Love Drunk 2.0: Chapter Four

Last chapter Lainie and Dex were getting along very well, their marriage was back on track. Keira and Joshua met up in secret to continue their budding romance. Drew employed an assistant for his latest project, one who Daisy enjoyed teasing and who enjoyed being teased. It is now the end of summer, almost time to begin or return to university. What will the gang do with their last couple of days?

Dexter Maloney watched his wife attempt to leave their bedroom and felt the overwhelming urge to stop her. "Freckles!" he whined and grabbed hold of her from behind.

"Dexy!" Lainie let out a surprised squeal as she felt her husband's arms grip her tightly, but gently, around her neck.

He kissed her neck a few times before turning her to face him and taking hold of her hands. "Thank you!" he smiled as his watery eyes fixed onto hers.

"For what?" she shook her head in confusion.

"For coming back to me!" he pulled her into a tight embrace and gazed at her adoringly. 

Lainie giggled a little then seeing the serious expression on his face, stopped and returned his gaze.

"I love you Evelyn Dawn Maloney!"

"And I love you Dexter William Maloney!" Lainie giggled again as Dexter frowned at her. It had been a wonderful week for him, he felt like he had his wife all to himself lately despite the lack of privacy. The house would soon be quieter though, Keira was going back to university in a couple of days and all the boys minus Luke were already back at school. Dexter was going to miss his daughter terribly, but with her mother showing her love for him again, he could just about survive!

Lainie gave him a cheeky grin and kissed him swiftly on the lips, "I'll love you more when you pick up your dirty clothes off of the floor!" she scolded as he sighed and kissed her back before doing as he was told.

Erin Maloney was feeling down lately, and her husband had noticed. Ashton was at a loss as to how he could make her feel better, he'd asked Lainie to take her out for coffee or shopping to cheer her up. But what Erin was sad about didn't have anything to do with herself, as Ash was about to find out.

As she sat down beside her husband, laying her head on his shoulder and closing her eyes, she felt him tense up. "Ash, we need to talk about Liam!" she mumbled and stroked his hand.

Ash relaxed a little when the sentence didn't end with "I want a divorce!" but the mention of his youngest son's name concerned him. "What about Liam honey?" dreading her answer he waited for it patiently but held his breath.

Suddenly Erin fell into his arms and burst into tears. "Heyheyhey, baby!" Ash kissed her hair and held her tightly.

"Oh Ash! I don't want people to hurt him!" she cried.

"What do you mean? Who would hurt him?" Erin sighed through her sobs and explained...

"He's been so subdued Ash! Haven't you noticed?"

"I...he's a very sensitive and emotional boy Erin!"

"No Ash, that's not it! Cormac was rude to him, it really hurt his feelings. He's not been right since! If that boy thinks he can poke fun at my Liam then he's got another thing coming!"

"I really don't think he would..."

"Then how do you explain Liam's pain?"

"So what if he likes baking muffins! So what if his favourite colour at 13 years old is pink! He's my baby and I love him! He's the newborn I held in my arms and he looked up at me in wonder with my husband's eyes, your eyes Ashton. He's the child I never thought I'd have, after being blessed with James I never imagined we'd have another! So Liam is a little different, but he's healthy and happy and I don't care!"

"I accept that he's different Ash! He always has been! But he was so sad about Cormac! He thinks he hates him! I don't like seeing him cry like that! And he hasn't got over it!"

Ash sighed and squeezed his wife affectionately. "What do you suggest we do?"

"Right now?" she replied without moving.

"Yeah!"

Erin pressed back into his chest and rubbed her cheek on his forearm. "Just hold me?"

"You got it!" Ash whispered and buried his head in her hair.

"And promise me you'll never try to change our baby!" Ash felt a little insulted and hurt at his wife's request. He would never even consider it! Liam was his son, no matter what!

"What's there to change?" he mumbled softly into her neck.

"He's not as strong as you or James, Ashton! He'll never be masculine like the two of you, manly!" Ash stroked Erin's hair tenderly and nodded.

