"Do you want to eat with us Autumn?" Cyrus asked me. "We were on our way to eat some pizza."

As if on cue, my stomach grumbled. All of the guys snorted, but their stomachs rumbled too. 

"Let me just ask my mom." I told them.

I got my phone out and dialed my house number.

"Hello?" My mom asked through the phone.

"Hey mom, can I go eat some pizza with some friends?"

"Oh sure, we were having leftovers for dinner anyway. I'm just glad you're going out with friends. Is there any guys there? I don't want you and your group of girls to get cornered to an alley."

Too late for that, I thought to myself.

"Yeah, like four of them." Not a total lie, right?

"Can I talk to them?"

"What?" I exclaimed. The guys looked at me with curiosity.

"Put this phone on speaker, Autumn." She ordered me.

I looked at the guys. "My mom wants to talk to you, all of you."

They exchanged looks with each other, then shrugged.

"Hit us with her best shot," Luis sang.

I glared at him, and he fell silent.

"Don't mess up." I warned them.

I pressed the speaker button.

"You're on speaker." I told my mom.

"Hello!" My mom said. "I'm Autumn's mom, Joan, but you can call me by Mrs. Griffin too."

"Hi Mrs. Griffin," they all said in unison.

"Hey, I'm Luis Stinson."

"My name's Dean Rodriguez."

"This is Cyrus Jones."

"And I'm Wyatt Matthews, driving the car."

"Nice to meet, well, talk with you guys." She laughed at her own joke.

I silently groaned. That's so lame.

"So do any of you guys have girlfriends?"

My jaw dropped. You just got to be kidding me.

Dean chuckled. "Um, no, and I'm sure Luis isn't close to having one."

Luis punched Dean on the shoulder.

"I'm single," Wyatt said.

"Me too," Cyrus told my mom.

My mom was quiet. "So four single guys? How many girls are there?"

"Four," I blurted out. If girls outnumbered guys, my mom will be okay with it.

"Really, can I talk to them too?"

I looked at them. "Do something," I whispered to them.

"Ashlynn is back in business," Luis said, cracking his knuckles.

Does this mean what I think is means?

Luis cleared his throat. "Uh, hello ma'm? My name's Ashlynn Burke. Nice to meet you!" He said in a high pitch voice.

"And I'm like, Delilah Reyes," Dean with a higher voice, then coughed, rubbing his throat.

Cyrus laughed, then caught himself and made a high pitch laugh. "And I'm Chloe James, Autumn's BFF."

"No way," Luis/ Ashlynn said. "I'm Autumn's BFF."

"Guys, I mean girls. You're all my BFF's."

"I only talked to three girl's, where's the fourth?" My mom asked.

We all turned to Wyatt who looked at us.

"I'm not going to do it," he growled.

"You got to." Dean/ Delilah reasoned. "Or else Autumn can't ever hang out with us."

Wyatt furrowed his eyebrows. "Do I have to?" He whined.

I pouted. "Please, for me?"

He sighed. "Give me the phone," He ordered me.

I handed it to him and all of us leaned close to Wyatt. He glared at us to back away, which we did.

He gritted his teeth, "I can't believe I'm doing this."

Wyatt cleared his throat. "Hi, I'm, like, a fab friend of Autumn," said in a high pitch voice.

Already I burst out laughing. Luis had to cover my mouth to make me stop laughing.

Wyatt glared at me and continued. "My name is, Whitney-"

"Houston?" I challenged, and this time Luis burst out laughing too.

"Shush," Cyrus ordered us. 

"Like I was saying," he said. "I'm Whitney Morris, nice to meet you ma'm."

"What a pretty name you have Whitney."

All of us, except Wyatt, snorted. 

"Well you all should be arriving to that restaurant. I hope you all have a good time."

"You too mom. Bye." Then I hung up the phone.

I sighed and slumped the chair. "You guys were... Awesome!"

"Ikr!" Luis said.

I laughed. "Lol. Don't talk text with me, Ashlynn."

"Okay, girlfriend."

"Nice acting skills, Wyatt, or should I say Whitney?" Cyrus laughed.

"Very funny, Chloe."

"Whatevah." Cyrus said. "Just talk the hand."

"So where to eat?" Wyatt asked. "I lost my appetite for pizza all of a sudden."

Cyrus chuckled then whispered loudly to us. "He's on a diet."

Wyatt punched Cyrus's arm. "Am not!"

Cyrus whispered again, "He's in denial."

