The next day, I woke up at 5:30, just like I had every morning for the past two years. I instinctively sat up, and started to pull myself out of bed when Charlie let out a whine.

For a second, I couldn't figure out why Asher's dog was in my room. But then yesterday's events came crashing down on me. I flopped back on the bed as I remembered the terror I felt as my dad yelled at me, the way Asher and Jesse took me into their home, and the way I had told my whole story to Asher.

A huff of hot air on my arm caught my attention. I looked over to see Charlie laying like a log right beside me, staring at me with big amber eyes.

I smiled and ruffled her head. I pulled the covers back over my body and tried to go back to sleep for a little bit.

A loud bang shocked me out of the doze I had fallen into. I looked around, trying to figure out where the sound had come from, and my heart stopped when I saw a dark figure standing in my open doorway. Oh my god, I thought. He found me.

Charlie must've smelled my terror, because her hackles rose up and she let out a low growl. She stepped over my quivering body protectively.

She was about to pounce on the figure when he stepped in the room and into the dim morning light spilling in through the window.

"Whoa, easy there," Asher said as he held his hands out in front of his bare torso.

"Oh my god, Asher!" I cried, my body allowing itself to breathe now that the terror had passed. "You scared me half to death! I thought my dad had found me."

Asher's eyes widened. He moved to my side, wary of Charlie who was still growling. He wrapped his arms around me, and I buried my face in his chest. His body radiated a warmth that helped to ease my tense muscles.

"I'm so sorry." He murmured into my hair. "One of the neighbors was shooting at a coyote that keeps rummaging through their trash. I came to make sure you were ok since I knew you wouldn't know what was going on."

I nodded. Charlie stopped growling and lay back down next to me with a sigh, like she was saying Ok, job's done. Sleep time.

Asher let me go and smiled at his dog.

"She's taken a real liking to you," he said.

"Yeah, it's almost like she was my dog, and I brought her with me." I replied.

Asher stood and offered me a hand. "Wanna help get some food ready?"

I accepted his hand with a nod, and followed him downstairs to the kitchen. Charlie trotted along at my heels with her tail wagging.

"Where's her food? I asked as I picked up her bowl.

Asher pointed to the pantry as he pulled out a pot and filled it with water to boil.

I opened the door to the pantry and grabbed Charlie's food container.

"Can you grab the oatmeal?" Asher called. I scanned the shelves then selected the oatmeal and walked out of the pantry.

I handed Asher the oatmeal then stepped over to the counter to fill up Charlie's bowl. At the sound of her food hitting the metal bowl, Charlie let out a yip.

I laughed as she trotted in circles around my legs as I walked back to the corner to put her food down.

As soon as she started chowing down on her food, I went to help Asher.

"Wow, normally I'm the one who has to work on making food," A voice said from the entrance of the kitchen.

I turned to see Jesse leaning against the wall, pulling her robe tighter around her.

"Mr. Miller's gunshots woke us up, so we decided to make breakfast," Asher said as Jesse pushed herself off the wall and came to sit at the island.

I turned back to the stove where the water was starting to boil, measured out the oatmeal, and dumped it in.

Jesse and Asher talked about neighborhood gossip while Charlie trotted around the kitchen, looking for attention. When no one stopped to pet her, she went and sulked in the corner, like fine.

About ten minutes later, the oatmeal was done, and Asher helped me dish it out. Before I sat down to eat, I went to go let Charlie outside to take care of her business.

As I dug my spoon into the oatmeal, I tried to remember the last time I had breakfast with others. Usually I just ate a bagel on the road, or skipped breakfast altogether.

Jesse asked us what we had planned for the day. I said that I wanted to unpack and get a couple things for my room, while Asher wanted to work on a neighbor's car.

"I don't have to go into the clinic today, so I can go with you to the store if you don't mind, Brooklynn. I have to get a few groceries." Jesse said as she finished her oatmeal.

"That's totally fine." I replied, as I stood up to follow her to the sink.

After I rinsed out my bowl, I went back upstairs to figure out what I needed to pick up at the store.

I was writing down stuff on my phone when I heard a knock on my door. I turned to see Jesse standing in the doorway.

"When do you want to go?" She asked.

"I can go now, unless you want to wait." I replied as I tossed my phone onto my bed.

"Now sounds fine," Jesse said with a smile.

"Ok, lemme change real quick, and I'll meet you downstairs." I said.

