Tyson POV

I smile as I feel Tiana's hands wrap around me as we ride back to the house. I never thought I'd get the comfort of her arms holding me down. Guess I was wrong.

I've never been more glad to be wrong.

"Looks whose arms are around me," I say, teasing. I feel her body stiffen and her arms, so so skinny, pull away and I grab her hand, feeling panicked.

"I thought you don't want me to... you know," Tiana says quietly, her voice so small I had to strain to hear voice over the roaring of the wind in my ears. But I've grown accustomed to hearing her voice. I'd probably hear it in a sea of people.

I don't know if the thought is comforting or terrifying.

"I was just teasing, Kitty," I say, reluctantly letting go of her hand, the ghost of her touch still warming my hands. "I don't mind. Quite the opposite, actually."

I feel her relax behind me as her hold on me tightens. I'm glad she's behind me, that way she won't see the blush I'm sure is present on my face. This truly is a surprise.

She rests her head against me and sighs. My heart races faster than the vehicle we're on.

How is one person capable of doing this to me?

"Sometimes," Tiana mumbles, her soft breathe feeling like hot coal on my back. "Sometimes I like to think the stars are looking out for me. Taking care of me. I like to think they sent you to me."

"Well, I'm going to have to say thanks to the stars before I sleep, then," I say, smiling fondly. She can really be cute without knowing it.

"You better," she says and I hear the smile in her voice as she says this. I glance to the side mirror to see that she's, indeed, smiling her bright, light-up-the-world smile.

I wonder if she knows what a beautiful piece of art she is. She probably doesn't. I wish she did.

"Wouldn't miss it," I say, giving her a smile in return. A real one.

We reach the house in way too less time and Tiana removes her arms from my mid-waist. I miss the warmth her body gave. The slight reassurance that she's alive. That she's here.

"You two look like you had fun," Amanda says, armed with a hand on her hip and a smirk on her face.

"We did," Tiana says, smiling innocently. Then her smile turns into a frown. "Well... at least I did. I don't know about Tyson."

"I had fun too," I say, giving her a reassuring smile.

Amanda coughs all of a sudden and, weirdly enough, a word that sounds suspiciously like "smitten" is also heard along with the series of coughs that sound too forced to be real.

I glare at her. She smiles innocently at me. I glare harder. She subtly gestures to Tiana with her eyes. I glance at Tiana to see her shifting her gaze between the two of us, a confused expression etched on her face.

"Uh... am I missing something..? Are you two, like, a thing? If so then Im sorry for stealing him like that..." Tiana asks, very clearly confused. She probably didn't count on the reaction she would get before saying that though, which is why she must've looked so surprised at our reactions when we burst out laughing so loud the neighbor's dog started barking.

"Um..." Tiana murmurs, clearly uncomfortable.

"Babe, let me ease your confusion. Me and this piece of shit here are never getting together. Ever. If the zombie apocalypse happened and he's the last fuckable person left, we'd still never get together," Amanda says, an arm resting on my shoulder

"Well that's your loss, really," I say, smirking. "I mean, who wouldn't want to get with all of this." I gesture to myself smugly, watching as Amanda curls her face in disgust.

"Hey, uh... I think I'll go in. It's getting chilly out here," Tiana says, looking a tad bit uncomfortable. That just will not do.

"Wait a bit. So, why'd you think me and Amanda, of all people, are together?" I ask, still chuckling just thinking about it.

"Well.. you both seem really...familiar with each other. Like.. like you're both meant for each other, or something," Tiana mutter, probably uncomfortable with the attention.

I sigh. "We are never getting together. Ever. At this point it's nearly impossible."

She nods jerkily, clearly unbelieving. "Okay. Well, I better get back in now. I'm pretty tired. Bye."

I watch as her figure resides back into the house, her hunched posture making her look smaller, unnoticeable. I hope that changes. A fire as bright as her's deserves to be noticed.

"Do you ever wonder why they call it 'falling in love' when it doesn't feel like I'm falling but like I'm flying?" I ask, eyes on the door that has just closed.

