Aubrey

There was little I hated in life but lunch with my parents was without a doubt first on my list. I would much rather be doing just about anything else. Walking on hot coals, being prosecuted for murder, twerking...

Alright, maybe not the last one but anything would be better than-

"Aubrey, sweetheart, you're looking a little tired." My mother smile as I took my usual seat across from them. She glanced towards my father who then added how I had also put on a bit of weight.

I tried not to let my sigh become audible with the agitation I was already feeling. So many eyes watching me was... unsettling.

"How's school going?" He asked, tugging on his pressed red tie.

His posture was stiff, making him appear taller than his spouse though I knew it was a matter of perception with their seating. He was nearly a head shorter and that was without the three-inch heels my mother chose to wear at all times.

"Fine," I answered honestly. "I guess. We're on break right now so I have some free time."

He nodded. "Good, good. And your account?" Instead of looking over at the elderly couple eating brunch at the next table, I brought my gaze back to both of my parents.

"Only dipping in it if I absolutely need to."

My father's bushy black brows knit with confusion while my mother's forehead wrinkled with frustration. Her frustration eased as she took a sip of her lemon water before placing it back down on its white paper napkin. With entwined fingers, she let her disapproving gaze rest on me. "We put that money there so you could spend it when you want." She used her dainty fork to spear a piece of dry lettuce on her porcelain plate.

I hadn't expected them to wait for me before ordering, knowing their busy schedules but I hadn't even been fifteen minutes late. I wouldn't tell them my reason for my tardiness, knowing they probably wouldn't believe me anyway.

While my father asked me questions, I searched for a waiter so I could get my order in before they came up with an excuse to leave. With their realtor show picking up a fanbase, they seemed a lot busier these days. I was surprised their usual camera crew weren't lingering but knew they wouldn't stray far. Since I hadn't resigned my paperwork, this luncheon probably wouldn't be televised.

"How's your job? Andre treating you fairly?"

"Yeah," I nodded. "I have the hours I want and I get paid well. "

He beamed, broad chest puffing with satisfaction. "Wonderful, we really pulled a lot of strings to get you that job."

I kept my smile small though I wanted to roll my eyes. They called simply asking the manager if I could work in the bakery pulling strings? I could have done that, and I actually had. It wasn't asking for much since they were... out a baker, since my brother- the sound of glass shattering caused me to flinch and I bit my lip hoping my parents had been too absorbed in their fancy phones to notice.

A waiter walked by, hands stuffed inside his black apron until I grasped the side of his white shirt, pulling it from his black slacks a bit.

He shook me loose with a frown but his smile returned when he took note of who was grasping him. Apparently, he was a fan of the show.

I didn't give him a chance to apologize, as I knew he probably would, instead I asked for a menu politely.

He nodded and pulled one from his apron. "May I get you something to drink?"

I looked over my menu. "I'll have a-"

"She'll have a water with one lemon, non-squeezed, and a small salad with no dressing, "My mother spouted off the same order she had probably done for her husband and herself and I gazed at them both over the top of the menu."

"Actually," I amended before the man could walk away. "I'll have an orange soda and...this."

I pointed towards the burger with bacon and avocado.

He nodded then left us, taking my menu with him.

"I wish you'd stop doing that, I'm not five anymore." I wouldn't look at them, only the vase in front of us.

"How are you holding up since the incident?"

It was my further who asked but his voice was masked by the sound of glass shattering, causing me to flinch again and look at their hands rather than their faces.

"I'm fine," I mumbled.

"He wouldn't want you to keep this bottled up, Aubrey."

"Your mother's right, Andrew was a lively kid, he would've wanted you to talk about it."

With the mention of his name, there was a scream, his scream, but just like the shattering windshield, the sound was just in my mind.

I'd really hoped they'd drop this whole "discussing it" thing. Years of putting their careers first, barely leaving any attention for their children but now that they'd recently gotten over my younger brother's death, they cared about my feelings.

"I'm fine, alright? It was a year ago, so can we please, just drop it?" My mother opened her mouth to speak but my father's hand on her arm stopped her and surprisingly she let me be.

My mother busied herself with the rest of her salad and I gave a small smile to my father who nodded my way then did the same with his plate. When my food came, we continued our lunch in an uncomfortable silence until we finished and I offered to pay my way. They declined, as usual, then tipped our waiter horribly.

I gave my goodbye outside the building while they waited for the valet to bring their cars around and once they were gone I went back inside to give a better tip to our server, knowing not only it was the right thing to do but if my brother were still here he wouldn't have stopped scolding them till they did.

Walking through the crowded restaurant made me uneasy so I called Kendall in hopes of a distraction. Just before she answered, I bumped into him after leaving the rest of the money he'd earned and he thanked me generously causing my best friend to giggle uncontrollably,

After blushing and backing away from the man, I hushed Kendall and asked if she wanted to hang out.

She answered quickly with an exasperated yes. "I need to get away from Ash, she's driving me nuts with the touchy-feely."