Luis snorted. "Says the guy who's in denial for liking-"

Cyrus glared at Luis. "Don't finish the sentence." He warned him.

"You like someone?" I asked. "Who is it? Do I know her?"

There was an awkward silence. Cyrus didn't answer.

"Do I know... him?"

Everyone burst out laughing, everyone but Cyrus.

"Oh this is rich." Dean said. "She thinks that you're-"

"Don't finish the sentence."

"So who do you like?" I asked, leaning forward to the front of the car to see Cyrus.

"No one."

"Liar." I said. "Now tell me."

"You don't know her."

"At least I know it's a girl. So give me a name."

"No."

"A hair color?"

"No."

"A letter?"

He sighed and looked at me. "Autumn, I'm not telling you who I like. Period."

"At least tell me what she's like." I said.

"Well we've known each other for a short while, but I knew the moment I saw her"- Cyrus sighed- "I fell in love with her." He said. "She just seems so different from the other girls, she's not afraid to be herself." 

"Aw."

"She's just so sweet, caring, smart, funny, and very beautiful." Cyrus said. "Every time I see her my heart races, but I don't have anything to say. I just love the way she laughs, the look on her face when she blushes, and her smile is so- wow."

"Aw."

"But she doesn't even know that I like her, we barely talk. All I do is make small compliments of her and she brushes them away like nothing. I guess she only sees me as a friend, that's why she thinks they're nothing. But I don't think she means it, she's just really oblivious to it. I don't know how it's possible but she never dated anyone before from the people I asked about her. So I don't know if she would say yes if I would ask her. But I'm willing to wait until she's ready to ask her out."

"Aw."

"Stop saying aw," Wyatt said.

"It's just so romantic," I sighed, leaning back to my seat. "The perfect cliche love story. The boy falling in love with the oblivious girl who only sees him as a friend." I couldn't help but sigh again. "If only I would have something like that."

Wyatt, Dean, and Luis coughed.

"Yeah that's so romantic, bro," Luis said.

"If only you you would tell that to her face," Dean sighed.

"Shut up." Cyrus muttered, looking out the window.

"Don't tease him you guys. It's not his fault he's such a chicken."

He looked at me. "What?"

"I mean come on." I said, lifting my arms into the air. "Just ask the poor girl out already. She must be thinking that she's not good enough to even be asked out. Take my advice and ask her out before someone realizes that she's a great girl too."

Wyatt, Dean, and Luis coughed again. Is there some flu spreading around us or something?

"Maybe you're right, Autumn," Cyrus said, glancing at me then looking away.

"I'll just going to keep bugging you until you tell me who you like."

"That won't take long," Luis coughed.

"What do you mean by-"

"So where do you think we should eat?" Cyrus said, cutting me off.

"I don't want pizza or burgers," Wyatt said. "I've been living off that for weeks, and I'm just getting sick of it now."

"It should be somewhere cheap." Dean said.

"But has a lot of food," Luis added.

I racked into my brain to find some place where we could eat. Then it dawned to me. I went forward and turned on the GPS.

"What are you doing?" Wyatt asked me, glancing down too see what I'm doing.

"I know this great place called Moon Daepo BBQ 2 near here. It's really cheap, and you get a lot of food. But I have to yelp it because I forgot where it is."

"How cheap?" Dean asked.

"And how much is a lot of food?" Luis asked.

"It's ten bucks for my family, but it'll be around lucky number thirteen bucks for all five of us with our appetites. And it's a Korean buffet restaurant, that's how much food it is."

"So let me get this straight." Wyatt said. "There is a BBQ buffet which is in our price range and near here."

"It's perfect!" Luis and Dean said together.

"Found it!" I said.

I clicked on the address and it showed us the route to the restaurant. We arrived to the restaurant in minutes thanks to Wyatt's mad driving skills, as he puts it. There's valet parking, so the guys got out of the car. The valet, a guy who looked familiar at school, smiled at me. He helped me out of the car, taking my hand. I knew from the many books I've read where this was going.

"Hey," he said with a flirty grin. "If you're free tonight, we can meet up after my shift is over."

I chuckled nervously. "Actually-"

"She's with her friends." Luis said, putting his arm around my shoulder. 

All of the other guys stood next to us, intimidating him. Compared to them, he looked like a shrimp, and that makes both of us.

He gulped, getting the message. "Right, right. Sorry." He quickly walked back to his post.

"So you'll be careful with her right?" Wyatt asked.

