"Who was he?"

I froze on my spot. I knew this was going to happen I just didn't expect it so soon. Just take a deep breath; it's time to face this.

"Emily, who was he?" Brody repeated in a warning tone.

I cringed and began to turn around slowly. He was looking intently at me, expecting an answer and soon.

"I-I w-well...um h-he..." Why is this so hard to confront? I'm eighteen already, I'm an adult dammit!

So funny how in my mind I'm so brave but my mouth is worthless in these situations.

"Emily, calm down. I just want to know who he is." This is the first time I see him act so serious. Calm down? That only made it worse. My palms were sweaty and slightly shaking.

I need to say something to him. He sat there leaning on his elbows on the kitchen island.

"D-do you remember DJ?" I needed to begin with something familiar.

"The kid who you would play with during the summer? That was him?" He was frowning in thought.

"Yeah, well, he moved here with his dad and we met up in school. I was assigned to tutor him, that's all." My voice was almost a whisper but he understood me loud and clear. I couldn't tell him that Drake moved out here because he was in some sort of problem where he lived, one I didn't know anything about if I might add, or that he was a street fighter. I sometimes maybe naïve but I'm not stupid.

"So, you were tutoring him now? It's past midnight." He gave me that 'I'm not buying this sh*t' look. "And why would he need to jump out of your room instead of walking through the front door?"

"B-because you would all freak out if you saw him just talking to me! Let alone tutor him!" I raised my voice at him. I was getting tired of hiding everything.

"Emily you should know better. That's why we won't leave you alone with someone you barely know. Yeah, I know you used to know him when you were kids but that doesn't mean that he has not changed. He was a kid then."

"You don't know what you're talking about." I dismissed him turning to leave. I'm done listening to him, he doesn't know anything I do.

"Oh don't I?" He got up and stood in front of me blocking my path. "Well, tell me this, do you know what he used to do before he came to live here? Who were his friends? How can he even afford the bike that was on the sidewalk? Do you know his parents? Do you even know where he lives?" For the second time today I opened my mouth but it was useless. I couldn't answer any of those questions because I didn't know the answer.

"I'm an adult now. I don't need to be listening to all this sh*t."

"Then start acting like one!" My eyes widened in shock. Brody has never talked to me like that.

"And you are one to talk? You just blew someone's toilet! Are you seriously telling me about being an adult? When all you do is act like an ass?" I shouted back.

"Don't mix up that stupid sh*t with this. This is serious...I'm just trying to protect you, but apparently you know it all, right?" I crossed my arms and didn't say anything else. He shook his head and disappointment was clear on his features. "I'm done talking to you."

With that, he left. I really wanted to go to him and apologize for what I said but I was so p*ssed. They need to understand that I can take care of myself. They have to let me make my own decisions and if I screw up I'll deal with it and keep going. That's what growing up is all about.

I ran upstairs and threw my door with so much force I'm surprise it didn't come out of its hinges. Tears started to blur my vision. I got in my bed and tried to hide away from all this with my covers. A single tear escaped but I did not move. Every single question Brody asked me came all shooting at the same time. I tried to block them but he was right, I know nothing about Drake. Not even when we were kids. For God's sake, I don't even know what the J stands for!

I took my cell phone out.

'I need to see you tomorrow' I sent him the text waiting for his reply.

'Missing me already?' I rolled my eyes at this. He used every opportunity to show his cocky self. I decided to make him see that this was serious.

'One of my brothers knows.' A couple of minutes passed and there was no reply. Suddenly my cell phone began to ring.

"Hello."

"What?" He asked in disbelief.

I sighed. "Yeah, Brody knows."

"How did he take it? What did he say?"

"Not good. That's why I need to see you tomorrow, well this afternoon." I corrected seeing that it was almost one in the morning. "I need to talk to you."

"Not that I'm against seeing you but why can't you talk to me right now?"

"It's better in person."

"Alright. Are you okay?"

"A little. We yelled at each other, something that did not happen since we were kids."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it. I'm a big girl."

"My big girl."

I giggled. "Can't you be any cheesier?"

"Only for you babe." I swear he's smirking right now.

I laughed. "Guess I was wrong."

"Made you laugh."

"Thank you."

"Any time nerd. Now, if you no longer require my services I'm out. This bad boy needs his beauty sleep."

