I couldn't get back into bed like I wanted so that I could sleep my hangover away – not with the memories burning in my mind. Instead, I got changed into some PJs and walked to the kitchen. Once there, I raided the cupboards for some paracetamol and, finding them, filled a glass with water. I had just swallowed the second tablet when I heard a chirpy voice behind me.

"And how's my beautiful genius this morning?"

Turning, I watched my mum as she walked towards the fridge beside me. I didn't know what she saw when she met my eyes, but I know it wasn't good because her face creased with concern.

"Tehya, are you okay baby?" her voice was sweet as she raised a hand to rub my arm and give a gentle squeeze.

"Hangover" I whispered, which wasn't particularly true. No, the main reason I wasn't okay was because of the chaotic emotions I felt due to the fact that I'd slept with my brother's best friend.

Her concern lifted, my mum smiled at me in understanding. My mum was a 5"5 brunette beauty, her hair falling in curls to the middle of her back. My hair was exactly the same, and I'd also inherited her hazel eyes, long eyelashes and high cheekbones. My lips, which were a bit fuller than my mums, were inherited from my dad. But let's not talk about him.

I sat at the kitchen table as she did odd little jobs around me, including making me toast. It was as I was spreading jam over my second slice that my brother stumbled into the chair opposite me, closely followed by Carrie who sat beside him. Noah groaned and laid his head on top of the table. Sighing, I stood up to get him some paracetamol and water.

"Good morning sweeties" my mum said, and got a grumble from Noah, followed by Carries "Good morning Maria"

My brother took his morning cure as I handed it to him with a tight smile, and I simply sat back down to eat my breakfast.

"Damn Kayden waking me up" Noah complained.

At hearing his name on my brother's lips, I flinched inside. What was I going to say? Do I tell him? My mind immediately reeled away from that idea – Noah would kill us.

Carrie smiled at my brother, "He had to tell you he was leaving or you would have been annoyed when you woke up to realise your lift to the game was gone." Oh no.

I suddenly remembered that today Noah and Kayden had a match. And I always go watch them play, but my stomach rolled at the thought of facing Kayden. As I took in the situation, I realised that due to his departure this morning I would now have to take Noah to the game because Noah's car was going to be at the garage until this afternoon due to repairs.

"What time do you need to be at the pitch?" I asked, trying to calm my emotions and sound normal. It must have worked because neither Noah nor Carrie looked at me like I was strange.

"Eleven. Kick off is at half past." My brother told me, and glancing at the clock I figured it gave us an hour and fifteen minutes to get ready and get up there.

"Right" Quickly finishing my toast I stood, "I'll get ready. Thanks mum."

XXXX

A few minutes early I parked my car beside the football pitch and I could see a few members of the team with the coaches out on the grass ahead. The weather was chilly today, with a cold breeze and bouts of spitting rain. I didn't envy the boys at all today. Noah and I had barely spoken on the short ride, and once I'd parked, he quickly jumped out carrying his big bad in toe. Noticing that I hadn't done the same he leaned down to look at me.

"You coming any time soon?"

I shook my head, and was just opening my mouth when I was cut off.

"But you always watch our matches" His brows lowered in confusion.

"I feel sick and I don't particularly want to stand in the cold." I told him, which was about twenty percent of the reason I didn't want to get out of the car. "My head is killing me and I need to recover"

"I wish I could do the same" Noah muttered as he nodded. "Okay, okay. And don't worry about picking me up because I think us lads are going somewhere."

For some reason I very quickly processed the word 'lads' to 'Kayden' and I looked away from my brother quickly, scared that my eyes would betray the clashing of emotions I felt. "Okay, bye"

"Bye" I heard before the car door slammed shut. After a deep breath I started the ignition and drove away. Alone for the first time since this morning, I finally allowed myself to immense myself in my thoughts.

I still couldn't believe what I had done. What had I been thinking? My memories seemed somewhat foggy except for when we were in bed. Oh no, those moments seemed to be much more clear. I remembered the exact feel of Kayden's hands and his body, the look in his eyes and the way he made me feel – beautiful and desirable. In that exact moment the thought beautiful disaster flickered through my mind.

But thinking back to this morning, I felt sick again. I'll never forget that tortured expression on Kayden's face as he looked at me. I don't think I've ever felt so hurt and confused as I did in the moment he sat there and cursed before leaving. But those feelings still lingered and I found myself pulling my car to the side of the road as I felt my heart constrict in pain and a sob choke the back of my throat. Parking, I broke down and cried in my car.

XXXX

For the rest of the day I kept myself in my room, which didn't raise any questions from my mum. I usually spent a lot of time in my room reading, doing school work or watching a film. I only normally ventured out to get food but today, due to my unbalanced stomach and inability to want to do anything but distract myself from my thoughts, I lost all appetite and stayed in my room.

At around six, I heard a knock on my door. I looked up from the book I was reading and called out for whoever it was to come in. My brother's brown haired head popped around the door, followed by his shoulders.

"Mum's done some dinner and Kayden's here," he told me "so c'mon."

