Chapter 4: Siblings By Chance, Friends By Choice

It was currently 11:39 pm, and as much as he tried, Jackson Pierce could not sleep. For when he opened his eyes, all he could see was his little sister being tormented by their very own father.

Those sinister images and videos were on a constant loop in his head, and kept on replaying obnoxiously, which angered him. He grew restless, and eventually decided to sketch a little at his desk.

But having gone through five pages in his sketchbook, his fingers pieced together images of an innocent girl, and a dark figure hovering over her, casting a dark shadow upon her. Whatever he did, he could not rid himself of those disturbing thoughts.

But it wasn't just those specific imaginary scenes playing in his head that agonized him, it was the mere fact those very fictitious scenes his subconscious made up, were a reality at some point, and even though they did not play out exactly how he imagined them, it still happened in their own way, and he could never be there to prevent them from happening.

That's truly what angered and upset him the most.

Finally, he set his now withered pencil down in severe mental and physical exhaustion, and stared down at the horrific images he drew, that were all scattered on his desk. He shook his head slowly, and then forcefully shoved them into his desk drawer, not bothering to straighten them out.

He then directed his gaze to the small window in his room, and stared into complete darkness. He couldn't sleep. Not like this.

After giving it a quick thought, he carefully crept out of his room, and entered the pitch black hallway. He stumbled across, and into Allison's room, not before stubbing his toe on the edge of the door. Jackson walked through the pain, and pushed the slightly opened door further back, making a quiet creaking sound.

There, he witnessed Bruno curled up on the small rug beside the bed, in a deep slumber. Then there was Allison. Her brown locks were sprawled out on her pillow, and she laid on her side peacefully, finally finding some rest.

He loved seeing her at ease, and relaxed. It seemed, whenever he or she were conscious, all they ever did was worry about the twins, and school. But now, as he watched her, with her eyes completely shut, and her fragile body moving up and down while she breathed, there was a certain tranquility behind it that warmed Jackson's heart.

Gradually, he proceeded towards her, and made his way on the opposite side of her. For a second, he just hovered over her, letting his mind wander into an abyss of thoughts. Then he realized he must've looked creepy just standing and staring blankly, and made his way onto the bed, trying his best not to wake Allison.

But as his body touched the mattress, Allison's eyes immediately opened, suddenly feeling a presence beside her. She let out a startled noise, as Jackson instantly tried to calm her down.

"It's just me," he spoke softly, making out her small face in the darkness.

Her mouth was slightly open, and her eyes were sparkling in the moonlight radiating from the window.

"Jackson," she mumbled in her sleep, blinking rapidly to confirm that this was not a dream. "What's going on?"

"Can't sleep," he simply stated, noticing the familiar sequence of events. "I keep thinking about what you told me today."

For a moment, it took Allison some time to figure out exactly what he was referring to, but the concerned look on his face indicated that he was probably talking about her big confession.

She let out a deep breath, now fully conscious, and began her sentence. "You don't need to stress about it, Jack. What happened, happened. There's nothing that you, or I can ever do about it-"

"But that horrid man is roaming the streets god knows where, and is a vicious predator." Jackson found himself angry all of a sudden, despite his eyes that began to get a little droopy due to the lack of sleep. "And I absolutely hate what he has done to you, Alli, I hate it-"

"Shh," she soothed him in a reassuring voice, placing her hand on his chest, as he stopped his rant, and looked at her. "I'm fine now."

It seemed as though she was trying to convince herself, but even then, she did a good job at that.

Now Jackson was laying on his side, along with Allison, and they were both facing each other.

"I'm fine now, Jackson," she repeated more confidently this time, letting her shaky hand rest on him.

Jackson reached over with his right arm, and placed his hand on top of hers, which laid comfortably above his stomach. He watched as her eyes blinked back the sleep she so desperately needed, and admired her natural beauty.

His left arm then reached under her body, and he pulled himself closer to her, planting her head softly in the nook of his neck.

"I'll protect you," he whispered in her ear, seeing her eyes close finally. "I'll always protect you."

With his final sentence, he held her tightly, where she could never be harmed ever again, and closed his eyes comfortably. He felt at ease, knowing she was right next to him, in his arms, under protection.

Now as he drifted off into a slumber, he no longer imagined the horrific images in his mind.

-

In the midst of the night, there was dead silence. Over time, the moonlight coming from the window had faded, and the shadows of rustling leaves escalated onto the cream coloured walls of Allison's room.

Jackson and Allison lay sprawled out onto the bed, with their backs towards one another, while Bruno stirred peacefully in his sleep on the carpet just below them.

All seemed right and just, when suddenly, Allison trembled uncomfortably in her spot, feeling uneasy. Her subconscious mind drifted off to the previous night where her mother had come to visit unexpectedly, alongside her perverted boyfriend Christopher.

Their encounter was stuck on an endless loop in her brain, as images of him touching her underneath her shirt began resurfacing. By now, she was twitching uncontrollably as she reimagined his slimy hands against her cold skin, and his alcohol induced breath hot against her face.

She let out a soft cry in her sleep, alerting Jackson, who's eyes opened at the sound of her cries. He promptly rolled over to face her, and laid a gentle hand on her shoulder to shake her awake.

In a matter of seconds, Allison regained consciousness, and stared up at the ceiling with widened eyes. She was breathing intensely, as shown by her chest moving up and down rapidly, and there were cold sweats pouring down her forehead.

"Hey," Jackson spoke soothingly, reaching to grasp her cheek softly, to frame her face. "It's okay, you're alright. It was just a dream."

Jackson's hand was warm to the touch, familiar, and comforting, unlike Christopher's, who's mere grip was repulsive.

She slowly came back to her senses, and took in a deep breath after realizing she was only dreaming, and turned to look at her brother, who had on an alarmed expression.

"I-I'm sorry," she stuttered, taking notice of the alarm clock that read 3:09 am. "You can go back to sleep now."

"Don't apologize," he replied softly, reaching from her cheek to her hair, as he caressed it slowly in an assuring manner. "You did nothing wrong."

The patience and kindness of her brother astounded her, and she felt unbearably guilty for not telling him the truth about that specific night.

"Actually, Jackson," she started shakily, a melancholic tone prominent in her voice. "I have to tell you something," she murmured on with a hitched breath. "I know it's not exactly the best time to tell you-"

"I'm listening." The soft tone he always used with her and twins emerged, as his sentence blended into the night air.

"Well," she started of raggedly, switching positions to face her brother on the bed. "I kind of, withheld some information from you, the night mom visited." His breathing grew irregular for a moment, and then resorted back to its natural state, trying to be as comforting and understanding to his sister as possible. "I left out the part with Christopher, her boyfriend. He..." she struggled to form the words, and Jackson took notice of her hardship. "He kind of um...made a move on me."

Jackson's blood immediately began to boil, and he sat upright furiously, with his fists naturally clenched together, drawing his knuckles to a pale white shade.

"What did he do?"

Now, his expression hardened, and the tone in his voice was emotionless; the opposite of comforting. The tiredness in his eyes had faded away, and all that was left was anger coursing through his veins.

"Jackson." Allison jumped into his position as well, and laid a strong, controlling grip on his forearm. "Please calm down."

Her voice was soft, and delicate as the night breeze, but was drowned out by Jackson's hammering vexation. Her grip remained stagnant, and she gazed into her brother's eyes, as she tried to make out his face through the darkness that seemed to consume the room.

She reached down from his forearm, to place her left hand into his, interlocking them together tightly.

"He touched me, and he tried to-" she didn't bother saying the word, as it took too much energy and power out of her, especially during this time. "But mother called him outside, and he left. I'm so sorry for not telling you. I didn't want you to worry, or do something out of anger, I-"

In the midst of the apologetic babbling, Jackson had swung his arms around her consolingly, and held her tightly. Against her ear, he whispered soothingly. "I'm so sorry you had to go through that, I'm so sorry."

He pulled back eventually, and withheld the urge to bombard her with countless questions to get the exact details of where exactly he touched her, and for how long. He wanted to know, so he could physically injure him, until he felt as uncomfortable and in pain as Allison did in his presence.

But knowing the consequences and potential outcomes, he rested his violent thoughts, and laid Allison gently down beside him, with her head laying on top of his chest that after awhile, started pumping up and down at a moderate speed rather than an allegro.

"Go to sleep, my sister," he urged gallantly. "We have a tiresome day ahead of us, and I want you to get some rest," he continued on. "And I want you to know, that from now on, I will never leave your side. You have my word."

With that being said, the two siblings drifted off into a slumber, evaporating their heinous thoughts.

-

Morning quickly arose, and the Pierce's house was as quiet as a mouse. The faint sunlight crept its way onto the dark floorboards in Allison's room, giving a polished and complete look to the hardwood floors, while the two siblings slept with ease, intertwined with each other.

