"Let me get this straight," Emmy said, straightening herself on her bed and putting her both hand in front of her, in a narrow-path-like. "You met this boy named Benjamin at your cousins' Church, befriend him, chatted with him on Instagram and he invited you to their youth meetings and Bible study at his home. Right?" she asked.

I nodded at her on the screen. Emmy, Rex and I were having a FaceTime in a long while and I told them about Benjamin for the first time. I didn't tell them about him any sooner because I didn't want them to think my feelings are just obsessions towards him like how it was to Rilden. And now, since our first kiss yesterday, I got the confidence.

"And he told you that he likes you, hmm?" Rex asked me, tilting her head.

"Yep, but that's not just it." I said, smiling stupidly at the next words I was going to say, "He kissed me."

My cheeks began to burn as I confessed it to my friends and my heart was beating rapidly against my chest. But my friends' reactions were something that made me wish if I could capture as a photo.

Rex and Emmy gasped loudly with their hands over their widely parted mouths and their eyes were wide as saucers.

"You're freaking joking!" Rex exclaimed.

"Yes!" Emmy said, agreeing with Rex. "You're freaking kidding us!"

I rolled my eyes at them, still grinning like an idiot. "Okay, if you're saying it in that way then... bye, I've gotta go with my cousin to pick up my dad and brother from the airport." I said, truly not meaning it at all. I should go to pick up my Dad and brother, yes, but I'm dying to confess to my friends about my first kiss with Benjamin; but they wouldn't believe me.

"Whoa, whoa, wait! Are you being serious?" Rex asked, moving her hands from her mouth.

"You thought I'm joking?! Isn't it embarrassing to say that a boy kissed you when he really haven't?" I asked her, "Girl, I'm deadly serious! He. Kissed. Me."

"And you kissed him back?" Emmy asked, still looking horror struck.

A sheepish smile crept up to my lips, "Well, when he kissed me first, I was taken aback and didn't know how to react to it; also he pulled back before I could make out anything. And then... I don't know what exactly happened -the atmosphere was overwhelming I guess- he kissed me again. And I kissed him back." I said, tucking a lock of loose hair behind my ear.

"Wait, you sure it wasn't a dream, right?" Rex asked.

I rolled my eyes at her, "Come on, don't you believe me?" I asked, looking at the both of them.

"This is hard to believe. Really hard." Emmy said, sucking in a deep breath.

Rex sighed, "We believe you, Hayles. It's just... come on, you'll be reacting in the same way if I told you that, I was kissed." she groaned.

I just nodded at her and the next few moments were of silence, glancing at each other and chuckling or shaking head or mumbling to themselves, until Emmy spoke up. "So he kissed you twice."

I nodded, "Yes."

"It happened on the same day or..."

"Same day." I said, "I was at his mom's beauty salon with my cousin and her bridesmaids when he showed up at afternoon-evening time and brought me up to the roof top of that building which was made of glass. We talked a lot and I told him about you guys and Harry...and then he received a call from his dad, asking him to come home for an urgency and...he didn't want to go leaving me and he said this something that I'm more important to him and...and he kissed me." I explained in a jet speed, that my body heated up suddenly and I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding.

Rex and Emmy were listening to me with holding their breaths too and when I was done with the explanation, they too let out a breath and began to chuckle in disbelief, shaking their heads and facepalming.

I chuckled, "I know you can't believe it because I can hardly believe it too. Today when I woke up, I thought the kiss was just a dream but much to my relief, I realized it isn't." I said.

"You've fallen for him, haven't you?" Rex asked, smiling softly at me.

"You told me some months ago that there's someone for me and I think, no I believe, I have found him." I said, taking a deep breath of satisfaction.

"I'm glad you're not after any Rilden anyone. I was worried for you, you know, honestly." Emmy said concerned, sending warmth to my heart.

"So, our Hailey has a boyfriend now!" Rex smirked at me.

