It has been 347 days, 23 hours, 46 minutes, and 39 seconds since I last saw him.

I use to believe that everything happens for a reason. And even as time goes on with the season, I still can't find the answer to him leaving. I keep asking myself, what did I do to him to deserve such grief?

However, they say time heals all wounds. But I wasn't ready, not ready at all.

I'm still shattered by Glass.

                               ❇❇❇

10 years prior.

"She could have called herself." I hear the disappointment in my voice.

"You know she's busy this time of the year."

"So are you." I deadpan. I can hear him scratch his beard, searching for the words that will comfort me.

"I know, Robin. She will get passed it. Eventually."

I want to ask when? Or better say, no she won't. It's been 3 years now, and we both know she's holding onto this resentment till the day she dies or the day I will.

He steers the conversation away when I cannot seem to find a way to answer him. "So... Roscoe said he will be waiting for you and lead you around campus."

A smile settles across my lips thinking about my goofy brother. "Yeah, he was so excited that I'm attending the same college as you guys. All because of you, of course. I'm just hoping he doesn't think he needs to watch over me all the time."

A deep belly laugh fills my car. A laugh I'm missing so much. "He will, and you know it. All three of us would have done so if Roan and I would still be there."

I snort at that, knowing he's telling the painful truth. And I'm not lying. My brothers made sure no one would hurt me or even came close to me. Not knowing they hurt me more than they realize carrying our last name.

A name, that is two-sided. One side gives you everything you desire. The other side brings loneliness, trust issues, and being uneasy in any form of company. It's just how the coin has flipped, never landing on the right side, for me at least.

"So, how is Madeline?" My time to steer the conversation around.

"She's doing amazing!" He gushes.

I smile, knowing he's grinning from ear to ear. He's so proud of his girlfriend. She had a hard time moving to Dallas when Rover got drafted, but they made it work.

She holds fundraisers and organizes vacations for children with special needs when parents can't afford it or aren't able to fill in all the needs that are acquired when being blessed with a pure souled child, as she likes to call them.

"She misses you too, Robin. You should come to Dallas when you're free."

"I miss you guys, too," I admit with a sigh.

"I have to go, little one. The coach will be on my neck when I'm late. I'll call you later this week to hear how you settled." A sad weight plunges into my stomach, knowing he'll be too busy to remember it.

"Yeah, you wouldn't want to be late with, coach, he'll make you suffer." I try to laugh it off but I didn't fool my brother. He has always been the one that I had the strongest emotional connection with.

"You'll be alright. You are a Pierce. You can handle anything."

I'm not too sure about that, but I don't want my brother to worry more than he already does."You should hurry, Rover. Don't want to be the reason for your ass being handed on a plate."

It stays silent for a bit. Probably weighing off if he can talk a bit longer, knowing he can't even if he wants to. "Okay... know I love ya."

"I know. I Love ya, too... and Rover?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you. Thank you for paying my tuition and my room."

"Anytime, little one. Anytime."

The connection is cut off and music pours back through the car speakers. Humming with the words I ride the leftover miles until I reach the parking lot in front of my dorm building. Carefully maneuvering my car between two pickup trucks, I park and stare at the huge amount of freshmen scattered across the green lawns. Some of them with family climbing up the stone stairs leading to the double doors of our new homes, carrying boxes and suitcases.

A golden brown mope of hair I would even recognize from outer space shuffles through the mass of bodies and I can't contain myself. Unbuckling myself I scamper out of my car, slamming the door behind me. "Roscoe!"

His eyes find mine and without thinking I take a run for it. He stands there in a college hoodie, opening his arms with a huge grin plastered on his face, waiting for me to reach and crush him with a long-overdue hug. And that is exactly what I do, throwing myself into his arms to hug the shit out of him. He catches me with ease and I'm impressed by how many muscles he has gained this past year, no way I'm crushing him with my jiggling arms.

"Hey, little Assassin! Missed your favorite brother, huh?" He chuckles into my hair, missing the way I cringe at the old nickname, hugging me a bit too tight. But I don't mind being a bit air-deprived, I missed him too much to complain.

"Hey, short stuff!"

"Short stuff?" He lets out, his voice an octave higher, making me cackle. "You did not just call me short stuff! You eenie meenie she-devil!"

"But you are!" Now laughing uncontrollably, receiving the short end, unable to get out of his tickle attack.

