I was jolted awake by a sudden sharp sound, blinking the light as I grew aware of my surroundings and the way my pillow was stirring as well... What?

My eyes snapped open, taking in the dim barn, the TV still on on the other side of the coffee table and Nate sleepy form under mine on the couch. I felt a dazed smile tugging my lips as I instinctibly cuddled closer. I couldn't remember falling sleep; but I was laying over him, our legs intertwined and the bare heated skin of his chest against mine along with the thick blanket over my back was the only protection against the sudden wave of cold air from the opened door...

Hold on.

Opened door?

"I fucking knew it."

And just like that all my sleepiness vanished. My wide gaze snapped to Matt in horror as he glared from the barn's door. The look he held as he stepped inside in a determined pace tightened my guts, shaking away my doze dizziness at once. In a moment I was on my feet, immediately missing Nate's heat, he groaned too at the lost but I was more focused on wrapping the blanket over my shirtless form instead as I stepped in my brother's way.

"It's not what it looks like." I rushed hushedly, and pushed him back towards the door, quickly grabbing my slippers as we passed them.

"No? Funny, why are you half naked then?"

My cheeks blushed crimson red as I keep tugging him backwards. "Matt, please." somehow I managed to take him outside with me, but I think it had something to do with him struggling to control his temper. I could tell by the way he balled his hands. His frown shifted from a furious one to a somewhat confused right before I pulled the sliding door shut between us and the barn. "What were you gonna do, uh?" I breathed shakily at the wave of freezing air once outdoor and bent to slid on the comfy slippers. The sky was still mostly dark if it wasn't for the thin line of light breaking on the horizon, so it must be really early morning still. "Drag him out?"

"If that's what it takes." my brother shrugged and I glared, but when his eyes turned from the door to mine there was something else above the initial rage. Hesitation, maybe. "Were those bruises?"

My stomach twitched, knowing very well he was refering to the awful dark marks across Nate's ribs. I tightened the blanket around me, now that the initial rush was kinda settling I was realizing that stepping into the cold only protected with blanked over my bra and pajama's pants wasn't such a good idea.

"You can't just barge in like that. I need my privacy."

"Privacy?" Matt glowered. But I was already asking on my own in hopes to delude him:

"Either way, weren't you out? I thought you had this party or whatever at Gus'."

"Yeah, but it's ended already. And I came back to find his truck on our driveway." I cursed inwardly, we'd completely forgotten about it last night. Other times he'd stayed we would hide it behind the barn but I guess last night we didn't really paid attention to it. Matt's scowl increased. "Him, Hailey? Really?"

I wrapped the blanket closer under his inquiring glare but the cold was already soaking the dense cloth. "So what?"

"You know what. He's not trust worthy, he's hurt you already, what makes you think he's not gonna just snap or harm you again when he's done messing around? He's a player."

"Not anymore." I shook my head, the unease at my own insecurities not taking well Matt speaking them out loud.

"And how can you be so sure, uh?"

His patronizing tone was only spiking me further. I hated when he play the overprotective brother like this, like I was some clueless child that needed his oh-so-wise advises. So I tilted my chin upwards. "Because this isn't messing around anymore. We're dating now."

His eyes widened and it would had been comical if I wasn't feeling this vulnerable and attacked in the moment. "Dating?"

"Chillax, Matt."

"You're gonna stop this now."

I rolled my eyes at his audacity. "You're not dad."

"Yeah, you're lucky as hell I'm not dad! He would stricktly forbid you from hooking up with players." his words awoke a burning rage that took form as an aggressive blush. How dared he?

"Really? Funny, because he found out in Washington and didn't discourage me in the slightest."

His face fell a little. "You -you told dad before me?" and just like that a new emotion slid through his angry protectiveness: hurt. My chest panged along with it, deflating my growing vexation.

"Shane ran his mouth."

"Oh, so everyone knew." he laughed bitterly, gazing away as he brushed his hair and guilt stung in the pit of my stomach. "Amazing."

