"Oh my god, this is horrible," Ezra's voice came from the top of the staircase on the right. We all looked up to him. He was dressed in his usual gym wear and looked fake-concerned.

I don't think it's possible for him to properly be concerned.

"You guys are being forced to do this," he started coming down the first two steps then stopping to reach into his back pocket, "without the proper music."

"Don't you fucking dare," Zaiden warned and threw his sponge into his bucket, causing a huge splash.

"I hope your balls get cut off."

"Bold words from someone who's on their hands and knees right now, where're your balls?"

"Why are we talking about balls?" Brayden entered the conversation from the top of the other staircase just as Ezra paused the music.

"We're talking about Zaiden's non-existent balls."

"Stop saying the word balls," Silas groaned, splashing Zaiden with some water.

"Balls, balls, balls," Zach piped up, still scrubbing. Silas glared and threw some of the water in his bucket at him. "Fucking child."

"Yeah? At least I'm not the one who threatened an actual child," Zach retorted, using the thrown water to clean the spot he was on.

"The little shit had more than that coming," Silas grumbled.

"Silas, language," Callan said from behind me. Everyone quietened as they all looked towards Callan and me, except from Silas who kept talking. "What? I'm right. Someone's going to punch that kid in the face one day and it'll be well deserved."

"I tell you, the second the little shit is legally an adult I'm gonna-" Callan slapped his hands over my ears, the sudden action made me jump and slap my own hands over his.

I couldn't hear the rest of Silas sentence, but I could see his lips moving and the sneer on the rest of his face. And judging by the rest of my brothers' grossed-out, disturbed faces, the rest of his sentence wasn't appropriate.

Callan's hands remained where they were for while and the longer Silas talked, the harder they pressed against my head.

Finally he removed them but all I heard was the sound of my brothers' resounding chuckles and footsteps entering the foyer.

"Silas I hope I don't have to wash your mouth out with soap," Zayne said, drinking from his coffee which I now presume has milk in it.

"Fratello, we've done the kitchen, living room, all the bathrooms-"

"And the entire third floor," Zach interrupted Silas bitterly. "Exactly," Silas groaned. "Can we finish?"

"What's the magic word?"

"Now."

"You've just earned tidying the bedroom boys."

"What!" Zaiden exclaimed the same time Zach spluttered, "excuse me?!"

"You heard me, get to it," Zayne looked back at me, "Brynn, follow me."

Crap, I'm Brynn.

He turned around to walk back and I trailed after, trying to keep a good distance between us without walking like I'm constipated.

He arrived at the kitchen and walked over to the sink to wash his mug. I stood at a good distance, behind the island, and picked at my left thumb.

"I trust you have learned not to follow what your brothers have done, today."

I rose my head up at Zayne, he was still focusing on washing his mug. I gulped. I couldn't believe I was about to say this.

"Malcolm kind of brought it on himself."

I didn't know why I wanted to defend Silas' actions.

I wasn't wrong, he'd insulted so many people, he was bound to say something to the wrong person and get his own back. He was just unlucky enough to have it be Silas. I

Zayne paused his washing and I averted my gaze back down to the counter. After a second, I heard the clatter of the mug being placed on the drying rack.

"Maybe so."

He turned around and leaned back against the sink, looking at me sternly. "But you know that if he, or anybody, gave you problems, you tell one of us."

I gulped again. He pushed himself off the sink and spread his arms on the island opposite me instead. Leaning forward, he spoke again, "he's not giving you problems personally is he, Brynn?"

Gulping again, I pushed myself off the counter a little. "No."

Malcolm already had to deal with Silas today, he didn't need anything else.

Zayne narrowed his eyes and leaned closer, "you'd tell us, particularly me, if he was though, wouldn't you?"

"Yes," I got out far too fast.

My eldest brother intensely watched me for a while. Then in a split second, the tense atmosphere disappeared and Zayne leaned back, "very well."

