Stubborn and Stupid

Summary

"Why is my sister's bra on your bedroom floor?"

Dylan stared at the offending item, racking his brain as to how to get himself out of this mess. A choked sound came from under the bed, and he gave a strangled laugh to try and cover it up

Sophie ran up her drive and burst through the front door, slamming it into the wall.

"Sophie, what the hell?" Andrew, her brother asked, leaning over the arm of the sofa to peer round the door frame and look at her in concern.

"Can't stop, need wee!" She shouted as she took the stairs two at a time, throwing her bag on the floor.

"Sophie, wait!" He called after her, getting up and coming after her. "Don't…" but he was too late. She burst through the bathroom door and hurried towards the toilet, unbuttoning her pants as she went. She sat down on the toilet and let out a sigh of relief, closing her eyes in pleasure.

There was a cough. She froze. A very male voice said "That desperate, eh?"

She took a deep breath and very slowly opened her eyes, only to shut them tightly straight away. The male laughed. The male. There was a male. In the bathroom. In the bathtub. In the bathroom, in the bathtub, right next to the toilet she was currently sat on with her pants around her ankles. She could feel the blood rushing to her face. There was a knock on the door and her brother called out "Sophie? Are you ok?" She grunted in response.

"I'm sorry." He said, but she could hear the laughter in his voice, the shit. "I did try to stop you. Dylan needed a wash so I told him to take a bath." She slowly opened her eyes again to find Dylan grinning at her and promptly went even redder.

"Have you never heard of a lock?" She growled at him. His grin went even wider.

"It's not my fault you burst in here without checking first to see if the bathroom was occupied."

She turned her head so she was staring at the wall, "Could you close your eyes, so that I can…erm." The jerk laughed, and then proceeded to make a show of closing his eyes and covering them with his hands. "And could you go under the water please. It's not one of my wildest fantasies for you to hear me pee."

"Having fantasies about me are you?" He grinned at her.

"Get over yourself Dylan, and just get under the water"

He laughed again and then slid under the water so his ears were submerged.

"Arsehole," she muttered then tried to finish as quickly as possible, quickly pulling her pants up when she was finished. She washed her hands so fast she wasn't sure there was much point, and then yanked the bathroom door open.

"Bye honey," Dylan called. "I'll meet you later to brush our teeth together.

"Get bent." She hissed, then stalked out of the room, slamming the door behind her. Andrew was waiting outside for her, trying not to look like he was laughing.

"I. Hate. You." She growled, poking him with each word. He grabbed hold of her hands

"Hate is a pretty strong word yickle sis. Surely you don't mean it." She wrenched her hands out of his grasp.

"When did that reprobate get back? I thought he was in London for the rest of the year."

"He was. The year has been and gone sister dear." Andrew grinned at her.

"It has not been a year" she said

"The SCHOOL year" he slowly said, as though he were talking to a young child, "and now he's back for good"

There was a sudden brake out of song from the bathroom "You've got me back, got me back, got me back for good!"

"Oh my God," She moaned, "I seriously have to put up with him again? My life is officially over."

"I heard that." Dylan called from the bathroom.

"Good! And I can't believe you just sang Take That" Sophie shouted back, before whacking her brother one more time then storming off to her bedroom, leaving Andrew laughing on the landing, and Dylan shouting

"Hey, there is nothing wrong with liking a bit of Take That!"

She slammed the door, then slid down it taking deep breaths. She couldn't believe he was back. She thought she'd be able to get through the rest of the year without having to see him, and talk to him. No such bloody luck. She sighed and ran her hands through her hair, then stood up intending to phone Simone, before remembering that she'd left her bag downstairs.

"Shit" She cursed, turning to look at her bedroom door, as though her phone would miraculously appear in the woodwork. "Bollocks!" She cried again, before yanking her door open and stomping down stairs. She grabbed her bag, noting that Dylan hadn't come downstairs yet, then turned and ran back upstairs, trying to get back to her room before he came out of the bathroom. Only to slam into a bare, wet chest.

"Ugh" she cried stepping away from him.

"We have to stop meeting like this." He grinned at her. "People will start to think you actually like me."

"God, where did you get that line from? Can you not come up with anything original? And there will never be any worry about people thinking I like you; my friends know I actually have some taste." She bit off, stalking back into her room. Slamming the door shut; again, she flipped her phone open and dialled Simone's number.

