3 days later...

Summer:

My eye lids flutter open and everything hurts. Tears immediately risk falling down my cheeks but I suck them up.

No. More. Tears.

My vision is so blurry I can't figure out where I'm at.

These sheets are so soft. Wait, this is a real bed. A really nice bed.

Wait, Broc... he found me right? And my brother!

"Broc! Mike!!" I try to scream out, but it comes out more as a hoarse whisper.

Why were they working together?

Damn it.

I'm so angry. I hate being angry. I can feel in pulsing through me. Edging me closer and closer to tears.

All the memories began flooding my brain when I suddenly felt a large hand carefully hold mine. I focused my eyes.

My eyes landed on pure perfection.

"Broc?" I whisper as I turn my face to him.

"Hello Summer." Broc's eyes filled with relief as he runs a hand down my cheek.

I wince at the small touch. My face still sore from all the smacks and slaps.

I can see Broc tense at my reaction as he tried to calm himself.

I narrow my eyes on the door as it flies open. Mike, Brittany, and Sean come bounding in.

I want to smile, I want to wrap my arms around all these people who my heart holds so dear.

But, Do I really know these people anymore?

"SUMMER! oh my god!" Brittany pushes Broc out of the way as she grabs my hand, running it down her face. Her eyes look red from all the tears she must have cried.

It almost breaks me, almost.

"Stop." I croak out. I pull my hand away, glaring at everyone in this room.

Mike sits on the edge of the bed, running a hand down the bottom of my leg and I kick his hand away. Sean looks down at me confused as he tried to run a hand over my head, but I push his hand away.

Brittany looks as if I just broke her heart. "Summer? Are you ok? Are you in pain? We can go..."

"STOP IT! All of you!" My voice cracking as I try to yell out loud.

Brittany jumps at the sound. Mike stands up and moves everyone out of the way so he's face to face with me.

"Summer... Snap out of it...What's wrong sister? You're safe now ok? Broc's family has us in..."

I cut him off again, if these people don't leave right now, tears will begin to leak again.

"Just stop acting like everything is fine! All of you lied to me this whole time!" I try to yell out again.

Everyone stares at me shocked. You can feel the tension grow in the room.

Mike turns on his heel. He growls as he walks out the door in a huff, Sean not far behind him. Sean dragging Brittany along with him with tears streaming down her face. She pulled free at the last minute and ran to my side again.

"I don't care what you say Summer. I love you. I would do anything to keep you safe, just like you would for me..." She ran a hand through her long blond hair in frusteration as she looked down at me.

"You lied to me Brittany. You promised we would stay out of this life. After all that happened?! We almost lost everything all those years ago! You promised me Brittany." The words flowing out of me like venom.

I never speak this way, not to anyone. I hurled all I had at her in that moment. I gave into the anger surging through my veins.

She threw her hands to her lips, reaching for my hand again. "Please Summer. I'm so sorry. I should have never... Please... Mike said, and... a-and, Sean..." She had tears flowing freely down her cheeks. She could barely speak. She was never great at expressing herself when she was this upset.

"Just stop Brittany. Leave." I said with little emotion.

She took a step back, narrowing her eyes at me, crossing her arms over her chest. "Fine Summer. Hate me all you want, but without my skills you'd still be in that god forsaken place right now!"

She stomped out of the room, not before turning to look at Broc who stood in the corner behind me, then back to me. "I'm sorry Summer. I love you."

She slammed the door and the tears flew out of my eyes.

I felt like my whole body needed the tears to flow so I could get this anger, guilt, frustration, fear, and betrayal out of my body.

I hated this.

"Summer?" I heard his voice and it almost startled me.

Broc:

I stood in the corner and watched in horror as the once sweet Summer I knew lashed out on everyone she ever held dear. I saw the hurt on their faces. Only I knew how hard they all worked to save her. They were hoping for Sweet Summer's hugs and welcoming smile. Instead they were met with hate and anger hurled at their hearts.

My heart was breaking.

This wasn't the Summer I knew.

"Summer?" I asked quietly as she sobbed into her pillow. I pulled a chair up next to her bed, moving the flowers that now littered the room to the ground next to me.

"Summer?" I asked again as I lifted her hand to my lips, placing a gentle kiss on the back of her hand, "I know this is hard..."

She glared at me.

God, I'm so lost. Never once have I been in a situation like this. I don't even know what to say right now.

"...but, I'm so sorry."

She raised an eyebrow at me, she left her hand in mine which surprised me. Either she desperately needed the contact, or maybe she wasn't as angry with me.

"Broc?" She looked up at me, almost with fear in her eyes.

I didn't want her to fear me, why would she fear me?

"Yes summer?" I said as gently as possible.

"I-I'm so a-angry. At e-everyone. I hate t-this feeling. I h-hate everything!" Her voice shaking and rising as she spoke.

I tried to calm her, running a hand up and down her arm but she winced.

I tensed, another shot of anger shooting through me. Nearly every part of her body is bruised, and marked red from whatever kind of beatings she endured.