"Be ready by seven tomorrow, I'm going to take you to see that friend I told you about." Oh, okay-

"Okay."

"How," he paused, like he wasn't sure what came after it, "was your day." Was he asking?

"It was good," I used my go-to answer. "Nothing much happened. Fixed Penny's art project with her." I stopped myself from talking. Why would Zayne be interested?

"Hm."

It was awkward for a while before I got an idea for a new topic of conversation. "Thank you for the lunch change."

"It's no problem. I assume it's better for you to be with little people in a relatively quiet place, rather than in a crowded lunch room of loud students. Is that right?"

He didn't sound like he was sympathising like his words would deceive, he sounded like he was trying to find the answer to something.

"Uhm... yeah I suppose."

"Hm." More awkward silence for me.

"Did you have fun with Mika?" I couldn't believe he was actually having a conversation with me. Granted, he sounded like he didn't want to be here, but he was starting the conversations and that alone made me feel a little happy.

"Yeah he was great. We had uhm," I cleared my throat, "a really good meal."

"Oh yes Mika said he gave you something healthy and you ate most of it." How can he say such normal sentences, but still sound so domineering?

"Yeah," I paused to think of what to say next. My face was slowly reddening and I was already giving away my lie. "Well, I'm going to go do my Maths homework." Mereswell get started on it now so I don't have to stress about it over the weekend.

"Hm." I took that as my sign to go.

Just as I left the kitchen, Zayne stopped me. "Brynn?"

Yes?" I stood still on my spot, not wanting to make eye contact again.

"Don't tell Zach you had McDonald's, he'll be jealous."

Shit.

I nodded weakly, not even sure if he could see it. I whispered, "okay," speed walking away.

He didn't call me back, so I assumed I was let off the hook. Hoped.

I went straight to my room and pulled the massive maths booklet out my bag to get started. I managed to do twenty questions before I was completely stumped.

What in gods name is Pythagoras' Theorem?

We didn't learn this.

My brain began to hurt with the amount of thinking that I had to do. In the end I just had to guess.

Thirty four.

"That's wrong."

I violently flinched back into my seat at the sudden voice above my head.

"Jesus Silas," I held a hand to my heart and tried to regain my breath.

"What are you doing?" I asked, once I'd got my breath back a bit.

"Seeing you answer the question wrong."

"No, I mean in my room."

"Hm."

I looked back down at my work, hoping he'd go away. I also wanted to answer the question correctly, but I hadn't learnt it.

Silas hand crept down and swiped my pencil out of my hand. He was right behind my chair with his head hovering above mine as he started writing on the paper.

"You want to start by labelling your triangle," he drew out said right-angled triangle.

"The formula for pythagoras is 'a-squared plus b-squared equals c-squared'," he paused. Confused at why he paused, I looked up at him. Silas was already looking down at me, giving me a look that asked if I understood. I quickly nodded.

"Now this side," he drew over the longest side, "is called the hypotenuse, but that's a whole other topic. Just know that this side, as long as it's opposite the right angle and is the longest, is always 'c'." I nodded again, slowly getting it.

"Now these two," he pointed the pencil at the two other sides, "are 'a' and 'b', okay?" I nodded again. Now you have both of the numbers for them. Thirty six and nine. But what you don't have is 'c'. What did I say the formula was?"

I remembered this one. "A-squared plus b-squared."

I felt him nod above me, "correct."

"So 'c' is thirty six plus nine?"

"Close. C squared is thirty six plus nine. Read the question carefully, thirty six and nine are the squared numbers."

"So the answer's forty five?"

"Yes, but not in this situation. Look," he underlined a part of the question that said, "Give your answer as the square root and to the nearest decimal place."

"Do you know which button on your calculator is to find the square root?" I shook my head no, embarrassed that I didn't know so something. Usually, I'd be fine with it, but Silas already knew I couldn't answer a simple question and I didn't want to look even more stupid.

He reached over for my calculator and pressed a button which displayed a weirdly shaped symbol on the screen. "Type your answer."

