A/N: Next chapter. I hate it though

Part 2: Chapter 8

The tournament was completely packed with people. Competitors. Coaches. Family. Talent scouts. Every court had a viewing gallery, and every seat was filled on the main courts. Sacha found it funny to watch the others.

Ged was flinching away from people when they shoved into him, too accustomed to his quiet village life. Megan was trying to look at everything at once, Ian’s grip on her shoulder the only thing keeping her walking in the correct direction. Sacha had no doubt that a tennis tournament would appear somewhere in her writing. Iain wasn’t interested in anything except keeping Megan sheltered from the bustling crowds around them. Luke’s dad was struggling to stay beside Luke, his whole body screaming exhaustion. He’d overslept and not had the chance to drink any tea.

Finn hadn’t been allowed to come. Hs parents had marched him out of the school shortly after George collected Callum. Both of the boys were suspended for a day and Sacha had managed to call Finn and found out that he was grounded for a month for hurting Megan. Megan on the other hand wasn’t fazed; she’d even sent Finn an email saying that she forgave him. It wasn’t so easy for the rest of them when they saw the bruise across the side of her face from her impact with the table.

“Where do we go?” Luke’s dad yawned again, blinking sleepily around at the six white marquees. Sacha snorted. That man was definitely not a morning person.

“Luke needs to go there.” Sacha pointed to the registration tent and looked at Ged, pointing to the opposite marquee, “There’s a refreshment tent over there. Do you two want to get coffees while Luke registers.”

One look at the chaos that was in the registration tent and Ged was gone, pulling a face and dragging Luke’s dad along with him. Sacha couldn’t help grinning at him, typical of him really. Ged really didn’t seem to like people all that much.

“We’ll wait here with the bags.” Iain announced taking Luke’s bag without another word and sitting down under the nearest tree. Megan gave a small shrug and followed, sitting beside Iain and launching into conversation.

“Guess that leaves you and me to go and sort out the boring stuff.” Sacha looked to Luke, who gave him a weary look.

“Why are you so cheerful its eight in the morning.” Luke grumbled, shuffling towards the tent, “Then again you’ve been awake since five.”

“Ged woke me up.” Sacha replied blandly and Luke scowled at him,

“I know. We all know. We all heard.”

“Oh. I didn’t realise we were that loud.” Sacha flushed, biting his lip when Luke rolled his eyes and pushed through a crowd of girls.

“He’s not. You are.”

Sacha laughed as he followed the disgruntled competitor. He refused to be apologetic for enjoying his relationship. It was beginning to look like he needed to get Luke into some sort of relationship though.

“Look Luke I-”

“SACHA!”

Oh that was one voice he could really do without hearing, especially at such a crucial moment. Luke looked over as Sacha suppressed his groan but neither had the chance to say a word or escape before the small blonde girl had thrown herself at Sacha.

“Mama said I wouldn’t be seeing you for a long time. Papa said never.” Freya blurted out as she hugged him tightly, not seeming to care in the slightest that Sacha was awkwardly patting her back.

He was confused. When he’d lived in the same house as her they’d barely spoken a word to each other, preferring the only contact to be the occasional passing in a hallway. Then when he started spending all of his time with Connor she’d taken it as some sort of sign that she could torment him whenever he was actually home.

“I’ve missed you so much Sacha!” She sniffled, quickly wiping her cheeks and smiling at him, “Did you come to watch me?”

She looked so happy to see him. Happier than he’d ever imagined she would be concerning him. Part of him wanted to keep that smile on her face but then he remembered the bratty moments when she’d gone running to their parents and repeatedly got him grounded or worse.

“I’m here to watch Luke.” He replied and her smile fell, a moment of disbelief on her face. Instantly he wanted to take his words back but it was Luke that spoke next.

“He did say that you would probably be competing though and that he’d like to catch some of your matches.” Luke told her and she looked surprised that Sacha was even with someone.

“Really?”

