Burning Bright

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Authors: Sophie McKenzie
Tags: Literature & Fiction, Children's Fiction
snapped.
    His mum and Caitlin appeared in the living area door.
    ‘Hey, come on, mate.’ Gary’s voice was tense, but still conciliatory. He was at least half a head taller than Flynn and broader too.
    Siobhan glared at Flynn – angrier than I’d ever seen her. ‘I said, stop it.’
    My heart pounded. ‘Please, Flynn.’ I touched his arm. ‘You’re overreacting.’
    He shot a look at me. ‘Overreacting?’ He blinked, his eyes searching my face. ‘You
knew
. . . ?’ He looked at Gary. ‘Him and . . .’
    ‘Me and Siobhan,’ Gary nodded – still amazingly calm in the face of Flynn’s anger. ‘We’re together.’
    Flynn let go of him and staggered backwards. He looked at Siobhan. ‘No.’
    ‘Yes.’ She put her hands on her hips. ‘Now back off.’
    Flynn looked from her, to his mum and Caitlin, then back to me.
    ‘You
knew
?’ he hissed.
    I gulped. ‘They were here that day you gave me your keys . . . when . . .’
    ‘That was weeks ago,’ Flynn yelled. ‘How
dare
you not tell me what was going on?’
    ‘Flynn, please . . .’ My heart was in my mouth. His face was purple with rage. My hands started shaking.
    ‘Listen, mate,’ Gary said urgently. ‘I get where you’re coming from. If she was my sister, after what she’s been through . . . I’d be the same. But you
can’t be there for her like I can. You can’t . . .’
    ‘I
can
,’ Flynn yelled. ‘She doesn’t need you. She—’
    ‘That’s enough.’ Siobhan gripped Flynn’s arm and swung him round to face her. Her face was tight with fury. ‘This is none of your business.’
    Flynn frowned. ‘None of my . . . ?’ He turned on me again. ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’
    I stared at him helplessly.
    ‘Because I asked her not to,’ Siobhan shouted. ‘Because I knew how you’d react. For goodness sake, can you not see yourself?’
    Flynn slammed the wall with his palm.
    I jumped, so scared I felt sick.
    ‘Don’t tell me I’m out of order here. You’re the one who’s not been honest. And
you
. . .’ He turned on me again.
    ‘Please, Flynn.’ I could feel the tears welling up again.
    ‘Fine.’ He threw his hands into the air and spun round. Then he stormed out, slamming the flat door behind him.
    I burst into tears.
    Siobhan put her arm round me and led me into her bedroom. I caught a quick glimpse of Flynn’s mum and Caitin, both wide-eyed. Then Siobhan shut the door and sat me down on the bed. She
perched beside me and stroked my shoulder.
    ‘He’s an eejit, my brother, sometimes. Honestly. I thought if he met Gary here, like it was a done deal, then he’d just accept it.’
    I sniffed back my tears. Though I knew Flynn had overreacted, I did still feel guilty about not telling him about Gary.
    ‘He just wants to protect you,’ I said, wiping my eyes.
    Siobhan stared at me, her expression all solemn. ‘Goodness but you’re loyal.’ She hugged me. ‘I know he does.’ She sighed. ‘Trouble is sometimes he overdoes
it. Overdoes everything. Like Da.’
    I shifted round on the bed. ‘Your dad?’
    Siobhan nodded. ‘Yeah. Flynn’s so like him, you know. It scares me a bit. The way he loses his temper so quick.’ She paused. ‘That’s like Da.’
    I looked at her, at the concern in her green eyes.
    My heart sank. Even his own sister thought he was too angry, too easily wound up, too out of control. ‘Flynn’s not always like that,’ I insisted. ‘Yeah he loses it
sometimes, but he’s funny and sweet and he . . . he . . .’
    ‘He loves you.’ Siobhan sighed. ‘Yeah. I know he does. I’ve never seen him behave like he does around you. But still . . .’
    A soft rap on the door. Gary poked his head round. ‘Sorry to interrupt,’ he smiled. ‘Your mum says we need to be going.’
    Siobhan looked at me. ‘You all right?’
    I nodded, wiping my eyes, then followed her out to the corridor.

12
    Flynn’s mum took my arm as we left the flat. ‘So what d’you know about first Holy Communion,

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