Me and Jeriard jumped apart, startled from the unnecessary comment. We attentively watched Jeriard's sister casually cat-walk walk her way into the kitchen, grab an apple and take a small bite, leaving a perfect circle in the apple. Jeriard turned his attention back toward the bacon that sizzled in the pan on the stove. I sat in the rotatable stool, and waited for what came next.

"What's your name, girl?" Jeriard's sister asked a bit rough.

"Roselina," me and Jeriard blurted out simultaneously. She glared at Jeriard, making him clear his throat.

"I believe she can speak for herself, so hush up," she said harshly. She faced me once again taking a small bite of her apple. "Roselina is sorta weird, should've been Rosalina, instead," she mumbled under her breath. She cleared her throat before continuing, "Well, Roselina, why'd you come here, to a random stranger's house?"

"I ran away... Jeriard was a nice fellow and let me stay for the night," I explained, shifting on the stool uncomfortably.

She gave Jeriard a look of disbelief. This made me a little dizzy from confusion.

"You told her your actual name?! But you hate your first name!" she exclaimed.

"I did not! She somehow guessed it!" he defended, throwing his arms in the air in exasperation. 

"Your name's Sarafina, am I right?" I asked her all of a sudden.

Sarafina choked on a chunk of the apple as she bit into it. "What?!" she threw the apple against the wall where Jeriard stood. He glared at her and began shuffling around the kitchen to clean up the apple guts that now decorated the wall. 

I looked at her so confused at that moment and she also had a face of confusion etched upon her facial features. 

"What's wrong with her?!" she practically yelled at the top of her lungs. The hanging light fixtures slightly clanked together from how loud she was. 

Jeriard shrugged nonchalantly, like it was no big deal. I guess he already got used to the fact that I'm weird. I laugh uncomfortably in my mind.

"Bacon is done!" Jeriard exclaimed, shattering the awkward atmosphere with a wide grin on his face. 

He placed the plate in the middle of the dining table for all to enjoy. We took our seats and grabbed a porcelain plate with red dragons on them. The bacon popped and sizzled as I quickly proceeded to take five large bacon strips. They were huge about 2 inches wide and 5 inches long, but the size didn't stop me from fiercely chomping down one entire strip of bacon. It slightly singed my tongue, but the pain subsided rather quickly.

Sarafina slowly took one, measly bacon and placed it on her plate, she looked at me for a few moments and asked calmly, "So, how did you know my name?"

I tore my way into yet, another, enormous bacon and stared into her mesmerizing eyes. They were light blue fading miraculously to a light purple at the sides. These strangers have the most amazing eyes I've ever seen; as for mine they're so... brown and boring.

"Jeriard referred to you as Sarafina, am I right?" I said, absentmindedly waving around some bacon.

Jeriard shook his head and hands in protest, "Whoa! No, I didn't! I said Sara not Sarafina!"

Sarafina held a raised eyebrow and started to smile. "This girl is super weird," she chuckled.

I glared at her and resumed to enjoy the delicious bacon that sat on my plate. "Roselina, can I call you Rose for short?" Jeriard asked.

"Sure, most people call me that, anyway," I agreed.

"So, tell me about your family," Jeriard said, taking a bite of bacon still keeping eye contact with my big brown eyes.

Did he seriously just ask that?! I think I'm going to break down. Oh no! Here come the horrid tears. "May you excuse me?" I asked politely, without taking their answer I sprinted into the white and red room that I know so well now.

I solemnly sat on the edge of the red bed and wept silently. There was a knock at the door. "Go away!" I demanded, with a sniffle.

The door squeaked open anyway. Erg! I sat up and tried my best to wipe my tears and snot. Jeriard peeked into the room with a worried look and came to sit next to me. His eyes shimmered the brilliant green that I love, his mint breath made the atmosphere feel more clear and clean. "Are you alright?" he asked, placing a gentle hand on my thigh.

"It's just my family," I said, fidgeting with my hands.

He stayed silent so I continued.

"The only person I loved in my family was my little sister, Millicent. She was and still is everything to me. She looked up to me like a little sister should. She has trouble at school, though, and is always alone in her room. My parents are evil. They beat me and threaten me every day of my life. All I ever want to do is protect my sister from them and the world, but I can't always accomplish the impossible. I really miss her! I don't think I thought my run away that well," I explained, tears rolling down my cheeks as I fell onto Jeriard's lap.

He cradled me. I feel so pathetic. I got off of his now wet jeans and wiped away my tears. My face was most likely red and puffy, but Jeriard gently took my head in his soft hands and brought us close enough that our lips were almost touching. "I promise we will protect her. Just never stop loving her," he said touching his forehead to mine.

He took me by surprise, as he hugged me tight, but not too tight. I felt safe and I felt like I knew him since forever.