“Knock, knock.”

I looked up startled from my computer desk “Oh, hey. What’s up?” I asked surprised to see Eli poking his head around my doorway.

Eli shrugged carelessly “Do you know where your brother is?”

I pursed my lips “Hmm Saturday night where would my brother be?” I thought out loud with a teasing smile “I’m going to take a guess and think Mel’s, I did see him leave with a whole bunch of action films, Transformers movies if I recall.”

Eli gasped in mock surprise “That bastards cheating on me!”

I giggled “With Mel? Who would have known?” I gasped in mock horror.

Eli chuckled as he opened the door and walked right in and dragging one of my funky stools over and placing it behind me as he sat down behind me and looking over my shoulder. “Anyways, what cha doin’?”

I smiled fighting back the shiver and squirm as his warm breath tickled the back of my neck because he was sitting that close “Nothing, just editing some photos.” I murmured suddenly shy of having him in my room – though it certainly wasn’t the first time – and him sitting so close and looking at my work, judging.

Eli rested his chin on my shoulder looking over “Awesome.” He murmured the movement of him speaking tickling and massaging my shoulder making me smile and wiggle which he realized “Is someone ticklish?” he murmured prodding me in the side causing me to jump and squeal.

“D-don’t!” I protested as he prodded me again as he chuckled “Don’t!” I squealed wiggling about madly as he continued to prod and tickle me “I’ll do anything! Anything!” I bargained.

Eli chuckled stopping on a sigh “Anything?”

“Anything.” I agreed.

“Well how about helping me prove to Liam that I don’t need him by me and you and a movie?” he suggested making me giggle.

That’s how I ended up spending the afternoon sharing my double bed with Li watching movies all afternoon until we both fell asleep.

                               ೋღ♥ ღೋ ೋღ♥ ღೋ ೋღ♥ ღೋ ೋღ♥ ღೋ ೋღ♥ ღೋ ೋღ♥ ღೋ

“Illegal drugs are drugs which have been controlled by the government and are illegal in certain situations (a person is not allowed to have them). A drug is any chemical which affects the way the human body works.”

My stomach churned as I stared numbly at my laptop’s screen the next morning my mind relaying over and over again the things I was finding on the internet. All I could think about last night how all my answers to what had happened to the sweet boy Jed I had fallen in love could all be hidden in the depths of those color pills and capsules I found in his pants pocket last night. This morning I had woken up trying to find a reasonable and reassuring explanation to those pills, hoping that there’d be some legal drug for medicine that would make the sickening feeling within go away.

Deep down though I knew better.

I had searched as much as possible but it was impossible to know what was what seeing since I was practically walking in like a blind man, I had never been around or involved in drugs the closet things being caffeine, alcohol and aspirin. There were so many things I didn’t know and typing it into Google was strange enough let alone seeing all these chemical names and other words that I didn’t know. I don’t think I had ever used a dictionary so much in my life. By the end of it though I was just as lost as when I started, there were many drugs that came in pill and capsule form and many come in different forms. It was all so confusing and my head was swirling as I continued to scroll through the site.

“A pill's design is a combination of: the shape , the pattern (two-toned, banded, speckled or others), the color(s), identifiers or imprints include numbers, names and letters, and sometimes a logo – through these designs you can identify what drugs it is you have seen.”

I chewed on my bottom lip nervously, as I thought back to the pills and capsules of many colors, pinks and blues, yellows and greens not to mention the random little squiggles and other things I couldn’t read to well on the pills, not to mention it was a sweet smelling drug, it smelt like candy or junk food.

Hours and minutes passed by as I clicked and typed countless things into the search engine searching for what this drug could possibly be. I sat there for hours typing in every drug I knew and trying to find what drug came in pill form and all these pretty nasty colors. I was finding utterly nothing until I came across a website page on meth and instantly my stomach plunged further when I read the descriptions of it.

“Please tell me you’re doing an assignment.”

I jumped with a yelp, swinging around on my wheelie chair to see Mel casually sitting on the end of my bed and watching me with a bemused smile “Gosh,” I gasped through a pounding heart “you scared the crap out of me.”

Mel smiled softly at me “How are you doing sweetie?” she murmured softly, her eyes soft with that hint of worry that instantly had me feeling queasy.

I shrugged slightly “I’m just over it.”