"Y'ello"

"Simone, you will never believe who I just found in my bathtub."

"In your bathtub?"

"Yes. In my bathtub. Dylan fucking Marwood"

"Oooooooooh" Simone screeched down the phone.

"No Oooooh. Don't be Oooohing. This is not a time for Oooohing."

"Come on Sophie," Simone laughed, "you have to admit, he is fine! Oh, I could just wrap him up and lock him in my wardrobe and keep him there forever! But anyway." She quickly said, when Sophie went silent "That is so not the point. I though he was in London for the rest of the year?"

"Yeah, so did I. Apparently it was just the school year. Doesn't time fly when you don't have your brother's arsehole best friend pissing all over your life?"

"Now now, Sophie." Simone laughed, "He's not that bad."

"Yeah, well. You don't have him practically living in your house do you." She sighed.

"What is he doing taking a bath in your house anyways? Doesn't he just live like, right round the corner?"

"That's a very good question, one I unfortunately do not know the answer to." She grumbled. "Listen, I'd better go. Martin is meant to be picking me up in 15 minutes, and I'm not ready yet."

"Martin? Really? Come on Sophie, this isn't healthy."

"Going now!" Sophie ignored Simone's protests and hung the phone up. Quickly brushing her hair and changing her top, she ran back to the bathroom (knocking first), and brushed her teeth. There was a knock at the door just as she stepped back out of the bathroom.

"I'll get it!" She shouted, starting down the stairs, then froze as Dylan stalked over and pulled the door open.

"What are you doing here?" He growled at the person on the other side.

"I'm here to pick Sophie up, obviously" She heard Martin answer.

"I am not above hitting you again." Dylan growled before turning and glaring at Sophie, still hovering on the stairs. "Seriously?" He asked, "You're back with this wanker. Have you just miraculously forgotten all the shit he put you through last time?"

"First off, we are not going back out with each other, we're just friends." Sophie stated, "and secondly, it's none of your business, so keep your big nose out." She flounced past him and into the living room, picking up some money off the sideboard and then turned to Andrew. "Right, I'm off. I'll see you later."

Andrew looked up at her, and then turned to look out of the bay window at the door. Seeing Martin stood there he sighed and shook his head. "You're an idiot Sophie, and you know dad is going to flip when he finds out you're seeing him again."

"Ok, he actually has a name, Andrew. And all we're doing is going to see a film. There is nothing else to it. Friends are allowed to do that you know."

"Whatever." Andrew grumbled, standing up and going to the door. "You touch her, you look at her the wrong way, you hurt her again, and it won't just be my dad after you, remember that." He hissed at Martin.

Martin stood still for a few seconds, obviously slightly shaken, before snorting and saying, "Yeah, alright"

"Enough of the pissing contest already." Sophie stepped between them, Dylan and Andrew on one side, Martin on the other, "Come on, the film starts in half an hour. We'll be late." She grabbed hold of Martin's arm and dragged him down the driveway. "Don't wait up!" She called back, grinning as she did so.

"Ha ha," Andrew called back, "You're really not funny you know!"

Andrew slammed the door shut and stormed back into the living room, flopping down on the sofa.

"So," Dylan said, sitting next to him, "Am I missing something? Is there a reason Sophie is going to the cinema with Martin when the last thing I heard he was a complete knob head who'd cheated on her?"

"Apparently they are not dating. They're 'just friends'." Andrew air quoted.

"How have they even got back in touch? I thought all their friends hated him?" Dylan asked, confused.

"They do!" Andrew sighed, rubbing his hands over his face. "She bumped into him when she was out one night and they got chatting. He ended up telling about how he'd just been dumped by the girl he cheated on Sophie with. Sophie felt sorry for him, because she's an idiot, and they've been texting and MSNing each other ever since. She keeps insisting that nothing is going on and that she's just being a good friend."

"To the person who took her virginity and then cheated on her?"

"Exactly!" Andrew cried. "I just don't know what to do. It's like, all the crap he put her through doesn't seem to matter any more. His friends wouldn't talk to him for months because of the way he treated her, but she can just forgive him like nothing ever happened. She can comfort him because his girlfriend dumped him. She's fucking crazy! Any other girl would be laughing in his face because he was getting what he deserved."

