Chapter Song - Play With Fire - Sam Tinnesz

Mateo

I hammed my bruised fist against the door. "ASH!" I called, stretching my knuckles painful. Let's just say the punching bag and I spent a lot of time together this weekend. And at this rate, I'll need a new punching bag soon.

A soft padding noise caught my attention and I tipped my head backwards, and saw Aster trail up the stairs with Cooper cuddling in her arms. His new, because we grew up with another dog named Kal. But he died when I was around ten from old age. Man, I loved that dog. I smiled. "Hi Star."

She waved her free hand, making her way towards me. And I looked back at the door that was still fucken shut in case anyone is wondering. I can clearly hear his pounding music; I know his in there. "ASH!" I banged on the door, harder this time and felt the hiss of pain it felt behind.

"Don't break my door, dude! I just got a new one, stop yelling and come in!" he shouted back making me sigh because I have made that mistake one to many times. He wasn't coming to the door for a damn reason, and I knew better then to just waltz into the cage. "Are your serpent's locked up?" I called back, only to cringe because jez, I was yelling at a fucken door. An actual door.

Aster stopped beside me, leaning onto the wall and lifted the camera around her neck to point at me. I rolled my eyes, not in the mood for photos but kept my mouth shut because it made her happy. Who was I to burst that bubble? If she wants ugly pictures of me, then have at it. It's not as if she didn't have a fuck load of them already hanging all over her bedroom walls for that matter.

"Mateo quit being a bitch baby. They are in their homes!" he yelled back. Lier. I stared at the door with hesitation for a second before glancing to Aster. "Think his lying?"

She chuckled, the simple action bouncing her honeycomb eyes. "Cien por ciento" (one hundred percent.) she answered, clicking the camera just as I'm sure I fucken blinked or some. Then she let it drop around her neck, and ran her fingers through Cooper's golden fur while he laid peacefully in her arms, staring up at me with his chocolate eyes. Cooper, the most laziest dog I have ever met, he was a baby, but still. All the dog wanted to do was lay in Aster's arms and if by any chance someone else tried to pick him up, you might think the stars are falling out of the sky by the way he reacted.

I'm just saying, I prefer Alvin. His way more entertaining,

Despite my better judgment, I pushed the door open and cautiously eyed the ground to make sure nothing came snapping at me. Then, I pushed it further and found that I was right. Those vipers were not locked up. And one of them was curled up on Ash's chest, who laid on his bed with his phone up in the air, humming to himself. The other was worming it's way up Ash's leg and this dude didn't even flinch.

I shivered just looking at it and didn't walking further into the room. Hell no. How he was okay with them crawling all over him was beyond me, but I wasn't going to even step foot into the room. "Told yeah." Aster tisked, peeking her head into the room and even Cooper lifted his head just a little, zoning in on those vipers. If anyone in this house didn't like them as much as me, it was him. For that, and only that reason I don't mind Cooper and his laziness.

I eyed the snakes as I started talking, "Get up. I need your help."

Ash lifted his head, one of his brow's shooting up. "With what?" he questioned, because it wasn't him I usually took with me. He was the youngest before Aster and in some way, I still tried to protect him from our lives. Psychological speaking, I'm trying to protect him from things I can, because there are plenty of others I can't. His mind for explain, his own fucken mind. At least, that is what Kirsan has diagnosed me as doing.

But, in this moment, I didn't have an option. Ash knew how to handle himself, and he had one mean fucken face when he wanted to use it, so I knew he was going to fine. Plus, if shit goes backwards, I'll protect him with my life.

I leaned my shoulder into the side of the doorway. "We need to do a drop." I explained to him as he started lifting on the bed. I watched him pick up Stan who's on his chest and watched the snake curled around his arm. Then he picked up Abby, who wrapped herself around her neck and brushed her head against his face as he stood off the bed. The fucken lunatic smiled at her before looking at me. "Where's Madds?"

He walked with his viper's curled around him to their cages and lifted the lid. I almost gagged. "With his dad."

