India was afraid to let go of Jesse.

Maybe it was because she was happy to see him or because she was about to meet his older brother. From what Jesse had told India about Justin before, he doesn't know how to use his words as well as his fists. But Jesse was sure that he had changed in the past two years; India wasn't certain.

"He'll love you babe," Jesse murmured in her hair, reaching out to grab the knob of the front door. "You don't have to worry."

"I know," she whispered, even though she wasn't. Justin meant a lot to Jesse and if he didn't like her than it could put a huge strain on her relationship.

Jesse pushed open the door, revealing to India a red brick wall across from her. On the wall were guitars and a couple framed posters. In the corner, before two bay windows was a drum set. Every instrument she laid eyes on seemed to be polished and gleamed to perfection. Clearly they had a devoted owner, but the apartment in general . . . not so much.

India stepped in and right away she saw the coffee table littered with beer and soda cans. There was a plate of half eaten pizza rotting away on the wood. Laid across the back of the couches were men's clothes, mostly underwear and socks. And they did not look clean.

India looked away in disgust.

This was where she was supposed to stay for the next two weeks until school started?

Jesse's hand around hers tightened. "India, meet Bud, he owns this place."

India stretched her hand out to Bud. He seemed like a nice guy from his smile alone. On his t-shirt was some band name which made India assume that all the guitars and the drums were his.

"Hello," he said cheerily.

If he knew that India was going to be crashing in his apartment for the next two weeks than he didn't seem upset about it. Or he just didn't know.

"And that pussy . . . cat over there in the corner is my brother." India didn't follow Jesse's line of sight. Instead she kept her eyes on him, noticing the gleam in his eyes and the bright grin plastered on his face.

Only when Justin's deep voice echo through the small apartment with, "Hey," did she turn around to see him. When she did she was shocked. Of course she thought that Jesse and his brother would share some similarities since they were brothers after all but they only shared one parent. Yet, they looked strikingly similar. They're face structure was almost completely the same and they were the same height from what India could tell. They're hair was the only different thing about them, Justin's being a much darker blonde than Jesse's.

Justin looked to be a couple years older than Jesse though, given his sunken in eyes. India wondered how much older Justin actually was from Jesse.

India squirmed when she realized that Justin was assessing her just as much as she was assessing him. She didn't like the way his eyes looked at every curve of her body. Jesse clearly didn't either because he wrapped an arm around India's waist and pulled her to his side.

"Justin," Jesse growled at his older brother who seemed to have no care for what he thought.

"Is there a problem," Bud asked wary, eyes darting between the two brothers.

"No," Justin said, no trace of amusement in his eyes. "Just seeing what has my brother keeping secrets from me."

India looked between Jesse and Justin confused, not knowing where the tension was coming from. She had a strong feeling it revolved around her though.

Jesse sighed, running his fingers through his hair, exasperated. "It never came up."

Justin pulled a cigarette from his coat pocket, twirling it between his fingers. "I just never assumed that you be dating someone from that hell hole, let alone anyone."

"What is that supposed to mean," Jesse asked on the defensive. He instantly noticed when India began to pull away from him, a sad look upon her face. He reached out for her, grabbing her hand before she could get too far away.

"I'm your brother Jesse," Justin growled. "We tell each other these things."

Jesse turned back to his brother, taking his attention off India. "I didn't think it mattered."

India quickly yanked her hand from Jesse's grasp. His head swiveled towards her, surprised by the obvious action.

"I didn't know I didn't matter," she whispered, feeling tears pool behind her eyes.

Jesse's eyes widened as saucers. "No, baby, that's not what I meant." He took a step towards her, cupping her face in his hands. She didn't have the power to pull away. "You're the only thing that matters."

Justin made a yacking sound, ruining the moment between the two teenagers. Jesse looked over to glare at his brother while India hid behind his shoulder. So far she didn't like Justin and she had a feeling that the feeling was mutual.

"I'm going to go smoke," Justin grumbled. "Come with me Jess."

Without hesitation Jesse said, "I'm staying with India."

Justin paused in his path to the door, glaring holes into Jesse. Silence ensured before he finally said, "Are you sure?"

