boundaries | e.d

F o u r

"What are you doing out here by yourself?" My eyes awakened from his voice to a field of sunflowers, dressed in the suns rays.

"Enjoying the peace!" I spin my white dress around joyously, reaching up to the sky. "You should join me."

His hands hide in the pockets of his jeans as a shy grin creeps up against his face. "I prefer admiring you."

My face pinches from the wide smile that continues to shine on my cheeks. He continues to softly adore me, his body relaxed into the heat waves surrounding him. I look around again, with so much relief, then turn back to him. "Why are we here?"

"You tell me." He shrugs, taking a step into the field. "You chose it."

I sigh and reach my hands out for him, squinting my eyes from the sun as he approaches me. "Yellow's my favorite color." I giggle quietly as his hands interlock with mine.

"Well then that explains it." His hand drops from mine as he combs my hair back. "There's your face."

"Why'd you follow me?" I mumble, becoming more confused to where we were and how we got here.

"I don't know." He furrows his brows in concentration. "You bring me peace."

"How?" I run my fingertips against his hand, smiling as his eyes flutter close from the gentle gesture.

"You have so much light." He whispers. "It's like I was walking in a dark tunnel until I came across you, and then there was hope for an escape."

"You saw that in me?" I drop my fingers in shock but his hand catches my wrist before it could drop to my side.

He brings the hand to his lips and kisses the skin. "It was like the journey was finally over. There was light at the end of my tunnel. It was you."

A huge bang jolts me awake, followed by loud arguing, "You expect us to just walk in there like we own the place?" I hear someone yell, and I immediately know they're planning something. My head falls back against my pillow, too tired to tolerate any of them. He was in my dream last night. Of all people, it was him. I couldn't wrap my thoughts around the situation I imagined for us, and why Ethan was there comforting me.

Did he really look at me like that? The light at the end of his tunnel?

I huff in frustration, rolling over to the pillow next to me with a groan. Another bang, and this time a scream from Natasha. I immediately grab the robe next to my bed and run out the door towards the chaos.

"Put him down man!" I watch Louie's face scrunch in fear. My eyes follow his to see Ryder holding Patrick in the air.

"Ryder stop!" Nat tries to get him off of him with her pleads, but he yells at someone to keep her away. Ryder throws a punch at Patrick and tosses him to the floor. I back away in shock at his state of anger, trying to put pieces together. I suddenly feel a pair of hands pulling me away from the room. Naturally, I fight the grip off, wanting to comfort my brother - but once I'm met with his hazel orbs, the rest of my body haults.

"You shouldn't see this." His voice is laced with concern and worry as he tries to lead me towards my room.

"What happened?" My brain is screaming for me to shove Ethan off, but the longer he stares at me, the more submissive I become.

"Someone said the wrong thing and-"

"Ryder, you're killing him!" I hear Natasha shriek in horror while everyone else stares helplessly.

"Say it again!" Ryder growls and my eyes clench shut to escape it all. "Fucking-" His voice distances itself behind the barrier of Ethan's hands as they hold my ears to shield me from the fight. I open my eyes to see Ethan clenching his jaw at the sight of me, pain etched in his features. My lip begins to quiver when another bang is heard, but I don't dare look away from Ethan's gaze.