"What're you doing?" I asked Nick, giggling as he jolted slightly.

"Don't creep up on people." He huffed, glaring at me, and stepping away.

"Who's that?" I ignored him, moving closer again, trying to peek at the prints he was holding. They were mostly black and white images of semi-naked people. Although it was kind of gross to see people with so little clothes, the photos were actually kind of cool, at least, the two I could see at the moment. "Is that you?" I exclaimed, finally making the connection.

"No." He responded bluntly.

"Yes it is! And that's Logan! And Haven, the other girl with the pretty hair!"

"Shush." He grumbled as he continued to flip through the prints. He didn't move away, or make me move, though.

"What's this one?" I asked, grabbing a picture that was face down on the counter.

"Ashlyn!" He snapped, grabbing it off me, but he was too late.

I looked up at him and grinned in a devilish way, "you have a boyfriend."

"Keep your mouth shut." He glared.

"Why?" I frowned, confused as to why he was so discrete about something so exciting.

"Not everyone knows." Nick softened slightly at my confusion.

"That you're dating Logan?"

"That I'm gay."

"What's gay?" Nick smiled slightly but tried to conceal it. I'd definitely heard the term before, but I didn't know what it meant, especially not concerning Nick.

"When someone is interested in people of the same gender."

"So, you are a boy and want to date boys?"

"Yes. Now go do something." He checked to make sure no one else was around and then pushed me away. Before I could even get anywhere, mum came into the room.

"Ash, why haven't you got ready?" She frowned at me.

"For what?"

"You have a swimming lesson. I told you this morning."

"No, you didn't!" I huffed. I didn't want to do swimming lessons.

"Off you go then." Mum smiled. "It'll be fun!" I grumbled my way to my room, hurrying to get changed.

***

"Name?" The lady at the front desk asked. She looked kind of frightening and was seemingly very unfriendly too.

"Ashlyn Hughes." I said quietly.

"Speak up." The lady huffed. I repeated myself slightly louder with an encouraging nod from mum. On the second go, she gave us the instructions and the name of my teacher. I was having a private lesson, according to mum, which meant there wouldn't be any other kids in my group; just me and the teacher. We'd even left Teddy at home for this.

"I don't want to go in." I whined. Mum just ignored me.

"Are you Ashlyn?" A girl approached us.

"Yeah." I nodded.

"Hi, nice to meet you, I'm Marie."

Most of the lesson was just 'getting comfortable in the water', as Marie called it, which was fun, but also scary at the same time, hence why I was doing it, I now realise. Although I didn't mind it, I was looking forward to when I didn't have to go again. It was slightly embarrassing being nearly sixteen years old and swimming around in a kids pool where there were toddlers who were better than me, but Mum was happy I went and that made me less unimpressed.

As we drove home, I continued to think about the photos Nick had shown me earlier. I really wanted to tell someone, but I knew Nick wouldn't be happy if I did.

"Asheeee!" River gushed as I walked in the door.

"Hi." I smiled, cowering slightly as he came to hug me.

"I'm not the scary brother!" He frowned, letting go.

"True," I giggled, whispering, "that's Nick."

"I have a very, very serious question to ask you. Have you ever seen the Harry Potter movies?"

"No." I shook my head.

"Read the books?"

"Not all of them." That was meant to be my next read at the old library.

"Oh, phew, a slightly cultured child at least." He held a hand to his heart and dragged me to the couch. "We have some work to do."

"River, Ash needs to go shower first."

"Is that really necessary, dearest mother? We have much better things we could be doing with our time." River put on a fake British accent and raised an eyebrow.

"You can watch after dinner, River. You haven't been outside all day, why don't you go for a walk?"

"Argh, fresh air." River rolled his eyes, retreating to his room.

"I'm serious, River! No Harry Potter until you've been outside!" Mum called after him. "That boy." She tutted, smiling at me. "Go have a shower and the two of you can take Teddy and Abi for a walk."

***

"I'm not actually the scary brother, Ash." Nick told me, out of nowhere.

"Did you hear that?" I gaped. I didn't even think he was home.

"That's beside the point. You should see Ryan when he gets angry. Or Jonah when he's too hungry. Actually, any of them when they're too hungry. That's when you really see scary." I couldn't quite work out if I'd somehow offended Nick by calling him scary, although considering his demeanour, he should really be taking it as a compliment.

"Ryan doesn't get angry." I giggled.

"Oh yes he does." Nick chuckled.

"Lies. I'm calm as a butterfly." Ryan appeared scooping me off the couch and sitting me back down in his lap.

"Oh yeah?" Nick challenged.

"Yep."

"Alright. How's Gracie doing these days?" Suddenly Ryan tensed and sat rigidly.

"Uncool, man." He growled.

"Haven't seen her around lately, have you?" Nick pushed. It was unlike him since he liked to mediate fights and ensure everyone was at peace. Rarely was it him causing the drama.

"Back off." Ryan hissed, leaning back down. I didn't know who Gracie was, nor what Ryan had to do with her, but clearly, it was private business. He hugged me tighter and sighed, just as River came down to start our movie night.

"Tonight, everyone, we are culturing young Ashlyn." River announced, giddy with excitement.

"Just put the damn movie on already." Jonah rolled his eyes.

"Hush." River snapped. "We shall begin."