When I entered the kitchen, my cousin was nowhere to be found. Instead, there were a few girls gathered around the sink cabinet, loudly voicing their emotions. It made me feel disgusted, so I quickly walked away, feeling nauseated. As I made my way to the staircase, I noticed a group of confused teenagers leaning against each other.

The upper floor seemed quieter, and I immediately felt the urge to hide there until eleven. It had only been half an hour, but the hatred I experienced was unlike anything I had ever encountered before. Except for Sawyer and Arlen, everyone else seemed to be against me.

Unfortunately, just as I thought things couldn't get any worse, my heart skipped a beat and then stopped completely as the voice of a malicious person invaded my present. I turned around, hoping for a quick end to the situation, praying for Embry to leave me alone and for my night to proceed like any other kid in the building.

To my dismay, I was confronted by Embry, the devilish angel, and her three followers. "What are you doing up here alone?" she asked.

"What about you? Are you following me now?" I asked, feeling confused.

"I know, right? But you're worth a shot because you're evil. Though wait! I thought back in your school, you were... badtish?" Embry tilted her head, consulting with her followers.

"Baptism," Suri corrected her.

"Oh yeah. So why are you evil?" she whispered with a snarl.

I maintained my composure, even as tears burned in my eyes. I reminded myself that they couldn't see my tears; they weren't worth it. The fact that these three girls, whom I considered friends, were bullying me didn't bother me as much. I had always known they could turn on me. But Lilith? She was supposed to be my savior, someone I trusted. I knew I had said things I shouldn't have, but this was too much. Allowing her friends to attack me was too much.

I attempted to turn away, but Embry quickly grabbed my shoulders, forcefully stopping me. "Who do you think you are?" she said in the empty hallway. "You're hiding behind something I can't quite put a finger on. But when I do, know that you're done. I'll make your life a living hell, just like you do to me."

What had I done to her? She had always been mean to me. What had I ever done to her? I couldn't force her to be in a relationship with Leigh. I didn't even care if their relationship was sailing anymore. She had been with him more this week than I had. She had no idea what she was talking about, unless she meant her spot on the team, which wasn't my decision. She should say that to Sofia Halt.

"Get out of my way," I blurted out irritably.

"Or what? Sorry, your cousin isn't here to save you," she mocked, accompanied by devilish laughter.

"What did I do to you?" The pain in my voice was evident.

"You're a two-faced liar, acting all innocent. I hate backbiters. Just keep that in mind," she hissed, her words infuriating me.

"Just let her go," Lilith said, clasping Embry's hand and turning to leave.

But of course, Embry wasn't done humiliating me. She shook off Lilith's grasp and angrily reminded her, "What? She made you lose your car, your freedom, and you're still letting her go with it."

"You're afraid of her?" Embry added with a sadistic cruelty.

"What? No, I just don't have time for worthless trash," Lilith responded.

Tears welled up in my eyes. They were hitting a nerve.

"Because that's what you are, Ava. You're unworthy, and you're trash," Lilith emphasized, each word confirming her statement with a bold gaze.

"Watch your back."

"Slut," Quinn giggled. I wished they could see how subservient they were to the devilish angel.

Evie was calling me on the phone, but I ignored it. I was struggling to stand, to survive the next five seconds until the girls disappeared. All I could do was swallow repeatedly and blink rapidly.

And as soon as I was alone, I couldn't contain my pain any longer. I embraced the ache, the disgrace, the humiliation, and the betrayal. I knew I deserved it, for I wasn't any better. But I was receiving too much of it.

It was hard to breathe between my sobs and heavy breathing. I was shaking as I squatted next to the toilet. Why did I agree to come here? I should have known better. This isn't a place for me.

I should have stayed with Mum and Christian, watching movie marathons and cuddling under blankets. But no! I wanted to have memories of my first Halloween in America. Perfect, Ava. Just perfect.

Now I was crying so hard that I couldn't even control it. Every memory I had since stepping foot in this building was filled with humiliation and shame.

There was a soft knock on the door, but I ignored it, continuing to cry until the persistent knocking continued. "Just a minute," I forced out from my choked throat. My voice was hoarse from crying too much.