I smiled, glancing up at the blue sky above me and shrugged my eyebrows, "I dunno if I can say he's my boyfriend, yet." I said. "But I'm looking forward to it."

"I have a feeling that you guys are going to be official soon. This Benjamin guy seems to be in love with you, from what you told us about." Emmy said, with a knowing smile.

I chuckled silently, "Yeah...-

"It's time, little girl; let's get going!"

I turned my head back to see Archer standing outside of their car porch, waving at me to come. I was sitting on a bench at their backyard, the only place I could come to have a private conversation such a this with my friends.

"Coming!" I called back to him and turned to my friends, "Guys I'm sorry, I've gotta go now. Thanks for your time." I told them.

"It's completely fine."

"Yeah, go on."

"But do let us know in the texts if... something else happens." Rex said.

"For sure. Bye!" I said and hang up the call, before walking to the front of the house, where my cousin Archer was waiting in his car for me, to go the the airport and pick up my dad, brother and Nicky.

When we reached at the airport, Archer got a text from my brother, saying they've just landed. I soon got out of the car and walked inside, not waiting for my cousin. My heart was beating in excitement to see my brother after nearly three weeks. He or dad had no idea that I'd be coming along with Archer to pick them up, and so when my brother's eyes found me, I saw a surprised grin rising in his lips.

I let out a chuckle and walked towards them, running straight into my brother's arms, but Nicky threw himself in between us, jumping on me, wagging his tail rapidly. I laughed at his excited attack, hugging and stroking him, before hugging my brother and dad.

Throughout the ride back to our uncle's house, I was glued to my brother's side, telling him how much I missed his company, while he told me that, it was boring at home with just the three of them and without mom and I.

Dad and Haxsel then got themselves involved in a conversation with Archer while Nicky and I found ourselves staring outside the window together.

"You can take my car to go to your house, if you like." Archer told my brother.

"Thanks man, I'll bring it back tomorrow. I've booked a car for rent which I'll only get by tomorrow, so a friend of mine suggested he'll bring to home tomorrow." Haxsel said.

"Which friend?" I asked my brother.

"Charlie, of course."

Oh. Charlie. I almost forgot he's here in Colorado.

Then another image flashed into my mind; Nott. A shiver went down my spine and I shook my head, trying not to think about him.

Oh gosh, I hope Nott won't come with Charlie to our home when he'll come to drop the rented car.

Archer rode the car to his house as the gate opened automatically. There I saw another car, a familiar black Mercedes Benz, parked at the porch, at which sight, my heart rose.

It's pastor Gale's car; Benjamin's dad's.

"Ha, the Stickers are here!" Archer said as he rode the car in.

"Allie will have your head for that." I rolled my eyes at him.

"You're copying Benjamin's dialogue, huh?" he shot me a teasing smirk.

I almost smiled to myself at his words but then my brother asked, "Who is Benjamin?" making my heart skip a beat.

Oh boy.

I haven't told him about Benjamin at all.

"He's Archer's girlfriend's brother." I told my brother, trying to sound cool unlike my body which began to sweat up.

"And your sister's friend." Archer piped up.

I wanted to groan and slap my cousin's head -because I know, my brother wouldn't like the fact that I befriended a boy- but put a small smile on my lips instead. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw someone at the entrance of the house. "Look, it's mom!" I told my brother, trying to distract him as I saw that he's about to ask me something.

Of course, I know he'll question me somewhen if not now; but I don't want any kind of that conversation to take place in front of Archer's ears. He'll kept on chuckling, snorting or smirking, and it'll only make my brother suspicious.

I looked ahead and saw, not only my widely grinning beautiful mom, but her brother and pastor Gale behind her. I began to wonder if Benjamin could be here, and as an answer to that, when I got out of the car, I saw a blonde standing outside at the door way. It wasn't pastor Gale, he has already climbed down the steps to greet my dad and brother; but it was Benjamin.