I didn't comment on her girlfriend's behavior, knowing their on-again/off- again relationship was almost always a touchy subject.

I told her I'd pick her up and once I had, we headed to the mall. I'd blasted music on the way to her, but now the car was silent, knowing she hated my loud distractions, and I was positive she could tell I didn't want to talk about my folks.

It wasn't until we exited and began walking the outside vendors that she questioned if I was alright. I'd been keeping up with the conversation on her latest drama but now her brows furrowed with concern, finally caving.

I laughed out a response of how I was fine and for a moment I thought she'd press the topic if not for being easily distracted by the shoe store she pointed to.

"Oh, let's go in there. I need new kicks." Her red lips formed a pleased smile rising her already high cheekbones.

I nodded, knowing she didn't actually need new shoes, and let her tow me through the entrance and to the size six's in the middle of the women's department. I didn't hate but envied the fact she was nearly a head taller than my five feet and still had such tiny feet. It wasn't hard to find shoes that fit my size eights but most of the cute ones were already taken.

Kendall picked out a few pairs of pumps and a pair of converses then took them to a seat an aisle over.

The store was spacious with possibly hundreds of shoe boxes. I could hear the light music in the background playing a song from three years ago but it was drowned out by two people arguing a couple isles over. While they weren't loud enough to understand the full context, they were still causing a small disturbance.

"Hey, Aubrey, come back down to earth," Kendall chuckled snapping her fingers a few times. "Can you go get me half a size up? These are tight."

The red pumps she was trying on made her feet resemble a small tomato, so I did as she asked while she tried on a sparkly purple pair with an extremely tall heel.

I mentally made a note to also change the color of the requested shoe, knowing her abnormally tanned feet would thank me later.

Finding the pumps wasn't easy since I hadn't paid attention to where she had actually gotten them. I was so engrossed in finding the right shoes that I hadn't noticed until it was too late that the couples arguing was getting closer. Someone bumped into me, knocking over my bending form.

I fell on my side with a small yelp and the woman let out an agitated sigh.

"She what you've done?" She asked extending her hand. "I'm sorry he has no manners."

I stared up at the woman with my own apology but became taken back by her gorgeous features.

Her black hair, curled in small spirals at the tips, just reaching her shoulders and framing her olive-toned round face. She wore the stores uniform, which framed her long petite body nicely and I figured she was on the clock, possibly the only reason she was offering to help me.

I brought my gaze from her extended hand to her almonds eyes which weren't brown but held light grey irises. Her full mouth was set in a kind smile but quickly became a smirk as she watched me size her up as Kendall would.

With my smile never faltering I took her slender hand and let her lift me from the ground effortlessly as I thanked her.

"My brother has no home training whatsoever." She extended her now free hand towards the man she'd been arguing with and I stopped brushing myself off long enough to realize just where I had recognized the woman's familiar grey eyes from.

Her brother, sharing the same abnormal irises, stepped from behind her with a not so pleased expression on his face.

My small smile widened and I tried to reign it back in before Kendall noticed. The strange man who'd fled my apartment this morning, making me nearly forget about my parent's biweekly luncheons, stood in front of me, hands clasped behind his back and I wondered if he realized how broad it made his chest appear.

"I'm sorry, Aubrey." While he apologized his mouth was still set in a hard line that matched his wrinkled forehead.

The woman at his side scrunched her brows with shocked confusion and she asked if we knew each other.

"Not really." I shrugged casually. "I never got his name."

His eyes softened, settling to a slight simmer but once he met the woman's amused gaze, again they hardened.

"Aubrey took me in last night when it was raining." I could tell he didn't like explaining himself with the way his arms crossed over his chest.

"How sweet," she replied a bit too slyly for my liking. "And did you thank her?"

"Yes," I replied after his slight hesitation. "He said thank you, but it was seriously no big deal on my part."

"Oh, yes, it was." Her sexy smile widened. "Bryce could have caught his death out there in the cold if not for you..."

"Aubrey," I supplied when she let her sentence trail off.

She repeated my name and thanked me. "Let us treat you to lunch as a gesture of... gratitude."

When she spoke, it reminded me of the sly lawyers that had come to talk to me about the property damage my brother and I had caused with the accident. Every phrase that came from her was appealing and made me want to comply.

"Oh, no, I've already eaten." I refused, noticing the strange look the man was giving his sibling. "Besides it wasn't that big of a deal. No problem at all really."

"Nonsense." She jabbed her elbow into his side making him flinch. "We'll make it dinner then."

She became slightly distracted when She looked past his head and worry crossed her features. "Bryce, where's Brylee?"

Bryce? Brylee? It made me wonder what this woman's name was. Did she match just as his and the person they were searching for?

No, what I really wanted to know but wouldn't risk asking for sounding insane... is if she was an angel also? They both held a glow about them though the mans was a bit -no- a lot duller than hers.