"No, but he'll be our boy! And that's all that matters!"

Ash decided to take a rather delicate approach regarding Liam and his not so nice encounter with Cormac Hayes. James had always been protective and loving towards his younger brother, it was only right that he be the one to find out exactly what had happened to upset Liam so much. "Hey kiddo got a minute?" Liam smiled at still being called kiddo despite his opinion that he was a teenager now.
"Only if I can join your band, I'm 13 now!" James tutted as Liam chuckled to himself. 

 "Can you play an instrument shorty? No you can't, but nevermind that, I just wanted to check you were okay." Liam gave his brother a fake puzzled look.
"What do you mean?"

 "Dad says Cormac gave you a hard time the other week. Wanna talk about it?" Liam stared into space, remembering Cormac's harsh words, how they stung at the time.

 Looking up at his big brother, he sighed and got the whole thing off of his chest. "He was mean, I think he hates me because all I wanted was to hang out and he yelled at me!" Liam's bottom lip quivered and his eyes welled up.  "He told me to beat it, he called me a kid! I'm not a kid Jamesie!" James rubbed his little brother's shoulder affectionately.
"No, you're growing up! We all are! Look, don't worry about Cormac! He's just a big jerk!"

Liam hung his head and sniffed back tears, "No he's not! He's wonderful! But I'm just a little freak, his sister Evie said so! She's so mean, how come her brothers are so cool and she's a little witch?"

 James was slightly speechless. Cormac could be a jerk, he had a chip on his shoulder and was constantly on Rory's back about something. James just couldn't understand why Liam was defending him! Evie on the other hand was just a child, and she was probably emulating her older brother who she worshipped. Cormac was her favourite and they were very close. "Liam, Cormac is the freak, not you! And he's not worth your time believe me, Rory has such a hard time with him, he's a total loser!" Tears ran down Liam's cheeks as his brother put Cormac down in front of him, he didn't like hearing bad things about him.

 James hugged Liam tightly, seeing him cry was too much for him to bear. He was far too good for Cormac Hayes, he didn't deserve Liam as a friend! "Hey, don't cry little bro, I love you!"

"I want you to stay away from Cormac and Evie Hayes okay?" James ordered him sternly, holding him protectively.
"Wh-why? I...I like Cormy!" James growled and squeezed him into his chest.
"I mean it, and if that little bee-atch calls you a freak again, I'll send Keira round to claw her eyes out!"

Luke Maloney was meeting his girlfriend and taking her out one last time before she went back to university. Rather than say hello or speak any greeting for that matter, Luke let his lips speak to Rosie in a different way as they stood in the rain.

 "Oh Lukey!" Rosie mumbled, he'd been so affectionate since they became a couple.
"Rosie, Rosie, I...I'm so gonna miss you! I want to look at you forever!" Rosie giggled sweetly as the sensation of his lips still lingered on hers.
"Lukey..." was all she managed to get out in her loved up daze.
"I know, it's not possible, so I'll memorise your face and dream of you every night until you come home to me!" Luke's blue eyes sparkled in the daylight as Rosie's heart swelled.
"Oh Lukey!"

Luke's facial expression turned to sadness as he scanned the beautiful brown eyes of the girl he loved. "I wish you didn't have to go!" Rosie felt a lump form in her throat, she wished that too.
"Lukey you can come and visit?"

"I got you a little something..." Luke blushed and pulled something out from underneath the back of his jacket.

Rosie got a pleasant surprise when he produced a pretty bouquet of red roses. "Oh my..."she stammered and let out a little giggle.

"Roses...for my Rosie!" Luke mumbled and blushed even more. Rosie smiled, feeling the happy tears sting her eyes.
"I've never been given flowers before!"
"So I'm your first?" Luke laughed softly, "Well these are the first of many!"
"Of many what?" Rosie winked as Luke spluttered with embarrassment.
"Uh...we're gunna be late for the film!" Rosie giggled again, he was so cute when he was bashful!

