REFLECTION

10. Brother

   I didn't notice I had fallen asleep on Josh's back until I made it to his house.

I looked up and saw a huge white house with a nice garden in the front yard. The garden was full of pink and yellow daisies with a few white orchids.

"Welcome to my home sleepy head," Josh smiled as he began walking up his porch. "Let's talk, okay? He asked as he put me on the porch steps before sitting next to me.

"Okay." I hummed as I rubbed my eye giving a soft smile to Josh. Josh smiled at me happily and held his arms out to me, wanting me to go near him.

"Come close, you're my paradise." I felt my face get warm and quickly jump into his arms, hugging Josh tightly. Tears streamed down my face, but I'm not sure why.

"Oh Angel... Don't shed your tears so quickly." Josh chuckled and moved my chin up, looking down at my lips. I slowly moved my head away and giggled quietly.

I turned and looked out at the yard, the wind blowing the rose bushes and trees calmly. I closed my eyes and sat there quietly, thinking about where my parents could be.

"Josh, am I safe?" I asked as I opened my eyes, looking back at him. His eyes grew matte as he looked back at me and his safe got a little pale.

"In my arms you are." Josh replied and held onto my tightly. It wasn't what I was asking, but I took it as an answer anyways.

I think I'm going to be here in Josh's house for a few days. Well, if he doesn't let me leave and go back home. What the boy told me about his little brother frightens me, but I'm trying to get used to the fact that he lost his brother.

"Let's go inside." Josh told me after a few moments of silence. He let go of be before he stood up. I nodded and stood up as well, noticing he wasn't that much taller than I was, and I'm 164 centimeters. I was going to ask him how tall he may have been, but I didn't find it appropriate at that moment.

Josh walked me into his house and gave me a big hug. I almost choked because the hug was so tight, but I just couldn't help but hug back more tighter than the hug he gave me.

"Strong one." Josh spoke with barely any breath in his lungs. I laughed and nodded before letting him go. He inhaled almost all the air in the house before laughing and rubbing my back.

"Josh! Is that you!?" I heard a voice come from upstairs. I jumped and hid behind Josh while holding my breath.

"It is!" He yelled back out at the voice. I heard loud walking come quickly down the stairs. There stood an older boy, maybe around the age of 17.

The boy automatically noticed me and tried to look behind Josh. I felt my stomach jump and my knees get weak, causing me to grab Josh's shirt in panic.

"Who is this..?" The boy asked. I'm guessing he looked further behind Josh because he turned and tried to hide me.

"Um... A friend." Josh said before pausing. "Yes a friend!" He continued a moment later.

"We come here and you already bring someone home? Common Josh." The boy sighed as he spoke.

"Really Jacob? I made a friend and you get upset..?" Jacob. The boy's name is Jacob... Josh and Jacob. Makes sense.

"I'm sorry, Josh. It just kind of bothered me to see you had brought someone home, especially if we aren't even done unpacking." Jacob explained. He sounded like a mother, not going to lie.

"It's alright, I understand my dear brother." Josh replied before moving to the side to expose me. I felt my body turn cold as Jacob looked at me.

"Who is this?"

"Aiden." Josh replied and looked at me. His hand lightly moved across my own, causing me to jump and get chills.

Jacob looked at me with a slight smirk on his face as he observed me. Why is every boy staring at me now and days? It's kind of freaky and chilling to me.

I looked back at Jacob and realised... He looks a lot like Josh in a way, even if Josh is younger and more soft looking, Joshua looked more strong and had sharper angles on his face.

I wonder if the rest of his family looked just like one another, maybe even more alike. Now I want to meet his family, even if I told him not to meet mine yet.

Why do I have to be so stubborn sometimes? Next time we go to my house, I'm letting Josh meet my family, even if I don't like it.