Yet, he is the shortest of all my brothers. Compared to my 5"7 he's a giant with his 6"2 even more now he gained muscles. However, Rover is 6"4 and Roan is even taller at 6"5.

He flips me with a swift move into a headlock, rubbing his knuckles over my scalp, ruffling up my hair in the process."Roscoe, please stop." I breathe out painfully.

"Say the magic word, sis, or you will suffer my wrath a bit longer!"

"Never, you dipshit!"

"Okay, you brought this on yourself!" Carving his knuckles a bit more in my now demolished hair and painful scale. I fling my arms, trying to hit him wherever I can, to no avail.

Fucking fairies! Like his ego is not big enough already. "Okay, okay! " I huff." Please free me from your wrath, almighty Megalodon!" He thinks he's the biggest shark on the field. Hence the nickname.

He bursts out in laughter when I right up, and stare him dead in the eye, threading my fingers through my locks that must look like candy floss.

"Not funny," I mutter under my breath, while he's wiping the tears away from laughing. Looking at his happy goofy face I cannot stop the grin that wants to take over. So I let it, but not before stomping him on his upper arm. He deserved that one, treating me like one of the guys.

"Ow! Damn, little assassin! You still throw a wicked punch." Rubbing his arm, with a toothy grin. "Come on, let's get your stuff and get you settled in. I already took the liberty to get the keys to your room."

We struggle up the steps packed with two backpacks and three suitcases. No, let me correct that, I struggle. Pushing ourselves through the double doors, I already feel my arms burn. This dorm better be having an elevator or I might pass out halfway. Following my brother into the lobby I notice Eva behind the front desk. Now I know how he already got the keys for me. She glances up like she can feel our presence, giving me a small wave before diving back into the file lockers.

Eva is Roscoe's ex-girlfriend, to his dismay. I don't get it either, they seemed to be doing great. Dated since high school and went here so they could be together through college. He told me that she wanted to discover more about what life has to offer and that's why they mutually agreed to break up. Yet, I know he's still hung up on her.

My brothers have never been players when it came to the female population. All three of them had been with a few girls before getting serious with their high school sweethearts. Not that the female flocks didn't try! Shame doesn't exist in their dictionaries.

Now, I'm not sure it's still the same with Roscoe. Making our way to the staircase, he's getting a lot of attention. Some called out to him, with those come-hitter eyes. A few touched his arm, asking if he would come by later and one dragged him against her, purring in his ear, come to mama.

By all means, I know my brothers aren't bad-looking at all. But, just, iew! And he must be aware of the fact that they are only interested in being a football wifey, yet he's soaking up all the attention. A side of him I never saw before, wondering if this is a way to make Eva jealous. A very stupid strategy if that's it.

Fingers crossed he puts a wrapper around it. Can you imagine if he makes one of those pregnant? Mom would lose her shit and make him marry the girl, no matter if he loves her or not. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought of it.

He takes a sharp turn to the left and I sigh with relief. An elevator! Thank the heavens, they have an elevator. We all shuffle in together, girls pushing to be as close as possible to my brother, some of them faking losing balance when it starts climbing to the first floor, clutching onto him in the process.

Dear lord! Never heard so many panties drop in my life.

I hear him snicker and realize I must have mumbled it out loud when I get multiple dead glares. I quickly look at my Vans, using my hair like a curtain, shielding me from their gazes. I hate this! I'm constantly putting myself in embarrassing situations.

We finally reach the second floor and I scatter out of this metal box like my ass is on fire. Roscoe gets a few goodbyes in the process.

We walk to the end of the hallway until we can't go further. "This is your door, number 29." He says, giving me the keys to unlock it. My palms begin to sweat. I am not good with first impressions. Actually, pretty bad at it. No matter if it's the first, second, or hundredth time meeting me. I'm a car crash unfolding before your eyes.

I will fuck this up! My roommate will think I'm an imbecile or worse, she won't even see me and only have eyes for my brother... or she...

"Uhm... are you trying to open it through telepathy or what?"

"Oh, you're so funny!" I grid out sarcastically and he has the nerve to laugh! "Roscoe, I swear to the hells below that I'll push you back into that elevator, press the emergency button, and let those horny hyenas eat you alive if you don't stop laughing!"

His whole body begins to shake with a deep belly laugh holding himself up with one hand against the door and the other on his stomach.

