"What...?!" I yelled involuntarily, springing from my chair as my mom gave me the news after only the woman, (who told us her name was Robin Taylor) left our house. The four of us; Gaige, me, my mom, and the tall, serious-dispositioned man named Houston, all sat at our dinner table, making sure everything was crystal clear.

"For how long?!" I asked worriedly; I felt uncomfortable knowing that these two strange men, whom we'd only just met, were going to be staying HERE, in our home! My mother was blushing beside Houston; and to be honest, it made me giggle inwardly. I'd never seen her look so tense and giddy! She looked like a teenager again! Aside from her wrinkles, anyway.

She shrugged slightly. "Robin said it was unclear for now. I'm guessing they'll let us know when it's time."

I tangled my hands in my hair worriedly. This was embarrassing...!

Gaige looked at me only half-seriously. "Hey, don't sweat it," he said casually. "This is our job; it's not like we're perverts."

I cut my eyes at him. "How do I know that's the truth?! We've only just met!"

"Calm yourself, we're here to HELP you."

"I know, I just...!"

I groaned and flopped back into my seat. We'd just met a few minutes ago and I'd already made a fool of myself. Just great...

I jumped when I heard Gaige laugh. "Aww! Aren't you just the cutest?"

I blushed furiously and scowled at him. "Who are you calling cute?! This isn't the time, man! I'm serious!"

He laughed again. "You really are the cutest thing. Can I take a picture of you?"

"W-what?! No!"

"Darn."

I turned my reddening face away from him with a huff to avoid him saying anything else that would offend me. My mother looked at me seriously. "Look, Sterling, I know this is all strange and a bit discouraging, but you must understand that they're only trying to help us. They're here to keep us protected. Let's take this as a good thing, okay?"

I sighed in defeat. I knew she was right. They were here to keep us safe. I took a deep breath and looked to Gaige, a new question burning in my mind. "Gaige, how old are you?"

He held up two fingers in a peace sign symbol and grinned. "15. Same as you! That way I can protect you while you're at school, too, without looking too suspicious."

A new shade of color rose to my cheeks and I looked at my mom in disbelief. "He's following me to school, too?!"

My mother nodded as Gaige just laughed at me. "He needs to keep you safe, Sterling."

I groaned. I could already hear Grace mocking me.

"You like Gaaaiiiige, you like Gaiiiiige!!"

I shook my thoughts clear and asked another question. "Where on earth will they sleep?!"

Gaige came closer to me and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. "I'll be sleeping with you, of course!"

I shuddered at his touch and squirmed out of his grasp. "No way! You can't be serious!"

My mother looked at me apologetically. "I'm sorry, Sterling, but there's no where else he can go without being too far apart from you."

"There's no such thing as too far apart."

"Listen Sterling, if you want to stay ALIVE, then I suggest you let Gaige look after you."

As I began to pout, my mother shifted her gaze to Gaige. "I can trust that you won't try to put the moves on her, correct?"

I squeaked at her in embarrassment, "Mom!!" But Gaige answered as if he hadn't heard me. "Of course. I won't dare lay a hand on her..." He looked at me mischievously from the corner of his eye. "... Unless asked." I gulped. He was SO not going to be easy to live with.