"I'm sorry Summer. Please tell me what to do. I'll do anything. Absolutely anything to make this all go away..."

She sniffles as she lifts her other arm revealing more marks and bruises that make it hard to look at her. Her beauty marred in this way is killing me.

She tries to reach for my hair.

There's Summer. Her favorite part of me. My hair. I swear I'll never cut it again.

I quickly pull out the elastic and bend down lower so she can run her fingers trough it. We sat this way for who knows how long.

"I don't know what will make me feel better...." She mumbles out before cuddling back under the covers.

I sigh, "ok..." as I pull my hair back again. "Well, maybe some food will help? I can make you anything you want."

She's deep in thought when there's a scratching at the door. I roll my eyes.

Eres.

I see her eyes light up as she glances back at the door. "Is that, Eres?" She whispers out, her voice trembling again.

I nod my head yes, "but he'll be fine, don't worry, I won't let him bother you will you're healing."

She narrows her eyes at me. "I want Eres. Please let him in. I need him." Her tears are flowing again and her pleading voice nearly broke me.

I quickly stood up, eager to give her anything she wanted at this point. 

I cross the room and let him in. I carefully place him on the giant bed next to her as he eagerly tries to lick her face.

I carefully try to push him away from all her hurt places, before he finally settles down next to her whimpering.

"I know Eres. You just have to be careful with Summer ok bud? She's healing." I try to convey how important it is for him to stay still.

I look down at Summer. A small smile are returned to her face as she delicately pet's Eres, slowly snuggling into him as he begins to calm.

I slowly begin to play with Summer's curls. She hums in satisfaction. Her poor curls are all over the place and matted. I'll have to try and help her get it back in order. I know that would make her feel better. Maybe I can convince Brittany to tell me what products she uses. I'm sure there's someone I can bring in to do her hair.

After a few more minutes of tears, her breathing begins to slow and I realize she's asleep again.

I finally let out a deep breath, my face falling in my hands.

How am I going to turn this around?

"Did she go back to sleep?" I hear a whisper from the other side of the room. It's Mike and Sean.

I nod my head and slowly make my way out the door.

Once we're finally out the door, Mike shoves me against the wall and I see the rage in his eyes.

"What the fuck Mike!" I shove him back.

I hear him growl as he begins pacing, Sean staring daggers at me.

"This is all your fault! You asshole! You should have never laid a finger on my sister! I should have kicked you out of my house the moment I saw you..." He spat out as he stood right in front of me. My hands ball into fists at my side.

Sean breaks the tension, "Shut the fuck up Mike. This isn't about Broc. We gotta figure out why Summer hates us so much..."

Mike backs up a bit and sighs, "My mother will be here soon. She wants to take Summer to her Alaskan cabin.." He rubs the back of his neck.

I furrow my brows. She wants to take Summer away to Alaska?

"Why?" I try to mask my frustration.

Sean sighs and runs his hands through his hair, "Summer's mom would rather see to her healing herself. I just..." he sighs again, "I wish she wasn't so angry. I've never seen her so mad, not since..." He stopped himself and cleared his throat, glancing quickly at Mike.

I guess he needs permission from him to keep talking?

Mike stops pacing, stopping in front of me, leaning against the opposite wall, "Summer doesn't get angry often, but, there was one time she did. She really let it get a hold of her, did some thing really stupid..."

I fold my arms over my chest. Everyone makes stupid choices sometimes, but why was Mike struggling to tell me about it?

"...My grandmother was killed. Someone came into her home, and killed her in her sleep before taking all of my grandmother's life savings. I had this place wired up with the best cameras and always kept an eye on her. She always believed she was safe. Summer figured out who did it and went after them. She nearly took them out too. Luckily I wasn't too far behind so I could clean up the mess."

I stood in shock as I opened the door again, peeking inside to see Eres and Summer sleeping peacefully.

Every time I learn something new about Summer I want to hold her even closer.

Sean breaks me from my thoughts, "Her grandmother died exactly one year ago. Her sorry excuse of a boyfriend wouldn't attend the funeral. He didn't even try to help her through that time. She left him not long after..."

Fuck.

All these people seem to be out to dull her shine.

I don't care how many people I have to kill to keep her smiling and safe.

"Sean, Mike, Listen..." I slowly close the door to her room again, "I swear to both of you, I would do anything to get her back to herself, to keep her safe and out of trouble..."

Mike shook his side to side before heading down the hall, "Nah Broc, we tried that already, and look at where were at now?" He continued down the hallway to his room and slammed the door.

Sean sighed a heavy sigh, clapping me on the back before heading to his room as well.

I slid down the wall, landing on the floor right outside her door. I was at a loss. I had no idea what to do. Everything had become so messed up. I wanted to go back in time and stay the night at her house. I wanted to kill Devin before he even set foot into my home. I wanted to change so many things so I could have a happy Summer in my arms right now.

How the fuck am I supposed to fix this?