Cal was looking at me and I was staring back at his brown eyes. I felt like I was floating. The whole room stopped like a cliche movie, but instead of hammering like crazy, my heart thumped calmly against my chest. Serenity washed over me and the next moment, I felt his finger swiped my cheek.

In a whisper, he asked, "Why are you crying?"

Gulping the lump in my throat, I shook my head. A clap came from the audience and I saw Finn with his eyes trained on me. I could clearly see the pain beneath his pools of green and my heart suddenly clenched. Then I heard the applause of everyone and I hastily stood up away from the gorgeous boy. I bowed a bit and ran away as fast as I can.

I didn't know why I was even running away. I think I was scared. Terrified even, for the possibility of feeling something that I tried to avoid. For the probability of hurting someone so precious. Thus, I willed my feet to take me out of the place as quickly as possible.

I stopped just outside the bar and sat down on the side of the concrete road. I could hear the cars from the other side and I held my head between my legs. I wanted to smack myself for being so pathetic but everything came rushing back to me and I was on the verge of having a panic attack.

I breathed deeply. My tongue was pushing against the roof of my mouth and I counted in my head. There goes the first sheep. And then the second. Third...

"A!" I heard the familiar voice of James calling me. I looked up and saw that he was jogging towards me and I tried sending him a grateful smile but it came out as a grimace and I physically felt pain shot through my stomach.

He held me by my shoulders and kept his gaze on me. "What's wrong?"

"I don't know," I mumbled out of breath.

"Look at me, A." He put my hand on his chest and with a calm voice commanded, "Follow my heartbeat. Breathe in sync. In. Out." He repeated it a few times until I was synchronized with his own. With one last long breath, I grinned weakly.

I rested my head on his shoulder and thanked him. He embraced me and I pulled him deeper as he reminded me of Hunter. 

James and my brother were both three years older than me, making them twenty-one now. I first met James when they were in freshmen. He used to have a shaggy brown hair and he wore his clothes as if he was a typical nerd from a book. He was the only guy aside from my brother who acknowledged my talent for piano rather than telling me that I was a show-off. He was also the one who got me into video games and we bonded over that. We never had a chemistry or a sexual tension as many people would call it, and our relationship was completely platonic.

He was the second brother that I knew and when it came to situations like this, he was the one who would pick me up when Hunter couldn't. And I would be forever grateful for it.

He wiped my tears away and with a chuckle, commented, "You're worse than my sisters."

"Jerk," I replied and pushed his shoulder.

He got up and laid his hand in front of me. "Come on, let's get you home."

I suddenly remembered my mom and all the anxieties that were buried because of my stage fright. James noticed the panic in my eyes and held my hand. "Calm down. Hunter texted that he got to the police station. They'll meet you at home, alright?"

"But I don't want to be alone at home," I whispered and clutched my shirt. I wanted to stop the shaking, I wanted to stop being afraid of anything and everything but life was crap and I would have to suck it up.

"We'll stay with you until they arrive. That good?"

I nodded and without any more words, I let him dragged me back.

It was complete chaos when we made it inside the bar. Contrary to earlier, we entered from the very entrance of the place and by the door, I could see Francis and Troy slinging their arms on some fans' shoulders for a picture. I raised a brow when I noticed that Cal had also some girls flanking around him and at his sight, my body automatically searched for the other brunette with tantalizing green eyes.

I saw Finn standing in a corner, his back was hitting the wall and both his arms and feet were crossed. I tugged James sleeves and nodded towards Finn and he pushed me lightly. James watched me as I made my way to the lonely boy who, now that I was only a few feet away from him, was on the verge of crying and I ached to touch him and cradle him in my arms as if he was my precious child.

The anxieties all came back to me. I had to remind myself twenty times that I could never be with this wonderful boy, for reasons that I still wasn't sure if real. But in any case, I put my hands in my pocket.

He must have noticed me since he looked up. I could see the unshed tears from his eyes yet he managed to smile at me mischievously. My heart hurt more for him.

"You okay now, Autumn?" he asked and pushed himself off the wall.

"Yeah. Thank you," I said and smiled at him. "So, aren't you heading home?"