We turned to see that Wyatt was talking to the valet. The valet looked like he's around our age, probably a senior. Wyatt was holding his car keys out to the valet, who was impatiently waiting.

"Yes, now can you give me the keys?"

Wyatt was about to set it down, but he lifted the keys back to him. 

"You're positive? I mean, this girl's my treasure. If I see one scratch..."

The valet snatched Wyatt's keys out of his hand.

"I've been working here for a couple months. I think I can handle parking a car."

"But I-"

I grabbed Wyatt's arm. "C'mon Wyatt, we're all hungry."

"Right. Just- just be careful with my baby!"

"Clingy girlfriend issues," Luis whispered to me, making me chuckle.

"Let's go, let's go. I'm starving." I said, getting really excited.

We arrived into the restaurant where the waiter was waiting for us. The place looked casual and peaceful. I loved the atmosphere, no romantic one, just a normal one. I'm glad that I didn't wear anything fancy just for coming here, I'm still in my school clothes. 

"Would you like a table?"

Luis whispered into my ear so the waiter couldn't here. "Nah, we're just fine sitting on the floor."

I snorted, getting looks from the others. I calmed myself down and smiled to the waiter. "Yeah, table for five."

He nodded. "Of course."

The waiter led us to a corner booth, then waited for us to take a seat. We all stared at  the booth. The the guys started to argue who will sit next to who. I groaned, I am so hungry that I don't have to deal with this. I calmly sat at the middle and cleared my throat, but they ignored me.

"You guys!" I said, catching their attention. "Just take a seat already, the kind waiter is waiting for us to order." 

Reluctantly they sat down. We sat in the order of Dean, Wyatt, me, Luis and Cyrus.

"So what would like to drink?" The waiter asked, who was waiting patiently for us and wore a comforting smile.

"I'll take lemonade." I told the waiter.

The guys all looked at the menu. Then said in unison, "Beer."

That startled me, I don't know anyone who drinks beer. Actually I don't know anyone who drinks alcohol. They told the waiter what kind of beer they want.

"We'll be having the $12.99 deal," I said.

Once again the waiter nodded then left to the kitchen. In seconds the waiter came back with our drinks and appetizers. I awkwardly sipped my lemonade as the guys drank their beers. Cyrus noticed I was being uncomfortable and smiled.

"I take it you don't drink beer?" Cyrus asked me, taking a big gulp.

"I don't, but it's fine." I assured them.

"You don't have to worry, Autumn." Dean told me. "We can hold our alcohol, it'll take more than a bottle of beer to get us drunk."

"So let me guess," Wyatt said. "You vowed to never drink beer, or take drugs, that stuff, right?"

I smiled, awkwardly. "Yeah."

They all chuckled. 

"That's going to change." Dean said.

"First chance she gets, she'll get a huge hangover the next morning," Wyatt challenged.

"Will not!" I denied.

"Will too!" 

"Okay then, let's bet." I said. "If the first time I get drunk, and I'll have a huge hangover the next day..." I paused, thinking of a good deal.

"You'll have to kiss me," Wyatt said, leaning close to me with a smirk on his face.

My eyes widened. "No way!"

Wyatt cocked his head to the side. "Why not? You're not still a kiss virgin, are you?"

I laughed at the kiss virgin part, but nodded. "Yup, still a... kiss virgin."

All the guys stared at me. I saw Wyatt look at Cyrus then at me back. I had a huge feeling I needed to explain this.

"I promised myself that I'll save my first kiss for "the one," stupid I know." I explained. "So here I am, waiting for the one to come. But I'm not even allowed to date, because of my parents. So I'm suspecting I'll probably lose my first kiss at college."

"College?" The all exclaimed.

I shrugged. "I have to finish school, then I can date. Education comes first in my family. That's why I'm always so serious at school, why I'm never absent."

"Wow," Cyrus muttered.

"So," Luis began. "If I were to, I don't know, steal your first kiss..."

"Don't even think about it, Lucy."

"Oh c'mon. Let's make it a bet. The first one of us to kiss Autumn, gets... fifty bucks."

"No, I'm not going to let you guys steal my first kiss. I don't even see you guys like that."

"Or do you," Dean challenged.

I rolled my eyes. "Nope, I'm not ever going to think of that."

Luis sighed, putting his hand around my shoulder. "She's right. We're all her big brothers, well most of us, we can't do that to little sis."

"Thank you."

"But we'll still be waiting since we're not biological siblings," Luis sang.

"You're be already dead by the time I think of you guys like that."

"Oh that's touching Autumn, really."

