"

Third person's P.O.V.

Grace couldn't sleep that night. She just tossed and turned in her bed, sniffing a little as dread of being alone come back. Nights were always horrible, making her believe that she was alone and had no one who cared about her. She had no friends in school. She was unknown to the world. In school she was invincible. Her siblings were on the top of the school's chain and she was nowhere. At home, she didn't even exist. Whenever there was family dinner she would sit in her room waiting for everyone to be gone. Her father made sure that no one will make her feel homey. She was just a lost soul. Next day, she woke up and got ready for school.

All she wanted was to get good grades and go to college away from all this but it wasn't that simple. When she came downstairs everyone was having breakfast chatting happily. As soon as she entered they stopped and her heartbeat skipped.

"Gracie, will you drop me to school?" Nick asked pouting.

Grace nodded smiling at him. He smiled widely and took his bag running towards her. Martina rolled her eyes at them and ignored them. Grace took an apple and they walked out with Nick. Smiling they walked all the way to school.

He never complained whenever he was with Grace because she was the only person with whom he felt safe and happy. He rambled about his school and friends as she patiently listened to him.

Soon they reached the school; she dropped him at his primary school and made her way to high-school. She looked around parking lot; students were talking laughing with friends. There was typical crowd which had jocks, cheerleaders, emos, nerds and many more. Well, her category? She was invisible.

Her eyes met Connor's who was with his football crew.

On the breakfast table, Connor was little agitated when Nick asked Grace to walk him school. He was supposed to take him school but Nick always preferred Grace so Connor disliked Grace.

He always thought that she took his brother away. He was happy when people ignored her and treated her like a trash; it was like a revenge for him. A small smirk played on his lips as he thought about how his step-father who was an asshole hated his own daughter.

"Dude, what happened? Who was she?" Aiden his best friend asked.

"Some low-life." Connor muttered.
"Dude, I got idea for our final bet..." Nate smiled cruelly and rubbed his palms.

"Aiden, date some low-life in our school, make her fall in love with you and after a month dump her."

Everyone laughed and hollered liking the idea. Aiden shook his head, smirking.

"That's cruel."

"Are you backing out?" Connor asked.

"What? No! But what will I get?" Aiden asked.

"Thousand bucks!" Martina said as she smiled seductively at him.

Everyone knew Martina had a crush on Aiden. Aiden shrugged and agreed.

"Who is the poor low life?" he asked.

"Our step sister, Grace Reynolds." Connor stated and everyone nodded.

"

I shut down the computer and fell on the bed again. it had been 2 in the night and I couldn't sleep. After Drake put me in my bed, I woke up for water and then couldn't sleep. Soon, my eyes felt heavy as I drifted into sleep.

'I was cowering in my room as footsteps were heard. I covered my mouth tightly hoping he wouldn't find me in my room. But I was wrong as door flung open and he stared at me.

"Please let me go." I begged but he just shook his head. He came closer and closer and I screamed loudly....'

I jolted up from my sleep as door opened and worried looking Dawson ran inside followed by Damien and Drake. He came closer and hugged me tightly. Tears were streaming down my face and sweat was covered.

Those dreams never left me. A part of my past always haunted me.

"You are okay, munchkin. We're here." Dawson rocked me back n forth.

"I'm scared." I cried in his chest. Damien sat in front of me and wiped my tears.

"No one is going to hurt you, I promise."

"I will rip his head off if someone tries to hurt you and you know I'm the best boxer alive." He said lightening the situation. We all chuckled as I wiped my face.

"Are you okay?" Dawson asked again and I nodded giving him a small smile. He kissed my forehead.

"You can go to sleep." I told them but they looked hesitant. "I will be okay, I promise."

They nodded and stood up to leave not before kissing me. My brothers were the best thing in the whole freaking world. When they reached door, they said simultaneously,

"I love you." Like they had rehearsed the thing.

"To the moon and back?" I asked and they chorused, "To the moon and back." and left.

I closed my eyes hoping the sleep will come soon.