I smiled at him, surprised, because he didn't mention anything about coming to here when he texted me earlier that day. He was leaning on the door frame with hands on pocket, and when he smiled back, butterflies danced in my stomach.

He pushed himself away from his leaning position and walked down towards where we stood, with a small smile still wandering in those lips. When he neared me, we shared a small hug as I gave him a jerk of my head at my brother; or it would've been a big hug. As we pulled back, as our eyes held a close contact. I noticed his eyes trail down to my lips, and I was reminded of what happened the last time when we came this close, yesterday.

When we pulled back from each other Benjamin looked over at my family. "Is he yours?" he asked, motioning his hand at Nicky, whom Haxsel was holding off from jumping over mom.

"Yeah, that's our Nicky." I said and turned to him, "I'm surprised to find you here. You didn't tell me you'd be coming." I said.

"Sorry, I didn't know we'd be coming. Mom and dad planned it but I only came to know an hour later." Benjamin said, tucking a loose lock of my hair behind my ear.

I shrugged, "Oh, it's fine. I would like to introduce you to my brother." I said.

"Sure, I was counting on it." Benjamin winked at me.

Just as I smiled once more at Benjamin and was about to turn my head over to where my family was standing, I saw my brother walking to me.

"I was about to call you." I said to my brother, when he came close and put a hand around my shoulders. "This is my friend Benjamin Steaker. He's Archer's girlfriend's brother." I introduced Benjamin to Haxsel.

Benjamin sticked out his hand to my brother, and my brother took it pleasantly without hesitation, as I introduced my brother to Benjamin.

"Hailey told me a lot about you." Haxsel told Benjamin, while I shot him a baffled look, when?

I didn't get time to get him alone and ask him, why was he saying that.

Or what made him say that.

As we entered to uncle's house, we met the rest of the Steakers inside and our cousin Bonnie, who later joined us from upstairs after a call from someone on phone.

When we all sat around in living room, chatting, I was stealing glances at Benjamin when no one's noticing. Everytime I see him laugh, I found myself staring at him, and sometimes when I tried to steal a glance at him, our eyes met, and I looked away, blushing. And so I understood, we both were trying to steal glances at each other.

Later that day, by the sundown, Benjamin's family left, after he made me promise to come to church on Sunday, when I told him in advance that I couldn't come for Bible study at his home tomorrow, because since my dad and Haxsel are here, we're going to our home, which is too distant from Benjamin's.

Then my family and I too bid goodbyes to our uncle's family and left to our old home, in Archer's car. There we had our Shabbat dinner together after two weeks, and rejoiced in our reunion.

Bonnie's wedding day was only two days left. And we were getting busier along with her family. I was glad that we spent more time in uncle's house than in ours, so I could also see Benjamin, who dropped by to see me, but pretended to be there for an extra helping hand if wanted.

But my brother wasn't pleased with this. Everytime I looked at my brother, I could see him glancing hard on Benjamin; although, he didn't brought up such matter between us when we were alone.

Under limits, Benjamin and I spend our time, wishing for off limits, closeness and freedom to love. I wanted to tell my brother about my feelings for Benjamin, but I soon regretted it when I remembered the way my brother keeps an eye on him, making me feel uneasy.

At church too, a day before Bonnie's wedding, Benjamin and I didn't had the freedom we had before my brother was here. We couldn't walk together, we couldn't hold hands, we couldn't hug, we couldn't go to Benjamin's favorite place upstairs and stay together; and it was all so frustrating.

I would've started to get worried that this situation might make us fall apart, if it wasn't for the same longing for love like mine, that I could see in Benjamin's eyes and sense in his words. And it was also my confidence to stand up to Meghan and a suspicious-looking Diana friend of hers.

An escape from being under the watchful eyes of my beloved brother only happened at my cousin's wedding day.

During the day time, after the wedding ceremony and photo session, I tried to sneak out from my brother's sight but it was a risk. But, at night, the luck was ours.