The peace and tranquility didn't seem to last long enough, as the alarm rang loudly, indicating the time to be exactly 6:00 am. Jackson and Allison quickly awoke in their spots, and took notice of each other's presence.

"Another day awaits us," Jackson spoke to his sister, trying to sound as optimistic as possible, and trying his best to push away any aggressive thoughts about Christopher.

Bruno instantly rushed over to the two, and greeted them both with an energetic wagging tail, and an outstretched smile.

"Good morning to you too," Jackson cooed charmingly, giving multiple pats on Bruno's head.

Allison stared at them in awe, and smiled lovingly, genuinely happy to see her brother so happy.

"Well," Allison finally spoke, underneath the blanket her and Jackson shared. "I better get ready for the day."

Jackson smiled at her faintly, and then noticed himself still present in his sister's room, and then instantly got up from her bed.

"Yeah -yeah, of course." He stumbled upwards, almost tripping over the carpet, as Bruno followed his steps. "I'll leave you to it, then."

Allison flashed them one last smile, and then watched them leave her room abruptly. She sighed, and reminisced the events of last night. She had told her brother about her encounter with Chris. She felt relieved, and a heavy load being lifted off her chest. She was ready to take on the day.

Outside in the hall, Jackson and Bruno tiptoed out of Allison's room, and gazed outwards at the sunlight shimmering through the window. Jackson grew mesmerized by its beauty, and its ability to brighten his mood, and smiled to himself.

His moment was soon interrupted by Jocelyn departing from the washroom.

"Morning, princess," Jackson greeted in his perky voice, as Jocelyn rushed over to oscillate her arms around Bruno, who flopped his tongue all over her face. "Ouch, I must admit, that did hurt. But I guess you'd rather greet Bruno than your own brother..." he trailed off sneakily, as Jocelyn raced over to her older brother, and outstretched her arms around Jackson's neck.

Jackson chuckled, picked her up, and then swung her around, as she giggled cutely.

"Good morning, big brother," Jocelyn spoke warmly, as Jackson finally placed her down on the ground in front of him.

"Now that's more like it." He nudged her playfully, and then held on a questioning look. "Tell me Joce, what are you doing up so early?"

"I didn't see Bruno in my room, so I wanted to see where he went, and make sure he was safe," she explained sweetly, as Jackson glanced at Bruno who was sitting down obediently.

"Well I can assure you, he was in Allison's room all night," Jackson shared reassuringly. "O-or so I've heard." He corrected himself with a forced smile.

As if on cue, Alex came flouncing out of his room, and towards Bruno, whom he gave a bone crushing hug to.

Jackson watched from afar adoringly, and started treading down the stairs, while running a hand through his messy hair.

"I'm going to get started on breakfast. Can I trust you two to brush your teeth and get dressed for school?"

Jocelyn and Alex both nodded compliantly, and then started fighting over the upstairs bathroom. Jackson snickered to himself, and then dashed towards the kitchen.

-

It was almost 8:00 am, and the twins were scarfing down a plate of pancakes, while Allison rummaged through her school bag to find a specific textbook, and Jackson was behind the kitchen counter, finishing up his last round of pancakes.

"Okay, you guys better hurry up, your bus will be here any minute," Jackson encouraged, rounding the counter around Bruno to place the two packed lunchboxes into the twins' hands.

"I don't want to go," Alex pouted, staring sulkily at Bruno who had water dripping from his mouth. "I want to stay here with Bruno."

Jackson smiled patiently at his younger brother, and crouched down to his height.

"Bruno will miss you just as much as you'll miss him, Alex," he continued. "But school is important. He'll be waiting right here for you when you get back, alright?"

It took a little while, but Alex finally nodded his head in defeat, and then turned around to give Allison a goodbye hug.

"Bye sweetie," Allison conjured up a short response, seeming noticeably sidetracked.

"Bye Jackie," Jocelyn squealed in her bright voice, and then jumped up to give him her older brother one last hug.

"Bye princess," Jackson responded sweetly, as he watched the twins each give Bruno a hug and a kiss, and then they were on their way outside to catch their school bus.

When they both stepped safely on the bus, Jackson plopped down on the bar stool, with a plate full of pancakes in front of him.

"You know," he started teasingly. "These pancakes aren't going to eat themselves."

"I'll pop a squat when I can find my chemistry textbook," Allison mumbled sourly, flipping the whole living room upside down.

"Oh, you mean that coaster on the table over there?" He gestured to the thick textbook stacked neatly on a table beside the couch, where Jackson's mug was placed perfectly in position on top, making the book blend in to the furniture.

"Very funny," Allison murmured bitterly, fetching her chemistry book in relief. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"You didn't ask," stated Jackson nonchalantly, as he propped his elbows cunningly on the kitchen counter. "Plus it was kind of fun watching you get frustrated trying to find it."

She rolled her eyes at her annoying brother, and stood impatiently by the door.

"Come on Jackson, we don't have all day here. The warning bell is going to ring in a few minutes." She reminded him, with a sassy hand placed on her right hip.

"Geez, I take it that nightmare last night put you in a bad mood," he mumbled underneath his breath, grabbing his keys from the front counter, and swung his school bag around his shoulders.

"I heard that," Allison sang, as Jackson escorted her out onto the porch.

"That was the point," he replied, as they both headed into the car.

-

Jackson drove along the rocky road, with both of his hands relaxing on the steering wheel, as he stopped at a red light. It was dead silence in the car, with the exception of the amplified indicator ticking at every offbeat.

Suddenly, Allison let out an impatient sigh, clutching her Chemistry textbook tightly against her breasts.

"Can you drive any slower?" She groaned in annoyance, resting her head rightward against the cold window. 

"I'm following the law," Jackson pleaded, presenting his exasperation against Allison's attitude. "Do you want me to run a red light and get us a ticket?" He then completed underneath his breath. "God knows we can't afford that."

Allison stayed quiet, and watched him make the left turn eventually, moving towards the school parking lot. Finally, he parked across a black Chevy, and stared ahead at the students hovering around the school.

"Well you managed to bring us here in one piece," Allison uttered dryly, unbuckling her seatbelt, making Jackson scrunch his eyebrows in confusion.

"What is with you today?" He inquired, growing tiresome of her snarky remarks that weren't requested.

Allison flinched at his interrogation, and released a deep sigh, trying to gather her words.

"You just-" she struggled to complete, simply agitated by her own stutters. "Look, I just think you shouldn't sleep in my room again," she ended up saying. "It's...weird, and inappropriate."

This confused Jackson even more, because it certainly did not feel like it, and he knew she didn't feel that way about it either.

"Why?" He asked in a probing manner, a condescending raised left eyebrow.

"Because it leads to you making promises you cannot keep," she voiced emotionally, exiting the car subtly, with her school shoes clanking against the pavement.

Jackson followed shortly, making sure to lock the car doors behind him.

"Allison, wait," he called out, but she didn't listen.

Instead, she pushed through the front doors of the school without looking back, leaving Jackson to wonder about what her sentence had meant.

-

Allison had pushed passed a number of students scrambling to get to class, and headed towards her locker in frustration. Jackson could never understand, she thought.

As she opened her locker, her favourite redhead popped up from the left hand side, snapping Allison out of her bitter thoughts.

"Morning, Pierce," Rebecca greeted enthusiastically, with a wide smile on her face.

"Hey," Allison replied emotionlessly, stuffing her backpack in her locker, and grabbed her pencil case in contrast to her chemistry textbook still pressed against her body.

"You seem..." Rebecca paused shortly. "Energized."

Every ounce of her voice dripped in heavily laced sarcasm, as Allison fought the urge to criticize her on her imperfect timing.

"Sorry Rebecca, it's just, I'm way behind in Chemistry, that's all. Just a little stressed."

It wasn't necessarily a complete lie. Although she seemed distressed about her recent encounter with her brother, she was also stressing about her Chemistry grade, as she was falling behind in class, and the day off yesterday didn't exactly help.

Rebecca's expression did not change. She still remained perky, with an outstretched smile. "Maybe you can get Ethan Santiago to tutor you." She nudged her best friend with a smirk on her lips, as Allison rolled her eyes and shut her locker.

"I doubt he's good at science; he had to repeat a year."

Ethan was a year older than them, and was always in Allison's classes, whether it was a split class in elementary, or a repeated course. Whatever the reason, Allison was just satisfied that he was in her class, and that she got to see him everyday.

"Well I'm sure he could charm you with his looks first." Rebecca shrugged optimistically, following Allison's way to her class. "The chemistry is bound to follow afterwards."

She winked teasingly, as Allison shook her head with a small smile, and waved goodbye to her friend who cornered the hallway, while she strutted towards her science class.

