Still attached by Xavier's side, my mom decided to stand behind my step-dad as if supporting him but I knew that wasn't the case. I think. I could feel Xavier's grip tighten around my arm, squeezing me as if I was going to disappear into the thin air at any moment now.

"Sweetie, this is Xavier," my mom answered my step-dad's question calmly. "This is Thea's friend."

I could feel Xavier go rigid beside me at the word 'friend'.

"You look like a gangster," my step-dad informed suspiciously as I bit back my tongue from confirming his suspicions.

"Glad I do," Xavier replied sternly.

I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose, wanting to get out of this suffocating air and right on queue, the front door flew open, allowing in a cold rush of wind before someone closed the door. I whipped my head around to see both Keith and Kody mumbling something to each other before blindly making their way into the kitchen.

They halted right when their eyes looked up, assuming from the tension in the air as their eyes travelled towards mine, locking gazes as their faces broke into huge smiles. Their smiles were infectious as a smile of my own appeared, quickly rising from my seat as I threw myself into their arms, feeling the both of my engulf me tightly.

"Thea, what are you doing here?" Kody asked, pulling away as his eyes instantly searched for injuries. A habit he had began to adapt to when he first moved in.

"You aren't expected back until..." Keith paused, lifting up his fingers and counting each of them. "Well, I don't know."

I laughed. "I wanted to check on how you guys were doing when you know..."

Kody and Keith sighed heavily and nodded, Keith patting my head softly before looking at Kody who was already making eye contact with someone behind me. My eyes widened at the realisation as I slowly turned around to see Xavier scratching the back of his neck cluelessly, his eyes darting back and forth at the twins, assuming to decipher which one was which.

"And you are?" Keith asked, arching an eyebrow as he swung an arm around my shoulder protectively right after shoving me in between himself and Kody.

"Xavier Walker," Xavier answered, rising from the chair and looked at me calmly.

Kody and Keith both looked at each other as if they knew something but shoved it away before breaking into their boyish grins and made their way towards Xavier, bro-hugging him. I realised that there and then the twins were much more taller than Xavier and to my surprise, Xavier's height was only up to their ear which had my smile widened further.

I sighed in relief that the twins and Xavier were getting along just well.

I frowned in confusion as my eyes travelled all the way to the back to see my mom smiling and my step-dad, frowning at the trio. I arched an eyebrow as my step-dad clenched his fists on the table and mumbled something incoherent.

Strange.

~

~

~

My eyes fluttered open at the sound of laughter, my ears ringing as my eyes were beginning to feel heavy again. I could feel the warm air slap my face as I kicked the blanket off the bed, yawning quite loudly as I could feel sleep running away from me. I sighed heavily and sat up, finding Xavier laughing at the wall, my brow arching at what I was witnessing.

Since it was too late to go to a Hotel, I decided that Xavier and I should stay here and sleep in my old room even though it was quite small compared to the one I had at my dad's. Xavier didn't seem to mind as he casually laid out a blanket and took one of my pink pillows and quickly snuggled on the floor, already sound asleep whilst I had the nerve to stare at his peaceful state for quite a while.

Embarrassment slammed into me as I coughed, trying to cover up my pink cheeks as I got out of bed and walked towards Xavier, curiosity consuming me to see what he was looking at. I instantly rolled my eyes at the height recording on the wall, slapping the back of his head before lazily walking back to bed, wanting to snuggle underneath my warm blanket.

"Now that we're stuck together, I see you're a very violent person," Xavier teased.

I was going to reply to Xavier when the door busted open, revealing the twins panting in their usual Bob the Builders pyjamas. I shook my head and sat on my bed, watching them glare at Xavier who had both of his hands up in surrender as if they had just caught him doing something wrong.

"I thought Xavier was going to sleep downstairs?" Keith questioned, his eyes still trained on Xavier.

"Doesn't dad sleep there?" Kody questioned with confusion.

"He does," Keith answered.

"What do you both want?" I asked, bringing them out of their own conversation, irritated by too many noise on an early morning.

"We're taking the both of you out," Keith answered with a wide smile.

"Where?" Xavier asked curiously as my head snapped to him, shocked.

"To the mall," Kody answered in a 'duh' tone.

"Why are we going to the mall?" I asked.