"Wake up, sunshine." Drake woke me up and pushed me towards bathroom. Groaning, I got ready for school and came downstairs. I made them breakfast and we all ate silently. They didn't bring up the topic of nightmare and I was glad. Soon we were in front of school as me and Damien groaned at the sight.

"Get down." Drake laughed and we just pouted not wanting to go inside.

"Don't do that." Dawson chuckled and pulled me out of the car but I held on to door not wanting to go outside.

"You are still a child." My best friend, Peyton stated and laughed.

"Shut up, I'm soon to be seventeen." I grumbled at which everyone laughed.

"Hey Shorty, how was your weekend?" Ethan yelled from other side of the car as I glared at him.

"Don't call me that." I yelled back and ran towards him.

He ran towards school, I was on his trail. Well, you see, Ethan is my another best friend and we always fight over small things but its fun. He was an athlete so he ran while laughing like hyena.

"I hate you." I yelled at him and half of the population turned to look at me.

Embarrassed, I turned to go back to my brothers and other friends when I stumbled on someone. I looked up to meet eyes with Kyle.
"I'm sorry." I said sheepishly smiling but he didn't reply.

After four seconds of staring, his lips curved into a small smile and he gave a small nod and left. My heart stopped, literally. Ok, just kidding but it was odd for Kyle Knight to acknowledge someone except his best friend Noah Ryder.

Some people around me were staring at us like something out of world happened but I ignored them and came back to Dawson's car.

"We're going to be late." I said to skip the question-answer session and linked arms with Peyton and Reni who were friends with me since 7th grade.

"What was that?" Peyton asked and I just shrugged. Soon, we parted our ways as we had different classes and reached class which I shared with Kyle.

I took my seat beside window and pulled out my books. Soon teacher entered and started reading. After some time, somebody nudged me. I turned around only to see Kyle smiling sheepishly,

"Do you have an extra pencil?"
I nodded and went through my bag, took out extra pencil and gave it to him.

"Is it okay if I give it back to you after school?"

"Yeah! Sure..." I smiled.

"Thank you." He said gratefully and I nodded. I turned ahead only to see whole class was staring at me and Kyle including Mr. Evans.

"Would you like to share what important you were talking about?" he asked angrily and I gulped.

"I'm so...." Before I could finish my apology, Kyle's cold voice cut me off,

"It was just a pencil."

"Well, you should bring your own and not disturb the whole class."

Kyle's jaw was clenched and he was about to put some snarky comment but I apologized,

"Sorry Mr. Evans, it won't happen again."

"Make sure of it." he muttered and turned back to his book. I didn't dare to look back at Kyle but I could feel piercing gaze on my back.

As soon as bell rang, I ran outside. Next was gym which I always hated but on the better options, Peyton was with me. We met in changing room and after putting our gym uniform went to gym. I sat in corner with Peyton. Coach decided to let boys play basketball and girls dodge ball. I groaned not interested and sat in corner. My gaze met specific boy staring from the corner. Kyle! My breath hitched but being little brave, I waved at him softly. He shook his head before giving ball to his teammates; he made his way towards the corner, towards me. I gulped.

"I will be back." Peyton left hastily and I glared at her back.

"Hey!" I smiled and he took a seat beside me.

"Hi... actually I need your help." He said and I quirked my brow. School's bad boy needs my help? Well that was something new.

"You work at Delilah's' right? Is there any spot open there?" he asked and I chuckled at his words.

"Spot open?"

"Ummm kind of vacancy?" he looked hopeful.

Why would bad boy need a job at diner? It was crazy. I was hoping that he would be some illegal boxer or something like that.

"I would ask her." I said.

"So do you need some kinda CV or like that?" he was nervous like hell and I just laughed like an idiot. He raised his perfect eyebrow and I controlled it.

"No no... it's just that you need to come there to meet her."

"SO will you be there?"

"Ummm.... Yeah! Today! Will you come? I will go there at 4 so we can talk to her?"

"Will you talk to her for me?"

"Yeah! Sure..."

"Thank you so much." And suddenly he pulled me in hug.

