When Ethan, Harper and Alex entered the apartment after dropping Tristan at his house, they found Dave and Colton sitting on the couch. Dave was barely awake and Colton was editing his photographs on the laptop. When they saw them Colton abandoned his laptop and got up. Dave on the other hand was suddenly very much awake.

"What happened? Your text message looked urgent." Colton asked worried.

"Where are Mr. and Mrs. Smith?" Harper asked in return.

"They are on their way. They were asleep when we called them." replied Dave.

As if on cue the door bell rang.

"That must be mum and dad. You guys settle down I will take the door." Dave said and left to open the door.

Harper sighed and sat down on the couch along with Ethan but Alex remained standing avoiding Harper's eye contact. When Martha and Jonathan entered they looked towards Harper and then towards Alex. They both sat opposite to them on the other couch. When no one said anything, Ethan sighed and nudged Harper. But she just shook her head. Harper was not in a mood to explain why her brother was arrested.

Ethan heaved another sigh and started explaining. "I was having dinner with my mum and dad today when I got a phone call from the local police station. They told me that Alex was arrested for brawling in a bar and underage drinking. I told dad everything. He asked me to go to the police station and that he will join me there with a lawyer. Alex did not want to inform Harper directly. So he contacted me first."

"Did they press any charges on him?" Colton who was listening intently asked surprised learning the arrest of Alex.

Harper shook her head and Ethan continued speaking. "The lady officer was good enough to release him with a warning despite the fact that other party wanted to file a report."

"You are lucky you know." Colton said while looking towards Alex who was fidgeting nervously.

Harper looked towards Jonathan painfully and he understood what she wants him to do.

"Why were you brawling Alex?" Jonathan asked. "Were you drinking alcohol?"

Alex looked sharply towards him and said. "No, Mr. Smith I wasn't drinking."

Jonathan looked unconvinced towards him and asked "Then why were you arrested for underage drinking?"

Alex looked nervously towards Harper who was looking at him with pierced gaze.

"We were pretending to drink."

Dave scoffed and Colton laughed mockingly and said. "We have been all there Alex where we just pretended to drink."

"I swear" Alex yelled.

"What about the deal that Tristan was talking about?" Harper asked irritated with Colton and Alex's banter.

Alex avoided making eye contact and stuttered few words.

"Alexander" Harper bellowed. "You better come clean this instant, or I will make sure you don't attend your precious soccer practice."

"You can't do that." Alex yelled furiously.

"Yeah?" Harper too stood up in anguish. "Try me."

"You are not my mother." Alex hollered.

"But I am your guardian."

Martha, who was sitting on the couch and was silently looking at the sibling quarreling with each other stood up and said "You both need to calm down. Alex she is just worried about you. You need to understand her point of view too."

"Sorry Mrs. Smith." Alex looked down ashamed.

"I want to know about the deal?" Harper shrieked and Martha looked unimpressed towards her.

Harper sighed and muttered an apology. Alex walked towards Harper and took a hold of her arms and said. "Promise me, you won't hate me. I was doing it to help you financially. I saw how you worked non stop and I just wanted to help. It was all Tristan's idea. His cousin is into this."

"You are blabbing too much." Harper said annoyed.

"Will anyone tell us what is happening?" Jonathan asked in irritation

Alex sighed. "Tristan and I were dealing with drugs."

Many gasps were heard and Harper felt a chill down her body. She had heard Tristan telling this outside the police station but listening to it from her baby brother's mouth was too much convincing and difficult to digest. She was looking towards Alex with wide eyes. Her body went limp and she sat down on the couch with a thud.

For a while no one said anything. Then a meek voice of Harper was heard. "Are you taking them too?"

"What, no" Alex replied flabbergasted. "Today was our first attempt in selling. I told you Tristan's cousin is into this. Tristan talked about our financial condition to him and he told me that selling drugs can help in earning easy money. That brawl happened because they were not paying us the payment that was decided. And the interference of police was kind of lucky for them. They did not pay us a dime and took the drugs too. That was the reason they were hell bent on pressing charges. They were afraid that we will retaliate once we are bailed and will demand the money."

