on something just past Brian’s house. “Now get on Max’s bike. We’ll talk later,” he tells me, and I focus on the same plume of smoke that Aaron is looking at; it’s bikers approaching and I know it’s The Eagles.
“You guys can’t have a stand-off just because we slept together!” I tell Aaron, trying to make him see how ridiculous the situation is.
“He took advantage of you. You’re 21 years old, and he’s my age; he should know better. There’s no way my little sister is going to be another notch on his bed-post. He’s going to pay,” Aaron says threateningly.
“It wasn’t like that. I care about Brian,” I say, and I’m surprised at the strength of those feelings bearing in mind we’ve known each other for less than 24 hours.
“You don’t know what you’re saying. He’s got you eating out of his hand.” Aaron dismisses me with a wave. “Now get on Max’s bike before I put you there,” he says, not unkindly, and I know he’s just trying to protect me from whatever’s going to happen when The Eagles arrive.
I bow my head, knowing that I’m not going to win this fight. Not here, not now. I do as Aaron said; I walk past Jake, who doesn’t even look at me, and I hop onto the back of Max’s bike. He barely waits for me to get settled before gunning the engine and turning back in the direction they came from, heading home.
“Max, what’s going to happen?” I ask once we’re back at the house and the engine is off.
“Nothing good,” he says grimly, looking at the ground instead of at me.
“What Aaron said, about Brian taking advantage of me, it isn’t true,” I tell him.
“I know, I can tell,” Max says, nodding at Brian’s T-shirt which I’m still wearing. “But Aaron’s been looking for a reason to get to The Eagles for a long time; you’re just the excuse they needed,” he tells me. “I have to go. They’re going to need all the help they can get.” I stop him before he turns the engine on again.
“Max, I know it was you that told them you saw me leave last night,” I say, and I see the guilt plastered all over his face. “I’m not angry with you, I just want you to do something for me. Please don’t let anything happen to Brian. Please.” I squeeze his shoulder, trying to convey my worry to him.
My twin brother looks at me for a beat and then nods slowly. “I can’t make any promises, but I’ll do what I can,” he tells me before freeing himself from my vice-like grip and turning over the engine.
***
I spend the rest of the day more worried than I’ve ever been in my life. I’m pacing around the house, up and down the garden, checking my cell every five minutes, but it remains quiet. I’ve messaged Brian time and time again trying to find out what’s going on and if he’s okay. Max said he’d check in with me and he hasn’t. All I can do is try to stay calm and hope that everyone I love is alright.
Night starts to fall and I stare anxiously outside, waiting for a sign from someone, from anyone. Eventually I must have fallen asleep because I’m woken by the sound of a bike and I look out the window, but in the darkness I can’t tell who it is. I fling open the door and race outside and recognize Brian. I run towards him and virtually jump on him, only to be greeted by a grunt. When I pull away I see that his face is bloody, one of his eyes is definitely going to turn black in the next few hours, and he’s bent over, clutching his ribs.
“You’re hurt,” I say, stating the obvious.
“It’s nothing, just a few bumps and bruises,” he says, but from the controlled way he’s speaking I can tell he’s in pain.
“What happened?” I ask, wanting and not wanting to know at the same time.
“There was a fight,” Brian says simply. “The Stones and The Eagles have both been looking for a reason to resurrect their old feud,”