"It'll be fun." Wiley says at my funny face.

I've just been informed that the Skilton's have a pond on their land and the boys just asked me if I want to go with them.

I should probably say no.

The look on Kendall's face should have made me say no.

But I don't.

I'm suffocating alone in my room and these boys are going out of their way to distract me. I should at least - oblige - a bit.

"Fine."

Wiley nearly strangles me in a hug and they all somehow manage to whisk me away in a clamor of hoots and hollers and the next thing I know I'm stuffed in a jeep with seven boys who are way too excited about this.

"Come back before dark!" Maylee calls at us.

West flashes her a thumbs up and guns the engine. I swear - I suddenly feel like I've been captured by a bunch of unruly bandits on a highway run.

"Peco pond here we come!" Wayne cheers, accidently elbowing Koby in the head.

The younger scowls and shove the twin into Ken who promptly smacks both of them only to get an elbow in the gut when Kane falls over.

They all end up laughing and I can't help the titters that escape me. These guys were ridiculous.

"Here we are." Willem says as we pull up to a slightly more vegetated area that surrounds an almost perfectly circular pond. Its waters were clear and ripples gently from the dry summer breeze.

We all squeeze out of the jeep like clowns and most of us end up tripping over someone else and the next thing I know I'm being flattened by Willem while the others pick themselves up and laugh.

The poor boy turns a shade shy of red and sputters apologies. I blink up at him, feeling incredibly small - I know I'm a shrimp but - but this was ridiculous.

Will doesn't look at me as he helps me up, his interestingly colored eyes stare at his boots.

I smile a bit. "S'fine Willem, c'mon."

He flushes and nod - he's a nice boy. Gets embarrassed easily. Got the best manners too.

"Come on guys! Just look at this!" Kendall shouts, throwing his arms open wide in a dramatic attempt to envelop the entire scene.

It was a small pond - probably no more than ten feet deep but it was cute and definitely had room for everyone and - wait a second.

That's when I became extremely aware of my fatal mistake.

The boys start stripping.

I bite my tongue - I don't know where to look - nothing obscene about this but - something about a bunch of cute rancher boys pulling off their shirts and stuff in front of you - was - um - I don't know.

What made it worse, even though I tried not to peek - I saw very well shaped bodies. Dang it - and here I was a shrimp with barely anything to my body and - I was suddenly feeling really bleak.

"Hey guys, watch this!" Kendall lets out a shrill whoop and literally flips in the air and explodes the surface of the water on impact.

The others follow suit. West shoves Kane into the water when the younger doesn't look like he wants to go in. Wayne and Koby end up wrestling and Willem and Wiley jump in with twin shrieks.

Splash after splash and near girly shrieks from some of them and - I almost laugh. But then I realize I'm still dressed and kinda awkward about this - they don't seem to notice.

Until they do.

"Hey kid, you gonna come in or what?" West - stupid - calls out, immediately dragging all attention to me.

I flush under the sun and curl my knees to my chest. "M-maybe later." I stutter! I never stutter - this was - this was not good for my breaking image.

West gives me a weird look, one eye brow raising attractively on his forehead as he brings up his workers hands and slicks back his wet gold hair.

Dang it. He was hot.

I bit my tongue.

"C'moooooon, don't be a pruuuuude!" Kendall calls, flashing me that stupid charming smile as he swims backwards easily - I've never seen guys ab's in real life before.

I don't want to like them.

"Please Zaria." Wiley pleads from his perch on Willems broad shoulders while Willem just gives me a worried look.

"Forget it - " Kane huffs. "She's not comin' who wants to play Dead man!" He says seemingly already forgetting about me.

Wayne flashes his twin an eye roll, the sass surprised me - he was always nice in front of me. "Maybe she's not ready to swim yet." He defends.

I flash him a small smile.

Then Koby shrieks.

The boys turn to find the kid jumping back in the water like he's been burned.