Not knowing what to do, I slowly patted his back.

"I will see you at 4 then." He smiled and walked to Noah who was staring at us with a raised brow. When Kyle reached him, they started talking, glancing at me in between. I swallowed and ran to washroom.

Time passed and soon I returned to home with Drake who wanted to go to work. Dawson worked in garage and Damien was working as waiter in a city hotel. Drake was working in a hardware shop.

"Come on, Danny, I don't wanna be late for work. My boss is already on my ass." Drake yelled from downstairs. I took my small bag and ran to his bike.

"So what is with Kyle Knight?" he suddenly asked and I furrowed my brows.

"What?"

"There were rumors in school, you know that the bad boy is taking interest in my sister." He said nonchalantly.

"Oh god! People are so nosy." I groaned, "He just needed a job so he was asking for help. That's it."

"Oh! So he is going to work with you now?"

"No! I mean I don't know. We are meeting Delilah today. She will decide."

"Oh cool. Ummm... Danny...." He trailed off.

"What?"

"DO you know if Stacy is single?" he asked in a rush. I giggled and he shot me a glare from the mirror.

"Yeah! She is single. You should ask her out."

"What if she says no?"

"The almighty Drake Carver is scared." I cooed and he groaned.

"Shut up, Squirt!"

"I hate you."

"You don't." he stopped the bike and we were in front of Delilah's.
"Bye. See you later and I will ask Stacy if she is free on Friday." I yelled while getting inside the café.

"You won't do that." He yelled back.

"You don't have guts so I have to do It." and I shut the door which resulted in jingling of bell.

I waved at everyone and tied the knots of my apron.

"Danny, get behind the counter and take orders." Shane waved and I nodded jumping behind the counter. I looked at clock and it showed 4.15, Kyle wasn't here yet. Maybe he changed his mind. I just shrugged and worked on the coffee designs.

The bell jingled and my eyes met Kyle. He looked nervous but I threw a warm smile at him which he returned.

"Hey!" he waved.

"Sit. I have already talked to Delilah and she said she will talk to you personally." I stated and his eyes widened.

"Is she scary?"

"School's bad boy is afraid?" I teased him and he shot me a glare.

"Just kidding. Take a sit. I'll call her." I went to call her while Kyle took a seat in a corner.

Soon they talked and Kyle gave me a big smile which showed that his charms worked and he got in. there were customers so he left without saying anything.

"HE is your friend?" D asked me.

"Yup! Same school."

"He is pretty charming and having him here will bring lot of girls." She winked. I laughed knowing she was right and nodded.

At 7'o clock my shift ended and I came outside. Drake was supposed to pick me up but when I called him he said he couldn't. I couldn't call Damien because he always came home late so left with an option of Dawson. He agreed right away when I called him. I was waiting outside when a bike stopped beside me.

"Kyle!" I smiled. He took off his helmet and came closer. He caught me off guard when he hugged me tightly.

"Thank you." He murmured.

"I didn't do anything." I said and he just shook his head.

"You are too good." He smiled genuinely.

"Danny?" I heard a familiar voice and pulled back turning to Dawson who was leaning on the window of his car looking at us questioningly.

"Hey Dawson!"

"What are you doing?" Dawson frowned.

"Ummm.... He is my friend and now co worker, Kyle." I turned to Kyle, "And that's my brother, Dawson." They gave a curt nod to each other.

"I'll see you tomorrow." Kyle said and he left. I walked to passenger seat and sat there.

"So it's true that he is trying to talk to you." Dawson mumbled.

I groaned loudly, "Drake told me this." I narrated the whole situation to him and Dawson being the sane one of all triplets nodded.

"People talk, you know? The guy never talks to anyone and they say that he was caught with drugs too."

"I don't care. It's not like I'm going out with him so just chill."

"Ok! Get ready to answer Damien." He laughed and I put my head in my hands knowing Dam would annoy me with his possessiveness. I just hope that guy would never get a girlfriend. What? He will creep the hell out of her. But I love him.
I love all three of them.