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I nervously rubbed my forearm as I made myself comfortable in the first-class seat. My pup, Sky, slept quietly in her kennel as I gazed softly at her. I sighed suddenly jealous of the small husky. My brothers, whom I have little to no memory of, were kind enough to send me a ticket. I quite appreciated this action as my mother would have gotten me the cheapest one. I wouldn't have minded, but I had to admit, this was much better than being crammed between two people.

Adjusting my worn-out backpack near my feet, beside Sky on the already elongated seat/bed, I started a random movie as everyone around me turned off the little lights above their seats and prepared to catch the fleeting moments of sleep before the flight lands at midnight. I was painfully aware of my stomach churning and growling, reminding me of the dinner I had been denied of tonight. I remember begging my mom to let me have some of the lasagna she had made for dinner, but she insisted I will get my dinner on the plane which will take off at twenty three hours. Sighing, I pressed down the blanket further into my stomach to gain some relief as I try to focus on the movie.

A couple hours, few groans and a horror movie later, I decided to take a small lavatory break. Stuffing my phone in my pocket, I quietly walked down the aisle to the lavatory. As I finished my work, my phone chimed up and I noticed that it's a message from Octavian, my oldest brother. My brows furrowed unconsciously as I tried to read the message through the cracked screen.

'You land at midnight, don't you?- Octavian' was what it said. I ignored the lack of greetings, as I knew that it had been years since we've talked to each other. We had a conversation a week before to know how we're going to do this when my mom planed on her break. Besides him, I've talked to Zion who is the older twin but younger than the other two. It was a lighthearted conversation compared to the formal one with Octavian.

'Around 2:30 a.m.' I replied, skipping the greeting part completely as well. As I walked out of the lavatory, my attention was drawn to the fact that he saw my text but didn't reply. Silently and without reacting, I stuffed my phone back into the pocket of my shorts. Brushing my unruly curls out of my face, I walked down the aisle, being as quiet as I could be.

As I stumbled past cubicles in the dark aircraft, I somehow completely missed the lady coming my way. I did not realize that I had stepped on her foot until she yelped softly. A gasp escaped my lips as I look at the beautiful middle-aged lady with wide eyes.

She was now looking at her sneaker-clad foot, biting her lip softly. "I am so sorry for that. It was just too dark and I'm really, really sorry," I whispered, not wanting to disturb anyone.

She looks up and smiles lightly, "It's fine, hun don't worry about it," she whispered back. I smiled guiltily in return as she spoke up again, "I noticed you on the airport as well, you're alone, right?" She asked, her gorgeous blue eyes squinting slightly as she took a clearer look at my face.

Now it was my turn to bite my lip. I wasn't so sure if I should tell her, a stranger, that I am alone on an aircraft hundreds of metres above the ground. One of her eyebrows rose as she waited for an answer. Sighing, I slowly nodded, giving her the answer she was waiting for.

A soft expression took over her features as she smiled. "Take care and be safe, ok?" She muttered, surprising me. Keeping my shock aside, I nodded slightly. She gave me a last smile before giving me a curt nod as she walked by.

I smiled to myself as I shrug and walk back to my seat. Her concern was a change from the usual attitude and behaviour I get. It was a beautiful change. Moments like this help me have faith in humanity. All this just helps me know that not everybody is rude and self-obsessed. And not everybody thinks that you're the scum of the Earth.

You matter, even though people's actions say otherwise, you matter and you have an equal place in the world, equal rights of being loved and being cared for.

With newfound hope, I stepped back into my seat/bed and snuggled myself into the blanket. My attention is immediately drawn to Sky who is still asleep. It was selfish of me to bring Sky home even though mom told me there's not enough food for us. But the food stock I once found in the cabinet told me otherwise.

Her anger was through the roof that day but thankfully I had gotten lucky with her punishments. I smiled as I remembered the moment I had first laid eyes on Sky. She was a scrawny little white puppy, walking around and looking through the garbage for food. Huskies were nearly impossible to find on the roads considering their worth. I was surprised sure, but she had my heart from that very moment.

After getting her checked, I got some essentials from my salary from working at the library. She was dramatic at moments but it was worth it.

My thoughts were cut short as my stomach twisted painfully and growled as I shifted around and tried to find a comfortable spot. I ignored the constant requests of my stomach as I turnned on another movie.

The beautiful air hostesses did their rounds as time passes. I could feel my eyes getting droopy with every passing second. My understanding powers decreased as the words from the actors just sounded like a grumble. Sighing, I turned it off and closed my eyes, letting exhaustion take over me.