The wedding party was hosted at a huge hall by a lake side. I sat with my cousins talking, while I saw Benjamin by a nearby exit door. I think he was trying to get my eyes on him, because when I saw him, he had a 'oh good' look on his face and motioned me to follow him.

He quickly left as I gave a jerk of my head as a nod of agreeing and my eyes searched everywhere around me for a glimpse of my brother. I saw him chatting with a group of men sitting on chairs by a far corner in a circle, and to my relief, my brother was sitting with his back facing me.

A small victorious smile crept to my lips; I'm pretty sure that sooner or later he'll find out that I'm gone but, at least I can get a bit time with Benjamin.

I excused myself from my cousins and walked over to the exist where Benjamin has disappeared to. If I'm right, this is the first time ever I'm wishing to be out of my brother's sight and escape from his eyes.

The exist where Benjamin had gone to, led to the outside, where it was fully lit with lights. I climbed down the steps to the ground, both hands holding up the sides of my bridesmaid gown. Not knowing where Benjamin might've gone, I walked further straight, when I heard a whisper of my name from my left.

I turned aside and saw Benjamin blended into the shadow of a tree, which he was standing next to. I smiled before walking up to him, wrapping my arms around his neck as I reached him.

"I was trying to get you out of there for a long time." Benjamin said, placing his hands on the back of my waist.

"I'm so sorry, I was trying too. But my brother...." I trailed off, frowning.

"I know. I noticed. Please don't apologise." he smiled softly, looking into my eyes. "I didn't even get a chance to tell you that you look stunning."

I chuckled, blushing. "Thanks, you look handsome too, as always." I said, "But I prefer you in normal outfits, anyway."

Benjamin smiled, "Thanks love, I'll keep that in mind."

A warmth filled my heart and it began to raise when I heard him calling me love.

"Can we move a little further from here? We need to talk." Benjamin said, gesturing to his backside place. "Before your brother finds us."

I almost laughed at his last words which came out with a hint of sarcasm and agreed with him. We walked further back from there, hands intertwined, in silence, and stopped by the handrails that were built dividing the ground and the lake.

"What's it that you want to talk about?" I asked him as we stood face to face, leaning our sides to the handrails.

Benjamin looked into my eyes for a moment before speaking. "It's about our kiss." he said.

My heart accelerated, "What about it?" I whispered.

He placed his right hand on the side of my face, tracing my cheekbone. "I loved it, Hailey. It was... enchanting." Benjamin whispered back.

A wide grin broke into my face, "I loved it too." I said to him.

A soft chuckle escaped Benjamin's lips as he leaned down, locking his lips with mine. His hand went over to my hair, entangling them with his fingers while other the hand was my back, caressing the material of my dress gently.

The kiss was blissful than the last one, which was my very first experience. But in this one, Benjamin's excellence taught me how to react well.

When he pulled back, I didn't want anything but him to kiss me again. My hands reached up to the collar of his coat and pulled him to another kiss. And just like that, the next few moments passed by, being enchanted by Benjamin's lips.

"Hailey," his lips brushed against mine as he whispered my name after pulling back.

I hummed in response, too dizzied to let my voice out.

"I wanna ask you something."

I hummed again, this time opening my eyes to see his blue ones already on me. "Go on," I whispered, when he didn't went on with my humming response.

"Would you... would you like to be my girlfriend?"

I felt my heart flutter with happiness, slightly surprised, even though I was looking forward to this moment. "You want me to be your girlfriend?" I inquired with uncontrollable grin.

"Of course," Benjamin chuckled to my cheek, sending goosebumps all over my body. "You thought I'm kissing you for some stupid pleasure and bid you a goodbye when you leave? To end the story?" he asked, poking his finger to my side, tickling me.

"No," I laughed, pushing away his tickling hand. "I just thought...how can we develop a distant relationship. We can't date, we couldn't meet, -"

"We couldn't love?" he cut me off.