"Sometimes... sometimes falling feels flying and flying feels like falling. The ones that we love the most are the ones most capable of hurting us. But, if it's done right, you can fly into love as well," Amanda says, smiling at me sympathetically.

"I hope so," I murmur, turning to look at her.

"Are you... you know... in love?"

"Not yet.." I softly. "But... but I have a feeling she's not someone I'll ever want to let go of."

"Then don't," she tells me, squeezing my arm before walking back into the house.

Sighing, I walk back to my house. On the way, I think of all the little moments I've had with Tiana. All the little moments where she seemed more grounded that the rest. All the little moments where she seemed more open to the world, more happy.

She's a cyclone of emotions and I'm in the eye of it.

I open the door to my house to see mom on the sofa with her head in her hands, her fingers tangled up in her hair, messy and tangled.

"Mom...?" I say slowly so as not to startle her.

She jerks up at the sound of my voice, eyes wide with panic and... guilt?

"Hi, honey. You're home early," she says, not looking me in the eye.

"Not really. I'm quite late actually," I say suspiciously.

She glances at the clock and her eyes widen in surprise. "Oh. It seems you are."

"What's going on?" I ask, my eyes narrowed.

She sighs in defeat. "You're not adopted."

"What?" I ask, my eyes wide.

She winces, then says, "You're legally not our child. All we had over you is a temporary guardianship. I'm sorry."

"What..?" I ask as my world comes to halt. Suddenly, all the thoughts I've had about family fly away like sand in a desert. I feel so stupid. I knew I shouldn't have hoped for a family. I'm meant to be alone.

Alone.

Always alone.

"Listen, I know you may think that this means you're not part of our family but-"

"Save it," I say, my anger taking over me. "Family includes honesty. And if you can't be honest with me, then... then we're not family."

Her eyes go wide and I bolt out the door before she can see the regret that flashes in my eyes. I don't want her to know that the words hurt me too.

But that's usually how it is. We hurt ourselves more than we hurt anyone else.

I walk slowly towards the house Tiana stays in. I try calming my anger but all that comes after that is grief so I hold on to that anger. I hold on to the anger that hides the aching sadness beneath it. I hold on to the anger so I won't have to seem weak and desperate. I'm not weak.

I'm not.

Using the keys to the house that I have, I open the door quietly. I try listening in to see if Tiana and Amanda are having a conversation but, since they're not, I lock the door behind me and climb up the stairs. Slowly, I open the door and peak into it, searching for a pair of bright emerald eyes. I find them on the bed, still and unblinking, staring at the ceiling.

Maybe I'll be doing us both a favor by being here.

"Hey," I say weakly, my voice croaking. Gosh, I'm pathetic.

The unblinking eyes are now staring at me, the owner now sitting up in bed.

"Hey," she says back, her voice unsteady.

"Uh...mind if I stay here tonight?"

"No."

I stand there, staring at her for a while, unsure of whether or not she's being honest or not. She's not one to stand up for herself. I wish she did. But, apparently, wishes are not meant to be granted. They're something we have to work for.

"What're you gonna wear?" she asks weakly. I take that as my cue to enter the room.

"I have the white thin shirt thing, wifebeaters, I think they're called? Anyway, I'm wearing that and boxer shorts so it's okay," I say, trying to keep my voice light. I know she knows I'm a mess. I know she won't say anything about it until she has to.

"Won't you get cold?" she asks worriedly.

"Nah I don't think so. I'm good."

"If you say so," she says, getting up.

"Where're you going?" I ask curiously.

"To sleep on the couch," she says, looking up at me.

"No!" I exclaim, panicked. This seems to startle her so I try my best to calm myself.

"I...uh..please," I murmur, my voice so fucking weak I feel like punching something. "I don't want to be alone right now. Please."

She looks at me closely for about two seconds, two seconds where I feel naked, before she moves to the side, looking at me expectantly and saying, "Okay."

I breathe a sigh of relief before walking towards the bed. Once there, I take off my shirt and my jeans before getting into the bed. I feel her body stiffen so I try my best to keep as much space between us as possible. I turn to face her. She's looking back at me.

