Song~ Stressed Out - Twenty One Pilots (A/N: I know this song is old but I LOVE twenty one pilots)



The sunlight awakens me from a much needed slumber.

I open my eyes only to shut them and face my head the other way- away from the window. The pillow my head is resting on vibrates as a deep chuckle sounds throughout the room.

I lift my head and glance up only to see it's Nikolaos so I just put my head back down and snuggle further into his chest.

I feel him chuckle even more, "όμορφο κορίτσι, come on, get up. I'm making breakfast." He explains.

I groan- I always sleep better when I'm with him. My 2-3 hours of sleep turn into 5maybe even 6 sometimes.

Although, Nik does make good bacon.

I lift my head to look at him, "you making bacon?" He smiles at me.

"Whatever my όμορφο κορίτσι wants." He responds.

My pretty girl.

MY PRETTY GIRL.

My stomach flutters at his words and I lift my body off of his and make my way to get out of bed before he pulls me towards him by my waist.

"Is MY pretty girl blushing?" He mocks emphasizing the 'my'.

I only try to hide my face more.

"She is." He states amusingly.

I grab one of the many pillows on his bed and in a swift motion swing it at his face. His head moves at the impact as he probably did not expect me to do that.

I slowly start to back away off the bed as Nikolaos glares at me while grabbing one of the other pillows.

"Nik..." I start as he begins to get off the bed- an evil glint in his eyes. "We can settle this! I'm sorry okay!!" I try but to no avail- he runs after me with his pillow in hand.

I immediately take off down the hallway with Nik right on my heels. I slide down the railing of the stairs creating some distance between Nikolaos and I before running to the living room.

I stand on one side of the couch with my pillow in hand as Nikolaos does the same on the other side of the couch.

"Nikolaos, we can talk about this! Okay?" I plead as we both start to circle the couch keeping an even distance between us.

He circles the back side of the couch while I circle the front to stay away from him.

He just smirks at me while we circle the couch one more time before he jumps over the couch catching me by surprise. A small screech leaves my lips as he throws his pillow at me before tackling me to the floor.

I knee him in the gut and flip us over but it doesn't last long as he wraps his leg around mine and twists it and then flips us back over so he is on top.

I got to move but he grabs both my wrist in one hand and pins them above my head before pinning my legs down with his when I went to kick him.

He places his free hand on my hips to keep me from moving.

I'm too lazy to do anything to get out of this situation- but who says I want to?

A shit eating grin rests on his face as he looks at me- his chain dangling above me. "Not so tough now are we sweetheart." He murmurs, his face close to mine.

"Fuck you." I breathe out.

He chuckles darkly, "is that what you want?" He mocks.

I press my lips shut not uttering a word, cause I'm definitely not objecting to that.

He only smirks at me when I don't answer. "Here's what's going to happen, you going to go eat breakfast so you can have some energy for the day, then your going to go home and hang out with Arabella like you promised, and tomorrow I'm going to take you out on a date. Understand?" He all but demands.

I only nod meekly as his eyes bore into mine.

I feel a small pinch on my hip causing me to squirm and let out a small hiss of pain. "Words όμορφο κορίτσι, I don't understand nods." He smirks at me, one of his hands still resting on my hip holding me down.

"I understand." I grit out annoyed.

"Good." He says giving me a kiss on the cheek. "I'm going to make breakfast." Nik tells me while getting up and offering me a hand.

"Bacon right?" He confirms.

"Yes!" I shout already making my way upstairs with our pillows in hand.

~/~/~

I roll the band of Nikolaos's sweatpants multiple times just so they will stay up.

When I had got upstairs I went brush my teeth immediately before going to Nik's closet to borrow some sweatpants that may or may not be too big for me.

My clothes are apparently in the dryer as Nik must have washed them last night so I'll just change before I leave that way if someone in my family sees me they won't question me about the men clothes.

When I'm sure the sweatpants won't fall down, I begin the search for my phone. I know i got drunk last night and Nikolaos came and got me but I'm not sure what else happened- still trying to search my mind for any other events.

I finally spot my phone next to Nikolaos's on HIS side of the bed. He always says his side is closer to the door and that mine if further away from it. When I asked why he just blew me off.

It's okay though- as long as he is next to me when I'm over here.

I grab my phone and check for any messages, only for my stomach to drop. The date. This day. I had forgotten what day it was.

Her death anniversary.

With shaky hands, I shove my phone and my hands into the pockets of the sweatpants im wearing and make my way out of the room and down to breakfast.

Deep breaths.

Inhale.

Exhale.

Breathe.

When I get to the kitchen, Nikolaos looks to have just finished cooking breakfast- eggs, bacon, biscuits, hash browns, and he made coffee.

I plop down on one of the bar stools and Nikolaos turns to me with his award winning smile. I send him a small one back before I feel my phone buzz.

Pulling it out of my pocket, I check for new messages. But to my terror- the message is from an Unknown number.