She made it just in time, as the final bell rang, as she made her way to her seat. She let out a breath of relief, and flipped through her textbook pages to the designated one written on the blackboard ahead of her.

A few students were already planted in their seats, but a couple of students flooded into the classroom a few seconds after the bell. Mr. Lieberman turned in his chair, and gave a disapproving head shake at the late students.

"If you're going to be late, don't bother coming at all," he stated casually, straightening out the pile of papers on his desk. "Alright, bear with me. I'm going to do attendance first, and then we'll get started on today's lesson."

Allison rested her head on her hand that was propped up on the table, and stared ahead into space. Eventually, she managed to tune out Mr. Lieberman's voice, and how he called out each students' name for attendance, and she started to scan the room for a particular person.

There he was. Ethan Santiago; his brown locks parting towards the left, and his crumpled shirt clung tightly to his chest. He had on a look of boredom plastered on his face, as he played with his wooden pencil. Allison admired his chin chiseled to perfection, and his sharp jawline that could cut metal.

She was brought back to her senses, when Mr. Lieberman called out her name, repeatedly.

"Allison...Allison-"

"Here!" She exclaimed loudly, earning a few chuckles from a few students, as she slumped downwards into her seat embarrassingly.

Ethan turned in his seat to meet her gaze, holding on a small grin, as Allison avoided his eye contact.

"I need you to go to attendance to get an admit slip for yesterday," Mr. Lieberman advised, checking off the attendance list with his blue pen.

Allison stuttered. "I-I wasn't here yesterday."

"Precisely," Lieberman confirmed. "And I need a parent to confirm that."

"Um..." Allison trailed off nervously, unsure as to what to say. "I...uh, I'm unable to do that, sir."

Mr. Lieberman finally drew his eyes away from the pages of paper he was holding, onto Allison, who had on a distraught expression.

"Fine, it will count as a skip," he stated, completely unfazed, completing the rest of the attendance list effectively. "Alright, so yesterday we covered Planck's Quantum Theory; in which different atoms and molecules can emit or absorb energy in discrete quantities." He made his way to the blackboard with a white chalk in his hand, and began writing. "And today we will cover the four laws of radiation. At the end of class I will accept any questions from last night's homework."

He wrote down the title of The Four Laws of Radiation, on the board, and began elaborating, as Allison forced herself to listen.

An hour had passed, nearing the end of class, and Mr. Lieberman was now sitting at his desk on his laptop, accepting any questions from last night's homework. Allison found herself getting dizzy, as the students conversed with each other about today's lesson, school gossip, and local news. She stared wide eyed at her notes, and let out an agitated groan once her brain started zoning out.

"Hey," came a heartwarming voice, almost angelic to the ears.

Allison tilted her head upwards, staring at the sight of Ethan Santiago standing in front of her, and her breathing stopped for a quick second. She slowly turned her head around to make sure if he was addressing her or someone behind her. Successfully, she then turned to meet his gaze once again, and conjured up an awkward smile.

"Um, hi," she spoke shyly, shocked by his sudden interest.

"Allison, right?" He guessed, with his melodic voice ringing in her ears, as she nodded excitedly. "I'm Ethan."

As if she didn't already know. She smiled sweetly at him, and waited for him to continue.

"So I was wondering if you-" Was he going to ask her out, she thought; if so, how would she respond? "If you wanted to borrow the notes I took yesterday?"

Immediately, the fake backtrack to a romantic movie stopped playing on an endless cycle in her brain, and she was brought back to reality.

"Huh?" She couldn't help but let out, as Ethan chuckled slightly.

"I figured you wanted yesterday's lesson, since you weren't here-"

"Yes, oh my gosh, yeah," she replied almost instantly, as he tilted his head amusingly, and then handed her his notebook. "Thanks."

He stood in front of her, as she took multiple pictures of his notes, and mentally facepalmed herself at her nerdy reaction to him communicating with her. Once she had gotten over her longtime crush finally talking to her, she took in the amount of pages she had taken pictures of, and sighed tiredly.

"What's the matter?" The dark haired boy asked enchantingly, as Allison stared into his piercing brown eyes.

"It's just, I'm way behind in this class. I've missed a lot of days and...I don't know how I'm going to pass," she explained truthfully. "There's just a lot of information to comprehend."

There was a short silence that fell upon them, making Allison worry if she spoke too much, and scared the boy away. Finally, he spoke, with an intriguing offer.

"I can always tutor you."

The words fell off his lips so effortlessly, and mesmerizingly, that Allison somehow forgot they had only just started talking a couple of minutes ago. She had on a serious face, and then broke off into a small laugh.

"Says the boy who's retaking this class." She didn't mean for it to sound offensive, but the way she conveyed her words made it sound a little rude.

Still, Ethan just shrugged it off.

"But if you think about it, I've gotten the chance to cover these materials for two semesters now. I think I know what I'm doing," he reasoned, making Allison smile.

"Fair enough," she replied, giving in. "Okay, I'll let you tutor me."

Ethan gave off a satisfied smile, showcasing his attractive dimples, as Allison blushed crimson red, sucking in her cheeks to prevent another goofy grin from emerging.

"How about today after school, your house?" He suggested, as Allison nodded quickly in response. "Sounds good. I guess I'll see you then."

Her happiness was short lived when she realized her responsibilities. "Oh wait, Ethan." She dismissed the way his name sounded on her lips, and began explaining. "I have to pick my brother and sister up from school."

"Great! I'll join you," he exclaimed, enchanting Allison with his eyes. "Meet me in front of the main office after school. We can go from there."

He gave her one last signature smile, and then headed back towards his desk, after retrieving his notebook back from her.

Allison smiled to herself, and ducked her head down, trying to hide her blush.

-

Jackson sat in English class, bored to death. Mrs. Morgan had an audio playing, of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, for the whole class, while Jackson tapped his pencil anxiously against his desk.

His mind coasted back to the words his younger sister had said. He had absolutely no idea what she had meant by them, and it bothered him that she had left without the argument being resolved, or drawn to a conclusion.

One of his friends, Will Solstice sat right beside him, too occupied on his phone to bother keeping up with the book pages. Jackson flipped the page on his book, and stared hard at the inked words, until they became a blur.

"Dude, what's up?" He heard Will whisper, while also giving him a slight nudge. "Why weren't you here for the past couple of days?"

Jackson conjured up a poised look to hide the urgency to come up with a believable fable.

"I just wasn't feeling well." He decided upon saying, and then forced his eyes to divert back to his desk where his book lay.

Suddenly, he remembered something, and urgently pulled out his phone from his pocket, and went under his sister's contact. He sent a short text explaining that he had work today, and that she would have to pick up the twins from school and feed Bruno.

He stared hopefully at his bright screen, and kept refreshing it in attempts to make Allison's response appear faster. With no such luck, he settled his phone on his desk with the screen down, and forced his mind to cycle back to Shakespeare.

-

It was finally lunch, and Allison had caught up with Rebecca who was already sitting at a lunch table. The Pierce's expression had excitement and contentment written all over it, making Rebecca curious.

"Hey," Allison uttered briefly, sitting across from her, as Rebecca gave a small smile. "I have news for you."

The redhead rolled her eyes casually, and picked at her fries with her plastic fork, shrugging it off. "What is it? Have you suddenly become a normal teenage girl who enjoys having fun?" She then gasped dramatically, as she continued her rant. "Or better yet, an alcoholic?"

Now it was Allison's turn to roll her eyes, as she fought the urge to give her a lecture on the health risks of drinking alcohol excessively.

"No...and, no." Allison then went on to voice girlishly. "Guess who's tutoring me today for chemistry class?"

"No, freaking way!" Rebecca exclaimed almost immediately, dropping her fork on her lunch tray in surprise. "Ethan Santiago?!"

Allison nodded eagerly, trying to control her excitement. "Yes, he volunteered."

"Ethan Santiago?!" Rebecca repeated louder this time, still stunned by the announcement.

"Shh," Allison replied in response, looking around cautiously to see if anyone had heard. "He's coming over today after school for a study session."

Rebecca gasped, clutching onto the table, and squealed loudly. "You know what that means!"

"Yes..." Allison trailed off, tilting her head confusingly. "A study session."

"No." Rebecca shook her head disapprovingly at her best friend. "This is a study date, which could potentially turn into something more." She gave a wink, paired with a toothy grin, while Allison's eyes widened.

"I don't want it to turn into something more," she exclaimed defensively, as Rebecca pouted in disappointment. "I'm sorry Rebecca, but I'm not willing to give myself to every guy who gives me the slightest bit of attention."