"The drugs can get you easy jail time too, buddy." Ethan who was sitting at the corner of couch silently for a quite a sometime said. "Be thankful that the police did not find out. Else that lady officer won't be so lenient with you."

Harper sighed and looked towards Alex. "I can't let this go so easily. You won't attend soccer practice this week."

"You can't do that." He screamed.

"Lower your voice Alex. I can't let it go unpunished and I know granny and grandpops have no knowledge of this. So, it's best we don't tell them.

Martha who came back from kitchen with cups of coffee for everyone placed the tray on the table. Everyone took a cup and started sipping. Martha sat down beside her husband and said. "If I am correct, Alex sold those drugs because he wanted to help Harper, right? He can work at our restaurant and can earn. Harper's place is still vacant?"

"What about my studies and soccer practice, Mrs. Smith?" Alex asked dejected.

"You can work on weekends." Jonathan said.

"What about Harper then? She is still working there on weekend " Alex asked.

"She can have fun at weekends for a change." Jonathan replied.

"Fine." Alex replied dejected.

Once everything was settled, Mr. and Mrs. Smith volunteered to take Alex at their home for a night.  Harper took hold of Mr. Smith's hand and gestured him to stay. Jonathan told Martha and Alex to go ahead. 

"Thank you for coming today. I wanted a father figure present here today for Alex. It means so much to me." Harper said outside the apartment door. 

"There is nothing to be thank about. You are family Harper." 

Harper smiled and hugged Jonathan. He returned her embrace and then they bid adieu to each other. Harper entered the apartment and found Ethan collecting his keys and mobile phone.

Ethan who was about to leave stopped when he looked towards Harper and found vulnerability on her face. 

"I think I will stay the night."

Harper smiled thankfully. She went into her bedroom and changed into pajamas and removed her make up. When she exit her room, she found the boys sitting and waiting impatiently for her. She walked towards the couch and sat on the single sofa chair.

"Are you okay?" Colton asked.

She smiled. "I will be, don't worry."

Dave yawned. "I am sorry, I have to get up early tomorrow, I will take your leave." He left for his room after that.

"How was your dinner with Jason?" Colton asked Harper.

"Good. He is quite attentive actually."

Colton nodded and smiled but Ethan was not feeling good. He was surprised to know that he was feeling jealous and there was no need to be. He just brushed it off and listened to Harper who was explaining her evening to Colton. He was listening and smiling and Ethan noted a glint in Harper's eyes which did not sit well with him. Colton looked towards Ethan and mistakenly took Ethan's jealousy as exhaustion.

"Ethan you can share my room." Colton offered. He himself was also ready to hit the bed now.

"No problem Colton, he can share mine." Harper said.

"You sure, you will be fine?"

"Perfectly, just lend him some of your clothes." She requested with a smile.

Colton nodded and gestured Ethan to follow. Once everybody left, Harper too got up and went inside her room. She sat down on her bed and all of a sudden she started crying. Suddenly she realized the intensity of the situation and how easily she could have lost her baby brother today. Suddenly she was engulfed in warmth.

The similar manly and musky fragrance of Ethan soothed her nerves.

"I am here for you always Harps. Always."

Listening to such lovable words caused the hard walls of Harper to break. She poured out her heart and cried. She knew Ethan was there for her to hold her in the time of adversity.

After few minutes her cries turned into silent sobs and still Ethan did not let her go.

"I am so sorry Ethan to cut all the ties with you. I don't know how I survived everything without you for so long."

"Shh.. no need to say anything. I have got you." He kissed her on the forehead. "Let's get to bed. It's late."

Harper nodded. "Let me freshen up." And she left for bathroom.

Once she returned she found Ethan lying on the bed with closed eyes. She smiled and walked towards the bed. When she reached, she bent down and placed a kiss on his forehead. Ethan opened his eyes at the sweet gesture and smile.

"Come" He patted the space beside him.

Harper climbed the bed and lay beside him. He put his arm around her waist and pulled her close.

"Good night Harps" He kissed her temple.

Harper smiled and replied. "Good night Ethan."

That night both of them slept contently.

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Updates on every monday.