Mel nodded with a sympathetic glance “Me too.”

I sighed softly running my fingers through my hair “Let’s just go out for lunch and we can talk than without prying eyes.” I murmured giving her a pointed look as I looked across the hall at Liam’s bedroom door before mouthing to her ‘where is he?’

Mel shrugged at me, a glint in her eyes telling me she was thinking of something that made her giddy with excitement which just reminded me that she had been out on a date with my brother last night. My thoughts between that was utterly scrambled, I couldn’t deny it was weird picturing my best friend and my twin brother dating and all in love, not to mention how awkward it could get if they’re fighting or they split up, I mean how do you take sides? But than seeing them together and how utterly adorable they could be together – even though right now they weren’t even dating yet they still looked adorable. Seeing them together they looked just utterly adorable and all that weirdness just disappears.

Mel shrugged in reply as she stood up “Let’s go, I’m hungry.” She declared grabbing her handbag.

I scrambled for my own shoes and handbag hastily “Is it really lunch time already? I can’t believe its lunch time already.” I said once grabbing my stuff and heading downstairs.

“You know you’re not making my stomach any happier talking about all of this lunch.” Mel grumbled as we reached the front door making me laugh as we stepped outside.

***

“So let me get this right,” Mel began sitting across from me at a quiet café as we munched over some food and I had gotten her up to date with all that had happened after seeing her at school yesterday “you get to the party ready to fuck some shit up” I couldn’t help but giggle at that “and you go all ninja and delete the video and this is meant to be the best moment of our lives and you find the dick cheating on you?”

“I can’t believe how naive and stupid I had been, he said right to my face that he wasn’t cheating and he made me feel so bad and then all this time he’d been cheating, before he lied to my face and even after he lied to me.” I cried in anger mainly at myself “How could I be so stupid? I mean what’s wrong with me?”

Mel smiled sadly, her smile of sympathy “Maybe it’s because you always want to see the best in everyone?” she asked.

I shrugged “I don’t know, I mean I should be happy you know? We deleted the video no more bribery and I don’t have to stay with the douche – I’m free of all of this drama.” I vented “So why on earth was I so upset that I was crying like the biggest fool in the gutter in the middle of the night? What on earth is seriously wrong with me?”

Mel reached over the table, squeezing my hand gently “Once upon a time honey you loved that boy, hell the little girly dreamer within you – that I admit can hate at times – used to believe there’d be some happily ever after. You know the popular bad boy and the quiet shy nerd falling in love? Hell they make movies about that shit!” An old lady walking by overheard and I grimaced offering her an apologetic smile blushing as I watched Mel chew on her bottom lip guilty.

I moaned miserably, hearing those words come from Mel’s mouth of me made me realize how utterly stupid and young I sounded. It made me sound like one of those thirteen year old girls that thought they were in love with their “boyfriend” after dating for an hour. Or all those naive and pathetic girls that gushed over boy bands and screamed and squealed. I hated those people, those people I mocked and I used wonder what went through their minds. But now hearing what Mel recalled of what I used to think and act I couldn’t help but be so disappointed in myself also, I sounded so immature. I was so immature, hell I was only seventeen and I had those thoughts racing through my head. The more I thought of my actions in the past, even now in regards to Jed and how I dealt with things I realized how stupid I was, how immature I was.

I had a lot of growing up to do and maybe that’s why I had done all those things the hard way, the sneaky and stubborn way. Maybe that’s why I hadn’t asked for help or gone to the police, when I had realized how stupid I had been after hearing the first time before that party that Jed had been cheating – before the party and everything else that happened. Maybe I wanted to prove to myself I wasn’t a weak girl that relied and gushed over boys but rather was independent, strong and wasn’t five years old.

The only question was, had all that effort proved anything for myself?

I mulled the question over as Mel began to complain and bitch about the elderly lady’s filthy look and then Jed and than even the male population. I had to admit I did feel better having somewhat given him a bit of his own medicine by doing it myself. It was like when you are in argument or being bullied by someone and it feels ten times better when you stand up for yourself than how you feel when you go and tell on them to your teacher and then you get mocked for being a tattle tale. Doing this – as Mel specifically said with my ninja skills – I had to admit gave me a great sense of achievement, it was just dampened by all the other drama like breaking Eli’s heart, Jed’s verbal and even physical abuse which scared me into oblivion and then of course him destroying that last ounce of faith and love I had in him to find him lying, cheating and maybe even taking drugs.

