"Well now you have me and my amazing advice."

"Thank you."

"What are sisters for?"

"Enough about me- how was Klaus Mikaelson?"

"He's hotter than Klaus! Okay, you ready? So basically..."

*

"Seriously! Where did that guy come from?"

"Sent from the gods I think, and carved like a greek one." I shrugged. "So- what time is Matt coming?"

My number one mission is to make sure my sister keeps her head straight. She's too nice to reject Matthew but she needs to grow a pair of balls. This is like team Edward or team Jacob; team Stefan or Damon and Peeta or Gale. I barely know this Matt guy but if Theo doesn't like him, I don't like him, period. I'm team Theo, all the way.

"Six-thirty."

"Seven p.m. curfew."

"That's suspicious though-"

"Can I come? We can pretend I just had my heartbroken and I need ice cream and then I'll third wheel to keep him from trying anything."

"We can't do that!"

"Ugh. Tell him you're having dinner at that time so to come a bit later, and then I'll say 'nine p.m. curfew' when he comes to pick you up."

"That's like, two hours..."

"Well then make him hate you so much he brings you home early."

"Easier said than done."

"Just think about Theo the whole time. Does he know about this?"

"No..."

"Wait what? You're gonna tell him though, right?"

"How though? Hey Theo, just went out with Matthew, but don't worry, we're just friends. Sound believable?"

"Yeah..?"

"Nope, because he'll twist those words and he'll hear - Hey Theo, went on a date with my boyfriend, we kissed and had sex and I hate you."

She ran her hands through her hair and I couldn't help but laugh at her.

"Look at you, with all your boy problems and shit."

"Who would've thought..."

"Wait- I have an idea."

"Spill."

"What if, you text Matt now, you tell him you can't do tonight, but you can do this afternoon. Then, for example, if he comes at four say I want you home for dinner by five. Then tonight you come home, clear things over with Theo and go to school tomorrow as boyfriend and girlfriend."

"Slow down for a second- wait, that could actually work."

"See? I'm not just a pretty face."

She pulled out her phone and started typing.

*Hey Matt, I'm sorry but I can't make it tonight :/ I'm free this afternoon though if that works?*

"Now we wait." I raised my glass of orange juice.

He replied faster than expected, making us both pounce on her phone to read the message.

*That's fine with me, when should I pick you up?*

*four?*

*I'll be there.*

"See, easy."

"-For you to say, now I have to actually face him."

"Ew. Just remember what I said. Pretend he's just a girl from your team, or a kid who's like, fifteen. Oh no- wait, I've got it. Pretend he's gay. He's clearly off limits and he's your bestie."

"He won't seem gay if he tries to kiss me again."

"Don't give him any reason to!" I slapped her arm. "He kissed you last time because you let him, so don't let him."

"I won't, promise."

"Good."

I followed the address expecting to arrive at some shitty apartments just to pull up to the flats on the north side of town - these are more like conjoined houses than small apartments. Twenty-minutes-away my ass, she's a slow driver, it only took me ten.

I sat in my car after parking it, looking up at my mother's new home. How could she afford this? She couldn't have gotten that much money from the divorce, and it hasn't even been finalised yet. How long has she been saving up for this?

*

I went back home after leaving Camila's, and to my relief, but not surprise, no one was home, so I got changed and ready in peace. I stalled a bit as I was getting ready, knowing Mom likes to lie in on her days off work.

It killed me to leave Camila's house this morning. Will we ever be able to go back to just friends? She seems to be handling this okay. I just don't understand what happened - one second she was all over me and the next she was rejecting me. It's like something just clicked and she didn't want me anymore.

Will I get to kiss her again? Having to ignore her and block out intrusive thoughts this morning was almost impossible, I won't be able to keep this up all day, everyday.

The only reason I haven't protested is because she'll still my friend. I haven't lost her completely, and I need her company more than anything.

