Autumn's POV

"Brody! I'm going to school." I called out to him. I woke up before he did and when I did, I found him holding me close to him...and he was snoring like pig. I managed to slip out of his arms and get ready for school, giving me time to think about my dream. It felt so real, I don't know how to describe it. But one thing's for sure...I love Brody. He still wasn't up by the time I was about to leave.

But then I heard a thump. "Brody? What was that?"

I heard him groan in pain. I ran to his room and found him getting up off the floor. I looked at him. "Ughhh...I fell off the bed." He answered. I couldn't help but laugh, I tried hiding it, but it was no use. I looked at Brody who was now glaring at me. I finally managed to calm down my laughing. "Done?"

I nodded my head, afraid that I might accidentally laugh if I tried to speak. "ummmm...*cough cough* I'm going to school." I said.

"I'll drive you." Brody said before I could even finish my sentence.

"I can walk. I've walked to school a thousand times before.

"NO!" He exclaimed. I stared at him with shock. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to yell. I just don't want you walking to school. I don't want anything to happen to you again." He explained.

"Brody, I'll be fine." I assured him.

"Please Autumn, I'd feel better knowing you got to and from school safely." He had worry in his eyes, though he tried to cover it up.

"Is there something you're not telling Brody?" I asked suspiciously.

He looked at me, studying me. Then he finally answered. "If something happens to you, I won't be able to live with the guilt, Autumn."

I looked at him like he was crazy. "What are you talking about?"

He shook his head. "Let's just go." I didn't move. I wanted to know what was on his mind. "Are you coming?"

"Not until you tell me what's up with you."

"Nothing. Don't worry about it." He said exactly like it was absolutely nothing at all.

"Brody. Don't lie to me." I warned, giving him a serious stare.

He sighed in defeat. "Yes, there's something I'm not telling you, but please, it's better if you don't know."

I looked into his eyes. "Can't you at least tell me what it's about?"

"My past. Now let's go before you're late for school." He stated pulling me out the door.

I didn't ask anymore questions. I was actually afraid to ask anymore questions...afraid it might be something bad. I stared out the window the whole ride to school, zoning out. I came back into reality when Brody shook me.

"Zoning out again?" He asked me...I was always sort of zoning out...not all the time. Only when I'm bored.

"Yeah. sorry. See you later!" I said getting out of the car.

"Autumn! I'm picking you up after school to ok?"

"Ok." I said and waved goodbye, heading up the stairs and into school. Brody didn't drive away until got inside. What is up with him? I really want to know!

Brody's POV

I stayed there until Autumn was safely inside school. I couldn't let anything happen to her...I couldn't let my past get to her. I decided to go get some coffee at the diner, since Autumn didn't wake me up for breakfast. The diner was only 10 minutes away from here, so I could still have breakfast, go back home and get ready for work, and then show up at work on time. I parked my car in the first available spot I saw and walked into the diner. IT had a 50's theme which I really enjoyed. But something caught my eye. A tattoo. The same tattoo on my back shoulder.

Tough Luck

It was on a man's forearm, who was sitting at the bar. Me, Zac, and Trent all have the same one. Only, we have it where it can be covered up. For me, it's on the back of my shoulder...no one can see it unless I'm shirtless...and I' m only shirtless when I'm at the pool or at home. Home...Oh God, I hope Autumn didn't see it.

I looked up from the tattoo to see the man's face, only to find him staring back at me with a huge grin. No. It's him.

"Brody. Long time no see."

I stood there speechless. How could he find me so soon?

"Let's go outside and have a little talk, shall we?" He said, standing up and paying for his coffee. He lead me outside to the side of the building.

"What do you want Snake?" I said angrily.

"Who says I want anything?" He said innocently. "Can't old friends catch up?"

"Friends? We were never friends. The only time you talk to me is if you need me for something."

"Well, Brody. I don't need you. I need my best member...Zac."

"You can't have Zac back. He's changed, Snake. I won't let him go back to a bunch of low-lifes like you!" I said authoritatively, poking his chest.

"Oh really? Hey, Brody. You know, you got yourself a pretty girl. It would be a shame if something...happened to her."

"I don't know what you're talking about." I said, playing dumb.