"Koby, you ok buddy?" West calls - attention taken from me, thank god, as he wades to his fifth younger brother.

Koby comes back up and sputters, water making his pale golden-brown hair stick to his forehead. "Gah - I saw a snake." He shudders and lets West lift him up on his bare back.

"S'fine Koby - just a King, no big deal. Didn't get bit did you?" West asks as he comes closer to the edge where I'm seated at.

Koby shakes his head, flushing when he sees me - poor kid likes to keep to himself and I've noticed his independent nature too - always reading on his own, doing his chores responsibly - needing his big brother in front of a stranger must embarrass him.

"Here, you wanna dry off some?"

Koby nods and shifts onto the dry ground, dripping on it.

I open my mouth to ask if the kid was ok when suddenly two strong, very wet, arms wrap around my waste and I scream as I am yanked backwards into the cold pond.

I hear laughter as I sputter and curse, which only makes my attacker laugh harder. I swing out and land a good punch on something hard and fleshy.

When I manage to rub the water out of my eyes I seethe at Kendall's mischievous dimpled smile. Jerk.

"Jerk!" I scowl at him, which is probably not too scary since I probably look like a drowned cat.

He laughs louder.

Then Willem wades up and promptly shoves his older brother hard enough that Kendall goes flying face first into the water with a terrific splash.

He comes up sputtering like a drowned puppy.

I catch Willems eyes - the sparkle in them surprises me and - we laugh.

Kendall snorts. "I deserved that."

"Yes you did." I say between snickers.

The boy grins, water running down his smooth tanned face, I'm still laughing until he splashes my face. I cough and laugh and forget my previous discomfort and splash back - I accidently slap West's shoulder in the midst of the war.

He winces.

"Sorry - " I mutter embarrassedly.

His face suddenly splits into a grin which makes me forget to breath for a second and then he splashes me harder.

Pretty soon everyone, including Koby, is screaming and splashing and I'm pretty sure we almost accidently drowned Wayne but he's ok and - I'm having fun.

I forget to feel bad about it.

"Ready! Fire!" Kane shouts from his perch on Wests back.

West swings around on the bank and we all scream when Kane goes flying across the pond and lands with a splash.

He comes up in a fit of water and laughing chokes.

West tosses Wayne next - Wiley was tossed with less force, and I forget this is a game when - my mind wanders to West's arms. They're strong and solid and - I realized I really wanted to know what they would feel like if he hugged me.

Warm and safe probably.

"Zaria's turn!" Kendall suddenly grabs my waist making me shriek - I'm ticklish, dangerously ticklish - and literally hands my shrimpy self to West who smirks and takes me like I'm a feather.

I freeze when my wet everything presses against his wet back. "Ready?" His voice rumbles through his back and I don't know why but - I have no words.

"Here. You. Gooooo!" And I'm weightless - flying like Supergirl for five seconds before landing with a spectacular splash into the clear water.

I come back up and they're cheering and clapping like lunatics.

"That has to be a new record." Willem says, admiration in his voice as he nudges his oldest brother.

West chuckles, the sound warm and inviting - "She weighs nothing, wasn't hard."

I flush - "H-hey! I weigh plenty." I cross my arms and pout, looking away.

They snicker at me.

That only makes me feel more defiant.

"Hey," Kendall sloshes through the water to me and throws a long arm around my shoulder, pressing me to his bare side. "Cheer up - I'd rather be your size."

"You mean small." I snap, tugging away.

"No - Fun size."

He gives me a strangely serious look - until I burst into laughter. It feels good - Fun size? Nobody ever - I can't help the amusement that tickles my insides.

The rest of the afternoon goes on without any downers.

And we all manage not to drown each other - so that's a plus.

The ride back was wet and cold and the sun was setting and man - riding in a jeep with a bunch of wet boys - um - most girls would probably hyperventilate. But I was distracted.

