Tyson POV

I grunt as I wake up to another nightmare, tears in my eyes. Can't a guy sleep after an emotionally troubling night without being woken up? I certainly hope he can.

The nightmares were always there since I was a kid. They've become worse after that horrible scene on that unfortunate day. But they've been getting better to bear. With each day that Tiana's here, her skin warm and soft and so so alive, they're a bit better to bear. But they never stop. They're always there, making me fear the very thing that's supposed to rejuvenate me.

It's a tiring process.

I grunt again, but this time in pain, as I feel someone hit my chest. I turn to look at Tiana, who's trashing and twisting and crying silently. Her face seems to be contorted in a mixture of pain and anger and her body seems to be shivering. Then, abruptly, she curls into herself, muttering pleas and apologies.

I wish I could fucking kill the piece of shit that did this to her.

I hold her arm to comfort her but that just makes her shivering and pleading worsen until she looks miserable.

It truly is horrible to be trapped in your own self.

Feeling hopelessness settle on me like the unwanted weight it is, I try my best to think of a solution as my own hands shake. I hate seeing her like this. I hate seeing her so weak and helpless and low and miserable. I wish I could protect her from everything. But, in the end, the only thing I have to protect her from is herself. And that is a battle she must fight on her own.

Doesn't mean I won't be there for her every step of the way.

I watch helplessly as she shivers, her fear seeming to grow with each second she's stuck in her own mind. In her nightmare that was her reality. My mind runs through everything's she's ever said to me, searching for anything that could help her out, when it stops at one particular moment.

Music. She likes music.

I think of a song to sing and the only thing that comes to mind is "You are my Sunshine." I look towards the scared girl that's slowly digging her way into my heart and sigh.

I start singing the song, my voice small and shaky and scared.

"The other day, dear, as I lay sleeping
I dreamt I held you in my arms
When I woke, dear, I was mistaken,
So I hung my head and I cried"

As soon as I finish the first verse, I'm reminded of the dreams, or rather nightmares, where I hold her in my arms too. Only, she's dead in my nightmares. Dead and cold and pale and bloody. I wake up every time with tears in my eyes and a heavy heart in my chest, reminding myself that she's alive and well.

I shake my head to rid myself of the thoughts and turn to look at Tiana, hoping I helped in any way.

Her shivering has reduced. It's still there though and the fear and pain still contorts her face. But the shivering has reduced.

I smile at the victory and, for a second, I wonder if it's a mistake choosing this song if it's her I'm singing it to. My sunshine.

"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are grey
You'll never know, dear, how much I love you
Please don't take my sunshine away."

Tears slip past my eyes and onto my cheeks as I sing the last line. It's a punch to the gut, that line. It's a reminder of just how much this girl with her big green eyes means to me. It's a reminder of how much I'll lose if I lose her. A reminder how just how happy she makes me.

I'm a very screwed human being.

I blink the tears away and turn to look at Tiana. Emerald green eyes stare back at me sleepily. Her eyes are puffy and red around the pupils and there are tears tracks on her cheeks. Her chocolate brown hair looks like a nest on her head and her cheeks look sunken. The skin under her eyes are dark, showing just how little sleep she's been getting.

Is it cliche of me to think she looks beautiful? I don't really care if it is. She's a work of art, and I'm not stupid enough to not acknowledge it.

"You have such a pretty voice," she says groggily and my heart stutters at her words. I smile, quite happy with the compliment.

"Why thank you. I aim to please, after all," I say, smirking.

She smiles then, or tries to anyway. But her face looks scarred with scars from the past. To me, those scars are one of the most respected things about her. To her, they are a bane to her very existence, something to be shameful of.

She doesn't know she's got the blood of a survivor flowing through her veins.

She drops her smile and looks me in the eye, clutching my arm tightly before saying, "Talk to your mother. Please. You don't know just how much you'll be losing if you lose them. And you don't want to know either. Trust me."

I stare at her for sometime, taking in everything that makes her her. She looks back at me, her eyes urgent and slightly terrified. Her eyes roam my face, searching for a promise. I give it to her.

"I'll talk to her," I tell her, watching as she breathes a sigh of relief. "I'll talk to them."

She smiles in satisfaction and nods. "That's all I need to hear."

I smile back, pleased. Her eyes widen then and she abruptly jumps off the bed and starts walking away.

"Wha..? Where are you going?"

"The bathroom. I need to pee," she shouts back, heading towards the bathroom and closing the door behind her. I shake my head, amused,  and cover myself with a blanket. It's getting cold.

Before I dose off to sleep, I feel a jolt and a warm body getting in the bed. There's a small smile on my face before I go to sleep.
——
The next day I wake up to an empty bed. I panic for a second before hearing the tap running in the bathroom. I let out a sigh of relief and snuggle back into the bed. No one is gonna get me outta this warm heaven.

"Get your ass out of bed it's fucking 11 o'clock you crapnut," I hear Amanda's voice says and I sigh, already missing the warmth of the bed. I hear Tiana giggle and, I'll admit, that makes things a bit better.

