Dominic

"Say somethin'," she grumbled.

I quickly cleared my throat. "Hey, Gav."

He flicked his eyes up from my chest and gave me a dazzling smile. "Hey, you look gorgeous."

I flushed.

"Awe," Branna cooed. "I told her the same thing, but she doesn't believe me."

What the hell did she just say? Was she trying to embarrass me?

"I'll just have to remind her often tonight then just how gorgeous she is," Gavin smiled and winked, making me stare at him in a trance.

Seriously, how did I not notice him growing up?

I heard the hall door open and close and alarm shot through me. Who the hell was that and how did the person get in so easily? I had no idea why, but when I glanced over my shoulder and saw the body of a man, I shrieked and jumped in Gavin's direction. His arms went around my waist, and my head went to his throat.

"It's just Ryder!" Branna shouted over my screaming.

I pulled my head from Gavin's neck and looked at the man again. Sure enough Ryder stood in the hallway with his eyebrows raised and pizza boxes in his hands and a key in his mouth.

"Really? You find me so ugly that you scream and run for cover?" he mumbled around the key.

Branna snorted at him, and even Gavin chuckled.

I composed myself before glaring at Ryder. "I didn't know it was you, did I? Since when do you have a key to me house?"

I knew I was supposed to be nice to him but having him around was taking some getting used to. No man that Branna was ever seeing was in the house when I was at home. I didn't think she actually ever brought one home, so it was weird that Ryder was coming and going like he owned the place the past few days.

"Since this mornin' when I gave him one," Branna said to me, slightly glaring.

I glared right back at her. "Well, you should have let me know. I live here too, you know?"

Her shoulders slumped a little, and her glare vanished. "Right, I'm sorry. I guess I forgot."

I nodded to her then looked to Ryder, who was looking at Gavin.

"This is Gavin-"

"We've met." Ryder cut me off, still staring at Gavin.

They met?

"When did you meet?" I asked.

"The meeting a few weeks ago when he and Dominic got into it in school," Ryder cut me off again and continued to look at Gavin.

I widened my eyes a little; I had forgotten all about that meeting.

Crap.

This was turning out to be very awkward, and we hadn't even left the house yet.

"So… you two, huh?" Ryder asked Gavin.

I felt Gavin shrug. "We're goin' on a date so yeah, I guess so."

Ryder flicked his eyes to me but didn't say anything.

"I'm going to dish up the pizza, babe," he said to Branna, then looked back to me and Gavin. "Have a great time."

"Thanks," Gavin and I said in unison.

Silence fell then, and luckily Gavin cleared his throat breaking it.

"We better go, the film starts at half eight."

I nodded my head and said bye to Ryder - who headed into the kitchen - and Branna - who was bouncing on her toes - as I left the house with Gavin.

"I'm… I'm so sorry about… whatever the hell that was back there," I said when Gavin and I neared his car.

At least I thought it was his car.

"Don't even worry about it. I remember you said in school that Nico's older brother was your sister's boyfriend. I was mentally prepared to see him." Gavin snorted.

I snickered a little too and smiled when he opened the car door for me like a gentleman. I slid inside, buckled my seatbelt, and folded my hands across my lap.

"Me da let me use this car since I don't have one yet. Passed me full drivin' test last week, so he is being very trustin' of me tonight," Gavin said when he got into his side of the car.

I looked at Gavin, my face expressionless. "Please tell me you passed everythin' on your drivin' test with flyin' colours."

He looked me dead in the eye, the corner of his lip curling upwards. "I passed me test with flyin' colours."

I yelped. "I'm goin' to die!"

Gavin cracked up laughing. "I'm a good driver, Bee, no worries. You're safe with me, promise."

I glanced at him from the corner of my eye and smiled a little.

Okay, once we got past the awkwardness in the house, this was a good start to my first date. I was feeling excited now and not nervous at all.

As we drove to the cinema, Gavin and I talked about his football team at school and how hard Mr. Rivers makes the team's training sessions. I honestly couldn't give a hoot about football, but Gavin clearly adored the sport and loved playing it, so I was all ears while he talked. I asked relevant questions here and there making myself appear interested.

It didn't take long to get to the cinema. After getting out of the car and walking inside, Gavin took my hand and smiled down at me. "What do you want to eat? My treat."

I was blushing over him holding my hand, but snorted at his wording. "That rhymed," I mused.

Gavin grinned. "I am poet, and I know it."

I chuckled then and continued to smile as we walked hand in hand up to an open till. I wanted popcorn, M&M's, and a Coke. Gavin wanted the same, so he got us a couple's combo with extra M&M's. My face was burning, a couple's meal. Couple!

I was giddy and sort of sick with excitement the more I thought about what it meant.

Were we a couple or was that just the smart thing to buy for two people?

I had no idea!

After paying for our food - Gavin refused my money - and getting our tickets, Gavin held the drinks and M&M's while I held the big tub of popcorn. We headed down to the screen that the film we were seeing was at and settled into our seats in the middle row.

Everything was going great until I spotted Kane, Dominic and Damien's older brother, near the back row seated between two blondes. He locked eyes with me, flicked his eyes in Gavin's direction then back to mine, and grinned. I had no idea why he was grinning, but when I noticed the light on his face and the device in his hand I groaned, then slumped down into my seat.

"What's wrong?" Gavin asked as he settled in next to me and handed me my drink and M&M's.

I looked at him and smiled. "Nothin'."

He gave me a knowing look, and I found myself sighing before leaning into him a little. "The lad in the back row between the two blondes is Dominic and Damien's older brother. He looked at me and you, and then smiled and took out his phone and began textin' on it. It could be nothin', but I'd bet money that he is tellin' Dominic that I'm here with you."

Gavin's eyes narrowed a little. "What the hell is that lad's problem? Is he obsessed with you or somethin'?"

I blushed. "No, I just think he thinks I'm playin' a hard to get game with him."

Gavin raised an eyebrow. "And are you playin' hard to get?"

I gaped at him. "No! Of course not."

Gavin nodded. "Good, I don't wanna play a game that I've no chance of winnin'."

I frowned at him and was about to say something when the room went dark, and the screen lit up before us. The film was called The Mortal Instruments: The City of Bones. It was a good film, but I couldn't really concentrate for some reason so by the time it was over, I was a little relieved.

Gavin and I were the first to leave the cinema house, which I was grateful for because I didn't really want to have to say hello to Kane. I thought Gavin was going to bring me home but when he suggested going for some McDonald's, I agreed, because I felt like we needed to talk about anything in order to stop the growing awkwardness after that conversation in the cinema.