Prepared to slap his bicep, I groan, "Stop laughing you dipshit!" Somehow I miss my target, seeing him lose his balance and smack the laminated floor ungraciously, falling with his head between two legs clad in jogging pants.

A girl with a dark-haired bob standing in the doorway smiles down at my brother, "I sure don't mind this position, but you could at least ask me on a date you know." Her smile never falters while he just lays there staring at her like roadkill.

She shifts her gaze, playfully scrunching her brows at me, asking. "Is he okay?"

Embarrassed with the whole thing I shrug my shoulders. This is even worse than I imagined.

She steps over my brother who hasn't moved an inch and engulfs me in a tight hug. "You must be Robin! I'm so excited to meet you." I tap her awkwardly on the back until she lets go to hold both my upper arms smiling warmly at me. "I'm Malia and this is..." Pointing with her thumb over her shoulder.

"That's my... Idiotic brother."

She makes an, aha, face. "I understand your pain. I have one of those as well."

The tension in my body slightly eases. "I have three of those." Pointing my chin at my brother, who managed to get back onto his feet. He's looking rather embarrassed, scratching his jawline were a rosy blush is creeping up from his neck.

Her eyes widen in horror. "Nooo!"

Pressing my lips in a thin line, I nod at her.

"Girl, you deserve a lifetime of free days at the spa. Lord, the stress you must be under!"

A snort escapes me, thinking of the shit storms they have put me through.

A throat is being cleared behind us, compelling us both to look at my uneasy-looking brother. "So... Uhm... do you still need me... or?"

I'm taken aba,ck by his question. He kept pestering me this past week to have dinner with him. So naturally, I assumed that he would help me unpack and stay until dinner time. "No. If you need to be somewhere else then..."

"Great!" Cutting me off he slides between us into the hallway and jogs away.

I'm looking dumbfounded at my brother's back, not understanding what is happening. I mean, I'm the awkward one. He hasn't had trouble talking to, well anyone, ever. "Roscoe!" I yell at his smaller getting frame, "Are we still on for dinner?"

"Yep, I'll pick you up at seven!" He yells, without looking back, sliding into the elevator just before the doors close.

"That was... interesting." Malia laughs. "Come, let's get your luggage inside."

She picks up the backpack that lies in the middle of the doorway and steers one of the suitcases into the living room, while I take the other two.

It's a nice living room with light colors on the walls. There is enough seating with the two dark grey sofas and a loveseat. A huge flatscreen is hung on the wall, ready for a night of watching movies. The coffee table is placed faultlessly, between the sofas and the flatscreen, inviting you to lean your feet on it. The kitchen is connected to the living room and a round dining table is between the two areas. It's a small kitchen, but as far as I can see has everything you need.

"Pretty nice, right?"

Smiling, I nod, following her to the bedrooms.

"Your room looks so good, by the way. You have some good taste, hun!" She says, looking back over her shoulder.

She walks past two doors opposite each other. I'm assuming one of those is her room and the other the bathroom.

"How did you even come up with the idea of painting your door like that?"

I take a peek over her shoulder, having no idea what she's talking about, seeing the diamond pattern in the lightest blue and the softest yellow you can imagine decorating my door.

I'm thankful that she didn't wait for an answer because it wasn't me painting that door she was barging through, walking right to the boxspring, and plopping on it like a starfish as it was hers.

I'm lingering in the doorway, gobsmacked. She wasn't kidding when she said my room looked nice. However, I can't take any credit for the way my room looks. It's all Rovers doing. Probably Madeline's seeing how nice it is.

My brother is a real caveman. He would rather have a pool table than a dining table in the kitchen. Thank goodness he has Madeline, or it would be one big playground for football players, that house.

"You're a bit of an introvert, aren't you?"

"Huh?" I bring out startled.

Malia shows a soft smile, sitting straight up on the edge of the mattress. "Don't worry. You'll lose up after a day or two with me."

A nervous laugh comes tumbling over my lips. I'm pretty sure it will take a hella lot more than that.

I always have been a bit socially awkward, even in kindergarten. All the kids seem to connect with one glance, while I just sat there looking at them racking my brain out why I failed to make even one friend. It got better over time. It became apparent that I needed to acclimate, and after, I made a couple of friends in the years that followed.