*

My knuckles knocked on the door numbered '14' three times before dropping back to my side. I don't know why I'm nervous. Scared maybe? Should I tell her the truth about Dad? She'd definitely make me move in with her if I did. Maybe that's a good idea? No, it's not. I can't leave-

"Theo!" The door swung open, my Mom stood with a smile and her arms held out. Her curly hair was pinned back, showing her freckled covered face with a couple stray pieces hanging freely.

"Hey, Mom."

After an awkward hug she invited me into her homey flat.

There were many windows, I don't think it could possibly get any brighter. She had a lot of plants, which I didn't really expect from her but they looked alright, and white walls. There were a couple book shelves, also surprising me. Mom never had time to read.

She led me into the kitchen. White, green and brown were the only colours in sight in the spotless room.

"I'm just making lunch, will you eat pasta bake?"

"Sure..."

"Have a look around, I'm going to check on it."

I left as she opened the oven wandering into the sitting room. The smell of fresh linen was apparent as my eyes studied the crappy artwork on the walls. What are they even meant to be?

This isn't like Mom at all. Or is it? I don't even know anymore. Maybe it is and it was Dad who changed her.

I started to leave the room and I felt something stroke my leg, glancing down to see a small red cat. That's when it clicked. Mom doesn't like cats.

"Mom?" I went back to the kitchen, "Is someone else here?"

That's how she can afford it. She lives with someone else. Is it a roommate or has she got a new boyfriend already? No- she'd tell me, wouldn't she?

"Well now that you've asked-"

I can't do this right now. I opened my mouth to speak, but no words fell out. Instead- I felt a hand on my shoulder, making me freeze in my position. Another one stretched over my eyes, covering them. "Guess who."

It wasn't until I heard her voice that I sighed a long sigh. "Becca?"

I spun around to see my sister with the biggest smile plastered across her face. "Theo!"

Her arms stretched around me into a tight hug before I could complain, but I eased into it and even hugged her back. "I missed you."

I swear she's shrank by the way her head rested on my chest. She still stank of that Victoria Secret perfume she's worn since she was sixteen.

"You could've texted me." I stated, unintentionally a bit harsher than I should've.

"I'm sorry- I didn't think you'd want to talk to me."

"Of course I would have." I pulled away.

"Well then you could've texted me." She crossed her arms.

"No arguing you two!" Mom came around from behind the counter. "I'm just glad to see you both together again."

We both gave in and dropped our act, smiling. I have missed her constant nagging when I left her bedroom door open, or the way she'd cry over a different boy every week and then magically feel better again after she did her makeup and listened to Nicki Minaj. Well actually, maybe I don't miss that. But I did miss her.

"Who's hungry?"

*

When I asked if someone else was here, I meant live here. But that was quickly overshadowed by Becca's appearance.

"This is great Mom, thank you." Rebecca looked oddly like Mom, with the way she left her dark curly hair down, but it was apparent she was Dad's daughter with that nose. One thing I'm grateful I didn't inherit.

"Yeah, thank you."

"So Rebecca, how's college?"

I zoned out as she spoke about which classes she was taking and who she had made friends with while I scanned the room, analysing things.

There were no family pictures, not even ones from our house Mom took. Everything looked like it had been here for a while, there's no way Mom could've done this by herself in a few days, and worked at the same time.

"Have you applied for college, Theo?"

I snapped out of it to answer Mom's question. "Dad doesn't want me to go."

"That's not up to him." Becca answered.

"I'm meant to be co-owner of the company after I graduate. We went to this meeting thing this weekend with investors. But then I kind of left and didn't sign the contract thing and haven't talked to him since so- I don't know."

"Theodore, you don't have to do what he tells you to, you're nearly an adult."

"I know." I rubbed my temple. "He needs me to keep the company going."

"I'll talk to him." Mom stated, her cutlery tightly gripped. "He has destroyed his life for that business, he won't ruin yours to."

"I know- I said that to him but he didn't react well so..."

My voice was getting stiff and I hated talking about it, I wanted to change the subject to anything other than this.

My eyes wandered so I didn't have to face either of them, and landed on a pair of men's dress shoes left on the rack beside the door. "Mom, do you have a boyfriend?"