"No, that's not what I meant," I said, "I thought, what if being distant doesn't fit us well?" I asked, frowning.

Benjamin shook his head and wrapped his hands around my waist, pulling me to his body and leaning his face closer to mine. "What is there in this world that is powerful than love?" he asked.

"Nothing."

"So, could distance be a big deal if love is powerful?"

"No."

"Nothing can separate us, or destroy our love, Hailey. If our love is powerful, there's nothing that can ever come between us." Benjamin said, giving me his encouraging handsome smile.

I smiled back, too overwhelmed by his words of love, to speak anything. I could also feel a lump rising from my throat.

"I know, it's hard to leave you, it's hard to be distant from you, it's hard to believe that I won't be able to see you like we did in the last few weeks. But we can tell our parents that we're in love and then I can come to Chicago or you can come here to Colorado for this summer vacation, which is not that far from us." Benjamin said.

I smiled, impressed. "Ben, that's amazing! We were planning on going to Jerusalem this summer but that doesn't matter to me; I just want to be with you." I told him.

"Or maybe I can ask my dad and come to Jerusalem with you. So we can have a wonderful time there." he said.

My eyes widened in excitement, "That's even brilliant! I love it!"

"But my question still remains unanswered." Benjamin raised an eyebrow at me, amusement flickering in his elegant eyes. "Would you like to be my girlfriend?"

I shook my head at him and raised my eyes to the sky for a brief moment, "I can't believe you don't know my answer yet." I rolled my eyes eyes and pulled him into a kiss.

Benjamin chuckled against my lips before kissing me back. I pulled back when I couldn't breathe and looked into his eyes. We both smiled widely at each other in satisfaction. Then taking me by surprise, Benjamin twirled me, slowly making us dance together.

It was the moment I wanted to memorize for the rest of my life, the day I got all the power to say that Benjamin is mine, the day I felt like I'm the happiest girl in the world, the day of our love.

We stayed like that for the moments that passed by, slowly dancing to the light music we can hear from the wedding party. Having only Benjamin before my eyes, happy and handsome, I couldn't wish for anything but for this moment to last forever in his closeness.

But it didn't.

"Hailey!" I pulled myself from Benjamin's hold and turned back to the stern voice of my brother.

I looked back at Benjamin for a second and then at my brother's nearing silhouette, gulping down the hardness from my throat.

"What on earth are you doing out here?!" Haxsel hissed as he came nearer. That's when I got the clear view of his face; jaw clenched and eyes narrowed at me and my boyfriend.

Gosh, how long has he been watching us? Has he seen us kissing? Or only dancing? If only dancing, then there's a relief.

"Dancing." I said, but my voice only came out as a mumble.

"Why can't you just pick up your phone?" my brother asked, his voice shaking with rising anger.

"M-my ph-phone?" I shuttered.

"Don't play innocent, Hailey." Haxsel warned me. Never in my life have I seen my brother so threatening towards me.

"I don't have my phone with me!" I defended myself, almost snapping.

"Watch your mouth, little girl." Haxsel hissed, scoldingly.

"It's with dad! Why are you yelling at me for something that isn't my fault? I silenced my phone and gave it to dad because I couldn't keep it with me; since the ceremony!" I exclaimed, throwing my hands in the low air in frustration.

My brother eyed me with a glare for a moment before grabbing my wrist, "Come." he said, still in his raged voice, dragging me with him back to the party, before he shot Benjamin a murderous look.

I kept glancing back at Benjamin helplessly, who stood still at his spot, staring after me. He had his hands clenched into fists and from his face I could understand, he want to defend me or do anything for me. But I'm glad he wisely chose to say silent during my argument with my brother, or it would've made my brother ever more mad. Goodness knows what would've happened.

"Keep up, Hailey." Haxsel said without looking at me, as he could feel me turning back to glance at Benjamin.

Angry tears crammed into my eyes, I wanted to tear my hand off from my brother's grip and go back to Benjamin; but I knew I couldn't do it.