Unfortunately, it all started over when I had to go to high school. I did make a friend quite easily at the beginning. She was like me, a bit socially awkward, and the one and only person I confided in, exposing my worries and secrets to her. But when puberty hit her around the head, she grew an unhealthy interest in my brothers. She was obsessed and it drove a wedge in our bond to no repair.

The popularity of my brothers also increased significantly that year and so did the motives of girls when they wanted to befriend me. Hence the reason for their overprotection. I spend a lot of time alone from that moment on. I didn't mind, because I always had to be wary of the intentions of men or women. So I rather was on my own, resulting in no development in socializing, Yet, I wasn't feeling alone. I had my brothers and my parents there to support me and my mom was always home whenever I needed to vent. Until...

Malia clears her throat, making me look at her. A small frown is etched on her face. "You kinda zoned out on me there."

I let out a nervous fake laugh, sounding like a dying cat, and realized I'm still standing in my doorway like an imbecile, yet I don't know what else to do. Why am I so uneasy?

Malia pushes herself up from the mattress and snickers, "We have some work cut out for us."

"We?"

"Uhu." She nods, picking up a suitcase to open it and pouring the content out on my boxspring. "Yes, Neela and I." picking up another one, repeating her actions,  making me want to yell at her to stop, yet I don't.

"Neela?"

"Girl! You are so freaking awkward that it's dang cute," She says, gently tugging me on my wrist toward the piles of clothing on the mattress that were neatly folded in my suitcases.  Hence the note, were.

"But don't worry, we will take you under our wings and set you free, little grasshopper. Like the mama bears we are!" She beams, patting me on the head like I'm her kid sister, making me laugh at her silliness.

The rest of the afternoon went by in a flash. She helped me refold my clothes, putting them away from light to dark. Apparently, the only right way when it comes to organizing your closet. And if I have to believe Malia, not the only thing she's particular about. It kinda made me feel better about myself.

She left an hour ago with Neela, who is super fun. She had me cracking up within a minute after meeting each other.  They tried to bribe me into canceling on my brother and having dinner with them. I have to admit that I was tempted, feeling oddly comfortable in their presence. That was until Neela mentioned, The guys.  To be more specific, Malia's brother and his teammates. An absolute, no, no.

There is not a single cell in my brain that wants to go down that road.  Not yet, at least. I know it is inevitable. You don't have to be a smart puppy to put one and one together to know Malia's brother will know my brother.

My mirror fogs with a deep sigh my lungs couldn't hold in. "It will be okay, just dinner with your ol' goofy brother."  Positioning my red snapback over my head I do one last look over before grabbing my Vans on my way out, hearing a knock on our dorm door.

Opening the door, he beams down at me." Hey sis, you ready to have the best burgers in town?" 

I roll my eyes at him, slipping into my Vans. "Certain that they can't beat mine!"

"God," He moans, " I did miss those tasty meat babies of yours!"

"Iew, Roscoe!  You make it sound like I go hunting for baby meat!”

He shrugs, looking past me into the living room. "Not my fault that you're grilling the juiciest cheeks on the whole damn planet. ”

"Lord! I'm getting nauseous. Let's just go, you dipshit." Pushing him in the direction of the elevator. 

We walked to the diner, having simple conversations like we used to have when we all lived in our childhood home, crashing every night into another bedroom to watch movies, snuggled up between my brothers.

I miss those old days.

Roscoe holds the door open for me and I'm hit by mouth-watering aromas. He raises his eyebrows, smirking at me, "Told you," 

I pull a face and impersonate him in a know-it-al voice. "Told you."

He pulls a face of his own, groaning, "Smarty pants.” moving me by my shoulders toward one of the boots.

"Yet, you love me." I sing.

He chuckles and pulls me into a hug from behind, placing his chin on the crown of my head. "I missed you, sis. But I'm also starving, and getting hangry. so I suggest you... "

”Aey, Pierce! You ditching us for some chick!"

I feel him tighten his arms around me, muttering a few profanities above my head.

"Robin?"

My body froze hearing Malia's voice call out to me. This can't be happening!  What are the odds of us bumping into each other on day one?

Well you lucky ducky, one hundred percent!

My feet try to stay rooted to the spot, when Roscoe guides me, still safely in his arms, toward the voices, causing me to slightly stumble over my own feet.

A deep breath fills my lungs, shifting my gaze from the checkered floor towards the booth filled with my newfound friends...  and four, unmistakable, jocks.

Let the shitshow start...