Secrets From My Mate

Chapter Eleven

Sneaking Around

I left early the next morning, leaving the others to ride in Lane's car. I wasn't in the mood to talk to any of my brothers at the moment, well maybe Gabe but he's a kid so...

I went straight to class, Derek was the only other one there. I sighed and slumped down in my usual spot.

"You're in a bad mood," Derek noted, I could hear the question lurking underneath.

I shrugged. "I had an argument with my brother."

"Lane," Derek guessed. "You and Colt don't seem like you fight."

I felt the corner of my mouth turn up. "That's misleading. We're siblings, we fight from time to time."

"You guys seem pretty tight, even your cousins. I've got a sister, we aren't nearly as close and you seem to be with the people in your family," Derek replied, moving to sit closer to me while notably leaving his stuff at his usual desk.

"We care a lot about each other," I agreed. "But we have our issues. Lane just happened to step on one of mine."

Derek raised an eyebrow. "Really? What was it?"

I glanced suggestively at him.

"Me?"

I nodded to confirm.

"Well I'm pretty sure you didn't tell them about us."

"There's no us to tell them about," I said as I fiddled with my pencil. "And it's... complicated."

"Because of what I don't know or what your family doesn't know?" Derek asked, a trace of arrogance in his voice.

I cut him a look. "Unamused. But the latter." I felt the Gift stir and looked towards the door.

Derek nodded, probably hearing the approaching people. "Later?"

I nodded. "After second."

He flashed a smile before returning to his desk and slouching angrily. I bit back a smile of my own at the almost too-obvious act. "Subtle," I whispered under my breath moments before Olivia came in. Derek's shoulders shook as he fought laughter.

Olivia gave him a deadly glare before very pointedly sitting between me and Derek. "Morning. Did he try anything?"

I almost rolled my eyes. "You do know I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself?"

She waved away my comment. "So, did he try anything?"

"He's not the devil," I sighed. "You are as bad as my brothers."

"Ah, speaking of which..."

I smirked and leaned back in my seat when her face darkened by several shades. "Any brother in particular," I asked teasingly.

Her blush spread down to her neck. "Colt... Is he, uh..."

I crossed my arms over my chest and lifted my eyebrows. "Yes?"

She glared at me. "You are not helping to make this easy for me."

"I'm not trying to," I replied gleefully. I caught Derek's lips turn up over Olivia's shoulder.

Olivia huffed. "Is your brother... single?"

Ah, finally. "So, you want to know if my twin brother, the brother with whom I shared a womb for nine months, give or take, is single?"

She narrowed her eyes, mouth turning down in a scowl that reminded me of an angry puppy. "Was it necessary to phrase that way?"

I shrugged, noting that other people had started to come in. Colt would be here soon. "Probably not, but it amused me to phrase it that way."