I rolled my eyes, but giggled at his comment. "Of course, wouldn't want you to look like sh*t."

"Trust me, it ain't pretty."

I think his joker side comes out more when he's sleepy. "You know, you're funny when you're sleepy. Maybe I should sleep deprive you more often."

"I know some pretty good ways to sleep deprive me. Want to volunteer?"

"Sure, name the time and place." I seductively whispered.

"..." I was biting my tongue so hard trying not to laugh. I would give anything to see his expression right now. He cleared his throat and paused for a moment. "I better go before you tease me to death."

I let a flirty giggle out. "Okay, night Drake." I said in the same tone of voice as before.

"Emily..." He warned. "How many times am I going to tell you?"

"Don't start things that you can't finish?" I asked quoting him. "Don't worry; I'm sure we can do some things in between."

"F*ck. Emily go already, before I change my mind and go back there with your brothers there or not." I bit my lip, he sounded completely honest and to tell you the truth I wasn't objecting at what he was saying. Snap out of it! We don't want to start World War III now.

"Okay, okay, good night DJ."

He sighed and felt him smile (weird, I know). "Night, nerd."

~~~~~~

"Why do you like me?"

"Why do you like me?" He asked back.

"Don't answer my question with another one."

"Well don't ask stupid questions then."

"It's not stupid. I honestly don't know what you see in me. You're right for not trusting me. I don't deserve anything."

"That's the problem right there. You over think everything but even doing that it doesn't even cross your mind that I like you that I've had a crush on you since I saw you. And we were what, six? Of course I trust you!" He ran his hand through his hair frustrated. "Emily, you are worth it. You are smart, funny, beautiful, and strong. I know you have been through enough but still you have a smile for those who are lucky enough to know you." He grabbed both of my hands and brought them up to kiss them. "And I know that you try to keep everyone out of the walls that protect you, but when you let someone in you are vulnerable and scared. I want to be the one to protect you, to be the support you need." He sighed and gave me a painful look. "It is me who doesn't deserve you. It pains me every time I think of how screwed up my life is. You don't need the extra baggage that comes to be with me. And believe me I tried to stay away, but I couldn't stand seeing you vulnerable and scared after I broke those walls. I'm sorry..." He let go of my hands and was cupping my face with both his hands stroking my cheeks lightly with his thumbs.

I closed my eyes and a single tear fell.

Wonder how I got into this? Let's go back to a few hours back.

It was ten am, Sunday morning and the house was quiet. No one, except me, was awake yet. I didn't sleep at all tossing and turning trying to think of what I was going to say to the rest of the boys after Brody tells them about Drake.

I texted Drake this morning the location where we would meet. We decided to meet at the same pier we where yesterday morning. The only thing I needed was a valuable excuse to get out of the house.

So I decided to call Tori and explain everything to her and yes, I will have to go to the doctor so they can check my hearing. She went ballistic after I told her that we kissed. Obviously, she decided to help me by coming over in the afternoon so I could have the excuse that I was going to her house in order for me to see Drake.

A couple of hours later we sat on the kitchen island eating our breakfast. Brody was giving me pointed looks but he hasn't said anything to the rest. I was grateful for that and kept my head low and continued to eat. When the boys decided to crash in the living room, I stayed behind so I could talk to Brody.

"Brody...I..." There were no words that come to mind that I could say for him not to dislike me right now.

"Emily, don't." He sighed heavily and placed his bowl on the sink. "It's my fault. I shouldn't have yelled at you yesterday. I just want you to be safe. You know that, right?" I nodded. "But I'm still not cool about this. I'll be watching you." With that he left to join the others. I held on the edge of the counter looking outside. If I were going to risk my family's trust, I needed to know everything there is about Drake.

I went up my room and decided to change into a short denim skirt and a black ACDC shirt. I got my hair up in a messy little ponytail and slipped on my black flip flops.

Right at two o' clock my crazy friend knocked on the front door. "I'll get it!" Matty shouted walking towards the door while I was going down the stairs.

"Well hello gorgeous." Matty greeted Tori while resting on the door frame.

"Hello Mr. hot ass." Tori had no shame when it comes to flirting. She wouldn't cheat on Brad but she sure flirted with every male that approached her. "Is your lazy ass of a sister around?"

