PERFECT PIECES {18+}

♡Niko♡

My breath misted in front of me as I ran along the dark street, the drizzle of rain keeping my temperature down so I could push myself even further than normal. I needed it after yesterday. Taylor had tempted me too far like usual and the memories of all our time together, a time when I was actually enjoying life, came rushing back to me when I saw her go into that locker room all sweaty, knowing she was going to be naked in a few seconds. It had made me get close, closer than I had been to her in a while and I was craving her like some addict. But I couldn't have her and yesterday had been dangerous. I had to be stronger, I had to make her hate me, keep my distance, I couldn't let her get that look in her eyes again, like she would give in.

I shook my head, rock music blasting in my ears as I rounded the last corner, running up to my house that looked like all the others on the street. Brick foundations and walls with concrete steps up to a white door. The windows were white, the shutters grey to match the roof-all very basic, but it was the source of every tension filled muscle in my body. It was all my family had and it was the weight on my shoulders.

My sister, Emma had no idea what it took to keep us in this neighborhood, keep us in the house our parents had lived in but I didn't want her to. This was my mistake, my burden to carry. I trusted the wrong person, let the wrong one in and it had blown up my life-I wouldn't let it blow up my sibling's. With my parents gone, dad gapped when I was young, only coming back to knock mom up again and mom passing away from cancer just after Aimee was born 11 years ago, it had been just us and we stuck together. I wasn't going to be the reason that fell apart. Aimee and Oliver, the younger two were still adjusting so I tried to be what they needed and so did Em but it was hard when my decisions were not my own. They hadn't been since summer.

I shook my head, hating that my mind wasn't clear and my run was over. I moved up the concrete steps and pushed into the house, shutting it behind me as quietly as possible, the kids still asleep. I switched my music off, instantly missing the beat of the drums in my ears, the strings of the guitar, the notes that always made it easier to get through my thoughts without lashing out.

I went through the living area that Em had decorated in neutral tones, blue couches and matching curtains. I didn't care what furniture she chose as long as it kept her happy. She remembered the most of our parents, spent the most time with them. At 28 now, she had lived most of her life with them there for her. I was ten years younger but even that was hard with all the memories so I couldn't imagine how hard it was for her. It had kept us close though, working together to give Oliver and Aimee a life our mom would have been proud of. And as long as I did every single thing my puppet master demanded, then that would continue. Even if it broke my soul bit by bit every day.

I moved into the kitchen/dining area where Emma was working on the kids school lunches, showered and wearing her bakery uniform shirt with some black pants. Star bakery. Emma's pride and joy, the legacy she had built from the ground up for us. She worked fucking hard, raised us, kept us in a nice place and I was risking all that by even talking to Taylor. I had to be better today, more of an asshole, remind her that I was not the guy she remembered, I was the broken version.

I walked over and leaned against the bench as Em smiled up at me, shoving a bottle of chilled water at me. I popped the cap and sculled half the bottle before putting it back in the fridge.

"Thanks." I said quietly in the dim light. Aimee and Oliver would have to get up soon but we tried to let them sleep in until we had to go. Having only one car meant we had to leave a little earlier than normal but it worked and we had the routine down. It was still dark outside and Emma would be leaving soon to start the morning baking before the bakery opened, taking the car with her, I just hoped the drizzle stopped before I had to walked the kids to the bakery to get it back.