The thought of Jed hitting me and abusing me had me unnerved, I had dealt with it and was so absolutely petrified of that and the next second he was all sweet and loving towards me, he was bipolar and suddenly those capsules had the answers I was looking for. That last thread of me had held onto him hoping that he was just going through something big and knowing that he had never been like that before, than he had become his monster. Looking back on it now it had me scared and freaked out and yet it felt like another lifetime, all of this felt like another life and I think that’s what unnerved me before. I mean, why wasn’t I freaking out? Why wasn’t I having nightmares?

Because you know that if anything when too far you had Eli, no matter what the little voice in the back of my head noted honestly.

I shook the thought away not wanting to dwell on the past at all anymore, only the now. I had to deal with all these conflicting emotions within me and sort myself out before I could move forward and the first thing I would do once I had figured it all out was find Eli and set things right. I didn’t honestly know what I was going to do next with anything, what I was going to do about Jed because I knew it wasn’t like I was never going to run into him ever. I also knew that if I went up to Eli and explained everything and the truth that as Mel loves to put it, shit was going to hit the fan.

The more I thought about it the more anxious and sick I felt, I didn’t know what to do and that’s exactly why I turned anxiously towards Mel “What am I going to do?” I demanded suddenly to her cutting her off mid rant.

“What?” she frowned utterly confused and startled with big wide eyes.

I ran my fingers through my hair wanting to honestly just cry and throw a tantrum “What am I going to do? I mean what happens now?”

Mel nodded understanding as she smiled miserably “I don’t know Ez, I mean I’m not even happy with what’s happened.” She admitted softly “I mean I can’t believe I actually let you go ahead with that, the thought of him hurting you and not doing anything except stay with him and telling nobody well I honestly hate myself because of it, I despise myself.” She said her voice so raw and honest as her face contorted in pain that I wanted to honestly hug her to death.

So that’s what I did, standing up I sat myself down on her side of the table of the booth and hugged her tight “Hey, don’t you ever, I mean ever blame yourself for what has happened.” I murmured with utter conviction as I looked her right in the eyes “Look, I didn’t tell you what had happened ‘till yesterday I mean by than it was too late and I had a plan in motion. I chose to do it this way and I can admit I practically forced you to agree to this.”

Mel nodded “Still Ez, I mean what are we going to do now?” she asked “And Jed’s not even punishing at all for what he’s done! I mean he hit you, lied to you, cheated on you and not to mention blackmailed you and he gets to just walk away?” she demanded.

I looked up at the ceiling unable but to think similar things “I know Mel, really I know. I mean I want to hurt him, punch him or something but every option just frightens me….” I admitted trailing off “I mean we tell the police and it will become somewhat public and it’s a small town so news will spread and I can’t deal with that, I mean we’d both have to tell the police not to mention our parents about the video, the blackmailing, the cheating and abuse and everything. It’s just so….embarrassing!” I cried in protest.

Mel nodded “I know, I know. I feel the same way.” She agreed as we just sat leaning against each other as if to share the weight and strength “But then I want to do something, bash him maybe. It’s moments like these I wish I was a ninja more than anything.”

I laughed softly under my breath “Me too.” I sighed “I mean we could tell the boys but….”

“God that would be awful.” Mel groaned in instant protest like me.

“Exactly.” I agreed with a sigh “It’d be ugly too.”

Mel nodded “Look I….I don’t know what we should do. I guess we’ve just got to wait and see what Jed and Falan do next; I mean they have nothing against us except just the other way around though we have no legit hardcore evidence.” She thought out loud “But it doesn’t matter, it’s not like they can do anything with others around and the chances of them being at school is so slim.” She snorted “But if we do it’s not like we’re going to be alone in the dark alley let alone with them and if things get so extreme and worrying than we’ll tell someone.”

I nodded “That sounds good, I like it.”

“So it’s a deal?” she asked looking at me and holding out her hand.

“Deal.” I agreed shaking her hand.

Mel sighed relieved “Good, that’s one thing dealt with.”

I nodded sliding back into my seat wanting to clear the heavy air and get back into talking about something light and fun, natural rather than full of the drama we’ve dealt with. I smiled knowing just the thing as I wiggled my eyebrows at her “So, how was your date last night?” I taunted.