Another bashful young man was about to be tortured by Rosie's twin sister, Daisy. Kieran McLean was instructed by Doctor Mitchell to start a fire in the back garden, for what he had no clue but he always did as he was told. Daisy was a little more curious than he was and decided to annoy him. "HEY!" she called as he groaned, Daisy Mitchell had teased him since he started working for her father and he found it surprisingly satisfying.

Daisy tutted and huffed at him when he didn't answer. "I'm talking to you?" Kieran focused on the flames licking below them as she continued to tut and sigh.

"So what are you burning? Hello?" It was now Kieran's turn to sigh as Daisy refused to give up. "I'm telling my daddy you were rude to me!" Kieran suddenly turned to face her and growled.

"That's fine Miss Mitchell you do that! And I'll tell him that you are distracting me from my work, having a detrimental effect on my performance as his assistant!" Daisy clicked her tongue and scowled at him.
"Don't speak to me like that!" Was all she could reply.
"Or what?" Kieran had never felt so brave as Daisy finally smiled at him, rocking back and forth on her massive wedges.

"Wow, you're really sassy when you want to be aren't you? And here was me thinking you were all braces, freckles and specs! Colour me stunned, I'm actually a little aroused!" Kieran had no idea how to take that. As he searched her face for some kind of clue on how to proceed, she licked her lips and pouted.

"I think I'll just sit over there and...watch!" she whispered, winked at him and turned heel towards the garden chairs behind them as his legs began to give way and threatened to drop him on the ground.

He looked at the ground in silence as she swaggered over the the nearest chair, looking over her shoulder and tracing her top lip with her tongue.

"Miss Mitchell..." he finally found the voice to speak, "...please! I'm really trying to work here!" Daisy gave him an innocent look and wiggled her hips.
"And I'm only sitting here, taking in a little sunshine before I go back to dullsville university! Now go about your business while I get sweaty!" she winked.

Kieran stared at Daisy for a very long time as she sat with her eyes closed, letting out little sighs now and again for effect. She was so beautiful, legs and body to die for! The kind of girl that Kieran only dreamed about when he was at university, he knew she mocked him but he enjoyed the attention whether it was for her own amusement or not. He imagined what it would be like to kiss those lips, hold those hands and wrap his arms around those shoulders.

Doctor Mitchell appeared as Kieran ogled Daisy and she allowed him to. Drew wasn't stupid, he knew exactly what his daughter was up to. "Oh good!" Drew called to Kieran, "Fire ready, cool!"

He stopped in front of Daisy and glowered at her, "Sweetie, we're working here!" Daisy did not move nor did she acknowledge her father. "Daisy?"
"Yeah yeah!" she finally snapped, "I'm only sitting here daddy!"
"Still, this is top secret so I'd appreciate it if you humoured your old dad and went inside!" he ordered through gritted teeth.

Rosie sighed heavily and got up from her chair reluctantly as Drew patted Kieran on the shoulder and gazed at the fire with appreciation. "Good job kid!"
"HA!" Daisy piped up, "It's just a stupid fire!"

"INSIDE DAISY!" Drew shouted angrily as she scurried up the steps and into the house. "Now, you ready for phase two kid?" Kieran looked confused as Drew chuckled and slapped his shoulder again.

Looking sympathetically at him, Drew said quietly, "Son, you have to rise above her little games!" Kieran tried to pretend he didn't know what Doctor Mitchell meant and shrugged. "Kid, Daisy is tormenting you and it has to stop!" Kieran blushed and hung his head. "Kid look at me!" Doctor Mitchell ordered, and he obliged.

"She's gone in a couple of days, then we can get down to work. But for now, don't play into her hands okay?" Kieran nodded and turned to tame the fire, as Drew sighed. He knew the boy was besotted with his daughter, he just hoped that when she went back to university that young Kieran would forget about her and concentrate on their project! But Drew knew how feminine wiles could distract a man, Charlotte often stole his attention, and he never learned...so why would Kieran?

