Thomas shoves Jake back. His eyes don't leave mine until he's no longer in the room. A soft hand wraps around my bicep.

"Come on."

I let Alice lead me through the on-lookers. She takes me to the bathroom, guiding me to the sink. I blink down at my hand, at the blood and my split knuckles.

"You and Jake have some history, huh?"

I glance up at her, but she's focused on my hands. "What do you mean?"

"Well, he used to be a bit of a butthead to you, didn't he?"

I let out a snort. "Butthead?"

She blushes. "Yeah."

I laugh and the wince when the cold water runs across my hands. I fall silent as she washes the blood. A bit of her hair falls across her face and instinctively I curl it behind her ear.

"Callum," she murmurs, biting her lip for a moment. "I don't understand you."

I sigh. "It's complicated."

"There's someone else, isn't there?"

I study her for a moment. Does she mean Jake? How would she know? Am I really that obvious?

She see's the answer on my face. She nods. "Does she go to our school?" I let out a breath of relief. "Is it Katryn?"

I shake my head. "It's not Kat."

"I was about to say, I'm very confused as to why you sent your best friend into a room alone with her," she breathes a laugh.

"Alice, you're awesome. You're so beautiful and I really do wish things were different. But they're not. And it's unfair to you. I'm sorry."

She looks up at me, her eyes a little watery. "You're too good to be true, Callum."

I shake my head. "I'm really not."

"Are you dating her?" she asks. "This other girl?"

"No," I don't correct her terminology.

"Then is it so wrong?" she whispers. "For us?"

"It's unfair to you."

"I don't think so."

I begin to protest when she leans up and kisses me. I take a moment to let myself kiss her back. I'm still so confused with everything.

"This won't lead to anything," I whisper. "I'm sorry."

"I don't care."

She slides onto the bench and pulls my shirt so that I'm standing between her knees. She loops her arms around my neck, drawing me close.

"Alice..."

She silences me with another kiss. I cup her face with my hands. Her skin is soft and light. Not hard, like Jake. Her hair is long and in the way. Her kisses are nice and gentle. Not possessive and powerful. I run my hands down her side. There's no hard muscle. She moves my hand up her thigh. It's not firm. It's not what I want.

So desperately I want to enjoy this. I want to feel for her what I feel for him. But my body isn't wired this way, no matter how much I want it to be.

We kiss for a long time. Her hands roam over my chest. They're small and delicate. When I take a step back, I tell myself, that's the last time.

"Thanks for cleaning up my hand," I say to her.

"Anytime," she smiles. "And Cal?"

"Hmm?"

She hops down from the bench, reaching for my uninjured hand. "Don't feel guilty. I'm having fun. I understand." She stands on her tip-toes and kisses my cheek, before darting out of the room.

I lean onto the bench and rub my face. This is all way too confusing.

***

Flexing my fingers and letting out a groan, I finally exit the bathroom. I go searching for Katryn. After ten minutes, I half wonder if she's left. I go back upstairs. The door is closed in the room they went into for Seven Minutes. Cautiously, I open it.

There they are, up against the wall, making out.

"Oh shit," I blurt.

They both spring apart like I've thrown water on them.

"This isn't what it looks like," Katryn says awkwardly.

"So, you're not making out?"

"Umm..."

I grin at them. "I wanted you to sort out your differences. Didn't think it would go this well." I glance down at my watch. "You realise you've been in here for ages, right?"

"Have we?" Grant asks, genuinely sounding dazed. "Woah, what happened to your hand?"

"I punched Jake in he face," I shrug.

"What?" Katryn shrieks as Grant asks, "Why?"

"I'll explain later. You two go back to your... mending your friendship," I smirk as I retreat from the room.

Well. That was unexpected.

***

I stay laying on my bed until I hear someone knock on the door. I push myself to my feet and make my way downstairs.

"You okay?" Ellie asks me, touching my shoulder, her eyes flickering to my hand.

"I'm good."

I only came down because I thought our guests were here, but it's Jake who walks through the door. I exhale.

He's dressed in all black, like usual. His nose is red and his jaw has a wicked bruise on it.

Ma lets out a strangled sound. "You did that to him!?"

"He deserved it," I reply.

Jake glances to me with a slight smirk on his lips. "Is it safe to enter or are we going for round two?"

I roll my eyes. "Depends."

Ma shakes her head, pursing her lips. She fusses over Jake. She was not happy when I told her what happened. Haze laughed when I told him and Ellie sighed. Pretty standard reaction from all.

"Good job," Haze laughs, looking at his brother's face. He claps his hand onto my back.

Jake gives him the finger when Ma isn't looking.

The door is knocked on again and this time it should be who we're expecting.

"I'll get it!" Ellie sings, trotting out of the lounge room.

She returns a few moments later with Heidi and Kai in tow, along with their six-month-old baby, Clare.

"Hey man," Kai greets me with a hug.

Heidi's hands are full with Clare so I offer a smile instead.

It's still weird to process that Ellie's friends have a kid. I swear they were only my age not that long ago. It was exactly a planned situation, but they seem to be handling it pretty well, according to Ellie.

Ellie and Heidi begin gushing straight away. Kai takes Clare into his arms and Ma is basically smothering him with questions.

Clare's large eyes find mine and she smiles. I awkwardly smile back. I'm not too experienced with kids but damn, this one is cute.

Ellie and Heidi are seated on the lounge, catching up, while Ma has moved into the kitchen to make everyone tea or coffee. Haze has gone to grab more chairs and Kai is attempting to find something in their bag with one hand. Looking flustered, he looks ups at Jake.

"Hey, do you think you could hold Clare for a minute?" he asks and doesn't exactly wait for an answer before passing her over.

Jake looks terrified as she's handed to him. His eyes are wide as he stares down at her. Meanwhile, I have to wipe drool from my chin. There's something about the messy hair, the bruised jaw, the hard hands of his in contrast with her soft skin, her big eyes and goofy smile. He stares down at her like she is an alien for a few moments, before I see him relax a bit.

Something about this whole scene is not good for me. It's making him ten times hotter and I so don't need that right now.

Ellie has gone quiet as she watches Jake with a smile on her face. Haze returns carrying a chair and stops.

"Who left that poor kid in Jake's care?" he questions with a head shake.

Jake scoffs. "You have a go, then."

Haze takes Clare from him calmly. His big, tattooed arms fold around her, making her look even more tiny. I can basically hear Ellie's ovaries screaming. The look on her face is everything.

Ma has already asked Ellie if she has a plan which of course, she has. She wants to be completely finished her study before getting engaged. Then, she wants to be engaged for a year or so, before getting married. Haze and her have agreed to be married at least a year also, before considering kids. She wants to be set up financially first and honestly, Haze probably needs the time to become emotionally ready, too, considering the kind of upbringing he had.

Ma brings everyone's drinks out along with some dip and biscuits. Clare is handed back to Kai who cradles her to him. Kai has grown up a lot. He's not the weedy teenager I once knew. He has a slight beard now, making him look older than he is.

I sip at my coffee and lean back into my chair. As different as they are, it just seems right to have Haze and Jake here. They fit. I wish Jake didn't make things so complicated because this, right now, sitting in my house is so easy. It's normal and it's comfortable.

I realise then, as I stare at him, smiling up at my family, he is what I want. I'm not going to let him slip through my fingers.

--------------------

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