After my little crying session, we reached home. Stumbling slightly, I got out of the car and stretched. Instantly, I was engulfed in a hug. I tensed, but relaxed when I realised it was Jax.

"Oh God Rainbow, do you have any idea how worried I was? I thought... John... and I was so scared... I thought it was like last time and I-"

"Jax," I cut him off gently, hugging him back, "it's okay, I'm here. I love you."

Jax pulled away and kissed my forehead, "love you too, Rainbow. Now, let's go inside and you can tell me what happened."

I allowed myself to be pulled inside the house. Jax and I sat down in the living room and he looked at me expectantly. I recounted the last few days, trying my hardest to make is less worse than it actually was. By the end of it, Jax was scarily quiet.

"Jax? You okay?" I asked.

"I'm going to kill them," Jax said calmly. His grey eyes had a fire burning in them, telling me he wasn't joking.

"Too late," I looked up and saw my family. It was David who'd spoken, "I already blew the place up. We have two survivors... you can help interrogate them."

Jax seemed satisfied with this.

I rubbed my eyes and yawned. Everyone 'awww'ed- knowing it would annoy me- and I glared at them.

"I'll bandage your wounds and then you can go to sleep, okay?" Elijah said and I nodded, too tired to say anything. Elijah got the medical kit and I pulled my hoodie over my head, leaving me in a crop top. Everyone inhaled sharply.

My ribs were an ugly purple and there were yellow and green wounds around me. The scars had more or less healed, but the mental ones will take longer. With slightly shaky hands, Elijah carefully dressed them. I flinched at some points and gripped Jax's hand tightly.

"When can I go back to school?" I asked when Elijah was finished. To be honest, I didn't really care, but I wanted to break the awkward and tense silence.

"After you have fully healed," David replied.

"Which should be about two ish weeks," Elijah added, "and whenever you're ready."

I nodded sleepily. Still yawning, I went to my room and crashed on the bed, lying down in a position that didn't affect my bruise. Then, I was out like a light.

X()

Finally. Today was the day I would be going back to school. To avoid questions, I'd tell my friends that I missed school because of a family emergency. That usually doesn't raise any questions. However, Aiden might know, considering his parents works for my brothers.

I got dressed in black jeans, blue top and a green hoodie along with some trainers. I quickly went downstairs and ate my breakfast.

"Now remember," David started, "if you feel uncomfortable at any point during the day-"

"-Go to one of our brothers or tell a teacher. If I feel endangered at any point, I should not hesitate to use the paralyser or my gun," I completed with an eye roll and a smile. David had been reiterating this speech about a hundred times during the last few weeks.

"Correct!" David grinned and Elijah laughed, "now, go and wake your brothers up or they'll be late for school."

I went to the end of the hallway of the rooms, cleared my throat dramatically and yelled, "WAKE UP!!"

My brothers opened their doors and scowled at me. Neither of them were morning people.

"What?!" Daimen snapped, rubbing his eyes.

"Good morning!" I said brightly, knowing it would drive them insane, "get ready for school."

"I don't wanna go to school," Oscar declared, going back inside his room, "and no one can make me."

My brothers nodded in assent and went to their rooms.

"Shall I get Lisa?" I asked, smirking.

Their reactions were instantaneous.

"What time did you say we were leaving?" Oscar poked his head out, all traces of tiredness magically vanishing.

"I'm up!" Julian and Daimen yelled.

"Don't!" Elijah, Brandon and Will shouted at the same time.

"That's what I thought," I laughed. Lisa was notoriously infamous for her evil methods of waking the boys up. She would bang pots, use ice water, an air horn, you name it.Fortunately, she's never used them on me. But I'm worried it's only a matter of time.

X

About half an hour later, I arrived at school. After reaching, my brothers each gave me a speech similar to the one David gave this morning. I rolled my eyes at their protectiveness and quickly went to my classroom.

I'd texted Aiden and he said the others were waiting for me there. When I entered, I saw a very strange sight.

Mia was squealing and doing a happy dance. Grace looked happy and high-fived Mia; Milo, Elizabeth and Jay were exchanging money and Aiden was repeatedly banging his head on the table. They were the only ones in the room.

"I knew it! I knew it!" Mia squeal-screamed.

"What's going on?" I asked cautiously.

"Iris!" Mia exclaimed, "where have you been the past few weeks?"

"Family emergency," I said, thankful when they didn't push me further, "what's going on?"

"Nothing," Mia said innocently, but her smile was so wide I was afraid it would split at the seams.

"Uh-huh," I said slowly, not believing her. However, I allowed for the topic change and decided to interrogate her at Lunch. The bell soon rang and we went our separate ways to our lessons.

X

I scanned the crowd for my friends and saw Mia waving frantically at me. I chuckled slightly and walked over, holding my Lunch consisting of sandwiches, cheese and onion crisps and a small chocolate bar.

"Hey guys," I said, sitting next to Aiden. I got a chorus of greetings back.

"Random question," Mia started and I mentally prepared myself, "Iris, would you consider dating someone?"

I raised an eyebrow, amused, "Why would you ask that?"

Mia shrugged, "just curious."

"Nah... I don't think of boys or girls in the romantic sense," I shrugged, "just friends is good."

Mia's eyes widened and she slumped back in her seat, "the ship has sunk," she whispered, horrified.

Elizabeth mimed an explosion.

"Crashed and burned," Grace said.

"I guess it never floated in the first place," Milo shook his head. Aiden said nothing.

"I'd like my money back, please," Jay said to Elizabeth, who handed it over.

"What in the blazes are you guys on about?" I asked, feeling incredibly confused.

"Nothing," Mia clicked her tongue against her teeth, "how was your weekend?"

It was a pathetic excuse to change the subject, but I got the feeling she really didn't want to talk about it.

Soon, we were laughing and joking, the earlier incident forgotten. Only Aiden didn't participate in the talks as much. I presumed he was worrying about some private matters, and decided not to pry into it.

X

After school ended, Jax approached me in the car park.

"Hey Jax," I smiled.

"Hey Rainbow," Jax grinned back, "can I stop by yours for a bit?"

I shot him a look, "of course you can! Come on, let's go."

Jax slung an arm around me shoulder and we walked to my brothers car.

"Hey guys! Is it okay if Jax comes round for a bit?" It wasn't really a question.

Oscar rolled his eyes, "of course he can."

I noticed Daimen clenching the wheel tightly and exchange looks with Julian.

"By the way," I turned to Jax, "that photo of Alex... was it really him?"