They wouldn't shut up - it's impossible to keep their rowdiness levels to down. It's like, they'll stop for a second then someone pokes someone else or comments and then they all start again.

The noise never stops.

I like it.

It keeps me from thinking. Silence means I can hear my brain - but with all these boys around - no silence equals no thinking time.

I like it.

"Heya Mom." Wayne calls as he drags his shivering twin inside.

Maylee- for her part - handles having seven dripping boys and one sopping girl trapesing through her house very well.

She just hands each of us a huge green towel and shakes her head.

I giggle as I head to the shower.

Maylee was quickly becoming my favorite person here.

The shower water is hot on my cold skin - I don't realize how cold I am until I get in. But it feels good and I'm out much too soon.

I decide to go out and see if Maylee needed any help with the mess we made.

Down the hall I hear a loud bang and somebody curse. I jump when the door with the sea on it flies open and Kendall flounces out muttering something about shampoo and in nothing but a towel around his waist and a very nice trail of muscle that lead down which drag my traitorous eyes -

"Willem!" He shouts and bangs on the door with the cars on it. "Will, I know you took it again!" He sounds annoyed to level five as he bangs harder.

Will slides the door open a tad and glares at his brother. "You don't have to be so loud, here - I was only borrowing I - " He stops, his eyes bugging when he sees me standing awkwardly in the dark hall behind his brother.

Willems not dressed either.

"Z-Zaria!" He sputters, Ken whirls around and gapes at me. "We - didn't - what are you - " Willem looks mortified.

"I - I'm sorry guys!" I suddenly squeak - realizing what this looks like.

Kendall suddenly gets a glint in his eyes, his hand goes to his waist. "Nothing to be sorry for Fun size." He's smile is going to kill me, "Dig what you see?"

I gasp and shake my head. "Back off!" I snap a bit too harshly, what? I'm not used to being flirted with - at all.

Kendall backs off considerably, gives me a small smile "Sorry, I didn't mean - " Willem does everyone a favor and grabs his brother around the neck and yanks him back into his room.

"Ignore him. Sorry for the weirdness." Willem smiles sheepishly at me and disappears, closing the door.

I just blink at the car painting - muffled shouts can be heard through it. Then I giggle to myself.

These guys were so weird.

"This is the most amazing thing I have ever eaten." I say through mouthfuls of Maylee's pie.

"Glad you like it - be careful boys, looks like you have competition." Maylee teases.

It's safe to say that the looks of horror that flit across all her son's faces was real and priceless as they watch me inhale this chocolate pumpkin slice of heaven.

"Easy there, Zaria." Kendall tries to settle me.

"Yah - um - you don't have to eat it all - " Wayne mutters, eyeing the diminishing portions on my plate.

"C'mon!" Kane gasps as I reach over and take a piece of his. He did not like that.

"Here, you can share mine?" Wiley says sweetly. I look at him and smile.

"It's ok, I'll just eat your brothers instead." He seems to like that answer.

The other boys explode in protest and suddenly it's a war for the last piece.

Mr. Skilton has to pry Kane off of Koby when the kid snatches his piece and West isn't too keen when his mom makes him give his precious stock to Wayne who was whining about Kendall eating his and Willem - he didn't get any to begin with. I felt bad for him.

They were all such drama queens.

"Here." I slide my last portion to sad looking Willem.

He looks at it then his eyes light up when they look at me. I get a weird fuzzy feeling when he doesn't hide his ridiculous amount of gratitude and thoroughly enjoys that piece.

"Careful, Fun size, "Kendall snickers around sips of milk. "Now you'll never get rid of him."

Will flushes and throws his brother a glare as the others laugh and join in the teasing. I can't help but tease a bit too - it's fun- was this what it would have been like if I had siblings? I don't know - I'll never know now but - maybe these guys were a nice set to test run on.

"Alright boys - " Mr. Skilton smiles at them meaningfully - more telepathic communication . . .it sort of made me feel left out. . . "We better get to sleep - need you all nice and early."