In what feels like a couple of moments, I'm shaken awake. With much effort, I forced my eyes open and saw a petite, brown-eyed air hostess smiling at me. "We're landing soon, miss. We need you sit up and fasten your seat belt," She muttered softly, still smiling. I nodded and sat up. I looked around to see that the lights have been turned on and almost everyone is sitting up. The cabin crew was walking around, waking up people who are still asleep.

I folded the blanket and sat up, fastening my seatbelt. I tugged at my hoodie's sleeves as I waited in anticipation. It's been years since I've talked to them, talked to my brothers and I can't wait to meet them again. A part of me thinks that this is going to go down horribly,that they're just going ignore me while they rule. But the other part of thinks that they will be the same loving brothers i left behind, well the part sure hopes that they're accept me.

They've changed, no doubt. Seeing them on the news every other day was a fortunate occurrence. Their fame, their money, their looks, they were famous. They were loved. As I watched them grow from far, I could ignore the pit in my stomach. The pit got deeper every time I saw them. The better they got, the deeper the pit got.

They were loved by millions, they were the famous business owners, while I was the opposite, hated by all, small, the not-so-pretty going-through-adolescent girl. Throughout the years it got better, puberty did me good but even that wasn't good enough for them. I yearned for them to call me or pick up my calls. But that never happened. Gradually, I accepted that the fame got to their head and that they wouldn't want to be associated with a low-life. It was hard but I still tried. Tried to reach out to them but again it never happened.

I was angry for a long, long time. But soon the anger lessened and the only feelings remaining were hurt, sadness and betrayal. The moment they agreed to take me in was a horror for me. I was scared to face them, face their judgement but when I had no choice left, I tried to look at the positives of this trip.

I wanted to try and mend our relationship. I wanted us to be the same siblings again. But I'm scared. It's been ten years since I last met them face to face. The news channels all show them to be heartless little bastards but I hope they're not emotionless fools in real life.

I knew my anger hasn't diminished yet, just buried under the hurt and sadness and I don't want it to be diminished. I wanted them to know that I'm angry with them. That they hurt me with their ignorance.

I stepped out of the aircraft, Sky in one hand and the other hand in my short pockets, smiling giddily at the thought of seeing at least one of my brothers in just a matter of minutes. I walked ahead towards the conveyor belt to get my luggage. I waited alongside the herd of passengers who were, just like me, waiting for their luggage.

I could feel the people staring at me. The girl with worn-out belongings that travelled first class. My smile dimed and my face was expressionless as I pulled the hood up and hide half of my face. I tugged at my sleeves as I looked for my bag. Sensing movements, I peeked into the travel-friendly kennel and saw Sky awake, observing her surroundings. I kept silent as I smiled at her making her bark joyfully at me. I giggled a little as I tried to quieten her down. I stood up straight and looked around. After a minute or two, I spoted the mint fuzzy pompom that I attached to my all black suitcase come into sight.

Getting the bag down from the belt, I started to walk away, dragging it along with me. The happiness was still a blooming warmth in my chest but along were the nervous thumping of my heart against my chest.

My hands clenched around the handle of my suitcase as I stepped outside the almost empty airport. My eyes followed the scarce people that waited for their loved ones but I saw no familiar face. I clenched my jaw as I will myself to not lose hope in them. Sky was now moving around in her small kennel, letting out soft barks

Deep pants escaped me as the cold gets harsher. Before I knew it, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around to look at the young man, looking at me expectedly. His black eyebrows were raised as he stood in front of me in a black suit.

"Well, are you Miss Astria Crawford?" he asked as his eyes narrowed, presumably trying to look at my face. My eyes narrowed too under my hood. I would rather walk alone with the help of google than tell this unknown man my name.

"And why would you like to know?" My voice came out sharp and I made no move to remove my hood.

"The Crawford family sent me to pick Miss Astria up. So, I would like to know if you're her," He replied. My eyes narrowed further and my fists clenched. Anything happens but I still won't rule out the possibility that they will come and get. Sky had now started growling softly at the man, her little legs bent, as she took a defensive pose.

"My family will come to pick me up, thank you," I replied curtly as I walked over to a more crowded section of the airport compound. I rubbed my hands together and tried to ignore the tightening feeling in my chest. Octavian said he would be here to pick me up. I trust him, I have faith in his word. And I believe that he won't be dumb enough to ask his sister to leave the airport with a stranger.

I swiftly blinked my eyes trying to get rid of the tears. I folded my hands, hiding my frozen, bare palms from the direct cold. I sniffed a little as I looked straight ahead. I was not ready to accept the pain of rejection.

