Aubry's POV-

We pulled up to the house and I was fidgeting like crazy. I had already been to his house and met his family, but I was still so nervous. I mean, he said they liked me so I shouldn't be nervous anymore, right? Obviously my mind didn't think like that. We stepped out of the truck and I took a deep breath. I couldn't explain why I was so scared, but there were so any scenarios that were playing out in my mind... none of them were good.

Aiden gently put his hand on my lower back, abruptly making my mind hush, and guided me into the house. He opened the door for us and the aroma that I smelled was quite possibly the best smell ever. It was amazing.

"Oh my goodness, what is that smell?" I asked walking towards the scent unconsciously.

He smiled a big smile. "That would be the double chocolate death cake."

My mouth watered just at the words. I couldn't remember the last time I had anything chocolate. I just hoped that it tasted as good as it smelled.

Aiden led us into the kitchen and I saw what looked like enough food to feed a hundred people. There was all sorts of food, even more than most people's thanksgiving, times two. It was definitely the most food I had ever seen in my life.

Finally my eyes made their way away from the food and over to Dana, Aiden's mom. She had on a black dress with heels and her hair was in a nice updo as she was putting the finishing touches on all the food.

I was suddenly very aware of my attire. I had on my only pair of jeans and a black long sleeve shirt. I didn't know we were supposed to dress up. I wouldn't have come if that was the case...

"Aiden! Finally, I thought you-" she turned around and her eyes landed on me. "A-Aubry! I didn't know that you were coming," she said looking at Aiden very pointedly.

"Um- I can... um, go. I didn't know this was going to be a formal thing. I mean, obviously I'm not dressed correctly." I said shrugging and pointing down to my clothes.

"Aiden just told me that it was going to be a family gathering, not some formal party thing. I just came because I heard you were cooking and Aiden said that it would make Robert happy... so it's not that big of a deal if I'm not here."

Dana's face visibly softened at me. "No! Aubry, don't get me wrong or think I'm being rude... I want you to be here! It was just a surprise to see you. It will certainly make dad happy. He's been asking when you were coming back basically since you left." She sighed and shook her head, "It's just that my family.... My family is a little critical-"

"She means bitchy... especially Tommy's step mom and step sister," Aiden clarified earning a hard look from his mom. "What? Its true!"

"Anyways, if you think you can handle my family then I would love for you to stay... Pawpaw would love to play you in chess again after dinner," she said patting my arm.

It was weird being touched for comfort not for someone to use me or to hit me. It was weird, but nice.

I smiled thinking about the food that smelled so amazing, "yes, I would like to stay."

She smiled at me and nodded. "Okay... but how about we find you something else to wear," she told me sweetly. "BRIANA!" She yelled.

I instantly got nervous again. I mean, I don't dress up... ever. I've never even owned nice clothes.

Briana came into the kitchen and looked at me blankly, not a single emotion seemed to cross her face. She was wearing a dark green long dress with a dark jacket over it and her hair was in pretty curls.

"Aubry is going to stay for the party, can you please try to find something that's at the back of your closet in the things that no longer fit you for her to wear," Dana told her firmly.

Briana scoffed, "shouldn't I look in Cece's closet instead? She's so small and none of my stuff will fit her."

Well... to be fair, it was kind of true. Briana was tall and had a nice and healthy voluptuous body. I, on the other hand, was tiny and pretty scrawny. I wasn't quite small enough to fit into Cece's clothes... but it was a fair insult.

"Briana, stop.... Just be nice." Dana said abruptly.

"I'm going to get dressed. Bri will help you. I'll see you in a bit," Aiden said as Briana led me to her room.

We walked in and it was painted a mint color. The room wasn't too big and it was homey, with two beds. As soon as I walked in with Bri, Cece jumped up to greet me.

"Aubry!" She squealed. "I knewed you'd come back! You aren't rude like the other lady that Aiden brought spaghetti night!" She hugged me around my hips with a big smile.

"Alright Ce, that's enough. Why don't you go help mom while I help Aubry get ready." Briana said in a bland emotionless voice.

The lack of emotion from the girl was a little alarming. She was just blank, like she didn't feel at all. It was like she was numb.

"I'll see you in a little bit, okay Cece?" I said trying to help Briana with what she wanted.

"Okay!" The little girl bounced out of the door with a bright smile.

"Look, I don't know why Aiden keeps bringing you here, but don't get your hopes up. Aiden doesn't care about anyone but himself. Hell, he even hates me, his own sister, so don't expect much from the dick," She said suddenly while opening the closest.

"We're just friends, actually not even that... so, I don't expect much." I said shrugging and sat down on her bed as she went through her clothes.

She pulled out a few clothes and rolled her eyes. "I really don't have anything that will fit you very well, but we can try."

She laid several articles of clothing on the bed and scanned them all with a face of distaste. She finally picked up a dress with spaghetti straps and shrugged.

"Honestly, this will be the best for you. We'll just put a belt on the waist to cinch it in and make it look not so big. Go try it on," she told me.

My eyes went wide when I took in the spaghetti straps. I mean at the gym it was one thing, no one really ever looked at my clothes or scarred body. But with a room full of new judgey people, they were definitely going to notice and definitely going to stare. I stared widely at the dress as I thought of all the painful memories that were marked across my body. It was frightening to think about everyone seeing all of my secrets.

"Aubry... just try it on." She shoved the dress at me. I began to speak, but she cut me off. "Just go try on the damn dress! I don't have much else for you!" She yelled and pushed me towards the closest, though it wasn't rough just abrupt.