I hated it. I hated this so much. I hate that I have no freedom to love the boy I like, or even to hangout with him. I just helplessly kept on gritting my teeth and chewing my inside cheeks, to control the anger in me that was rising towards my favorite person in the universe, for the first time in the history.

When we got back to the party, I tried to mask my face into a normal happy me. But it was difficult with my brother and his annoying suspicious eyes on me.

A moment before, I was the happiest girl in the world; but now, I was the most disappointed being. And it was all because of my brother, who was the number one person I've always looked up to make me happy. I took advantage of the time I got to glare at him, when he wasn't looking and pouted like a little kid whenever our eyes met, which I was avoiding at all cost.

Throughout the party I was in off mood. There was no glimpse of Benjamin around, which made me ever more doomed. I didn't talk with anyone but sat on the chair as my brother demanded me to, without moving. When mom noticed this and asked me what's wrong, I lied to her that I'm just tired from a long day.

I only managed to smile when Bonnie came up and hugged me a goodbye, thanking me for I don't know what, before she left with her groom. Then a few minutes later, dad announced that we're leaving. I looked around me, searching every corner of the hall for Benjamin; but I couldn't find him, only his parents and siblings.

On the way back to home, I stayed silent while Haxsel and our parents were talking about the wedding. Dad asked me why am I not talking, and mom told him I'm just tired. That made my brother look at me for a while and he slowly reached for my hands on my lap.

I was sitting far from him by the window, which was so unlike me, since the way how he was harsh at me. I wanted to show him that I was hurt, and shoved say his hand. He reached again, and I shoved once more. Then he sighed and didn't reach out.

I suddenly regretted my actions and felt bad when I head him sigh, but didn't had the courage to move closer to him or even look at him.

As we reached home, I asked Dad for my phone back and went straight up to my room after petting a complaining Nicky. I just wanted to text Benjamin and ask him if he's okay and apologize for my brother's actions. I speedened my pace as I heard footsteps behind me, of which I was pretty sure it was my brother.

Whatever is it that he wants, I'm not ready for it now.

"We need to talk." Haxsel said as I reached for the handle of my door.

"Maybe in the morning, I'm tired." I muttered, not caring to spare him a glance and closed my door behind me, but my brother caught it in time.

"You never shut me out, Hailey; nor you never run away from me. What happened to you?" my brother said, blocking away my chance to shut the door.

"I'm just tired Jonny." I whined, meeting his eyes at once and looked away.

"It's fine, you can sleep until twelve o'clock noon if you want, but we're not going to bed until we talk about this." Haxsel said firmly.

I sighed and let him in, since I know I couldn't stand up to a mad Haxsel, especially that I know what's the matter that has made him mad.

My brother sat on my bed while I stood before him, arms crossed against my chest. "You're mad at me, aren't you?" Haxsel asked.

I didn't respond but kept looking at my brother, with no emotions on my face.

Haxsel sighed when he didn't get my response, "What exactly is going on with you and that Steaker boy?" he asked, trying to sound like our dad.

"We're friends, I've told you before." I said, slightly getting uncomfortable.

Haxsel eyed me for a moment, "Hailey look, I want you to understand what I'm trying to tell you. So please listen." he said, "I've been watching you and Benjamin since the day I met him and...you don't act like normal friends."

"And how exactly can you know that?" I tilted my head.

"Come on sis, I've seen you for years with Harry and it was different." Haxsel said.

"Because Harry and Benjamin are different." I stated.

"This is different, Hailey."

I sighed exaggerated, "Why are you so misunderstanding towards Benjamin? Just because you don't like him, doesn't-"

"It has nothing to do with my liking on him." my brother cut me off, "I just don't like him near my sister, that's all."

"Why not?"

"He's not good for you."

"Not good for me?" I inquired, "What do you mean by that?"