"Wow," she breathed out in disbelief. "I feel like that is an insult to me." Allison shrugged innocently, while the redhead continued sassily. "All I'm saying is, if he makes a move, don't stop him!"

Allison let out a quiet sigh, and ruffled her hair sideways, staring past her. Truth was, she was interested in Ethan, but she didn't know how to act upon it.

"No promises, Becca," Allison replied, with a longing look sewn on her face, as Jackson made his way to their table.

"Hey," he spoke mellowly, his delicate brown eyes burning a hole in Allison's. "Rebecca." He addressed her politely, as a faint blush formed on her cheeks, and she smiled shyly, drifting her eyes towards the ground.

Allison however, remained expressionless, still recalling her tone with him from this morning. She wanted to be mad at Jackson, but she just couldn't bring herself up to be.

"Allison, I wanted to know if you got my text." Jackson went on to explain, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. "I'm working today, and wanted to remind you to pick up the twins."

"Got it, thanks," Allison responded emotionlessly, avoiding his eye contact, as Jackson sighed restlessly, then nodded dully after a brief moment.

"I guess I'll see you later then..." he trailed off perplexingly, and then strutted away, not before earning a sympathetic smile from Rebecca.

"I'm going to the bathroom," Allison stated sharply, not giving Rebecca a chance to question her irritability.

-

After saying farewell to his friends, and a rather unpleasant encounter with his sister, Jackson was on his way to the Red Rose Café, for his afternoon shift.

When he arrived, he saw Henry ringing through a customer, with his signature plump smile on his face, and his co-worker Sean was serving a couple at a table closest to the electric fireplace.

As he opened the front door, the small bell attached on top gave off a little ding, making Henry aware of Jackson's presence.

"Jackson, good, you're here early," he beamed, gesturing towards the back room, as Jackson followed his boss obediently, with his schoolbag hanging sluggishly on his left shoulder.

Once they were in the back room, Henry picked up a piece of paper which read Allison Pierce. Jackson furrowed his eyebrows in curiosity, and waited for Henry to say something.

"Is she related to you, in any way?" He questioned fascinatingly, a finger underneath his chin to depict his condescending evaluation.

"Yes, she's my sister," he confirmed confidently, noticing the small grin plastered on Henry's wrinkled face.

"Well if she's anything like you, I would love for her to join my staff," he explained, a joyful expression noticeable. "Would you mind telling her that she got the job? She can start tomorrow; the same shift as you."

Jackson nodded excitedly, and then watched Henry disappear at the front. He withheld the urge to call his sister and tell her the good news, and decided upon telling her face to face.

After setting his belongings down, he slipped on his dark green apron, and shuffled to the front, standing behind the counter, ready to start his shift.

Sean trotted towards him with a neutral appearance, sliding his notepad and pen on the counter in front of him.

"Hey Jackson," he spoke playfully, nudging his elbow teasingly. "I heard your sister's going to be working here as of tomorrow. Too bad I didn't get the chance to work with her." He winked, while Jackson ignored his childish humour, and tilted his head in confusion.

"What do you mean?" He wondered, slipping his hands in his jean pockets.

"You didn't know? Today's my last day. After tonight, I won't have to do another shift here," Sean explained thoroughly, a vibrant smile stitched across his lips. "I finally get to go to the school I've been saving up for."

"Wow," Jackson breathed out in complete shock and disbelief. "I can't believe it."

He was truly speechless. He didn't know what to say. It seemed like only yesterday, he started working here, and got to know Sean not only as a co-worker, but a friend.

"When are you leaving for school?" Jackson questioned, trying to make light conversation.

"Next week. For the rest of the week, all I have to do is pack, and figure out how to say goodbye to my mom and my sister." He went on to voice. "It seems so surreal."

Jackson gave him a warm, encouraging smile. "I'm sure they'll be fine. This is your chance to finally live out your dream. You deserve it," he said sincerely, earning a heartwarming smile from Sean himself.

"Thank you, that means a lot," he returned, as the two shared a knowing look with each other.

Ding!

Jackson looked up from his co-worker, to greet the customer courteously, forcing a positive smile to emerge from his lips.

-

It was finally five after two, and the school bell that indicated final dismissal had rung promptly five minutes ago. Allison had just finished packing her schoolbag with her Chemistry and English books, and headed down the stairs to the main floor.

For some reason, her blood was flowing irregularly through her veins, and each step she took, the faster her heart began to beat. She'd never felt this way, and was taken by surprise how much sweat the palms of her hands were able to produce.

As she cornered the hallway to make her way towards the main office, she was acknowledged by Ethan himself, waiting patiently for her.

"Hey," he spoke confidently, his protruding dimples being showcased publicly. "Was beginning to think you bailed on me."

His attempts at a lighthearted joke only made Allison force herself to give him a weak smile, as she gripped onto her schoolbag straps tightly, at a loss of how to act around him.

"So," Ethan began, after a lingering awkward silence seemed to take over. "Shall we start on our walk?"

Allison only nodded reservedly, and took the role as the GPS, as she paced hurriedly out of the main entrance, heading towards the twins' school. Ethan trailed leisurely behind, with his hands tucked casually in his pockets, an amused look printed across his modelled face.

As they journeyed through the street, and Ethan finally caught up to her, the two struggled to find proper words, to form a sentence.

The sun shone brightly, and the sky was painted a vibrant shade of blue, with an ongoing breeze that seemed to blow in a rhythmic movement. Ethan glanced quickly at Allison, who was fiercely walking on the sidewalk, and studied her facial expression. She seemed like she was in her own world, and her body held on a stiff exterior, almost like a statue made out of stone.

Ethan couldn't help but chuckle lightly, letting his arms dangle freely beside him, as Allison took notice of his carefree behaviour. Deciding to push her nervousness away, she commented rather boldly. "What's so funny?"

Ethan hesitated for awhile, to share his humorous thoughts, and then stared straight with a shrug. "Nothing, I just think it's rather ironic that you, the smartest girl in the school is going to be tutored by me, the guy who has repeated at least five high school courses in the past four years."

Allison couldn't help but let a small laugh escape her lips, feeling more comfortable in his presence, and raised her eyebrow in a playful manner.

"One, I am very surprised you know the definition of irony-" Ethan scoffed jokingly, shaking his head in a jocular manner. "And second, I am definitely not the smartest girl in the school," she stated in disbelief, flashing him an exuberant look.

"Yeah right," he replied unbelievingly. "I think you are living proof that a girl can be both smart and pretty," he concluded suavely, a collected smile wearing a hole on his mouth, as Allison ducked her head downwards, trying to conceal the blush that had crept up sneakily on her pale cheeks.

Being grateful that they had arrived at their destination, and not having to respond to his rather charming comment, Allison stared up ahead at the school.

"This is it," she spoke calmly, while Ethan witnessed a bunch of kids running out to greet their parents.

"Our old elementary school," Ethan stated reminiscently, flashbacks of old memories swirling nostalgically in his brain. "Boy, it's been a long time."

Allison bit her lip nervously, and gave a slight nod of the head, surprised Ethan had remembered they went to the same elementary school together.

As Ethan opened his mouth to say something, a loud cry emerged from the main doors, and the twins came rushing towards them.

"Alli!" Jocelyn exclaimed cheerfully, with her twin brother beside her, running to greet their older sister.

Before Jocelyn could throw her arms around Allison, she took notice of the unfamiliar boy standing still beside her. His brown curls moved rhythmically against the wind, and his warm smile was amplified in the afternoon sunlight.

"Who are you?" Alex spat rudely, giving Ethan a lopsided glare, as Allison instantly scolded him for being so impolite.

"Alexander," she began sternly. "That's no way to speak to someone."

Ethan gave off an unaffected smile, and brushed it off easily. "It's alright, Allison." She almost melted at the sound of his melodic voice saying her name. "I think it's time I introduce myself. I'm Ethan. I go to your sister's school."

Jocelyn stared up at the tall boy in front of her with big doe eyes, and a conniving smirk automatically transpired onto her pink lips. Within thirty seconds, she was dancing around in circles, chanting loudly. "Alli's got a boyfriend, Alli's got a boyfriend, Alli's got a boyfriend, Alli's got a boyfriend!"

Immediately, Allison's face flushed red again in embarrassment, and she grew afraid to look at Ethan's face. He must find this so humorous, she thought. The thought of him and her together. He could have any girl, she wasn't sure he would necessarily go for her.

"Jocelyn, please stop it," Allison finally spoke, interrupting her little sister's childish chant. "Ethan is my friend, and he's coming over today to help me study for my Chemistry test next week."

Jocelyn stopped prancing around like a deer, and pouted sadly, letting out a disappointed sigh.

"I wanna go home!" Alex cried impatiently, threatening to throw a tantrum in front of everybody.