"You ask too many questions," Kody and Keith answered at the same time. "Get changed." Then they both shut the door and left Xavier and I in peace.

"Get out," I blurted.

Xavier plastered on a fake shocked expression. "Why?"

"I don't want to you to see me get change."

"I already seen all of that," Xavier answered with a huge boyish grin on his face, crossing his arms as he leaned against the wall.

I laughed and grabbed a pillow, throwing it at his face hard before ushering him outside then locking the door before he could even say a singe word. I shook my head with a smile on my face before getting changed.

I only brought a few outfits with me since I wasn't going to stay long and most of my outfits were packed by Aubree before I left. I opened up my small suitcase I brought with me and realised that Aubree had sectioned the outfits and to my surprise, they weren't showing heaps of skin. I picked out a light grey wool turtle neck with no sleeves and a pair of boyfriend jeans and to put the outfit together, I wore cream coloured heels with a white handbag. I looked into the small mirror and tied up my brunette hair, letting two pieces in the front to frame my face naturally and applied some light makeup which had me smile.

I looked decent than I ever did when I lived with my mom.

I unlocked the door to see a pissed-off Xavier, already dressed in his outfit as he leaned against the wall just opposite of my bedroom door. His jaw suddenly dropped at the sight of me whilst I tried not to drool over him. He wore a white tight t-shirt that had his muscles visible and brown-ish pants with a dark blue jumper tied around his waist. He had a pair of sunglasses hanging from the middle of his shirt as he completed the whole look with a pair of cream coloured Yeezy shoes.

It was far from the bad boy outfit I was used to seeing but I was still really impressed.

"I forgive you now," Xavier's face lit up with a smile as I arched an eyebrow at him in confusion. "I was pissed at you for locking me out but now that I see why, I forgive you."

I rolled my eyes, avoiding eye contact until the pink disappeared from my cheeks as I slapped his hard chest with the back of my hand. I heard him chuckle as I could feel my cheeks get even hotter, now wanting to quickly get out of the house. After a few minutes of searching, Xavier and I have found the twins sitting on the porch, pointing out women who walked by to see if they were hot or not which I thought was very cruel so I smacked the back of their heads as their punishment.

"She's so violent," Keith commented with a pout as Xavier instantly nodded in agreement.

I rolled my eyes at their stupidity yet I couldn't help but smile at their carefree attitude.

"So how did you and Thea meet?" I could hear Kody ask Xavier as they walked side by side.

I haven't realised until now but the twins wore something similar every day. The twins were both wearing grey coloured t-shirts and black sweat pants, completing their outfits by wearing white vans. I could imagine Aubree here shouting, "DAMN KK's BACK AT IT WITH THE WHITE VANS!" I have told Aubree about the twins and she was so desperate to meet them that she had to put it on her bucket list.

"Through her step-sister," Xavier answered calmly yet distant.

I arched an eyebrow as something triggered in my mind yet I couldn't get a hold of it. I clenched my jaw, closing my eyes as I tried remembering but I couldn't and I was so desperate to remember. I tried racking my brain once more at this strange feeling, grabbing a hold of Keith's arm as I kept my eyes shut tightly, biting my lip and trying to remember but couldn't. And that irritated me.

"Thea, are you okay?" Keith asked, concerned laced in his voice.

I took deep breaths and stopped trying to remember as I let go of Keith's arm and nodded. I could see Kody and Xavier look at me, concern and confused written all over their faces before I waved them off like a fly, telling them that they had nothing to worry about. My eyes took in the sunny view, the street was lit with children in their front yards playing with their siblings, shouting out tag or their sibling's names.

And then it hit me.

"We're walking to the mall?" I asked, horrified.

Keith nodded in confusion, looking back as I did the same and realised we were already down the street. I frowned as I looked down at my shoes as Keith followed my eyes and realised why I asked. He laughed and patted me on the head, something that would soothe me. "If your feet hurts, ask Xavier to give you a ride on his back."

My eyes widened at Keith's wink. "Kody and I are too old and I'm sure you'd break our backs if we were to carry you."

I let out a laugh that had Keith's face relax before swinging an arm around my shoulders protectively as we both walked behind Xavier and Keith who were both deep in a conversation about video games. I breathed in the fresh, cool air and thanked god for this day because I needed it.

I needed this day.