𝘼𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙤𝙣'𝙨 𝙋𝙊𝙑

The sounding of knuckles knocking against my door wakes me from my nap and I glance over to see Thomas leaning against the doorframe, crossing his arms over his chest.

"We're going over to the Cameron's for dinner" My brother informs me.

"I'll pass" I mumble, laying my head back on my pillow.

"Allison, get up" He orders.

"I'm tired" I lie through my teeth, something I'm getting awfully good at.

"Bullshit" He scoffs "You've not gotten out of your bed since midsummers"

"I feel sick" I try again.

"Then I'll take you to the doctor" He counters.

"Just leave me alone, Tommy" I groan.

"I'll leave once you tell me what's wrong with you" He declares.

"I don't fucking know!" I scream in frustration.

The room goes silent and I immediately feel terrible for yelling at my brother when he's only trying to help. Soft footsteps near my bed and I feel the bed dip behind me, Thomas letting out a defeated sigh.

"Please talk to me, Al" He pleads.

I shakily take a deep breath and roll over to face Thomas who is laid out on his back, his concerned gaze on me.

"Rafe and I got into a fight" I finally speak up.

"What about?" Thomas asks curiously.

"He was picking on JJ and I told him to stop it" I explain, picking at a loose thread on my pillowcase "Rafe didn't appreciate me taking a Pogue's side over his"

"He didn't hurt you, did he?" My brother questions, his eyes scanning my face.

"No" I find myself lying once again, relieved that the bruises on my neck have faded.

"Good, otherwise i'd have to cave his skull in" He replies and I roll my eyes with a small smile.

"The fight with Rafe isn't really what's bothering you though, is it?" He adds, seeing right through me like he always does.

"I guess not" I mumble in an unsure tone.

"You can tell me. I've got your back" Thomas assures me and I nod gratefully.

"I pushed Kiara away again. I made her cry, Tommy" I tell him.

"Ah, I see" He hums with a knowing smile and I frown.

"What?" I demand in confusion.

"You and Kiara" He elaborates "The chemistry between you two is insane. I could cut the tension with a knife"

"But she's a girl" I argue.

"So? It's okay for girls to like girls" Thomas shrugs nonchalantly and my heart swells at the validation I didn't even know I needed.

"You aren't, like, against it?" I question curiously.

"Nah, I've had my fair share of experimental experiences with my own gender" He reveals and my eyes widen in surprise.

"You've been with boys?" I blurt out.

"In college" He nods with an amused grin.

"Wow, I had no idea" I murmur in awe "So are you, like...gay?"

"No, I'm straight. I was just curious, y'know? Don't knock it till you try it and all that" He explains to me.

"Oh, okay" I nod in understanding.

"Do you have feelings for Kiara?" Thomas asks me bluntly and I freeze in shock at the question.

He takes my tense silence as an answer in itself and rolls his eyes with a smile, ruffling my hair lovingly.

"Whether you like boys or girls or both, I still love you. You're still my annoying little sister, Al" The boy assures me and my eyes well up with tears.

"You're not mad at me?" I choke out.

"Never" He confirms.

I shuffle closer to him and lay my head on his shoulder, letting a tear roll down my cheek. My brother wraps his arms around me tightly and places a peck on the top of my head.

"Thank you, Tommy" I breathe out, a heavy weight lifting itself off my chest.

"Anytime" He hums in response.

»»-------------¤-------------««

I brush down the skirt of my lilac coloured sundress and take a deep breath before lifting my arm, knocking my fist against the wooden door. The door is pulled open to reveal JJ and he smiles at me cheerily.

"How come you're gracing us with your presence this fine evenin', princess?" He chirps.

"I was wondering if maybe Kiara is here?" I ask him and he smirks.

"Here I thought maybe your beautiful ass wanted to see me" He teases and my cheeks turn pink "Kie's not here right now"

"Oh, that's okay. I'll just go-" I take a step back but JJ waves me off, pulling me into the chateau.

"You can hang with Pope, Makoa and I" He offers and I spot Makoa lounging on the sofa bed while Pope sits at the table.

"I don't want to bother you guys" I say uneasily.

"Don't be stupid" JJ scoffs, heading over to the fridge in the kitchen.

"What JJ means is that you don't bother us, Alli" Pope assures me.

"Come chill" Makoa beckons me, patting the bed next to him.

The boys welcoming approach and comforting nature completely puts me at ease, causing me to smile softly and sit down next to my friend.

"Beer, princess?" JJ offers me, holding a cold can out to me.

"Thank you, JJ" I grin at him and he winks at me.

The blonde boy hands Makoa and Pope their own before settling down on the bed with Makoa and I.

As I take a drink from my can, I watch JJ distractedly play with Makoa's hand and my smile only widens. The Maybank boy must feel my stare because he looks at me and coughs awkwardly, letting go of Makoa's hand.

"Nice polish, Asterix" JJ comments on the boy's black nails.

"Alli did it for me" Makoa grins, nodding at me.

"Can you do mine?" JJ asks me hopefully and I nod with a smile.

"What colour do you like?" I question curiously, putting my can down to look through my purse.

"Blue" JJ answers.

I pull out an ocean blue and show it to the boy with a happy grin.

"This one will match your eyes" I tell him matter of factly.

"You been starin' at my eyes, princess?" JJ flirts and I feel my face heating up.

"No, not staring. I just noticed" I shrug and he grins widely.

"It's okay to stare. I don't mind" He winks at me and Makoa punches him in the arm.

"Will you stop teasing her?" Makoa huffs out.

"Jealous, Ko?" JJ smirks in response and the brunette practically growls at him in anger.

Makoa gets up and decides to join Pope at the table, helping him tinker with an old radio. I turn to JJ who flops onto his stomach and holds out his hands to me.

I paint JJ's nails with the blue polish before sitting down at the table to paint Pope's with a light purple that I catch him admiring although JJ had to coax him into letting me paint them in the first place.

While I'm finishing up the door opens to reveal John B and Sarah who stroll in, the latter pressing a kiss to my head while the former studies me.

"Whatcha doin?" John B chirps in amusement.

"Princess painted our nails" JJ answers, showing off his blue set.

"What colour are you using, blondie?" John B queries as Sarah sits down next to me.

"Lilac" I hum before looking up at him "Do you want me to do yours?"

"Eh, purple's not my colour" John B shrugs.

"I have other colours" I smile warmly, pulling a couple more polishes out my handbag.

"I like the red" He tells me and I grin.