LACY

I don't know how this happened.

But somehow, I've ended up at the beach. With all four of the brothers. I suppose it makes sense for us to go eventually, seeing as we live only a minute from the water.

James has also somehow dragged me into the water. "It'll be fun" he had said. "You'll have a great time" he told me.

And I never got to tell him I can't swim.

"I'm drowning!" I cry as he tries pulling me back to shore. "I'm actually drowning!" The water is so forceful, even James is struggling getting me out of its grip.

The water tries pulling me back into the ocean as James pulls me the opposite direction. I cough as another waves goes over us.

What a terrible way to go, letting water kill me.

"You're not drowning," he says. He grabs me by my waist and pulls me out of the water, holding me with one arm as he trudges back to the beach.

"I was drowning," I tell him, looking down at the water at my feet. This water is less forceful than the water farther out.

He looks at me and grins. We're eye-level now, since he's holding me. "Do you think I'd let my precious sister die by drowning? That's so basic. You need a fun death."

"A fun death?" Do the other brothers give this one an unlimited supply of drugs?

He nods, thinking thoughtfully. "Yes, of course. Like parachuting into an erupting volcano or something. Accidentally, of course."

"I'd rather go by old age," I say, eyebrows furrowed. Is he planning my death? That's what this sounds like.

He chuckles. "That's overdone. Everyone goes that way."

I roll my eyes. "How are you going to plan your accidental death?"

"Don't worry, I have my ways."

He sets me back down on the sand, and I quickly move away from the water. The three other brothers look over at us.

"You were just going to let me drown," I accuse.

Liam smiles. "Of course not."

"James seemed strong enough to get you out. You're a small thing anyway," Adam says, glancing up from his laptop.

Thomas looks over at me, then at the water. He shrugs.

I cross my arms, my eyes narrowed. In all honesty, I know that they probably would've jumped in if James was struggling against the pull of the current.

But I'm still shaken up about it.

The feeling of once again being helpless.

When I left the Clarks, I promised to myself that I'd never feel that way again. I promised myself that I would always be in control.

I didn't feel control then.

But do I feel control right now?

They brought me here, but are they actually keeping me here? I've been able to wander around freely, without them stopping me.

If I were to walk out of this house, and keep going, would I be stopped?

James waves a hand in front of my face. He smiles. "You zoned out for a second. Do you want to have swim lessons? I'm a great teacher."

Liam quickly stands and walks over. "Don't listen to him. I'm a much better teacher than this knucklehead, Lacy."

I glance over at Adam and Thomas. Thomas is doing pushups on the beach, and Adam is walking off on a heated phone call.

I look back at the two brothers. "Sure. Both of you can be my swim teachers."

James almost jumps. The three of us go into the water. "It's pretty easy. You just have to lay on the water and kick your legs and propel your arms forward."

He flops onto the water, and does exactly as he said, swimming a little bit away, and then gets up and trudges through the water back.

"See, Lace?" He grins. "Anyone can do it! Including you."

Liam sighs. "Your teaching methods are terrible." He shakes his head. "Come on, Lacy. We should start waist-deep in the water."

I follow Liam, until I'm waist deep and the water only goes to his thighs. "Start by treading the water."

I tread water.

"Now, float on your back. Make sure to keep your arms out slightly so you can actually float." I do as he says, floating on the water.

I feel like a cloud.

James comes up to me and leans over me. "Do you need me to save you from drowning? Or do you have this handled?"

I get back up. "Don't you have helicopters to jump out of and volcanoes to jump into?" I ask him, running my fingers through my wet hair.

He smiles. "I'm never too busy to save my sister."

Liam goes beside James. "Do you want to try swimming? Both of us are here, so there's no chance of you drowning."

James flexes his bicep. "Exactly. See these muscles? Not even the strongest man alive could be stronger than me."

I smile slightly. "I'll try."

I move deeper into the water, and begin swimming. My legs moving back in forth in sink with my arms going down into the water and scooping it to the side.

When I stop, I'm so far out into the sea that I have to tread the water to avoid sinking into the ocean. James waves at me from where he and Liam stand.

"Did you do it?" James calls out.

"I swam!" I yell back at the two, a smile on my face.

~~~

I sit in the living room, wearing warmer clothes and holding tea in my hands. James and Liam sit on the floor playing chess, Thomas and Adam have vanished.

The telly is on, playing a movie. 13 going on 30. I'm surprised my brothers picked out this movie— it seems like it's just for girls.

That's probably why they've taken to playing chess and not watching the movie. Although, neither looks like they're having fun with chess, either.

I sit snuggled into the sofa, sipping the tea. The warm, herbal flavor hits my tongue and makes my body feel content and relaxed.

My brothers clearly do not feel as tired as I do.

"I can't believe you swapped pawns with me!" James exclaims, placing a hand on his chest. "I thought you loved me, big brother."

Liam pinches the bridge of his nose, eyes slightly narrowed on his younger brother. "I wouldn't have had to do that if you didn't box me in."

"Now you're trying to blame me for playing the game?"

"Well, you're trying to blame me for advancing myself and winning."

As the two continue to bicker, Adam steps into the room. He looks at the telly, then at his two brothers on the floor, and finally they settle on me.

He smiles at me, warm and soft. "Is the tea good, Lacy?" He asks, stepping closer. "Or do you need some more honey for it?"

I shake my head. "No, it's good." Tea tastes good however and whenever I drink it. It's much better than coffee or fizzy drinks.

Adam nods, a satisfied look on his face. He opens his mouth, then closes it. I tilt my head, slightly confused as to why he's being so hesitant.

He sighs, then says, "Would you like to join us for teatime this evening? It's going to be a lovely sunset, and the weather is cool."

I still for a moment.

Teatime.

Something I've been avoiding since I was brought here. Something that would signify my acceptance of these four Rhodes brothers.

Do I truly accept them?

Do I want to be a member of this family?

This family, which has never hurt me like the Clarks. This family, who have already accepted me before I accepted them. This family, who I have grown fond of?

I look up at Adam, and nod. "Sure. I'd like to join."

The room stills.

All three pairs of eyes land on me.

Adam's phone lights up, making all of us look at it.

He glances down at it, then smiles slightly, and looks back at us. James raises an eyebrow. "What?" He asks.

"The results from the DNA test are in."

———

Hello, loves!

Early updateee!

What did you think of this chapter?

It was kinda short, just some fluffy family bonding.

Do you think that the Rhodes siblings are bonding at a decent rate?

Vote and comment, please!

Au revoir,

Eva