15.

When I woke up, I couldn't really remember my problems, or how I got to bed. I was just calm, serene, a blank slate. For a few good minutes. Until all the events from yesterday came crashing down like a wave. I pulled myself up and wrapped my arms around my legs. I wandered around the empty house, the warmth from earlier gone. As are the people who made this place home.

A few notes were stuck to the refrigerator. The refrigerator is littered with pictures of my family.

One of my dog, Peanut. He had been a brown fluffy thing who had been obsessed with peanut butter. My mum and I were strikingly similar, especially in pictures. We both had light hazel eyes and dark hair.

I had gotten my fathers a darker skin tone. Where hers could only be described as sun-kissed. Archer also looked similar to us, but he had gotten my mum's skin tone. I had just gotten slightly taller than my mum.

And I wasn't a twig, like my father. I was slightly chubbier, but not overweight. I had noticeable curves. As well as padding for my abs, and a slightly rounded face. However, I didn't need to be a stick to be pretty. I inspected the notes. There was one from each of my family members.

From mum; Had to catch an early shift, love you.

From my brother; I had to meet up with someone, sorry about not being able to give you a ride to school.

And from my father; Take some cookies to school, I'll see you when I get home.

I was screwed, having no way to get to school. I didn't live close enough to walk, at least not without being late. I decide to skip breakfast and check my phone.

I really don't want to be late... I scroll through my contacts. Before the argument with Riley, she would've been the obvious answer. However, post-Riley wasn't the case. However, there was a different possibility. I call ninja hater.

"Hey, can you give me a ride to school?"

- I would rather not be pummeled by Archer

"He isn't home, I really don't want to be late."

- Fine. I'll be there in 15 minutes.

"Don't you need to know where-"

The line goes dead.

I realize my mistake. Of course, he doesn't need to know where I live, he's walked me home before.

Sighing, I scroll through Instagram as I wait.

- - - - - - - - - -

I hear a knock on my door, and pick myself up. Quickly doing all the things I should've while I was waiting. I pack myself six cookies and throw my binder into my bag.

Slinging it over my shoulder, I run out, throwing the door open. Which happened to hit Tyler in the face.

"Ow, ouch." He mutters, cupping his now bleeding nose. His face is slightly red, and I panic.

"I am so sorry, let me go get you a tissue or something." I apologize. I walk inside and grab something to stop the bleeding. A napkin, maybe.

When I walk out, a girl who is strikingly similar to Tyler is lecturing him.

"You need this blood, ya know. Every drop is important-" She trails off when she sees me. Her expression souring slightly, but not before I sense a hint of curiosity.

Her hair is jet black and falls in ringlets to her shoulders. She has a piercing in her eyebrow. Her face is delicate, and her skin is very pale. If I didn't know better, I would think her skin had never seen the sunlight. Her eyes, like Tyler's, are bright green. Although hers have a hint of grey in the mix. She looks very intelligent.

I think I've seen her in the halls. Like how I'd see Tyler, just two ships in the sea, never sparing a second glance.

"Morgan, My sister. Emmaline, Megan." He introduces us. It makes me sad that he won't call me by my name. I had given up on correcting him.

I awkwardly hold out the napkin to Tyler, and he wipes his hand off and presses it to his nose. We walk over to a dark green truck. It is really tall.

I raise my eyebrow at him, and he flushes. Mistaking what I am asking. Which is why he has a freaking monster truck.

"I haven't been able to buy myself a new car yet. I still have my mom's." I nod, in understanding. However I wonder, why hasn't he gotten a car with all his drug money? I shift my gaze over when Emmaline begins to speak.

"So this is the infamous Melody. Honestly, when I first heard your name, I thought it was stupid. It fits you. " She says, bluntly. Scoffing slightly at my name. Reminding me of Tyler's reaction. I flinch, and she seems to realize she hasn't been very nice in her wording.

"Oh, I am so sorry. I said that horribly." She says, looking mortified. Tyler glares at her and sends me an apologetic half smile.

"I know, my name is a little bit weird. I was named after my mum's maiden name, which was Singer. She took my fathers name when they got married, but had missed her own. And so the curse of my ridiculous name began. Anyways, I prefer Mellie."

"Sure." Turning to look at her brother, she continues. "So, what is she to you? A friend, or a girlfriend." She says while wiggling her eyes suggestively. Tyler turns and looks at me helplessly, and I cut in. Holding back a laugh, she is starting to grow on me, I tell her the truth.

"I'm a classmate," I say with a shrug. We aren't really friends, yet. And we most certainly aren't dating. Well, we are to the rest of the school.

"Right." She says sounding disbelieving. "We've never given a classmate a ride before, or gotten up before 7:30, which by the way it is. And you expect me to believe you're just a classmate."

 I shrug and then nod. I haven't decided if I like her or not. She is acting all tough, but I can tell from the way she winces when I nod that something is going on. And that she isn't as invulnerable as she is trying to appear.

"Here, while we wait for my brother to heal his wound, let's take a walk." She hooks her arm through mine, and we walk away. I think I saw Tyler, pouting...

Once we were out a little way, she released my elbow and put her hands on her hips. Her face was stuck in a glare. She was very short. That only made her slightly less intimidating.

"Look, as much as my brother might not seem like it, he's a lover, not a fighter. You guys may only be classmates. But I somehow doubt that is all that is going on. I know about the plan, and these are the type of things you do, and make life long friends. Especially when you're 'fake' dating. So, what I'm trying to say is: you hurt my brother, I hurt you. I don't mean to sound crazy or anything, but he has been and is going through a lot. However, as of this moment, I think I'll like you. Maybe a few more interviews, but we can be friends."

"What do you mean he is going through a lot? I wouldn't ever hurt him." I needed people I could trust. And Tyler was one of them. Although, I was interested in becoming friends with the little spitfire that is his sister. She acted like Riley, and it made my heart ache. Riley would love her, as long as she didn't know about the Tyler part.

"Well for starters, a little before you guys started your plan, he broke up with his girlfriend." She says, sounding sad. My heart stops.

"Was her name, possibly, Evangeline?" I ask. Her face seems to darken.

"You know her? Well, they broke up.  And she moved on right away. It appears he might've too." She says.  I wonder if he likes someone.  But that isn't what is bothering me at the moment.

"I've heard of her," I say hollowly.

My heart drops, disbelief filling me. If my brother was dating Evangeline, then the dates match up. If Tyler had broken up with her. I would ask him about it, sometime soon. Why he isn't in school, and who this 'Eve' girl is. Why did Evangeline have to exist? She seemed to have corrupted my life. And I wonder why Tyler had been meeting up with her.

"Let's head back to the truck, I don't want to be late," I ask. Desperate to get away from whatever was going on.

We started walking back to the truck. Tyler waved when we came around the corner. 

"Can you do me a favor? Don't tell Tyler, okay? He won't like the fact that I'm telling you about his ex. " I want to stay on her good side. And I don't want to talk to him about his ex. Why would I, I'm just a classmate to him.

"I won't," I say, and she finally smiles at me, her face lighting up. I think I might've found a new friend. 

- - - - - - - - - - 

A/N ~ Roughly edited ~

Question; What do you think of Tyler's little sister?

Until Friday,

~ Skye