+++

A voice breaks out, my eyes widen at the familiar voice as footsteps become closer and closer until a very well known figure steps in. His eyes roam around until they fall on me, a small gasp leaves my mouth as I push Luke's touch away from me.

I push myself up from the floor and run up to him. I slam my body against his, my arms wrapping around his neck. He slings one arm around my waist and drops his head to my shoulder. He spoke in a broken whisper,

"Lils?"

He questions. I could feel heart hammer against my rib-cage, the tears no longer able to be held back. They fall once more, this time making the soft, cotton materiel that I was hugging dampen,

"Hey Luke, I'll take Lily home from here"

"Alright man, make she's alright for me. Someone at work told me that she left around noon. Make sure she gets something to eat, I don't think she ate after she left"

I could feel him nod once against my hair. He crouched down, whispering quietly in my ear loud enough for me to hear,

"Come in Lils, let's get you home"

He uses his free hand and lifts me up bridal style not waiting for a reply. I don't dare to look up. Keeping my head buried I could feel him walk away from the living room, his voice breaking the silence,

"Claire I'm taking Lily home, I'll be back once she's alright"

"Mummy..."

I hear Jake call,

"Why is Lily crying? Is she okay? What happened?"

"Don't worry little man, she'll be okay... I hope so"

He whispers the last part loud enough for me to hear. I felt myself slip away into slumber, my body too exhausted to keep up with the events that happened today alone. My arm around his neck goes a little limp and the touch on my body tightens, like he already knew,

He moved around, my mouth moving softly took before I felt the cold touch my exposed skin. I involuntarily letting out a shiver making him pull me closer if it was possible. He spoke in a low tone, loud enough for me as I could feel him look down at me,

"We'll be home in a could of seconds Lils. Just hold on for a few more seconds"

As he spoke, I was no longer was shivering but now surrounded by a chill. I hear a door close which I assumed that meant that I was now home. The atmosphere was silent for a bit. I hesitated before shifting. I lifted my head up seeing the familiar creme walls come to scene.

My blink my eyes as they laid on the walls that were filled with family portraits. There was a door on my left that led to the kitchen. In font of me was the stair case, my right, holding another door which led to the living room.

The kitchen light was on and there was a faint laughter in the background coming from the living room. I look back at who was carrying me. I come face to face with the same hazel eyes. He stared at me with concern written on his face.

He didn't even say anything other than just look at me yet my lips tremble in mere seconds. Following shortly, my eyes become a blur for the unknown time today. He places me on my feet as I cover my face, walking into his embrace. He wraps his arms around my frame and asks softly,

"Oh Lils what happened to you?"

"Leo! My man! You're finally back! I was wondering where yo-"

A voice calls but freezes. I feel Leo turn his upper body, his arms still around me. I could feel the other person smile as he questioned,

"Who's this? A new girl? Why she crying? Did you make her cry? I thought you don't make girls cry man I-"

"Shut up Blake, she's my sister. Watch your words"

"Whoa, sorry man I didn't know. I'm sorry cupcake"

I hear Blake, my brother's friend, speak. I let out a shaky sigh before I lift my head up from Leo's chest. He looks down at me with a pout. He moves his hand so that I was just stood in front of him. I open my moth to speak but my voice was dry and hoarse,

"Thanks Leo... I didn't know what I would've done if you weren't there...."

"Lils..."

"Leo I'm fine"

He holds his breath for a couple of seconds as his eyes search mine until he let out a exaggerated sigh. Since I took a step back from him, he took one step towards me and gave a kiss on my forehead. The simple kiss alone held a lot and frankly it scared me.

A sigh also leaves my mouth as I look around the hallway before facing Leo,

"Where's mum and dad?"

He rubs the back of his neck as he replied,

"They went out for the night, date night they said. Did you tell them that you're coming?"

I shake my head, my words failing me. He raises his hand as he places it on my head in a protective manner. I look up at him seeing him give me a worried look he whispers for us both to hear,

"What happened to you hmm? You can tell me Lils you know that right? I'm your big brother that your stuck with"

I know what he was trying to do. He was trying to make me feel better. Even if it was 1%. I look up giving him a pained smile instead,

"I know, I just want to rest for now, don't tell mum and dad that I'm here. I'll give them the shock of their lives instead"

I say as I tried to make myself seem normal yet inside, I felt like crumbling down like a bulldozer breaking down a sturdy, stable building. Leo chuckles as it filled the air between us three. I use this opportunity to turn away and start walking up the stairs.

Since I was no longer facing him, I felt my facade fade, but it only lasted for minute or so because Leo called out,

"Lils?"

I was halfway up the stairs when he called me. I turn on the spot, seeing both Blake and Leo stood next to each other,

"Yeah?"

I called out like a child in trouble,

"Don't..."

He sighs combing his hand through his chocolate brown hair,

"Don't shut us out. We're all here for you"

I smile weakly as I nod turning around as I made it to my room, the door closing quietly behind me.

+++

I didn't know what happened after I met with Leo but I found myself in my bed, tucked away under the duvet. I sit up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. I come to see the room pitch black. I look around as the nightmare plays once more.

I wanted it to be a really bad dream, like the ones you sweat really badly but mine wasn't. My dream was vivid, real and top of that, made me wake up with a fright. The dream was so vivid and real that every action poked a hole in my heart once more, making the pain unbearable.

I move to the side, standing up. I look at my bedside table reading the time as 9pm. Dinner would've finished by now. Sighing for the nth time, I leave my room, walking down the stair only to hear a stern voice from my mother,

"Leo Cole, what are you hiding?"

My mum speaks through the quiet atmosphere, I soon hear my dads voice,

"Leo son, answer your mother, you don't want to get on her bad side now do you?"

"No dad"

He spoke defeated,

"Well.."

My mum pestered, I take this chance and guess that he was trying to keep me a secret as long as he could. I make it to the bottom walking into the room seeing Leo's back facing me, my mother's face in front of me. I could make out him opening his mouth to speak,

"It's-"

"Lily"

My mother speaks taken back,

"Yeah- hey, how do you know?"

Leo moves to speak, he spins around coming to face my. My father, who had his back also facing towards me, spins on his heels, his eyes wide at my appearance,

"My baby what happened?"

Mums face falls as she looks at me deeply, I give her a weak smile, a warm substance leaving my eyes for the countless time today. Mum rushes over to me engulfing me in a hug making me let out a strangled cry,

"Shhh; I'm here now"

She pulls away first having a look at my face as she holds me in her frail hands. I suck in ragid breaths of air but found it painful to do so, trying to cover my face away from Leo and dad; mum didn't waste time as she pulled me back into her embrace,

"Sweetheart.."

My father's stern voice rings through,

"What happened, who made you cry?"

He says sternly but you could hear the concern also,

"Her boss"

Leo speaks through gritted teeth,

"Wait what? Noah King? How do you know son?"

"Luke told me. He told me that she ran out of her work place crying her eyes out around noon, she met Claire on the bus around 6.30 and how here she is. I'm gonna kill that bast-"

Leo spoke abruptly,

"Language, and don't you think your sister is more important than him right now? Sweetheart..."

My father calls, I look up seeing his sad eyes, he only sighs running his hand through his own hair before he speaks,

"Let's get you something to eat, we can talk about this in the morning when you've run out of tears"

He says jokingly,

"Matt!"

My mother speaks sternly at my dad clearly not amused by his humour. He shrugs his shoulder before he questions as if he hasn't said anything wrong,

"What? Someone had to lighten up the mood"