"Okay, okay, we're going," Allison assured him, as the four ventured through the streets again, on their way home.

While the twins remained a skip ahead of Ethan and Allison, the eldest Pierce daughter took the time to apologize to Ethan for their pesky behaviour. "I'm so sorry about that. Alex can be very...blunt, and Jocelyn has quite a wild imagination."

Ethan looked her way shortly, smirking slightly. "Not that wild."

With that reply, Allison's heart couldn't help but skip a beat, as she continued happily along the sidewalk, beside her longtime crush.

-

Meanwhile, at the Red Rose Café, Jackson was working tirelessly, taking customer's coffee orders, while Sean was serving and cleaning tables.

It was almost 3:00 pm, and Jackson had around three and a half more hours left of his shift, but he was itching in excitement to tell his sister about the good news he received from his boss. Instead, he had to control his excitement in the meantime, and remain a professional barista.

"One tall caramel macchiato, extra caramel," he presented magnificently, extending the coffee cup as steady as possible, to a blonde woman with black sunglasses. "Enjoy your day," he finished politely, as she muttered a quick thanks in response, before exiting the shop.

Jackson grabbed an old damp rag from underneath the till, and started wiping down the counter that was filled with coffee stains, while he hummed sweetly to a nursery tune. When he heard the bell above the door chime, he didn't bother to look up. Alternatively, he reflexed into a well rehearsed, "hi there."

By the judgement of the footsteps increasing in sound, Jackson approached the till to take another order, without even looking up to acknowledge the customer.

"Welcome to Red Rose, what can I get you?"

His eyes bore into the screen of the POS system, and his fingers got ready to type the price in, half-expecting another coffee. The people in his town could not get enough of caffeine.

"Jackson?" Came a rather well known voice, as the young barista was forced to look up from his screen to be graced in the presence of none other than Rebecca herself.

Her volumized red curls bounced around appropriately, as she projected a wide smile his way. Jackson returned a polite one as a response, and awaited for her to order.

"Wow, it sure is fancy seeing you here," she went on energetically, acting weirder than usual, Jackson noticed.

"Well," he stuttered lengthily. "I do work here..."

"Oh my gosh!" Rebecca beamed loudly, earning a few judgmental glances her way from customers, and a wink and a thumbs up from Sean to Jackson. "You are so funny."

Jackson ignored Sean's silent gestures, and him making kissy noises in the back, and focused on Rebecca vocalizing her thoughts dramatically and vivaciously.

"Well it's really a big coincidence coming here, and seeing you. I was totally not aware you worked here. Completely clueless really, so this...this is a really nice surprise," Rebecca babbled on, using a lot of foolish hand gestures.

Jackson tried his best to take her seriously, and instead of bursting out into fits of laughter at her little scene, he conjured up yet another polite smile, making sure Henry didn't catch him fooling around during his shift.

"I'm surprised Allison didn't mention it," he spoke in a sophisticated manner. "How odd. So what can I get-"

He was interrupted by her, as she nervously articulated. "You know, now that you broached the matter, maybe Allison did say something about you working here. Unfortunately I have the worst memory I guess-''

"It's really good to see you, Rebecca," Jackson cut in, growing impatient by the second. "Is there anything I can get for you?"

Rebecca seemed to snap out of her daydream, and met his beautiful eyes for a split second. "Oh, right, haha," she laughed awkwardly. "The sole reason I came in here -I mean, why else would I come in here? Definitely not just to converse with you." Jackson flashed her a weak smile, still awaiting her order. "Um, I guess I'll just get a small green tea."

"Great choice!" Jackson exclaimed, relieved about her overdue requisition. "Is that for here or to go?

"Hmm," she started with her index finger propped underneath her chin, and looked around the store for an empty seat, which she found in the corner, right next to the window. "For here."

"That'll be 3.04 please."

She handed him a crisp five dollar bill, and leaned in seductively. "Keep the change."

Jackson accepted the money obliviously, and placed it into the till correctly. "Your tea will be ready in a couple of minutes. You can sit down if you'd like."

Rebecca gave one last flirtatious smile, and then went to go sit down at her table. Jackson let out a breath he didn't know he was holding, and went to fetch a mug to begin her green tea. Sean rounded the corner to arrive behind the counter, and gave a questionable look to his co-worker.

"Who was that? And can I have her number?"

Jackson only scoffed at Sean's usual tactics and answered straightforwardly. "That's my sister's friend; Rebecca."

"Damn," Sean muttered underneath his breath, admiring her beauty. "If that's your sister's friend, I wonder how she looks like."

Jackson looked up from the mug to give him a warning look, as Sean raised his hands in surrender, and went on to deliver more coffee to the tables.

-

The twins, Allison, and Ethan had arrived home after their troublesome walk where Alex kept on complaining about going to the park, and Jocelyn kept crying on about Jackson not being here.

Finally, Allison led her siblings inside, followed by Ethan who had on an exhausted expression, and they were already greeted by Bruno, who came running down the stairs.

"Bruno!" The twins exclaimed excitedly, forgetting all about their previous complaints.

Instead of running towards the twins, Bruno bolted straight to Ethan, who now had on a shocked expression.

"Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry. Are you okay with dogs?" She asked protectively, worrying Ethan might find Bruno too abrasive.

Ethan flashed her his signature smile, and winked in her direction. "I love dogs. Bruno, I take it? Well aren't you just the friendliest dog I've ever met." He chuckled, and petted his wild hair, as the twins rushed to him, to give him a few pats on the head as well.

Allison eased up into a warm smile, watching Bruno lean comfortably against Ethan's leg.

"Come on Bruno, let's go play soccer in the backyard," Alex exclaimed, already rushing towards the back door, with Jocelyn and Bruno hot on his trail.

"Wait a minute, do you guys have any homework?" Allison called out authoritatively.

"No!" Screamed Jocelyn, as the three dashed towards the backyard, and onto the bright green grass, where Alex started kicking his soccer ball around.

Allison smiled at them briefly, and then turned to face Ethan, who was peering

at her astonishingly.

"What is it?" She asked delicately, suddenly feeling insecure and self-conscious about herself.

Ethan only smiled in return, creating butterflies in Allison's stomach, as she gazed into his glossy eyes. "Nothing, it's just...you're so good with your siblings. You'd make a great mother some day."

There was that feeling again. The one that made her heart skip a beat, and the one that had her questioning her sanity. Another countless rosy blush slithered up her cheeks, and she swiftly stared at the ground in twitchiness.

"Um..." Ethan stuttered, scratching the back of his neck anxiously. "Shall we hit the books?"

Allison wanted to nod eagerly, but remembered she hadn't cooked dinner for the twins, and widened her eyes forgetfully. "I am incredibly sorry. Do you mind if I make dinner first?"

"Wow, I didn't know I'd get to see thee Allison Pierce cook dinner right in front of me," Ethan voiced dramatically, as Allison found it shocking that he knew her last name at all, then smiled vibrantly.

"Well it was only fair." She played along, a small smirk tugging at her lips. "You tutor me, I can cook for you."

"I like that," Ethan responded in a cunning way, his dimples being made prominent by the sunlight that escaped from the window pane.

Allison trudged over to the kitchen hurriedly, to prepare her classic stir fry, and grabbed a large pan to set on the stove. Ethan followed her lead, and plopped himself on the bar stool, with his arms propped up on the marble counter.

"So," he began, trying to make conversation. "I reckon your parents are at work?"

Allison froze for a moment, trying to recalibrate her reaction appropriately, and nonchalantly. Successfully, she aimed for the vegetable oil, and started pouring it into the pan once the stove was hot enough.

"Erm, yes, my mother always works late to provide for everyone in the house," she lied, surprised at her own ability to. "She works at a medical centre, and often does long shifts."

"Sounds like a fierce woman," Ethan commented positively, making Allison whisper underneath her breath, you don't know the half of it.

A few seconds went by, as Ethan urged further. "And...your father?" His voice was soft, and stable, not meaning to intrude or push his limit.

Allison took in a deep breath, and fabricated a false smile. "He left a few years ago."

Ethan stayed silent for awhile, unsure as to what to say in this situation. "I'm so sorry."

"Don't be," she replied quickly and in an optimistic manner. "Everything happens for a reason. I believe in the end, things don't always turn out the way you want them to, but always the way they're supposed to."

After her response, she began cutting up vegetables, and throwing them into the pan, while also pulling out slices of already thawed out chicken from the fridge, and slowly popped them in one by one.

"Wow," Ethan breathed out, clearly impressed by the way she spoke. "You should write poetry or something. That was very beautifully spoken."

"Thank you." She accepted his compliment with a cheery smile on her face. "But I could never publicly release my work in front of everyone. I'd get so anxious," she confessed, feeling comfortable enough to speak from her heart.

