I woke up in the middle of the night, gasping for air as I shot up from the couch. I looked around frantically and tried to remember where we are as my heart thudded loudly against my ribs painfully.

My hands were clutching the shirt covering my chest in a fist, trying to calm my ragingly beating heart.

I finally managed to force myself to focus and reminisced what happened last night. Meanwhile, Adam, who apparently gave me some space to sleep and decided to sleep on the carpet instead, stirred awake and hummed in silence.

After rubbing the sleep off his eyes, he sat and stretched, instantly wincing and held onto his back. He finally caught me staring and scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Erm, hey?" It came out as a question and I can't help but give him a weak smile at his attempt.

"Was it another nightmare?" He asked as I shifted my position and gave him room on the couch. He sat beside me and I laid my head back, leaning on the couch for support before nodding.

The others were still sound asleep and I was afraid of waking them up. Thank God I didn't shout or scream this time. I don't usually wake up in silence but when I do, I appreciate the calm atmosphere I'm greeted with. It helps calm my nerves after those memories flooding my mind.

I sighed in exhaustion. Bryant was a soft subject and I know Adam didn't want to pry but him shifting every 5 seconds is starting to get on my nerves. "It's okay, I know what you're about to ask me." I muttered quietly and quite begrudgingly.

"You don't have to tell me," Adam rushed out but I shook my head. "No, it's fine. It's just a lot to get out." I squeezed my eyes shut and rubbed my forehead and temples.

"He was the best brother anyone can ask for. He was my rock, my everything." I started as the tears prick the back of my eyes and my breathing started to get heavy.

"It was right after a party some sophomore held. He didn't want me to come because he wasn't in good terms with someone in that guy's circle of friends but I insisted that I need to come. I was challenged by the popular girls in school that a nerd like me would never blend in and would never dare to step a foot in a party. My stupid ego got in the way and I was dead set on proving them wrong so I did.

I went to the party and had Bryant drive me there. I used some skimpy ass clothing and attended the party and made sure the girls saw me there." I chuckled humorlessly. "I was naïve, I wanted to blend in so much. I was an idiot." I spat in disgust. Adam was smart and stayed quiet throughout it all.

"That night, after the party, I called Bryant to pick me up and he did. Without realizing it, I was luring him to his death. A truck driver crashed into our car that night and took his life."

I was biting my inner cheeks as I kept on speaking and without realizing it, I reached up to brush the strands of hair away from my face only to find my cheeks wet, dampened by the tears that were already streaming down my face.

"When the crash happened, I was sleeping and he shook me awake to alert me but before I slept, we were bickering about who was the better driver.

He was obviously the better driver but it seemed to me that he wanted to prove himself and he did." My smile was cold as I remembered the events that happened that night. "He proved himself. He could've came out of that crash unscathed but instead he put my safety first before his and it took his life."

I squeezed my eyes shut as I wrapped my hands around myself and held in the sobs.

"When the crash happened, he swerved the passenger's side away from the truck and launched his body on top of my curled up one to shield me from the crash." My body shook as I held in my cries.

I had to take in deep breaths to calm myself and I felt hands wrap around my body and warmth engulf me as I was pulled into an embrace.

"He died protecting me," I sobbed as I thought of my dear brother.

"It would've been what he wanted. He died a hero. He died shielding his sister from harm. If I was him and my little sister was the one who was in harm's way, I would've done the same thing. If he was given a choice on how he would die, I know for sure that he wouldn't choose anything else. He loved you, Case. That is what matters most. He loved you enough to sacrifice his life for you." Adam comforted me as he whispered other things to soothe me.

Ironically, I cried harder and turned my head and wept into his shirt, accepting the comfort he was offering me.

"His body. After the crash, I saw his body bloody and battered, beyond repair. I don't want him to sacrifice his life for me, I want him to be alive and to be there for me whenever I need him to calm me down, to bicker with me, to chide me off on my horrible habits of cursing. I want him to be here with me."

I knew what I was saying was beyond selfish but Adam didn't comment as I poured everything out. He sat there, keeping his arms wrapped around me and rubbed soothing circles on my back and rested his chin on the crown of my head.

Eventually, I stopped crying and though my eyes were swollen and blotchy, Adam gave me a smile and tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear and his hand trailed to my cheek and caressed it, still staring into my eyes and I kept his gaze.

A second before, he was 5 inches away. A second later, he was an inch away. I snapped out of it at the personal space invasion and pulled my head back and shuffled back onto my spot on the couch, keeping a safe distance away. I could feel my cheeks heating up and my face flushed at the thought of how close our faces were and silently swore to myself that there's no way I'm going to let that happen again.

A hand grabbed mine and pulled me away form the couch and up to my feet. I looked up and met Adam's warm smile. "Let's go somewhere."

I eyed him warily, "Okay.." I trailed off as I let him guide me to his bike and followed him out the warehouse as he took the bike with him and got on.

I strapped the helmet on and swung a foot over the bike and hitched my feet on the footrest. I held onto his jacket as the bike lurched forward.

---------

We arrived in a meadow after a 15 minute ride and another ten minutes of walking through a thin forest. I admired the scenery before me, it was magnificent.

The valleys under the hills and the green meadow is picturesque and beautiful. The flowers fluttered and waved as the wind past and greeted them.

I stared at them in aww as white dandelions flew as the wind carried them. I was snapped out of my trance as I realized that I was stepping forward and lost my balance as my arms flailed and my body hit the uneven ground only to roll down the side of the hill, Adam's laughter falling behind me.

The rolling finally came to a stop and I cradled my head in my hands as the world spun around me. I shook my head, trying to shake the dizziness off and looked back to see Adam walking towards me leisurely.

I once again took the time to admire my surroundings. I fell back on the grass, the blades tickling my skin as my dark hair spread out under me. The sky was blue and I watched as the clouds pass by, trying to figure out what they might look like.

I heard a soft thud beside me and I turned my head to take a short glimpse of Adam's leaning body gaze at the skies.

A flock of birds flew by us and I heard him start talking.

"I found this place a week ago when I was trying to clear my head."

I quirked my eyebrow at his statement and turned to him, tearing my gaze and stopping my mind from appreciating mother nature's beauty.

I frowned as I finally noticed how he has bags under his eyes and how his hair was sticking out everywhere and his eyes were wide with a wild look to them.

"What happened, Adam?" Concern laced my voice and I was shocked as to how I sounded so.. Caring.

"My mother," he paused, seeming like it pained him to even think about her. "She was diagnosed with kidney failure and my family's financial state isn't at it's best right now," he whispered in anguish and I instantly knew that it was bad.

I didn't get a good look on his mother the other day but I did notice something off about her and how pale she looked. It was amazing how happy she remained even when she was diagnosed with a kidney failure.

In the blink of an eye, I knew I grew some sort of respect for the woman. She's a really strong one.

I surprised myself and Adam in what I did next and I honestly didn't plan to do it. It was a spontaneous action but when I did do it, I felt my heart skip a beat.

I hugged him. Without any form of hesitation whatsoever.

It was a bold gesture coming from someone like me but I can't say I regretted doing it. I was consoling a friend. Nothing more.

Adam tensed up under my touch but eventually his muscles became slack and his whole body relaxed as his body slumped.

"Everything's gonna be alright. It's gonna be alright." I whispered.

I'll figure something out to help you, Adam. I promise.

•~•~•

Aww, Casey's so sweet.

I hope you like the chapter. Adam finaaaaally knows. Took her long enough.. 😒😂

Anywaaaaays, I got a surprise in store for y'all. Hang on tight, bro 💃 mwahahahaha

I love you all and remember to stay awesome❣Ciaoo -J