He stayed up all night

I yawned so loud feeling famished. I rolled on the vast bed, thinking I was in my room back at home. Puuh! I fell with a thud and yelled because of the pain of having my ass on the hard slab. I opened my eyes and realized I was in a small, untidy room with a tiny bed which looked like a child's bed.

I searched for a foot wear but got nothing and so I went through the clothes scattered on the floor. They all had a masculine scent, a familiar musky smell that I was used to. That's when I realized that I was in Fox's room. Was this how he lived?

The door suddenly squeaked and a middle aged woman stormed in.

"Are you okay? I heard you screaming...is anything the matter?" She asked.

"No, I'm fine. I'm hungry." I said.

"It's fine my child, I prepared breakfast, come with me."

"Yeah." I mumbled and followed her, with my bare feet.

The moment I stepped into a small dining area, everyone on the small cracked table, stopped eating and shot daggers at me.

"Hey, come sit with me." One tall guy with braced teeth pulled a chair for me to sit beside him.

"Make yourself comfortable." The middle aged woman who I assumed was the mother, smiled fondly at me and I pursed my lips. Fox was not at the table, where was he? Did I do something wrong last night?"

I made myself cosy on the chair but then, felt uneasy with the way the identical twins kept on staring at me. They were probably in the same age gap with Sara, Carissa's daughter.

"Are you perhaps looking for Fox?" One of the girls blurted out.

Even before I could find my mouth to speak, the other sister laughed out loud and said.

"For sure she is. Poor Fox, he stayed up all night watching over to you."

"Girls! Finish up your meal and get ready for school." Their mother cast a warning look that made them concentrate on their meal.

"No school today in case you've forgotten, I'm here to remind you." One of the twins irked her eyebrows while scorning.

"Then eat up and go outside to play." She threw her hands in the air dismissively.

I was so much engrossed in my thoughts that I had barely touched my food. The girls left the table and I could see their mother busying herself in the kitchen.

"He was worried, we were all worried when he brought you home. You had passed out and only came to after a few hours, even so, he didn't get a glimpse of sleep because you couldn't literally let him go. Luckily, you slept soundly and he had to get to bed a few hours to sunlight."

I came out of my reverie and listened to every word his brother was saying.

"I'm sorry, I was out of control and...."

"You don't have to apologize, I do understand where you're coming from. Everyone does have that side, that side that breaks us, not to heal nor repair." He covered my hand slightly over his to assure me that I wasn't all alone.

"I appreciate it. Your mother is lucky to have such beautiful children, she's blessed." I marveled as I stole glances with her as she did cleaning.

"Actually, she's my aunt. My mother is long gone." He muttered.

"I'm so sorry."

"It happens, to everyone, that's to be precise and besides, I was just a little kid when she passed away right after giving birth to Fox. My father couldn't make ends meet for the both of us. You can imagine, being a father and a mother too. When I became of age, my hands were fit enough to do some odd jobs to help father. We just moved in here to keep his sister company. She's all we have left now."

He sighed heavily as he poured more green tea to his cup. I just played with my cup and looking up, I saw a tall silhouette staring at me. My heart skipped a beat when my eyes met with Fox's. He drew closer to the table and sat right next to me.

"Excuse me, I have to run some errands." His elder brother stood up, picked his coat from one old couch and left. I tensed for the first time, two months and our paths chose not to cross, no goodbyes and only hard feelings. He took an apple from the bowl and cleared his throat perhaps, he wanted to clear the air.

"How are you feeling now?" He asked plainly.

"Better I guess. Thanks for helping me yesterday night. I don't know what became of me going insane in the middle of the road." I blubbered at least not to sound creepy or awkward.

"Whatever you're going through, you'll get over it soon enough. Tough times do not last remember?"

"And only tough people do." I completed his statement. He gave me a wink and I tried hard not to blush, I didn't want to give myself false hopes. I owed him an apology and maybe I had to own up to my mistakes at least, for us to be in good terms again.