Rosie arrived back from her date with Luke to find her sister pouting in the hall. "Daisy what's up?" she knew her twin could be a drama queen at times. How different these twin sisters were! Daisy finally spoke.
"Daddy is so annoying!" she grunted.
"How so?" Rosie sighed impatiently.
"He won't let me hang out with the nerd!"

Rosie gave her sister a disapproving look. "Daisy, you don't want to hang out with Kieran, you want to torture the poor guy! And it has to stop!" Daisy gasped and shook her head, trying to deny this.

"I can't believe...just because he's a major dorkhead, doesn't mean..." Rosie cut in with annoyance.
"You know full well what you're doing to that boy and it's shameful!" Daisy let out a frustrated cry and shook her head even harder.
"It's alright for you, you've got Luke with his big eyes and stubble! I just want to have a little fun is that too much to ask???"

"Not at someone else's expense Daisy, no!" Rosie replied flatly as Daisy narrowed her eyes and sniffed.

"Well, I'm going for a shower!" Daisy mumbled and stomped upstairs in a strop, as Rosie rolled her eyes. Daisy could be so childish sometimes, it was exhausting!

During a small break, Kieran went upstairs to visit Isaac. The two had become fast friends and Kieran often spent his spare time with the nine year old. He saw a lot of himself in Isaac, an awkward boy who didn't fit in any cliques.

To make him laugh, Kieran would poke fun at himself and his awkwardness. As he tried to be hip, "Cool bro, yeah!" Isaac giggled and stubbed the carpet with his shoe.
"Kier, you're such a goof! But listen, we need to talk!" Isaac looked seriously up at his new friend.

"Uh-oh, sounds bad! Is it bad?" Kieran raised an eyebrow.
"It's about Daisy..." Isaac continued to stare him down, and a fire raged inside Kieran's stomach at the mention of her name!

Since school had started back, Rory was getting along with Cormac a bit better. Perhaps it was because Cormac had a lot of free periods, being in his final year, and they rarely saw each other. Whatever the reason, Rory wasn't going to complain.

"We have practice tonight at the mansion. It's best you don't come, you're persona non grata at casa Maloney right now!" Rory announced, rather cheerily as Cormac gave him a surprised smirk.

"Oh yeah? How so? Is it that little pretty boy again? Did his balls not drop yet?" Cormac cackled and tackled his brother's plastic men on the fussball table.

Rory's expression did not change as he concentrated on their game. "No, it's got nothing to do with Damo!" he replied quietly. "It's about Liam, uncle Ash is after your balls on a platter!"

Cormac immediately stopped playing and looked at his brother with a hint of fear in his eyes, as well as shame. "Liam? But...I..." he had no words, he felt bad at the time but that was nearly two weeks ago, surely it had been forgotten by now? "Why?" was all he could manage to say as Rory shrugged and beat him at their game while he wasn't focusing.

"Baaaam! You lose brother hehe! It's because you really hurt his feelings, I dunno! All I know is today at school Jambo and Damo said you're not to come around any more because you made Liam cry!" Cormac stood frozen on the spot as his heart beat violently in his chest and he felt a cold, clammy sweat take over his entire body.

Rory swiftly changed the subject and demanded a rematch, "One more go?" Cormac shook his head clear from the shock and guilt and replied,
"Sure, why not!"

Every time Cormac felt bad and needed someone to talk to, he always turned to his older brother. After losing again to Rory, he walked straight into Joshua's room as he was getting ready to go out. "WOW!" Cormac exclaimed, as Josh examined the shirt he was thinking of wearing.
"What?" he snapped as he attempted to button it up.

"Is, is that a love bite on your neck big brother?" Cormac chuckled as Joshua's face grew hot.
"What do you want???" he shouted as Cormac's smile faded.

"I...can we talk?"
"We can if it doesn't last longer than ten minutes! I'm meeting someone...can you really see it? Is it that obvious?" Josh fussed with his neck as Cormac frowned in confusion.
"What?"
"The hickey you dweeb!" Josh barked as he pointed to the bruise that was slightly hidden by his collar.