"What's to worry about?" He inquired further, a questionable look planted on his face, as he rocked back and forth in his seat.

"I don't know..." Allison trailed off with a shrug. "I guess I'm afraid that they won't like me."

"What's not to like about you?" Ethan spoke encouragingly, causing Allison to duck her head down to prevent him from seeing her flushed face. "Anyone who doesn't like you is clearly insane. And, you'll never know if you never try."

Allison finally looked up from the tiled floor to meet Ethan's eyes. He was everything Allison had dreamed for in a guy, and so much more. He was supportive, and encouraging, and undoubtedly charming. For the first time in a long while, she had completely forgotten about her horrific past, and her deteriorated family.

-

It was currently 6:34 pm, and Jackson was getting ready to head home from his shift. The co-worker who was doing the night shift had arrived a few minutes ago, and was already up at the front, busting a few tables.

Henry had left shortly before, and Sean was already on his way out, finally finishing his last shift. Jackson slipped off his apron, and rushed to the front of the store to stand beside Sean, making sure to bring his car keys.

"So, I guess this is it," Jackson spoke sadly, giving a small smile to his fellow co-worker. "I hope the school you chose is everything you dreamt of and more."

Sean grinned wholeheartedly, eyeing his co-worker and friend, lovingly. "Thank you, Jackson. I'm gonna miss you a lot, man."

He swung his arms around him tightly, as Jackson rested in his warm embrace. Finally, they both pulled away, looking at each other in awe.

"Don't hesitate to hit me up. You have my number," he mentioned sternly. "Goodbye, Jackson."

The eldest Pierce boy waved one last time to Sean, and after that, he was out of the shop, ringing the bell one last time, as he departed into his car, then drove off.

Jackson sighed, and then headed towards his car, where he made his way home. He recalled old memories with Sean, and how kind he had been to him when he had first started working at the Café. He showed him how to do everything, and treated him like his best friend. They had an unhealthy amount of caffeine during their night shifts to keep them awake, and had fun ranting about lousy customers with each other.

Jackson was gonna miss him, but he knew he was on to bigger things, and finally achieved his goal by going to the school he always wanted to go to.

As he arrived home, with his rusty schoolbag hanging off of his right shoulder, he twisted the metal key in the lock, and pushed the front door open, being instantly acknowledged by Bruno, who came rushing to greet him with a sloppy wet kiss on the face.

"Happy to see you too, boy." Jackson chuckled, making sure to lock the door behind him.

"Jackie!" Jocelyn exclaimed childishly, running into her older brother's arms, as Jackson instinctively dropped his schoolbag, and swooped up his little sister in his arms, then swung her around playfully.

"Hey, princess, I missed you so much today," he spoke adoringly, planting a brotherly kiss on her cheek, as Jocelyn laughed cutely, and then rushed to Bruno after being put down. "Alex, how was your day?"

"Let me tell you all about it," he gushed excitingly, as Jackson listened intently, hoping it wasn't another one of his pranks. "Today at recess, I totally kicked Billy's as-" Jackson gave him a look of warning, as he immediately corrected himself. "Behind, I meant behind, in soccer. He didn't even see it coming, and he looked like a total loser in front of everyone."

"I'm glad you had an..." he fished his brain to find an appropriate word. "Eventful day. Certainly is better than causing your teacher trouble; all the more reason for her to think something is up," he mumbled the last part, and then skimmed the kitchen, assessing the state of dinner. "Who's Billy?" He proceeded to ask, looking at Jocelyn for help, but she stayed quiet, respectively.

"Just some lunatic in our class Jocelyn has a crush on," Alex chimed in obnoxiously, as Jocelyn cried in defence.

"I do not!"

"Yes you do. You were so happy when Mrs. Appleby assigned you two to sit together. You should've seen the look on your face," he teased, chuckling amusingly, as Jocelyn pouted.

"Jackie, tell Alex to stop telling lies!" She screamed, crossing her arms at her twin brother in anger.

Jackson flashed Alex a knowing look, as he rolled his eyes, and plopped himself down on the couch to play with his gameboy. The eldest Pierce then approached his little sister, and crouched down in front of her.

"Now Jocelyn, a crush is nothing to be ashamed of. It is completely normal to develop one at your age," He explained assuringly, as Jocelyn shook her head vigorously.

"I don't like him!" She shouted, a frustrated expression stretched across her face. "He has cooties."

Jackson withheld the urge to laugh, and then ran a hand through her hair soothingly. "Now that I can agree with." He stood up from his position and questioned. "Where's your older sister?"

"Upstairs, I think," Jocelyn answered cooperatively, as Jackson nodded at her statement.

"Can you two start setting the table for dinner, while I go get your sister?"

Jocelyn nodded obediently, while Alex huffed in annoyance, and marched into the kitchen after his twin sister. Jackson shook his head with a faint smile, and then climbed up the stairs, making his way towards Allison's room.

He heard the echoes of her melodic laugh emerging from her room, and grew impatient each step he took, to tell her about the big news.

"Allison!" He sang happily, twisting the door knob impetuously. "I have something important to tell-" his sentence came to a halt when he came face to face with a view he did not expect to see.

Allison was sitting casually on the bed with Ethan closely beside her, a textbook in his hand, with her mouth outstretched into a wide smile.

"You." Jackson completed his statement shakily, completely shocked at what he was just witnessing. "Um..."

"Oh, right," Allison beamed carelessly, oblivious to Ethan's uncomfortable smile, and Jackson's angry expression. "This is my older brother Jackson, and Jackson, this is Ethan-"

"Santiago," he finished for his sister, a reserved and distant look smothered on his face, as he eyed the boy up and down suspiciously. "We're in the same Physics class."

With that, Allison only smiled wider. "That's great! You two know each other."

After a brief silence fell over, Allison spoke in remembrance. "Oh yeah, what was it that you wanted to tell me?"

Jackson struggled to find his words, and found the view of them both together sickening, but he managed to choke out submissively. "Nothing worth mentioning."

She then went on to elaborate his presence. "Ethan here, has offered to help tutor me in Chemistry. I've been falling behind due to my recent absences, so he's here to get me back on track."

"Why didn't you ask me?" Jackson said, clearly offended by his sister's actions. "I've already taken that course, so I know most of the lessons by heart."

"Ethan has taken it twice, and plus you were at work," Allison argued in a passive aggressive way, confused at her brother's suddenly disrespectful behaviour.

"I could've helped after work," Jackson added in sassily, while Ethan stood up abruptly.

"Well you're more than welcome to," he shared, trying to mosey his way out of this awkward situation. "Anyways, it's getting kind of late, and I was just on my way home." He then turned to Ally. "It was really nice...um, tutoring you."

With that, he rushed out of the room with his schoolbag, already on his way downstairs.

"Ethan, wait," Allison called out, running behind him, after gaining a look of warning from her brother.

She trudged down the stairs after Ethan, with Jackson following precariously behind, and  proposed suggestively. "You should stay for dinner."

At that suggestion, Jackson grew even more outraged, but fought back the urge to scold his sister in front of everyone.

"I couldn't possibly impose," Ethan rejected kindly, as Allison argued back.

"It wouldn't be imposing. Take it as a thank you, for helping me catch up in chemistry class today," she explained, while Ethan still seemed to be contemplating, making subtle eye movements Jackson's way, as a way of gaining his approval.

Finally, Jackson spoke aloud. "Allison's right, you should stay. She cooks the best meals."

His teeth were clenched together as he spoke, and his knuckles grew white on his balled up fists hung by his side, but he managed to give a convincing sentence.

"Yeah...I mean, okay..." Ethan trailed, a hint of uncertainty still visible on his face.

"Great, you can sit down at the table. I'll go grab the food," Allison announced, and scurried into the kitchen, with Jackson hot on her tail.

"Good idea, I'll help."

While the twins, and Ethan sat awkwardly at the dinner table, Jackson looked at his sister disapprovingly, clearly furious at her.

"What were you thinking?" He whisper-yelled, making sure no one heard them. "I cannot believe you invited a guest over without telling me. How could you be so...so -irresponsible?"

Now it was Allison's turn to showcase her rage, expressed distinctly by the arm she placed on her hip. "Excuse me, I didn't know I had to tell you every little detail about my life."

"This isn't about you," he argued, his voice getting a little louder. "This is about you not caring about the twins' future, and being completely selfish."

She gasped emotionally, outraged by his impertinent behaviour. "Don't you think you're being a little too dramatic? Inviting one person over doesn't mean the end of the world."

"Maybe not, but there are so many countless possibilities replaying in my mind, that could erupt due to a situation like this," he continued angrily. "How could you not think about that?"