“Uh yeah.”

She hugged him again and then skipped off towards her tennis coach. Sacha stared after in confusion, only snapping out of his daze when Luke thumped his shoulder and dragged him over to the registration desk for his category.

Once the registration was over they battled their way out of the tent, and eventually managed to reach the tree that Iain and Megan had sat under. Ged and Luke’s dad were sat there too, both holding out extra coffee for Sacha and Luke.

“Done?” Paul asked, much more awake and Luke nodded.

“Yeah. I’m not going back in that tent even if I was paid. It’s complete chaos in there.”

“Where is the first match then?” Ged let Sacha sit in his lap without a question, probably realising that the teen was a little shaken up from something. He’d get his answers later.

“It's on court eighteen in about ten minutes.”

“How far away is that?”

“It’s the court behind you dad.” Luke pointed to the rapidly filling court, “I need to go get set up.”

They followed, Sacha clutching at Ged’s hand when he saw Freya again. What if his parents were there too? If they saw him with Ged they’d hit the roof. He couldn’t imagine that they would let him stay with Emmy if they thought she was letting him enjoy himself. What if Freya told them that he’d been there? They’d wanted to exile him and make sure he didn’t go to the city.

Worse still. Would Xavier be there? If he was then Locke and Connor would be too. He didn’t want to have to deal with that.

“Hey! Get your own chips!” Megan shouted when Sacha stole a few from the edge of her plate but he just grinned at her and went back to picking at his own salad, “I swear one day you’re going to steal my food and I’ll stab you with a fork.”

“Violence isn’t the answer.” Sacha shook his finger at her, grinning until Ged playfully swiped the back of his head.

“You get cockier every day.” Iain grumbled, putting some of his own chips on Megan’s plate and smiling a little at her when she beamed at him.

“It’s not called being cocky. It’s simply a rise in confidence. Ouch Ged that hurt!” Sacha grumbled when he was pulled back down to sit in his chair.

Luke had won every match that morning with no competition. He seemed to be completely focused on the court and hyperactive off the court. Only five more matches and he would be in the finals.

“You weren’t complaining this morning.” Megan pointed out; evil smile appearing when Sacha flushed at the reminder that he’d been heard.

“Shush you.”

“Shouldn’t you take your own advice?”

“Hey watch it. You should show me respect. I’m older than you.”

“By a month Sacha.”

“Still one more month than you.”

“One month doesn’t mean I-”

“Excuse me.” They all turned as one at the cheerful interruption and Sacha winced when he saw Freya stood there was her lunch, her coach stood behind her.

Frey just smiled at them brightly, oblivious to the hostility that was beginning to radiate from her brother and she gestured to the table once her gaze caught his.

“Is there room for a semi-finalist and her coach?” She questioned and before Sacha could rudely tell her to leave Luke kicked his shin and ordered people to make room. Sacha scowled darkly at him when Freya’s coach sat between him and Ged. He remembered her, she was called Denise something or other and Locke used to refer to her as the serial bride.

“How have your matches been going?” Freya smiled sweetly at Luke, making Sacha want to kick both of them in annoyance.

“Going well so far but it’s the last five matches now so it’s getting harder,” he shrugged, a flash of amusement sent in Sacha’s direction when he saw the thunderous expression, “You know how it is.”

“I like to think it’s getting better.” Freya replied, looking at him calmly, “Not harder.”

If Freya acting like she was one of his friends wasn’t enough to piss him off Sacha then registered what Denis was saying to Ged. She was flirting with him. Telling him he must be ever so strong if he worked out doors and blah blah blah...fluttering her eye lashes and touching his arm like-

“Sacha are you going to watch me in the final?”

Cocky little brat. He looked round at her sharply, temporarily pausing in his attempt at using his eyes to burn holes in the back of Denise’s head. He didn’t want to go anywhere near her stupid final. He wished he could say that she might not make it but she was too good to lose the next match no matter who her opponent was.

