Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse, Brittney and Bella came out from where they were hiding behind the kitchen door with mixtures of shock, excitement, and confusion on their faces. In five seconds, Brittney had dragged me back up the stairs into my room and she and Bella started jumping up and down, squealing. I just stood there silently watching them until they calmed down enough to talk in full sentences.

"My ship is soooooo sailing! They already have pet names for each other!" Bella said, between jumps.

"We don't have pet names for each other! He just calls me princess for some reason, it's not that big of a deal, I am sure he calls a lot of girls princess." I couldn't help the bitter edge in my voice.

"You're jealous!" Brittney squealed "And in denial!"

"You so like him! And he likes you to! I can't believe it! Bryan King picks my best friend out of the hundreds of girls that would throw themselves at him!"

"Woah woah woah. I don't like him, he definitely doesn't like me and no one has picked anyone." I said putting my hands up in defense. "Plus, we should probably go see what's happening downstairs, before we came up here, Kent looked like he was going to murder Bryan."

"Awwww are you worried about your lover boy?" Brittney teased.

I chose to ignore her, turning to the door just as shouting comes from downstairs.

"I am only saying that because I don't want to have to bust my brother out of jail. I have no feelings for Bryan whatsoever."

Though I was not exactly sure anymore.

Bryan's POV (while Ash was being dragged up the stairs for the second time)

Kent stood across from me in the kitchen, not moving, glaring at me with. I had been glared at many times but it was particularly uncomfortable to be stared down by the brother of the girl I may like.

"So, would you care to explain why you are calling my little sister princess?" Kent asked.

"It's just a nickname, I don't see what the problem is." I said calmly

"You are the problem, I don't want Ash to go through the same thing all over again. I know the drill, it starts with pet names and then it builds to so much more until one day she will come crying to me because you broke her heart because she didn't give you what you want."

"I'm not like that." I said defensively. Kent gave me a look. "I'm serious, I know I used to be like that but Ashley brings out the best in me, she brings out the best in everybody."

"Look Bryan, I know that you are a nice guy at heart, but I have to know that you will take care of her, she has had her heart broken once before, I couldn't stand to have to watch her go through that again, it was hard enough for both of us the first time."

"I get it. I feel the same protectiveness over my sister Crystal as you so for Ash, but sometimes you just have to let go, let Ash make her own decisions for once. I know you are stepping up in place of your father to take care of her, but give her freedom to make her own decisions. Ash should not be reliant on you telling her what to do."

"I only tell her what to do to keep her safe! Safe from people like you!" Kent was almost shouting now. "This has all happened before! With someone who acted like you are now, tried to persuade me into letting him date my little sister! And what happened? He tried to take advantage of her while she was drunk! He almost did but luckily she came to her senses before he could and screamed. Thank god I was near the alleyway he had dragged her into, because if I hadn't been, my little sister would have been raped!"

Before I could say anything in Ash's defense, she stalked from where she was standing in the doorway with Brittney and Bella and punched Kent straight in the gut.