"She's always been too nice for her own good." Dylan mused, "And there's no point saying anything because she'll just be all the more determined to see him."

"I know. She needs someone else to come along and take her mind off him. But the only guys she ever sees are us and Nathan." He sighed again. "Hopefully this time he'll be different. I'll kill him if he hurts her again."

The trip to the cinema had actually been a really good night. She and Martin had laughed and joked just like old times. Just like nothing had happened, she just couldn't make up her mind about whether that was a good thing or a bad thing.

Pulling up outside her house, Martin turned to Sophie. "Thanks for coming with me tonight. I really appreciate it."

"No problem" she grinned at him. "I had fun" They sat and looked at each other for a few moments, before Sophie turned to open the door.

"Wait, Sophie." He grabbed her arm, stopping her from getting out of the car. He opened his mouth, about to say something to her, when his gaze went to something behind her and he dropped his grip on her arm. Confused she turned to look at what had caught his eye and saw Dylan leaning against the front door, glaring at them.

"You have got to be kidding me," she grumbled. "I'll talk to you later, ok?" Martin nodded at her and she got out of the car. "What do you think you're doing?" she growled at Dylan.

"Just came out for some air." He grinned at her, turning to follow her into the house.

"Andrew, keep your lap dog by your side, please. Instead of getting him to come spy on me"

"He's not my lap dog, he's my Rottweiler." Andrew grinned at her

"Hey." Dylan called. "Enough with the dog references, please"

Sophie snorted, then turned back to Andrew. "Where's dad?" she asked.

"Over at Julia's. He said he'd be back later, and that I should let you know how thoroughly disappointed in you he is."

"Yeah right." Sophie scoffed, "Like dad would ever say that."

"Ok, those weren't his exact words. But he did say that you were bloody stupid, which equates to the same thing really."

Sophie stuck her tongue out at him, then went into the kitchen to get a drink.

"Hey," Andrew called out to her, following her into the kitchen. "We're about to watch a film, want to watch it with us?"

"Sure," Sophie shrugged "I've got nothing better to do I suppose." She took three cans of Pepsi back into the front room, and sat down next to her brother, Dylan taking the chair next to them. "What are we watching?" She asked, pulling the throw off the back of the couch and snuggling down under it.

"Transformers" Andrew grinned at her.

"Oooooh! Not seen this in at least a week!" She grinned back at him.

"Well, it is one of the greatest films ever."

Sophie laughed, getting up to put the DVD in the player, then grabbing hold of the remote. "I suppose you are correct this once."

As the credits rolled, Sophie shoved the last handful of her third packet of crisps into her mouth, crunching happily. Next to her on the couch, there was an empty chocolate hobnobs packet, and what little was left of some popcorn they had made. Andrew and Dylan sat on the couch opposite her, watching in awe.

"All you do is eat!" Dylan exclaimed.

She glared at him. "Well, I do have to keep this figure somehow. It takes a very special combination of diet and exercise to maintain."

Andrew snorted. "What diet? 5 packets of crisps a day is no diet, and the only exercise you get is up and down the stairs!"

Sophie stood up and put her hands on her hips. Haughtily she replied, "I'll have you know that I walk to the train station and back every day, and then to uni and back, and sometimes I even go to the corner shop! And I have to eat at least 5 packs a day otherwise there would be no fat on me and I might fall down a grid, so ner!" She stuck her tongue out at them. Dylan let out a burst of laughter, and Sophie looked at him in confusion.

"Sorry, it's just." He paused, thinking for the right words, "Well, you don't meet many girls who can actually admit that they could put some weight on and still look great! Usually they're obsessed with diets and calories. It's refreshing." He grinned at her.

"Yeah," She slowly said. "Well, I'm not being funny but, if I thought I was fat, there would be something seriously wrong with me. Maybe growing up with my dad and brother saved me from the usual female insecurities. My dad would go mental if he thought I thought I was fat or something so. Yeah." She shrugged. "Anyway. I'm gonna go to bed."

"'Kay, sleep tight." Andrew said. Dylan got up, and followed her out of the room.

"Sleep tight Sophia." He whispered in her ear as he walked past and into the dining room. She froze, staring at him for a few moments, before running up the stairs.

