Yang slapped Ryan hard on his back as we parted our ways towards our cars.

'I'm not gonna ask why but what?' I spun around my heels to face Ryan.

He shrugged like he didn't do anything. 'Gotta do what you you gotta do.'

'Ryan seriously? You were on Live tv.' I argued but he shrugged again as he took his keys out and pressing a button, started the car.

'It's not really a big deal actually. I don't like her.'

I furrowed . 'Why not?'

'Cause, well she just—'

Ryan stopped as soon as my phone rang and I took it out, it was Ian. I looked up at Ryan who encouraged me to take it and so I did. 'Hey, Ian.'

'Is that Ian's sister?'

'Yes. Who are you?' It was a femal's voice.

'He... er... needs some assistance.' My eyes widened and Ryan had detected my fear as he gestured me to sit in the car.

'Where is he?'

***

I opened the door and closed it behind as I ran into the building. It was a shabby bar built at the far end of the city inhabited by particularly no one.

Just as I entered, a strong allure of alcohol hit my nostrils and I brought my hand up to my mouth. 'Ian!' I yelled from behind two badly drunk people dancing on the dance floor. They turned around to walk towards me but Ryan came from behind, and grabbing a hand full of their shirts, pushed them across the corner of the room and they didn't mind getting up either.

'Ian!' I shouted his name again as I sprinted from among a crowd of people. 'Ian, where are you?'

'Hey, he's there.' Ryan tapped me on the shoulder as he pointed behind the bar counter.

I didn't waste a single moment as I sprinted behind the bar counter and there was Ian blacked out on the floor. 'Ian!' I shook him but he didn't gave a damn. 'Ian, get up.' I quaked him further.

'He's not gonna get up.' Ryan said. 'Let's get him outta here.' He turned his neck back as he saw a bunch of drunk men coming towards us.

'But what happened to him?' His face looked sunken and pale.

'I have no idea Âme, but we need to get him outta here.' Those brawl men were advancing towards us at incredible pace and from their gait, they weren't in a good mood.

I nodded and picked Ian up. Ryan looped Ian's one arm around his neck  while I did the same with the other one. I almost bent down as I took in Ian's weight.

I straightened my back to hold onto him. Ryan was holding the most weight and he was the one who dragged Ian out of that strange building occupied by bunch of drunk lads who probably had no life.

We laid him on the back seat. 'He's beaten.' I stated as I inspected his bruises on his forehead and his redden knuckles.

'Let's get him checked.' Ryan sat on his seat and ushered me to do the same.

We reached the hospital and a nurse immediately helped him on the stretcher. A doctor was called and after her inspection, she told us that it was nothing much. He was just unconscious because of overdose and his bruises weren't quite serious. His bruises were dressed and he was good to go.

'He's gonna be fine.' Ryan placed his hand on mine as I stared out of the window blankly.

I nodded. 'I don't know. What has happened to him? It's not Ian.'

'He's just treating the pain in his own way.' Ryan halted his car with a questioning look in the middle of a road that  parted in two ways.

'Drop me at my house.'

'Are you sure? You can take him to mine.'

'I have to face Logan eventually. Better now.' I clenched my jaw as my tongue rolled his name out. And at that moment, hate seemed such a little word.

'Okay.' Ryan didn't seem satisfied but gladly, he didn't argue further.

I sighed as I saw my house after five days and abruptly, it wasn't mine anymore. 'Let's gets him inside.' I said. I opened the door of the car and stepped out. I helped Ryan who hauled Ian out and draped his one arm around his neck while I did the same with the other.

When we reached the door, my hands jiggled as they fished out the keys. My hands shook as images of Henry and Logan probably waiting for me on the other side flashed in my mind. Henry's scowled face and Logan scary smirk made the keys fell on the floor.

I picked them up and just I was to open the lock, Ryan took the keys from me and opened the door.

No one was in there.

I heaved out a long sigh and suddenly, all the weights fell out of my shoulders as we both took Ian up to his room. There were a few traces of Henry's bottle of alcohols but no sign of Logan.

