Alright. So I need a favor.

While I'm busy getting tortured and being 'not much active', I just wanted y'all to promote me. You can find my linktree link on my profile. It has all the links to my social media accounts.

It would be a huge favor if you promote my social medias at any platform of your choice. A simple follow is also enough but do tell other people about it. I really want to grow and build more audience and I've finally gathered the courage to ask for this. It sounded selfish to me but I'd love you all more if you do this.

You can even do something as simple as sending this book to someone or posting it on your profiles to promote this book. Any kind of support is appreciated.

I love you.

"So what do you want?" Damien asked, curiously, when he met me in the hallway.

Rose was helping Josiah clear the table. Lucian had left to his office. Jayden had gone back to his room to get ready. Asher was in his office too, because he got an urgent call.

I was just roaming around thinking of watching TV to pass time until Mr. I-slept-with-a-girl is ready.

But Damien caught me before I even reached the living room.

I looked around, making sure there was no one who could hear me.

I motioned for him to bend down so I could whisper in his ear.

"Can I see where you work? The studio."

He turned his head and looked down at me, with furrowed eyebrows.

Is that a big no I see?

"That's all?" He asked, surprising me. That's not exactly the smallest thing I could ask for.

"Of course. Be ready this weekend. We'll go there first, then the cool date." He smiled as he stood straighter and put his hands in his pockets.

Excitement flowed through every bit of my body. My heels raised and lowered on their own as I bounced on my feet.

"Cool!" I said, before turning around and attempting to run to the living room.

But I was stopped when he grabbed the back of my shirt and clicked his tongue.

"What?" I asked, turning back around, causing him to release his hold.

"A thank you hug would suffice." He rolled his eyes, causing me to roll mine.

I moved forward slowly, watching a smile appear on his face. The smile grew wider when I jumped to wrap my arms around his neck.

He chuckled, when I practically hung from his neck, my feet inches above the ground. He wrapped his arms around me, holding me up.

"You're a dwarf." He laughed. I picked my chin up from his shoulder and glared at him.

"Now this dwarf does not want to hug you," I said, attempting to pull away, but he just laughed more when I couldn't.

I took a deep breath, to calm my growing annoyance.

"Stop mocking me, Damien," I gritted.

"Dex," He corrected.

"No. Luke," I said. He groaned when I called him by his middle name.

"Boring." He rolled his eyes and scoffed.

"Alright. Now put me down," I said, putting my palms flat against his shoulders and pushing back.

That didn't work, obviously.

"No." He chuckled and started walking towards the living room.

"You've had enough of the thank you hug." I scowled, crossing my arms.

"But I didn't have enough of the thank you love," he said, shrugging his shoulders.

"You asked for a hug!" I exclaimed. "You didn't mention I had to add some extra love in it."

"Hugs are best when they are loving, right?" He asked, tearing his gaze from the path ahead to lock it with mine.

"All hugs are loving," I said. I'm sure of that fact.

"Not necessarily," he said, snapping his gaze forward again. "Sometimes we fail to add enough love to it and where it might still be comforting, but both parties might still feel incomplete after parting."

Is this really the scary dude with tattoos, piercings and scowls talking?

"So you're afraid you will not be satisfied enough with the hug," I stated, furrowing my eyebrows.

"Yes. I need more love." He looked at me again, with a bright twinkle in his eyes.

'If I kiss your cheeks, it means I'm transferring lots of love to my little hearts.'

I rolled my eyes and and leaned forward to place a kiss on his cheek. Kissing his cheeks, I smiled an extra sweet smile.

"Here's more love."

"Now that's sweet," he said, the twinkle in his eyes had grown considerably and he looked genuinely happy.

Something I didn't expect from Damien.

"Let me go now," I said, just when he entered the living room.

"Okay okay." He chuckled and put me down gently, so I stood in the middle of the living room.

'You're trusting them too easily.'

I watched Damien take a seat and pick up the remote from the table. I sat down on an armchair looking at him closely.

He's changed so much in such a short time. I don't know if it's all real or not. But his apology seems more genuine now. Taking into account that he's actually trying to be nice or just trying in general is enough to tell that his apology was genuine.

If he's being more himself, maybe and less mean, that means he's regretting and slowly trying to make up for it, right?

'Wrong-'

Someone cut that bitch off, making me snap my gaze towards the door.

"Did you take your pills, Bunny?" Asher asked. He stood in the doorway, leaning against it with his arms crossed over his chest.

Shit. I forgot.