“Sacha?”

“I dunno.”

He knew his answer sounded vague, but he was a little preoccupied with the man eater hitting on Ged. His eyes darted to where Denise’s hand was resting over Ged’s as she commented on how much she loved gardens.

“But you’ve watched every final I’ve ever been in.” She exclaimed, grey eyes wide, full of genuine disappointment, “You’ve been away for months and now you’re here and you’re not going to watch.”

Manipulative bitch. All of his friends were staring at him, waiting for him to apologise and agree or at least give an excuse but he couldn’t. He didn’t know what to do. Denise was still touching Ged and he didn’t even like Freya. Why would he watch her match? What could possibly be in it for him? He didn’t want Freya or anyone from his family to ruin anything with his friends. Why couldn’t she go flutter her eyelashes and try to sweet talk someone else?

“Mum and Dad are even going to be here to watch it and they were in Dubai this morning!”

His parents?!

He’d face anyone but not them. Not when they made it so clear that they didn’t want him anymore. The thought of seeing them made his hands shake. They’d see Ged and then they’d take him away from Emmy.

“Sacha are you okay?” Ged pulled him to his feet, pushing Denise back in her chair without a glance when she tried to get up and involve herself. “Sacha?”

“No.”

“Come on.” Ged kissed him softly and wrapped an arm under his, ignoring Denise as she gawped after him.

They stopped on a bench a short distance from the café and the older man guided him to sit down on his lap. Sacha silently let him and then just clung on to him.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

“You froze.”

“Yeah I know that Captain Obvious.” He griped, smile twitching at his lips, “but I don’t know why.”

“Your little sister is interesting.” Ged commented, looking over at the table where the small blonde girl had everyone completely focused on her as she talked animatedly. “Maybe her suddenly appearing threw you off guard. That and mentioning your parents.”

Sacha nodded, staring down at the leg Ged had on his thigh. He’d been so scared when Denise had turned all of her attention on Ged. She was a very good looking woman and he knew she always got the man she wanted.

“I don’t like Freya’s coach.” Ged told him bluntly, “I don’t like women remember and I certainly don’t like strangers that throw themselves at me.”

“She likes you.”

“By the looks of it. I’ve got you though,” Ged brushed hair from his face and smiled at him, “Have a little faith in me please.”

Sacha grinned at him, leaning up for a brief kiss when he saw Megan wandering over. Time for the next match by the look of it.

“Thank you.”

“My pleasure.” Ged told him before ducking his head again for another kiss.

“What exactly is it that we’re all waiting for?” Ged grumbled, eyes fixed to Sacha as he ate an ice cream, “Luke’s been sat there for thirty minutes.”

“Probably something to do with his opponents drugs tests.” Sacha shrugged, leaning against Ged with a faint smile up at him.

“They actually do drugs tests for this competition?” Ged asked in surprise, eyebrows rising.

“There’s a two thousand pound prize and a chance to get a sponsor,” Sacha shifted when he saw a familiar face.

“I thought you’d died.” Kenny stated when he saw him and stopped walking and Sacha glared at him. He’d never liked him. “Pity.”

Looked like Kenny still hated him. He felt Ged tense beside him, opening his mouth to say something but he squeezed his hand.

“Go way Kenny.” He ordered wearily, not interested in throwing insults. However Kenny was looking at their clasped hands.

“Well you moved on quickly.” Kenny’s tone was spiteful and Sacha shrugged.

“Kenny this is Ged. Ged, this is Kenny.” He then turned hostile eyes to him. “Now will you leave?”

Kenny snorted, a smirk working onto his face. “Good for you Sacha.”

As he walked away the teenager smiled faintly before laughing at Ged’s expression. It was then that he realised he’d dropped ice cream on Ged’s jeans a little close to his crotch. He had time to give him a sheepish look before Ged was growling and wiping it off with his sleeve.

