Devoting 13 - Rory Kavanagh and Biggs

Rory Kavanagh. My brother's best friend. The fella who's been in and out of our house since we were barely out of nappies-boots on the floor, toast crumbs everywhere, laughing loud enough to shake the walls.

He's always just been Rory. Tyler's mate. Part of the furniture.

When we were younger, I used to tag along after them like a shadow, thinking he was only half-human, half-superhero. Never thought much of it. But then I blinked, and we weren't kids anymore. He grew taller, broader, nicer somehow. And suddenly I was seeing him differently. Like, dangerously differently.

Now I'm tutoring him-me, the nerdy one-trying to keep him from flunking his exams. Every week it's just us at his kitchen table, his notes ignored, him grinning across at me like he's in on some secret I'm too afraid to name.

He's still Tyler's best friend. Still the one I shouldn't even be thinking about.

Right?

...Right?

*****

Tanna Biggs. Jaysus, she's something else. Always has been. Sweet, quiet, clever as anything. Used to follow me and Tyler around asking a thousand questions, and I'd roll my eyes, but truth be told, I never minded.

She's grown up now though. And she's class. Proper gorgeous-the type of girl who doesn't even realise she is. Hair like sunlight, brown eyes that make you forget your own name, freckles she pretends to hate but I swear could start wars. She's small, soft-spoken, but she's sharper than anyone I know.

She's meant to be helping me study, but half the time I've no idea what she's saying. I'm too busy watching her laugh, pushing her glasses up her nose, biting her lip when she's concentrating.

I keep telling myself to cop on. She's my best friend's little sister. Off-limits.

But every time she looks at me with those eyes, all shy and sure at once, I can't help thinking-

maybe some rules are meant to be broken.