" Not even a goodmorning or goodbye, you're just going to leave?" He asks, speaking up and breaking the tense silence that had taken over.

" Morning." I mumble, not meeting his eyes.

" Chloe, I'd like for you to look at me when we are talking."

No, that's one thing I can't do at the moment. I'm embarassed about everything right now.

He sighs when I don't look at him.

" Chloe." He steps forward and that's when my head snaps to him.

Before either one of us can say anything, we hear footsteps come downstairs.

" I have to go." I say, quickly getting out of the house before both of them say anything.

I sigh and head down the porch steps, to meet Wesley, who stands leaned by his car.

" Morning." I say, heading over to get into the passenger seat.

" Morning." He calls over his shoulder.

When we both get into the car, he hands me a takeaway packet, before driving us out of there.

" What's this?"

" You slept without getting anything in your stomach last night. You need something now." He says, stealing a glance my way.

I look at him for a few minutes and right then, a small smile takes over my face.

" Thank you." I mumble.

" What? You're not going to punch me or anything?!" He gasps dramatically.

" Shut up!" I hit his arm, earning a snicker from him.

I lean forward and kiss his cheek, making his head to snap to me.

" The road." I warn him lightly to focus on the road, my smile not wavering at all.

" You know, a kiss would do." He says, pouting and making me laugh.

" Keep on dreaming Adams." I say, starting to eat.

" Thank you Wesley." I say after a while, earning me another smile from him, as he continues on driving us to school.

When we get to school, this time and thankfully, he parks quite further away from the entrance to the school building, we remain in the car for some time, since we made it quite early. We spend time there, just having light conversation and listening to some music.

I find myself laughing without thought, and it putting me into a light mood, in which the same light might carries me throughout the day until after school.

With the occassional nosy people glancing at Wesley and I, out of never ending curiousity, boring - to okay teachers, a nice and quiet break with Wesley, to a rather quick last lesson, I'd say school doesn't turn out so bad.

Making my way back to class, due to me forgetting one of my books, I immediately stop in my tracks when I almost walk into the middle of a conversation. A conversation between two basketball players and no doubt, my interests spark when I hear Fin in the sentence.

Now, I'm not one to eavesdrop on anyone, but I can't help but overhear with their careless loud voices. I can't exactly see them, but I can hear them, with the door being slightly opened.

" I'm telling you man, it's not going to work." One guy says, sounding uncertain.

" It is, it is, if we play things right. All we need to do is make sure that Coach pays more attention on Fin. I mean he's already making it easier for himself to get kicked off the team. He isn't in it anymore, and couldn't careless if we lost or won."

" Don't you think that's a bit extreme, trying to get him off the team?" The first guy says.

" Look, Fin is a cool guy and all, but basketball isn't his thing anymore, not since Adams left the team. " The second guy says.

" Yeah, I guess it would take a miracle to get Wesley back on the team, I mean he's pretty much lost it. He's just so --------- " I push the door open before they can even say anymore.

One of the guys stares wide eyed at me, while the other pretends to be busy on his phone. Ignoring him, I walk in and head straight to my desk, to take my book.

" Hey." One of the guys says, blocking my way.

I raise  my brow and stare at him.

" You're that girl who's been hanging out with Wesley Adams, aren't you?" I recognise his voice to be the first guy who spoke.

I don't say anything but only stare at him.

" So are you like dating or what, because you always hang out together." The second guy says, standing next to his friend.

" You know, I could ask you two, the same question." I say, directing the question to them with my arms crossed.

One, looks at me in question while the other widens his eyes at me.

" I mean you two are in here, alone, and looked a little too close for comfort. I'm not judging or anything. " I say, walking past them with one hand raised in surrender.

" Hey!"

" What the Fu ----------"

" Oh, don't worry about me, I won't say anything. " I walk out and close the door on them, before they can say anything.

An amused smile makes its way onto my face as I head for the exit, only to bump into Fin on the way.

" And what could be making you smile so much?" He asks.

" Oh nothing." I shrug my shoulders, walking alongside him. " So how's basketball?" I ask.

" It's okay, I guess." It's his turn now to shrug.

Glancing at him, I see that his face doesn't match his words.

" You just don't enjoy it anymore." His head snaps to me, his eyes widening a bit.

" N-no, it's not that. It's just not the same anymore."

" Without Wesley, right?" He sighs, nodding his head.

" We were a team you know, I had my best bud with me and everything was so much fun." He says, seemingly getting lost in thought. " Now it's not the same anymore.

" Would it make a difference if you played together again?"

This time he frowns. " I doubt he would want to." He says, looking ahead.

I follow his line of view and what I see makes me quite uncomfortable to watch. Wesley is seated on the hood of his car, with him busy on his phone and he has no hoodie on. The fact that he is so oblivious to the certain onwatchers close by, aka girls, who are busy giggling and gossiping, no doubt about him, makes him look vulnerable to me.

