The girl was still hooked up to the board, her wrists and ankles a shiny red. Her pretty head lolled to one side, and if he didn't know better he might have thought she was dead. She was covered in water, her fringe stuck to her forehead, her white nightgown plastered to her pale skin. He smirked at her - the wet nightgown was revealing a lot more than he was guessing she would usually show.

     "She's a hard nut to crack, that one." He was barely aware of the woman's presence beside him until she started speaking. "We pushed our limits - she was in serious pain. Had we held her under any longer she would have drowned. Yet she still revealed nothing." Although the woman's face was as impassive as ever, he heard a bitter ring to her voice.

"I'm sure she'll reveal something at some stage," he replied, but not out of sympathy or comfort. He was simply stating something that was bound to be true. "We will force her to."

***

I stared at the boy in front of me, my mouth still hanging upon.

He was cute, in a geeky sort of way. He had soft brown hair, neatly cut, with eyes a matching colour. He sported a pair of thick rimmed glasses and he rapidly blinked, giving the appearance of some sort of owl. He had a nice, pleasant look about him, like the sort of person you would feel okay asking for directions in a street. But it's not that that made my heart race, and my mouth drop open as if I wanted to catch a few flies. And it wasn't even the 'Owen' inscribed upon his geeky t shirt, clearly marking him as the person that I was meant to be setting up with Fiona.

     It's the fact that I knew him already. That I actually waved him off to college this time last year, thinking that I wouldn't be joining him for two years yet - and as an alive human being who still looked like myself.

     Because Owen was my brother.

     Thinking about it, I should have twigged onto this already. Before he headed back a few days ago, while I was still alive, he talked non stop about this girl called Fiona he liked. And he went to Lockhart College. So duh, Rosie! You're absolutely stupid!

Everything was messed up now. I didn't look like myself, I was here a year too early, and I didn't even have the same name. I suddenly realised Owen was still waiting patiently for my reply.

"Yes," I admitted. "But not like you could help me, you're totally rubbish with directions!" It's only once I saw his forehead crease with confusion that I realised that I'd just talked to him like I've known him forever - which I have, but he doesn't know that. I hurriedly tried to amend my mistake. "Just kidding, could you point me in the direction of Room 261?"

     His face broke into the relieved smile I knew so well. "You're in entirely the wrong side of the college, for a start... Why don't I just walk you there?"

     I was just about to roll my eyes and tell him to catch himself on, when I remembered I was not supposed to know him. A stranger would accept his help instead of taking the high horse and refusing to let her brother know something she didn't. I took a deep breath, and smiled. "Sure."

     We started walking through the maze of corridors which he guided me through with ease. It was weird to see my annoying, geeky, reputation ruining older brother so relaxed and friendly. He said  hi to several people as we walk past, most of which didn't even look like nerds! I half wanted to burst out, "Hey, I'm your dead sister who's a Cupid in training sent here to set you and Fiona up!" But I managed to contain myself.

     After a period of plain awkward silence he said, "anyway, I'm Owen as you've probably guessed from the t shirt. What's your name?"

     "Rosie." It came out without me even thinking twice - I'd crossed the line between stupid and downright thick. "I mean," I added, trying to act casually. "I'm actually called Jessica, but everyone calls me Rosie." I mentally congratulated myself - this could actually work. I could still go by my name while not actually being my name.

     Owen smiled to himself. "My sister is called Rosie - and like you, thats not her actual name, though her real name is closer to it - she's Rosalind. She's a flirty, popular, wild thing. But she's actually alright - she's not the most annoying of siblings and she isn't one of those super horrible popular girls. Just a party one, who likes setting people up. She's coming here next year."

I stopped short in my tracks. He was talking about me as if I was  still at home, going to parties and waiting excitedly for college. Which was true a day ago. But now I was dead.

It suddenly hit me - he didn't know. I suppose I'd only just died - and out here's a long way from home - but I was still shocked he didn't know. Hadn't my parents told him? Had they not told anyone?

Owen looked at me, concerned. "Are you alright?"

I forced myself to nod and plastered a fake smile on my face. "I think I know where I'm going now. Thanks," and without saying goodbye I ran to the door clearly marked, 'Room 261'. I twisted the handle, and luckily, it opened. I flung myself inside and closed the door, using one of two keys lying on the welcome mat to lock it. I pushed my suitcase aside and sank onto the perfectly polished floor, taking deep, shuddering breaths.

