I blinked my eyes open when the memory went away and found things were quiet for a moment until Dominic spoke again. "Is that why you have people issues, you won't get close to anyone in school or people in general, because you're afraid you could lose them like you did your parents?"

I widened my eyes; he had hit the nail directly on the head.

"Dominic," Ryder snapped, "show some compassion!"

"I was just asking a question. When our parents were killed you took over the mother and father role like Branna did, but I didn't push everyone away from me because I was afraid they might die. That's a pretty shitty way to live."

Those words hurt me, because they were completely true.

"I want to go home," I said as tears filled my eyes.

"Bronagh," Branna whispered and quickly followed me as I pushed past Ryder and ran for the stairs. I heard Ryder shouting. Then I heard roars from Dominic for me to wait and that he was sorry.

I ignored everyone and everything and ran down the stairs at full speed. It amazed me how I didn't trip and fall to my death, because a couple of times I missed my footing and stumbled a little. I eventually had to slow down though, because there were some people sort of lying on the stairs on the bottom floor, which reminded me of the reason I was here.

The party.

I felt Branna's hand come into mine as she caught up with me and manoeuvred around the sleeping, drunken bodies that littered the bottom floor of the house. I heard a giggle and kissing noises so I turned and watched Damien walk a girl out of the kitchen and towards the hallway to the front door.

"Bronagh!" the girl gasped when her eyes landed on me.

It was Destiny.

Oh, Jesus!

I flicked my eyes between her and Damien; she was shocked while he was grinning at me.

"Babe, just hear me out before you leave-"

"Dominic, leave her alone!"

I blinked when Ryder and Dominic were suddenly in front of me. This caused Destiny's eyes to practically pop out of her head.

"You and Nico?" she gasped, looking at him in his boxers.

I frantically shook my head. She had such a big mouth and would have a rumour spread around school by the end of first period on Monday if I let her think what she was thinking.

"No, no. I'm here with me sister and her boyfriend, Ryder. He is Dominic and Damien's big brother; that's all."

Destiny blew out a breath and looked like she believed me until Dominic got in my face.

"So what was upstairs then? You didn't sleep with your sister last night Bronagh; it was my bed you slept in and I was the person you slept with!"

"Oh, my God! You slept together?" Destiny squeaked, her face twisted in rage. "Seriously?"

Her version of slept was clearly not what mine was.

Damien all but carried her down the hallway and out of the house once Branna lunged for Dominic and Ryder had to restrain her.

"That girl thinks Bronagh slept with you!" she shouted.

Dominic glared at Branna. "She did sleep with me!"

Branna snapped her head to me, so I held up my hands. "He means slept as in the literal term; we literally did just sleep next to each other."

Branna threw her hands up in the air and pointed at Dominic. "I see why she can't stand you. You're a word twistin' little fuck!"

Dominic actually smirked, and it made Branna angrier than she already was. I pushed Dominic in the sitting room/gym room that was littered with drinks and rubbish. I slammed the double doors behind us and swirled around to face him.

"You know Destiny will tell everyone what she saw and heard. Everyone will think we had sex and that I'm with you or somethin'!"

Dominic shrugged. "So?"

I gaped at him. "So it's a lie, none of that is true!"

Dominic stepped towards me. "The being together part could be true."

What?!

I laughed. "You're havin' me on!"

He glared at me. "You know I'm not. I do hate you Bronagh, and I can't stand you at times. But I'm also attracted to you more than I have ever been to a girl in my life. I want you."

I just looked at him. "So you want us to be together because you fancy me even though you hate me?"

Dominic shrugged. "If fancy means having a crush then yes. I have a crush on you and once we work through our feelings, I bet we will like each other just fine-"

"There is somethin' wrong with you, you have a fucked up way of thinkin'!"

He smiled. "Trust me, I know."

I sighed. "Dominic, just leave me alone. Please?"

I locked eyes with him, and he stared at me hard before blowing out a big breath.

"Fine, if you want to go and not give us a shot then go. Leave."

The relief I felt come off my shoulders was as immense as the horrible pain that suddenly filled my chest. I didn't know why it hurt when I should have felt nothing but relief. I forced myself not to think about it.

"Okay." I nodded then turned and walked back out into the hall where Ryder was waking people up and pretty much kicking them out of the house.

"Are we good to go?" Branna asked.

The gym door slammed shut behind me, and music suddenly blared making Ryder sigh.

"He is pissed," he murmured while looking at the door, then looked at me. "What did you say to him?"

I shrugged. "He wanted us to be together, for me to be his girlfriend, but I told him no, because it wouldn't work between us."

Ryder stared at me for a moment before he smiled and said, "I think you're the only girl he has ever asked to be his girl, and you rejected him. That might knock him back a bit and make him realise he is not God."

Branna snorted. "I doubt that, your brother has too big of an ego not to bounce back from this."

I was fed up with all things related to this conversation.

"Can we just go home now?" I asked Branna.

She nodded. "Yeah, I need food and sleep."

"Yeah, we didn't get much of that last night." Ryder grinned down at her.

I felt sick.

"Look, Ryder, I'm tryin' to be understandin' about your sudden entrance into my life with you bein' me sister's new boyfriend, I really am, but never and I mean never, talk about sex with her around me. I will puke on you otherwise. Got that, bro?"

Branna face-palmed herself while Ryder bit down on his lip and cleared his throat. "Understood, Bronagh."

"Great."

Ryder drove us home and thankfully the car ride was silent. I didn't know what to say or talk about with him, so I just remained quiet.

When we got to our house, Branna leaned over and pecked Ryder's lips with hers, then reached for my hand. "Call you later."

He nodded and watched her walk away as we walked up our garden to the porch of our house; she waved while I unlocked the door. When we were inside I just stood still and looked around.

"Nothin' has changed in here and yet everything feels so different," I murmured.

Branna's arms came around me from behind. "It's a new chapter for us. Somethin' new is happenin', and it will take some gettin' used to for both of us."

I nodded because she was right; I just hoped I did get used to Ryder being around because if I didn't, it would break Branna's heart.