"Kirsan?" Ash asked, setting Stan in his cage, and moving to Abby's cage. "Not home." I didn't explain further. I texted Kirsan and he asked me to take Ash. Said something about him dealing with personal problems. The fuck that meant I wasn't going to ask, and either he would tell me when he wanted too, or he wouldn't tell me at all and there was no way anyone would get it out of him. Trust me, we tried.

One time, when we were young and clueless, Ash and I tried to torture information out of him. Of course, it wasn't real torture, but we did sit on him, and waterboard him a little, and possibly (I'm not admitting to this because mom would kill us.) cut his hair. At the end, we gave up and the guy just grinned with secret's swirling in his eyes.

I watched Aster walked over to me, before leaning her back into my chest as I draped my arm over shoulder and tucked her into my side. "How's it going?" I asked her. She was the opposite of all of us, and no one knows where it came from. She was incredibly sweet, selfless, and so quite that it's impressive. The girl could be a spy, if she wanted. She has a little bit of attitude in her, only when someone really tick's her off but hell that takes a lot. She has to deal with all of us, and 99 percent of the time she's the happiest girl.

I couldn't even imagine the day she started talking to a boy, the thought alone makes me want to start killing people. No one was ever going to live up to our expectations for her. Good luck to who ever tries, because I'm sure of the fact that my dad has already plans prepared to hide the idiots body.

Aster shrugged, looking down at Cooper who was actually sleeping now. The fucken life right there. Aster was the baby of the family, and not only that but we all watched our parents fuss and cater too her because when she was born, she almost died. I was to young then to understand, but now I know why my parents treat her like a little princess, because she is our little royalty. "Lily is supposed to come over later." she smiled down at Cooper.

Lily, Maddox's sister was Aster's best friend, Ash's fucken chaos buddy. Aster was the calmest of us all. She kept to herself most of the time, and sometimes you could even miss her if you don't pay attention. Lily on the other hand, let's just say the moment she steps into the house you become painfully aware. How those two mixed, still confused me. It was Lily and Ash that were attached to each other probably as bad as Maddox and me, if not worse.

"What are you two going to do?" I asked, running my hand through Cooper's soft fur. He didn't even stir, completely content in Aster's arms. "I'm not sure. I'm sure Lily will figure it out." she answered.

I glanced over at Ash to make sure he was getting dress and not fucking around before looking back to her. "You keep yourself out of trouble, okay? Call one of us if you need something." I said, looking down at Aster who just smiled innocently at me. "Aster, I'm serious. No bullshit like last time. If you're in trouble you call us."

She huffed. "I know, I know. I meant to call you..."

I narrowed my gaze at her. "But you didn't Aster. And I know dad already lectured you about it but star, what where you thinking? You have three brothers, and you almost gave every single one of them a heart attack. Are you trying to kill us?"

It wasn't Aster that found the trouble, it was Lily and Aster just went along for every damn ride, no matter what. This girl would follow Lily into an ocean of snakes, but I understand. If Maddox asked me, I would do the same. We are family.

She sighed, feeling so small in my arms. "I'll call you next time." she muttered, not looking at me, and making me instantly feel bad for scowling at her.

A few days ago, her and Lily went out to shop and ended up halfway across the state, surfing with some boy's they just met at the fucken mall. With no ride home, they thought it would be a great idea to hitch hike. When dad found out, it was a fucken nightmare and I had never seen the man so mad. Didn't help that she had three bothers and Maddox losing their minds over the possibility of what could happen.

The noise of Ash kicking one of his loose rock jars that scattered the ground of his bedroom caught my attention. "Fuck" he muttered, looking at for a second before shrugging, "I'll clean it later."

He strolled towards us and I zoned in on the hoodie he was wearing, his favorite Formula1 hoodie. "You sure you want to wear that?" I asked him, causing him to looked down at himself with his brow's creasing in confusion before his attention shot to me and the confusion faded. "Oh, oh! It's one of those kinds of drops. Well shit man you should have said that before I spend my time dressing myself all pretty." he spun around, marching back into his closet, "Of course I'm not wearing this then."