     I looked around the room that I would be staying in until I get my brother his crush.... Ugh, that sounded so wrong. Sure, I's got people together before, but Owen's my brother. And I don't think I could listen to him and Fiona going at it in my room.

     The room's a lot better than I thought it was going to be, actually. There was two beds pressed up against either wall, both with white bedcovers patterned with bold blue polka dots. There was a wardrobe, no doubt to share, against the back wall, two dressers on either side and a little cabinet beside my bed, with a bright little lamp sitting on top. In the space between the two beds there was a plush blue sofa facing a TV on the opposite wall. Whoever decorated this room must have loved the colour blue.

     I lifted up the key and slid it into my pocket, as I guessed it belonged to me now. Both sides of the room looked bare, so I assumed Fiona hadn't gotten back for the new year yet. I heaved my tremendous suitcase onto the bed on the left hand side and zipped it open.

     Just then I heard a smart rap on the door. "Hi, can you let me in?" Someone asked from the other side of the door. I walked back over and unlocked it.

     I stared at the girl on the other side, Juliet's words floating back to me. You must be expected to fit in with the popular crowd if your looks have been enhanced so much... However, the girl in front of me did not look like a popular one, the sort I would hang about with and was part of myself (despite my misfortune appearance).

Fiona had dark brown hair in a neat plait down her back. Dark purple glasses were perched on the edge of her nose, green eyes peeping through them. She was short, and not exactly slim. She had pale skin, and had absolutely no make up on. She was wearing a grey pleated skirt that fell past her knees and made me want to gag. Paired with a sweater that was totally not her colour, thick black tights and hiking boots I suddenly realised she was going to be a lot harder to set up than I thought.

Then I remembered that I was setting her up with my equally geeky older brother. I relaxed again. The problem wasn't with Owen liking her - believe me, I've heard enough over the summer to justify that - it was with steering her away from her crush on Nathan.

"You must be Jessica," she said brightly as she pulled her suitcase through the door and plonked it beside her bed. "I'm Fiona."

"Everyone calls me Rosie." I replied a little shortly, deciding to continue with the story I told Owen earlier.

"Alright," she said, unfazed. She pulled out a few more pleated, knee length, hideous granny skirts and started hanging them up. "Me and my last roommate here had a code. If we ever need to be out of each other's hair we leave a sock on the door so the other knows not to enter." She smiled ruefully. "I think I spent more time sleeping on the floor outside than in my actual bed."

I sensed the code was more for me and not her. But despite my flirty attitude and party ways I'd never really had a proper boyfriend. I'd done my fair share of kissing, but it never really went anywhere. My specialty was helping other people in their relationships.

If I had come here looking like my usual self maybe she wouldn't have even bothered saying that. I mean, I was one of the popular girls, but I didn't look it, despite my impeccable fashion taste. But now I looked like a supermodel fresh from the front page of a teen magazine.

"I'll probably not use the code," I said, making this point clear. "But thanks anyway."

I saw her visibly relax. "Thank goodness. The last girl I roomed with was a bit of a boy magnet. And you looked the same. No offence," she quickly added.

"None taken." I decided it was probably about time to start unpacking my own stuff. However, the moment I flipped over the cover to reveal the contents of the suitcase I froze, then hurriedly replaced it. But not before Fiona spotted the pile of very fancy lingerie at the top of my case. My cheeks flushed and I was pretty certain I resembled a tomato.

"My older sister packed my case," I lied as my cheeks flame. She raised an eyebrow but asked no questions. I could almost see Juliet smirking down on me from above.

I couldn't help thinking that Fiona would look so much nicer if she wore some better clothes, if her hair was straightened, make up applied and glasses removed... I narrowed my eyes. I love a good makeover, but I doubt she was going to let a total stranger make her look beautiful.

By the end of the week, I decided I would have every single boy drooling over Fiona. As she fell into the arms of my brother.

Hey guys! So yeah, this update came earlier than I expected but I'm off for the Easter holidays so I have way more time in my hands! What do you think? Yay or nay for Owen being Rosie's brother?

Zoe xxx