The reason for the delay was clear when Luke’s opponent turned up. Sacha wasn’t surprised. Luke’s semi-final match was against Xavier, who was the golden boy as far as the tennis officials were concerned so naturally he didn’t get into any trouble for turning up fifteen minutes late.

“I had hoped he’d get into the finals.” Sacha muttered and they all looked at him in surprise. “I’ve been to these things every year to watch Freya and Locke and Xavier. That’s Xavier. He’s won every year for the past five years.”

Luke put up a very good fight though, unfortunately, Xavier just seemed to be better at everything.

“Jesus.” Ged hissed on Xavier’s last serve. The screen flashed the speed and Sacha snorted. Yeah, he was good. Always had been. “Why isn’t he competing for the country?”

“He’s started working with his father with the family business. No time.” Sacha shrugged, standing with Megan. “That’s Locke’s big brother.”

The strange thing was that Locke wasn’t in the crowd anywhere, nor was he sat with the coach like he would usually be. It didn’t make sense. Locke had dragged himself there no matter how ill or hung over he’d been. Nothing could keep him away from his brother’s competitions. So where was he?

“Come on.” Megan grabbed his hand and started tugging him down to where Luke had sat dejectedly on the bench.

He hopped over the barrier and moved to sit beside him, putting an arm around him in offer of comfort and Luke smiled faintly at him.

“You didn’t warn me about him.” He muttered, eyes darting to Xavier. “I had no idea what I was up against.”

“I wanted you to have a chance.” Sacha admitted, picking up Luke’s bag and starting to pack his things. “If I told you then you would have gone into the match prepared to lose and wouldn’t have tried so hard. I thought you might do better this way.”

“I guess. He’s really good.” Luke admitted wistfully, letting Sacha take the racket from him and place it in the bag. “Next year I’m going to beat him.”

“That’s my boy.” Luke’s dad grinned at him as he came over with Iain, both carrying a selection of ice creams. “Here, it’s mint choc chip.”

Luke took it with a faint smile and Sacha stepped away to lean on Ged. He was relieved that Luke hadn’t taken his defeat too badly. He looked up and smiled at Ged when the man’s arm snaked around his waist but the calm moment was ruined when Xavier started to walk over with a scowl on his face. Ged let him twist out of his grip and stood in Xavier’s way as Sacha disappeared into the crowd.

That was close.

Freya won her matches. Of course. Sacha sat in the front row, trying not to look bored, and ready to escape as soon as he saw their parents. Ged and Luke stayed beside him and the rest had gone back to the hotel to buy food and organise dinner. Luke was excited watching Freya, pointing out all of the quirks in her techniques and rambling about how perfect her playing was. Sacha tried to listen but he was more interested in keeping a look out for his pathetic parents.

They didn’t show. The later they became the more aggressive Freya played until eventually her opponent was lucky to be able to return her serve. Luke whistled in appreciation of one of her volleys and Sacha smiled tightly as he saw Frey wipe a hand across her head. He wasn’t sure if she was wiping sweat or tears away.

At the end of the match he stood and slowly climbed over the barrier as she ran over to him. It was easy to know that it was tears on her cheeks as she slammed into him and clung to him. This happened a lot but she’d never turned to him for support before.

“Sacha?” Ged was behind him and stroked Freya’s back as she peeped over his shoulder.

“You were incredible!” Luke blurted out as soon as he got to them and Sacha was relieved to see the tiny smile that statement caused. “Seriously. She was four years older than you and you wiped the floor with her.”

“Talent.” She replied slowly, eyes darting between her brother and Ged. “Are you Sacha’s new boyfriend?”

Instant embarrassment and Sacha sighed. She’d always had mixed reactions to him being gay and he hoped that she wasn’t going to be a brat about it.

“You’re better looking than Connor.” She finally stated, grip tightening on Sacha.

“That’s true.” Sacha grinned and she smiled a little more, resting her head on his shoulder.