"It wasn't like that..." I dropped my previous defensive stance, wrapping the blanket tightly, shivering as the snowing outsides got to me more and more. "It's just... you're not exactly here anymore, are you? And you clearly made your point about your thoughts on us last month."

"Yeah, I know, but I still thought you would had trust me."

"Matty," I sighed. "You literally just barged into the barn ready to 'drag him out'. I'm not just making things up."

"I know, I just..." his lips pouted, all his anger faded now into a more vulnerable expression and I suddenly wanted to hug him. "Does mom know?"

"Not exactly." I muttered through gnashed teeth, which earned me a perked brow.

"Does she even knows he's spend the night here?"

My heartrace picked up but I hoped he assumed the blush was for the freezing air. "We fell sleep, okay?" I half lied through chattering teeth. "It wasn't like we actually plan it..."

"That's bullshit."

"Whatever. Please don't make a scene, he already felt bad for staying."

"Then why did he?"

"I asked him to." Matt's eyes narrowed, still unsure, but now bitting back his probably unkind remarks. I take in a shaky breath, watching it morphed into vapour and looking away. "He's been sleeping in his car... I don't know for how long, but it's too cold, Matt."

"In the car?" he repeated baffled and I nodded. "Why?" I shrugged. If only I knew... My brother sighed, brushing his hair and face as if struggling with himself. "His family... They're complicated."

What? That sudden piece of information got my eyes snapping back at his, confused at the gentler tone he was using now. "What do you mean?"

He seemed to be struggling with himself. "I mean, that Harold guy that's going out with his mother... He's trouble. Last year he almost got arrested for driving intoxicated and has a history with quarrels in bars."

I remembered Nate talking about his mother once, about her relationship with Harold and 'things that shouldn't keep happening'. Maybe it was darker than simply a toxic relationship?

"Those bruises..." Matt proceeded gesturing inside the barn when he saw my baffled gaze but cut himself, unsure. "He used to wear them constantly when he first made it to team. I once heard him in coach's office and apparently social workers were involved..." My eyes widened the more he spoke and he let out a breathy huff, brushing his hair with a frown. "I didn't want them to think I eavesdroped so I never brought it up and for a while they stopped, so I thought whatever it was they solved it but -but now it looks like..." his voice drifted away but that was enough to gross me to no end.

"A-are you saying those bruises are from his home?"

So he didn't get in fights, he didn't fall in practices nor get roughed up while playing football. Nate was being.... abused? I felt like throwing up, my head spinning and every inch of me turned so numb I wasn't even aware of the cold anymore.

"I don't know, Hails, just saying what went on around back then. But that's quiet a severe accusation. Haven't he said anything?"

"No..." I shuddered, feeling vulnerable all at once.

"Hailey." I was suddenly engulfed in his arms. "Don't get upset. He... he can't stay, okay? I won't tell on you, but I think you should let mom know... Wathever it is we'll fix it, okay?" I nodded into chest, glad to the shield his embrace was giving me against the cold from both outside and insides. My mind overdrove. "As long as you both sleep with clothes on I don't think there a problem..." I let out a startled, embarrassed sound at his mock to undense the enviroment, and somehow it worked as he chuckled and I felt my chest loosenig a bit it's tighte grip on my lungs. "So you're dating, then?" I nodded again and he let out a huff. "I don't like it."

"You don't have to like, you have to accept it."

"I don't want you to get hurt."

"Don't worry about me." I laughed softly into his jacket, pulling away immediately and at the freezing cold that hit me I wrapped the blanket over me.

"That's impossible. Now go put something on before you get hypothermia or mom sees you. You got an hour before we have to head to school."

I almost groaned at the reminder. School. Today was finally the end of Christmas Break and I was already dreading going back to our usual schedule of classes and work.

"Nate's driving us-"

"That truck of his is half burriend in the snow," he shook his head. "You said it yourself, it's too cold. I'm driving you."

"Both of us?"