When he has his hoodie on, there's less glances his way, but without the hoodie, they decide to take notice now. That surely doesn't sit well with me. That's why I excuse myself from Fin and head on over to Wesley, who only glances up when I'm almost near him.

His eyes lit up when he sees me and it makes me to stop in my tracks, he jumps off his car and comes over to me. Feeling the urge to glance over my shoulder, I do, only to see those girls gone.

I mentally frown at myself when my body relaxes at that fact.

" Hello, Chloe." I turn to face him. " Where you at?" He teases, waving his hand infront of my face.

" Didn't you say you didn't like attention?" I find myself asking.

" Huh?" He gives me a confused look.

" Why did you take your hoodie off now, when you could do later? I mean, do you really want to give them a reason to give you attention?" I ask.

" Who's them and why would I care about them?" He asks, totally not understanding me.

" Oh don't act so oblivious, you know that you are never short off fan girls and -------"

" I never noticed any girls." He says, with his face changing to a more carefree and teasing one. " Apart from you."

I roll my eyes and start to walk off. " Hey, hey, wait- are you jealous of those girls who were just standing here?" I spin around to face him.

" So you saw them but acted like you didn't, really Wesley?" I ask annoyed.

" Well, you weren't being specific, so I assumed........" He trails off, trying to suppress a grin yet failing miserably.

" Make fun of me now Wesley, when I am just looking out for you. You'll regret it later, I'm going home." I suddenly say, walking off with intention of walking home today.

" Wait, wait." He says in between laughs, turning me around by arm. " Why are you leaving?" He asks.

" You're annoying, that's why." I try to shrug him off as I avoid his eyes, feeling both annoyed and ridiculous, to face him.

" But what did I do?" I turn to him.

He is having a field day out of this. He is enjoying himself while I worry about him.

" You're just annoying, calling me jealous when I worry about you."

" You heard that part too?" He says, raising his brow in a teasing manner.

" Argh, Wesley, stop!" I start to hit him on his chest and this causes him to run, trying to get away from my hits.

I throw my bag down on the ground and start chasing him around the car, wanting to get at him, while he's busy getting away and laughing his head off.

Within reach, because I believe he's not running on full speed on purpose, making it easier for me to catch him, he suddenly turns around and captures me in his arms.

I yelp in surprise and try to wiggle out of his hold, only for him to catch me in surprise with his tickles, that I end up bursting out in laughter.

" O-okkkay, I forfeit!" I say in between laughs.

I sigh in relief when he stops and relax with his arms, securing me in place against him. Before either one of us can say anything, a loud single cough gains our attention where Fin stands just a few feet from us.

" Having fun without me?" He raises his brows at us, his arms crossed.

My eyes widen abit when I realise what the position Wesley and I are in, might look like. I think Wesley does too, because we let go off each other at the same time.

" Ooh someone's got a crush on you Adams." I tease them, heading on to pick up my bag from the ground.

" Ofcourse I do, I mean he is Wesley Adams, whooo-hoo!" Fin says, with a high pitched voice, trying to mimick a girl's voice.

I laugh at that, getting in the car.

" Fin Daniels, oh my gosh, will you go out with me!" Wesley responds with his own girly voice.

" Get a room you two!" Someone calls out, making Wesley to rush inside the car, looking a little pale.

That someone is none other than the basketball team coach.

" I'll see you man!" Fin says, jogging over to coach while we drive out of there.

The whole time I watch Welsey with an amused look on my face.

" You wanna go out with him, huh?"

" Don't you start."  I laugh a little, shaking my head and placing my feet on the dashboard.

He switches on some music and we spend the remainder of the trip, lip syncing and enjoying each other's company.

                        *****

Making it to my house, I turn down the volume and face him.

" Hey Wesley, I was thinking ---------- "

" About?"

" Fin."

" What about Fin?" He asks with a frown.

This encourages me to carry on.

" I don't think - he seems to have a little problem in basketball."

" What problem?"

" It's like he's lost that love for it I guess, and now he isn't in it a hundred percent. And you know, the team needs a focused captain and all, but now...." I trail off.

He doesn't say anything for a while.

" I think it would help if you helped him out a bit. " I try, making his eyes to snap up to me.

" W-what?"

" You wont go join the team or anything, you can help in private....you know, to get him back in the groove or back in the game, something like that."

He opens and closes his mouth before sighing and taking in my words. " I haven't played in a long time and I just - I dont know."

" It's your decision. I won't force you, I'm just saying think about it." I give his hand a squeeze before taking my bag and getting out of the car.

I wave goodbye to him, while he backs out of the premesis. He waves back and drives off, leaving me to face my home.

I take a deep breath and head on in, intending on taking an afternoon nap.

Call me lazy, I don't care.

" Chloe." So much for taking a nap.

I stop on my way up the stairs, turning around to face Aiden, who is wearing baking gloves.

" Could we please talk baby sister?" My heart melts at his sweet name for me.

I sigh and place my bag down, heading over to the kitchen, where he follows me.

