Forever & Always

2. Friends & Family

I flinch away from a sudden brightness and nuzzle closer into the warmth of Kyle's chest not ready to wake up yet from one of the most peaceful sleeps I's had in weeks. Normally I wake a few times a night to check on my mother because lately she's had horrible sleep apnea because off the cancer in her lungs or I wake from anxiety induced nightmares. Sometimes, after check on mom, of course I can fall back asleep for a few hours before school but most nights I stay awake either trying to study and catch up on my schoolwork or I'm figuring out what I can do about the hospital and other types bills that seem to keep appearing each month. I feel a hand rub along my arm a smile forming on my lips as I remember what happened last night, or basically really early this morning and I cuddle more into his warmth. I slowly open my eyes to see Kyle laying back on the couch with his arm draped over his eyes to block out the light and bite my lip trailing my finger along his jaw.

"Ahem!" A voice suddenly says and I jump turning to see Tess standing in front of the TV with her arms crossed but I squeal having not realized I was on the edge of the couch. I yelp in pain as my side hits the edge of the coffee table taking Kyle with me since his arm was around me but luckily he wakes enough to catch himself on the coffee table and I look up at him. I start to laugh seeing the surprise in his eyes and he chuckles bracing himself above me.

"You okay?" He asks and I nod slowly biting my lip.

"Yes, but I think we're in trouble." I say gesturing with a tilt of my head toward his sister and he frowns in confusion before turning his head to spot Tess.

"Hell of a wakeup call, sister." He says as he push against the coffee table to get back on the couch and rubs his hands over his face before offering one to me. "You sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine." I answer and grip his hand as I get up to sit beside him looking over at my best friend, who is staring at us so hard I wonder if she's frozen. "Although, I think she's in shock."

"Shock doesn't even begin to cover it." She hisses and starts to pace, which she only does when she's really upset or stressed, in front of the TV that is still on but muted. "I came from Kat's this morning think I'd spend some quality time with my brother, who I didn't hang out with enough over Thanksgiving and then I had the thought that I'd check in on my best friend, who I didn't see very much yesterday and offer to bring her and her sick mother lunch...but instead, I find these two people asleep together, quite cozily might I add, in my basement!"

"Tess, it's not like that..." I say and push a hand through my hair that I know probably is a mess sighing softly. "I ended up getting the night off work and planned on staying home with mom watching old movies until my aunt came over and practically forced me to go out. So, I met up with Dylan at Josh Weston's party, had a few rinks, got in a fight and broke up with Dylan but then I realized at the end of the night I didn't want to go home to the stress of all the bills or my sick mom...

"I ended up coming here." I mutter with a shrug looking at Tess and tug the sleeves of her brother's shirt down over my hands. "I didn't know you weren't here and Kyle let me in, took care of me and we talked about things that actually made me forget all the craziness of my life right now."

"You were freezing and hurt." Kyle says and I turn my head to look at him sighing as he rubs my back looking up at Tess. "She was like a lost puppy and I couldn't tell her to leave."

"What do you mean she was hurt?" She asks sitting down at the end of the couch furthest away from us and I notice that she still is tense but I can see her melting out of concern for me.

"I wasn't really hurt." I say and nudge Kyle in the arm shaking my head. "Dylan grabbed me and it left a bruise on my arm."

"He did what? Tell me you smacked him or something!" Tess exclaims and leans toward me uncrossing her arms to reach toward me. "I always thought he was never good enough for you."