Opening the door, I kicked away Ian's clothes from my way and almost fell on the bed as I dropped Ian on it. I shifted Ian's head so that his neck will be comfortable.

It pained to see him like this. He was not Ian. He was not my brother. He was someone else. Someone, I didn't recognise.

I placed the covers on him and stood there watching him all the way telling myself how lost we both were.

'Hey,' Ryan snaked his arm around my back as he turned me around. His thumb caressed my cheek and I closed my eyes to feel his touch. 'It's gonna be okay.' He said slowly and I lowered my eyes to the pockets of his hoodie as I thought about what he said.

Okay. It's seemed so unreal to me now. It was a fallacious belief I kept on living on. 'Look at me.' His index finger under my chin lifted up my face to look into his eyes that were hooded over with his hair. 'I know it's hard, Jane. Seeing your brother falling apart and having your past showing up. I know it gets shitty and tears you up but believe me when I say you'll gonna get the happiness of all the sorrow you exchanged for your life.'

'I don't know Ryan. It all seems too fucked up to me.'

I laid my head on his heart and closed my eyes to feel his heartbeat. 'I know, babe. But things will be alright. Just trust yourself, yeah?'

'Okay.'

***

'Hey,' I shifted around and and snuggled into something hard yet delicate. He ran his hand at the back of my neck and it tickled but I didn't want to get up. 'Âme, get up.'

I gasped as I got up from Ryan's chest and for a second, he was perplexed too. His other arm, around me, was in the same position as it was. 'I'm sorry, I—I.' I ran my fingers through my hair to pull them away from my face. 'I thought something happened.' I turned around to see Ian still asleep. We both slept on his couch. Ryan didn't want to leave me alone and I was fine with it.

'No, nothing happened. He's fine.'

'Yeah.' I placed my hand on my chest to control the heart beat.

'We need to get ready for school.' He got up too and looked at his watch.

'Yeah.' I couldn't muster up to say anything.

'I'm going home and I'll come back to pick you up. Yeah?' He tugged the covers away as he stood up.

'Yeah.' I bobbed my head.

He kissed me on my forehead and left. I glared at Ian who seemed so peaceful sleeping there so I stood up and walked out of his room. I jerked open the door of my room and practically fell on the bed.

After a minute of staring up at the ceiling, I got up from the bed and walked towards the closet. I took out the clothes whichever touched my hands as I took a shower.

It was a short shower for I only took it to refresh myself. Swathing the towel around my body, I stepped out of the bathroom. Just as I closed the bathroom door behind me, someone called. 'Hello there.'

I briskly turned around to see Logan there. He was exactly how he was before. Those muscular arms, those blue eyes, the symmetrical nose and a tattooed hand. Though he had grown his hair enough to be textured.

'What the hell?' I placed my hand tightly on my towel and one on the bathroom knob just in case. 'What are you doing here?' My heart picked up the pace and I stalled down the lump as my knees vibrated.

'We didn't talk good when we first met.' He leaned against the wall. His eyes shamelessly trailed up and down my body so I placed my one leg behind to give him some less view of my body. 'You ran away. I don't think you can now.'

'Get out of my room.' My eyes peeped around the room to find something I could use for my defence.

'I thought we were fine but I was wrong. You are still grumpy like you were.'

'Logan, get out of my room or I'll ...'

'Uh huh, keep going on. What will you exactly do if I don't get out?' He tried arching his eyebrow but failed.

'I'll kill you.' This made his neck turned to me. His eyes widened in shock but soon he cracked up in a good laugh.

'Okay, now. This got interesting.' He folded his arms over his chest as he looked at me to say something else.

'I'm dead serious.' I was. His face caused adrenaline to run through my body so much that I was scared that I might do something to him that I'll regret later. My legs itched to kick him out of my room but my towel was an obstacle. 'I will kill you.'

