I decided to walk home because I didn't want to be around anyone. I know that sounds awful but everyone has been treating me like a piece of glass. Plus, it was nice outside and I was determined to walk home at least once this school year.

I still haven't fully wrapped my mind around what happened. It made me think about my brother a lot more.

Was he a great brother?

Not all the time, but he was still my brother.

Now my father was a different story, he didn't have the right to be called a father. We just shared the same blood, that's it. Families fight and I understand that but fathers don't hit people they love.

Two cars were parked in my driveway making me lose train of thought. Did my friends really beat me to my house?

My own house!

I opened the front door, getting greeted by my mom. "Sweetheart, can I talk to you?" She questioned, giving me a squeeze. Was she waiting for me?

Oh god, this is some type of intervention!

I gave her a weary look, trying to act normal. "About what?" I gazed into the living room, making sure my friends weren't sitting there with a speech they had prepared for me.

When no one was there I felt even more worried. Her hand traveled to mine as she guided me to the couch, giving me an uneasy face. "I know you don't like it when I beat around the topic so I'm just going to come out and say it. How do you feel about me seeing someone?" She spoke insanely fast making me only catch the last word. When I realized she was waiting for me to answer I finally understood what she was saying.

"You're joking right?" I laughed out, a gleaming smile coming from me. She gave me a sad look before realizing I wasn't upset. "Really?" Her voice sounded ecstatic. I have been waiting for her to move on, for years. She deserved a great life and that life wasn't with my father. "Yes, really mom! Is there someone? How could you not tell me?" I ran on, making her wrap her arms around me. I hugged her back, not realizing how badly I needed it. I stop talking, my eyes closing at the warmth. "You're amazing, you know that?" She mumbled from my hair, making me laugh gently. She let go of me, her teary eyes giving me a proud look.

We both got up from the uncomfortable couch. She wasn't in her usual pajamas but In casual clothes. A lucky man was probably taking her on a date and I didn't even get to meet them first!

My mom went into the kitchen, "you have visitors." She told me, giving me a wink that stressed me out.

Someone knocked on the door before opening it. That completely defeated the reason of knocking but it was probably Emily. I glanced over from the living room to Xavier, giving him a smile. "I've been looking all over the school for you kid!" He called, his features showing concern. I heard my mom drop something, causing loud bangs before she came out of the kitchen to look at Xavier. He froze, I froze, and my mom froze, I forgot she hadn't heard someone call me that since Cameron died.

"I'm sorry, I just-" my mother whispered, her eyes staring at him with a small hint of sadness. I slowly walked over to Xavier, his eyes glancing at me worriedly. "If you'll excuse me, I have somewhere to be," she said quietly, her eyes never leaving Xavier until she left the room.

"Well that was awkward," I tried to laugh it off, but he gave me a serious look. I gave him a light sigh, but smiled. "she's just stressed out. She's dating again," I mumbled out, his arms crossing over his body, "my dad is dating too. I understand," I couldn't tell if he was upset, his voice was quiet about that topic. His body moved to the stairs as I followed, watching him look back at me. "You know you're like a little sister to me right?" He started up the stairs as I nodded, a small smile falling into his full lips. I couldn't help but smile too, he felt like a brother to me. He just gave off a sibling vibe and it was something I missed.

I opened the door to my room, seeing Ashley, Alex, and Emily all sprawled out in different corners of my room. "Where have you been?" Emily yelled like a mother, Her body getting up from the chair she bought to me. "We've been worried sick!" she stated, getting Xavier to calm her down by rubbing her back.

She was more motherly than my mother and it was scaring me. My mom isn't a bad mom, at all. She is the best person I have ever met actually and I wouldn't trade her for anything in the world.

"I walked home. I'm sorry, I just needed to think for awhile," I said quietly, my eyes going to the ground. She let out a heavy breath, nodding her head before she let me enter my own room.

"He's been texting us, T. It's been nonstop," Ashley said gently, making me roll my eyes. "Even you?" I turned to Xavier, getting a nod yes. I fell onto my bed face first. Emily pulled her chair up to the bed while Xavier sat beside me. "You need to talk to him, Thea." Xavier rubbed my calf as I shook my head.

"I don't want to."

Did no one get how important that was to me? I didn't even tell Ashley or Emily about him, I only told him because I thought he was different. I was wrong and what he did was embarrassing and awful.

"I know but he says he really needs to explain something to you," Ashley said gently, glancing over to Alex who was nodding his head. "Look, I'm not forcing any of you to not hang out with him. I just don't want to be involved with him," I spoke a bit sharply but no one got mad at me.