I might as well be overreacting right now, but all I know is that I've been dying to meet them, hug them or at least see them face to face but they didn't even care to pick me up. You would think years of neglect and bullying would toughen me up. But nothing would prepare me for this ignorance from my brothers.

Taking a few deep breaths, I tried to calm the storm inside me. I opened the chain of my backpack and tried to find my phone. Going through the messages, I searched for their name, trying to find if they've sent me a message to warn me that they weren't going to come. But there was nothing. And that kept the hope in me alive.

I calmed myself and forced myself to believe that they're just late and that man is just pretending. I nodded to myself and opened my bag to put the phone in. But the moment I was about to drop it in, my phone buzzed. My eyes widened as I prayed for seconds that it won't be a message from them. But it was.

'I'm sorry Astria, but none of us were able to come. So, I'm sending my assistant to pick you up.' This was the text from Octavian with a picture of the guy I had met moments ago. I sighed and wiped the tears flowing down my cheeks.

This just teaches me not to expect anything from anyone, be it family or friends, nobody cares enough about others to live up to their expectations. You might be pleasantly surprised by how kind people can be but when they get to know you and you get to know them, they'll just constantly let you down.

With time you'll get to know them better and your expectations from them will increase and they just won't be able to live up to them. But I don't think wanting your brother whom you haven't talked to in ten years to come to get you was too much. But I don't think they're as happy to see and I am to see them.

I just shook my head and stuffed my phone in the pocket of my shorts. A very dumb decision on my part to wear shorts when I was supposed to be landing at night but I realized that just now when I couldn't feel my legs because of the chilly winds. Calming my raging thoughts, I looked around and notice that a lot of people have left.

I sighed, I didn't really have a choice. I didn't want to trust this man, even though Octavian does. Calling a cab would be a hell lot worse than going with the man. I had half a mind run inside and stay at the airport till the morning but of course, that was dumb. By now, Sky has fallen back to sleep. At least someone is getting their sleep.

My phone buzzed again, and I let out an angry huff. Turning it on, I see Lydel's name pop up on the screen. My lips curl into a small smile as pick up the call.

"Ria, hello?" Her voice filtered through the speaker.

"Lyd, hey, shouldn't you be sleeping right now?" I asked. Lydel has been my friend since we were kids. After mum and I moved away we lost touch but she somehow found my mum's number a few years back and we have been talking ever since.

"I should be but I'm not tired. Anyway, have you gotten home yet?" She asked. I hear someone shout at her be quiet, which I'm assuming is her brother. The familiar voices and their constant bickering made me chuckle a little as I tried to forget my brothers for a while.

"I-uh, I haven't," I muttered in a low voice as I saw the last passenger leave.

"It's three, what are you doing there?" She asked.

"Um-I, I'll get there," I muttered, wanting this to be over as quickly as possible. I looked around and the man walking towards me. The fact that he was around 6 feet and I was 5'2 and that he probably had muscles under his suit and I was a literal twig didn't help the fear rise in me.

"Is Octavian or Dorian there?" She asked and I heard thumps from her side.

"No?" I answered, but it came out as a question.

"Shit, Astria. Did you call them?" She asked, her voice frantic.

"No, Octavian messaged me that he sent his assistant to pick me up, but I don't think I want to go with him," I poured everything out as I heard her curse.

"You wait there, I'm coming," I heard her say. I opened my mouth but before I can get the words out she puts me on hold. I rolled my eyes and waited for her to be back on the call again. About a minute or two, I heard the jingling of the keys from her side and spoke up.

"Lyd, it's not safe for you to come here right now, at like three in the morning," I whispered furiously at her, "Plus you don't know how to drive."

"I called Jesper, we'll be there in about five minutes. And to clear it up, us driving there to get you is better and safer than you staying there." She said.

"Jesper? Jesper Dawson?"

"Yup,"

"I haven't talked to him in ten years. What makes you think that he'd want to be disturbed by a bitch he hasn't talked to in ten years?" I reprimanded as I rub my forehead in exasperation.

"Ha ha," She muttered sarcastically, "The fun part. He agreed."

"Wha- even though he did, I don't want to disturb him," I sighed, trying to get my point through to her.

"Please, it's not disturbing," she said but a honk cut her short, "Okay so he is here, we'll get there in about three minutes. Stay right there in front of the entry. There should be security there."

"I know, that's why I stuck around and not walked away," I muttered, rolling my eyes.

"Don't roll your eyes so much babe, they might just get stuck at the back of your head," She replied back. I can practically hear the smirk in her voice.

