“Get a grip on yourself, you fucking psychopath!” Damien barked, trying to break a ferocious Giordan from Melody who laid with a bloodied face. The crowd watched on eagerly, and I hated them for it.

“Leave her the fuck alone!” Matt delivered a brutal kick on Giordan's lower back, causing him to slump in agony. Then Matt rained down punches and kicks with all his might.

Everything seemed to be occurring in quick succession, I couldn't even wrap my head around it. Melody was half-conscious and Damien yelled at the crowd to move away to enable him lift her onto a seat. A glass of water was brought by the waiter and a napkin too which my stepbrother used to dab her severely bruised face. Matt was still beating the crap out of Giordan.

“Matt, what are you doing?!” I suddenly screamed. “You're gonna fucking kill him.”

“I don't care.” he groused out, sparing me a murderous glance. “No one messes with my girl. No. Fucking. One.”

And in that one moment, the world appeared to tilt...and the puzzles I'd failed to see all week began coming together. Melody suddenly attaching herself to me when I agreed to go out on a date with Matt, Melody asking if I knew Matt's favourite colour or hobby or where we'd go on our date...Melody asking Damien if he would double date with Matt and I...Melody leaning into Damien's body and Matt giving off sidelong sinister glances... everything. We'd all been using each other and the evening was false. Too false for comfort. Was that little apology and the special moment on the ferris wheel fake too? Was he really sorry about how he'd treated me all summer, or was he just using me to get back at Melody?

Oh Jesus.

I rubbed at my temples, feeling dizzy. The restaurant manager ran towards us with a hunky waiter who assisted in pulling Matt away from Giordan who was writhing on the ground in pain.

I bent down. “Giordan, are you alright?”

“Get the fuck away from me!” he pushed my hands away, causing me to stumble back onto a brick wall. My eyes fluttered open just in time to see Damien aim a punch right on Giordan's nose after shoving him gently aside.

“That's for messing with my brother.” he spat.

I was stunned.

Giordan began to cry. “Oh now he's your brother? After you've used me these past weeks to make him give in to your demands, he's now your brother? God, how heartless you must be, Damien Henderson. I should hate you for everything you put me through. You made me give up my most valuable friendship for your selfish motives.”

“One more word against me — ” Damien raised his first again but I held him by the shoulder. “And I'll break more than your nose. Selfish? You call me selfish? Well, I never forced you to abandon your relationship with him for me. You're the selfish one here.”

“You blackmailed me! You know that I loved you since the very moment I set my eyes on you and used that against me.”

“Love...” Damien shook his head, laughing. “Damn, you're so sickening.”

“I'll never forgive you for all the trauma you put me through, Damien.” Giordan's eyes turned cold. He spat out some blood. “One way or another, I'll make sure you pay someday.”

“I'll be waiting for your ‘stellar’ comeback, Giddy.”

Police sirens were now approaching in the distance, drowning out any further conversation amongst our circle and the bigger crowd. At one point, Giordan tried to escape by the kitchen but the restaurant manager had sensed his motive and blocked him. Matt who was dabbing Melody's bruises lunged at him again but was restrained by the huge waiter.

Three officers walked in and began questioning the them in separate corners. I just stood by the sidelines, dazed and feeling utterly stupid. I'd expected better from Giordan. All these years...had I really known him at all? The guy before me with a broken nose and a battered face was nothing like my best friend. One who wouldn't trade our secrets and bond for anything. It was hurtful, seeing him transform into a violent maniac. I strained my ears to pick up on what they were being asked but they were just too far off. I caught nothing, and eventually, I gave up.

After they were released, Matt volunteered to take Melody home, leaving me in the lurch. I walked out of the restaurant with my head down in embarrassment and stood by the roadside to wait for a taxi. Damien pulled up in front of me, got out and said. “Let's go home.”

I'd wanted to refuse but when I saw the small trickle of blood running down his jaw, I became concerned and gave in. “Okay.”

Tonight, I was tired of fighting. Of pushing him away. Especially after all that happened back there.

|•|•|•|•|

The car ride back home with Damien was extremely uncomfortable. Save for that one time I used my handkerchief to dab away the blood from his jaw, neither of us had any contact with each other. I kept replaying the events in my mind, wondering how on earth everything turned sour in just a minute while I was away in the bathroom.

When we got home and he went upstairs to his room, he slammed the door so hard, that it made me jump. I'd wanted to confront him about his exchange with Giordan back at the restaurant but my better instincts told me it'd be best to just leave him alone.

By the time I woke up the next Saturday morning and ambled downstairs, I found out that Damien had left for the library. He'd not be back until it got late at night.

Mother was stirring sugar into her coffee, poised at the granite island in our kitchen, on the stool next to me. “So, would you mind telling me all that happened last night at the carnival? A dear friend of Flynn who's a cop called him saying he saw you both at a food court, involved in a fight with... Giordan?”

I sighed, pouring myself a cup of hot coffee and rubbed my throbbing temples. “You know, we were having dinner before you called but I was at the bathroom. I don't know how the entire thing played out but the minute you hung up, I heard crashing of plates and shouts. Rushing out, I saw Giordan beating the crap out of Melody and the whole restaurant in a mess. I don't even know how he located us.”

“Tough. Wasn't Damien on a date too with Melody? So it seems that Giordan caught sight of them and attacked the poor girl because he's annoyed and obsessed with Damien. Oh God, did your stepbrother hurt him?”

I nodded. “Matt did too. Turns out Matt and Melody were previously dating and they used us to get back at each other. Everything became clear the moment Giordan stepped in.”

“Ugh, high school drama is a ton of work,” Mom shook her head. “Well, your stepfather's fuming, and I don't know what to do about it. I think he blames Damien for the whole thing. You know how strained their bond is.”

“He needs to calm down. The entire scene wasn't Damien's fault, though he played with Giordan's feelings and that explained the reason for his anger. Still, you've got to explain things to him.”

“There's no talking to Flynn when it comes to Damien. I just don't understand.”

“You and me, both.”