"My brother died, In a car crash because he was trying to teach me how to drive. That's not something people bully someone about," I said quietly, hearing no one speak after I finished.

"What happened to your dad?" Ashley said quietly, making me tense up. I realized that it shouldn't matter to me anymore because my mom was moving on and he hurt her a lot. "A lot," I mumbled, realizing how awful my life use to be with him there.

They took that as an answer, filling the air with awkwardness. Xavier kept rubbing my calve, calming me down. "I understand you guys want me to talk to him, but what he did hurt. When I feel up to it I'll think about talking to him okay? Just let me have some time," I watched everyone nod, small smiled appearing on their faces.

I understand I was being hard, but trusting someone was hard for me. I never had friends until I came here. I didn't know how to trust someone but I wanted to try.

"Since that is settled, I say we have a movie night." Ashley squealed, jumping up from the bed. Xavier's phone was buzzing but he kept ignoring it, making me feel awful.

"Is that him?" I asked quietly, watching Emily and Ashley race out of my room to the TV downstairs. Ashley chucked Emily into the wall causing her to scream some type of chant before leaving the room. Alex let out a war cry too before running out after them.

"Yes, but if I tell him where I am he will show up here." He mumbled, showing me his phone. I nodded my head, before pressing the answer button, putting it on speaker.

Xavier gave me a nervous glance, listening to the silence on the other side. "Is she mad?" A deep voice spoke, making me shut my eyes. "I don't know, she's not saying," Xavier voice was barely above a whispered, his eyes glancing at me as I ran my hand through my hair.

"I messed up bad X," he breathed out. I almost wanted to laugh at the nickname. I covered my mouth slowly, trying not to break into a fit of laughter. Getting sent a glare caused me to lock my mouth shut with a pout. "I know you did, but it's not gonna change in a day okay? Just let her breathe." Xavier said quietly, getting a small okay from him before he hung up.

"Thank you," I said quietly to Xavier, I didn't know how to feel right now. I was sad, but I don't know why. I don't understand why I feel like my heart is breaking when I think about Damien and Kyla.

Xavier set his phone down, his arms slowly wrapping around me. I let out a short breath before wrapping my arms around his neck. The feeling of his hand brushing my hair was calming me. "Everything is going to be fine alright?" He whispered, making me nod my head. I gave him a short smile as he let go of me, rubbing my head gently.

"Now let's go watch a movie," He chuckled, his body moving to the doorway as I followed. When I got downstairs I saw my friends attempting to search through the drawers we had full of movies. "Why do you only have Disney movies?" Alex groaned, making me laugh. "There not all Disney," I stated, plopping down on the couch as Emily turned to me. "Eighty percent of everything in these drawers are Disney or Romance," I gave her a fair nod before leaning my head on the armrest.

What, I like kid movies.

Sue me.

"Please no romance," I whined out, getting a small yeah from Ashley. Emily plopped down on the couch beside me, leaning onto Xavier. "Bet they pick a Disney movie," she whispered to Xavier. "Bet five dollars it's action." I turned to look at the two of them, before looking at Ashley and Alex fighting over a movie.

Oh god, I'm the fifth wheel.

I sank deeper into the couch, just wanting everyone to leave. It was embarrassing enough everyone had someone, not to mention I felt like they looked at me differently. Alex gave me a odd look before turning back to Ashley. I watched his face light up when she talked and I almost wanted to scream for everyone to just let me be.

"You're the schools angel." I heard Alex say. "What?" I questioned, my attention finally turning onto him.

How did we even arrive at this topic?

"Everyone loves you, it's strange," Emily said quietly, a small smile on her face. I rolled my eyes at the thought, not even wanting to argue. "Well I guess strange and I have a lot in common," my voice sounded irritated because I was. "I didn't mean it like that!" She said quickly, her body jerking to sit up. I waved my hand to blow it off, watching Ashley throw a movie into the DVD player.

"What did you pick?" Xavier questioned, changing the subject. Ashley jumped in between me and Emily, her head laying on my side. "You are the school's angel, everyone thinks of you like one. Also, I picked the lion king because I wanted to watch it." she simply stated, giving me a small rub on my thigh before she got into the movie.

I stayed quiet, not paying attention to much. Alex sat on the floor in front of Ashley, letting her play with his blonde hair. Xavier had Emily snuggled up into him while I cuddled the couch. I should've known better to get involved with people. I might have been better off on my own.

But then again, I never would've experienced a party or a beach. I never would've got to meet Xavier who made me wish I had a brother again or had a boy come over. I wouldn't be confident like I am right now. I just would've been the same girl in Montana who didn't believe in myself or people to help me because all I ever got was hurt.

(The best part is that I'm going to Florida)

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