Disclaimer: I don't own the characters from Hollyoaks ( except Alex which I made up :D ) I hope you like it. I know it's short - sorry about that. I'll make sure the next one is longer. I tried to make it easier to read by spacing it out more.

Brendan

After the incedent yesterday with that bloke, I was feeling pretty pissed of. I mean, what the Hell? I was Brendan Brady - master of manipulation and control. I hadn't seen Steven in weeks (It seems he'd been avoiding me - not that I blame him) and yet I still couldn't get him out of my head. This wasn't like me. In fact this was so unlike me that it was severly freaking me it out. I know I used to think I was...well...in love with the guy but that had been a mistake, a simple gliche in my mind. I wasn't in love with him now. I wasn't. Yesterday had pushed me over the edge and I couldn't love him any more. I wouldn't let myself. It made me too vulnerable and I didn't do vulnerable. Vulnerable was not a word in my vocabulary - unless I was using it to describe someone else. So, in order to reassurt control and show I didn't love him, I was going to have to seduce Steven. And then, when he was gagging for it, I was going to have to tell him to take a hike. Because I couldn't sleep with him. No, that would make things worse. But, if I could be that close and then turn him down, it would prove I was back to being my old self. Yes, that's what I would do. I was feeling better already.

I was standing outside of Chez Chez, staring out at Hollyoaks from my vantage point up high. That's when I saw him. Steven. He was talking to Rhys and they were laughing about something. I felt a bit jealous, seeing Ste enjoying himself without me, but I told myself to get a grip. I was trying to prove I was over Steven, not acting like a possessive ...well... boyfriend. But I couldn't help myself, I stared down at the face I had thought about so much it had become a permanent fixture in my mind. It was good to see him smiling, even if it wasn't at me.

My thoughts were interuppted by a shout. "Well, well, well. If it isn't Ste Hay."

Ste turned towards the voice and stood, gaping for a second before grinning. "Alex!"

"The one and only." he replied. I looked at 'Alex'. He was about Steven's age, tall, slim with short-cut blonde hair.

"What you doin' ere?" Ste asked, laughing.

"Why? Didn't ya miss me?" Alex replied.

I couldn't make out what they said afterwards but Steven just couldn't stop grinning. Who was this guy? I was going to have to find out.

Ste

"Why didn't ya miss me?" Alex asked. Yes, I wanted to say but of course didn't.

"Nah." I joked.

"Who's this?" Asked Rhys. I'd forgotten he was even here.

"Rhys meet Alex. Alex, Rhys." I said, gesturing.

"Ste's an old mate a mine. Aren't ya, Ste?"

"Yeah. We er..." I trailed of as I saw who was approaching.

Brendan was trying to look nochalant but he wasn't fooling me. I knew he'd been staring at me from outside Chez Chez. I wasn't blind. Could he be jealous?

"Rhys, I wanted a word with you about work." Like Hell you do, I thought to myself. You just want to know who I'm talking to 'cause you're a possessive bastard. "Come in later. Good? Good."

"Hello Steven."

"Brendan." I replied evenly.

"And who's you're ...friend?" He asked, looking Alex up and down. I smirked.

"Brendan, this is m' mate, Alex. Alex this is Brendan Brady. The local nut job." I couldn't help tormenting him a little. He should have minded his own damn buisness. Rhys flinched - literally flinched. He was probably wondering why I was purposefully provoking Brendan. I didn't know why I did it, it's just what me and Brendan do - mess with each other.

"Now, now Steven. Play nice. You never seemed to mind before, now did ya?" He laughed. But not a normal laugh. He did that laugh that he did when he knew it wasn't funny and he knew he was making people feel uncomfortable. It made him seem like a pyscho.

"Funny. How long did it take you t' think that one up?" I replied, acidily. He just smiled.

"Erm...I'm gonna go and... see Jackie. Bye." Rhys said, awkwardly.

"See ya later, Rhys." I said.

"Yeah, nice to meet ya." Said Alex, smiling.

"You too. Bye." He practically ran away.

"Well, Brendan. It's good to see ya can still scare people off in less that a minute. I was beginning to think ya'd lost ya touch." I said, looking at Rhys's retreating form and shaking my head.

"So, how do you two know each other?" Asked Alex, meaning me and Brendan.

Before I could reply, Brendan answered, "Me and Steven go way back, ain't that right Steven?" He placed a hand around my shoulder. It wasn't friendly in the least though. It was like a mark of ownership, Brendan obviously wasn't finished playing with me. Too bad I wasn't playing by his rules any more.

"And yet you still can't get his name right." Said Alex, raising an eyebrow. I snickered, I couldn't help it. Most people don't stand up to Brendan Brady. In fact the only people I'd ever seen do it was me, Amy, Warren and maybe Cheryl. I shrugged of his hand and walked towards Alex.

"We should go for a drink, catch up. You up for it?" I asked Alex, ignoring Brendan's presence completely.

"Yeah. How 'bout now?" He replied.

"Great." I looked back at Brendan. "I'd invite you along but...well...I don't want to. See ya."

I wouldn't allow Brendan to mess with me again. I still loved him, I wasn't deluded - I knew how I felt. But it wasn't about love anymore. No, now it was about payback.

Rachey Ayyy xx