I did as he said, then he pressed the equals button, revealing the answer: 6.7082039325

"Ugly number, now round it to the first decimal place," Silas didn't stop with his instructions.

"Six point seven?"

"There you go."

What just happened?

Silas still hadn't moved from where he was. I scribbled out my old answer and wrote the new one down, waiting patiently for him to leave.

"Is that my shirt?"

My face heated up immensely. I dropped my pencil and grabbed the front of the shirt, "I swear I didn't do it on purpose, Mika told me to put it on." I had to look him in the eyes to make sure he wasn't really mad.

He just looked at me unusually; his eyes repeatedly going from my face to the shirt.

Eventually, he shook his head. "Doesn't matter," he muttered and then walked to my door.

I also began walking towards the wardrobe to change, I didn't want Silas to be mad at-

"Don't," his strained voice spoke. My hand just grazed over the wardrobe door handle.

I turned around to see him resting his head against my open bedroom door, playing with the handles on either side. His eyes were shut tightly and his face was scrunched up.

"Leave it on."

He didn't move until I removed my hand from the wardrobe door handle. At that, he snapped back to himself and stormed out, slamming the door really loudly.

I stood there for a minutes, a little paralysed and confused.

Maths!

I looked back at my desk to see my only half completed booklet, any hope of being able to watch a movie before bed deflating right before my eyes.

---

I finished everything I could do in the booklet at ten pm. Seeing as I had a healthy and nutritious meal with Mika, I didn't have to eat dinner with my brothers- which saved me having to throw away the food.

And it being the weekend meant that I didn't need to be asleep as early. Which meant I was able to leave my room and see if the movie room was free so I can watch a movie before bed.

Trudging to the top of the stairs, I ran into Callan at the top. "Woah, hey bambina, what're you doing up?" He looked at me in fake suspicion. He was in his pyjamas; loose pants and t-shirt.

"It's not my bed time yet," I brought my phone up to show him the time. 10: 07 pm

He crouched down and pretended to fully analyse the numbers. I chuckled at his behaviour as he stood back up and sighed deeply. "Well I suppose you're right." I brought my phone back down.

"I was worried we'd have to be dealing with a rebellious stage from you this early," he went on. I rose an eyebrow. "What?" he raised his arms in surrender. "Ezra, Silas, Zach and Zaiden had their rebellious stages start at twelve," he reasoned, innocently.

"Really?"

"Really really."

He looked at me in deep thought some more, "you ready for bed yet?"

I shook my head, "nope, not even tired yet."

"Really?"

"Really really."

He huffed and pursed his lips to stop his smile. "So there's really nothing I can do to make you go to sleep?"

"Nope."

"Hm," he hummed and diverted his eyes from me, looking like he was thinking hard about something. He returned back to me. "Well, if there's nothing I can do, there's nothing I can do," he shrugged his arms and flopped them back down.

I held down a yawn that bubbled up in my throat, still trying to prove my awakeness. Callan looked smug about something because he had a small smirk shining on his face.

"Well then," he gently placed his left arm over my shoulders, "since you're so awake, I should take this time to tell you all about their so-called rebellious stages, hm?" I nodded, fully dedicated in proving to him that I can have a later bed time.

"Let's see then," he looked down at me and inspected my totally awake face, smirking, "so first up is Ezra."

He walked us to my room, "now Ezra's first started when Zayne told him to put his shoes away," opening the door and leading me in.

"He had just come home from school and got into a fight so Zayne really wasn't in the mood," he walked us to my wardrobe and let me go in, shutting the door behind me. He kept talking through the door as I changed out of my skirt and into my loose black pyjama pants.

"So he stormed into the house, slamming the door as he could right into Zaiden's face and threw his shoes off. He flung them in different directions, ready to storm up the stairs but Zayne caught his shoulder and held him back," I yawned again. Callan's voice stayed the same volume, calming and deep.