My brother shot me a really look, "You haven't learned from your past experiences at all, have you?" he asked.

"My past experiences?" I asked, pretending I don't what is he talking about, because I didn't want him to compare Benjamin with it.

Haxsel rolled his eyes, "Nott and Adam, I mean."

"Goodness gracious, Jonny! Benjamin is a born again believer! Not like that lot!" I argued. "And on the bright side, Benjamin is a pastor's son."

My brother's stone face cracked into an amusement expression and then he snorted, "Pastor's son? Pastor's son? What's the big fuss about being a pastor's son? Makes no difference with anyone who is truly a child of God." my brother said, amused. "Just a pastor's son, Hailey, not an angel from heaven."

A small smile tugged the corner of my lips, as much as I tried to erase it. "Not an angel from heaven but, he does look like an angel." I muttered to myself, but Haxsel heard me.

"Hailey....." my brother turned his attention on me, looking at me with that annoying suspicious look.

Uh oh. What have I done?!

"You like him." it wasn't a question.

"Wh-wh-what?" I stammered.

"You heard me."

"No I didn't."

"Hailey......"

"What?"

"You like him, don't you?"

I wanted to tell him yes but I couldn't find the courage to say so. "I like everyone." I said.

My brother's eyes narrowed at me, making me feel too uneasy before his gaze, along with the tensed feeling inside me.

Come on, Hailey! Tell him you love Benjamin!

I hugged myself as I found myself shaking in the inside. Haxsel sighed, his eyes softened and ran his hand through his hair before stretching out his hands towards me, coming back to my loving brother's form. "C'mere."

I was still mad at him, yes, but I couldn't reject this offer of affection like I did back in the car. I walked several steps to my brother and placed my hands on his inviting ones. Haxsel gently pulled me to him, making me stand between his knees.

"Please look at me, honey." my brother told me gently, rubbing his thumb over my knuckles, making me sigh and look at him from just staring into space. "I'm sorry if I hurt you earlier by being hard on you. I just got....off guard. I really am sorry for acting like that towards you. I hate it, Hailey, I really do."

I nodded to my apologizing brother, slightly surprised at his apology which I wasn't expecting in this matter. I blinked away the tears that were running into my eyes, as my anger slowly began to fade away.

"You do know why I was talking to you like that, don't you?" Haxsel asked.

I shook my head a no.

My brother sighed and made me sit on his left lap, grasping onto my hand firmly. "I'm just trying to keep you safe, hun." he said, barely above a whisper, "I don't want to lose you."

I was taken aback, just by looking into my brother's sparkling blue eyes that were a sea of emotions. He was acting so wildly like that because he's trying to keep me safe?

Heart melted, I placed my free hand on the side of his face as tears crammed into my eyes. "How many times, Haxsel John Houston, should I tell you this?" I asked with shaking voice. "You will never lose me."

A small sad smile tugged my brother's lips and he kissed my forehead, "Just promise me one thing." he said, "Please don't go looking for trouble."

"Looking for trouble? Are you serious?" I asked, suddenly feeling amused.

"Yes, deadly serious." my brother nodded, smiling.

"Come on, Jonny. As if you don't know!" I groaned, "I don't go looking for trouble. Trouble finds me." I said, ending up in giggli as I realized, I've just said one of my favorite Harry Potter dialogues.

But there was no place for any amusement left in me, when the trouble did find me, a day later.

A/N: This chapter is dedicated to my beloved big brother in paradise, who's celebrating his 19th birthday there on the 2nd of next month. He inspires the character of Haxsel in this book. I planned on updating this chapter on his birthday but since it's like three days away, I thought not to make you guys wait.

Thank you so much for you patience, your support and love. Please let me know your thoughts on the comments; it makes my entire day :)

And, what do you think the trouble is? Any guess? Tell me what do you think the trouble is going to be. Comment right here→

I'm not trying to scare you but just a warning; our rollercoaster ride is going to be a bit scary. So brace yourselves!