Page 2 of Past

Me: It's amazing, a must buy x

Izzy: I agree. I'm staying at Harley's tonight so I’ll see you tomorrow. X

Me: See you then, bestie. Love ya x

Izzy: Love ya too, my crazy bestie x

I laugh, putting away my phone.

"Looks like we will get some sleep tonight as Izzy is staying at her brothers’,” I tell Emilia.

"That's good, I like them both, but, man, they are loud when they get at it,"Emilia says, a faint blush rising on her cheeks.

I can’t help myself when I say, "Well, at least we know she enjoys it, the screaming is a good reaction, I think." I laugh when Emilia’s face goes bright red.

"Right, on that note, I’m off, so I’ll see you later, Al,"she says, picking up her coat and bag. One look out the window at the pouring rain, and I know she will need the coat.

“See you later,” I say, and she gives me a small hug before walking to the door.

I wave goodbye and go back to my laptop. I spend way too long trying to write something useful before slamming it shut and leaning back in my chair. I don’t know what’s wrong with me at the moment, not even dancing is chilling me out like it used to. I now run a dance class every Saturday morning, since my old instructor became pregnant and left. I love it, and recently, I convinced Izzy to come to one of my classes. Let’s say that it didn’t go well, she dances like a fish on land, literally flopping about. A few more weeks and, hopefully, I can teach her some things. I wasn’t very good when I started, either, but I like to think I am now. Thankfully, with the new extension at the gym being built, we have a bigger room, which is, for now, unused, and it’s where no one can look in. The number of creepy guys who would look through the windows in the old room was annoying.

I decide to call my older brother, Tristan, to see if he is okay. I'm really worried about him recently because he has been arguing with my dad, so he blocks me out. Things are getting worse because he keeps turning up with black eyes and bruises. Tris just pretends that he argued with someone over a girl, but I know when he is lying. I grew up with the little fucker; he could never lie to me. His ears always go a little pink and he messes with them. I’m thankful he never grew out of that, even if he is now eighteen. There are only ten months between us, my mum got pregnant really quickly with me after his birth. We used to be really close, but these last few years he has pulled away from me. The same time during which he decided to get many tattoos and several piercings.

"Hey, my handsome, single brother. Are you going to settle down soon? I would like a sister," I say, winding him up slightly. I really think there may be someone because, recently, I haven't seen any one night stands leaving the house, and he hasn’t been coming back too late. People have told me my brother is good-looking, I really don’t know if he is. My brother has short, black hair, a swimmer’s build, and prefers to wear messy clothing. Somehow, he manages to sleep with most of my classmates anyway.

"There isn't anyone who could cope with you as a sister, and hello to you, too, Allie," he mutters,sounding tired.

"Well, I think there is. We shouldn't have secrets, you know. We made that pact when we were like seven," I say.

"We are not kids anymore, Allie," he says, making me feel like sinking into my seat.

"I know," I say quietly, reminding myself that my only blood relative who gives a shit is being cold with me. It’s bothering me because he is usually always there for me or happy to speak to me, but he isn’t now. I don't get it.

"Sorry, Allie, it's just Dad doesn't want you involved, and I agree. There’s a lot going on, and–" he stops with a groan, and I can hear him moving around in the background.

"Involved in what?" I ask, getting angry with him. I feel like we are just repeating the same conversation time and time again. Tristan never kept big secrets from me growing up, and I always told him everything. Our mum was gone, doing god knows what, but I know she couldn't handle being around us. Dad popped in when he wanted to because of work. We had a live-in nanny who hated us, so we decided to look after each other.

"Allie, don't. And another thing, stay away from Elliot King,"he says, in a warning tone I’m not used to hearing from him. At least, not around me.

"Why? I'm best friends with both his sister and sister-in-law," I mutter, not knowing why he cares.

"He is bad news, Allie. Promise me you won't get involved with him,"he tells me.

"We don't even talk, so don't worry," I say, thinking back to when he took my hand at the hospital, telling me that whatever happened, we would handle it together. I was so scared about the chance of losing my best friend that I didn't realise I needed the support until Elliot gave it to me.He held me close and made me feel safe, a feeling I’ve never had around Elliot before.

"Fine, just stay away from him. I have to go. Dad’s home tomorrow, can you be here?" he asks, knowing I won't say no.

The thing is, I’m sure my dad does care about me. I've heard him shouting at Tristan, but he always stops when I'm near. I seem to have a calming effect on him. I wonder if it's because I look like my mum, whom I know he never got over leaving him.Sometimes, I see him looking at me and not really seeing me. He always tells me I’m a lot like her; I have her personality. But I can’t be too much like her. I would never leave my children with nannies all of their childhood and go off to marry other guys. I regretted checking my Facebook last night, when I saw that she had gotten divorced again. That’s husband number five gone.

"Sure, see you then," I say eventually. I put the phone down before he can reply.

The living room has two large, glass windows, which lead onto a balcony overlooking the University Park. It’s filled with people running to class, and it makes me feel lonely. I have great friends, but they have their own lives. And now Tristan and my dad are distant with me. I try to distract myself from my thoughts by looking at the balcony; it is currently filled with potted herbs and flowers, a thing Emilia likes to do.

"Hey, sexy Allie," Gage says, sitting down next to me at the table and making me jump out of my skin. I didn’t hear him come in.

"Hey, Gage," I mutter, turning to smile at him. It's a shame he’s such a vain guy, as he is good-looking with his short, blond hair, with his nice, tight clothes showing off his toned body, and I’ve seen him walking around shirtless. He has a sexy six-pack. Gage plays rugby with Tristan and, more recently, Blake. I think playing like they do keeps them in really good shape, but, unfortunately, makes Gage love himself too much.

"Why don't you let me take you out tonight, sexy Allie?" He runs his finger up my arm as he speaks.

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