing increasingly haggard and annoyed as the night goes on.Ten visits later from their mum, with an increasingly frosty glare aimed at me, their father turns up with another man.

"Ryder," he calls his loud voice making me shrink back into the sofa, hoping to not catch his gaze.

"This is Mr. Hamilton, a client." Their father gives Ryder a significant look, and whatever it means has Ryder standing and extending a hand to Mr. Hamilton with one of his insincere smiles on his face. I know when it's genuine, I've seen it, but throughout the night and people his mother's brought over both of their smiles have been forced. If I didn't know them, I would have believed it.

"Nice to meet you, Sir." I glance at Tristan, wondering if he's next, but his father seems happy to just talk to Ryder, and Trystan isn't complaining either.

"Rykkard," the man responds. I give him a quick once over and recognise him to be the epitome of a rich Californian. Blonde hair, deeply tanned skin, and pristine clothing. He also seems older than he looks, and I put that down to plastic surgery. "You don't attend Woodcreek Academy with my daughter?" If they had gone to a different school, I would never have met them. Even though I would never have known them in the first place to miss, the thought does sting slightly.

"No, Sir." His dad murmurs to Mr. Hamilton something about public school, delusion, and poor people, and I clench my fist into the fabric at his views. I am in wonder at Ryder and Trystan being the way they are, with the parents that they have.

Ryder's smile gets tighter around the edges but he continues to put on the show.

"You should meet her, she's around here somewhere," Mr. Hamilton says turning back to Ryder, whose smile gets even tighter at the prospect. "You never know, maybe she'll be able to persuade you to attend Woodcreek." Mr. Hamilton shares a laugh with Ryder's father before they leave. Ryder groans as he sits down, resting his head back against the sofa back. It doesn't stay calm for long before their mother replaces their father.

She has an older woman with her, being trailed by a girl our age. Seeing the girl in her designer dress, and made up perfectly, has me looking down at my dress despondently. I really do wish I had better clothing for the party now. She talks to Trystan, introducing the woman and the girl as friends from when they were young. It's obvious Trystan has no idea who they are, but he's polite all the same. For the rest of us, it's not exactly comfortable sitting here while it's going on.

Trystan's mother suggests that the girl and he get to know each other, sending a disapproving look in my direction, although I did nothing, and disappears with the girl's mother.

The girl must feel as awkward as we all do and doesn't stay long, just long enough to say a quick 'hi' before moving away to try and look for her friends.

It continues like this, with some girls staying longer and fawning over Trystan, while others look disinterested, and it doesn't take me long at all to realise that the mother is trying to set up with Trystan with a girl, while Ryder is left alone. The thought sits sour in my stomach. I don't want this for Trystan. He should be able to live his life and choose his partner how he sees fit. The fact this is how his birthday party is going doesn't go unnoticed either, and it makes the thought even sourer.

We try and hold a conversation, but with all the interruptions, we can't for long. We're sitting in silence as an enthusiastic girl sitting on an uncomfortable Trystan's lap, chats away about anything and everything. I stare down into my empty glass in front of me, uncomfortable but not wanting to leave Ryder and Trystan to suffer through this alone.

Eventually, Trystan manages to get the girl off his lap, promising her that he'll find her later. The girl leaves giggling, and Trystan turns to us.

"I can't do this anymore," he pleads, and all I want to do is give him a big hug. The same sentiment goes around the group, and it ends with Ryder who tells us he can't leave.

"Dad's been banging on about this deal for weeks, and I can't leave until I meet Mr. Hamilton's daughter, or he'll make my life hell. I'll never hear the end of it." The others look willing to ditch him, but I don't feel happy doing so. It's his birthday after all. The others begin to stand, ready to get out of here, and I'd be the same if I didn't want to leave Ryder. They gather up their jackets and drink glasses, even Trystan, but I stay sitting.

"Bambs?" Brody asks turning to me.

"I'll stay with Ryder," I tell them.

"Bambi, you don't have to," Ryder responds.

"It's your birthday, I don't want you to be alone."

"Our birthday's tomorrow, but I appreciate the thought. I'll be alright, go with Ashton, he'll be able to take you home. I don't know how long I'll be here."

"I'll wait. It's fine," I respond, crossing my arms, hoping to portray that I won't be moving anytime soon.

"Bambi."

"Ryder." I counter, mimicking getting comfortable, slumping down the chair further. He stares at me, and I stare right back at him. I know what it's like to be alone on your birthday, even if it isn't the day of his birthday.

He stares at me, and I return it full force, until he groans and stands. "Let's go."

"What about your dad?" I ask, standing slowly.

"I'll find her on the way out, quickly talk to her and then leave." Jesse takes my empty glass from me and tells us he'll meet us at the lift, following Ryder inside.

Hi Guys! Sorry for the late reply. A lot's been going on over the last couple of weeks, but things are calming back down, so I'm able to return to the schedule.

What did you think?

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CC ;)

p.s. there are kids outside my house right now playing music loudly causing me to have a headache! Yay me!