Chapter Eighteen

The Sanders Siblings

19:45 GMT
Dublin, Ireland

The pulse of the deep-techno music rang across the neighbourhood as the party had gotten into full swing. It was dark enough so the multi-coloured lights bloomed over the yard of the Byrne household. Had it been any other house then the neighbours would surely have complained but nobody complained about the Byrne's – rumours swirled around Dublin that the Byrne's were part of the Irish Mob though they were unfounded.

Inside was a mass of people off all different ages. There were college students to young adults to even a few thirty-something's. Some were dancing to the pounding music, others were lounging in seats with cigarettes in their fingers, and others were huddled in the corners with a handful of clothes, moving to an entirely different rhythm. Rubbish and litter was spread all across the floor but nobody cared, happily throwing used cups against the walls or throwing crumpled up wrappers at other people.

In the middle of the throng of dancing people, Alisha Sanders was twisting her hips in front of Aiden Byrne himself, the entitled son. He mostly walked around with an air of authority that he didn't have and made threats he couldn't keep but the fact he was the son of the Byrne's meant he was feared just like his parents. Alisha's curly brown hair bounced as she smiled seductively at Aiden, batting her wide brown eyes at him, only a shade darker than her chocolate skin.

"Damn…" Aiden grinned at her, small in his own right but wearing an expensive suit and a solid gold watch, doing his best to live up to his parent's rumoured heritage. "Who needs lights when you're lightin' up the room?"

Alisha snorted slightly and stepped another step closer to Aiden, putting both hands on his shoulders as she gyrated her hips, taking no care in the world of the other party-goers. There was a strong smell of alcohol on her lips as she leaned a little closer to Aiden. "You're so corny," She giggled and got even closer, rubbing her chest slowly on Aiden's own. "You think that kind of line is gonna work with me?"

"It seems like it already has," Aiden crept his hands around her waist, moving with her rhythm.

"You're just imagining it!" Alisha insisted as she leaned close enough to Aiden's face that they would be touching lips if she only leaned forward one inch more. "…'Sides, words… words don't work on me!"

"Oh? Actions work a whole lot better?" Aiden's hands moved down and gave a sharp squeeze making Alisha gasp slightly. "Good to know."

Alisha only giggled and suddenly stepped away before pulling at Aiden's hand. "C'mon, take me up to your room! I wanna see what big bad Aiden Byrne's room looks like! I bet it's interesting…"

The less-than-subtle implication behind Alisha's words were not lost on Aiden and he nodded. "Sounds like a great idea, darlin'. Somewhere private would certainly… be better…" His eyes trailed up and down her body before leading her away from the throng of people and up the stairs. It was a lot less crowded up on the second floor though there were still a few of the hardcore party-goers who were sampling Aiden's private wares.

He quickly opened his own bedroom's door and went in, unbuttoning his jacket and turning around. Aiden grinned wickedly as Alisha was already pulling the straps of her shirt down. He eyed her up and down before pushing forward and planting his lips against her. Alisha accepted him eagerly and their hands started exploring, experimenting with new sensations and new places. Everything was going perfectly until there was a sharp rap on the door.

"What the fuck is it?!" Aiden called out, pulling away from the reluctant Alisha. She kissed at his neck, unfastening the buttons of his shirt one by one before continuing the kisses down his chest. The door opened and a nervous looking man stood there. "This better be good, Doherty," Aiden gestured to Alisha who was now trailing her fingers around his belly button, giggling slightly to herself. "I'm busy."

"It's…" The man started but was suddenly shoved aside by another larger young man, sending him stumbling. The new arrival had bright ginger hair that clashed with his gleaming green eyes but his broad-shouldered footballer body certainly made up for the ridiculousness of it.

"Where is she, Byrne!?" The boy demanded before his eyes quickly made his way to Alisha kneeling on the floor. "Alisha?! Get up from there," he reached down to grab her arm but Alisha slapped it away.

"…Whaddaya want, Derek, this place isn't great for a goody-two-shoes like you."

Derek Sanders did his best to keep the firm expression on his face, pushing his nerves down. He was never a violent person but he had to use his body shape to its full advantage in front of Aiden Byrne. "You're on curfew, Alisha, you know that."

"Screw the curfew! I'm not gonna, gonna go with you…" Alisha's words were starting to slur together as she grabbed at Aiden's belt buckle, still on her knees. "Now go, go away…"

"Alisha!" Derek stepped forward but Aiden put a hand on his chest, looking threateningly at Derek despite standing a foot and a half smaller than the football player.

"She said no, boy, so I'd suggest you get the fuck off my property 'fore someone gets hurt," Aiden growled.

"Yeah, well I think the police will have something to say about that," Derek said and Aiden immediately laughed, throwing his head back.

"Hah! The cops? You think they're gonna bust me for a little bit of a party? You're not too bright are ya?"

"Perhaps not for the party. But, even though your name is Byrne, I think even your parents wouldn't be able to get you out for sleeping with a minor," Derek said, his words slicing through the air like a knife and stopping Aiden in his tracks completely. He looked from Derek to Alisha in horror.

"You said you were seventeen!"

"...practically… seventeen…" Alisha mumbled, having great difficulty with the belt buckle. Aiden instantly pushed her away and Alisha shot to her feet, enraged. "What the fuck!?"

"What the fuck do you mean, what the fuck!?" Aiden practically shrieked. "You're the fuck, you fuckin' fucked… fuck! I ain't sleepin' with no kid no matter how hot she is. Christ on a fuckin' pike, get the fuck out of here!" Aiden turned away and Derek quickly grabbed his sister's hand, pulling her out of the room.