"And how is fifty bucks even close to what my first kiss is worth?"

"And what," Dean said, chuckling. "What do you think it's worth?"

"Well, I don't know... like 200 bucks."

All the guys burst out laughing, even I couldn't help but laugh too.

"What! No way!" Luis said, "I don't have that kind of money."

"You're stealing a girl's first kiss, it should be that much."

"I'll steal her kiss for free, I'm just saying," Wyatt said.

I looked a Cyrus who's been quiet the whole conversation.

"Cyrus what's wrong? You're not still freaked that I never been kissed before, aren't you?"

He chuckled. "Uh no, it's just... I never met a girl who never lost her v-card much less her first kiss."

"Well, you've met her." I said, smiling.

"Do you think you could give me a discount for that first kiss deal," Luis asked, wiggling his eyebrows.

"Like what?"

"About fifty percent, good deal right?"

"In your dreams Luis."

I took a bit of the kimchi appetizer. I was getting a bit hungry, and I thought it would satisfy my stomach until the food arrived.

"What is that?" Dean asked.

"Kimchi, " I answered, thinking of an evil plan. "You know what, I bet you can't eat this whole plate at once without water.

"Why, is it spicy?"

I shrugged. "You could say that."

"Okay then." He grabbed the bowl and stuffed all the kimchi into his mouth.

I counted down. "Three, two, one-"

"You liar! It is spicy!" He grabbed a glass of water from a couple next to us, and drank the whole thing down.

"Sorry about my friend, he's an idiot," I apologize to the couple, who smiled back.

"It's okay. I got a sister who's special."

"Well, he's extra special."

"I will get you, Autumn." Dean threatened.

Luis protectively hugged me. "What did innocent little Autumn do? All she did was bet that you couldn't eat the whole dish."

"But she lied!"

I pouted, and said innocently. "But I did say it was kind of spicy."

Dean glared at me, then took another swig of his beer. "Just this once Autumn, I'll let you off the hook."

The waiter came back with two trays full of meat, red meat. He set the trays on the table.

"You know what to do, yes?" 

I nodded. "I've been here many times. Thanks."

He left to go greet another couple.

"Man, I'm starving." Luis picked up a piece of raw meet and ate it.

I gasped. "Luis no! That's raw!"

"Raw!" He spat the meat onto his bowl. "Why is it raw?"

I burst out laughing. "This is the cook-it-yourself type of buffet. You but the meat and cook it yourself. Pretty cool right?"

"So now you tell us." Luis muttered, taking a big swig from his beer.

"Sorry." I looked at the meats, I pointed to each one as I names them. "That's beef brisket, pork belly, my favorite is marinated chicken and marinated beef bulgogi, then there's spicy brisket, and spicy pork bulgogi." 

Wyatt whistled. "A girl who knows her meats, that's a huge turn on."

I had no way to respond to that.

I saw the Wyatt was looking at Cyrus with a grin, but I decided to ignore it. I grabbed locking tongs and started to put the meats into the grill that's on the middle of the table. I saw everyone was drooling as much as I was, but the meats cook quickly. It was a bit of hard work, being the only one cooking the meat, and I was scared I'll start sweating. Then Cyrus grabbed my hand, making me blush a bit. But it must be covered by me already being red from the smoke that, that he didn't notice.

"I could take it from here," he started to grill the meats for me with another set of locking tongs.

"Um okay, thanks." I was a bit grateful that he took over.

Soon the both of us passed out the meets to the guys, and of course to me. I grabbed a pair of chopsticks and started to eat.

"And she knows how to grill." Wyatt mused.

"I've been here a lot, so I know how to grill." I said, brushing the compliment away.

The guys started to watch me eat with the chopsticks. I stopped eating and looked at them.

"What's wrong? I thought you were hungry."

"Nothing," they said, as they grab their own chopsticks.

Cyrus and Dean started to eat with their chopsticks, they were capable with eating them. But Wyatt and Luis had trouble even holding them. Typical.

"You don't know how to use chopsticks, do you?" I asked them.

Luis sighed. "Panda Express always have forks."

I chuckled. "There's a box over there with forks. Just grab one."

"But I'll feel lame to see that a girl can use chopsticks while I'm stuck with a fork."

I sighed. "Fine."

I showed Luis and Wyatt how to eat with chopsticks.

"You have to hold them like chopsticks- no Luis, don't started stabbing the meat. Only quitters start stabbing it. Don't give up, I believe in you."