I don't know why, but West's face changes as he nods. Something tightens in his eyes and when I glance at the others they attempt to act like normal. But I feel the sudden apprehension, their shoulders tense and - Only Wiley seems fine with anything. He really loves that pie.

"'Night dad." West stands, as if that's their cue they all follow, Maylee tells The twins to tuck Wiley and Koby in, Koby goes with a few complaints that he wasn't a baby anymore but the twins ignore him and go anyway.

"You too little Ms." Mr. Skilton smiles warmly at me. "Better get some sleep."

Irrational fear grips me at the thought of going into a big empty room all alone - alone - with my thoughts, fear, inner demons that want to kill me.

"Yes sir." I say, obedience was not one of my strong traits but - you can't say 'no' to Mr. Skilton.

"Good night sweet red."

I look at Maylee, in a desperate attempt to stall I blurt out, "why do you call me that?"

A smile tugs at her lips. "Because of your lovely hair color dear. It reminds me of my favorite apple - we called them Sweet Reds on the farm I grew up in. They were delicious and sweet."

I found the answer unexpectedly comforting.

"Oh - thanks I guess."

"Now off with you. We'll see you in the morning, and if you need anything - call." The look she gives me is full of a double meaning.

I nod and begin the horrifying trek to my room.

The walk is dark and endless. The wood creaks underneath my feet. I think I'm outside - I'm not sure - there's nothing but the straight dark road, barely lit by a light I don't know where it's coming from.

Then the scream.

I gasp, cold sweat breaks out on my forehead.

Something whispers 'Run' - I do - but my feet feel heavier and heavier the faster I try to go.

The scream feels like it's trying to reach inside and shatter my bones. The dark hole in my heart throbs and I feel numb and terrified all at once.

Then the grey stretched face appears. I stop and fall back, shaking, my lips blue as the face comes closer, it's like someone melted a wax face into disfiguration and - I don't know what its saying.

It's saying something - I don't - I don't - it gets angry and reaches for my throat.

I can't scream but it does.

Then a gunshot explodes the picture in my mind - blood, I'm drowning in it - my dad's blood - all alone, he's dead, I can't find him - I won't see him again - I can't breathe - the blackness swims before my eyes, all I can see is what my father could have looked like on the floor, a hole in his head.

I let out an inhuman screech.

"Zaria!"

I gasp awake, disoriented and panicked.

"Shhhhh." Maylee sighs against my head as she rocks me back and forth.

Was this going to be a normal thing now? Me screaming everyone awake and Maylee trying to fix it? I'm not sure I want that.

But she's warm and comforting and real and alive.

"Shhhh, it's alright love - you'll be alright. I'm right here. Nothing's going to hurt you now."

She calms my racing heart and gives me some warm milk to drink, I feel like a baby but - it's nice.

I feel bad for waking her like this and I wonder if anyone else heard me this time.

"Don't worry, just try to go back to sleep." She assures me when I ask.

Before I know it she leaves me with a nice kiss on the top of my sad head and I'm alone - my door cracked a bit as I stare at the sharp glimmer of the moon through the white curtains of this room.

"Zaria?"

The soft voice startles me. I turn to see Wayne, dark hair tousled and eyes bright in the dark.

"Yah?" I whisper back, surprised he'd come here now.

"Um - you - you ok? My room's right across from yours and - Um - "

I shudder. "Yah - I'm - " So not ok. "Fine thanks." I lie and am thankful he can't really see my face in the dark.

He shuffles awkwardly in the doorway. "Ok - ok, if you're sure." He turns to go.

"Wayne."

He stops and looks back over his shoulder at me. "Yah?"

"Um - thanks - uh - sorry I have to be your neighbor." I say, my face flushing in shame.

He laughs softly. "No problem. If you need anything - I'm right there." And he slips out, gently closing the door behind him.

I flop back on my pillow and will myself not to cry.