A sudden rush of cold air hit Zac as he walked into his room. He shivered and walked over to his closet, pulling out a large, dark grey sweater with bright orange lettering with the brand name Hurley across the chest, and put it on, zipping it up so he could stay warm. This sweater was always his favorite, and his brothers too. He would sometimes find it missing from his closet, only to find it wrapped around his brother, whom would be sleeping in his room.
Carter, Zac thought to himself. He must be freezing. Compared to Zacs room, Carters was always colder than his brothers because his mother insisted that he had to have the room with the large window, so that he could see that stars when he couldn't sleep. That didn't work though, because Stephen wanted blinds over the windows, that haven't been opened since they have been put up. Stephen told their mother that it was so the neighbor would stop complaining about a 'peeping tom', but Zac knew the real answer. It was so that, while their mother was on business trips, Stephen could go over to the neighbors for a late night booty call without worry of being caught.
There was a small knock on his wall, and Zac walked over to his dresser. He put one hand on each side, and moved the dresser farther down the wall, revealing a small door, large enough for a small teenager to fit in. He knocked on the door three times, before Carter crawled into his room.
"Its so cold in there Zac." He complained, running up to his brother. Zac quickly moved the dresser back to his original place and walked over to his bed, holding out his arms.
Carter hugged his brother nightly, his cold nose touching Zacs neck. He shivered and quickly took off his sweater. "Here, put this on." He told him.
Carter quickly put on the over-sized sweater, and looked down at the knapsack on the floor. "Can I have a granola bar?"
"Of course." Zac leaned down and picked up his knapsack, opening it. He found a granola bar, and handed it to his little brother, before closing the bag. "There a lot more if you want it. I don't know when we will be able to eat tonight."
Carter nodded and opened the chocolate covered granola bar, eating it quickly. He then tossed the wrapper into the garbage can beside Zacs bed and sat on his brothers lap. "I don't like it here Zac." He said. "Can we just go home."
"This is our home now." Zac said, running his fingers through his brothers hair. "But I promise you that when I turn eighteen, we'll leave this place. And it will just be you, and me."
Carter smiled and rested his head on his brothers shoulder, closing his eyes. Within minutes, Carter was fast asleep in his brothers arms.
Zac smiled and leaned against the wall, looking at Carter. He had never met a child so strong. He looked at the door, and bit his lip, knowing that Stephen would be furious if he found out that they were in the same room. He highly disliked it, but frankly, Zac didn't care. He closed his eyes, and leaned his head against the wall, falling asleep with his brother in his arms.
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A large pounding at the door shot Zacs eyes open. He looked at the door, as the repetitive hitting of Stephens fists against the door made it shake. He looked down at his brother, and lifted him up slightly, laying him down on the bed, with his head resting on the pillow. He put some blankets over him and walked over to the door, just before Stephen barged in.
"Sorry, I fell asleep." Zac said sleepily, as he opened the door, looking up at his step-father.
"Where is your brother." He demanded. "He isn't in his room."