I showed them how to hold them, and they followed. We practiced picking up some of the appetizer and crumpled up tissues. Amazingly Luis got the hang of it, but Wyatt was terrible at it.

"It's like you're not even trying," I scolded him. 

"It's just really hard," He whined. "How can people eat with this?"

"Correctly," I replied, getting chuckles from the other guys.

"C'mon Wyatt, let's try again. Cyrus and Dean got it, and Luis magically got it even though it's theoretically impossible..."

"Hey!"

"Just use the fork."

"No! I'll feel stupid using the fork."

"You already are."

"Hey!" Luis said. "Oh wait, you weren't talking to me..."

"Guys and their stupid pride," I muttered. "Here, I'll just feed you."

I grabbed his chopsticks, and picked up some brisket. He looked at the chopsticks and raised an eyebrow. I'm just so hungry, I want to get this over with.

"Well? You're hungry aren't you? Open wide, now."

I spoon fed, well, chopstick fed him. Obediently, he ate his food. I noticed that every time I fed him, he would smirk at Cyrus who glared at him.

"Mm," Wyatt said, looking at Cyrus again.

Cyrus narrowed his eyes at him, taking another bite of chicken.

Finally, my curiosity got the best of me.

"What are you doing?" I asked Wyatt.

"Eating."

"No you're not. You keep on smirking at Cyrus like you're rubbing something in his face."

Wyatt shrugged. "It's not everyday, you get spoon fed by someone's-"

Cyrus stood up, threatening, "Don't you dare finish the sentence." 

Wyatt stood up also. "Or what? You're already a big chicken for not telling-"

"Shut the hell up, Wyatt."

I looked around to see that people were looking at us.

"Stop it you guys, you're causing a scene." I whispered hastily. "Just sit down, and we'll get back to eating."

But they ignored me.

"If you won't tell her, then I will." Wyatt said.

"I'll kill you before you get the chance."

I slammed my hands on the table, getting the attention to the both of them. 

"Both of you sit down, or else I'll kick you guys out of the restaurant before the manager does," I ordered.

Both of them were startled by me, then quietly sat down. I grabbed a fork and gave it to Wyatt.

"Stop making such a big deal of being spoon fed, if you want, just go back to your mom with a diaper on." I said.

Then I looked at Cyrus. "And you. Just tell the damn girl you love her already. Then this idiot will stop making fun of you," I said, referring to Wyatt.

Wyatt grumbled, "I'm not an-"

"You are in my eyes." I said, cutting him off.

That shut him up. 

There was an awkward silence at our table. I sipped my lemonade, watching Cyrus and Wyatt who exchanged a few glances with each other.

"So," Dean began. 

We all looked at him.

"Sorry, I got nothing. I hate this awkward silence thing. But that was a great show you put on Autumn. It would take five guys to pull these two out of a fight."

"Thanks." I said, eating a piece of of bulgogi.

We just finished eating, and chipped in to fill the bill. That's when we heard a large crash outside in the parking lot. All of us looked at each other. Wyatt was the first to bolt out of his seat and running out the door. We followed right behind him, but I apologize for the trouble we caused before leaving. 

"My baby!" Wyatt cried.

At first I wanted to laugh at Wyatt's cry. But when I left the restaurant it wasn't any funny anymore. Wyatt's beautiful red car, was smashed into another car. It was like the cars were merged together beyond repair.

"Oh my baby!" Wyatt said, coming over to his car. "I am so sorry, don't worry I'm right here."

I walked over to the other guys. "What happened?"

"The valet probably didn't see the other car when parking Wyatt's car." Cyrus guessed.

"Don't die on me! I'm nothing without you!"

"Don't you think he's overreacting a bit?" I asked.

Dean shrugged. "A man's car is a man's pride."

Wyatt got hold of himself and stomped towards the valet. Oh, I was glad I wan't in the guys shoes right now. Wyatt lifted the guy off the ground by his shirt and slammed him against the wall.

"You're a dead man, you know that?" Wyatt growled.

"I-I'm so sorry, sir. I'll pay for all of the-"

"Wyatt, it's an accident," I said, cutting the valet off. "You shouldn't-"

"Shut up Autumn. It's only between me and this son of a-"

"Wyatt-"

Luis pulled me back. "You can't stop him, you could get hurt."

"You guys, try to stop him." I begged them.

Cyrus gulped. "No one can stop Wyatt when he's like this."

"I'll make you pay alright." Wyatt muttered. 

Then he punched the guy.

I gasped. "No!"