"Haha, very funny," I said, a scowl on my face, contradicting my words, "Just get here soon." And with that, I cut the call.

After a couple of minutes of pacing, foot-tapping, tugging at the hood and shivering, I finally saw a black car pull up. Just before the car comes to a halt, the door of the passenger seat opened and Lydel jumped out of the moving car.

"What kind of an idiot wears shorts when they know they get cold easily." Were the first words she said to me. I rolled my eyes but a smile found its way onto my lips. Her arms encircled me as she hugged me and I returned the hug by wrapping my skinny arms around.

"It's good to see you too," I grumbled as we pull away. Her eyes instantly landed at the travelling kennel in my hand. Her eyes immediately widen as she makes a ridiculous face, her hands landing at the base of her neck, as she gasps.

"She is so cute," she said, her voice shaky. I let out a small chuckle. Jesper walked out of his car and walked towards us, his calculating blue eyes set on me. I gulp as I realized that he hadn't changed a bit. Even when he was a child, he stood in a corner, quietly observing the 5-6 years olds that played around in the garden.

At first, I thought that he was a shy little boy, who was afraid to talk to anybody. But a harshly worded rejection to play with me from him changed my mind to think that he was just a mean boy who thought that everyone was bad.

He is a year older than us so naturally, I didn't see much of him until a few months later he showed up with Lydel and Lucien. I sighed and put on a bright smile and I put forward my hand, my 5-year-old self was a bit slow. The scowl was still set on his chubby six-year-old face as he slapped my hand away. From that day, I didn't really talk to him but slowly he warmed up to me because Lydel wouldn't leave me and Lucien him. He started bearing me and slowly we became friends. He soon was a part of our small group. He enjoyed with us and played around, always, without the scowl on his face.

Then I moved and the last time I saw him, he had his scowl back, accompanied with frown lines on his forehead. I waved my tiny hand as tears flew down my cheek. That little six-year-old couldn't understand why her mother was taking her away from everyone. But complied and waved one last time to her family and friends. Her brothers waved back, tears flowing down their cheeks as well, their father was scared at the thought of his daughter being taken from him but he couldn't do anything. So, her just waved as he held his tears in and tried to be strong for his sons.

Lydel and Lucien were both sniffling, they couldn't really tell what was happening but to know that they would possibly never meet me again was a valid reason for them to cry. Jesper on the other hand looked at me with his scowl back. My lips curled into a watery smile and I wave at him, but he harshly turned his face away from me. Not looking back, even as I called him.

I broke into tears all over again, settling back inside the car. My mum couldn't care less, she had her things going on as she instructed the driver with a stone hard face.

That day a six-year-old lost everything she had, her friends, family, everyone. She didn't even know that it would break her, but as the years passed on she realised that a part of her was gone forever and she was doubtful that she will ever get it back.

Right now standing in front of a sixteen-year-old Jesper, I was scared to even utter a word. I was scared that this time our conversation would resemble our last encounter. It made me want to hide in the corner but my dumb self did the exact opposite.

I gave him an awkward wave with my free hand and I smiled nervously. "Are you that eager to go through that friends but not friends stage we already passed?" his deep heavy voice shocked but I tried not to show it. I knew his voice would have turned to be so... husky.

"N-no, of course not," I replied with wide eyes.

"Then stop being so awkward," He muttered as he rolled his eyes.

"Of course, lemme just take the thing and adjust this thing and Sky- um- I-" I stopped myself abruptly as I felt Lydel's amused gaze on me. I turned to her with a glare as I composed myself. Tucking a strand hair of my hair behind my ear, I turned to Jesper, red-faced like a Tomato.

"Let's just go," I heard him sigh as he picked up my suitcase and started walking ahead. I ran after him, Lydel following my lead.

"Wait, I can pick that up, j-just wait for a second," I shouted as I tried to catch up to him. Did I mention he had grown tall like 6'2 tall?

"Shut up Ria," He lazily muttered as I turn red again, this time again from embarrassment.

"Yeah, yeah I can do that," I murmured as I slow into a medium paced walk. 

***

A/N
So, that was the first chapter, kinda boring ngl but it also gave a little bit of background on Astria's past. But yeah, the next chapter she's gonna meet two of her siblings, should be fun👀, not.

Lmao sorry but yeah. Also, I'm really excited about this book and I hope you are too. I have few chapters pre-written so you guys wouldn't have to wait much!! AND I have so many things planned and I just hope you stay tuned for this crazy journey of Astria!!!

Also, if you liked this chapter and are eager for the next one, make sure to vote and comment and tell me about your favourite parts of this chapter!!! 

~Ash