I was brushing my teeth and getting ready for bed when I got a text from my sixteen year old brother, Austin.

Austin💙: Autie! I need you to call me as soon as possible! Please it's an emergency!!!

I spit out the toothpaste and called him. When he answered I started talking right away. "Austin! Are you okay? Is someone hurt? Did something happen to dad?" Just talking about something happen to my family already had my knees shaking.

"Hey Autie. Yeah everyone's fine. Why'd you ask?" I could practically see the tiny little smile on his face.

"Because you said 'Autie! I need you to call me as soon as possible! Please, it's an emergency!'" I explained through clenched teeth.

"Oh yeah I was just bored and wanted to talk to someone." He said through the phone.

Sighing I sat down on my bed. (Which had a completely different bed set now, thanks to Alec). "Okay, well you got my attention now kiddo. What do you want to talk about?"

"I don't know.. Are you still coming up for thanksgiving?" He asked.

"Yup! And Rachel's coming too. Oh! And my new friend Andrew. I already texted mom and made sure it was okay."

"Cool. I just got a job at target. Just watch, soon I'm gonna be known as Austin from target."

"Nah. Sorry little bro but nobody can compare to Alex. He's just to good." I laughed.

"Yeah whatever." He laughed. "Do you have a job yet?"

I did a slight frown. "Nope. I'm looking though. Rachel has a part time job at the breakfast cafe down the street but other than that mom and dad are paying for everything."

My mom and dad are sorta rich. Ok, not full on rich but nobody would exactly call them poor. They have just enough money to pay for essentials, their bills, and my bills. Plus taxes. And even then they have a little money left over for other things.

"Have you made any friends?" He asked.

I smiled at the memory of all my friends. "Actually I have. Almost everyone in the area is my friend but I have a few main friends. Their names are Dylan, Myah, Miles, Andrew, Logan, Tyler, Dean, and Ryan."

Austin sighed. "Oh dear sister of mine. Your such a Normie."

"A Normie?"

"Yeah. Someone critical to society cause it keep it functioning. But annoying to Losers and Middlers."

"Oh god. What has High School put into your head boy?"

"Street smarts." He announced proudly.

"So what exactly is a Normie and a Middler?" I asked. I'm seriously curious to what logic he thinks he has.

"A Normie is someone who is usually popular and everyone likes them and can relate to them. A Middler is someone who isn't a loser yet not popular either. And as you may know, Losers are the outcasts.. Come on Autie, get with the program."

"Im done with you for tonight." I laughed. "Just pretend you have to go or something."

"Ok, well I'm tired so I'm gonna go to bed." Austin yawned fakily. Wait is fakily even a word? Oh well if it wasn't before it is not.

I smiled. "Ok. glad you gave me a heart attack and made me call for this pointless conversation."

He chuckled. "Night. Love you Autie."

"Night Austin. Love you too."

I hung up after saying goodbye and placed my phone on my nightstand.

Changing my clothes I heard a knock on the door. I finished putting on a shirt before opening it.

It was Rachel of course. Who else would it be though? I mean, Rachel and I are the only people living here. Good problem solving skills Autie! I told myself.

"Yeah?"

She handed me the home phone with a scowl. "It's for you." She muttered stomping back to her room.

Hm. I didn't hear the phone ring. Oh well. "Hello?" I greeted the person on the other end.

"Hey Autie it's Alec."

I paused for a moment. "Bye-"

"No! Please just listen! You don't even have to talk!" He shouted.

I put the phone back up to my ear. "You have five minutes. Time starts now." I snapped.

He sighed in relief. "I've been texting and calling you over and over again but you never answered so I figured I would call your house instead of just showing up to your house and forcing you to talk. But look, what I did that night was a mistake. I even told the girl that. In case you wanted to know her name is Jennifer Towers. I met her at a bar. I was just out with friends and it was a drunken mistake. There is no other girl in my life now. I'm just waiting for you. Cause I need you Autie. I love you.."

There was silence from both ends for a few seconds. "Times up." I hung up the phone and placed it next to my cell on the nightstand.

Curling up on my bed I started to cry. I cried for everything. Rachel came into my room and started hugging me. But honestly, it didn't feel as good as when I was in Ryan's arms.

Rachel read my mind like she always does. "Want me to call Ryan?" I nodded.

She ran out of the room and five minutes later she came in with Ryan following her. He must have broken the speed limit to get here so fast.

He wrapped me in a hug right away. Rachel left us alone in the room after a couple of minutes.

"It's okay Autumn. I'm here for you." He kissed my forehead.

"Did I do the right thing by hanging up on him?" I buried my head in his chest.

He stroked my hair and whispered, "Of course. If you don't let him near you he can't hurt you again."

We just sat there from that moment on. We didn't talk to each other. We didn't need to. He was there and that was all that mattered.

After a while I closed my eyes. And what felt like blinking was actually me falling asleep. When I opened my eyes again, all the lights in my room were turned off and I was laying under my covers.

I felt breathing on the back of my head. Only then did I realize an arm was wrapped around me while the other was under my head. I flipped myself over and saw Ryan's face a few inches away from mine. Our bodies were pressed together.

It felt awkward but satisfying. Hesitantly, I placed my head on his chest. He then pulled me closer, which I didn't think was possible. A happy sigh escape my lips when he kissed the top of my head. Alec never slept with me like this. He would try and keep as much distance from me as possible as if touching each other outside of sex was illegal. It felt nice knowing what cuddling actually felt like.

"Are you awake?" Ryan whispered.

"Yes." I whispered back.

"Do you want me to leave?" He asked. It felt like he hugged me tighter.

I gripped his shirt. "No. Please. I- I don't want to be alone."

Nodding, he got comfortable again. I closed my eyes. I liked the feeling of having another person in bed with me. It was weird. Cause for the first time, In a long time, I felt like somebody cared about me..

"Goodnight Autie." He whispered.

I shook my head. "Autumn."

I could picture his smile. "Good night Autumn."

~~ Hey everyone! Please check out my new book Alyssa's Journey! It is guaranteed to be my best book yet but is also a work in progress :) i hope you find the time to read the prologue.