I sighed. "Ash, I don't know if it's one of those kind of drops..." The kind that ended in bloody hell, "But it could be."

Aster looked up at me, a small smile sitting on her round face. She knows the kind of family she belongs too, and she's our innocence. "You knew..." she dwelled, "He takes longer to get dressed then I do?" she asked, chuckling a little before looking down at Cooper. I grinned, leaning down to whisper, "His the barbie doll of our family."

Ash popped his head out of the closet, "I have perfect hearing, Mateo. Why whisper an insult, tell it face to face!" he glared at me, making Aster laugh.

I raised my brow at him. "Perfect hearing, huh? I was worried there for a second. Made an appointment to the doctor and everything because clearly you didn't hear me when I said, I need your help."

He huffed, going back in his closet and a second later marched out of it. Still scowling at me for my comment but dressed more appropriately now in black jogger's that were blood approved. And he had the hood of his black jacket pulled over his head so you could only see the bottom of his forehead, and his dazzling attitude.

He strolled out of his room and towards us. "Star, is Lil's coming over?" he asked, and Aster nodded, petting Cooper who had perked up now and was watching us. Ash narrowed his eyes at the dog who he knew did not like his pet beasts before speaking, "When is she coming?"

Aster shrugged, "Any min---"

"ASTER! ASHHHH!"

I cringed, being painfully fucken aware of Lily's presences somewhere in our house. She ran up the stairs with her long blond hair swaying in every direction, as she tried to pad it down. "There you are!" she grinned, halting at the top of the stairs and take a big breath.

Then, she lifted her hand and tossed her phone across the hall towards Ash. Who caught it effortlessly before looking down at it as Lily started to walk over to Aster and cuddled herself up right next to us.

I gave her a nod, but she narrowed her pale eyes at me. "I'm calling a truce today. Love me too, Mateo." she said, sighing so fucken deeply you would think I jammed her in the heart with a knife.

I rolled my eyes. "Nice to see you Lil's." Sort of. If she just wouldn't yell every time she came in the house that would be awesome but fifteen years later and I'm coming to realize that it might not be happening. Nor would we ever not argue, or be able to be in the same room without a fight starting. Lets just say, we might be family but the term fight like cats and dogs, we own it. So no way am I believing her whole truce statement.

I looked up just in time to see Ash's face flash in excitement. "No fucken way! You actually booked the tickets?" he gasped, wild eyes full of lit flames slammed on Lily with so much heat.

Lily nodded eaggerly, her own grin slipping onto her face, wrinkling her diamond eyes, and pour mischief into them. Aster peaked up next to me. "What tickets?"

Ash waved her off, making me scowl. "Nothing you would want to do." he explained, turning his thrilled attention back to Lily, "This is going to be so fucken fun! Wait, did you ask you parent's if you can even go? Or am I going to get yelled at again?"

Lily sighed, glancing away. Which told me she didn't fucken ask, and per usual was going to do whatever the fuck she wants because there was absolutely no one who could control this girl. We'll, maybe Ash, but other then that it was basically pointless to even try.

"Fuck it. This is going to be so worth it." Ash shrugged, tossing her phone back to her as Aster glanced up at me for more information. But I was as clueless as her, so I shrugged and she looked back at Lily. "Where are you two going?" she asked, a hint of hurt filling her tone as Cooper wiggled around in her arms, ready to get down for once.

Lily's smile brightened the usual scowl of her face. "Skydiving." she explained, and Ash howled out in excitement. His birthday was coming up, and I assume this was either a gift for that, or another check off on their how to kill ourselves bucket list. Aster, thank fuck was not into all the extreme's unlike those two that create a whole fucken bucket list of things they wanted to do that might, or might not end up with them dead.

Ash extended his knuckle at Lily who punched it full force. "Fuck yeah." Ash said grinned like a fucken lunatic, "Oh, can you feed my baby's?" he added, pointing behind himself to his room. Lily was the only one who actually liked those vipers. The only one who actually would step foot into Ash's room and put her life on the line with them. It was because she was a whole different storm, one that you never wanted to stand in front of because she would blow you down with just a puff. She was trouble wearing Prada, and she wore it with a fucken grin that screamed I'm looking for trouble.