"Oh cut the crap Brody. I saw you two, and might I say, she's one sexy little thing. And shame on you...dating a high school girl the state placed in your care. I'd be worried if I were you. Someone might just come and take her from you."

"YOU LEAVE HER ALONE!" I exclaimed.

"I will, if Zac comes back to the gang."

"Never." I said through clenched teeth, my fist tightening.

"you can't have it both ways Brody. You should know...You were one of us...and you still are."

"No I'm not! I got my life together. And so did Zac!"

"Trent did too. And look where he is now. Dead."

"Find someone else Snake and leave the girl out of it." I commanded.

Snake just laughed in my face. "Oh Brody you crack me up. You know it doesn't work like that. You have 2 hours to decide between Zac and the girl."

"2 hours?! You can't just expect me to choose between Zac and my girlfriend!"

"Why not? You made that woman choose between her husband and her son." He reminded me. THe memory flashed back through my mind. We were on one of our break ins that night. Snake chose a house a wealthy family lived in. He said they were on vacation...but they weren't. Snake said that we could use them...sell their organs. I tried to convince him not to, and succeeded only a little bit. He took pity on the family and told them 2 of them could live. Snake then told me to deal with the situation while he roamed the house, looking for valuable things to steal. I told the woman to choose who would live and who would die. I gave her only 10 minutes to decide. The husband kept telling her to choose him to die. To take care of their son, but the son didn't want to hear it. The son wanted his mom to chooses him, sayig that she and his dad could always have another child. The mother couldn't choose. Soon her 10 minutes were up and it was her time to decide. She was crying hysterically. If it were up to me, I would've let all of them live. I didn't see any reason to kill them. But if I didn't do what Snake said, he would've killed me. In the end, the mother chose herself. Snake took a gun to her head and shot her in front of her husband and son. I still can't get that image out of my head. Her lifeless body laying in a pool of blood while her husband and son cried.

This time, I was the mother. I had to choose who I would lose...but this time, I don't get to choose myself.

"Snake, don;t do this. Please. The girl...she just lost her entire family and.."I was cut off by Snake.

"Oh she's that girl. Trent killed that family in that car crash. She's the girl who got raped right after that. Yeah..I saw that on the news...along with you. That's how I found you. But back on topic. You now have 1 hour and 59 minutes left to decide. I'll be calling you then to know your decision." And then he walked away and got on his motorcycle. "CHOOSE WISELY!" He called back to me and then sped off.

CRAP!!! I need to talk to Zac now. I took out my phone and dialed Zac's number. "Hello?" He answered sleepily.

"Zac! He found us."

"Meet me at your place." He said and hung up.

I got in my car and sped off towards my apartment, but then I remembered Autumn. I need to get Autumn. I turned the car around and used the police sirens to get through traffic to get to her school quckly. I called work on the way, saying that something came up and I couldn't come in. Seeing as I have a "child" to take care of now, they let me off easy.

I arrived at her school and ran inside to the office. "I need to take Autumn Reynolds out of school for the rest of the day." I told the Secretary.

"Alright. Oh wait...it seems someone already picked her up. You just missed them."

"What?!" I exclaimed. "Who?"

"Ummm...the book say a Brody Taylor, her guardian, did."

I stared at her. "I'M BRODY TAYLOR!" I yelled at her. "DON'T YOU PEOPLE CHECK ID's"

"I-I'm sorry. Is something wrong?" She asked concerned.

"YEAH!" I screamed at her. "What did the man look like?"

"Uhh...He was tall, black hair, piercing green eyes...oh and a tattoo on his wrist."

Tattoo on his wrist....Squid. He's the only one in our gang who looks like that and has the tattoo on his wrist. "So you let Autumn go, even though she didn't recognize him?!"

"I didn't know she didn't recognize him. He told me to have Autumn meet him outside. Autumn came in here excitedly, in fact, so I assumed she knew you. I sent her out and that was it." She explained.

"FUCK!" Everyone eyes turned to me.

"Sir, please don't use that kind of language." The other Secretary said.

"What is wrong with you people. You let Autumn leave with a fuckin murderer!!!!!!!"

They both gasped. I ran out of there before they could say anything else. I need to get to my apartment. Me and Zac need to find Autumn.