She smiles. "What's up?"

I laugh. "Well, I hope it's the roof. If not then I have questions."

"Funny," she says, her expression deadpan.

"I know I am," I say, smirking.

She laughs loudly, her face becoming the sun even though it's nighttime, before her expression goes serious again.

"Are you okay?"

I try telling her that I'm fine, that's it's nothing to worry about, that I'll be fine, but all that comes out is a strangled sound that sounds like I'm two seconds away from sobbing.

She reaches between us and takes my hand in her, her smile sympathetic.

And the dam explodes.

She watches as I cry, first a little sniffle that turns into cries that then turns into sobs. She watches as I rub myself raw, making myself vulnerable. She watches as I cry and I cry and I cry.

I feel so weak.

I feel so free.

"What happened?" Tiana asks. Somehow, while I was being a sobbing mess, she had come closer to me. She still held my palm in her's, her thumb making random patterns comfortingly.

"I'm not... I'm not her son. I'm not his brother. I'm nobody's. I'm alone," I say morosely.

She looks at me questioningly. I sigh shakily. "I'm not adopted. All these years it has just been a guardianship. That's why they needed a lawyer. That's why my biological parents have a chance at getting me back. She lied to me, Kitty. All these years she's been lying to me. She only has one son. Jared doesn't have a brother. And I.. I don't have a family."

She hums a little in acknowledgment, then says, "Do you want to know the real quote behind the "blood is thicker than water" one? "The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb" is actually the true meaning. You choose who your family is. Legal procedures don't. Blood family might not always be your family. My... my blood family aren't the best people. So... so I'm trying my best to create my own little family. You already have your family. Don't let legality come in between that."

I look up at her and she smiles, a thin, watery thing. She then pulls me in for a hug, warming up my cold heart. I sob into her shoulders, clutching onto her waist. I can't lose her.

"Thank you," I say, wiping away the last of my tears. I pull her closer and, in my tired state, I don't realize what I've done until I've done it. My eyes widen but she just smile at me, though I can still see fear in her eyes.

"Thank you," I say quietly, sincerely.

"Thank you," she says back, her eyes fluttering. She's so cute when she's tired. Like a kitten. She rubs her eyes tiredly with one hand. My heart beats just a little bit faster.

"Lets sleep then?" I ask, smiling fondly. She nods her head tiredly, her green eyes still bright in her sleepy state.

"Yeah," she says, yawning all kitten-like. She then turns, her back towards me, and presses closer, clutching my arm, that's wrapped around her, to her chest.

Maybe sleeping in bed with her wasn't the best idea.

"Thank the stars, Piggy. Maybe they'll help you. They helped me find you," she says tiredly, yawning afterwards.

I smile, stroking her hair. She's my inspiration, this broken girl. Maybe the stars helped the both of us when they chose to help us meet each other.

"Thank you, stars. Thank you."

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Hey!! A new chapter!!! YAY!!!

(When you're so bad at updating, you get excited about your own update cuz you're just damn sure everyone else is just... shaking their head) (lol)

Well, this chapter was a little sad and quite fluffy and not much really happens here. It's like a filler but not really. Idk, man. I find it cute.

Also, I'm not in the best condition. Quite the opposite, in fact. But eh.. I'm trying, ya know?

Also... YOU GUYS 6.9K VIEWS OH MAH GOSHHHHHH I'M A DEAD GIRL!!!

*gives you all cookies* *hugs* *kisses* *all those other mushy stuff* THANK YOUUU!!

Also, ugh headaches are the worst. I have a nearly constant HORRIBLE headache. Like... I can smell my brain burning. I'm surprised I finished this, really. It's probably not as good as I had hoped it would be, but I'm too exhausted and in pain to actually double check, so please tell me if there's any mistakes.

Also, random fact, my favorite ice cream flavor is mango. Yummmmm.

Also, I'm back to the laptop. I'm not really used to it. Another reason this isn't good

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Bye!!