"Ava, open the door," a deep American accent immediately stopped me in my tracks. In the quiet room, only the sound of my pounding heart and shaky breaths was audible. "Ava, I'm breaking the door if you don't open," he warned.

What was he doing here? Why was he here? Arlen had said Leigh wasn't coming. But he was right by the door, calling my name.

Angrily splashing water on my face to cover my tear-stained cheeks, I said, "I'm coming."

By the time I convinced myself that I looked presentable, I turned the doorknob and opened the wooden door.

Leigh was standing there, wearing a black leather jacket over a white shirt, along with black trousers and matching boots. His hair was styled slightly tousled but precise.

"Have you been crying?" he asked me, realizing it was obvious.

Letting out a heavy sigh, I smiled faintly at the attractive person frowning in front of me. "I thought you weren't interested in illegal activities."

"This isn't illegal, but still, I'm not interested in stuff like this," he answered.

"Be grateful then," I mumbled, leaning against the wall.

"What happened?" he asked with concern.

Smiling weakly, I said, "Let's just say your army..."

His eyes left mine, dropping down to the floor. "I'm sorry, Ava." He swallowed hard, causing his Adam's apple to move slowly up and down.

"You've said that," I reminded him.

"If only we could start everything all over again," he swallowed again, and I let out a small laugh.

"We did start over the other time," I said in a hushed tone.

"Then let's give it another try," he suggested with a smirk.

"What would you do differently this time? Bet on winning another touchdown?" I weakly raised my eyebrows at him.

"If I have to," he replied.

Staring at him in silence, the room was quiet except for the faint beat of music from the ground floor. "Would you like a drink?" he asked, sensing the stillness.

"I just want to get out of here," I sighed, leaning my head back against the wall, utterly exhausted. "I can't stand it downstairs."

Leigh appeared pensive for a moment before smirking and grabbing my wrist, leading me through the door into a disorganized bedroom.

"What are we doing here?" I asked, bewildered, as I looked at the smiling American boy.

He pulled open the double door window, bringing us onto the roof. He smiled crookedly before doing something utterly insane that left me wide-eyed.

"What the hell, Leigh?" I practically yelled as he dropped down into the small empty backyard.

He held out his hands and made a ridiculous proposition. "Come on."

"You must be joking. There's no way I'm jumping off the roof," I said, smiling in terror at the chestnut-haired boy, who was waiting for me to risk my life.

"Would you rather go down the stairs?" he weakly questioned, well aware of my choice.

Huffing, I began to scratch my scalp, allowing panic to take over. "Come on, Ava, it's just a jump. I'm right here, I promise I'll catch you."

Massaging my neck uncomfortably with my own hand, I hesitated. I had never taken such a risk before. Sure, I had climbed trees, but I had never jumped off them.

Standing there, I found myself afraid of the height of a one-story building. I had always known this party was a shady event, but now I felt like the criminal.

"You can do it. Close your eyes and let your body fly," he said, making it sound so easy.

The sound of some kids in the corridor made me glance back at the window and then back at the emerald green eyes beneath me. I could do this, I could do this. I would rather take this leap than go back inside that building. With fear consuming me, I breathed in and out, swallowing more than three times before following Leigh's instructions.

I closed my eyes and held my mobile phone tighter as I forced myself to go down, fearing the intense impact against the concrete. But no, he had promised, and he kept it.

I landed safely in his strong, warm arms, my eyelids still tightly shut, while my chest rose and fell. I heard him whisper, "Should I take you to the car?"

My eyes popped open once again, and I found him smiling at my reaction. That's when I remembered I was in an empty backyard, in the arms of the person I longed for. Despite the danger, I quickly scrambled down. "No."

"Hmm, you know I can carry you," he playfully attempted to lift me back up as I squirmed and slapped his hands away.

Leigh's head fell back with laughter as we aimlessly strolled towards Brandon's lawn.

There were quite a few inebriated kids around the front area of the building, too intoxicated to notice our escape as we found safety in the Chiron.

I felt relieved, safe from the chaos. Once again, Leigh had saved me from an incapacitated state, but this time I was sober and not puking on his black boots.