"Fuck off," I mumble intelligently, burrowing deeper into the bed sheets.

"Either you get out of bed or I shove this toothbrush, that I had to go get from a fucking store at 8 in the fucking morning, up your ass," her voice says again, clearly not in the mood for my bullshit.

"You're just jealous I'm still in bed," I mumble groggily, refusing to get out of bed.

"There's good food," Amanda says, her voice sing song, probably realising my love for the bed can only be rivaled by my love for food.

"You can't cook to save your life," I say, getting up in bed solely due to surprise.

"Maybe. But Tiana can. And let me tell you, her hands are magic. It's just an omelet. An omelet. And it tastes like a foodgasm," she says, her voice taking a dreamy note, and my level or alertness has just increased times 100.

"Food?" I ask hopefully.

"Food," she says, nodding her head sincerely. I turn to the side when I hear laughter my jaw drops when I see Tiana laughing like she never has before, tears actually forming at the tips of her eyes.

What a time to be alive.

"I'm sorry but.. you guys act like an old married couple and like a pair of siblings and.. just... I can't," she says, laughing again.

"You seem to be in a good mood," I say, my tone calculatively calm.

"That's cause when I say her hands are magic, I meant it," Amanda says, looking quite happy.

Eh?

My eyes bulge out and I yell, "What happened while I was asleep?!"

Amanda's eyes also become saucers while Tiana remains blissfully unaware. I hope she won't get it. I don't want this to be another trigger.

"The guitar you asscrack, I was talking about the guitar!" Amanda practically yells, her hands flying around passionately.

Realising knocks me on the head and I let out a quiet "Oh.." while blushing up a storm. I should really control my thoughts.

"You finally played the guitar huh?" I ask Tiana when she starts to say something, probably a question about what just happened. There's no way I'm answering that.

"Yeah," she says, her smile radiating like the sun on a hot summer day. I bask in the sheer brightness of it. She finally looks... happy.

"Woah," I say.

"Close your mouth, you'll catch flies," I hear Amanda says and I turn just it time to see her roll her eyes. What's with girls and rolling their eyes anyway?

"Brush your teeth, eat and go speak to your mother," Tiana says and I freeze, my mood instantly dropping.

"I-"

"You're going," Amanda says sternly. I glare at her and look towards Tiana, ready to give some excuse. But when I see her face, her broken face that was, minutes ago, filled with an ethereal sort of brightness, I sigh and agree. Tiana smiles at me then, a kind and supportive smile, and somehow it doesn't see so hard.

I can do this.

"How about I go there right now?" I ask, knowing that this feeling will only remain for a while.

"At least brush your teeth first," Amanda says, though she does look concerned.

"Nah, I've gotta do it now."

"Teeth."

"Fine."

I rush to the bathroom and brush my teeth as fast as possible, hoping this rush of sudden bravery won't leave me. It isn't often you suddenly find the strength to do something you've been running away from. Thankfully, it didn't and, before I know it, I'm spitting into basin. But at the moment it comes to actually leave, nervousness creeps back into me

"Please. Trust me, it's worth it. So very worth it," Tiana says when she sees my nervousness. She has a way with calming people with her gentle nature. Amanda just sorta rudely tells you she cares. Xavier just pats your back awkwardly and then gives you a really tight bro hug. They're all very comforting in various ways. But, sometimes, you just want gentleness. Sometimes, you just want softness. Sometimes... sometimes you just want to let go of everything. These are the most important times.

I try smiling. I don't think it worked. "Easy to say, hard to do."

She hugs me then, very hesitantly, and the nervousness burns out of me, blowing away like smoke in a storm. "It'll be worth it."

I hug her back gingerly, letting her presence comfort me. The hug is gone as fast as it came but the tingle of comfort is still there. I smile.

"Thanks for that. Bye, I guess. See you on the other side," I say, trying to joke while my hands shake. Contradictions were all always attractive to me. I guess that's why I've taken a shine to Tiana.

Just then Amanda pulls me and Tiana into a group hug and, while I'm a bit worried for Tiana, I hug them both back. Amanda hugs tighter and Tiana hesitantly hugs is both back, looking uncertain but not reluctant. She's come a long way from the first time I saw her. I smile and burying my head into Amanda's blonde hair, absorbing all the comfort they could give. I'm a comfort leech. Sue me.

"You take care of yourself, alright?" she says when we pull away, smiling at me. I smile back.

"I'll try."

I turn to look at Tiana, who's standing a little bit away from us, looking at us with a curious expression. I internally roll my eyes, knowing she's probably thinking we're good together or something.

"Got any encouraging words for me, Kitty? If we're going to act like I'm going off to war, then I guess we'll have to go through with the whole act wholeheartedly," I say, rolling my eyes and looking at Amanda pointedly.

"Nothing much really," she says, though she looks like she does have something to say. Turns out I was right. "Just that there's always two contradicting perspectives at play when there's a problem between two people. You need two hands to clap, not one. While your option may be right, it doesn't necessarily mean hers is wrong either. There's two sides, always. So... don't jump to conclusions, yeah? Try seeing it from her perspective too, not just sticking to your side. That's it, I guess."