"No. I forgot. I'll go take them," I said, standing up quickly.

Asher chuckled and stood straighter, to his full height. His pulled his arms away from his chest only to reveal the containers in his hands.

Walking over to the table, he poured water in a glass and slid it towards where I was standing.

"Thanks," I muttered, taking the pills when he handed them to me.

"That's my job, Honey." He smiled, running his hand over my head, cautiously, as to not ruin my hair.

"Do you have work all day?" I asked, out of nowhere.

"Yes." He bent down to my level. "Why'd you ask?"

"Nothing." I shrugged, feeling dread settle in my stomach.

"But you can call me anytime, alright? You can call me for anything and I'll be there with you, within less than five minutes." He promised, putting his hand on the side of my face and cupping it. He rubbed his thumb over my cheek lightly, stroking it.

I nodded my head.

"So..." I stopped, biting my tongue to refrain from speaking.

I need to stop being a baby.

"So?" He asked, ushering me to continue.

"Nothing," I said, trying to step away, but Asher stopped me by encircling his other arm around my shoulder, his hand resting between my shoulder blades.

"I know it's not nothing. Come on. Say it," he said, now having a less softer look on his face. That meant I was going to be on the receiving end of the tone he used once, when I tried to hang up on him.

I gulped, looking into his eyes, that were currently boring into mine.

"So-" I cleared my throat. "So you will be home late."

"I'll be home before dinner," he said, smiling slightly. "But I can pick you up after school and you can accompany me to my work, if you want."

"No. That's okay. It was just a general question." I waved my hand nonchalantly, trying to show this didn't bother me.

But for some reason, it did. The idea of being away from Asher felt haunting, even though I was trying my best to ignore it.

How weak have I got to be so clingy?

A sigh broke me out of my thoughts. Asher retreated his hand that was on the side of my face and stood to his full height.

With the hand on my back, he led me back to where I sat before and crouched down before me.

"There's no need to be embarrassed about anything, sweetie," he began. His deep voice laced with the usual gentle and soft tone he took every time he talked. "You're getting overwhelmed, that's okay. You're feeling anxious, that's okay. You're feeling clingy, that's totally okay."

My eyes widened as I stared at my lap, surprised how easily he caught onto what I was feeling.

"And you don't have to be so hesitant about telling me or any of our brothers about it," he ended, moving closer to place kisses on my cheeks.

I looked up when his hands moved from the sides of my knees to my hands that were fidgeting in my lap.

"So, do you want me to pick you and Rose from school?" He asked, looking into my eyes, already on a quest for answers.

I shook my head.

"That won't be necessary."

He sighed but complied with my answer without protest.

I can handle it on my own. I will. I did before and I will now.

'All the fake love they've showered on you has made you weak.'

"What're you thinking, Bunny?" Asher asked. I blinked.

"Nothing." I shook my head. "When are we leaving for school?"

The frown on Asher's face deepened.

"Five minute," Damien answered instead. I nodded and released a breath, trying hard to ignore the look on Asher's face.

For some reason, my eyes drifted back to lock with my brother's. The amount of emotions I could see made me feel warm and terrified at the same time.

"Are you sure you're okay?" He asked, after a moment.

"I'm okay," I said, nodding my head reassuringly. I leaned forward to place a kiss on his cheek. "Don't worry."

I'll get used to it.

"Okay. I'll take your word for it." He smiled his usual sweet and warm smile. "But any-"

I cut him off, rolling my eyes with a small smile of my own on my face.

"Any problem and I call you." I finished for him. He booped my nose and chuckled before standing up and taking a seat beside me.

Damien was busy on his phone while Asher wrapped his arm around my shoulder and rubbed my arm with his hand.

"I'm ready," Jayden called out, after his heavy footsteps stomping down the stairs stopped.

Asher stood up, making me and Damien follow suit. We walked out and towards the main door to see Josiah and Rose already there, with a scowling Jayden.

"Stay out of trouble, kids," Asher reminded again, making Jayden roll his eyes when Asher wasn't looking.

I walked over to the stairs to pick my bag, that was hung on the banister. Swinging it onto my shoulder, I stood beside Rose, ready to go.

"Alright then. Bye," Asher said, before moving forwards towards us. "I'll see you all in the evening."

He hugged both me and Rose at once and placed a kiss on our foreheads. He stepped back, just in time as more footsteps sounded.

Damien and Jayden were already moving to the garage, so we attempted to follow but stopped when Lucian strode towards us and cleared his throat.

