The loud banging from Annabelle's parents room jolted her awake, it was still slightly dark outside but the sun was slowly peeking into the horizon.

Annabelle groaned rather loudly and covered her head with the pillow, she knew that the noise was one of two things. One, they were fighting or two, they were....having sex... And honestly, Annabelle hoped it was the first option because she didn't feel like having to take care of Beca while her mother gushed over a new baby.

Annabelle let out a sigh and sat up in her bed, realizing that there was no way she was going back to sleep now. Annabelle made her way outside her room, carefully slipping past her parents room and into the bathroom next to their room.

Annabelle looked into the old, dirty mirror that rested just above the old stained white sink, noticing how pale her skin was she frowned lightly and splashed water onto her face before closing her eyes as she gripped the sink, she was beginning to develop a bit of a headache but it didn't really bother her.

Deciding that it was best to take a shower rather than going back to bed, Annabelle turned the hot water on and stripped slowly before she climbed into the shower. The water was only slightly warm even though the hot water was completely on. Annabelle's shower never did heat up very quickly and Annabelle didn't want to wait for it to be warm enough.

After a brief washing of her hair, Annabelle turned off the water and wrapped her hair into a towel began to dry herself off before she stepped out of the shower. Her headache had faded a little and was just a dull ache near the back of her head. Annabelle exited the bathroom and began to dig through her clothes in search of something suitable to wear for her date later.

Deciding on a pair of blue jeans and a maroon long sleeved shirt, Annabelle began to dry her hair quickly before she changed clothes.

Annabelle made her way down the stairs, taking special care not to step on the spots that creaked as she entered the kitchen, flipping on the light.

Tommy looked up from where he stood in the middle of the kitchen, holding a cereal box.

" Uh...fruit loops?" Tommy asked, awkwardly offering Annabelle the box.

" Why are you eating dry cereal in the dark?" Annabelle asked, arching her eyebrows as she took the box from him.

" I got hungry....and I didn't want to listen to our mother and father....ya know." Tommy explained with a shudder of disgust.

" Great idea." Annabelle muttered as she took a fruit loop out of the box and popped it into her mouth.

" So how was the party that you went to?" Tommy asked, stealing a few pieces of dry cereal.

Annabelle chocked on her fruit loops and turned to Tommy with a shocked expression.

" Who told you about that?!" Annabelle asked in a shocked tone.

" You did. Just now." Tommy shot her a cocky smile.

" Smart alec... It was okay...." Annabelle said bluntly.

" Uh huh, what happened?" Tommy asked.

" Just...a lot of stuff, Tommy." Annabelle muttered with a small sigh.

" Did...someone hurt you?" Tommy asked with a worried expression.

Annabelle stayed silent before glancing up at her younger brother who was looking at her with an...understanding look?

" Yeah, they tried...but he didn't manage to..." Annabelle said after a while.

Tommy frowned lightly, looking almost relieved expression.

" Good, I would've had to be mean." Tommy said, giving her a goofy half smile.

" You're thirteen, Tommy. I should be protecting you." Annabelle ruffled his hair playfully while Tommy gave her a strained looking smile.

" Yeah..." Tommy mumbled after a moment.

" Tommy...has anyone ever...ya know...tried that with you?" Annabelle asked, noticing his unease.

Tommy stayed silent for a minute, shifting uncomfortably before he sighed lightly.

" Yes..." He said in a barely audible voice.

Annabelle stared at her brother in shocked silence as she tried to comprehend what he had just said.

" Who?" She asked through gritted teeth as she closed her eyes, clenching her fists angrily.

Tommy shook his head no quickly and began to breath unevenly.

" I shouldn't have said anything." He whispered, backing away from Annabelle as he tried to exit the kitchen.

" Tommy, this is important.. Tell me." Annabelle grabbed his wrist as she gave him a look that said she wasn't messing around.

" No! Leave me alone." Tommy yelled as he yanked his arm away and ran upstairs, leaving Annabelle alone in the dark kitchen.

Annabelle rubbed her face roughly in frustration before sighing quietly.

" I need to help him somehow...I need to protect my baby brother..." Annabelle whispered to herself before opening the refrigerator as she began to pull out stuff to make for breakfast.

]~[

" He hasn't said anything to me...'' Betty said to Annabelle as she took a sip of her tea, her eyes shrouded with worry. It was later in the day and Annabelle had gone to her grandmothers after dropping Tommy off at practice...he still hadn't said a word to Annabelle since that morning.

" Don't tell him I told you...but I needed to tell someone...I needed advice..I don't know what to do." Annabelle went silent and covered her face with her hands as she groaned.

" I don't know how to help.... I feel useless." Annabelle muttered, accepting the cookie that Betty had offered her.

" He wouldn't have told you if he didn't want help... He'll talk to you when he's ready, don't pry but make sure he knows that you'll be here to talk." Betty told her.

" Alright.... I'll talk to him tomorrow..." Annabelle sighed quietly and hugged her grandmother.

" Thank you, Mammy. I love you." Annabelle hugged her grandmother, grabbing another cookie before she made her way towards the door.

" I love you too, sweety. Remember that if you ever need anything then I'll always be here for you. Especially if you need a place to stay." Betty followed her granddaughter to the door.

" I know. I'll see you later. I have a... Date... " Annabelle blushed a little.

" A date?! I'm going to need details later!" Betty exclaimed, putting a hand on her hip as she stared at Annabelle.

" I'll tell you everything. Bye." Annabelle laughed as she exited the house.

]~[

" Sorry I'm late. I had to drop my brother off at his soccer practice before I came." Robby explained, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck.

" It's alright... Your brother plays soccer? So does mine. Maybe they know each other." Annabelle smiled as she climbed into Robby's vehicle.

" Well how old is your brother?" Robby questioned as he began driving.

" He's thirteen." Annabelle replied, leaning her head against the headrest.

" Then they probably do know each other. Trey is thirteen too." Robby told her.

" Trey.... Trey Devido? " Annabelle asked after a moment.

" Yep. That's my knucklehead brother." Robby nodded.

" Wait, you're Robert Devido? Meagan has so many stories about the parties you throw. It's not even funny. " Annabelle laughed.

" My parties are in fact pretty great.... But that's beside the point... You look great tonight by the way,  Belle... " Robby said after a moment.

" Thanks...." Annabelle looked away with a blush on her cheeks.

" Anytime... " Robby replied as the two drove in silence the rest of the way.