I stare at her for sometime, considering her words, before sighing. "I guess you're right. I guess sometimes I have to admit I'm wrong too, huh? I guess she's been handling a lot of stress because of it. And my dad... yeah. Yeah, I guess you're right. Thank you."

Tiana smiles, seeming to be quite happy to have helped me. "You're welcome."

"You can continue you're weird flirting some other time. You have somewhere to be and I have places to be with Tiana and Xavier," Amanda says, pushing me along the path to my house.

My face goes red and I yell "Amanda!" while praying that the earth would suddenly swallow me whole. I glance at Tiana to see her cheeks are a bright rosy colour as well. Cute . That just makes my own cheeks brighter. Dammit.

"Fucking hell you both are complete disasters! Is this a blushing contest?! I don't think it is! This is reality, bitches! Now you-" Amanda yells, pointing a finger at me "-go talk to your mother and solve your shit! And you-" she says a little softer , pointing at Tiana. "-are coming with me!"

I notice that she doesn't drag Tiana behind her like she would've. Instead she look at her expectantly. Tiana nods and walks towards the house, her gait still weak and scared, to my utter displeasure.

"Good luck," Amanda says, nodding, and walks back into the house. I sigh. I haven't had a proper breakfast yet and I already can't wait for the day to end. This is going to be a long day.

I start walking towards the house, every step heavier than the last. When I finally reach the house, I stand in front of the house for sometime before sighing again and taking the extra key from under the doormat and opening the door. Standing outside and hoping your problems magically get solved won't solve shit. Actually trying to solve your shit is the only way to actually solve your shit. The day you stop trying is the day everything gets worse.

As soon as I open the door a pair of small arms wrap themselves around my waist. I grunt as a messy blond-haired head hits my stomach and I chuckle fondly as I see who it is.

Jared. My little baby brother. Yes, he's my baby brother even though he's 12. And I'll fuck with anyone who fucks with him. He's going to keep that little innocent spark in his eyes for as long as I can help it. Anyone who removes that smile from his face shall wish they never had.

God, in all the drama, I really missed this kid. I forgot how warm he is. Like a little human toaster. His hugs are always the best. So warm and soft and homely. So filled with love and comfort.

"Don't do that again! Do you know how fucking worried we were?!"

Well looks like he isn't as innocent as I thought he was.

"Apparently me being away has given you the permission to swear then, huh?" I ask, an eyebrow raised.

He rolls his eyes. "I think, given the situation, I'm allowed a pass here. And it's not like you use the word in every other sentence, right?"

"I'm allowed. I'm older than you."

"But I'm supposed to learn from my elders. And can I help it if this is what my own big brother has taught me? Can I help my own words?" Jar says, smirking. Little shit.

"Where did my cute little innocent baby brother go? I don't recognise this back-answering little crapbag in front of me," I say, mock-glaring at him.

He rolls his eyes again. "He ran away with my piece of mind, apparently. I haven't seen them both in quite a while."

"You're just a human shell filled with sass, aren't you?" I say, smiling fondly. I ruffle his hair and laugh as he glares at me, trying to fix his hair again.

"Well obviously. He spends most of his time with you after all," a voice says and I look forward to see my mom standing in the middle of our very expensive and modernly decorated living room. Our living room, unlike most rich houses, actually looks homely and lived-in. A few flower-pots here, some random book there. And, for some reason, a shoe on the coffee table.

The colour scheme is something with yellows and blacks and and oranges and browns. I don't know how it works but it does and, in the end, it's home. The fact that my underwear seems to be on our black sofa cements it.

I look up at my mother, looking at us with so much wistful fondness and so much weariness from the years of stress and from the conversation to come, and I sigh again for what's probably the tenth time this day, knowing Tiana's right.

I give my mother a warm smile.

"Hi, Mom."
——————
Cliche, cliche, CLICHE!! This whole damn story!!!

It's 1 in the morning. I didn't get proper sleep last night. I'm recovering from a fever. I've been coughing all around the bloody place all day. I've had to go to tuition while in this state. And I've been weirdly stressed for a while now. My life is a fairy tale. All of you, be jealous. Take notes. Be like me.

I'm sorry this chapter was the crapiest of them all. I had like no inspiration and just... I just...
Idk man....

Anyway, in other news..
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8.9K VIEWS  YOU LOVELIES WHO READ THIS THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! YOU'RE ALL THE MOST AMAZING PEOPLE AND I APPRECIATE THIS SO MUCH OH MY GOD!!♥️

Also, I don't really like doing this, but please comment. Idk they're really fuel to the soul sometimes so... yea..

(I've been dragging out the story till it reaches 3k words and then and only then did I write an authors note.)

(Also, my brain thinks Amanda's name is Amber. Or was it Amber all along..? Idk man,,, idk)

(Plz point out mistakes, I appreciate it.)

(So... sleepy...)

Vote and comment!!

*Waves* Bye!!