Hesitantly I open the message,

Unknown: Dove, how are you? I know this Day is one of your Favorites. It's ours too. How is Rylee? Oh wait! She's dead! lol, I bet she is dying laughing Right now.

I clench my jaw in pure anger pausing my reading and closing my eyes to remain calm.

Unknown: Well I just wanted to remind you what today is- oh! And we can't wait to see You at the upcoming ball. It is sure to be a fun reunion.

Nice talking with you!

I slam my phone down on the table causing Nikolaos to look at me in concern.

"What happened? What is it?" He questions curiously.

I shake my head in dismay, "I'm fine, it's fine, I've got it under control." I explain.

He sighs, "are you trying to convince me or yourself? It's not fine if it's upset you, tell me so I can help." He says softly walking over to me and leaning against the counter. "So? What happened?"

I look at him in all seriousness, because telling him this would mean sharing more of my problems with him and he doesn't deserve that,

It's my problem, not his. But one look from him tells me that if I say "nothing" he might just choke me.

Make me choke on his di-

Not the time.

Correction- he might just strangle me.

His hands would make a good neckla-

Stop.

I sigh and reluctantly hand over my phone showing him the message.

I watch his jaw clench, "I'll get Atlas to track where this text was sent from." He states. I just shake my head at him.

"Cassandra can do it, she doesn't know how Rylee died but she does know who she was. It will make this easier." He nods understandingly.

"Eat." He nods towards my plate. I sigh before picking up the mouth watering bacon and begin eating it.

Yup- he's a keeper.

Thats some good fucking bacon.

~/~/~

I pull into the driveway of my home and put the car in park.

Apparently Nik had got one of his trusted men to drive my car back to the mansion last night when he took me back with him.

He also threatened to cut off the guys hands if he touched anything in my car but the wheels and the pedals.

I nod my head to the two new guards standing at the front door before heading inside. After the attack a couple weeks ago, when Randy and Paul were injured- we gave them however long they needed to take off to get better.

They are my favorites and so what I say goes- that means if I say they get time off, they get time off.

Joanna had also went on vacation after the attack. She wasn't harmed- probably thought she wouldn't be a threat because of her age- so she had ended up being drugged like the rest of my family who was home.

Leaving those thoughts behind, I start making my way upstairs when someone's voice rings out.

"Where have you been?" The distinct voice of Ares meets my ears.

Turning around, I see him looking at the Tv screen watching god knows what without batting an eyelash at me.

"With a friend." I keep my answer short.

He pats the seat next to him on the couch. "Come here."

Reluctantly, I make my way over towards him before sitting on the couch square next to him. He seems to be watching some boxing match on Tv, and I have to say it's a horrible match.

One guy has his setup all wrong, his thumb is tucked in to his fist- when he goes to throw a punch it will definitely break.

His stance is wide open leaving his opponent easy access to literally kick his ass. And from what I can see on the screen, this guy favors his right leg- if his opponent forces him to push his weight towards his left leg he is done for good.

"This is a horrible match." I state to Ares who hasn't said anything since he told me to sit down next to him.

"Yes indeed ranuncolo." Ares says finally turning to face me. "You know what else is horrible?" He questions. I just shrug at him. "Avoiding people who only want to help you." He spits out. [buttercup]

I close my eyes and heave out a deep sigh, "that's why you called me over here? Good to know. I don't care." I say standing up.

He turns his gaze to me, "sit." He nods back to the seat next to him.

I go to retaliate but he just glares at me and then the spot next to him.

"Whatever." I mumble sitting down.

He turns his body so it's facing me but can still see the Tv through his side vision.

"I understand avoiding our aunts and uncles and shit but as your brothers- and sister- we care about you. More than anything. We are only here to help you, to love you." Ares explains softly.

"But," he pauses. "We can't help you if you don't let us." He adds.

I inhale a deep breath, "you don't get it." I mutter to him. They don't understand. They won't understand.

"Tell me, so I can understand." Ares says sitting up.

"You just won't understand." I say for what feels like the millionth time.

"So make me understand!" why is this bitch so fucking persistent. "I can't- I won't let you suffer in silence." He says so lowly I almost didn't hear it.

My head snaps to him so fast I thought I may have whiplash. "You suffered in that school alone for so long I don't want you to have to suffer alone anymore." Ares finally explains why we are actually having this conversation.

My gaze softens at his confession, "look at me." I tell him when he can't meet my eyes. Reluctantly, his eyes finally meet mine- and I can do nothing but tell him the truth.

"I don't want to open up or ask any of you for help because," I pause trying to think of the right words. "Because telling you or anyone about my problems or my past is like giving you a gun and only being able to pray you don't shoot me with it."

A flash of understanding crosses his eyes, "you're afraid of getting hurt." He states. I just nod my head confirming his sentence.

He looks at me like I'm the most fragile thing he has ever seen, "we- I would never do anything to hurt you in any way. Our family wouldn't. Sure some of us are a little rougher on the edges than others." He say's talking about a certain old man who happens to be my grandfather.