"No, it's...yeah it is! You're not wearing a black shirt again are you? Keira will think you're going to a wake, not for coffee or whatever it is that the pair of you do!" Josh blushed even more at the sound of Keira's name. His brother wasn't stupid, he knew that he was seeing Keira, he was the only one that knew and he kept it quiet. "Gimme five minutes of your time, please? And then you can go jump Keira's bones all afternoon!" Josh coughed in embarrassment.
"Crass dude! We're not even doing that yet!" Josh sighed as Cormac rolled his eyes, then added "Okay five minutes!"

 Cormac explained to his brother what happened with Liam almost two weeks before, the day Josh and Keira got...close. Joshua listened and did not interrupt as Cormac explained how he'd snapped at the boy for asking to hang out with him, how he regretted it immediately after. How if he could change what he did and said, he would!

 "I dunno..." he breathed shakily, "...he just...I don't know what to do! Am I really such a jerk? What do I do?" Cormac ran his hand through his hair, feeling a lump in his throat as he closed his eyes and remembered Liam's little face, his lip trembling as he yelled at him. If he was honest, that image had never really left him!

Joshua looked down at his younger brother with a slight sneer, "So, you were an a$$hole to a little kid who happens to worship you and you want what? Reassurance from me that you're not an a$$hole? Come on Mac, grow a pair!" Cormac gasped slightly at the harsh words Joshua had given him. But deep down that was why he'd come to him in the first place, for honesty! "Look, be a man and apologise to Liam! He's 13 years old for Christ's sake! Why would you even treat him like that in the first place?" Cormac shook his head and muttered,
"I don't know I..." Josh butted in.
"You're a d*ck!" Cormac nodded despite himself.
"Yes, that's what I am!" Joshua breathed heavily and headed over to his dresser, changed his shirt and made his way to the door as Cormac slid off the bed and sat at the end, still feeling awful.

 "I'm off out now, will you be okay?" Josh waited for his brother to answer, wanting so desperately to meet with Keira but worried about Cormac at the same time.

 "Yeah!" he finally answered. "I'll be fine. You go see your dream girl!"

"Liam's young, he'll forgive you easier than an adult would! Easier than James or uncle Ash would. It's them you have to worry about. You can't go around talking to others the way you do to me and Rory! Try and pretend that they're Evie and you'll get on better, you never yell at her!" Josh scolded him, "I gotta go!"

 Dexter and Lainie could barely keep their hands off of one another since their reconciliation over a week ago. Showing affection in front of their children was becoming a common thing, so when Damon returned from school to find his parents locking lips once again, it was a little too much for him. "You do realise you are scarring me for the rest of my life?" he groaned as his father muttered a shut up in between devouring his mother.

 Keira appeared from the top of the stairs as Damon pretended to gag. "Oh Kee, thank goodness! Please make them stop!" he begged his sister as she laughed softly, happy to see her mother and father getting along.

 "Kee Bee, your brother needs to fall in love so he can appreciate my needs!" Dexter winked at his wife as Damon gagged even more and Keira nodded in agreement.
"Yes daddy he does, love is wonderful Damey!"
"How do you know???" Damon demanded as he gave her an inquisitive look, followed by their parents.

 Keira blushed and avoided all of their eyes, "Um I...I've heard! I'm going out!" she announced and headed for the door.

 Her father caught up with her and took hold of her arm, "Kee Bee!" he shouted a little too loudly. Keira panicked, hoping that the ensemble of neck wear she had chosen sufficiently hid the love bites she had enjoyed at the hands of Joshua Hayes.
"What daddy, I'll be late!" she huffed as he stood face to face with her, looking her up and down with worry etched on his face.

 "You are NOT going out like THAT!" Keira screwed her eyes shut and let out a frustrated cry.
"Like what daddy?" Lainie made her disapproval known as she called to her husband to let their daughter go.
"Dexy, she's a young woman, leave her be!"