He smirked as he stepped closer and I tightened my hand around the knob further. His hand slipped my hair away from my neck that traced the scar his fire gave me. If he'll do anything more, I would push him in to the bathroom and lock him there but he didn't.

'You've already.' He whispered as he walked out of the room. I immediately rushed to the door and locked the it. Wearing my clothes quickly, I unlocked the door and immediately rushed out of the house.

Ryan was already out waiting for me and I sat in his car with heavy breath. 'You're OK?' He asked, concerned.

'Let's go.' The school was in a good blur. My mind kept wandering back to Ian, Logan, Henry and Ryan. I still needed to ask Ryan about that little stunt he pulled up but every time I found the time, it'll slip away from my mind.

As I insisted, Ryan dropped me back home. I gave him a firm nod saying I will be fine. Unlocking the door, I cautiously stepped in.

There was an envelope laying on the counter. It was from the hospital about the bill for Ian. I didn't have any money with me when I took him there so I didn't pay but soon, I had to pay them.

The main door was opened and Henry had walked in. I didn't want to talk to him so I rushed up to Ian's room. I stepped in Ian's room who was up. He groaned as he tried to get out of the bed but he sat back.

'Ian, hey.' I walked towards him and sat on the bed with him. 'How are you?'

'Crappy.' He whimpered with his head in his bandaged hands.

'I know. It's the hangover. You were pretty much drunk when I got you.'

'Why? Why did I drink so much?' He bent forwards onto his lap for his head ached more. He was trying hard not to yell as his veins popped out from his neck.

'I don't know. You tell me.'

He almost yelled as he fell back on the bed. 'It fucking hurts.'

'I know. Why don't you lie down?'

'Why did you bring me here?'

'What?' I was confused. He was concerned about why I brought him to his house rather than his headache?

'I told you Jane, I don't want to be here! Oh fuck!' He shouted but he had used to much of his energy as he held his head too tightly that his knuckles began going white.

'Ian, calm down.' I grabbed his wrist.

'No!' He freed his wrist from me. 'I don't want to be here!' He clumped his way towards the door that opened instantly and Henry showed up. Ian raised his fist to punch him but Henry caught it mid way.

'Lie down kid.' He ordered as he grabbed Ian but Ian, weakly though, fought him.

'Get your bloody hands away from me!' Ian finally succeeded punching Henry who didn't back away rather carried Ian to his bed. 'Jane!' He yelled but I watched in scepticism as he laid Ian down, who, at having his head hit the pillow, dozed off immediately.

'He needs to sleep. Get him the pills the doctor gave him.' Henry commanded in his heavy tone but for Ian's sake, I ran to his nightstand and brought Henry the pills.

I read the sticker on the bottles indicating when to give which pill. Taking them out according to the prescription, I uncovered the glass of water and looked at Henry who was picking Ian up and enough so that he'll sit. 'Give em' to me.'

I did and he threw the pills into Ian's mouth then drank him the water. Laying him onto the pillow, he stood up from the bed.

'He'd be needin' em' sooner. He ain't right. Better stay with him as much .' Henry turned the boxes of pills around to examine them. 'I'll be down.' He three the pills on the nightstand and left the room.

After a minute of trying to figure why Henry helped Ian, I moved my feet to the phone that rang. 'Yeah?'

'At Ryan. Quick.' Mia cut the call and I already found myself running downstairs completely ignoring He Ryan who was sitting on the couch and Logan who just entered. I sat in the car with my heart racing at an incredible rate. Please, don't let anything happen to Ryan.

My hands shook so much that after driving for a minute, I stopped the car to calm myself down. I called Ryan but he didn't pick up and almost tears were to flow down my cheeks as I tried to breathe. I rolled down my window and raced my car to his house.

I got out of the car and without bothering to lock it, or to pick my phone, I knocked on Ryan's door that opened immediately.

It was all dark as if someone had purposely switched the lights off.

Just as I was about to make my way towards the switches, a light immediately fell on a chair which was turned to the other way.

'Hello?' I called out to the chair that turned around slowly to face me.