"I've thought about it, Jackson," Allison huffed back. "In fact, I've thought about it way too many times, that it is making me think I'm going insane!" She gripped her head to show her distress. "I can't keep living in fear, that one day someone is going to separate all of us. I can't live like that, don't you understand?"

"It's not my fault we are forced to live like that," he countered, growing frustrated by the second.

"I didn't say it was," Allison responded sympathetically. "But that doesn't mean we accept it. I need a break sometimes, Jack. Or else...or else I fear I'll actually go insane."

Her voice was soft now, almost like the delicate breeze on a summer night, threatening to bring a little shiver down your spine. She grabbed the bowl of noodles, and strutted towards the dinner table, where she found Alex telling Ethan stories about all the pranks he pulled on his teacher and classmates.

"Uh, is everything okay?" Ethan interrupted Alex, looking in Allison's direction

comfortingly, as she nodded hesitantly, and set the bowl down gently on the table.

"Shut up, Alex! No one wants to hear about your childish pranks," Jocelyn cried, just as Jackson made his way to the dinner table, after giving Bruno his food, he so quickly scarfed down.

"Joce, didn't I say you weren't aloud to say that word?" Jackson spoke firmly, eyeing her authoritatively, while Ethan took notice of the similar interaction they shared.

"Sorry, Jackie," she muttered sadly, a permanent pout fixated on her lips.

"I'm hungry!" Alex roared, clashing his spoon and fork together to create an unpleasant, ear- shattering sound.

"Well then, you'll be glad to know, dinner is served," Allison declared, as Jackson settled a handful of noodles in both Jocelyn and Alex's plate, then went onto his.

After that, Allison and Ethan both served themselves, followed by an uncomfortable silence that seemed to dawdle on forever.

When finally, Jackson cleared his throat to say. "So Ethan, how do you find the noodles?" A peculiar eyebrow was raised, as if he were to judge every word that came out of his mouth.

Ethan only smiled collectedly in response, and shared a volitional look with Allison who sat with a docile grin. "What can I say? It is definitely a pleasure to be served by Allison, and her impressive cooking skills. The noodles are splendid."

Jackson mentally cursed him, at his eloquently fragmented sentence, and his ability to communicate so gallantly, then sat up in his chair confidently.

"Well I do make a rather refreshing peanut butter and jelly sandwich," he countered in his own defence, attempting to gloat in front of the brunette boy who was sitting across from him, earning an eye roll from Allison herself.

"Too bad it doesn't look like one," Alex found himself saying, gaining a stern look from his older brother, and a stifled chuckle from Allison and Ethan.

Alex quickly shut his gaped mouth, and went back to eating after seeing Jackson's irritated facial expression, while Jocelyn set down her metal fork on her plate loudly, adjusting the attention to her.

"I'm done," she stated conclusively, as Jackson looked her way, a sympathetic smile replacing his firm look.

"Princess, you have to finish your food. Not everyone is fortunate enough to have it," Jackson encouraged supportively, brushing her dirty blonde hair out of her face comfortingly, as Ethan viewed them both intently.

Jocelyn sighed in defeat, and then picked up her fork again. "Okay, Jackie."

"Wow," Ethan let out, swiveling his fork around in his plate in attempts to attract the noodles onto it. "You guys are all so...close."

Something about the way he said it, affected him personally, as he glimpsed at Allison only for a split second.

"Yes, well, family means everything to us," Jackson retorted, a certain look of pride controlling his actions and behaviour. "Without it, everything else is just...pointless. We believe family is power. No amount of money, or materialistic items can ever overpower that," he elaborated further, in attempts to bring Ethan to shame.

Instead, he only nodded in agreement to his truthful statement. "I admire that."

Allison noticed her brother's snarky behaviour, and held back her argumentative comments for Ethan's sake.

"As you should," Jackson went on pridefully, a conspicuous grin easily noticeable. "Being close to family is a blessing. For instance, I know very well that Allison's favourite colour is purple."

His attempt to intimidate Ethan failed miserably, after Allison herself confirmed his statement to be incorrect with a shake of her head. "Uh...no it's not."

Jackson only dismissed her response, and returned his attention back to Ethan, who was now sitting in the hot seat. "Say, do you have any siblings?"

The certain, egotistic tone in Jackson's voice was very prominent, concerning Allison ever so slightly, in fear of what he might say next.

Ethan replied falteringly. "Uh, yes...I have a ten year old sister named Emily."

"Are you two close?" Jackson pressed on further, making Ethan shift sideways in his seat uncomfortably. "What's her favourite bedtime story? Favourite movie? -Do you even know her favourite colour?"

Taken aback by the amount of questions he was bombarded with, Ethan stiffened in his spot, and froze, uncertainty and embarrassment written all over his face. All eyes were on him, and the room was completely silent, while Jackson relaxed into his seat, satisfied by his interrogative skills.

"Uh...I..." Ethan stuttered nervously, unable to fragmentize a sentence, and gazed at Allison for assistance.

"I think that's enough questions for now, Jackson, don't you think?" Allison budded in, meeting her brother's defeated eyes, that seemed to dim at her jumping to his defence.

"Whatever," he mumbled bitterly, playing with his food, as Ethan slumped back in his seat relaxedly, grateful the attention on him had faded.

-

It was almost 8:00 at night, and the Pierce's -along with their guest, had finished eating dinner.

The twins were running around, playing with Bruno, tirelessly, and Allison and Jackson were cleaning up the dinner table. The street lights from outside flashed brightly through the kitchen window, and illuminated Ethan's gentle face.

"Are you sure you don't need any help cleaning up?" He volunteered courteously, his attractive features digging a hole through Allison's heart.

"Oh, no need to. I think we got it covered," Allison replied sweetly, slipping her hands in her jeans' pockets, as she stared upwards at the brunette boy.

"Well," he started, his schoolbag draping over his right shoulder. "I really should get going. It's getting pretty late."

"Yeah, yeah, of course. I'll walk you out." Allison smiled brightly, as they both made their way to the front door, where Ethan paused to glance at Jackson one last time.

"Thank you for inviting me to dinner," he stated appreciatively. "And nice to properly meet you, Jackson."

The eldest Pierce turned his head towards the boy, and conjured up a convincing smile, replying briefly. "Likewise. Have a safe trip home."

He then went back to rinsing the dishes and placing them in the dishwasher, as Allison and Ethan both walked out onto the porch. Jackson stared at the metallic sink for far too long, and then glimpsed at the front door longingly, an unreadable expression glued to his face.

The night air was thick, and breezy, as Ethan prepared to say his farewell to Allison. For some reason, the atmosphere changed drastically, as it was now just the two of them.

In attempts to conclude the night, they both spoke at the same time, talking over each other, and then paused awkwardly, with a slight chuckle.

"You go first," Ethan suggested with a small shrug, as Allison smiled faintly.

"I'm...really sorry about my brother," she apologized on behalf of him. "Sometimes he gets a little...protective. It's not every day he sees a guy at the house." After her last sentence, she immediately blushed in embarrassment, thinking Ethan would think of her as pathetic.

Instead, he only smiled again, his dimples being highlighted in the moonlight. "It's okay. I adore your family's relationship; makes me consider improving mine." Allison tilted her head slightly, and rocked back and forth on her heels. "Anyways, I had a really good time. It was fun hanging out with you -even if it was school related."

Allison broke out into an unbreakable smile, and bit her lip cutely. "I had fun too, and thank you, once again for helping me out. If there's anything I can do for you, name it."

Ethan held on a inquisitive look, and then flashed her a toothy grin. "Actually...there is."

Allison awaited for his request intently, and noticed him scratching the back of his neck nervously, trying to organize the words that struggled to come out of his mouth.

"I was wondering if...you would like to hang out with me some day -preferably outside of a school setting?"

Allison couldn't help but feel the butterflies in her stomach again, as her heart ached for this type of intimacy.

"Yes," she beamed, instantly regretting her immediate response. "I mean, sure, I would love to."

"Great, I'll text you the details, then," Ethan responded happily, as the two just stared at each other blankly.

"I guess I'll catch you later?" Allison finally spoke, a hopeful tone evident in her voice.

"Yes you will, Pierce," the brunette boy confirmed confidently, bouncing back and forth in his spot anxiously, as he finally leaned in, and planted a soft kiss on her cheek.

Allison's heart fluttered once again, and for a moment, her life seemed perfect, under the stars and moonlight, with the boy she had always longed for.

When he pulled away, a small blush crept upon her cheeks, and she hoped it wasn't visible in the night. Ethan smiled at her, and then hopped off the porch steps, looking at her one last time. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight," she responded, still awestruck by what had just occurred.

She watched him round the corner, and only then went in after seeing him disappear into the darkness. Her heartbeat was racing, and a rush of adrenaline was coursing through her veins.