Mel blushed brightly making my grin grow as she shrugged “It was alright.”

“Alright?” I challenged “Excuse me but I was hoping for more than alright. I mean sure he is my brother but I did have more expectations for the loser.”

Mel laughed lightly “Look it was nice, I don’t know what you want me to say? It’s weird talking to you about this; I mean he’s your twin brother.”

I waved her off “It’s not weird at all; I mean what did you get up to? Where did you go? What did you talk about? What did you eat? When did you get home?” I fired off.

Mel laughed “Calm down junior.” She teased “Look he picked me up and he took me to play mini golf.”

I leant forward eagerly “Awww, see he does have hope after all.” I cooed.

Mel smiled “Than we went to a twenty four hour diner and we had some burgers and stuff.”

I smiled “Really?”

Mel laughed softly “Yes really, look I know it isn’t your vision of a perfect date, none of that romance and all that girly crap. But I mean it was really fun and nice but simple.”

I nodded “I get you, I mean he did something that you’d enjoy and it’d be fun. I mean I can imagine you two doing that and it being a blast, on the other hand I can’t imagine you going to a fancy restaurant with flowers and fancy music.” I smiled softly at the image of Mel there, the first thing she’d probably do was complain about there being no burgers.

“Yeah, it was me and I think that’s why I liked it so much more, I mean it was just more proof that your brother really just knows me.” she admitted softly and I couldn’t help but smile softly, I knew it wasn’t easy for her to speak honestly especially feelings wise especially about my brother seeing since she actually hadn’t told me in words she liked Liam.

“Soooooo” I began dragging it with a teasing grin “how did the date end?” I asked wiggling my brows.

Mel blushed faintly, something that used to be so rare now becoming normality “Well Eli called, who was so utterly worried about you.”

I couldn’t help but feel the pang of guilt and the swell of love and hope within me, the thought of Eli and how much he cared let alone how awfully sweet he was last night had me wishing with all that was within me that things had answered differently, that I was with him right now. Maybe even curled up next to him bed still…..

“Really?” I couldn’t help but ask with hope rising to my embarrassment making me blush and chew on my bottom lip.

Mel smiled softly “I didn’t talk to him but by how freaked out Liam instantly become yeah I think Eli was more than worried.” She mentioned softly “Speaking of Eli though-“

I cut her off shaking my head “No way, I’m asking the questions here.”

Mel smiled softly “Anyways your brother utterly and completely flipped it” my eyes bugged “yeah, he was so freaked out. It took me honestly forever to calm him down and that wasn’t until after I promised to call you and see what was wrong.”

I nodded “Speaking of which, what did you tell him?” I asked her, having gone to bed before Liam was home and having being in my room all morning I had yet to have run into Liam.

Mel grimaced “I told him that you and Jed had relationship dramas and stuff and all I knew was that it was over between the two of you which I may add he actually sounded really happy about.”

I raised my brow “Oh really?” I asked sarcastically, Liam hadn’t openly said he hated Jed but it didn’t take a rocket scientist to understand. Still, it was sweet h had the courtesy to hold his tongue for my sake.

Mel grinned “Yeah touché, he was pretty upset though.” She murmured and she extended as I raised a questioning brow “He feels like he’s been a negligent brother and hasn’t seen you around, you guys are so close and suddenly he feels like he hasn’t seen you in a month.”

I nodded feeling queasy by the kick of guilt again “Yeah well I have been avoiding him.” I admitted sheepishly thinking of all the times I didn’t come home ‘till late or I’d keep to my room with the door locked and keeping as silent as could be.

She nodded “It doesn’t matter, I just told him to give you time and space to work it all out just like your parents told him, which may I add how have things been with them?” she asked.

I shrugged “I don’t know, I know that they know something has been going on but they don’t pressure me ya know?” I murmured honestly “I haven’t had a decent conversation with them really since all this crap, I guess they think it’s just a teenager phase but this morning at breakfast I told them Jed and I were over so I guess now they think it’s just all relationship drama – you know the usual relationship drama.” I said sarcastically making Mel’s lips twitch.

“That sucks hun, but don’t worry things will go back to normal and get better especially with that dick Jed gone and out of the way. Gives you some Eli time.” She teased wiggling her brows.