"I don't know." He looked around himself. "She was right behind me. "

"Crap, you lost her? She's more hopeless than you are." The woman shook her head, dark hair shifting erratically.

"Well, erm, it was nice meeting you." I began to walk away only to have her gaze snap back to mine as she took hold of my wrist and commanded I stay.

And for some reason, I did. I didn't move until the man intervened, quickly removing her hand from my wrist and stood between us.

I looked up at him though he couldn't see my confused stare for his forceful one was set on the woman.

Her sly smile returned after a moment of shared confusion and she stared between the both of us.

"It looks as if your lie is falling apart, big brother."

He stepped away from me after her studious comment and once she was sure he wouldn't intervene, she slowly took my wrist again and began writing in the palm of my hand with a pen I didn't know she carried.

She'd written her number and address then told me to be there at six sharp.

I began to protest but she cut me off.

"No arguments." It wasn't a harsh snap but she had walked off before I could.

Bryce sighed and left also, leaving me a bit stunned.

Pumps, I had been looking for-

I grabbed the pair of silver pimps in the size Kendall had requested then went to find her.

She was exactly where I had left her, unaware of my borderline panic attack, and also not alone.

Beside her was a young girl, possibly in her late teens or early twenties. Her ash blonde, almost white hair ran down her back and seemed to shift effortlessly every time she took a breath.

Her clothes seemed far too tight for her, making her resemble a very cute emo girl with her dark skinny jeans and black band tee that just barely covered her hips.

"Aubrey, hey." Kendall chuckled. "Took you long enough. You've got to meet Brylee. She's so freaking adorable. She just told me she's never seen so many shoes in her life."

"She says her closet is like this." When she spoke, it was almost angelic, like harmonious chimes ringing just for her. Her hair hung like silk and made me want to touch it but I became distracted by her familiar grey, almost silver irises that were almond in shape. "I would very much like to see that."

The girl smiled at me and I tried my best to return it without expressing how surreal this felt. This couldn't be a coincidence.

"Girly said she doesn't have shoes where she's from." The look that crossed Kendall's face was appalled. She lived off of shoes. I didn't think it was possible for her to go a day without buying at least one pair,

"And where is that?" I asked.

I was hoping to get some information out of the one her sister called hopeless. At least I was almost positive she was related to the other two. Though this one's hair was drastically different, they all held similar facial features and height. I was short but this girl was just as tall as Kendall who I was positive was at least five years older.

She didn't answer and I nodded, realizing I had been right in one thing. They were definitely related and if they were then there was no doubt in my mind she was like her brother.

"Your siblings are looking for you."

She seemed a bit curious as to how I knew this. I could see it in her gaze. "They are? How do you know?"

As if hearing me, they rounded the corner, both seeming to glide as they descended the aisle.

I nodded behind her and she turned with a slightly guilty expression.

When her sister reached the blonde, she snapped playfully at her.

"You can't wander off like that, Bryl's. It's dangerous."

Her petite shoulders rose in a small shrug as she apologized. "You two were arguing, so I decided to look at the shoes. Then I met Kendall. She is so nice, she says her closet is like this."

The onyx haired sister looked towards my friend and nodded. "Yeah, I've seen you here before."

Her attention shifted back to her sister, whom I was assuming was the youngest since they treated her as such. Not to mention her childlike features. "I don't doubt it is." She continued.

Kendall only shrugged and replaced the converses with the pumps I had brought back. "I love shoes. Are you guys related."

They hesitated at her question and I chose to be bold and answer it.

"Yeah, they are," I took a seat next to her which earned me curious stares from them all.

"How did you know?" Kendall asked looking between me and the three siblings "I mean, I thought so because they're all gorgeous."

"Oh, we've already met." The darker haired sister earned a stern look from her brother which she ignored. "She let Bryce here sleep on her couch.

An all too familiar devious grin spread across her face. "You didn't tell me that."

I looked at the floor and mumbled how I didn't think it was important to mention.

"It is very important." The woman cooed. "Which is why she's coming to dinner tonight."

Bryce's expression was still hard. "She never agreed to that, Breia."

Finally, a name to a face.

"Why are you being so persistent about-" The raven-haired Breia nudged her sister before she could finish.

"It's already settled. She'll be over at six."

The blonde Brylee nodded, following her sisters lead.

"I can't go." I didn't mean to offend them. "Sorry, Kendall and I already have plans."

"Nonsense." Breia smiled. "Kendall's, invited, too,"

Kendall's confused smile changed to a smirk. "Thanks, See? Now we don't have to go do whatever that thing was."

I couldn't help my glare towards her as I muttered how wonderful it was indeed.

My gaze met Bryce's who seemed to share my enthusiasm, or rather, the lack of.

I wasn't sure why he didn't want us over but I didn't want to go for the simple reason that something us up with him. He could have been sent to earth to destroy us all for all I knew and since I had exposed them we were first on the list to die.

I hated thinking so morbidly but, seriously? A fallen angel had to be nothing but trouble. Even if he was handsome.