My body tensed for a split second before I looked back down at my book.

"I'm not hungry"

"Huh?"

"I'm not hungry" I repeated more clearly as I glanced up. Noah opened his mouth, but suddenly shut it and simply stared at me. I forced myself to look back down and continue reading, signifying that I viewed the conversation over.

"Are you okay?" His voice was concerned as he asked me.

"I'm fine. I'm just not hungry, sorry." I didn't sound like myself – my voice was small and I was mumbling.

After a long silence I heard my bedroom door close and I released a breath on a long sigh that I hadn't even realise I'd been holding. It felt strange to know Kayden was here but not wanted to see him. Out of all of Noah's friends, I had gotten on best with Kayden. I guess it was because I'd known him the longest – I wasn't sure. But whatever it was, it enabled us to have a great time in each others company. I felt pained at the thought of having lost that.

After some more reading, my eyes began to feel droopy and I found myself falling asleep. When I woke up I groggily read my alarm clock: 8:15. Feeling lethargic, I climbed out of bed half asleep and went in search of my family. I walked to the living room and collapsed into the arm chair nearest the door, laying my head on the arm rest and closing my eyes.

"The vampire awakes" I heard a deep chuckle and opened by eyes to glare at Noah who sat on the sofa. But then was the moment that I realised sitting beside him was no other than his best friend. I instantly became more alert. Kayden was starring at the TV screen ahead of him, not even acknowledging me. I felt a sting in my chest but quickly recovered.

"Well ha ha" I replied sarcastically as I looked back at my brother. It was an old name he'd given me, ever since we were kids, due to the fact that I stay in my room all day most weekends and only emerged to go out or spend time with Noah or mum once it got dark.

"What are you watching?" I asked after a pause as I looked at the TV.

"Cruel Intentions"

I looked at my brother in surprise. "You're watching Cruel Intentions?"

"Yeah, it has sex, lesbians and a guy I admire."

I snorted in disgust. I am so glad I am not a boy. Because they're all perverts and their minds are far too stuck in the gutter.

"And that's not forgetting the sexy Sarah Michelle-Geller" I heard the smirk in my brothers voice as she appeared on the screen.

"You know, I really wished I owned Teeth on DVD so that I could make you watch it repeatedly" I muttered, and smiled in satisfaction as I saw them flinch and move their hands downwards in protection. Poor, poor boys I laughed in my head.

I don't know how I survived watching the rest of the movie. But I refused to allow myself to leave. This was my house and I wasn't going to let Kayden make me miss out on a film I love. Although the sick feeling in my stomach and the strain I felt due to making sure I didn't look over at the sofa felt like torture.

The boys rarely spoke during the film, and I said nothing at all. But as the credits rolled up the screen I looked at Noah.

"I'm off to bed, but I just wanted to remind you that I'm not going to be in school next week"

"Oh yeah, yeah I remember. Work experience" he replied as he stretched his long frame – his arms and legs extending far out from the sofa.

"You're not going to be in school?" Kayden's voice rang with an odd note, and it was the first time he had spoken to be since this morning.

And I know how I felt was completely unrelated to the question, but my emotions were hard to control. So when I answered my voice was laced with anger, "Not that it matters to you"

The suddenly tense atmosphere seemed to draw all noise out of the room – we sat in silence as I glared at Kayden and he returned it with a shocked, dismayed expression. I knew I was being somewhat immature but I couldn't let it go. Finally, looking confused and unsure, Noah broke our standoff.

"Err…Tehya, what's-"

"Whatever," I cut him off as I stood "just remember, okay?" I heard a faint okay as I left the room, and I stormed over to my room and just stopped myself from slamming the door behind me.

I was so angry at Kayden I wanted to slap him and shout at him for ignoring me and using me - which was how I felt. I felt like I had simply been the nearest warm body that Kayden could find in his drunken lust, and it made me feel dirty. A warring tide of anger and sadness battled within me, and to try to calm down I got into bed and lifted my book up from the floor where it had fallen earlier. Nothing worked better at repressing emotions for while like a good book.

XXXX

Twenty minutes later, Noah knocked quickly and opened the door before waiting for an answer. He stood in my bedroom doorway as he studied me.

"So what was that about?" he asked, and his voice revealed little as to how he felt towards me.

I sighed. "I'm sorry. Really I am…its just…" I thought of something that would quickly put my brother in the frame of mind to end the conversation quickly, "its close to that time of the month and well…I'm sorry if I don't act like myself"

I watched Noah's face crease in discomfort as he shifted from one foot to the other. "Well if you're sure that that's it and it's not because of something else"

I had to admire my brother – he was concerned enough not to run from the room. You'd think living with two women would help but Noah always found the aspect of the women's menstrual cycle uncomfortable and, truthfully, quite disgusting. He'd admitted that piece of information to me a little while ago.

"Trust me. Nothing's wrong" I lied and my gut twisted in guilt as I smiled at him.

Noah smiled in return, "Okay. Good night sis"

"Night" And as he left, I really, really wished nothing had been wrong.