"You broke it off?"

"I didn't mean to, I swear!"

Mayven narrowed her eyes at me. "Well, that's bloody rich! You didn't mean too? Sure you didn't. Mum finally is trusting me and you go and break her most prized possession."

"May, I'm really-"

"No. Just shut up, Oliver. For once in your life, shut up for two seconds!"

I flinched. I hadn't seen her this stressed in weeks. Her dark blue eyes darted back and forth underneath her glasses. She picked at the fading blue ends of her naturally black hair.

"Alright, this is how it's gonna go down, Ollie." The confidence in her voice sounded forced. "You'll clean up any glass and I'll try to fit the bloody door back onto its hinges."

I ran into the kitchen to grab the broom...

And almost tripped over the twins finger-painting on the floor.

Maggie smiled up at me, showing off her missing front teeth. "Isn't it pretty, Ollie?"

Melody nodded excitedly as she swept a bright green palm over the tile.

I swore under my breath. "Mum's gonna kill you if Mayven doesn't get to you first."

I stepped carefully over the wet paint and grabbed the broom from the pantry.

I met Mayven in the front hall.

"Why on God's green earth are you tracking paint through the house?"

I looked at my now paint splattered shoes that had been spotless white moments before. "Umm."

"Oh no. What did they do?"

"Don't get angry at them! They're just trying to have a little fun."

"They're doing it on paper. Please tell me they're doing it on paper!"

I grimaced. "Not... Really."

"Why? Why today? Why me?" She knocked her head against the wall emphasizing each word. She finally turned to me. " and where's Oscar in all of this? Probably bungee jumping from the telephone wire."

"Or making out with some girl," I muttered under my breath.

She glared.

"Well, um, I guess I'll work on the door?"

"You do that." She started up the stairs, most likely going to yell at Oscar.

She hadn't been exaggerating, the front door truly was Mum's most prized possession. Her aunt had given it to them as a weird wedding present. It was dark cherry and had a beautiful window made from scraps of sea glass Great Aunt Lucinda had supposedly collected from the a beach in each of the ocean's. The story was probably rubbish, but the door itself had been beautiful. And this afternoon I'd ridden my bike into it.

My neighbor Colin had dared me. He was the kind of idiot who dared everyone to do dumb stuff, always watching from a safe distance of course. Today he'd bet me I couldn't ride my bike at our door and open it while peddling as fast as I could. I told him I wasn't stupid and I didn't want to break my neck, but he started heckling and I wanted to shut him up.

So I'd tried. And obviously failed. The door wasn't as strong as it looked and it had come right off its hinges, shattering half the glass at the same time. The noise of it hitting the floor had alerted Mayven of my stupidity. Now here I was. Cleaning up a mess I was going to be grounded for the rest of high school because of.

"Nice job, Olive."

I didn't look up. "I think May's looking for you, Ozzie."

"I don't care. I'll probably be gone again before she even realizes I wasn't here in the first place." I could hear the sneer in his voice.

"Give her break."  I finally turned my gaze up to his greasy face. Oscar was younger than Mayven by a year and whatever rebelliousness she had, he thought he had more of. He didn't, of course, but it was fun watching him get in trouble when he tried to sneak out at night after her. "If you had any sense of responsibility, at all, you'd be helping her clean up this mess."

He scowled. "Whatever." He turned on his heel and climbed into his car. I shot a colorful name at him as he pulled out of the driveway.

He was barely out of sight when a guy in a white Jeep parked in front of the house.

"Hey." He smiled nervously. "Is Mayven home?"

I sized him up. Tall, blond, looked athletic, and very obviously American, the kind of guy all the girls at school were probably after, but not an overall jerk. "Who're you?"

"I'm Garrett Potter. Me and Mayven are, uh... Friends. At school."

I rolled my eyes. "MAYVEN! YOUR BOYFRIEND IS HERE!"

He winced visibly. Jeez, you'd think he would at least have some kind of sense humor.

Mayven ran down the stairs, obviously annoyed. "What in bloody h-" Her eyes caught on Garrett and she immediately changed course. "Garrett! Hey! Um, what are you doing here?"

It was both awkward and hilarious. Neither of them wanted me there so of course I stayed.

"Er, could I speak with you in private?"

"Of co-"

"No," I interrupted. "I'm not comfortable with Mayven being alone with a boy I don't even know." If looks could kill, I would've beeen six feet under ten times tonight. May's constant glare was beginning to make me uncomfortable.

"Well." Garrett looked even more uncomfortable than me. "I was wondering if you would come to prom with me?" He pulled a crumpled bouquet from under his jacket.

"Aww, May, how could you say no to that?"

"OLIVER RICHARD STEWART. GET OUT NOW!" I'd pushed her too far.

"Okay, jeez, sorry." I turned on my heel and ran right into my father.

This was inspired by a prompt -mariposaas gave to me forever ago. Sorry it took so long, but I did use it! I tried my hand at writing not only from a guy's pov, but a British guy's pov at that. Lemme know how you think I did. Love y'all!!!

Liara