My Knights in Shining Armor

Abs and Jaw Scar

A/N I didn't realize how much I missed writing until I wrote this chapter- ENJOY!!!!

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*Cherry Hall*

My alarm goes off and I groan, rolling over to grab my phone and turn it off. Why am I waking up so early? It's summer, for goodness sake.

Then it hits me.

"Ugh," I groan again, checking the time. My phone reads 8:01 AM, which feels like 5:01 to me.

After I stumble out of bed and into my new bathroom, I stare my reflection in my new mirror.

A pimpled, frizzy-haired teenager stares back at me, my attention drawn to the purple bags underneath my eyes. I slowly lift up the front of my wrinkled pajama shirt to see the same sports bra I've been wearing since I left Oregon and a slightly emaciated stomach.

I guess Tamara was right when she said grief sheds pounds.

Pulling my shirt back down, I wander over to the shower. I know I smell, and I'd like to make a better impression on the Knight boys than I did last night. Or this morning, whatever you want to call it.

Ten minutes, four choice swear words and two thwacks with a hairbrush later, I finally figure out how to work the shower.

I head into my new closet to pick out an outfit for the day, schlepping the new clothing into the bathroom with me before closing the door.

I can feel the heat coming from the shower, and quickly pull up my shower playlist on my phone, turning the volume all the way up before stripping and stepping into the shower.

Five minutes into my shower, my eyes start mimicking the shower head, and I lean against the wall, shoulders shaking as I cry into my arm.

My eyes are puffy and my throat hurts once I get out of the shower. I dry myself off and put my clothes on without looking in the mirror, because I know I won't like what I see.

"Well," I say to myself, folding my pajamas and placing them on my bed. "Guess I better head downstairs. No point in delaying this any longer."

My stomach rumbles in agreement, just as the smell of pancakes and bacon hits my nose.

Shoving my phone into my back pocket, I quietly open my door and close it behind me, slowly walking down the carpeted stairs in an effort to be quiet.

Finding the kitchen takes a little bit of time, as I have no idea where it is. Soon, though, I find Anne in her spacious kitchen, humming to herself as she flips pancakes.

"Good morning," I greet her, coming up to give her a hug. I need the comfort.

"Oh!" She jumps a little bit, holding a hand to her chest before returning my hug. "You scared me, Cherry. I guess I'm not used to people being awake as early as I am. James has already left for work, and I don't expect the boys to be up for another few hours or so."

"Then why did you make breakfast so early? I definitely would have slept for another few hours."

"I know, honey, but you need to adjust to the time zone sooner rather than later. Besides, I thought you could use a little time to yourself this morning before you have to meet my sons," Anne grins, before turning back to the pan on the stove and sliding the cooked pancakes onto a place next to her on the counter.

"Yeah, about that," I say, shuffling my feet on the hardwood floor. "They kind of came into my room last night."

Anne freezes. "Oh, dear. Were you forced to interact with them?"