He stood there for a moment, while Josiah, Rose and I stared at him, questioningly.

I don't know if I was seeing things or something. But Lucian shook his head and turned around. He was about to walk away when he made eye contact with Asher, who was giving a pointed look to Lucian.

To Lucian!

Lucian turned back towards us and sighed quietly. Taking two steps, he was standing before me and my twin.

"All the best for your first day," he said, before wrapping his arm around my shoulder and pulling me into an awkward side hug. It was awkward for both of us.

He did the same to Rose and stepped back, awkwardly. I cleared my throat and nodded, taking Rose's hand in mine.

Asher had an accomplished smile on his face as he watched Lucian stride away.

"Don't mind him. He's just shy," he whispered when Lucian was out of earshot.

Shy? Shore.

"Let's go kids!" Dex yelled from the garage.

"Alright. Final goodbye. See you later. I love you," Asher said, smiling sweetly as we turned to retreat to the garage.

Rose was smiling as we made our way down to the garage.

"Any problem and you call me," I stated, looking at Rose, expectantly. She looked at me, keeping her smile on her face and nodded.

Damien was already in the car, so I opened the back door for Rose and closed it after she climbed in. I got in the shotgun and did my seat belt.

Damien nodded after we both got in and pulled out of the garage.

The car ride was comfortable. Loud music was playing which I liked surprisingly. This Dex guy has good taste.

The comfort was ruined when he started with the bullshit Lucian instructed him to pass around.

"No rulebreaking. You get in trouble with school, you get in trouble with Lucian. There will be consequences to your actions so think wisely before you try to do something reckless," he said, giving me a pointed look at the end.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" I exclaimed, a scowl appearing on my face. He parked in the huge parking lot and turned to me.

"Because you, sweetheart, look like trouble. You breath in trouble," He commented, scowling back. "Now wipe that look off your face and nod and say 'Yes brother' like an obedient kid."

That didn't help with the annoyance and my scowl only deepened.

"Well, since I breath in trouble." I narrowed my eyes. "No, Dexter." I put emphasis on Dexter. His pointed look turned into a glare.

"Do you want to talk to Lucian instead?" He asked, lifting his hand to get his phone out.

"You can't fight your battles on your own, can you?" I rolled my eyes.

"That's called targeting the weakness. Instead of wasting my time getting through to you, I'll simply call Lucian because he can definitely explain things to you better."

I gulped involuntarily and just looked out.

"That's what I thought," he muttered. I glared at the black tinted window which was currently showing a busy parking with rich kids. Everyone was shining with the amount of expensive items I could spot.

"Take care of her, okay Rose?" My head snapped to the opposite side to find Dex looking back at Rose, one hand on the gear and the other resting on the wheel.

I scowled at him, as he nodded once and looked at me. He looked back towards Rose, making me turn my head too, to see her looking back and forth between us. She was sitting directly behind me. She was slightly scared but mostly looked like a deer caught in headlights.

Damien extended his hand towards her, setting it behind her head. She leaned forward when he put a little pressure. Damien leaned forward too, placing a kiss on her forehead.

"Have a good first day. I'll be home when you return." He stroked her cheek a little. Rose looked surprised and basically flabbergasted. She nodded and pulled back.

Damien looked at me again, his gray eyes boring into mine. I huffed and looked out again.

He snickered quietly before I felt his hand on the side of my head, pulling me to the side. I held onto the door handle, trying to get away, but he managed to pull me.

Grabbing my chin harshly, he turned my head. I gave him the most disgusted look I could, to which he chuckled.

Placing a kiss on my forehead, he turned my head to place another on my temple.

"Have a good first day. Enjoy but stay out of trouble."

He released his grip with another chuckle and pulled back. I wiped the kisses harshly and gagged.

"Yeah right. Thanks for ruining my beauty. Bye," I said, opening the door and stepping out. I opened the door for Rose and helped her out.

"Bye, babies!" Damien yelled. I shut the door quickly but still couldn't in time. Gritting my teeth, I pulled the door open.

"We haven't even entered that building yet. We don't want to be called babies for all our remaining school life," I whisper yelled, to which he smirked and blew a kiss at me.

"Okay, baby. Go study now. Behave," He said, still smirking. I slammed the door shut, earning a muffled 'hey!' that not even Rose heard.

"Asshole," I gritted quietly, grabbing Rose's hand and walking towards the familiar sports car that parked just now.

Cheers to first day, I guess.

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