He laughed hard and a few tears escaped his eyes. I clenched my fists and chuckled forcefully. If there was one thing Finn Anderson wasn't good at, it was faking what he felt. He was the worst liar that I've known my entire life and he, maybe for that very same reason, avoided lying to me at all costs.

"In case you didn't realize it yet, Hunter took his car."

I tilted my head in confusion, his green eyes sending a calmness over me and I might be selfish but I let myself bask on it. I've seen his hands moving towards me and flinching repeatedly. He was also avoiding touching me but he could not stop himself for too long since moments after muttering,"shit," he ruffled my hair and I heard him breathe deeply.

"I'm your ride, nerd," he simply said with a toothy grin. Before I could reply, I heard James calling over us and Finn slung his arms around mine. He basically forced me to hop with him along the way.

James and the other boys, with the addition of Cal, were waiting by the exit and when they saw us, we filed out of the scene one-by-one. We walked to the parking lot, they were having a goofy time and Finn was his usual annoying self. Everything was normal except the fact that Cal and Finn avoided eye contact like the plague and if it was for my self-degrading thoughts, I would have laughed at the possibility that they were attracted to each other.

We got in front of Finn's car and coincidentally, Cal's motorcycle was parked beside it. They all bid their goodbyes and when it was my turn, Cal gave me a lopsided grin and laid out his hand in front of me.

"I had a good time, Pierce," he said and I shook his hand.

"Me too," I replied with a small grin. I could feel the zap of electricity ran through me but I tried suppressing it not just for Finn's sake but for mine, too. Though curiosity got the best out of me when he mentioned my last name. "How did you know my surname?"

"I've seen you played at the Sterling Regionals two years ago," he nonchalantly said with a shrug of his shoulder.

This information was enough for to froze on my tracks. The smile I had on faded. The last time I played the piano for a competition was two years ago at that very same event. That was also the time that I realized some facts I got to live with.

I felt Finn's hand on mine and without saying anything, he pushed me lightly inside his car and got on himself on the driver's seat. I could clearly see the mischief in Cal's eyes, making me shiver either in fear or pleasure. He walked beside my door and fumbled with his pocket and handed me a paper.

"What?" I tried to ask but he was already walking away and bid goodbye with a wave of his hand.

The other boys went inside the car and Troy pecked me on the cheek before saying he had to go because his grandfather was sick and alone at home. We watched him drive away from the parking lot and before Finn could do the same, Francis just had to open his mouth.

"You've got a new lover boy, huh," he commented. His head was resting above my shoulder peeking at the piece of paper on my hand. I turned to examine it and saw a number scribbled on it. Cal just gave me his number.

A cough caught my attention. I saw Finn gripping the wheels hardly while James was glaring at me and Francis. The both of us sat properly and Finn drove back to my house. The ride was completely silent, utterly different from the ride with Hunter. My anxiety was building up and I held the paper as if my life depended on it.

We arrived at my house. The lights were on and then I could hear the soft melody of the piano coming from outside. Clear signs that Mom and Hunter were already home. I turned to my companions.

"Are you going inside?" I asked.

Finn shook his head before saying, "I can't. I have practice tomorrow." His eyes not leaving the road ahead.

Francis shrugged while James sighed audibly. "He's our ride. I'll see you tomorrow," James said and pecked me on the forehead. Francis hugged me, however, Finn just nodded at me still avoiding eye contact. Then he revved the engine.

I went inside as soon as they turned the street and I knocked softly on the door, just completely tired of the day. Hunter opened it and with just one look, embraced the hell out of me. That was when I let the tears fell down my face.

He held me like I was his world and I did the same as if he was my lifeline. It had always been Hunter and I, well, maybe with the addition of Mom in the early years. But ever since that asshole of a father left us, she was not the same anymore.

She had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's way before she and dad divorced. The doctor said it was hereditary and I remembered my grandfather suffered from it. I saw his pain and I was so afraid for my mom and she was, too. Even Hunter was afraid of it. We've never talked about it upfront, scared that it would become too real for us to handle. But I think it was time we do it now. To talk about the present and the future.

And as I looked up at Hunter, I knew he had the same look that I have. With an aggravated snicker, he said, "I think it's time, A."

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Hello! Here's an update! A bit rush but I also just want to say that there will only be 8 more chapters left. Also, check out the amaaaaazing trailer made by Dredge116!