It was then that he realised that she really had missed him. Sure, they fought a hell of a lot but they were always there for each other when their parents had failed to turn up or help or even just notice them. She’d probably had to deal with the let downs and the disappointment all alone.

“Where did your coach go?” He asked when he saw Xavier was watching them. “We’re going to have to leave soon.”

“She’s in the toilets with the umpire.” Freya shrugged and picked up her bag. “Xavier wants to talk to you about Locke. He keeps asking me if I can give him your number.”

“I don’t know anything about him. We’re not talking.” He stated blandly, trying to break free when Xavier started moving towards them. “Freya let go.”

“No. You need to talk to him. He’s really worried.”

“About what?”

She didn’t get a chance to answer though. Xavier was there and glaring at Sacha angrily. He wondered what he’d done as he let go of his sister and blindly tried to reach for Ged, who was instantly there and had an arm around him.

“Where is he?” Xavier demanded furiously and Sacha blinked.

“Who?”

“Locke.” Xavier scowled, eyes darting between Sacha and Ged. “It’s not funny, he has to come home.”

Come home?

What the hell were they talking about?

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He stammered, stomach knotting when Connor placed a hand on Xavier’s shoulder.

That was the last thing he wanted. Why the hell couldn’t the bastard stay away and not smirk at him like that? He felt all of his confidence drain away and swallowed as Connor eyed Ged.

“Where is he?” Xavier repeated and Sacha shrunk back more, gripping Ged’s hand in his as tight as possible.

“I don’t know.”

“Of course you do.” Connor drawled, intense eyes fixed to Sacha’s. “You always know where he is.”

“Not this time!” Sacha exclaimed, wondering how long it would take to run away from them.

There was a long silence before Xavier spoke again.

“He’s run away Sacha.”

Run away? That was...

How would Locke know how to survive? He was a spoilt brat, just like they all were, so he’d have no idea what he was supposed to do to look after himself. He probably didn’t even know what a washing machine was.

“No one has heard from him for a month.” Xavier pushed on, worry rising in his voice. “Something happened.”

“What?” Sacha asked warily, eyes avoiding looking at Connor. “What happened?”

“He’d been taking drugs.”

“He’s always taken drugs.” Sacha corrected and Xavier’s eyes widened.

There it was. Connor had a look of panic in his eyes. Clearly no one had told Xavier where his little brother was buying his drugs from. Suddenly, his confidence came back, along with all of the brattiness and spitefulness that he’d lost when he went to the country. Connor deserved to hurt and if Xavier knew then that's exactly what would happen.

“I never knew.” Xavier looked so upset at the information and Sacha smirked.

“He used to buy it from Connor.” He purred, ignoring the shock that was on Luke’s face. “Weed, cocaine, E, MDMA, ketamine, speed...you name it, he’d take it. Connor was so sweet as well. He used to give us discounts. I got it all free if I let him fuck me.”

Connor was staring at him in complete horror. He knew what was coming.

“Of course, now I think about it. I guess that’s why Locke started fucking Connor less than a week after I left.”

Then chaos broke out.

Connor lunged, grabbing him by the hair but after the first punch Ged had grabbed the bastard. As Freya and Luke pulled Sacha away it was Xavier that shocked them all. Before Ged could do anything the drug dealer had been wrenched out of his hold and Xavier had Connor pinned to the floor as he punched him.

“I told you to fucking stay away from him!”

Security rushed over and Sacha felt Ged’s arms wrap around him. He shuddered as he watched the security guards separate the two heirs, guilt welling up when he saw how distressed Xavier was. He’d got back at Connor but hurt Xavier in the process. How was he feeling with a missing little brother and a bastard best friend?

“Come on.” Freya gestured for them to follow.

For the first time in his life Sacha let her take charge and clung to Ged as they followed.

“Why did you do it?”

Sacha shivered as the man’s fingers trailed down his spine. It was such a light touch, something that didn’t usually come from Ged. Usually every touch was firm, deliberate and sometimes rough.