As the engine roared to life and he pulled out of the driveway at a speed only sports cars can reach, he asked, "Are you hungry?" Tilting his head in my direction, I nodded. "I happen to know a place you might like. They make the best British food." He smiled at my astonished expression.

"Since when did you start eating British food?" I asked.

"Oh, just a week ago," he simply replied.

Smiling, I cocked my head at him. "No way."

Earnestly, he furrowed his brows, glancing over. "If I couldn't have you, I thought I could embrace your culture." His tone was serious, blending with his perfect voice.

An unstoppable blush surged over me, and I lowered my head, biting my lip. "Ava, I meant every word I said. I want you more than I've ever wanted anything." Leigh added another layer of weight to me as his big, warm hand found mine.

Swallowing, I kept my eyes on our hands, perfectly intertwined, as if they were meant to be this way. "Leigh..."

I didn't need to look up to know that he was sharing his attention between the road and me. "You don't have to decide right away. Let's just focus on the present. I'm taking you out for dinner. I mean, a late-night meal," he stumbled to correct himself, while my blush deepened. I was glad I kept my head inclined; I would be even more embarrassed if he saw my rosy face right now.

My fingers didn't seem to move; they were numb under his touch, and I was covered in goosebumps as I sat by his side. It was strange how, even now, I wasn't accustomed to controlling my feelings around my soon-to-be stepbrother.

We arrived at a small white building with my home country's flag, which immediately lifted my spirits, as if I hadn't been crying my eyes out minutes ago.

"Welcome to my usual hangout spot since you left me," Leigh said, curling up his lips.

Slightly frowning, I looked directly into his eyes and reminded him, "I didn't leave you, Leigh. You left us."

He broke eye contact and fixed his gaze on the windscreen. "I know, Ava," he sighed, leaning back into the driver's seat, his fingers running through his hair—hair I wished I could run my hands through right now, like I did in the days when I thought he was mine.

After a long silence, I decided to put an end to it. "When you said you were taking me to a British restaurant, I thought we were going to eat, not just observe," I smiled at the melancholic person beside me.

He smiled faintly and motioned with his head. "Come on, let's go."

He released my hand, and we both got out of the car, leaving my fingers suddenly cold, feeling incomplete and alone until he reached out and connected our hands once again.

Even though I was mad at him, I wouldn't deny nature if it said I needed Leigh's warmth.

We walked into the small packed place, with customers watching soccer on a large screen, while others played darts and snooker, and some sat around tables, enjoying their meals.

"Hey, handsome, what are you doing here at this time?" an elderly woman with a slight English accent said to Leigh.

"Eating," he simply answered, accompanied by his charming smile.

"Aren't you supposed to be going around the houses, threatening elders with what you kids do? Is it trick or treat?" A middle-aged man narrowed his eyes at Leigh.

"That's not what teenagers do these days, but if you insist, Louis, trick or treat," Leigh smirked at the man, who suddenly placed his hands on his head, while the other woman laughed.

"Lucky me, I'll leave it to you, Louis," she said.

It was such a new experience to see Leigh interacting freely with people, especially those he claimed to have only known for a week. I shifted my eyes around the three of them, trying to detect any uneasiness, but they all seemed friendly—if anything.

"Smart kid," Louis said to Leigh. "Ava?" he added, nodding in my direction.

At that moment, my head shot up in recognition. That's my name—how does he know my name? Why does he know my name?

"Yes, and she's hungry, so she'll have lamb stew, a scotch egg, sausage rolls, and a Cobb salad," Leigh gently gripped my neck with both hands as he listed the items redundantly. "And fruit-infused water."

I lifted my curious eyes to meet his elated smile. "You will love it," he whispered. Okay, this is so confusing.

"What about you?" the woman questioned Leigh.

"Just water," he said.

"Cool, take that table," she motioned to the last table in the corner against the wall.

With a polite smile, Leigh directed me to our table, where we sat opposite each other and silently waited for our order to arrive.

.............

"So?" Leaning over, he curiously asked as I tasted the British food.

"I would give it a seven out of ten," I blushed while sipping my fruity water.

"I'll take that," Leigh smiled. "Impressed?" His eyebrows lifted as he awaited my reply.

Gnawing on my lip to hide my visible blush, I said, with my eyes on my Cobb salad, "Kind of."