"He pointed to the shoes and told him to pick them up and tell him what's wrong. Ezra did not like that," he chuckled, "and he made a big show of picking up the shoes and throwing them at the glass vase on the centre table."

I almost gasped, how bold was twelve year old Ezra?

"Zayne was raging, visible fire from his ears," I laughed at the description, I could see that. "Ezra saw his angry face and ran out the front door. He was missing for eighteen hours. Zayne nearly lost his head, worried sick for him but then he got a call saying that Ezra had ended up at Mika's."

"We couldn't blame him though, it was around about the time you went to go live with your mother. We were all the same." The mood turned solemn as Callan stopped talking and I stopped hanging up my skirt.

"Zayne still took the television away from him for a month though for worrying him so much and his attitude." I gulped nodding, even though he couldn't see me.

I opened the wardrobe door, seeing Callan smile at me, leaning against the wall. I walked towards my bathroom with Callan trailing behind. He was still telling me the stories.

"Then Silas," I got my toothbrush out and squeezed the toothpaste out on it. "Silas went through a phase of wanting to be naked all the time." I looked at him stunned and slightly grossed out. "Yeah," he pulled a face similar to mine

I continued brushing my teeth, yawning around the toothbrush, "it got so bad that he didn't leave the house for a week because he refused to put any clothes on. Scarred all of us." I laughed a little behind the toothbrush, my eyes felt droopy.

I finished brushing as he finished Silas' story, "we had to physically hold him down to put some pants on him at least."

I walked out, Callan already switching the light off for me. I sped up a little when he switched it off though, just in case Annabelle tried to grab me in the darkness.

I walked to my bed and pulled the sheets back. I yawned really big this time, but Callan kept talking. He pushed my shoulders down and my head on the pillow, bringing the covers up. He sat on the side of the bed and stroked my hair.

"And then Zaiden started..." his voice got quieter and quieter until it was nothing.

---

The next morning, I was up at six am on the dot because today, I was in no way going to annoy Zayne. This is my first time going out with him alone and I didn't want him to hate my company.

He made me eat two whole pieces of toast, watching me eat them the entire time. I brushed my hair over twenty times to get it perfect and my teeth were so shiny, you could see your own reflection.

I looked for my best outfit as well. I found denim jeans, and a white long-sleeved button up which I tucked into the jeans. The entire outfit was finished with a pair of plain white trainers. I just prayed it was good enough.

I came down the stairs at exactly seven. My oldest brother was already waiting by the garage door, holding it open with his right foot.

The car ride was silent. I'm not even kidding when I say silent. I mean silent.

No radio or talking whatsoever. I stayed as still as I could, this was Zayne's own car and I didn't want to ruin it in any way. It was a sleek black mercedes in perfect condition inside and out. I was afraid me talking would break something.

I tried to stop myself from making meaningless conversation, constantly reminding inner me that he did not want to be here right now. He most definitely took time off work to do this for me, which I was really thankful for, even though he didn't need to.

I agreed to this to keep my brothers from worrying about me, that's not their problem and if seeing Zayne's friend keeps them from doing so, I'll see them.

Zayne pulled up to a large building where the entire exterior was glass windows. He got out and walked across the hood of the car, faster than I could comprehend.

I opened my door just as he reached out to it. What was he doing? Oh god I didn't scratch anything, did I?

I closed the door behind me, subtly checking for any scratches. When I didn't see any, I looked back up at him. Zayne looked normal, cold and cool, as he nodded his head back at the rotating door in the entrance.

His gesture made me start walking to it, with him closely behind me. For no reason, I got nervous getting closer to it, what if it doesn't work for me and I look stupid?

I had no clue why I was asking this, it literally worked fine for the person before me. The closer I got, the more anxious I grew. The anxiousness increased when I thought about what I was really here for. To meet a new person and speak to them.

We successfully made it to lobby, me thinking we had speak to the desk people. I was proved wrong when I tried to go to them, only to be pulled away by my collar by Zayne and lead to one of the three lifts on the right.

