When she nodded I let the pressure off the back of her head and patted her once. “Atta girl. Now, get.” She flounced off in her high heels. Seriously what was with the pumps in high school?

“I am so hot for you right now,” Willow deadpanned.

“Raaawr! Who knew, goody two had it in her?” Sheldon included.

“What the fuck was that?” I heard a voice growl. The crowd had nearly doubled so I didn’t realize that one of the spectators was Keiran.

“I don’t know. What did it look like?”  I thought at any moment his face would crack under the pressure he was placing on his jawbone.

“Tell me,” he demanded.

I sighed in exasperation and turned back to face my locker. I pulled out one of the sanitary wipes I kept on hand and wiped the front of my locker down.

“Lake,” he called warningly.

“I was keeping your ex-cum buckets in line since you seem to be incapable.”

“Ooohh! Burn! Damn!” A volley of jeers sounded around the crowd.

“Leave,” he commanded and when the other kids scurried and he turned his attention back to me. “You want to explain what your problem is?”

“Is that a serious question?” Maybe it had something to do with the fact that he might have impregnated me while he threatened to slice my throat open but I could be wrong. I couldn’t tell him that anyway. Not with Willow and Sheldon watching us closely. We’d always been careful before but I admitted that I was just as mad at myself for giving in to him once again.

“I’ll see you later.” He stated simply but it sounded threatening at the same time. With that he turned on his heel and walked away. It didn’t have to be said. I knew I messed up but if he could do what he wanted then so could I.

“He looked pissed,” Willow commented. “What is up with them anyway? They are so hypocritical and bossy. It’s always ‘do what I say’, ’now’, ‘no’, ‘mine’. “Me Tarzan, you Jane. Now bend over!”

“Don’t forget the grunting and growling,” Sheldon added.

“I keep expecting to be dragged off to a cave or something.”

We shared a long laugh over the guys’ expense but were interrupted by a throat clearing. We whipped around at the same time to find Dash and Keenan leaning against the lockers, watching us and looking irate. I guess they’d heard what we said. Oops.

“Oh shit, um…I love you honey bun?” Sheldon jokingly attempted to soothe Keenan’s feelings. He rolled his eyes and walked away in the same direction Keiran retreated.

Dash remained a beat and I could see the struggle in his eyes before he mumbled, “Fuck it,” and walked off after Keiran and Keenan.

Willow, Sheldon, and I were left, standing alone in the empty hallway. We each shared a look before shrugging and heading to the cafeteria. Lunch was one big social gathering that I still haven’t become accustomed to after many years of avoiding the area and people in general.

Willow still refused to sit at Keiran’s table because of her drama with Dash so we headed for an empty table to sit and I automatically looked around for Keiran but didn’t spot him. I was sure this was the direction he walked in and assumed he would come here. I looked around more and didn’t spot Keenan or Dash either.

“Hello Ladies and Thing.” Buddy straddled a chair next to me wearing a toothy grin.

“Get lost, kid.” Willow huffed.

“Since when do I do what you say?”

“Since I know where you keep the dirty magazines and stash of pornos and I’ll tell mom and dad.”

“Ha! Who do you think I got them from? Dad needed to get rid of the evidence,” he said secretly as he grinned stretched wider.

“Ew.”

“Indeed,” he mimicked in a smarmy tone then turned to Sheldon and me. “Hey lover. Hey Sheldon.”

“Don’t ‘Hey Sheldon’ me. Next time you use the bathroom put the seat back down. I fell in and got an ass full of toilet water!” She threw a green bean at him, which he caught with his mouth.

“Don’t get mad at me because you don’t watch where you park your ass.”

“Wait, when were you at her house and why?” Willow grilled.

“Call of Duty. Duh. What’s your issue?”

“You’re fraternizing with the enemy? My own brother!”

“No one told you to give it up and get the guy sprung,” he had a disturbed look in his yes as he snatched a fry out of Willow’s tray.

“You don’t know what you are talking about, Buddy. Don’t start rumors.”

“I don’t have to. It’s already out there. Dash put the order out that you were off limits weeks ago. The poor schmuck from the other night was the only one to try but that was only because he’s new. Don’t worry. Dash already spoke with him too.” He shot Willow a devilish grin and her face paled before turning red.

“He had no right –”

“Tell him that, sis. I’m just an innocent bystander.”

“As his twin, I can tell you that Dash is up to something. He’s sneaky. He may be quiet now but I assure you he’s plotting so I hope you’re ready to give in.”

“That’s not going to happen,” Willow scoffed but it sounded forced.

“Willow, maybe talking to him instead of ignoring will work better. Tell him how you feel,” I suggested. Keiran may have been right. I was a hypocrite.

“My brother doesn’t care about how Willow feels or what she wants. He is acting on his own feelings now and what he wants is you. Right now, he’s looking for a weakness and the right moment to pounce.”

“This isn’t a war, Sheldon.”

“No, this is a Chambers. You’re screwed.”

“Thanks.” Willow replied dryly.

“Anytime, babe.”

“That is why I stay single,” Buddy included smugly.

“Because you’re ugly?” Willow asked.

“Just for that, I’m inviting Dash over tonight.”

“You better not!”

“Already happening,” he taunted, pulling out his phone and sending a quick text.

“That’s it. I’ve disowned you.” Buddy scoffed and rolled his eyes before locking them with mine.

“So Lake, what did you do to my boy?”

“And who would that be?”

“The muffin man,” he replied impatiently. “You know who.”

“What’s it to you?” I asked rather than answer his question.

“Because he’s is snapping and snarling at anyone who even walks past. He’s got some serious Lake fever going on.”

“What?”

“Yeah. I swear you guys are better than my stories.” I shook my head at Buddy. He really did watch soap operas faithfully.

“I can handle Keiran.”

“Can you?” His tone was laced with seriousness and his eyes bore into mine with concern in his eyes, a complete opposite of his normal playful self.

“Yes, Buddy. I promise.” And apparently I’m a liar too…

* * *

“I’m going to the fair tonight with Willow and Sheldon.”

“Oh?”

“Yes.” Silence. “So?”

“So, what?”

“Nothing.” More silence. “Are you mad at me?”

“Should I be?”

“No.”

“Then I guess I’m not.”

I was growing sick of his short answers. Keiran had been giving me the cold shoulder since I made Anya eat my locker at school. It didn’t seem like the situation with Anya was enough to walk around with a stick up the ass. We haven’t exchanged words since then. It was after school and we were lying in his bed, having just finished a few sweaty rounds of sex. He’d tricked me into my car by telling me he’d take me home but I ended up here instead.

“I think you are, though.” Silence again. “You won’t talk to me,” I tried again.

He released a breath. “You’re pissing me off.”

“Ditto.”

“I want you to stay away from Anya,” he ordered. Bingo! We have communication!

“Believe me, I don’t approach her willingly. Besides, she started it.” He stared me down until I shrunk back in my seat. “Fine,” I huffed.

“What time are you going to the fair?”

“Six.”

“Don’t do anything stupid tonight.”

“Yes, Dad.”

“Lake…”

“Lighten up. You can’t control me, Keiran, so stop trying.”