Caroline

When we got home, Mum was waiting for us, sitting on the front steps. For the first time in a long time, her blonde hair, the same pale yellow as mine and Dan's, was down, framing her pretty features. She looked up as we approached, relief filling her features as she got to her feet, enveloping me a hug tighter than she had for roughly ten years, since I was a little girl scared of the dark. I hissed through my teeth in surprise, but I reluctantly put my arms around her.

Then she pulled back, putting her hand on my cheek. I stared back at her, unsure of what to do, until she noticed the mark on my cheek and she grasped my chin, yanking my head to the side sharply. I winced as a dull pain snaked its way up the side of my neck, but Mum wasn't paying attention to me; she was paying attention to the red mark on my cheekbone.

"Mum," Dan said sharply, from his spot behind me, with his arms folded across his chest. Mum sighed and let me go, moving past me to hug him. He looked just as uncomfortable hugging our mother as I'd felt hugging her. Then Mum released him and looked between us, her lips curling into a small smile. "I promise, they'll be no more bullshit, you two. We'll be a family again, I promise. Just us."

Dan and I exchanged a glance. It went without saying that neither of us believed her. Our mother was not known for keeping her promises.

That night, it took me an hour of dancing around the idea to actually bring myself to call Ains. Dan's words continued to echo in my head, but I finally managed to shove them away and dial my boyfriend's number and press the phone against my ear. He picked up after two rings.

"Hey," he said, his voice deep and musical in my ear. Involuntarily, I felt a shiver run down my spine at the sound of his voice. No matter what my doubts about him were right now, I couldn't deny that he was possibly the sexiest guy that I had ever been with.

"Hey," I replied.

"How's things with your mum? All good?"

"I, uh . . . yeah. She's convinced we're going to be a family again, she is." I told him.

"And you don't believe it?"

"My mother is known notoriously for not keeping her promises," I said, sitting down on the edge of my bed as he sighed on the other end of the line.

"You know," he said, "she's your family, Care. You only get one."

"Mmm-hmm," I mumbled into the phone, remembering Dan's words about the boy on the other end of the line.

"You alright?"

"Yeah. Just tired, I guess. It's been a long couple of days."

"That it has." He paused, and then I heard hi sigh softly through his teeth. "For the love of – "

"What?" I asked.

"Camden's still here. I believe that he and Vanessa are making out next door," he told me. "I can hear it. It's distracting."

"How distracting?" I asked.

"Distracting enough to wish that you were still here," he replied, his voice low and husky. I felt myself flush, the heat rising to my cheeks as I ducked my head. "Ains . . ."

"What?" he asked, his voice soft.

I bit my lip. "I need to tell you something."

I could practically hear him sit up. "What is it? Are you alright"

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just . . . I like you."

I could practically hear him smiling. "And exactly how much do you like me, Care?"

"I don't know. That's my biggest problem."

He laughed. "Well, for the record, I like you too, Caroline Morgan."

I smiled and glanced at the time, biting back a yawn. "I should go to sleep. It's been a long night."

"Alright. I'll talk to you tomorrow. Goodnight, Caroline."

"'Night," I said, and hung up.

"What did you mean yesterday, about not everyone being who I think they are?" I asked Dan the next morning as we sat at the table eating breakfast.

Dan sighed, pushing his cereal around in his bowl. "Care . . ."

"Dan, please." I said desperately. "I could barely talk to him on the phone last night. Please, Dan. Just tell me what you know."

Dan sighed again, reaching up and pushing his blonde hair out of his eyes. "Care, I can't tell you."

"Then something!" I shouted. "Dan, give me something! Please!"

He sighed again, massaging his forehead and closing his eyes. Then, finally, he said, "Look up his father, Caroline. I don't know the guy's last name, but I do know that Ains doesn't use his father's last name."

"How do you know all this?" I asked.

Dan didn't answer, looking down.

"Zoe?"

Dan nodded and I sighed heavily, squeezing my eyes shut and dipping my head back.

"Care?" Dan asked. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah." I muttered. "But there's always something, isn't there? I always have to pick the wrong guy, don't I?"

Dan shook his head, smiling sympathetically. "It's not really that bad, Caroline, as long as you keep an open mind."

I groaned. "Clearly, you know. Why can't you just tell me?"

Dan shrugged and opened his mouth to say something, but then Mum walked in and sat down at the head of the table, between me and Dan. "What are you two talking about?"

"Nothing important," Dan replied.

"So where did you two stay for the past couple of days?" Mum asked.

Before I could say anything, Dan piped up; "Caroline's boyfriend's house."

I winced, shooting him a sharp look as Mum turned to look at me, a smile breaking out on her face. "Boyfriend? How long has this been going on?"

"A few days," I said feebly, looking up at her.

"We should have him over for dinner sometime." Dan suggested. I cast him a confused look as Mum's face brightened considerably, her green-coloured eyes twinkling with excitement. "That actually not that bad of an idea, Dan."

I had to clench my jaw to stop myself from groaning loudly.