Wyatt kneed the guy in the groin, making him crumple to the ground. Wyatt started to give him punches while he lied defenseless on the ground. I tried to look away as Wyatt began kicking the valet as he coughed up blood. He just wouldn't stop, he won't stop until the valet would stop moving.

"Stop it!" I said. I just wanted it to end.

I looked around, no one was stopping him. Bystanders and passerby watched the scene then quickly moved away. No one was trying to stop him, no one even bothered to call the cops.

"Wyatt, you're going to kill him!" I tried to run towards him, but Dean and Luis pulled me back.

l turned to Cyrus, who was just watched the whole thing. They all did, they watched it and did nothing to stop it. I looked at Wyatt who looked like pure rage. I couldn't describe who or what Wyatt was, all I know is that I wanted it to stop. 

I pushed the guys away, and ran to Wyatt. I tried to pry him away from the guy, who already had a pool of blood surrounding him. But Wyatt just shoved me away, making me crash to the ground. I got up and this time I got in the way of Wyatt's path of the valet, and I felt the shock of his punch on my shoulder.

I gasped, but clenched my teeth.

"Autumn!" Luis said.

I hugged Wyatt, making him stop short. I took a few steps forward so he would back away from the valet. Wyatt just stood there, breathing heavily. We just awkwardly stood there, as I hugged him. I looked up and saw that he was staring at the valet who didn't look like he was moving. It was like he was staring of to space, and not conscious in this world. As if he was here, but not here at the same time. 

"Wyatt, just calm down." I whispered. "Listen to the sound of my voice, and calm down. I'm right here."

"He's still breathing," Dean said, after he checked the guy's pulse.

I looked at the others who were also staring at the valet. Luis was rubbing his neck, muttering things to himself. Dean was checking up on the car, seeing if it was okay to drive in. And Cyrus was just watching us, Wyatt and I.

I felt Wyatt arms around me, hugging me back. His arms were around my neck, I could smell the beer in his breath. I placed my head on his chest, and heard his heartbeat slowing down. My eyes widened at the sudden realization of what I was doing and I pushed Wyatt away. With my face bright red, I walked over to the car staring at the ground hard. I looked back to see Wyatt was still staring at the valet, then his eyes landed on me, I quickly turned away.

"Let's just hail a cab," Luis offered. "The tow truck will be coming to pick up the car."

"I already called 911, we should leave before the police catch us." Dean said, putting his phone in his pocket.

"There's no cameras here, and something tells me no one will say anything happened." Cyrus informed us.

I looked at them. "You guys are acting like this is normal, like you were prepared for this."

"We are," all three of them told me in unison. That made me shut up.

The cab came in minutes. All of us filed into the car, all five of us amazingly fit to the back seat. Wyatt and I were on each end, I didn't want to face him. 

The car ride was silent, no one talked. The cabbie kept looking back at us to check if we were ghost or something. A couple of times Dean and Luis tried to make jokes or start up conversations, being their regular selves. But Cyrus, Wyatt and I killed the mood, so they just gave up and stopped talking. I was the first stop to go, I paid the cab driver my share of the ride.

"Bye Autumn," Luis and Dean said in unison.

"See you later," Cyrus said, glancing at me.

Wyatt didn't bother to say anything, he just continued to stare out the window.

"Yeah, bye." I muttered.

The cab drove away and I stood there as it left my sight. I walked into my house, the whole place was dark and quiet. I looked at the clock, it was 9 o'clock. I headed upstairs to just change into my PJ's and went under the covers of my bed. I couldn't fall asleep, so I spent endless hours staring at the ceiling.

Do I really know Wyatt? Is he what I see as a friend, who just happens to be one of the Big Four? And who was that, who was the thing that controlled Wyatt as he beaten that guy with no mercy? Was is the same person that saved me in the alley?

I saw his eyes when he watched the valet as Dean checked his pulse. They look so blank, so cold, as if he was lifeless. Like he's a puppet on a string, and his puppeteer set him down for a minute so his puppet could see what he had done. I can't believe Wyatt would just lose it just because his car crash. Was that really the true Wyatt? All I know is that Wyatt saved me, and I saved him back.

For now.

I didn't go to school the next morning. It's a Friday, and nothing was due today so I gave this a chance for myself to stay at home. I told my mom I had a stomach ache, and that it must be beause of my time of the month. My mom must have some how known something happened, because she let me stay at home without checking my temperature. But she didn't press on what happened, she just left me to go back to sleep.

