Voices echoed above me. Not ready to get up, I tried to sink deeper in the soft surface under me. My hands blindly grope around until, finally finding a pillow, I shoved it over my head to try and block out the noise.

"Uh, guys, I think Lexi's awake." A loud, albeit muffled by my pillow, voice boomed from above me. Instantly the other voices quieted down.

Not ready to get up and face reality, I stayed still with the hope they would think I feel back asleep.

"Hey, kid, you up?" The same voice echoed down at me, as the pillow was tugged out of my grasp.

"Two give the poor girl her pillow back." My eyes may have been shut and my mind mentally groggy, but I would have known that voice even if my pillow was still over my head.

"Thank you Superman." My eyes fluttered open as I spoke, but then immediately shut. The light was blinding, and I also hadn't expected to find 7 faces all staring down at me. "Two, my pillow please."

Rather than placing the pillow in my hands, that were placed upwards, it was dropped flat on my face. To tired to make a sassy response, I realized I shouldn't have expected anything else from Two. Gently gripping it over my head like a visor, I used it to block out the light and slowly sat up.

Spinning my head around, I found all the boys staring at me expectantly. None of them seemed to know what to say, not that I could blame them though, considering the feeling was mutual. Even though we were all just a few feet away, it felt further. The gaze they cast on me made it feel like they I was a ticking time bomb, and no one wanted to be the one to set me off.

Suffocated by the gravity of the situation and unable to bring myself to make eye contact with any of the gang, I found myself looking down and that's when I realized the clothes I was in weren't mind.

"Where are my clothes and why aren't I wearing them?" The phrasing of question was enough to break the ice, getting the boys to chuckle. Honestly I preferred the outfit I was in now over what I had worn to appease Bryce and I trusted the gang with my life, but that didn't make waking up in a different set of clothes any less confusing.

"You were near frozen by the time the boys got you back here and it didn't look like the most comfortable of outfits to sleep in, so I changed you. I promise I didn't look at anything though." The slightest red tint popped up on Darry's cheeks as he spoke, a matter which I found adorably sweet.

"Superman." At the sound of his nickname he stopped avoiding my gaze. "You're my brother, maybe not by blood but you're family in my heart. You don't need to get all awkward on me when you were just looking out for me." I raised my head and looked at everyone in the gang. "That's all y'all have ever done is look out for me, and I'm just sorry I couldn't do a better job at looking out for you guys."

Even though being with them was probably the only reason I wasn't getting the worst beating of my life, I was still guilt ridden over the danger the gang was in because of my inability to follow Bryces orders. I went to shift the pillow over my eyes to hide my tears, but a gentle hand pulled it away from me.

"Now that we know the truth, we're gonna keep each other safe." Johnnys gentle voice caused a wave of calmness to rush over me.

"And we'll even kick your brothers ass for you while we're at it." Although I knew he meant well, and his comment got cheers of support from most of the gang, Steve's remark made my spirits sink even further. A fact that didn't go unnoticed by Darry.

"You don't have to worry about him any longer little lady."

Maybe not in the same way I used to but now I just gotta worry about being jumped anytime I go out, him trying to hurt y'all, and the fact that I'm homeless. I tried to put a smile on my face, but knew that no one was going to buy it. Imma need to find a hotel on this side of town that won't question renting to a kid. And I'll need to find a job to because my money, wait my money. Fear rapidly interrupted my thoughts. Without my money, I had no chance of making it.

Casually I lowered my hands to my waist, and tried to feel for the strap of my fanny pack. I knew it hadn't fallen when I ran, I'd had a hand clutched to it the entire time. Which, when I felt nothing there, left one possibility.

"Um, Darry," I raised my head only to find him staring down at me, with his arms crossed over his chest.

"Yes." Dammit Darry, you know exactly what I want to know.

"Are you really going to make me ask?" At my question he momentarily bent down, visibly grabbing something from under the couch before standing back up.

With my fanny pack now visibly in his right hand, he cocked his head at me. "Depends. Are you going to make me ask what the hell you were planning to do on your lonesome, in the outfit you were in, with a bag of cash?"