I take a seat on one of the stools, facing him as he stands on the other side.

We remain in silence for a few moments, before he sighs and speaks up. " We need to talk."

" You already said that." I remind him.

" I know, it's just that - I don't know where to start."

" Is he gone?" I ask.

" You can't even say his name now?" He raises his brow.

" Aiden, don't." I sigh.

" I'm not -  I'm just.....Why are we not understanding each other, this has never happened." He says in frustration. " I don't like this tension, especially the fight we had and those marks -----------"

" It's nothing and it will never happen again, so you don't have to worry about it."

" but why did you do it, that's my question." I drop my eyes to my lap, feeling exposed right now.

" Is it because of our fight?...Is it because of me?" My head snaps up to him.

" No it's not you, it could never be you." I shake my head vigourously.

" Then what is it?..." He comes around over to my side, standing before me. " Tell me please."

" I don't know why I did it honestly, after our fight, I felt numb and without thinking, I just started cutting myself. Maybe I wanted to feel something, anything...." I trail off, disappearing in thought.

" This is my fault."

" Aiden, don't do this...."

" I should have shown more support, defended you better. Maybe then -"

" Blaming yourself is not worth it. I wasn't fair to you too, I was mean to you and kept on pushing and pushing until---------" My words are cut off by him pulling me off the stool and wrapping his arms around me.

" I regret what I said to you. It made me angry with myself for even uttering those words to you. You're my baby sister and I shouldn't be the one reminding you of the past, when we've been doing so well with looking into the future."

" It's okay."

" I'm sorry, I'm sorry, forgive me."

" I'm sorry too."

" I said it first." I chuckle at that.

Stepping back to face him, I offer a smile to him, even though it is a small one.

" So what were you busy doing?" I ask, looking him over.

" Ingrid made me these delicious cookies one time and I thought why not try making them now." He says with a shrug.

" Hmm?" I nod. " Oh, let me leave you to it then." I walk away.

" Hey, could you keep me company for a while? I just want us to talk for abit, we haven't done that in some time."

" I get half of the cookies, if they are as good as they smell." I say, turning back around and grabbing an apron.

" You'll be so surprised. "

" Someone's confident." I comment.

He flexes his muscles, making me to chuckle at him.

" Can I just say something?"

I look at him.

" Regarding Owen, just - talk to him once. It'll mean a lot to him, trust me on this."

I don't respond, instead, biting at my lip.

" Here ------------"

" You might not be aware of this, but you mean so much to him. You are the most important person to him, and to have you not talk to him(he shakes his head), it hurts him deeply. He might not say much,  but his eyes and actions speak for him."

I take in his words and let them soak my heart in deep emotions. I feel bad, really bad on how we left things.

" He's gone now and I might not get the chance soon." I say.

" When you need him, he'll always be near. This, he has never failed to do."

                  *********

Later at night, I find myself asleep yet being aware of another presence in the room. Due to this, it wakes me up.

" It's just me, " he says.

I sit up right, leaning over to switch on the bed side lamp.

" How long were you here for?" I ask through a yawn, covering it with my mouth.

" Long enough to see that you still crinkle your nose when asleep. "

I chuckle at that.

" I thought you had already left." I say.

" And how do you expect me to do that, with you upset with me, hmm?" My eyes drop to my lap.

" I don't have the right to be. You did nothing wrong, I was in the wrong."

" No, no." He quickly shifts closer and tilts my head up. " You are not in the wrong about what happened to you, he shouldn't have......... " He breathes in and out, not being able to finish the sentence.

" But I was mean to you and Aiden, and that was unfair on my part. I'm sorry, I'm so, so, so sorry, please forgive me." A tear slips out.

" Come here you silly girl." He opens his arms and I waste  no time in throwing myself in them.

" I'm sorry." I repeat, burying my face in his shoulder.

" No, don't cry. It's okay." I tighten my hold on him, realising that I needed this comfort.

He starts rocking us side to side softly, letting his fingers run through my hair.

" Come on, it's late." He releases me.

I take a breath and stare at him.

" You should have stayed away and gave me a much harder time, for being such a bi --------"

" Chloe." He warns me.

" Sorry." I mumble, tucking my hair behind my ear.

" You don't realise it, do you, that I hate every minute that I have to leave, but it's for your safety."

" I know." I mumble, laying back down on my side and pulling the covers until they reach my neck.

He sighs. " I have to leave soon. "

" I already know that, I'm used to it, remember?" I tease him.

Not hearing a response from him makes me to glance at him, to see him staring at the wall.

" Owen?" He turns to me. " I'm joking." He gives me a small smile, patting my leg.

" I should let you sleep, but before that, I want you to know one thing, that I never want you to forget."

" What?" I ask, sleepily.

" I've always told you of how important you are to me, but I dont think you fully understand. To me, you are more than important, you are my life."

●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●

Owen has just become more expressive.

Glad she made up with her brother too.

Tell me your thoughts on the chapter.