I set down my keys on the mantlepiece when I got home and took of my jacket and left it on the staircase to take upstairs later on. As usual, I scurried into the living room and picked up the remote, Deal or No Deal was waiting for me.

"Jace, here, ." My father boomed from the kitchen. It's cool, I was used to it by now. He was so loud that once, our neighbours had a go at us for being obnoxious and disturbing their beauty sleep.

I groaned into the cushion before slamming the remote down and sliding open the glass door that separated the living room and the kitchen. The kitchen tiles felt cold under my feet and the room carried a stench that smelt a lot like whisky.

"Jimmy," my dad started in his usual drunken slur, I wanted to correct him but I knew I shouldn't. "Shouldn't you be a little more caring of your sister?"

"What?"

"Shouldn't you be a little-"

"I heard what you said but what do you mean." I mentally face palmed myself a million and one times.

"She was home alone while you were galavanting with that boy of yours!" He all but yelled.

"She..I... Wait- she's your blooming daughter! Why do I have all the responsibilities huh?"

Nice one Jace.

Shouting at some old drunken dude.

"I work so that we can afford this house and so we can eat! What do you do?" He yelled.

I crossed my arms over my chest, my heart was racing. I so badly wanted to go and punch the wanker in the face. He wasn't always like this, he only goes on a binge maybe two or three times a month. When he's sober, he's the most friendliest, most loving person you would know but when he's drunk, he's an absolute disgrace of a father. He's just mean and for some reason, he blames everything on me. Whether it was because I'm not his biological son or because we can never relate to each other, I don't know.

The worst part? I actually believe all the accusations thrown at me.

To think I get compared to this guy because of my friendliness is beyond me. I feel insulted.

"She can't stay home alone! She's far too young, she could get kidnapped or raped and it'll be all because you care more about that boy than your own sister. Honestly Jimmy, you should've been home. It was lucky that I finished my shift early today."

Oh god, if something did happen, it'll be all my fault. Sure, Cam is like what? Thirteen? But she's naive, she's easily manipulated.

"You already know fully well about those girls that are hurting her! What they they snuck in and attacked her like the rabid animals they are?"

"Shut up! Shut up!" I wiped both my hands down my face, feeling the tears that slipped down my face.

Oh for fucks sake Jace, man the hell up, you big baby. How are you going to protect your sister when you're a wimp.

"Why are you crying now?" Dad groaned out and took a big gulp of beer.

"Just shut up." I never say shut up to him when he's sober because he'd probably flip out and there's never really a reason to say it to him anyway. "Where is she?" I yelled.

"Upstairs." He muttered.

I shot upstairs, tears streaming down my face. Camellia has been bullied for a few weeks now. I have no idea why they'd pick on her, but they do.

I flung open her door and saw her laying in bed, tucked under the duvet cover and staring up at the ceiling. The room was dark and it was eerily quiet, almost haunting. Her blonde curls were all tangled and her pink pillowcase had dark spots from liquid on them.

"Hey there." I spoke calmly, nothing like the yelling I was doing earlier.

"I heard you shouting. It's that time of the month I guess." She spoke monotonously.

I sat on the edge of her bed, and grabbed her arm. She wasn't reluctant to show me at all, which made me happy because I knew she trusted me. She trusted mum too but she will never tell her about the bullying because as soon as my mum hears about it, she'd probably be coming after the bullies with chainsaws.

Just a slight exaggeration there.

Scratches marked her tender skin, each mark a new injury. They usually faded after a while so nobody really sees them unless they stare intently for ages.

"What did they do this time?"

"Jessica got her nails out. They're like cat claws."

I took a sharp intake of breath. It was weird, just a few weeks ago, Camellia was jokingly threatening me about how she wanted to tell this Jessica girl about mine and Zach's misadventures but now, she hates Jessica's guts because she was kicked out of their friendship clique by her for a stupid reason- she was too kind. Camellia is probably the most sweetest girl in her class and that's probably the reason these girls hate her so much. Apparently kindness isn't appreciated these days.

"Cam, just one more year and you can move to that place in Southampton for your GCSE's." I smiled.

"I hope the grades I earn this year will allow me to move there." She muttered.

This place in Southampton was a school that was quite a few miles away from here, right on the other side of the county, on the border of it in fact. Camellia had been planning to go there ever since she joined secondary school because even though it's a little pricy, it's a gorgeous all girls school with top of the line teachers. The only problem was that it only taught year 10, 11, 12 and 13.

As devastated I would be no longer having Cam in the same school as me so I can keep a watchful eye on her (whenever our timetables aren't clashing), I wanted her to be happy. She's clever and she is actually able to progress onto a better future and deep down, I know the people that go to Southampton aren't bullies like the few people at Kingston.

I ran my fingers through her long blonde hair, mimicking what Zach did when I lay on his lap. It was a simple action but it felt nice and relaxing. "Cam there is no way you're not going to get the grades."

"You used to believe you could get the grades but you never did so you stayed at Kingston." She sighed.

It was true, I used to dream of going to the all boys Southampton school which is a couple minutes walk from the all girls one but I never met the grade expectations.

"Yeah well," I shrug, "I still don't doubt you meeting the expectations."

"I'm scared to go there though." She said quietly.

"What why?"

"Because... I'll only be home during the half terms." She groaned, "living there will be weird."

"I'm sure you'll do fine." I kissed her on the forehead and she gave me a perplexed look.

"What?"

"Ewwww." She made a grossed out face and rubbed rapidly at her forehead.

A few silent moments later, she composed herself and looked up at me with big brown eyes. "I have a confession."

"What is it?"

"You know when I said i'd tell Jessica about you and Zach..." she looked back up at the ceiling, not bothering to finish her sentance.

