I slid down beside Esai, sitting on the floor, smiling at me. He looked a little disheveled but other than that he was normal, sweet, and as polite as ever. As much as Aaron tried to warn me, and put me off from talking to him, I didn’t see any of the signs that Aaron said he saw. 

“How’s your sister?” I asked softly. He looked at me, as if trying to find answers and solve me as if I was a puzzle.

“The medicine’s been messing with her a little but they say she’ll settle soon. She’s with her aunt now,” He muttered, slumping a little. He hid it, but I felt the helplessness rolling off of him.

“What about your parents?” I asked, trying to change the topic.

“We’re not blood-related. She’s my neighbor’s niece and since my parents’ were convicted, she took me in as I was almost a legal adult. I’ve watched Sera grow even though I didn’t live with them until like the past two months. She’s been family far more than my parents could even try to be. And I’m grateful for Ana for giving me a place to stay.” He replied.

Well shit, that got a lot happier.

I bit my lip, not knowing what to say. He’s been through some shit and i know it must be hard. Before I could say anything else and probably worsen the mood, Carrie walks in. "I've given up on trying to keep you out of the girls' room," She sighed.

Esai smirked playfully, "You know it Carrie,"

"Just get out Esai, Miss Alex is looking for you," She said as she walked over to us. Esai chuckled in response before standing up, giving me a last glance and walking out.

"Hey kid," Carrie muttered as she sat down on the bench in front of me, "how are you doing?" She asked. She looked genuinely concerned. It unnerved me, how much everyone cared here. Everyone, since I came here two months ago, has been nothing but kind and polite and always looking out for me.

Do I truly deserve all this?

I nodded, "Better than before?"

"Well, we're all here for you, yeah? Just come to me or James or even Miss Alex if you ever need to talk to anyone," She said with a small smile. I nodded in response as she stood up and softly patted my head before walking towards the door. "Come on, I suppose Esai must have found out by now that nobody was looking for him."

I laughed out loud at Carrie's antics. She was amazing, one the best truly. 

***

I walked out of the dance building, tired. The practice was successful, Esai and I nailed everyone of the lifts and jumps and the dancing was just flawless. I chuckled at James and Carrie bickering at something before my eyes landed on him.

Aaron.

Leaning against his sleek black car. 

Right in front of me. 

I absent-mindedly bid Carrie and James goodbye, not taking my eyes off of the beautiful specimen waiting for me. I rushed over to him as his smirk turned into a soft smile. My lips curled into a smile as well as I stood in front of him. 

"What are you doing here?" I asked, still smiling. 

"No hello sweetheart?" He asked, his deep soothing voice sending butterflies straight to my stomach. That little nickname did not go amiss as red creeper up my and probably took over my whole face. 

I suppressed my smile and narrowed my eyes to cover my my actual emotions, "I'm quite upset at you," I muttered, and I was. He was quite rude and demanding yesterday. He was a close friend but he had no right to tell me what to do or how to live my life. 

"I know," He said, his voice softer, "That's why I'm here, to apologize. I'm sorry. I didn't realize how far I had gotten or the boundaries I crossed. I'll take care from next time. Please forgive me?" He asked, a puppy eyes look on his face as he shone his brilliant green eyes at me.

I resisted the urge to smile, reminding myself of last night but eventually I gave in, "It's alright, just don't let it happen from next time," I muttered. Surprisingly, he came in for a hug, I flinched a little but soon melted into his warm touch as I wrapped my arms around him. 

He pulled away after a few moments, a big smile on his face. "Food?" He asked. I let out a small sigh  Oh how much I would love a good little brunch at an aesthetic, pretty Cafe with Aaron. But unfortunately for me, I'm grounded. 

"I'm grounded, remember?" I said. 

"Yeah I do, that's why I bought food," He replied, opening the passenger door for me. I looked at him with a question but he motioned me to step in. So I did. He slammed the door close before getting something from the back and sliding into the driver's seat.

"Pizza?" He asked as he set a bag in front of me. I smiled and thanked him before he started the car and started driving towards my home. "Well, what are you waiting for? Dig in," He said, not taking his eyes off the road. I nodded in response and opened the box.

The rest of the ride was a bliss as we chattered away about our common interests and other things and I I found out some other important facts like the one that he already knows my brothers. When I asked him why, he just replied with a short, "Ask Dorian," Dorian seems to have the most connections in high-school among all the other brothers. Which was nice but a little weird. 

We pulled into the driveway and I unlocked the house as Aaron gave the car keys to the guard. They seemed to know him. As we walked in, I called for Dorian before settling myself on the couch. Aaron, unlike me, remained standing and looked as Dorian who was now walking down the stairway. "Aaron? It's been so long," He muttered as he pulled Aaron in a bro hug. 

"Yeah it's been a while."

"How come you're here today?" Dorian asked as I watched their interaction with intrigue, "Did you land yourself in trouble?" 

"Why do you always assume that?" He asked and Dorian shrugged in response, "And no, I did not. I just came to drop Astria off from her dance class."

"How do you two know each other?" I asked not wanting to wait any longer.

"Oh Aaron's parents sent him here so that he could attend the best school in the country where he could achieve his full potential. I'm his God parent." Dorian replied.

"That's stretching it. He's just supposed to keep an eye on me," Aaron said.

Dorian shook his in response as Aaron spoke up again. "I'll get going now," He said.

"You-" Dorian started but I beat him to it.

"You should stay a little more," I said, standing up and walking over to the pair.

"Yeah, you shouldn't be saying g that little Miss. You're grounded." Dorian said.

"Because of you, sir," I replied, my voice a little sassy as I mocked the word sir.

"Because of me? You were the one who didn't manage to keep your phone alive,"

"Alright you two," Aaron cut in, a smirk on his face, "You don't need to fight, I'll be back soon."

He pulled me in for a small side hug which I reciprocated. Dorian and Aaron sheared the same bro hug before he left. As soon as he was out the door, I heard Zion's voice from above.

"So you and Aaron, what's going on there?" He asked. I looked up to see him watching us with narrowed eyes. I narrowed my eyes in turn.

"Nothing, don't let your imagination run too wild," I snarked before walking away, into the kitchen.

***

The next three weeks of my grounding went by in bliss. I didn't have to worry of extra socializing, Aaron would come to pick me up from my dance class every other day with food. We got close and the car ride were sweet and comforting and probably the part of the day I looked most forward to. Esai and I held the trophy again as we came first for our duo performance. I couldn't have felt happier and accomplished before as I did after the performance where we nailed everyone lift, split and the hit the beats on time. It twas the perfect and my best performance till date.

Before I knew it my three months here had ended. Halfway through the fourth month, arrived a day I was waiting for with much anticipation.

•••

A/N

I promised a reader I would update a chapter in this week, so here it is!!

SIBLING MEME

QOTD: What do youbthink the day isss?????

Toodles

~Ash