Defeatedly, I sighed and walked into the closet. I took off my clothes and shoved the dress on. I had to admit, the dress was nice and comfortable going down to my knees, so I didn't have to worry about modesty or my scarred up thighs. It was too big, but I wasn't completely drowning in it. I sighed and walked out reluctantly.

I heard Briana gasp, I was sure that it was about my scars. I looked up and she blinked. Instead of saying anything, she just simply put the belt around me. It completed the look nicely and she smiled at me with a nod. "Okay, now for your hair."

I sat down in front of her mirror and let her do her thing with no complaints. I really didn't care what she did to my hair... it didn't really bother me. She simply just took it out of the wet messy bun that I had thrown it in before we left the gym and smoothed out with a wet brush. She then left it down and let it stay in its natural wave. When she was done with my hair, she put some bright red lipstick on my lips and smiled at me.

She had me stand up in front of her full length mirror, and appraised her masterpiece happily. It all looked great... except for the self-inflicted and non-self-inflicted scars that ran up and down over my arms, shoulders and chest. Not to mention, there was still the nasty still-healing cut on my collar bone that was quite exposed. The clothes, hair, and makeup looked nice... I, however, was a complete mess.

She sighed and slid off the leather jacket that she had on and held it out to me. "Here... I'll just put on a sweater. The jacket will look better with your outfit anyways."

I turned to thank her, but stopped in my tracks. What I saw was not what I had expected. There were fresh cuts running up and down her arms angrily. My eyes went wide, but my mouth stayed shut as I put on the jacket. I wasn't sure what to say... what even was there to say?!

We both stayed silent for a few moments and stared at each other. Neither of us dared to say anything to the other. However, soon enough she began to cry hysterically.

"Why? Why me?" She sobbed and I quickly wrapped my arms around her crying frame, despite the pain in my sides and back. "Why did all of this have to happen? Why did I have to live?!" I shushed her as she hugged me back tightly.

I knew exactly the feeling of wondering why I couldn't have just died instead of staying alive. I had no idea of her situation, but I knew that feeling well. I could relate to her so easily.

She sobbed louder and I rubbed her back gently just letting her let it all out. She needed someone to let it all out to. I was glad to be the one there for her because I wouldn't judge her for it. Heck, I felt the same damn way most of the time.

Her sobbing quieted after a few moments and she sighed. "Why does he hate me, Aubry? Why can't he just see that I need him? I didn't mean to let myself be so vulnerable... I-I... I didn't me not to fight, but-but I couldn't."

I had no idea what to say because I had no idea what she was talking about.

"I mean I know that I'm ugly with this disgusting scar on my face... but he can't even look at me!" She began crying hard again. She was hysterical.

I didn't understand... Who hated her? What was she talking about?

"I mean my own brother... isn't family supposed to stick together through thick and thin? He won't stick up for me, he won't talk to me, he wont look at me. When people push me around he just ignores it! Probably even thinks that I deserve it. "But fuck... He knows what I went though! B-but... he just doesn't care."

"He doesn't hate you." I finally found myself saying. "Hey, look at me... you are so beautiful." I told her gently and wiped some tears away for her. "Your scars don't make you ugly, Bri. Your scars show where you've been and what you've overcome."

I smiled and showed her my scarred up wrists when I lifted the jacket arms to my elbows. She touched the healed wounds that I had inflicted on myself a while back. She said nothing as she touched them.

"Aiden doesn't hate you, Bri... I don't know what happened between you two, but he doesn't hate you. I know that he doesn't. He's going through something, so let him go through it, okay? He's hurt and angry and lost... but he loves his family, including you." I hugged her once again.

"You don't need him to stand up for you. It would be nice, and he should... but you don't need him to." I pulled her back to arm length and stared into her eyes. "You are so beautiful, so don't let the assholes get to you, okay? Family will come together in the end... Y'all just have to heal." I said it all quickly, trying to comfort her. Truth is, I had absolutely no idea what she was talking about... The things that I was saying were things that were very true... but I just couldn't get myself to believe them for me. I just hoped that she believed in them. They were the truth.

Finally, after a few more minutes, she stopped crying. "Thank you, Aubry. I was wrong about you. I'm glad that Aiden brought you here."

She walked to the mirror and speedily fixed her makeup and slipped on her sweater.

"You ready?" I asked standing up while holding out my hand for her to take.

"Why didn't you ask?" She asked suddenly when she grasped my hand. "...about any of it?" She added.

I knew what she was talking about, about her scars and the story behind them. I thought for a second before answering, "every scar has a story. Some stories are harder than others and I know that first hand. I figured that if you wanted me to know then you'd tell me the stories... on your own time, without me prying." I shrugged and sighed. "I understand the guilt and shame that you might feel. It might be way off base, but us as humans have some sick mindset that we deserve the bad things in life... But we don't. You don't." I smiled at her sadly. "When you are ready, I will be glad to listen and be there for you. Don't hurt yourself anymore... you've already been through enough. It's time to start processing emotions so you can let go of the past and finally be done with whatever happened. It's easier said than done, I know... But I can help you through it if you want me to."

"Thank you. Aubry, thank you for all of this. I appreciate it more than words can say. I'm happy to see someone who is so strong. It's a good thing for me to look up to. I hope to be able to do that one day."

Finally, we both walked out of the room. I was happy to see that she actually had an expression on her face. I was hoping that it was the end of her numbness, she deserved more than a life of that.

As we walked down the hall, I heard her sigh andtouch the picture of her father. I sucked in a sharp breath at that action...just when I thought I was doing good, I was reminded that I would never begood