"Daddy!" Keira exclaimed, "What is wrong with this?" Dexter shook his head and answered her question.
"Baby you're showing cleavage and you're wearing red lipstick!" his voice was a pitch higher than usual.
"Well I bet you didn't complain when mum wore a dress like this to your dates, or smeared red lipstick all over your..." Dexter coughed and butted in.
"Kee Bee!!!"

Lainie intervened once more as her husband and daughter were at a stand-off. "Dexy? Let her go, she's young and she's only got one more day left of her summer!" Dexter nodded reluctantly as Keira spun around and raced out of the door.

 "Bye, don't wait up!" she giggled and slammed the door behind her. Lainie was just happy to see her daughter socialising.

"Dexy, you need to lighten up! She's not a little girl any more!" Lainie beamed at him as he softened. 
"Yeah dad, take a chill pill!" Damon piped up behind them, he was watching the whole show silently. 

Dexter looked sad, thinking of his baby girl growing up. 20 years old, now a woman! "Freckles, I just want her to be safe!"
"She will be, she's smart!" Dexter tried to take comfort in his wife's confidence, but he always worried about his Kee Bee! And if he was honest, he really wanted her to spend her last days of summer with him instead.

Roxanne Hayes was feeling the same way about her oldest child. Although Joshua had been away most of the summer, this was different and longer. Roxy worried for him, and her husband Matthew knew this. All he could do was comfort her and let her vent. "Roxy, he won't be alone. He'll have Keira and the Mitchells looking out for him. And he'll be back before you know it." Matthew soothed her.

"I know!" Roxy agreed, "But I'm his mother and I feel things!" Matthew nuzzled her shoulder and breathed her in.
"He's 18, practically a man! Let's go inside, it's raining!" he tried to reason as he felt her silent sobs reverberate onto him.

 Matthew lifted her up off of the lounger and held her close. "He'll phone, he'll text, email, skype..."
"I know!" Roxy sniffed, choked up from weeping for her boy. She was usually such a strong person, but her eldest flying the nest was just a sign that her children were all getting older, and it scared her.

 "No matter what happens, he's still our son...and I still love you Roxanne! With all of my heart! When we eloped all those years ago, I wondered if we were caught up in a whirlwind. But now I can't remember what it was like to not have you in my life, I have no idea how I survived without you being here!"
"Matty..."
"No, hear me out! We got married in a fever like that song! And I always wondered if it would last! It did, we raised three amazing boys and an adorable little girl! We're still here, together, and we have to trust our children to make their own way in the world!"

"So stop worrying, and be happy for Josh! He's finding his way! And he's so confident like his mother!" Roxy smiled a little and pressed her hand to Matthew's heart.
"Thank you!" she whispered.
"You're welcome baby, now let's get inside! We're soaked as it is!!!"

 Keira arrived at the Hayes' houseboat just as the rain started. But when she saw Joshua standing waiting for her she didn't care if she got wet! She ran to him and jumped into his arms, kissing him hungrily as he laughed under her lips. "Kee!" he mumbled as he gasped for breath.

Keira didn't answer, she didn't let go or stop kissing him. Until he gently pushed her down onto the floor of the houseboat.

The rain soaked through her dress and her hair felt heavy with the excess moisture, but Keira didn't care as Josh kissed her tenderly on the cheek and squeezed her hands.

 "Joshy!" she breathed excitedly, "What if someone sees?"
"My parents are inside watching television, Cormac is on his XBox and moping, and Rory is heading over to yours for band practice."
"Oh okay!" she relaxed a little, she wasn't ashamed of being with Joshua, she just wanted to have him to herself for a little longer before term started and they would be busy with classes.

"Kee, you wanna go to that special place in the woods? The cave where..." Keira suddenly cut into his question.
"Joshy!" she whispered, and he felt her heart speed up against his chest.

 "What?" he laughed a little, then seeing her expression his hands tensed around hers and a panic began to rumble in his gut.
"Your sister!" she hissed. "She's..."

 "...standing behind us!" Josh spun around to see Evie holding a bright, multi-coloured umbrella in her hand, smiling impishly.