“Do what?” Sacha took a drag from the cigarette, smiling when Ged repeated the action.

“Provoke him.” Ged shifted, propping himself up on his elbow. “You wanted him to react.”

He had, and he had provoked his ex but Xavier had deserved to know.

“Because he shouldn’t be the one in control all the time. I’m sick of him playing games and hurting people around him. If Locke has run off then it’s because Connor did something to him.” Sacha watched Ged’s face, realising he wasn’t being believed and he sighed, taking another drag on his cigarette. “He hurt me. I wanted to hurt him.”

“Still a spoilt brat.” Ged snorted and leant over to kiss him softly.

“Always.” He grinned, thankful that Ged wasn’t mad at him. “Sorry I ruined your night.”

Freya had insisted on driving them back to the hotel, stunning Luke with the limo and the champagne inside, and then Sacha had broken down and cried. The adrenaline of pushing Connor over the edge had gone and he’d just wanted to hide. Ged had told the rest to go and he and Sacha had stayed in the hotel and had a Chinese takeaway.

“It wasn’t ruined.” Ged snorted, eyes glinting as he eyed Sacha’s naked form. “I’m not going to complain if you want to hide away and then jump me.”

The teen flushed, exhaling smoke towards the window above the headboard. Once he’d finished crying and eaten he was calm and he’d dragged Ged into the bed. He’d stunned Ged by going down on him for the first time.

“Do you miss him?”

“Who?”

“Connor.”

“No. He might be fucking gorgeous but he’s a bastard. He used to get me to give him head in public, or let him fuck me while people were in the room. It was always about power and who was in charge. If I didn’t behave he’d just give me drugs until I did.” He rolled onto his back with a sigh. “Now that I think about it, I can’t really remember why we were together for so long.”

“He is attractive.” Ged muttered and Sacha looked at him in surprise.

“But his personality sucks.” Sacha pointed out again and smiled at his lover. “You’re hotter and you’re an amazing person. Compared to you he’s nothing but a child.”

Ged rolled his eyes and sat up, reaching for the remaining bottle of wine. As he poured two glasses Sacha watched him with a smile. He’d never imagined that he’d be with someone other than Connor. He had friends, an aunt that cared about him, and Ged. Moving to the country was the best thing that had happened to him. He was never going to admit that to anyone out loud though.

“Do you think they’ll find Locke?”

“Depends. A lot of kids run away and never come back. If he’s left the city then I doubt they’ll find him.” Ged handed him a wine glass and Sacha sighed.

“I miss him.”

“Even after what he did?”

“Yeah. I really do. I hope he does come back.”

“He might, you never know what’s going to happen in the future.”

It was silly but Sacha only wanted one thing from the future. He wanted Ged in his life.

There was a message from Freya waiting for him the next morning, telling him that she was in the dining room waiting for him. Sacha warily went to the breakfast room to meet with her; his unhappiness growing when saw that Xavier was with her. He didn’t want to see the latter but part of him was touched that his sister was so eager to see him again before he left. She greeted him with a hug.

“Do you really have to leave again?” She blurted out as he poured milk into the bowl of cornflakes and he paused, looking at her.

She looked exhausted. It was how he’d often looked when he was younger and trying to do everything that his parents wanted. He wanted to tell her to refuse when she needed a break, wanted to tell her that she was her own person and deserved her own life but he couldn’t. How could he give her advice when he’d successfully made his parents hate him and then lost everything?

“Yeah. Daphne signed everything over to you and made sure I knew not to come back.” He explained, ignoring how Xavier was watching him closely.

“I wish you’d listened to them” Freya whispered, tucking hair behind her ears and sipping at the hot chocolate in front of her. She’d managed to sweet talk the hotel staff into filling the mug with marshmallows too. “Then you’d still be at home.”

True. However, he’d be stuck in that house, forced to act like some sort of puppet, driving himself into exhaustion instead of her.