He grunted in response and I managed a smile, appreciating his effort and didn't hesitate before escaping the icy weather. When I slid back into the barn Nate was sitting on the couch, his shirt and jacket on and he was bent forward lacing his shoes. Even with his bed hair and dizzy eyes he still looked ready to leave. His gaze met mine as I close the door behind me and I saw that hesitation from last night again.

"I didn't mean to be a burden." something in his voice was like a pang in the pit of my stomach and I immediately shook my head.

"You're not."

"I didn't mean for you to argue with Matt."

"Oh, come on." I rolled my eyes, playing it was more confident than I actually was. "This barn is as mine as it's his. If I want you here then he shall shut it."

His eyes lowered. "Still..."

"Don't worry for him."

It pained me to think he felt like intruding. Especally after the horrible image Matt had planted in my mind about his mysterious bruises.

Thousands of past conversations came back to me at once, under a different light. Things I neglected to read properly and that now swirled in my mind creating a turmoil of suffocating sensations.

'Why do you always assume it's from fights?'

'I didn't know where to go.'

'My mother and Harold don't have the best relationship, okay? A lot of things that shouldn't be okay keep happening and I... I don't want to feel tied up to someone. Blinded. I need to still be me.'

He practically spell it for me and I just let it all slid assuming he was being closed off and not letting anything out when in reality he was letting small slips of information leak.

Like when I asked him what did he wanted and he responded simply: Get away.

I just assumed they had some kind of toxic relationship. It never occurred me that it and the bruises might be related and now that Matt had planted the seed I couldn't help my mind from ragging. And now pilling all this new information it wasn't that hard to figure out why was he was sleeping in his car in the cold weather of early January.

I made my way back to the couch, but as I reached him I found myself sliding into his lap instead, straddling him and leaning into his chest, shaking like a leaf and startling him. "Hey, what's up?"

"I'm cold." and it wasn't all a lie.

His palms gently went under the thick blanket and brushed against the cold skin of my arms, frowning. "You're freezing. Here." He took off the jumper he just put on and slid it over my head, letting the huge cloth engulfed me. Him taking care of me after everything tugged some strings in my chest and somehow my eyes watered against my will, making his widened. "Hailey, I... I really didn't mean to cause trouble-"

"No, no. It's not that." I shook my head, wiping the stupid unleashed tears and cupped his face, my pulse ragging at the tender, concerned way he was eying me. My heart panged at the faint bruise under his eye. How could I'd been so blind? "You know I care about you, right?"

He held my hand in his, leaning into the touch but holding that worried scowl. "I care about you too."

My thumb brushed the cracked skin of his knuckles, feeling how my chest was tightening the more I took this all in under this new light. "I want you to be safe."

"Hailey," he tilted his head, confused. "What's going on?"

If I told him what Matt said he would panic. He hated letting me know anything about his personal life, and if this new theory happened to be nothing more than that -a theory- that would just be awkward. I couldn't prick, he had to be the one to decide to open up. So I shook my head and leaned into him again, hiding in his neck and body heat, my trembles more evident against his steady form.

"I'm just glad you stayed here tonight."

"Baby..." Nate let out a breathy sigh and leaned into the back of the couch so we would fit better in. He then guided my stone cold hands under his shirt into his heated flesh, hissing at the coldness but no faltering in encouraging me hold him and bringing his arms around my back to pull me into his warmth. "Better?"

I nodded, snuggling closer but careful not to hold him too tight. I knew he wouldn't tell me if I harm him so I better be careful. "Matt's fine with you staying too, by the way."

His scoff in disbelief vibrated loudly against my ear. "It surely looked like it."

"I mean it. But I rather if he, um, won't find us like that anymore." I blushed, now that the initial shock and rush wasn't anymore I could fully analize the fact that my big, overprotective bother just caught me sleeping with a guy. Dear goodness.

Nate hummed, not at all as bothered as I was while gently running his hands up and down my spine; but then again, he never really had a problem with PDA. "In all honesty, I can't remember falling sleep."