"Of course I am," Jesse said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world. For him it was.

Justin shot one last glare at India over Jesse's shoulder at India before storming out of the apartment, slamming the door behind him.

"Wow," Bud exhaled. "I've never seen your brother like that and I've known him for almost a year."

"Are you serious," Jesse asked Bud shocked. "That's exactly how I remembered him. Hell, he was actually a lot worse back when. I thought he was going to attack me like he used to. Storming out of the room is actually a huge improvement for him."

Bud shared a skeptical look with India. "Well I don't think it's an improvement on whom he has been for the past year." Bud saluted India, turning down the hallway. "Make yourself at home guys. The kitchen is small so you shouldn't have a problem with finding stuff if you want to cook anything. Remote is easy to work and we have Netflix. Just don't do Netflix and chill because I'm going to be in my bedroom down the hall and the walls are thin in this place."

"Netflix and chill," she asked confused, not knowing what that meant at all.

Bud looked at her stunned. "I'm not going to even honor that with a response. Peace out." He turned his back on them and disappeared down the hallway.

Jesse turned towards India, lying his hands on her hips. "Good thing you didn't tell him that you don't even know what Netflix is. I think he would have kicked us out if you did."

India looked at him even more confused now. "What is Netflix? I hear people talking about it all the time. Is it a band?"

Jesse laughed and shook his head. "No, babe. It's not a band. Here," he said, pulling her towards the couches. "I'll show you what it is."

Disgusted, India flicked the underwear and socks off the couch with her foot. Jesse looked between the fallen clothes and his girlfriend. Sheepishly, he looked at her. "I'm sorry babe. They didn't really bother to clean it for me."

"Or me? They know I'm staying here right?"

Jesse nodded his head and pulled her down on the seat next to him. She curled up beside him, welcoming the warmth and safety he offered her. While Jesse tried to work the TV India asked, "Why didn't you tell your brother about me?"

She hated the feeling that settled in her stomach when she found out. She didn't think it was a big deal until she realized that Jesse hadn't bothered to tell his brother a few measly words about her.

Jesse sighed, grabbing her hand in comfort. "Because Justin and I haven't seen each other in two years. When I got here I wanted to spend time with him, catch up on brotherly stuff I guess. That doesn't involve telling him all about you, including how much of a dick I was to you."

India pulled away from him, feeling her heart sting uncomfortably. "I'm ruining your plans aren't I? That's why he hates me?"

"No," he nearly shouted, reaching out and grabbing her hand so she wouldn't scoot away from him. "He doesn't hate you. He just . . . needs some time warming up to you. He's a very closed off person."

"He moved in with someone he met off of Craigslist. Closed off people don't do that Jesse."

Jesse winced. "Okay, so maybe he has some ill feelings towards you. But you shouldn't take it seriously. They won't last long, I promise."

India sank back into his side, running circles on his thigh with her finger. "I just want to sleep. I'm exhausted."

"I can show you my bed. Netflix can wait until later."

India nodded her head. Right now, after everything that happened with her father and the long flight, she just wanted to lay next to Jesse in a nice warm bed and sleep. Maybe when she woke up next to him everything would be better.

Jesse wrapped his arms around her and lifted her up, making her squeal in delight.

"You don't have to carry me Jesse."

"You're my baby, of course I do."

India smiled into the crook of his neck, planting a kiss on his warm skin.

So maybe she hated her father now and Justin didn't like her. And maybe she was now living in New York City with only one bag of clothes but it didn't matter at all if Jesse was beside her.

Jesse set her down on her feet after taking a couple steps. She opened her eyes and looked in front of her confused. "Why are we standing in front of the front door?"

Jesse chuckled and took a step to the right. She looked over towards him and saw a ladder planted against the wall. It lead up to a ledge that was above the front door. From where she was standing right below it she could see a pillow and a hint of a blanket hanging off of it.

"Jesse . . ."

"I know. I was surprised too. I thought I would be sleeping on a lumpy old couch," he said excited, eyes lightening up. India looked at him as if he were insane. He actually looked happy to have his room be a six foot by four foot space.

India . . . not so much.