Once in her bedroom she closed the door, and then leaned against it, letting out a deep breath. It was strange being around Dylan again like this. She hadn't hung around with him since she was about 8 years old and he and Andrew had been about 11. She and Andrew had stayed close, well, as close as a brother and sister ever are, but Dylan had changed. He wouldn't speak to her, wouldn't look at her, wouldn't touch her. And it hurt her, a lot. She had always thought she and Dylan would have a relationship like she did with her brother. That he would always be there for her, looking out for her, but when he got to high school, and joined the 'popular' kids, he no longer wanted anything to do with his best friend's baby sister.

The rest of their acquaintance had been civil at best. They couldn't be in the same room as each other for more than 5 minutes without an argument breaking out, and he would constantly make lewd, suggestive comments that he knew she hated, just to rile her up. She couldn't stand him. But, tonight… she sighed, running her hand through her hair. Tonight, it had been just like being a kid again, sat in the front room with them, laughing and joking.

She flopped down onto her bed, looking up at her bedroom ceiling her dad had painted for her years ago. Light blue, with patches of white that looked like clouds. He always tried to make out that he'd intended for it to turn out like that, not that he'd just done a crap job, but Sophie loved to lie on her bed and pretend she was staring at the sky, and had even stuck glow in the dark stars up at some point.

He'd called her Sophia, something he hadn't done in years. Just as she was pondering what it might mean, her phone beeped, letting her know she had a text. Reaching over to her nightstand, she picked it up and flipped it open.

Thnx again 4 2nite. Had a rly gud time. U busy 2moro? X

She smiled, feeling butterflies start up in her tummy, as she started to reply to Martin.

No problem, I had a good time too. I'm going out with Nathan tomorrow, and then I need to finish an essay for uni, sorry x

She hit send and then got up to get ready for bed. Grabbing her pyjamas, which consisted of shorts and a vest, she headed out to the bathroom. She hummed to herself as she washed her face and brushed her teeth, and was just pulling her shorts on when there was a knock at the bathroom door.

"Hang on a sec." She called out, picking up her clothes and putting them in the laundry basket. She opened the door to find Dylan on the other side

"Awwww," he grinned at her, "Did you brush your teeth without me? I thought we were doing that together."

She rolled her eyes at him, "Get a life Dylan." She pushed him to one side, and made to walk past him, but he grabbed her arm and pulled her back. She frowned at him.

"What?" She snapped. He looked at her intently for a few moments before running his hand through his hair.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" He asked, hesitantly, "This thing with Martin? Just wait!" He exclaimed as she opened her mouth to argue with him. She sighed and glared at him. "I just mean, well, he wasn't exactly very nice to you was he? And they always say that a leopard can't change its spots don't they? We're just worried about you, that's all."

"Since when have you been worried about me?" she asked.

"Just because I'm not your best friend all the time, doesn't mean I don't care about you." He almost whispered. Shivers ran down her back as she stared at his intense gaze.

Clearing her throat she muttered, "Yes, well. You have nothing to worry about. Honestly." She said at his sceptical look. "I don't want to get back with him. Not at the moment anyways. And I've told him that as well."

Dylan nodded and let go of her arm, then turned and walked into the bathroom, shutting the door behind him. She stood looking at it for a few moments, before shaking her head and going back into her bedroom. Looking at her phone, she saw she had a new message off Martin.

Wht u doin wiv nath? Can u not cancel? X

She frowned at the text. Martin knew Nathan was her best friend and that she didn't get to see a lot of him anymore. They went to the same university, but he lived in halls whereas she lived at home, and they both did completely different courses, so the only time she got to see him was at the weekends. And that always depended on how much homework they both had.

Sorry, I've not seen him in ages. We can do something during the week, if I don't have too much homework. Almost immediately there was a reply Ok, swt drms xXx A bit annoyed at how he'd tried to make her cancel her plans, she put the phone down without bothering to reply to his text. She got into bed, and lay staring at the door. Maybe Dylan had a point. Maybe she should back away from Martin for a bit. He'd really hurt her last time, and as the saying goes, fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. Sighing she turned the light off and snuggled down into bed. She'd give him some distance over the next few weeks, she thought. See what happened.

Okay, this is the first time I have ever posted anything on here, and I'm only doing it because my friend, Optimus Bob, talked me into it (She also beta'd this for me, so thank you to her!). I'm hoping the format etc is all okay... Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this