I rolled my eyes smiling softly “Hey I said this before, we’re talking about you and Liam not me missy so tell me what else happened?” I pressed not wanting to even thinking about Eli and I drama let alone reveal the truth.

Mel shrugged shyly “Nothing, he drove me home and walked me to the door. He’s shouting me pizza today actually.”

I smiled “Really?”

She nodded “Yeah, he texted me when you were in the bathroom before actually. Apparently Eli is joining us, maybe you should join us?” she suggested wiggling her brows this time.

I bit my bottom lip knowing damn well that this wasn’t a somewhat innocent and spur of the moment suggestion or offer, this was so obviously planned. I smiled sympathetically “I’m sorry bud but I’m going to be in working with mum at the shop today, mum’s got a whole bunch of clients for pedicures and all that for a wedding tomorrow plus I haven’t hung out or helped mum in so long so I’m kind of looking forward to it.”

Mel smiled understandingly I instantly felt another wave of guilt since I had put my foot in my mouth “That’s cool; it’ll be good for you and your mum. Besides we’ll probably be late staying up with pizza and movies, it’s Saturday night after all.”

I couldn’t help but hate the fact that it was Saturday suddenly, the thought of being around Eli after him seeing me in tears last night and my brother after the distance that had been between us instantly had me filling with dread. I rarely for once prayed that mum was working late.

“Sounds good,” I lied “anyways what else happened?” I pressed for change of topic and the entire girly squeal worthy details.

Mel blushed looking down as she ran her fingers through her hair saying nothing but shrugging shyly.

I couldn’t help but give a really soft squeal “Oh my gosh! You guys kissed!” I gushed in excitement earning the attention of some others around us.

Mel sent me a glare “Shhh.” she hissed.

I giggled “Did you?” I persisted eagerly.

Mel rolled her eyes “Yeah, we did.”

I squealed softly again “Oh my god! What was it like? Full on make out?” I asked “Or was it…” I trailed off my nose screwing up “Okay you know what, this is weird.”

Mel nodded with wide eyes in agreement “Like super duper weird.”

I nodded playing along as I fought back a smile “Yeah, I think I’m going to go to mum’s early.”

Mel nodded “Yeah, I’ve got things to do anyway. Like…painting my nails?” she asked rather than stated.

We couldn’t resist the huge bubble of laughter as Mel and I walked outside shoving each other playfully along with full fits of teasing, giggles and laughter feeling better than I had in a long time.

***

“Mum! Mum! Mum!” I gushed not even knocking as I walked into her room and ignoring the lady on her table “Guess who just called me? Guess!” I gushed.

Mum looked up startled and slightly amused as I raced to her side “What? Is everything okay honey?”

I beamed larger and larger “Gemma just called about hers and Andrews wedding!” I gushed happily.

Mum smiled largely finally understanding “Oh honey I had totally forgotten you got the job!” she gushed.

I nodded eagerly “Me too, well I knew of course.” I laughed at myself giddy with excitement “But I totally forgot how soon it’s coming up! I have so much I’m going to have to do and go buy and get ready, I’m so excited!”

Mum nodded eagerly “So what did Gemma want?” she pressed eagerly forgetting her person on the bed.

I smiled giddily bouncing on my toes “She was just letting me know she wants to catch up for lunch after school this week just to discuss when I have to be there and where, what she wants and some other details.”

Mum nodded but an awkward cough caught her attention “Um sweetie this is great but maybe we should discuss this once Sharon’s appointment is done.”

I smiled sheepishly at her mouthing ‘sorry’ “Okay I’ll just let you get back to finish your,” I turned to face the table unable but to cringe at the sight “bikini wax.”

I couldn’t have gotten out of there quicker.

Walking out of the room and down the hall walking back to the front of the shop to sit back behind the desk I flicked through the images that I had printed off from Gemma’s email. They were example of wedding photos she had found off the net and people she knew that she liked for things she’d like for her and Andrew’s special upcoming day. Not many people did such things but I heard she was a bit of a control freak and bridezilla but I really didn’t care, I was utterly beyond excited and giddy at for once one thing to look forward to.

Smiling brightly as I flipped through photos as I practically bounced about on my toes behind the desk I was startled by the slam of the shop’s front door slam against the wall, my yelp having the photos flutter to the floor forgotten at the sight before me.

