We walked into school and the door banged closed behind us as Dylan let it go. The hallway was bustling with lots of students and teachers trying to get to their classrooms and the air had a distinct scent of mustiness still lingering from the school having been shut up over the summer vacation.

I was suddenly aware of Dylan’s aftershave, with its hint of musk, it was quite alluring and I tried to ignore it. Thinking of Dylan as just a friend, I felt uncomfortable with the sensations that the smell of him caused and I could feel the slow rise of heat up my chest. Blushing, I looked over at him and he gave me a gentle smile and a nod. My senses felt heightened and the uneasy feeling in my stomach felt like it was expanding as Georgie, Dylan and I walked down the corridor.

Over by the lockers, I saw my brother Roderick and his girlfriend Reese standing talking to each other, both of them looking adoringly into each other's eyes. Over the past year Roderick had been a rock for Mom and I, but Reese had been a rock for him.

Reese was like a big sister to me, she and Roderick had begun dating a few years ago when they’d met at a skatepark and had pretty much been inseparable ever since. She was an amazing skateboarder, I loved watching her perform her moves down at the local skate bowl.

With long flowing black hair that she often kept in a ponytail, sparkly sneakers, and three quarter denim jeans, she was the epitome of style to Roderick’s ‘throw something on from off the floor’ look. My brother always looked slightly dishevelled. His shirts were often half tucked into his jeans, with his baggy sweatshirts a couple of sizes too big for him haphazardly pulled on over top. I would watch him wrap his arms around Reese, sometimes making her disappear in giggles beneath the folds of excess sweatshirt material.

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Roderick smiled and gave me a little head nod in acknowledgement as he looked in my direction. I gave him a watery smile back.

“I’ll see you in class, I just need to talk to my brother.” I said to Dylan and Georgie as I walked over to Roderick and Reese.

“Remember we’re here if you need us!” Dylan called out after me. I turned and gave him a wave in thanks, I felt lucky to have friends who looked out for me, I would do anything for them too.

“Hi little sis!” Roderick said as he grabbed me under one of his arms, giving me a playful hug and messing up my hair as he did so. I wriggled out of his grasp and quickly tried to fix my hair without drawing too much attention to myself.

“What are you up to?” Roderick asked as he flicked his fringe out of his eyes.

“Nothing, just wanted to say ‘Hi’ and get a hug from my big brother.” I said trying to forget about what had happened out near the car park.

“Are you sure? You seem a little edgy.” He put his hand on my shoulder and looked in my eyes, trying to read my mind.

“I’m fine.” I lied. “Did you hear about the Jamie Markie concert happening this weekend?” I quickly changed the subject, averting my eyes from his gaze.

He didn’t look convinced.