She had never experienced this type of intimacy. The one that she actually wanted.

Slowly, she went back inside the house, trying to regain her composure, and then made sure to lock the front door behind her. After breathing in the pine scented air, she saw the twins fooling around with Bruno in the living room, and then glanced towards her right to find Jackson still cleaning up.

Before Allison could speak, Jocelyn rushed over to her in excitement. "Did he kiss you, Alli? Is he your boyfriend? Are you gonna get married and have lots of babies?"

In the back, Alex made childish kissy sounds, as Allison gazed at her younger sister in amazement, while Jackson now diverted his attention to them, caught by surprise as well.

"Whoa, slow down there, Joce," she replied, still reeling in from Ethan's soft lips against her skin. "You have more questions than Jackson."

With that remark, Jackson quickly looked away from them, and continued rinsing the dishes off, still listening to their conversation.

"Ethan and I are just friends, I told you that already."

Jocelyn relaxed into a pout, and marched back over to her twin brother who was too busy giving Bruno a belly rub to notice her behaviour.

After a brief moment of silence, Jackson spoke up authoritatively. "Okay guys, it's getting late. Why don't you two head upstairs and start getting ready for bed? I'll be up in a few."

Jocelyn and Alex trotted upstairs obediently, with Bruno behind them, as Allison made her way towards the kitchen, leaning herself against the counter, gazing forward at Jackson who finished washing the dishes.

Once the three were successfully upstairs, Allison began her apology. "Look, Jackson. I'm sorry about not telling you that Ethan was coming over. I understand now that it alarmed you, and frightened you, and I never intended for that to happen." She went on sincerely. "I just needed a reminder that my life wasn't completely abnormal."

Jackson sighed in his place, and dropped the damp rag he was holding in his hand, then turned to face his sister, a look of defeat plastered on his face.

"I'm the one who should be sorry. I acted inappropriately in front of our guest," he spoke truthfully. "I get so worried that someday something will happen that will separate us, that I sometimes forget that we're all human, and we desire friendships, and relationships. As much as we all love each other, each other will someday not be enough," he continued, as Allison listened attentively. "I understand that now. I promise I won't try to control you, or tell you what to do again. You're no longer my baby sister, and you deserve to make your own choices."

Allison stood shocked in her spot, and smiled at her mature brother who always seemed to reconcile so easily with her after any argument they shared.

"Oh, and," Jackson started, remembering what he had wanted to tell her earlier. "My boss just told me today that you got the job. You'll be starting tomorrow, with me, at the Red Rose Café."

With that news, Allison transformed into an excited smile, and exclaimed. "That's great news! I can't wait to start."

"Yeah yeah, just don't embarrass me tomorrow," he responded teasingly, already on his way upstairs. "Goodnight, Alli."

She smiled in return, and watched him disappear upstairs, internally squealing about Jackson's exciting announcement.

-

It was currently 10:59, and Jackson was wide awake in his room, sitting at his desk with a pencil in his hand, and piles of sketches messily laid out on his desk.

It was completely dark in his room, with the exception of his bedside lamp glowing elegantly, making shadows of his pencil movements as it glided from left to right.

He couldn't sleep, because what Allison had said earlier in the car today concerned him, and made him curious as to what exactly she had meant. He was also worried about her and Ethan. He wasn't used to anyone like that in her life, and it took time to adjust to thinking of him as a potential first boyfriend.

He didn't want to share her, but he also couldn't keep her away from growing up, and living the life she deserved. Truth was, Jackson's greatest fear wasn't them getting separated by authorities, but them getting separated by life.

He knew one day they would all grow up, and naturally drift apart, but he couldn't accept it, because he couldn't get used to living a life without them in it.

So there he sat, alone in his room, drawing random pictures of whatever came to mind. One stood out from all the rest. It was a sketch of Allison. Her face illuminated every ounce of happiness on the planet, and she seemed so normal, and at ease.

He loved to see her like that, and he hated the fact that one day he wouldn't be able to make her happy like that. So he drew her in a smile, in attempts to make up a fictitious world where her sisters and brother would live happily together forever.

Although it was highly targeted by reality wanting to creep its way in.

-

The clock had easily struck 12:00 am, and Allison stirred around in her sleep, trying to find peace and tranquility, but she just couldn't rest.

She had trouble sleeping alone sometimes, but these past few nights left her craving for company. Her mind had images of Ethan floating in her brain, but she still couldn't find ease.

There was only one way to get a goodnight's sleep, and that was in the arms of Jackson, where she felt the most safe, innocent, and childlike.

So without hesitancy, she crept out of her room, and made her way into Jackson's, where she saw him laying flat on his back, with the covers underneath him. His window was open slightly, earning a few rattling sounds from the night wind finding its path in.

She made sure to shut his door as quietly as possible, and then tiptoed towards the side of the bed, meeting her brother's wide open eyes that stared back at her.

"Couldn't sleep, I'm guessing," Jackson only stated simply, the back and forth becoming a habit between them.

Allison sighed in defeat, and rolled over onto the bed beside him, staring upwards at the ceiling along with him.

"I don't understand why," she confessed, causing Jackson to roll over unto his side, to stare at her studiously. "And do you always sleep with the window open? It is freezing in here."

She shivered in her position, as Jackson chuckled slightly, and then pulled the covers up over both of them. Allison eased into her spot, and turned to her side as well, facing her brother.

"I like it like that," he responded intuitively. "It helps me think about certain things."

Allison only moaned in retaliation tiredly, and let her eyes close naturally, as Jackson eyed her suspiciously.

"I thought you said this was weird and inappropriate." He quoted her exact words from earlier this morning, and caught her by surprise, as she opened her eyes suddenly.

He then continued on in a teasing manner. "I think this is hypocrisy at its finest."

Even though she was severely exhausted, she managed to roll her eyes at her brother's never ending sassy comments, and nuzzled up beside him.

"No, you can't just do that," he spoke softly. "I want an explanation. What did you mean by me making promises I couldn't keep?"

Allison huffed in annoyance at him disturbing her sleep, and then opened her eyes once again, deciding to confess to him. "I just..." she trailed off. "You said last night that you will always be here to protect me, but that's not true, is it?" He scrunched his eyebrows in confusion, and listened to her elaborate further. "I mean, how can you? In a few years, when the twins have all grown up, we'll be living completely different lives. Who knows where we'll end up, but it's most likely not together. So how can you promise me that you'll protect me, when you won't even be in my life?"

Jackson listened in shock, at how hurt she truly felt by her own words, and the fact that she was thinking about the future as well. But being the older brother, he comforted her, and swung an arm around her gallantly.

"Listen to me, Allison. You're my sister, you always will be." He gave her a soft smile. "And I will love you forever, even if it means in the future we won't live together, or see each other everyday. But you have to understand, that's a part of...growing up." It pained him to say those words, but he had to be strong for his sister. "I can't always physically be there for you, but trust me when I say this, I will always, always, always, look out for you, and maintain my position in your life, because I don't want to see you hurt the way dad hurt you, ever again."

Allison stared up at her brother emotionally, and fought back the tears at his heartfelt speech. "Isn't it so stupid?"

"What?" Jackson questioned in curiosity at her rhetorical question.

"The fact that we're put into each others' lives only to separate when we're older." She shook her head vigorously, as if she was trying to shake away the thoughts.

"I'd rather spend a portion of my life with you, than none at all," he said honestly. "And that will not happen so soon. So please, live in the moment, and don't take this family for granted, ever, because things don't last forever."

The two stayed silent, unsure as to what to say to each other anymore, when Jackson broke the ice.

"So, are you gonna tell me what your favourite colour is now?" Allison emerged into a loud laugh at his silly question at the most oddest of times, and ducked her face deeply into his chest, unable to control her laughter. "Because the recent change in your most favourable colour made me look like an idiot in front of Ethan. What is it, is it yellow? Orange? Oh my goodness, don't tell me it's black, because that's not a colour. That's a shade."

He never once failed to make her laugh or smile, in the most fragile of moments, because he got the gift of seeing her happy.

"Red, it's red." Allison managed to choke out in the midst of her laughter, as he groaned in realization.

"Of course it is," he murmured, a smirk tugging at his lips. "You couldn't have told me prior to me making a fool out of myself?"

Allison shook her head childishly, still laughing uncontrollably. "You totally deserved it, for being so mean to the poor guy."

"Hey, in my defence," Jackson started off. "He looks just like a Justin Bieber rip off, and if I learned anything in my years, it's to stay far away from pop stars and their lookalikes," he spoke jokingly, making Allison laugh once again.

He just stared at her laughing against his chest, and smiled adoringly.

"Goodnight, Allison," he whispered against her ear, as they both closed their eyes, finding comfort in each other.