 "Hi Josh, Hi Keira!" Evie greeted them, she seemed amused catching them in a compromising position.

 "Hey shorty!" Josh put on a fake smile and approached his sister warily.
"Joshy!" Keira grabbed his arm as he gently shook her off.
"It's...fine, how long have you been standing there?" he questioned her, but in the nicest tone he could manage.

 "Long enough!" she nodded towards Keira, "Is she your girlfriend?" Josh looked into her eyes, unsure of how to deal with this. Evie was quite ruthless when it came to getting her own way, and he just knew she would use this situation to her advantage.

 "Evie, I was just trying to comfort Kee because she's going to miss her dad when we go to university." Evie gave him a confused frown.
"Oh, I thought you were kissing her because you fancied her. You still have her portrait in your room and..."
"EVIE!" Josh blushed. "Stop that!"
"You're madly in love with her, we all know that!" she bobbed her head from side to side, as if her brother was behaving strangely and just needed to tell the truth.
"Okay, okay! Please don't tell her about the portrait? And please don't tell mum and dad about Kee?" Evie stared at her brother for a very long time.

Finally she spoke, "What's it worth?"

After having a heart to heart with his little brother, James promised Liam that he could sit in on their practice with the possibility of joining them when he got older. It was a small gesture to cheer him up. "Damo, Liam wants to watch. Is that okay with you?" Damon continued to play an unintelligible tune on his keyboard, but managed to answer his cousin.
"Sure!"

 "Figured out what you wanna learn titch?" James had offered to teach his brother how to play the drums, but Liam seemed to like the keyboard his cousin was playing at that moment.
"I dunno yet!" But he wanted to keep his options open. "Where's Rory? Is Cormy going to be here?" A low, uncontrollable growl escaped James' lips as Rory burst into the studio panting.

 "Hey guys! Sorry I'm late, it just started to rain and I got soaked. Had to sit in the shelter 'til it went off!"
"No worries!" Damon was still glued to the keyboard. "Liam wants to join the band!" Rory tried not to look as annoyed as he felt by this news. He simply smiled as James stared him down, waiting for him to protest. But judging by how much the Maloneys disliked his older brother at that moment, he decided to keep in with them.

"Ya, sure!" he mumbled, "Maybe next summer eh?" Liam nodded enthusiastically as he and James listened to the tune Damon was creating. Rory was already the odd one out, another Maloney wasn't exactly going to do any harm...or was it?

Upon returning home, Keira had snuck into her parents' room and raided her mother's drawer for some special underwear. All of her own stuff was babyish, and if she and Josh were to get some alone time back on campus, she wanted something to get him excited.

She admired herself in the mirror, the pale pink camisole with matching bottoms was perfect. And they fitted like a glove. Keira definitely felt sexy in them. She just hoped her mother wouldn't notice they were gone. She took them off, put on her pyjamas and wiped the make-up off of her face before getting into bed.

 But just as she was about to get under the covers and go to sleep, there was a small knock on her door and her brother Luke came shuffling in, looking sad! "Can I sit with you for a bit?" he pleaded as she patted the bed and he climbed up beside her.

 "What's the matter?" she sighed and thought about her afternoon with Joshua, how they had to bribe Evie into keeping quiet for now about their relationship.
"I...I'm lovesick and she hasn't even left yet!" Luke whined as Keira laughed quietly.
"Luke, you can always visit her on campus. And there's the holidays to look forward to. Christmas!"

 "I know!" he nodded solemnly. "But this has been the best summer ever and...oh Kee I love her so much! My Rosie, she's my life!"

Keira tended to agree, this had been the best summer ever. She never imagined that Joshua Hayes would make her feel this way. She understood how Luke felt, but at least she would be able to see Joshua on campus every day. She wondered how their lives would change not having to be so private about their relationship. And it made her feel excited about the weeks and months ahead!

To Be Continued...

Next time, it's all happening at uni! The Mitchell twins, Keira and Josh go to school, and life begins!