Liam stood at the front of the shop with a blazing expression that instantly had my heart lurching into my throat followed by Eli who just looked utterly anxious and worried that it had me instantly wanting to hug him. Than last but not least Mel ran in late practically crashing into the back of the two boys with a frantic expression. The sight alone had my stomach hitting the deck, this was bad, this was very, very bad. I knew that just by the stiff silence between us, my gaze wide and terrified.

“How could you not tell me!?” Liam shouted loudly probably the entire shop and next door shops hearing as the door slammed shut.

He watched me the entire time and my mouth went dry with fear and my tongue knotted together under his piercing glare that had me squirming “T-tell you w-what?” I stammered petrified of the response, there could be so many things he could say. Why didn’t you tell me you slept with Eli? Why didn’t you tell me Jed went utterly hulk and blackmailed, hit and even lied and cheated on you? Why didn’t you tell me that you’re the most stupid and naive person alive?

“That you walked in on them having sex!” his eyes blazing with such fire and fury that I honestly wanted to curl up into a ball and hide for eternity.

I couldn’t help but feel as if I had been slapped in the face, blinking completely and utterly stunned before shooting Mel an accusing glare which she grimaced utterly guiltily at me, utterly apologetic.

“Well? Why didn’t you tell me!?” he demanded yelling still full of pure rage that honestly scared me to death, my brother had never spoken like this to me in my entire life.

“I-“ I stuttered finding no words to say, as I stopped again my tongues tied and my eyes beginning to sting and burn. Oh god I was going to cry I thought miserably making my eyes well even more with tears. “I-“ I tried again finding nothing.

“You what? Forgot a small little detail!?” he demanded sounding so wild, so crazed that I couldn’t help but curl in on myself.

My eyes danced hastily away from his gaze that petrified me to only fall onto Eli which just honestly ripped me apart, I felt so embarrassed standing there in front of him, my secrets revealed of how pathetic my relationship had been, how in so called “love” Jed and I had been and now seeing me getting yelled at and crying. I felt so embarrassed and humiliated I just wanted to curl up in a ball and die. What must he think of me? That I was so pathetic and weak and I couldn’t keep a guy? I know that I didn’t love Jed or want to stay with him but Eli didn’t know that, no I had told Eli that Jed and I were in love and Jed more important and now I was this girl with a broken heart to him. If he hadn’t thought of me as his best friend’s pathetic younger sister I bet he did now.

I instantly looked away unable to meet his gaze or anyone’s as I stared back at my brother as he continued to scream at me when I thought a good brother would be screaming at the boy that broke my heart and not myself. “Huh? I mean Jesus Erin what on earth haven’t you told me?!”

Calling me Erin was the final blow as I broke down, tears clouding my vision as I sobbed “What? You think it’s something I want to remember?!” I screamed back, my voice breaking shrilly as I began to openly sob having the salt all smeared through the wounds.

I couldn’t practically see him recoil like I had done at his screams, like I had slapped him. He blinked a couple times in shock before his blazing dark eyes softened as he woke up to himself. “Ez….” He finally murmured in a whisper, a weak empty word that had no meaning as I knew he felt guilty and didn’t know what to say, but he was too late he had already screamed at me.

I ignored him as I snatched up my handbag and left my photography work portfolio and photos scattered all over the wall forgotten, the best mood I had felt in ages so quickly stolen from me as I felt myself break down from the inside out.

“Ez?” Liam pleaded with me, begging me as he stepped forward anxiously.

“Just forget it.” I sobbed with a strong voice as I knocked shoulders with him and kept walking, wanting to get the heck out of there.

The door slammed shut behind me on my way out as I raced for home, wanting my bed and my sanctuary to just simply escape this messed up world that only seemed to just get worse and worse. The tears kept spilling as I raced home my heart in my throat as I felt myself fall apart leaving me breathless as I couldn’t honestly think of something that could happen to make my life any more miserable, right now it seemed like it couldn’t get any worse or I couldn’t feel any worse.

It was funny how quickly happiness and hope could be torn away from you.

________________________

Click the external link for my Facebook page

Aim is 35 votes & 12 comments. So you guys know my drill; vote, comment and maybe give me a fan, yeah? Do it, I dare you ;) Xx

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

All Rights Reserved

Copyrighted Material ©

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