“Things had to change,” his reply was as diplomatic he could make it, “they’ll be for the better now. You’ll see.”

“It doesn’t change the fact that you’re not here.” Freya retorted stubbornly, clearly not happy.

He shrugged, sneaking a look at the silent Xavier. There was a lot of history between their families but without Locke there he couldn’t feel anything for the depressed man sat at their table.

“I’m going to get myself another drink.” Freya interrupted his thoughts as she stood, smiling wearily at him. There was too much calculation in her eyes for someone who wasn’t even fourteen. “Would you like anything?”

“Coffee please.”

She skipped off and he licked hi slips, turning to Xavier. It was going to be difficult to tell how the conversation would go. Xavier was very good at reading people and getting the information he wanted.

“When did you last speak to him?” The older heir questioned, cutting straight to the point.

“A week or so after I left. Couple of months ago at least.” He wasn’t sure at the exact dates, he felt like he’d been living with Emmy forever.

“That was before he disappeared.” Xavier slumped in his chair, dark hair falling over his face as he brooded.

Locke’s brother had always been very different to his animated best friend. Xavier was a brooder, he over thought things, read into situations too deeply, whereas Locke didn’t sulk, he got revenge, he was so free, so happy.

“What happened?” He had to know. They may not be talking but they’d been friends for so long.

“Those drugs.” Xavier sneered, eyes hardening. “He hid them in the games room. My sister found some.”

“Please tell me Arabella didn’t eat them.”

The thought of the toddler taking Locke’s drugs was unthinkable. She was small and cute and always so giggly.

“She thought they were sweets.” Xavier ground out, voice harsh. “She ate all of them.”

“How many?”

“No idea. We tried to ask Locke but he shut himself off in his room. When I got back from the hospital with my mother he was gone. He didn’t even pack a bag. He just left.” He stared at Sacha, a dark look on his face. “How many apartments and bank accounts does Connor have?”

“Three apartments, a house and he has six accounts.” Sacha reeled off, frowning. “You don’t think Connor’s hiding him do you?”

“I do.” He stood, picking up his jacket from the back of the chair. “I’m going to see if I can make him let something slip. Thank you Sacha.”

As the man walked away Sacha rested his chin on his hand, frowning. What the hall was going on in Locke’s head? To run away like that after something like that happened. He belatedly realised he didn’t know if Arabella was alive but Freya’s return was an instant distraction. She held a large coffee for him and another hot chocolate.

“It’s been on the news. People are avoiding their whole family, saying that they were bad parents for letting Locke go off the rails.” Freya revealed, sitting daintily. “I’m glad that didn’t happen to you. I guess going away to the country protected you as well as our parents.”

“Yeah.”

He ate soggy cornflakes in silence, thoughts caught up on how much mess Locke was in. If he’d still been in the city would he have been able to help him? Would he have been able to convince Locke to stick around and face everything? Would it have happened if he’d stayed? Usually he’d been the one to store Locke’s drugs.

“I bought some of your things from your room. The bag is at the reception for you.” She admitted when he pushed the empty bowl away. She sounded so nervous, as if waiting for him to snap at her.

In the past he would have. He’d have told her that she shouldn’t go through his stuff, that he didn’t want her in his room and to never do anything like it before. He’d played the nasty big brother when he was at home and she was always there trying to get him into trouble. But sitting there, watching her fiddle with her spoon, he wondered how he would feel if it was his little sister that had eaten the pills that Arabella had. It was almost impossible to imagine but he knew one thing; he was relieved that it had happened in someone else’s family. Relieved that she was safe.

“Thanks.”

Her face lit up at the word. He watched her for a moment, hoping she had better luck at succeeding in what their parents expected and then Ged was there with his fry up, and the mood between them considerably lightened.

Thanks to the people that reviewed, plumblossom, ash, BloodyDestiny, LizLizLiz, and freak1012000