Only from a distance.

[Dominic's POV]

People change, I know that. However, Mariah was too worthy to become complete shit. I won't let that happen to her. Over my dead body.

I walked into the kitchen and towards the front door.
"Hey, honey. Where are you going?" My mother asked.
"I'm going to go see Ma - "
Lod and obnoxious laughter interuppted me. I saw Brookelle and Mariah laughing and almost stumbling down the stairs.
"Mariah?" I asked.
"Hey, Dom!" Mariah laughed.
I wanted to smack some sense into her.
"Hey, we're going to town. Wanna join? You know you want to," Brookelle stated.
I shrugged and replied, "Uh, yeaaah."
My mother kissed my cheek as I walked out of the door.

The three of us were all in my room when we arrived back home.
"I'm going to go take a shower," Brookelle said.
"Okay," Mariah softy said.
I nodded and she kiss me quickly before leaving the room.
Mariah walked across the room to look out of the french door windows.
"Mariah, can we talk?"
"About?"
"Sit here."
She sat next to me on the bed, but wouldn't look me in the eye.
"Uhm, I'm trying to be a good friend and I don't like what I'm seeing."
She rolled her eyes. "Come on, Dom - "
"Stop. My name is Dominic. You call me that, Brookelle is the only one who calls me that. You sound just like her."
"Are you seriously getting mad at me because I gave you a nickname? Grow up."
"There you go, sounding like her again."
She looked at me. "I haven't changed."
"You just haven't noticed."
Silence.
It must have been sinking in.
"You never drink, you don't party, you don't sneak out, you - "
"How are you to tell me what I do and don't do? Do you know me? No, you just met me. Don't assume shit, asshole."
She left with that.
And sadly, I didn't think it would be a long time until we talked again.