"Me neither..." All I remember was us putting on the movie and then halfway through the second, playing footsie wasn't enough and somehow we ended making out. But we were too tired and must had fallen sleep at some point, that would explain why I woke up shirtless over him. I groaned in embarrassment. "I can't believe Matt's seen us like that."

"It's not that bad." Nate leaned down to kiss my shoulder awaking thousands of sharp chills across my skin from there. "There was barely anything to see and I bet it's not that unexpect."

"But it's Matt. Sometimes I wonder if he even realize I'm a girl as well, he acts like I'm completely asexual."

That earned me one of those deep, rumbling chuckles that melted my bones. "Well, I can attest against that."

"Yeah." I chuckled shyly nuzzling further in his neck. "But that won't help the case."

"I guess." he mumbled back, letting his head feel backwards into the cushions of the couch and I shifted into a more comfortable position. "Do you know what time is it?"

"Matt said we have an hour before heading to school, so I guess it must be half past six or so."

"Ugh, school." he whined dramatically. "I've almost forgotten."

"Mhm, me too." I kissed his jaw, dragging my fingertips softly up and down his sides -now that I'd gained sensibility on them again- and love the deep vibrating sound it elicited from the back of his throat as I slid closer in his lap.

"Guess the break is finally over." Nate whispered back.

"Not yet." his breath hitching when I kissed down his throat, only guided by and instinctive impulse, leaving soft redish marks that faded in seconds. He musn't be marked by anything but that. Anything but me. I dreaded just thinking of his pain, I wanted nothing but to take it all away. "We still have one hour left."

"Oh yeah?" I leaned back to met his gaze, mersmerized at the intensity of those green pools that always managed to make me feel way more than I prepare myself for. Like this massive tug in the pit of my stomach I felt the moment I connect with his heated gaze and the corner of his lip curved upwards. "And what do you suggest?"

My pulse went overdrive, ragging in my ears, but I pulled down my shyness and leaned to pressed my lips on his.

The hour stretched in a blur, way too short, definitely, but somehow we made it worth it. By the end of it we'd managed to get dressed and prepared to start the day... and in all honestly, I don't think there's a better way to start a dull Monday. I left momentarily to my room to change as well and when I was back I found Nate shrugging himself in the the clothes he sneaked last night in that bag.

"Are you ready?" I asked brushing my hair as I entered the barn once more.

"Yep." he slid his fingers through his, carelessly taming his locks and smirking as if mocking my own struggles with the comb. "Are you?"

"Almost." I tossed him the apple I just take and he eyed it gingerly before thanking me lowly and taking a bite. "We can stop by the vending machine to take something else once we arrived."

He nodded, but looked hesitating still. I knew he felt uncomfortable with asking for things but I was the one offering, so it shouldn't be a big deal. I wanted to do this.

"By the way," I cleared my throat and dropping the comb on the coffee table to organize later. "Matt's driving us today."

"What?" he frowned. "But I have Letty-"

"Letty's been buried in the snow and your heater still not working." I shook my head, pointing it out gently. "Let's leave it for now and this afternoon you can try to fix it or whatever."

But he didn't look convinced. "Is he- is he okay with it?"

"Sure." he 'offered' after all. We heard a honk from the front yard and I grinned. "And he's ready. Let's go."

I went to spin around and headed out not wanting to gave Matt any chance to rethink his choice, but instead felt a hand on my wrist preventing me to.

"Hailey?" I looked up at Nate's face as he bit his lip, nervously. "You think I could, maybe, um... stay tonight as well?"

My heart panged once more at his rushed tone, as if afraid I would refuse. "Of course you can."

"Thanks." he let out a shaky breath. "I promise that's the last-"

"Don't say that. You can stay as many as you need."

"What about Matt? And your mother?"

"I told you Matt's on me. And Mom left for school early today, since it's the first day back and all. I will talk to her this evening. Don't worry about it."