"A good start then," he smirked at me when our eyes met.

"Can I ask you something?" I asked Leigh, not looking directly at him.

"Yes," he leaned forward with his hands folded on the table.

"Actually, two questions," I smiled and looked up at him when he nodded curiously. "Why do they know my name? And why did you act so freely in their presence?" I waved towards the kitchen direction.

Sighing softly, he pursed his lips and then smiled. "I told them what I did."

"What? So they know—" he interrupted my confusion.

"Oh, they know."

Panicking, I leaned closer to him. "What? They know we're siblings? And yet you told them what you did?" My breathing quickened. I started feeling embarrassed in the room, wondering if everyone knew. What if they're all laughing at me right now?

"Yes, Ava."

"Great. Just great," I huffed and leaned back, folding my hands across my chest.

"Ava, they're so understanding. They told me we aren't doing anything wrong. It makes me realize that you and I are just like any normal couple," his voice was raspy and deep.

Swallowing, I shifted my eyes to the wall behind him as I said, "We weren't a couple."

Exhaling, he leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes at my words. That must hurt.

"Why do I feel like you're sometimes following me?" I asked the second question that had been running through my mind for a long while now.

"Maybe I am? Maybe that's what I do now, Ava," he shook his head, still with his eyes shut. He sounded honest yet exasperated.

I didn't know what to do to ease his pain, but he had hurt me. I didn't know how to stop seeing him driving with Embry, flirting with her, and kissing her right in front of me for no reason. I hadn't hurt him, yet he punished me in a ruthless manner. I was left with memories of him with someone, someone who would do anything to bring me down.

"Aren't you hungry?" I tried to change the subject, keeping my eyes on him.

"I don't eat after nine," he uttered.

"Why?" I asked softly.

"That's just the way I am," he finally opened his eyes.

"So you're obsessed with being healthy," I said.

Shaking his head with a chuckle, he replied, "Let's just say late meals make me sick."

"And also suspicious," I playfully pursed my lips at him.

Laughing, he ran his hand over his face to push back his hair. "So, do you come here often?" I asked him, knowing I had lifted his frown into a smile.

"Breakfast, lunch, and dinner," he answered.

My eyes never left his unwavering gaze as I frowned slightly and asked the question that had been bothering me. "Why don't you come back home?"

Smiling weakly, he looked away. "Why?"

"Because it's your home," I immediately answered.

His eyes returned to mine. "I can't."

"But why? Your dad says you always sleep at home until these days. You know he's proud of you—." I shook my head, confused.

"Obedient?" Leigh scoffed. "Tell him he doesn't have to worry; I'm still that puppet he knows."

"I didn't mean it that way," I sadly said.

"Honestly, Ava, that's it. But it doesn't matter. Nothing actually does. I'm working on a way to get on the field for the next match, so no need to worry," he muttered.

Frowning, I swallowed and asked in a low tone, "That's the reason you left home?" I asked.

Smiling faintly at me, he shook his head. "You might be fifteen, Ava, but both you and I know why I left home."

His words crushed me in my state. I broke the intense stare and lowered my eyes to the food in front of me. "I'm trying to forget, Leigh. It's just so hard with everything coming up so often. I have to see her every day, and—" I bit my inner cheek to maintain my composure.

He had no idea how empty home felt without him. He had no idea how empty my bed felt without him. He had no idea how every night I had to lay tears on my pillow, sniffing his napkins, and hugging myself in his T-shirt.

Although Leigh wouldn't say anything because he didn't know any of that, he just kept watching me silently while I avoided meeting his painful emerald eyes. "It's getting late. Come on, I should take you home," he muttered after minutes of silence.

Sadly, I agreed. Louis showed up and told us the bill was on him as a treat.

The ride back was silent, with only the radio playing some Halloween games or something. I leaned my head against the window, feeling his gaze often on me.

When we arrived back home, the strong desire to hug the melancholic person behind the wheel stung my whole body, to press my lips against his naturally red lips. But I couldn't. I couldn't.

Staring back at Leigh wordlessly, I felt like I was crumbling inside, questioning myself repeatedly. What had happened between us? Why did we mess it up?