Jesse nodded and closed the door. I pulled on some jeans, a tank top, and slipped on a red plaid overshirt. I grabbed my Vans, then stuffed my phone and keys into my bag and slung it over my shoulder.

I ran downstairs to find Jesse rummaging through her purse and muttering to herself.

"I can't find my keys," she said as I approached her.

"That's fine," I said with a shrug. "We can take my Jeep."

A look of relief passed over Jesse's face as she slung her arm around my shoulder. "Man, I can already tell I'm gonna like having two cars now," She said with a laugh.

I smiled as we walked out the door and to my Jeep. I tossed my bag in the backseat then hopped in the driver's seat as Jesse heaved herself into the passenger.

"Geez, this thing is tall," she muttered as she situated herself and pulled on her seat belt.

"My mom helped me get it for my Sweet Sixteen, and then my friends snagged it about a week before my birthday to upgrade it to what it is now," I said as I turned on the ignition and pulled out of the driveway. "I had always wanted a Jeep, and as my sixteenth birthday came closer and closer, the more I would watch videos of Jeep upgrades, and I would fine tune my list of upgrades I wanted. Bigger tires, a lift kit, bumpers, etc. I didn't know it, but my friends had taken a copy of my list and had been slowly getting the items over a period of a couple months, and then about a week before, they took it while I was at work, and brought it to a mechanic shop, and they slapped all the upgrades on it. They said that my mom had been instrumental in helping them get all the stuff, telling them what items I wanted, and helping disguise them. It really meant a lot to me, especially since she died just a couple months before my birthday. It was only a few days after she had given my friends the list that she died, actually."

Jesse nodded in appreciation. "I really wish I had been able to meet her," she said softly as she stared at the road flying under our tires. "She sounds like a really amazing person."

I gripped the steering wheel, and concentrated on not driving off the road.

"Why not put on some music? I think we need it." Jesse said after a tense silence.

"Go ahead," I replied as I gestured to the radio. She fiddled with the radio while I focused on merging onto the freeway.

Finally, Jesse settled on a station, and Imagine Dragons blasted through the Jeep. I side eyed her as she sang along with the radio.

"Don't give me that look," she said playfully. "I'm a chill mom."

I laughed as she went right back to belting out the lyrics to It's Time to Begin like she didn't have a care in the world.

When we reached the mall, I parked the Jeep near the entrance, then we hopped out and went in.

We ran from store to store, just browsing through the racks of clothes and furniture. After a couple of hours, we stopped at the food court to pick up some lunch.

"Brooklynn!"

I turned with my mouth stuffed full of beef shwarma to see Devon, Ruben, Oliver, and Bailey walking toward us.

I waved at them, given my mouth was full. I finished my bite, and called out a greeting.

When they reached us, I introduced them to Jesse and told them that she was Asher's mom.

"Ok, hold up," Ruben said, holding up his hands in a time out gesture. "What are you doing with Asher's mom? Not that it's a bad thing," He finished quickly, trying not to offend anyone.

Jesse just smiled, and looked at me.

"Uh, my dad may or may not have kicked me out," I said tentatively, gesturing to my stomach.

"What?! When?" Several of them cried. I flinched slightly. They never got mad, and it honestly reminded me of my dad, getting mad over the smallest stuff.

"Last night," I said softly.

"Jeez," Oliver muttered. "Are you ok? Did he hurt you?"

I shook my head. "He just yelled at me, then told me to leave."

"Damn," Bailey said as he ran his hand through his hair. "You good now?"

I nodded. "The McLeans offered to let me stay with them, so that's where I am now," I said as I gestured to where Jesse was picking up food for Asher.

The guys nodded, but they still looked pissed.

"What'd I miss?" Jesse said as she returned to the group.

"Not much," Devon said as he pulled out his phone, and checked a notification. "Hey, I gotta go. I'm being called in to work. Co-worker called in sick."

"Well, it was nice meeting you," Jesse said as they turned to leave.

"Yeah, nice to meet you too," Ruben said with a small wave. "See you at school, Brook."

I smiled and waved at them as they walked off.

"Charming guys," Jesse said. I turned to see her watching them as they left the food court.

"I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not," I said as we turned and walked in the opposite direction. "Oh honey, I love being sarcastic as much as the next person, but I was being completely serious back there." Jesse said as she walked purposely through the mall, as if she had a certain destination in mind. I just smiled and followed along, just enjoying the carefree freedom that I had just discovered.