"My baby's." I mocked him under my breath, but he spun around glaring at me, "Fuck off." Was all he managed to come up with.

We said goodbye to the girl's and Ash, and I made our way downstairs to the door. I already called Joel, telling him to bring the drop truck and meet us there, which he wasn't too happy about but whatever. And then I glanced down at my phone, checking it for the thousand time today as Ash swung the garage door open. "Can I drive?" he asked, grabbed the keys off the hook but I skirted around him, and snatched them away from him. "No."

He pouted, sliding his ass into the car as I went around it and got in on the driver side before starting to the car. I clicked the garage open while Ash whined, "Why can't I drive?"

I shot him a look that said he knew fucken why. He wants to drive like a mad-man? Fine by me. Sort of. Go to the track and go wild with your race cars but I'm not letting him ruin another one of my car's.

I shifted the car into drive, easing out the garage before closing it behind us as Ash squirmed around, trying to get himself comfortable in the seat. Then he started to mess with the buttons like a damn kid before I smacked his hand away and slanted him another look. He sighed, adjusting his seat again. "How's Lina?" he asked.

Lina. Fuck, I don't know.

What happen, was two days ago. And I still turn bloody mad when I think about it, and then some more about what she told me at the end of the night. Someone hurt her, scared her, traumatized her, and she was living with that. Every day, she was fighting, and I was a fucken fool for thinking of her as weak because truth was she was strong as hell. Tony, her ex wasn't talking, not that he could. Maddox made sure to leave him with a broken jaw, and a few more broken bones as a reminder, in case he thought of trying something again.

I would be lying if I didn't say I wrote about eighteen text messages to her, but deleted every single one of them. Nothing sounded good enough, and I just sounded stupid. Hi how are you. Obviously not fucken great. Just checking in. Why the fuck are you checking in? What are you up too? Why do you care? So like I said, nothing sounded right. And here I was, stuck just thinking about her night and day and being too much of a cowered to text her, or even call her.

Clearing my throat, I kept my gaze glued to the street. "I don't know. You talk to her?" I asked, hoping he would say yes and tell me she was fine. Seconds ticked by, and my hand's tightened around the wheel, whiting my knuckles because he wasn't replying, just stare at me. He was still wearing his hood, and I could feel his stare pinning on me, hard. It took him a second to answer, and in that second, I convinced myself she wasn't okay. The thought spun in my head making me dizzy.

Ash glowered at me as he answered, "I talked to her matter of a fucken fact. What the fuck is wrong with you?"

Why can't he just make this simple for once and tell me she's fine. Instead, his asking what's wrong with me. About a million thing's but I don't go down that path because the further you get the more traumatizing it becomes until you can't breathe, think, or blink without feeling like you're on the verge of meeting death itself. That question right there, probably needs a two year therapy session to get down to the bottom of it.

Ash snatched my phone out of the cup holder, sliding it open. "What are you doing?" I asked trying to reach for my phone, but the little bitch leaned further away from me, and out of my reach as a grin spread on his face. I gritted my back molars. "Ash." I warned him as his finger's moved across my screen.

My heart drummed in my chest at a rate that made me take a breath to calm it before I started hearing the damn rhythm of it in my ears. "Ash." I groaned, growing inpatient and angry with every second he didn't respond and had the grin that screamed trouble.

He clicked the phone. "There. Done."

I blinked at him, swallowing hard as I tried to talk myself out of actually pulling this car over and giving him a good beating. But my scowl grew twice over. "What the fuck did you do?'" I snapped and grabbed the phone from him when he leaned back. I clicked my phone open, pulling up the latest used apps and finding messages. I tapped it, feeling anxious in my own skin because I know what he did.

Hi Lina, how's it going?

I groaned, clicking the phone off and dropping it in the cup holder with a little extra force. "What the fuck, kid. I wasn't going to text her." I was. I tired. I just couldn't come up with something good to say, so technically I wasn't going to text her.