"Emily!!" He shouted but he didn't notice that I was standing behind him. If I wasn't sure about going to the doctor, I sure am now. Crazy loud people.

"I'm here, jeez." I wiggled my finger in my ear trying to make the buzzing noise stop.

"Hey, is it ok if Emily comes to my house for the rest of the day?" Tori asked right away. There's no wasting time with this girl I tell you.

He shrugged. "Sure, I'll tell Nate." He told me and winked in Tori's direction. She smirked and I rolled my eyes. Stupid crazy loud people.

Tori left me at Drake and I's meeting spot and told me to call her if I needed a ride back. I told her that it was okay that I would get a ride from Drake. She grinned like an idiot, waved at me and left.

I could see Drake already while I approached the pier. He had his back to me; he seemed lost looking at the sea. I couldn't avoid checking him out. His white shirt hugged every muscle and his dark blue shorts hung the way it would make any girl crazy. This time he was wearing white sneakers.

"Done checking me out yet?" He asked still with his back towards me with his hands inside his pockets.

I scoffed and stood a couple of feet behind him. "Yeah, keep telling that to yourself."

He turned and smiled at me. "Hi"

"Hi" I bit my lip nervously when I saw him checking me out shamelessly. "Done checking me out yet?" I crossed my arms. He raised a finger like motioning me to stay quiet while he kept running his gaze through my entire body. I opened my mouth in disbelief and smacked him on his chest. He was laughing while rubbing his chest.

"Damn, remind me again not to p*ss you off." He kept rubbing his chest and I rolled my eyes.

"So, I'm all ears." He said while taking a sit on the edge of the pier and motioning me to do the same. After I did, I began to tell him everything that Brody told me yesterday. He kept quiet, letting me finish the whole story.

"I get it." Was his response after a while. "He's right; you should know more about me. I just—Is not that simple." He clenched his jaw while looking down.

"You don't trust me." I spoke out loud. It never ran to my mind. I was so worried to learn how to trust him that I didn't realize that he was the one who didn't trust me.

"I-It's not like that Emily." He defended but his face was contradicting his words.

"How could I've been so stupid?" I told myself. I couldn't believe this. "You know how hard it was for me to trust anyone?"

"I know..." He tried to grab my hands but I took them back. "Please let me explain...It's not that simple. I could be putting you to risk—"

"Here we go again with the same sh*t. Why don't you tell me and let me be the judge of that? I'm not six years old anymore Drake!" I stood up and he did the same.

He remained silent not able to face me.

"This is all a game to you is it?" His head snapped at me. He looked angry but I didn't give a sh*t.

"You don't even know what you're talking about." He said between his teeth.

"Well enlighten me then!"

He remained silent for the second time. I felt unworthy. Every thought that I've stored on the back of my mind came rushing back to me. Telling me how worthless and broken I am. Of course no one would like me, let alone trust me.

"Why do you like me?"

"Why do you like me?" He asked back.

"Don't answer my question with another one."

"Well don't ask stupid questions then."

"It's not stupid. I honestly don't know what you see in me. You're right for not trusting me. I don't deserve anything."

"That's the problem right there. You over think everything but even doing that it doesn't even cross your mind that I like you that I've had a crush on you since I saw you. And we were what, six? Of course I trust you!" He ran his hand through his hair frustrated. "Emily, you are worth it. You are smart, funny, beautiful, and strong. I know you have been through enough but still you have a smile for those who are lucky enough to know you." He grabbed both of my hands and brought them up to kiss them. "And I know that you try to keep everyone out of the walls that protect you, but when you let someone in you are vulnerable and scared. I want to be the one to protect you, to be the support you need." He sighed and gave me a painful look. "It is me who doesn't deserve you. It pains me every time I think of how screwed up my life is. You don't need the extra baggage that comes to be with me. And believe me I tried to stay away, but I couldn't stand seeing you vulnerable and scared after I broke those walls. I'm sorry..." He let go of my hands and was cupping my face with both his hands stroking my cheeks lightly with his thumbs.

I closed my eyes and a single tear fell. He engulfed me in a strong hug and I hugged him back. His lips were resting on the crook of my neck.

"I'm done." His words came all muffled. He raised his head to meet my gaze.

"What do you mean?" Was he leaving me?

"I'm done keeping you in the dark." He sat back again but this time he sat me across his lap.

"But please, don't leave until I'm finished."