The whole day I slept in my room. I heard the countless of rings of my phone. Probably my friends checking up on me, I was always proud at my record of never being absent to school. I only answered them back with one reply.

I'm sick.

But it was of course a lie. Well not entirely. I was sick to my stomach, the images of yesterday kept on replaying on my head. The guys temporally let me forget the images, but as soon as I went to bed. They all came flooding to me at once.

Every time I went to sleep, these pictures popped into my head.  Horrible pictures. Battered bodies, bloody faces, them beating each other to death. The cuts, black eyes and bruises I had to tend. And what's worst, all four of the guys. Not moving. I stopped trying to fall asleep after that.

My brother is sleeping over at a friends tonight and my mom took another double shift in the hospital. So I'll be here all alone tonight. I don't feel like eating, so I'm going to skip dinner just like I skipped lunch. I was about to go back to sleep, trying to think of something else to dream other than the nightmare. When I heard something hit my balcony window.

Tink!

I turned my head, then I heard the same sound again. I got up, putting my glasses on then opened the balcony door. The cold night air gave me goosebumps of my simple shirt and pajama pants. I looked over the banister to see a familiar figure at the front lawn.

"Wyatt?"

"Princess! Come down!" He asked

I looked at him, why is Wyatt here? I watched as he had a hard time standing, he kept on stumbling. And when he walked, he wobbled. I had the sudden thought he was hurt, that he must have gotten into the fight by himself. None of the other guys were with him, he didn't have his car either, so he must have walked here.

"I-I'm coming. Just wait there!"

I raced down the stairs. When I opened the door, Wyatt smashed into me into a warm embrace. I was caught off guard so I stumbled a bit, and I was paralyze, not daring to move. His arms were locked around my waist. So I just stood there with my eyes widened as Wyatt hugged me tighter. What's happening, why is he hugging me?

"Princess," he whispered.

I chuckled awkwardly. "That's my name." 

He let go of me and just stared into my eyes. He wasn't bleeding, he didn't look hurt at all. So why is he here? He stepped forward making me step back to accidentally close the door behind me. 

"Why weren't you at school?" He asked me.

"I didn't want to go."

Wyatt stepped closer to me, now I was up against the wall. His gray eyes stared back at my brown ones. He leaned down close to me. This isn't Wyatt, I don't know this person. That was when I smelled the alcohol in his breath. He's drunk.

"Wyatt, you're scaring me." I said, my eyes tried to find something to look at other than Wyatt.

He smiled. It wasn't warm, but it wasn't cold either. It was a fake smile. "Me too."

He trapped me, I couldn't get away. His hand brush my hair behind my ear, and his hand touched me cheek. He had me look into his eyes, so I couldn't look away. He took off my glasses and pushed them up my head. I know where this was going. The books I've written and read all showed where this was leading up to. 

"Wyatt, you're drunk." I told him.

"I know."

"And you're going to regret this the next day."

"I know."

"But-"

"And I don't care."

"W-what about Brooke?" I said, that should make him stop.

"There are other fish in the sea."

"And that includes me then?" I said, finding the will to push him away.

He stumbled backwards, his phone fell off to the ground from his pocket. Wyatt was looking a bit confused. 

"There are other fish in the sea. So you're planning to just break my heart like the countless girls you broke, and just throw of them. Because there are other fish in the sea."

"I didn't mean it like that."

"But you did." I said.

He blinked. "So you don't want to kiss?"

My jaw dropped. "I never wanted to kiss you to begin with! I thought you were hurt, that's why I came downstairs."

"You can't seriously think of waiting to lose your first kiss, when you can get it from me."

I picked up Wyatt's phone, I had enough of this. I'm going to call one of the guys to pick him up. I pressed Cyrus' number, and the phone rang.

"What do you want now Wyatt?" I heard Cyrus demand on at the other end of the phone.

"Cyrus, it's me, Autumn."

I heard a loud thud, like he fell on the ground.

"Autumn?" He asked, sruprised. "Why do you have Wyatt's phone?"

"Wyatt appeared in front of my house. He's drunk. Can you pick him up?"

I heard Cyrus curse. "I-I'll be there in a few minutes." Then he hung up.

I looked at Wyatt. "I thought you were different form other guys. But you ended up to be like one of them. A betrayer, I thought you were in love with Brooke."

"You're calling me a betrayer?!"

"Yeah!"

"You're the betrayer!"

"How am I the betrayer!"

"You betrayed Brooke for me! You're helping Brooke fall in love with me! What do you call that, huh betrayer?"