All the way through the throng Alisha resisted Derek but he was bigger and stronger. He pulled his sister forcibly through the crowd as quick as he could, getting her out of the house and crossing the lawn. As they reached the pavement Alisha finally managed to wriggle herself free. "Derek!? What are you doing? Why'd you come you big… big…" Alisha struggled for the words and pathetically pushed against his chest. "You big meanie!"

"Our parents are worried," Derek said, letting out a huge sigh. Forcing his way into that house and standing in front of Aiden Byrne like that had taken a lot out of him. He absolutely despised confrontation and would do his best to make friends and at least get along with everyone. He enjoyed football but unlike the American's barbaric version it was more about speed and versatility, rather than rough-shod smashing into people. Though people often said Derek was built for American Football. At eighteen he was bigger than any his age with shoulders that could knock someone out if he wasn't careful. If it hadn't been for his hair, his freckles, and his strange child-like face, his friends said that Derek would have been at the top of the school chain.

"You mean your parents are worried," Alisha snarled, turning around and crossing her arms like a petulant child.

"I mean, technically, you're still related to our dad. It's only mum who—"

"Don't you technically me!" Alisha hissed and grew even more furious upon seeing Derek's lop-sided smile. "Gah! You're so frustrating you oaf of a stupid-" She stopped speaking and made a funny little movement, accompanied by a slight rumbling sound.

"Alisha?" Derek stepped forward in concern but it was too late as Alisha suddenly keeled over and let out the very liquidated contents of her stomach over the edge of the curb onto the tarmacked road. Derek immediately fell to his knees next to his sister and held her head carefully, using his thumbs to keep her hair out from her face. Alisha continued to expel the vomit for quite a while as Derek waited patiently, switching one hand to gently rub her back.

"…Aurgh…" Alisha let out a groan and finally sat back against the curb, the strobe lights flashing against her very pale looking face. Derek quickly let go and Alisha looked away, pouting. "…Thanks."

"No worries," Derek replied.

"I still hate you."

Derek's mouth twitched in a smile. "I know."

"And I hate your mother."

"I also know that."

"And your stupid little dog."

"Now what did Cupid ever do to you?"

"She exists."

"Now that's just harsh."

The two siblings fell silent, sitting on the curb for a long while with nothing more to say. Finally Derek stood up and wrinkled his nose. "Come on, Alisha, let's move away from here. This music is giving me a headache." Derek offered his hand to Alisha who at the very least seemed to have sobered up slightly now that most of the alcohol was lying on the road.

"What?" Alisha shook her head and accepted Derek's hand, pulling herself shakily to her feet. "It's not because of my vomit at our feet?"

"No, not at all," Derek grinned and, still holding Alisha's hand, started walking away from the Byrne household. They walked in silence but Alisha never pulled away. It was clear she was still weak and Derek was ready to catch her if she fell. However they made it a few blocks before Alisha spotted a bench and quickly took the chance to sit down, finally letting go of Derek's hand. Derek sat down next to her and stared across the small park area to a lady walking her dog. He watched them disappear into the darkness of the evening before speaking, not looking at Alisha. "Why do you do this to yourself, Alisha?"

A long minute passed before Alisha responded. "It makes me feel happy."

"It doesn't look like it makes you happy."

Alisha responded with a shrug and kicked at a patch of earth at the base of the bench. "I can be myself like that."

"That's not you, Alisha. At a party like that? That's not you. Drinking and… well, I hope you didn't do anything else. That's not you. And Aiden Byrne? What you were about to do?" Derek turned his head to look at his younger sister. "That is definitely not you."

"I'd think I know who I am," Alisha responded and crushed the small pile of dirt she had made with her foot. "So who do you think I am?"

"I think you're Alisha Sanders," Derek responded immediately.

"Wow, that's so inspired." Alisha said sarcastically. "So what makes up Alisha Sanders?"

"Your wits," Derek tapped her head but Alisha quickly brushed his finger away. "Your brain, Alisha, that's what makes you, you. If you put your brain to good use instead of drowning it in alcohol then you can make something of yourself. You can break out of your misery and become something amazing."

"Like what? A maths teacher?"

"Like whatever you want to be." Derek smiled and looked up at the cloudless night sky where the stars glittered down at them. "When I first met you said you wanted to walk on Mars."

Alisha looked incredulously at her brother. "Are you telling me to go into space?! Are you an utter moron?"

"Why not?" Derek said seriously. "You shouldn't give up on your dreams."

"It wasn't a dream, Derek, it was a fantasy."

"Alright, so what is your dream?" Derek asked. He didn't expect an answer but it seemed like Alisha was actually thinking about it. Then she leaned forward, her hair cascading over her cheeks, covering her expression.

"…I want… I want to be happy…"

Derek looked at her with a frown. "And what is going to make you happy, Alisha?"

"Why do you even care?"

"I'm your older brother. It's my job to care about my little sister."

"I…" Alisha took a deep breath before speaking. "I want to find the perfect man. I want to live in a little house in the woods with a kid running around us. I want a library full of books of all sorts of things and I want to live with my family until I'm old and grey. Don't laugh."

"I'm not laughing," Derek said and smiled softly. "I think that's amazing. But do you think Aiden is that man?"

There was a long pause then, "No."

"No," Derek agreed. "Him. His parents. Everyone in the house. They are not remotely related to your man, sis. You need to look elsewhere to find true love."

Alisha straightened up and Derek was happy to see a smile on her face. She was still pale but it seemed she had at least worked most of it out of her system. "I don't think you're one to give me emotional advice, Derek."

"That's true. It's not my expertise." Derek chuckled. "But I can try. If you ever need someone to talk to you know that I'm there. Stay away from that life," he gestured in the direction of the house. "Stay away from it all. You're better than that. You're better than them." He lightly shoved her shoulder and grinned at his sister. "You've got the whole world in front of you, Alisha! It's yours for the taking!"