"You didnt." I stood up off the bed. Me and Zach weren't even a couple! Oh my god, I'm totally screwed. Jessica is going to screw up mine and Zach's life with no hesitation, she'd going to force us out the closet, she'd going to-

"Why?" I crossed my arms. "I told you not to!"

"She was my best friend!" Camellia retorted.

"Well look at her now!" I held up arms up in the air and ran my fingers through my hair. "For god's sake Cam!"

And then I walked out.

- - - -

I brought this nifty piece of jewellery while going to the market with Molly. Apparently she just loves going to the market and looking at all the spices and fruit on sale there.

Yeah right.

The piece of jewellery I brought was a necklace that had some weird symbol. It was an plus symbol on it with ninty degree legs and dots in each square. It looked pretty but I still didn't understand it. Luckily for me, Molly knew about it and thats partially why she likes going to the markets. The necklace had a stringy kind of chain that looked like twine and it was a brownish colour. The pendant was gold and had tiny little ornate patterns on the symbol.

"It's beautiful." she smiled as she put the necklace around my neck and clasped the lock together.

"Thanks, I totally rock it, I know." I snickered.

"No, ew." she smirked. "You just make it look abosolutely rubbish."

"You know thats a lie." I wiggled my eyebrows.

Cassie popped up behind Molly, long blonde hair falling on her shoulders and down her back. She wrapped her arms around Molly's neck from behind and I made a gagging noise.

"Oh quit it." Cassie said in her thick austallian accent and rolled her eyes.

"Never!" I yelled and earned a few stares.

Cassie glanced around the area,"you're so embarrassing."

I stuck my tongue out at her and skipped off. Yup, you heard it right, skipped off. I found myself stood infront of a Moroccan themed market, it looked quite busy and it smelt so nice. I found out that it was a bodycare and skincare market, selling all different types of oils, shampoos and conditioners.

"Why don't you get this massage oil for Jace." Molly said, wiggling her eyebrows. I scoffed and waved her off, looking at the body scrubs.

"Oh come on, i'm sure he'll love it.. I know you would." Cassie giggled.

I rolled my eyes and walked close to where they were stood, snatching the small bottle of oil from their hands and reading it.

Jasper's 'Love You' Rose And Camomile Scented Massage Oil.

Love Your Body with the 'Love You' range. Camomile and Rose leaves your body feeling stress free, glowing and feeling absoloutely devine! Enjoy by yourself or with someone special, they'll Love You!

"We'll get the entire 'Love You' range." Molly said and pulled out a fifty pound note from her purse casually.

"What? Molly!" I tried to stop the man from picking out the entire 'Love You' range but he wouldn't stop. Instead he kept repeating something like 'oh yes, very good very good.'

"Molly!" I groaned out loud and tried to snatch the money away from her so she couldn't pay but it crossed my mine that she could have a whole wad of fifties in her bag. I mean, I have no clue why she all of a sudden think i'm going to jump Jace at any given moment. And with massage oil? that's a little weird.

"Aww you're blushing!" Cassie grinned and pinched my cheeks and jiggling them and putting them into a frown and-

"Leave my cheeks alone!" I slapped her hands away and crossed my arms over my chest, glaring at the two evil demons stood infront of me.

"We're kidding Zachy-poo!" Molly giggled, "But we're seriously not kidding about giving Jace these oils."

"And what if I don't give Jace the oils?" I cocked a brow.

"Then we'll give it to him."

Goddammit.

"Now we need to find a gift bag." Cassie grinned.

-

Back at home, I decided to sit around in my room aimlessly. My eyes were trained on the red gift box in front of me that was big enough to fit the oils that Molly brought and something extra.

Something like a familiar blue ornate wristband with a leathery feel and a gold snake pattered on it.

So maybe I wasn't thinking this through, maybe I was just being stupid but then again, I really wanted to give the bracelet to Jace and Jace only.

Ok sure, it's a stupid concept, you know, the bracelet thing and Torvux but Calvin's given me an earful about hogging my bracelet, being unaffectionate and about the fact he's giving second thoughts about the best friend thing.

Part of me hoped he wouldn't because I don't quite want to come out of the closet to my school just yet but another part of me wanted to, my cocky side. Like I said, my school is generally open minded and if someone did try picking on me about being gay then screw then because hurtful names don't affect me but physical pain however, did hurt. I've never been bullied before but I know that if someone messed around with me, they get the wrath of Liam and my mum and that's the worst kind of wrath.

Of course, Liam's reputation would be on the line and that's partially what's holding me back. Maybe in a year or so when he's gone off to university, maybe that's a good time to come out.

Glancing at the box again and then the bracelet that I was fiddling with, I kept having the exact same thought process.

I just really wanted Jace to wear this bracelet.

In between me miming 'Jace, I love you' multitudinous times to see how it feels, Molly walked in the room with a towel turban on her hair and another towel wrapped around her body, showing off cleavage.

"You look constipated."

"I have a dilemma."

She glanced around the room, looking from the oils to the box to the bracelet and I guess she got the picture. "you want to give your bracelet away?"

"Yes and to Jace." I sighed.

"Why?" She grabbed some clothes from her suitcase but froze in the spot when she heard what I said next.

"Because I fucking love him okay?" It was easy to say that out loud given the amount of times I've practiced. The words just rolled off my tongue and this time, were voiced instead of mimed and this time, I really felt it.

I loved Jace.

I know I thought it before but to be honest, I really, honestly, loved Jace and I'm sure about it.

"And you're serious about this?"

"I'm as serious as a baby being hit by a truck." I deadpanned.

"So do it then." she shrugged. "He'd be ecstatic."

"Really?"

"Yes, why wouldn't he? If your real serious about this then you should give it to him but only when you stop fucking around with Flynn."

There's always a catch.