"However, we all want to help you- mentally and physically- whatever you need." He explains.

I send him an appreciative nod. "Good, now that all the feelings and sappy shit is over- go see Arabella she was begging to see you yesterday." He says going back to his original bitchy self.

I stifle a chuckle at his mood change. "Okay." I stand up from the couch and make my way up the stairs hearing Ares mutter something incoherently about children being annoying or something.

Yup, definitely Ares.

~/~/~

"Dio!!" Arabella shouts running over to me.

She runs straight into me and I pick her up, adjusting her on my hip. "Hey," i reply with a small smile.

"I missed you." She mutters. I chuckle just a little bit at her. "I was only gone for one night," I laugh.

A grin breaks out on her face. "I know! But I missed you. Having sleepovers with just Lucian isn't the same." She whispers- loudly might I add- the part about Lucian.

"Hey!" Lucian exclaims with his hands in the air. "I heard that." He tells Arabella.

Arabella just rolls her eyes. "Shut it Lucy." She tells him before turning back to me. Damn this girl got sass.

I smile at her, "you got some sass girl, up top." I put my hand up motioning for a high five. She lifts her hand and fist bumps my open hand.

I look at her confusingly but she just shrugs.

Kids.

"Arabella." I say getting her attention back to me. "I promised you ice cream the other day, didn't I?" It may be like I don't know 9:00 in the morning but who cares.

"Darling, I don't think kids should have ice cream at 9-" I cut him off.

"Shut it Lucy." I say using what Arabella had said earlier.

I laugh at Lucian's fake betrayal face and so does Arabella. Lucian's face breaks out into a grin too and soon enough we're all laughing.

"Alright, whatever but when she has a sugar crash it's your fault Dio." Lucian finally caves in.

Arabella and I just smirk at each other.

"Okay." We both said.

~/~/~

Yeah, maybe we shouldn't have had all the sugar.

We had went to the Ice cream shop and got ice cream, however I may or may not have let Arabella have seven cups of ice cream.

I mean, I had promised her ice cream and then she said her mother would never let her have ice cream- which, I can relate to- so I let her go all out.

She also never had breakfast.

So when we were all sugared up, we decided we'd go to the park.

Well now Lucian, Arabella, and I lay on the grass- tired as fuck from running around on this playground.

People keep walking by and giving us weird looks but i couldn't care less. This was so much fun.

My younger self would have loved this.

I glance at my watch to see it's about 11:55 and Arabella has her eyes shut as she lays out like a starfish.

I poke her cheek but she doesn't move.

Letting out a chuckle I turn to Lucian. "Out like a light."

He sends me a smile, "yeah I figured, she didn't sleep well last night. That plus the sugar crash probably hit her full force." He speaks.

I furrow my eyebrows, "what happened? She had a nightmare?" I question.

He sighs, "multiple. She kept waking up screaming and crying for her mom." Oh.

A sad gloom overtakes my once happy mood. My poor girl is just like me, and oh how I wish she wasn't.

I used to scream for my father when I had first got to that school, I thought maybe, just maybe he would come get me out of that hell even if he didn't like me so much.

But no, that was simply a trauma reaction. Screaming for help when I learned that you can't rely on anyone.

But she doesn't have to grow up like that.

She has me, and Lucian, and my family, and Nik- who I told her not to tell anyone about when they talked on the phone- she isn't alone.

I'll make sure she is never alone.

"I'll make sure she gets some sleep tonight." I tell him starting to sit up.

There was a couple beats of silence before Lucian broke the silence.

"Diovanna?" Lucian's voice comes out hesitant.

"Hm," I hum.

"Have you been sleeping?" He finally spits out.

I turn my gaze to him, "yes, why do you ask?" I question his randomness.

Lucian inhales a deep breath, "it's just that- you seem more irritated and tired. You just seem, worse. I'm worried about you." He explains.

My expression settles into a glare, "I'm fine, I slept last night at Nik's. Stop worrying about me." I grit out calmly.

I'm fine, I'm not tired, I'm not irritated, I'm fine.

"Is it about Ryl-" he pushes further but I don't let him finish when I stand up.

Dusting any dirt off my outfit, I return my gaze to Lucian. "Look, Lucian you're my best friend and I love you, but when I say I'm fine I mean it. Don't push it." I state. He just takes a deep breath nodding his head.

"Go start the car," he says throwing me the keys. "I'll get Arabella."

I nod and start making my way to the parking lot.

Was I to mean to him? He's my best friend and he's worried about me, but I said I'm fine. Why can't I just let him help me?

What's wrong with me?

~~~



A/N: okay so, Dio and Arabella definitely relate to each other a lot. Nik and Dio are so cute.

Hope y'all liked this chapter.

I think I might try an updating schedule like posting every Friday or Saturday and occasionally giving double updates.

Lmk what you all think.

Bye hoes.