There was no food. I sighed, defeated, before closing the last cabinet left to search and retreating to the couch. It was obvious by the amount of take-out containers littering the apartment that Jace wasn't a fan of cooking, but I had hoped he'd at least have cereal or a stale piece of bread.

A vain hope that turned out to be.

I eyed his closed bedroom door. A part of me, the famished and cranky part, was tempted to wake him up and ask if we could go get food. But the polite part of me reminded that I had received free lodging and to not be greedy.

Damn morals. My stomach growled in protest.

"Want a donut?" I jumped when a voice breathed in my ear and something was shoved into my face.

Nat laughed waving a donut. "I'm both pleased and surprised to see you still here Baby Reeves. Jace sleeping?"

I nodded and took the donut from him with a thanks. He grinned and shot me a wink before bounding off to Jace's room.

"Oh Honey I'm home!"

There was rustling and loud cursing than a crash. Nat emerged with the most satisfied smirk.

Jace emerged not much later, disheveled and disgruntled, and collapsed on the couch next to me. "Thought I took away your key."

"Silly Jacey one measly lock won't keep me away. Donut?" Jace nodded and Nat handed him one. "Besides you should be declaring your undying thanks and reverence for me today."

"And why's that?" Jace asked as he took a bite.

"Because Aaron is going to be here soon and you have a little problem you should deal with first," Nat informed.

Aaron was coming here? Crap. There went my plan to never see him again.

"I couldn't let him sleep on the streets," Jace defended.

"Maybe you could take me to the station before he gets here," I offered hopefully.

"He'll be here before you can reach the car. Besides that still doesn't solve the problem." Nat emphasized motioning at me dramatically.

Jace turned and studied me as he chewed. Then he froze, his face paling. "Shit."

He was on his feet instantly, hauling me up too. "You gotta change. Now."

"What?" I didn't see the problem, especially a problem that requires me to change clothes. I hadn't packed pajamas, so Jace lent me a T-shirt and basketball shorts. Nothing Aaron hadn't seen before.

"I know it doesn't make sense, but just go put on your clothes from last night." When I wasn't quick enough he grabbed my arm and dragged me to the other room.

He scanned the room and found my old clothes and threw them at me.

"I still don't see what the big deal is," I reiterated as I took off the shirt I was wearing. This seemed like a big hassle for nothing.

"Trust me it's a big deal," Jace muttered.

"Oh, hey Aar-Bear!" Nat shouted from the other room as soon as I had put my arms through my shirt.

Jace cursed and started trying to tug the shirt the rest of the way on me despite my protest.

"You fucker."

Both Jace and I froze at those words, the shirt still halfway off me, and turned.

I had seen Aaron mad before but this, this was something beyond. This was furious. This was enraged. This was murderous.

"Look, man, it's not what it looks like," Jace said as he let go of me and stepped away slightly hands raised in a mock surrender.

The punch came out of nowhere.

"Fuck," Jace muttered clutching his nose as blood dripped down his face.

"Get. The. Fuck. Out." Aaron snarled.

His eyes flashed to me when I started to move. "Not you."

Jace didn't spare me a glance as he left. Probably too afraid to look a future murder victim in the face.

Aaron watched him leave with hawk eyes. Once he was gone, he turned to me and glared his jaw clenching.

The look told me one thing. I was fucked.

"I-uh-"

"What are you doing here Sam."

"Jace offered me a place to stay and—"

He sneered. "So you'll accept an offer to stay with anyone then?"

"I didn't have a place to stay and he offered to help me out and—"

"And did you repay him for helping you out. Offer to help him to?"

What? "Huh?"

"Answer the damn question, Sam."

"The question?"

His eyes flashed. "Did you fuck him?"

Ew. The mere thought of that caused me to cringe. "Gross. No way."

"You're wearing his clothes." His eyes shifted to my bare chest before darkening. "Mostly."

So that's what this was all about? He was upset because he thought I had sex with his friend? "Jace let me borrow them to sleep. In the spare room. Alone. Then Nat told him you were stopping by and he dragged me in here and told me I had to change before you arrived. Which is exactly the moment you arrived."

Aaron released a sigh and looked away, running his hands through his hair. "Ah fuck."

He turned to leave before pausing and said. "Put on your goddamn shirt."

Despite the way he said it, I couldn't find reason not to listen so I compiled before heading to the other room.

"This is the only time I forgive you. Punch me again and I won't hold back," Jace told Aaron, his voice muffled by the ice pack he had against his nose. He glanced towards me as I entered and continued, "Besides, we all know the situation now."

Aaron and Nat turned towards me too. Aaron's jaw clenched and he scowled looking away.

"So the big bad wolf didn't eat you up yet?" Nat asked with a sly grin.

"What?" The word was becoming my motto.

"Ignore him. You good?" Jace asked

Aaron hadn't killed me, so I guess that classified as good. "Yeah, but I should be asking you."

"Had worse," he shrugged. "Aaron and I were talking and we think it's best if you stay with him until everything with your dad is sorted out."

I doubted the "we" part of the decision when I saw the way Aaron startled at that statement. He looked like he was about to say something but Jace shot him a look that quieted him.

"Um, no, that's fine. I really just want to head home."

"You're underage. Can't have you living alone. Besides, money has to be tight with the surgery. Aaron can help out with some of that burden."

Aaron's face looked like it sucked a lemon the more Jace talked.

"I'm fine I—"

"Really. We insist. Right Aaron?"

"Seriously I—"

"Grab your damn stuff Sam," Aaron snapped.

Nat and Jace shared triumphant grins.