Even after adjusting to the dark, my eyes couldn't make out the person's face. 'Excuse me? Who are you? Is Ryan okay?'

'So you came.' That man spoke with a deep voice. My legs began shaking.

'Where's Ryan? Is he okay?' I blinked to clear my eyes from the tears. 'Who are you?'

'Your worst nightmare.' He spoke slowly and instantaneously, the lights came into life.

'Noah?' I voiced out my utter bewilderment. Noah, with a hat on his head situated in such a way that his face couldn't be seen in dark , was sitting on the chair and I thought some stranger had taken over Ryan's house. I huffed a sigh.

'Damn it Mia!' Noah stomped his foot on the ground as he stood up from the chair so quickly that the chair rolled back to hit the table.

'What? Weren't you done?' Mia came out of a room with Yang on his side.

'No! I told you, you'll turn them on when I'll say "you wish" which comes after "I'm not a stranger" and before "You know me".' Noah argued.

'I'm sorry but I couldn't remember your "you wish's" and shit.' Mia spat back while I shivered as a hand wrapped around my waist.

I turned around and hugged the life out of Ryan. 'I was so scared. I thought something happened to you.'

He smiled. 'I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you and wouldn't let them too but they had every thing planned out before I could stop them.'

'What exactly was that?' I turned around to look at Noah who had finally stopped fighting Mia and was looking at me.

'It was Noah.' Yang answered. 'Told ya bro, she'll get scared.'

'I'm sorry Jenny.' Noah scratched his neck. 'I just wanted to lift up your day.'

I beamed knowing nothing was wrong. 'It's fine actually. You looked pretty good in that hat.'

'Really?' Noah's eyes sparkled at my compliment. 'Can I keep the hat bro then?' He asked Ryan who shrugged.

'But what's wrong then?'

Mia pulled out a chair and gestured me to sit on it as everyone else settled down too. 'We were to start a mission and wanted to inform you.' Mia turned half the lights off and only letting the one on the table turned on creating a perfect environment.

'Mission?' I looked at Yang and then at Ryan.

'Yup. It's name is "Vote for the RON".' Noah impersonated his hands in the air as if he was actually holding a board.

'Ron? Votes? What is this?'

'Ryan O'Neil.' Noah explained the RON.

'And we're gonna be collecting the lost votes for him.' Mia said.

'We?' I was still trying to piece everything together.

'Yeah. After that Charlotte incident, we'll be going it.'

'That middle finger one?' I turned my head to Ryan.

'Bro, you haven't told her?' Yang projected while Ryan nodded his head no.

'What happened?' I was so confused and at being confused, I was getting angry. 'Tell me.'

'Charlotte harassed Ryan,' Yang voiced out while Ryan sunk in his chair, 'when he was to perform and he rejected him.'

'The celebrity that came to your cafe the day I was to pick you up was actually Charlotte. She said she wanted to talk to me and then when I went to practice, she wanted me to be with her. I said no and she said that I won't win then. I did, well, almost.' Ryan explained.

'That's why you gave her the middle fingers?'

He trivialise by shrugging. 'I was pissed off at her. She fucked with my votes. If she wouldn't, I wouldn't've been in the red zone. The people will think that I wasn't good enough and I'll get less votes, also, the music companies won't contact me now.' He seemed really annoyed and somehow, I was happy with it. At least, he had started caring for his future now. 'Unless I win.'

'So, we'll be getting him his votes back.' Mia said.

'And how will we do it?' I asked.

They all smiled. 'By messing with social media.'

oOo

Hello there? How's it going?

I have a real good news guys. So these couple of days ago, I submitted my story in Moonlight Awards and it got third place.

Yay! 🎉🎉🎉 I'm so damn happy!

It was totally unexpected. Hell, I didn't even remember I submitted it.

The chapter's here. How was it?

What do you think about Logan and Henry? How was Logan's first impression?'

Comment me down below.

I love reading them.

Thank you so much for reading my story.

Next update: Monday.

Love 💕, huz