"I'm not betraying Brooke!" I denied.

Wyatt laughed. "That's a load of bull! You know what I see? I see the worst friend on Earth! You betrayed your best friend to fall in love with her rival!" He raised his arms into the air. "And not only that, you hang out with her rival and friends more than her. That's just sick, don't you think so too?!"

That was like a slap to the face. I looked to my left to see a car pulling up at the front of my house. The door opened and Cyrus came out of the car. He started to walk towards us.

I turned back to Wyatt. "Brooke's in New York, and you guys-"

"Don't even try pinning this on us, on my friends! You had every right to turn us away, to say no I don't want to hang out with any of you! That's as bad as cheating on someone who's away to another state!"

My eyes flitted to Wyatt then to Cyrus who was still walking towards us, but I could see a confused look on his face.

"But I-"

"I just realized you're just another bit-"

I watched as Cyrus knocked Wyatt out with a punch. Wyatt crashed on the porch, not moving. I could hear my heart pounding as I sat there frozen, not knowing what to do.

Cyrus massaged his knuckles, then looked at me. "What did he do?"

 I stood up. "Nothin-"

"Autumn tell me, what did he do to you?" He asked me, but it felt like more of an ordered.

I looked away. "He- he tried to kiss me, then..." I trailed off.

He lifted my head with my chin, and searched my face to see if I was lying. I saw his bright blue eyes glint as it stared back my brown ones. Then he let his hand dropped.

Cyrus sighed with relief. "I'm just glad the idiot didn't do anything else stupid."

I gave him a faint smile, and he returned me one.

"Why weren't you at school today? We were all worried."

"You were? I'm sorry, I just didn't felt like going."

He nodded. "Well Wyatt blamed himself. Dean and Luis were their usual selves, blaming Wyatt for scaring you. Wyatt then ditched school to, which I now figured out, to get drunk. I'm sorry he did this to you Autumn, you don't deserve this, you don't deserve any of this."

I didn't reply, instead I looked on the ground.

"I was actually planning to check up on you. Luis and Dean couldn't because of detention and Wyatt well, you know-"

"Thank you, Cyrus." I said, cutting him off. "Thank you for being so sweet."

I noticed a tint of red on Cyrus' cheeks. He quickly looked at the ground.

"I want to ask you something..."

But before he could finish, I hugged him, making him stiffen a bit. "You don't have to worry about me, Cyrus. Really I'm fine, Wyatt didn't do anything bad."

"That's not what I, I uh..." He stopped himself and hugged me back.

Cyrus placed his hand on my head, stroking my hair. Unlike Wyatt's hug, Cyrus was more sweeter and calmer. I felt at peace and comfortable hugging him, more protected and secure. I felt like we could stay like this forever. I buried my face unto his shirt. We both awkwardly let go and turned away. We looked at each other, trying to saying something, but we closed out mouths and looked away again.

"I should take him home." Cyrus said, breaking the silence.

I nodded. "Right, you should."

"I'm going to make sure he knows what he did," Cyrus said, getting angry all of a sudden, but calming down again.

"It's okay, you don't-"

"No, he should know." He said, cutting me off.

Cyrus lifted Wyatt and threw him on his shoulder.

"Thanks again, Cyrus."

He smiled at me. "Good night Autumn."

I watched as he put Wyatt into the front seat. Then he got into the car and drove away. One thing disturbed me tonight.

My heart skipped a beat, and I didn't know who caused it.

You should read this book called the Bro Code. I never got the chance to read it myself, but it's in  my library in planning to read. One of the rules is this:

"Rule Number 4: If a girl falls into the following criteria, she is off limits until the end of time: A) Was a bro's ex-girlfriend B) Your bro specifically told you he wanted her C) Is you bro's sister

Wyatt just broke two of them, B and C. Luis and Dean see Autumn as her sister, and you know about Cyrus already and his crush.... don't you? If you don't, I'm not telling you. But if you figured out because of me telling this to you right now... well barnicles.

Sigh, I just want to hug someone right now. Come here, my little brother, I wanna hug- whoa, where are you going? You're so mean! Fine, I won't let you play on my computer anymore. Oh, now you come back. Well it's too late to apologize. (Hint, hint)

Do you like the chapter? Really long chapter just for you guys. The song at the right is by All American Rejects, Heartbeat Slowing Down. If you happened to remember in the chapter, Autumn said that

"...and heard his heartbeat slowing down."

Anyway, I should go. Bye

RubixCube89201