***Lizzy’s POV***

“Seamus!” I cried in annoyance. He stuck his tongue out at me. “Bet you can’t catch me!” he challenged and took off running. I sighed. Maybe I should just let him run?

“Hey Lizzy, nice diary!”

Oh that little bastard is going down.

I sprinted up into my room where Seamus was sitting on my bed with my journal. I liked to write and keep account of my days. “Who’s Greg?” he asked, looking up at me. I blushed furiously. “Seamus I am going to kill you!” I screamed.

He threw the journal at me and raced past me. I was going to catch him this time. I chased him around the house. The front door opened and he stuck out his tongue again before taking off. No!

I ran after him. “Dad save me!” he yelled desperately as he neared dad. I grabbed the back of his shirt and tackled him to the ground. “You are such a brat!” I cried angrily.

Dad started laughing. “What did he do?” “He went through my stuff!” I gave my dad a pleading look. “Can’t we please put him in the pound?” Dad laughed again and picked Seamus up. “Please apologize to Lizzy.” He shook his head stubbornly.

“If you do, I’ll give you ice cream,” dad promised. Seamus bit his lip. “I’m sorry Lizzy,” he said at last. I glared. He was so not forgiven. Ugh. I really missed being an only child. It had been a nice 9 years. And then my stupid brother was born.

Dad set him down and went into the kitchen to get ice cream. Seamus eagerly followed him. Dad ruffled his hair and smiled at him as he handed him a bowl of ice cream.

“Dad, come watch a movie with me!” he said with a smile. “In a minute buddy. Go put it on. I’m going to get my own ice cream.” Seamus took off to the living room.

Dad sat across from me once he had gotten himself ice cream. He gave me a small smile. “He’s 6, Lizzy. He’s just trying to get you to play with him.” I glared. “Well, I don’t want to play with Shame.” Dad frowned. “I don’t like it when you call him that.”

I rolled my eyes.

“He’s obviously not innocent,” I grumbled. Dad kissed my cheek. “Come on Liz, lighten up! Seamus loves you!” Hardly. Dad sighed and went into the living room.

I walked by, glaring. Seamus was curled up in dad’s lap. “Watch the movie with us Liz!” dad said with a smile. I sighed and sat down with them.

The Lion King? My little brother was so lame. “I like lions!” Seamus said with a stupid grin. “They’ll eat you,” I said. “No, cause I can fight them off!” he said with a cocky smirk. I rolled my eyes.

“They’d confuse you for a tomato.”

He pouted. Dad laughed and ruffled his hair again. “She’s right little tomato head,” he said. Dad always called Seamus that. It annoyed me. Saying Shame was so much easier than little tomato head. But Seamus loved it.

Dad wrapped his arms around Seamus lovingly. Seamus smiled and rested his head on dad’s chest. “So how’s your little girlfriend doing Seamus? Alex Arnold?” Seamus blushed furiously. “She’s a girl! I don’t like girls!”

Great. He was only 6 and he was already gay.

Dad rolled his eyes. “I know you love her,” he joked. “Ew! Girls have cooties,” he said stubbornly. “Excuse me you sexist pig,” I said angrily. He stared at me blankly.

We watched the movie until I heard Seamus’s light snoring. He was comfortably curled up in dad’s lap, napping away like a cat.

Mom walked in and set her papers from work down, smiling. “How adorable!” she gushed. She grabbed her camera. “Lizzy, get closer,” she said. I raised an eyebrow. “Take one of them together first,” I said bitterly.

Mom did. Then she took one of me with them. Dad sighed sadly. “I don’t want to move him but I have work to do.” He carefully picked Seamus up and carried him upstairs.

I went up after grabbing a glass of water. I peeked in on Seamus and couldn’t help but smile. “See? You love your brother,” dad said and kissed my forehead. I smiled gently. Seamus had stuck his thumb in his mouth, a habit we were still trying to break him of, and gently snoring as he clutched the little blanket dad had made him when he was born.

“Alright, he’s pretty adorable,” I admitted at last. Dad smiled. “He loves you Liz. He really does. Blood is thicker than water.” I hugged him and we watched the sleeping Seamus for a while.

Someday, he’d find someone who truly loved him.

***Current Time***

I watched him sleeping now, 10 years later. He was restless, shifting, kicking, and moaning. Parentless and unloved. Alex didn’t want him and it was hurting him more than she thought it would. But it would be selfish of me to ask her to go back to him. Because I knew Seamus. He would cheat on her. I knew he slept around. I wasn’t stupid.

He screamed and sat up, breathing heavily. He did that a lot. I went into his room and sat on his bed. “You alright?” He was violently shaking. “Yea,” he lied.

I sighed and left his room.

***Seamus’s POV***

I couldn’t do this anymore. I needed Alex. I knew it. I pulled out my cell phone and texted her number.

I wiped the sweat off my forehead and pulled out my iPod. Damn. Into Your Arms by The Maine came on. I angrily shuffled it. Medusa by Bring Me The Horizon. Shuffle. Don’t Walk Away by Sick Puppies. Shuffle. Don’t Go by BMTH. Shuffle. Ex’s and Oh’s by Atreyu. Shuffle. Not The American Average by Asking Alexandria.

Angrily, I pulled my headphones out and shut my iPod off. Hah! That would show it to shuffle ironic songs while I’m trying to be depressed! Stupid iPod.

Alex didn’t text back. She was probably sleeping. I sighed. My phone buzzed and I eagerly opened it. Oh just Cliff. He had told me to get my ass to his place.

I sighed. It was 3 in the morning! The hell did he want me for? I snuck out of the house and ran to Cliff’s. He was waiting outside impatiently and we snuck into his room.

“What’s up?” I asked. “You want Alex so bad? I’ll help you.” I stared. “Seriously?” He nodded. “Why?” I asked. He shrugged. “Because you’re annoying me lately and I’m sick of it.”

I cracked a grin. “Thanks Cliff.” He rolled his eyes. “You should ask Jag out when he wakes up,” I blurted. I nearly burst into laughter. Never, in my entire life, had I seen anyone, especially Clifton, turn such a deep shade of red.

“I’m straight!” he lied angrily. I chuckled. “Sure, Cliff. Sure.” He blushed even deeper. Cliff never blushed. Ever. I laughed. “It’s so obvious you like Jag.” He glared. “Shut up! I do not!” “Yes you do!” He turned away from me angrily and I laughed again.

He spun around quickly. “If you tell anyone,” he threatened dangerously. I rolled my eyes. “Chill out Cliff. I’m not going to tell anyone.” Even though I’m fairly sure Jay and Jer knew.

Cliff didn’t relax though. “How did you know?” I rolled my eyes. “It’s obvious.” “It is?” he asked in surprise. “Just a little,” I said sarcastically. “Does Paxton know?” he asked nervously. This was hilarious. Cliff never acted like this. I shook my head. “I doubt it. You know him.”

He finally relaxed a little. “How are you going to help me get Alex?” I urged. He glanced at me as he sat down on his bed. “You tell me. You figure something out and I’ll help.” Moron. I wasn’t smart or romantic.

A grin spread on my face as an idea popped into my mind. “Well?” Clifton asked. “I have a great idea!” I announced in excitement, feeling alive again.

Alexandria Arnold was going to be mine.

I wasn’t going to let anyone get in my way.