He took us into the middle lift, where someone in a weird costume and hat stood. He visibly gulped when Zayne stepped in. "What floor, sir?"

"Dr Miers office."

The man nodded stiffly and pressed the button that had the number sixteen on it. The doors closed and I played with my nails aggressively. I didn't like it.

Leaning forward to try and take a subtle breath, I caught the lift man's eyes. He gave me a kind smile which I returned, I felt a little better. That was until Zayne's left arm pushed me back lightly, blocking my view of the man. I heard the latter's breath hitch.

"Floor Sixteen." The lifts automatic voice filled the space as a ding was heard and the doors opened. I couldn't get out fast enough.

It lead down a long hallway, with plain creme walls and oak floors. At the end of the hallway was a white door.

Zayne knocked twice on the door before a voice shouted, "come in!"

The door was opened by Zayne as he waited for me to go in first and when I did, I nearly fish-mouthed at the room. It was a huge office. There was a long desk with oak bookshelves behind it and three steps leading down to a pit.

In the pit, there was a huge white U-shaped couch, three rainbow beanbags, a single armchair and a hanging basket chair with tons of blankets.

Behind the desk sat a man dressed in casual wear. A blue sweater and denim jeans. He had umber skin, green eyes and chestnut hair. Smiling at us and flashing his pearly white teeth, he stood up.

"Ah Zayne my old friend," he held his hand out to shake, getting closer. Zayne shook his hand and, "Derek."

"And this must be the youngest Verlice I've heard so much about, hm?" he held his hand out to me which I shook, smiling a little.

"Nice to meet you."

"Hm, yes I like you already," he smiled softly.

"Please take a seat anyway you'd like," he gestured to his entire office. I walked forward, unsure, "anywhere?" I was pretty sure he was referring to the seats in the pit.

He nodded, "anywhere. The couch, the swinging chair, the floor, even my desk if you really want to. All up to you."

I looked to Zayne for confirmation, which he gave me with a nod. I nodded back, still unsure, deciding to just go with the couch. Dr Miers and Zayne spoke quietly before Zayne left, closing the door behind him.

"Now, Brynn." Dr Miers came over with a slight spring in his step. He sat himself in the armchair, with a slight jump causing him to bounce a little.

"How are you today?" Bit of an odd question, but it was a nice topic.

"I'm okay, how are you?"

"I'm great, thank you. Would you like anything to drink or eat?"

"No, thank you."

"Not thirsty or hungry?"

"Not right now."

"Completely fine."

"Are you doing anything fun today?"

"I don't think so, I think this is the most I'll be doing. I have maths homework to finish."

"Ah, ergh," he stuck his tongue out, fake gagging, "hate maths. Do you like it?"

"No."

"What about English?"

"I like it."

"What do you like about it?"

"The writing. It's the only time the classroom's silent and I can write what I'm thinking about the topic."

"Got a favourite topic?"

"Debates."

"You like speaking your mind?"

When I'm brave enough to speak up.

I rolled my lips in, as he tilted his head and narrowed his eyes slightly at me. Like he was working me out, properly.

"Why're we speaking so fast?" I changed the subject.

"We're not, you're just fast."

I stayed silent.

"Have you always been good at answering questions?"

"I don't think someone can be good at that alone."

"I bet it helps in school though, you must be amazing at answering questions."

When I'm brave enough to speak up without turning red or mumbling.

He looked at me again with that look and I started to play with my hands which he zoned in on. I didn't want him to see how horrible my nails were so I put them under my thighs to hide them.

"How do you feel in school?"

"Bored?"

"Are you telling me or asking me?"

"Asking myself."

He leaned back a bit further and whispered, "okay." We stayed silent awhile.

"Did-" I breathed, "did Zayne tell you about," I gulped, "Milo." I felt bile rising in my throat at his name.

"Did you want him to?"

I shook my head.

"Then he didn't."

Believe it or not, that actually made it better. Whether he was lying or not, he wasn't going to bring it up.

