Rose turned onto the street as Hugo had instructed, and pulled up in front of the only house on the street with the lights on and music coming from inside. Immediately she spotted Hugo sitting out the front, hugging his knees to his chest. Rose pulled the handbrake upwards and hopped out of the car, leaving the engine running. Hugo stood up when he saw her.

'Are you okay?' Rose asked her brother.

'Let's just go,' Hugo said, walking to the car. Seeing someone in the front seat, he climbed in the back and sat with his head down. Rose got back into the car and closed the door.

'Seth, I don't know how this is going to work,' Rose said as she drove, brow wrinkled in confusion. 'Taking you back to the party, I mean. I have to get Hugo home, but how can I do that without a car? But I can't take your car, obviously, because then you can't get home. God, I should've thought this through.'

'Rose, it's okay,' Seth said calmly. 'I don't need to get back to the party. Use my car to get home, and I'll take a taxi from there. I mean, if that's okay? I can pick up my car tomorrow.'

'Are you sure?' Rose asked.

'Of course,' Seth smiled.

'You're a lifesaver,' Rose said. 'Thank you, I owe you.'

A short while later, Rose pulled up to the Weasley residence. All of the lights were off inside, so at least her parents hadn't woken up to find Hugo missing. Hugo hopped out of the car, explaining that he could get in the same way he'd gotten out—climbing through his bedroom window.

Seth reached into his pocket for his mobile phone, and pulled it out. He looked at it intently for a moment before asking, 'What's the number for a taxi again?'

Rose giggled. 'Don't worry about a taxi,' she said. 'You can stay here the night. I mean, if you want to.'

'Are you sure?' Seth asked. 'I don't want to get you into trouble or bother anyone.'

'You won't,' Rose said. 'My parents won't even be home tomorrow morning, they always go out together on Sundays. I want you to stay, Seth.'

'Okay,' Seth said softly. 'If you're sure.'

'I am. Wait over there, by my window. I'll go inside and unlock it.'

X

Rose rapped gently on her brother's door with her knuckles. 'Hugo? Can I come in?' she whispered.

He grunted in response, and Rose pushed open the door, closing it behind her. She took a seat on the bed. Hugo was lying face up on top of the covers.

'What happened at the party?' Rose asked softly.

Hugo sighed. 'It was just … I don't know, it's not what I thought it would be. People were taking pills and snorting coke and there was vomit everywhere and it was loud and hot and I didn't know anyone. And … Lisa was there.' He seemed wince when he said her name.

'Who's Lisa?'

'Lisa Harper,' Hugo mumbled. 'That girl I was texting a few weeks ago, remember? You should, you made fun of me for it. Anyway, I really liked her. She was pretty and nice and stuff … I mean, I thought she was nice. She texted me and asked me if I wanted to go to the party with her, and obviously I did, so when Malcolm asked me to go tonight, I snuck out. And when I got there I went up to her and she was with all her friends, and she asked what I wanted, and I was like, "You asked me to meet you here."

'Anyway, when I said that, her friend started laughing and she was like to Lisa, "Oh my god, you actually did it?" And then Lisa told me it was a joke, and they were all laughing. So I went and sat outside.'

Rose felt as if she was going to be sick – how could someone do that to her sweet baby brother? She managed to choke out an empathetic apology.

'You know what?' she said. 'This Lisa bitch isn't even worthy of your time, Hugo. And karma is going to kick her arse, I promise. Besides, she probably chews with her mouth open, or picks her nose or something.'

Hugo grinned.

'And one day,' Rose continued, 'you're going to meet the hottest girl you've ever seen. And she's going to fall in love with you, and Lisa will be stuck with some shit-for-brains bloke with a beer belly who works the graveyard shift at a convenience store for a living.'

'Thanks, Rose,' Hugo said quietly.

Rose patted her brother's leg affectionately. 'I'll let you get some sleep.'

She smiled softly, and left.

X

'Everything okay?' Seth said as Rose closed the bedroom door. He was sitting on the edge of the bed.

'Yeah. Well, sort of,' Rose said. 'Some little bitch pretended to like him as a joke. He was so humiliated. I swear to god, if I ever meet her ...'

'That's horrible,' Seth said.

'He really liked her, too,' Rose shook her head. 'I just feel sorry for him.'

'Oh, the joys of being fifteen.'

A smile tugged at Rose's lips. 'Look away,' she told him light-heartedly. 'I have to change.'

Seth covered his eyes with his hands and Rose slipped out of her dress and into an old t-shirt and some pyjama shorts. She dropped down on the bed beside Seth, who uncovered his eyes and turned to face her.

'You're beautiful,' he said.

'I know,' she teased. 'I'm way out of your league.'

'Too right,' Seth responded. 'Thank goodness I'm a decent actor, otherwise I'd have nothing else going for me.'

'That's not entirely true.' She lifted her head off the pillow and squinted at him, as though inspecting his features. 'You're sort of cute. And what you lack in physical attractiveness you make up for in … no, I guess you're right. Thank goodness you're a good actor.'

Seth dropped his jaw and put his hand on his chest in mock horror. He reached over to tickle Rose, who began giggling and trying to evade his touch.

'Say I'm hot,' he demanded.

Rose shook her head as she laughed and squirmed around on the bed.

'I won't stop until you say it!'

'Okay, okay! You're hot!'

'Good.' Seth stopped tickling her and Rose rolled over so that she was laying on her side, facing him.

'Are you ticklish?'

'Don't even try.' Seth warned.

Rose moved her hands over to his torso to tickle him, but he grabbed her wrists and pinned them above her head.

'Hey!' Rose cried. 'No fair.'

'I warned you, didn't I?'

'Fine, I won't tickle you. I can't risk ruining your masculine reputation, can I?'

'I'm glad you understand.'

'A truce, then?'

Seth eyed Rose suspiciously, but nodded and let go of her hands. In one swift movement, she cupped his cheeks with them and kissed him. Without disconnecting their lips, Seth wrapped his arms around Rose's body and pulled her in close to him, deepening the kiss. Rose wrapped her arms around Seth's shoulders. Suddenly, Rose's phone rang, making the girl start. Seth laughed at her, and she shushed him as she reached over to pick it up.

'Rose?' Valeria said worriedly. 'Where are you?'

'Val,' Rose said apologetically; she'd completely forgotten to tell her friend that she had left the party. 'I left. I'm sorry, I forgot to let you know. Hugo needed me to pick him up, so I had to leave in a hurry.'

'Oh,' Val said, sounding relieved. 'Well, I'm glad you're okay. What happened to Hugo?'

'Adolescence,' Rose replied.

'What?'

'I'll explain on Monday,' Rose told her. 'I'd better go before I wake my parents up. Get home safely, okay?'

Valeria said her goodbye, and Rose hung up the phone. Then, she kissed Seth again.