"So tell me," Dr Miers rested his elbows on his knees with a mischievous look on his face, "what's it like living with the oh so famous Verlice brothers?"

I huffed a laugh, "I'm always busy."

"Oh, I imagine. Do they treat you well?"

"They treat me kinder than anyone's done in years."

Dr Miers stilled and looked at me quite sadly. He stood up and rubbed his eyes with his right hand, "god the sun's quite a lot at this time in the morning."

He gestured towards the windows to my right, where the sun shone brightly. It was a lot. Especially considering the fact that the two walls of his office were entirely made out of glass. It was a beautiful view.

"Would you like me to dim the windows for you or are you okay with the light?"

"It's your office, I don't mind."

"But I'm asking you."

"But it's your office. Do you want to dim the windows?"

"Do you like to answer questions with questions of your own?"

"Only ones I don't want to answer."

I wasn't even thinking about my answers before speaking which wasn't good. I needed to slow down.

"Do you often get questions you don't want to answer?"

I shrugged.

"Well, I personally would love the sun to be blocked out."

"So are you going to?"

"I can't, you haven't given me an answer."

"Dim them then, please."

"Well, I can't do that now because I know you're doing it for me when I asked what you wanted."

"But if I said the opposite, you won't like it."

"Right you are."

He looked at me thoughtfully.

"Brynn, you know that you are always entitled to ask for things you'd like to have or do, right?" I didn't say anything.

"Especially when I've asked you what you wanted to do."

"But what if I choose the wrong option?"

"How can you choose wrong if it's completely your choice?"

"What if you don't like what I've chosen?"

"I've given you the choices, which means that I don't mind at all."

"Some people aren't like that."

"Like who?"

"Milo." I breathed out, not realising how much I needed to say it.

Dr Miers sat back down and smiled sadly. He stayed like that while I tried to stop myself from biting my nails. After a few moments, I calmed myself.

"Dim."

"Hm?"

"I want the windows dimmed. Please."

---

"Will I be seeing you next week, same time?" Dr Miers asked as he guided us to the door half an hour later.

"If Zayne doesn't mind."

"Don't you worry about Zayne, I'll sort him for you," he winked down at me. I chuckled and opened the door, waving goodbye to him which he did back.

I was shocked to see Zayne still stood outside in the hallway. He was pacing up and down on his phone, left hand on his hip and a mad expression.

When he saw me, he immediately hung up and gestured towards the lift, which we both walked towards and back down to the lobby and to his car.

Just as I was fastening my seat belt, Zayne leaned forward to press button. All of the windows turned black, blocking us from the outside and the outside from us. "Woah."

"How did it go? What did you think?" Zayne asked, tapping his hands on the steering wheel and watching me intensely.

"It was really good," I answered. "We just spoke for a while."

"So, would you like to go again? Did it help?" Did he really want to know?

"Yes, please." Zayne nodded and sat back, un-blacking the windows. He reversed out and drove back home.

And we were back to silence.

And I was back to counting the number of lamp posts we passed. I even pretended that an imaginary line was going over each of them as we passed them.

---

Throughout the entire ride, though, Zayne acted very fidgety.

He constantly checked his wing mirror and mine. Is he just being a responsible driver?

I decided to look at whatever he was looking at only I didn't get the chance. Zayne's hand pushed my chest back into my seat, "stay where you are," his voice was fully serious. More serious than I thought he could get.

He did something to the button from before that blacked out the windows, but this time it only blacked out mine. "Let's listen to some music, hm?" he switched on the radio, turning the volume up loud. I just nodded along. Probably paranoid that he's not working right now.

He pulled into our drive way. "Stay in your seat," he ordered and got out his side, walking behind the car. I did as he said because when wouldn't I?

I had to be sitting in there for at least ten minutes, jumping when the door finally opened. "Come along."

Coming along with his hand on my back, I looked back towards where we came but my head was shoved back around by Zayne so I couldn't get a good look.

---

<3