𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐀𝐂𝐈𝐍𝐆

;sisters

Emma Chamberlain

I'd gone home after helping Dorothy out which didn't really need to be done as Ethan had stepped up a lot while I had been gone.

"No way" Amanda gasps while I tell her about what my brother has currently up to.

I chat about Emre over a dinner consisting of warm soup and thick bread, which puts me in a good autumn mood.

I had been sure years ago that Amanda had, had the biggest crush on my brother but the way I spoke of his immaturities I was sure that had faded along with her weird emo faze.

After getting all warm and excited for jumper weather all three of us say goodbye and retire to our own bedrooms.

I pull my laptop closer towards me and click upon Spotify, pulling up an old playlist I had created this time last year- bravely selecting shuffle.

Then with it leant on my bedside table I reach for my school bag and proceed to get on with home work due in a few hours.

Around 11:30pm my phone pings, I try and resist the urge to look at it and become distracted. I snatch the phone in annoyance and look down at the random text in confusion.

Ethan Dolan
Are you in? I need help

I quickly type back that yes he could come round but only if he was willing to tip toe because everyone else in the household was sleeping or at least trying.

Ethan Dolan
I'm at the door now

He sends not seconds after my text back. I tip toe downstairs and open the front door to Ethan stood on my front step.

He's in PJ bottoms and a loose black top that's paired with some plain black trainers. His hair looks messed up and his eyes look a little puffy, as if he hadn't slept in ages. His jaw looks swollen and his lip is split, which he's holding with the back of his hand.

I pull him in and close the door behind me racing my hands towards his cheek and down to his mouth in worry.

I lead him towards my bedroom silently and when I shut the door quietly Ethan begins to shiver.

"You can get in bed if you want" I say pointing towards the crease in the bed which he gladly accepts.

I'm stood in my own room awkwardly staring at Ethan Dolan snuggle in my quilt.

"What happened?" I ask finding the confidence to seat myself on the end of my bed.

"I know that you bailed out my brother this afternoon" he smiles "so does my dad" Ethan muffles into the extra blankets.

Suddenly everything makes sense. I knew that the bruises and blood wasn't from a fight he'd started, it was his own father.

"Is Grayson okay?" I whisper and he nods,

"He's out, don't worry"

"Ethan, I don't know what to say." I start but he shakes his hands in front of him.

"No no no you don't have to say anything, I just needed somewhere to come. Thank you, for bailing Addison and for helping me....after everything" Ethan sits up cuddling his face into his knees which makes me smile at his pureness.

"It's okay Ethan but-" I reply reaching out to touch his hand.

"It's fine, Emma, I'll sleep on the street I wouldn't do that to you" Ethan smiles and I begin to shake my head.

He tugs upon my hand asking me to come further up on the bed. I cross my legs on the bed in his direction.

"You can sleep, I was just gonna ask that we get you cleaned before you get blood on my white sheets" I giggle and Ethan springs forward with excitement.

"Really? I mean yes of course!" I hush him down because his voice has raised and he actually blushes.

My heart flutters as he bites down on his lip.

I lead him into the bathroom and sit him down on the toilet lid to sort out his face.

I press a cold flannel upon his cheek and he stares at me with glossy eyes. He places his hands upon my ass and swings me onto his lap surprising me greatly, causing me to pull the flannel away.

He leans in and presses his lips against mine, at first it tastes like copper due to his split lip but then it disappears as I press into it further.

In the midst of moving the flannel slaps against the back of Ethan's neck and the cold water makes him howl. I press my hands against his mouth to tell him to shut up as we both listen for any movement.

This always seems to happen, god damn it.

When Ethan is all clean he climbs into my bed and tells me to slide in next to him so we can talk. It seemed a lot was on his mind.

"I don't want you to hate my dad" Ethan starts, playing with a strand of hair leaning upon my forehead "he just isn't the same after what happened"

"What happened?" I ask intrigued as I lay facing him chewing his lip with anxiety.

"Me and Gray don't come from QUEENS I'm sure you've guessed that. We came from a big town hours away, our mothers birth place apparently."

Ethan begins with a chuckle it's a sad one so I press closer towards his chest

"My little sisters, Allison and Eden hated it there, they always said that there weren't enough kids their age there"

"I didn't know you had sisters" I reply with a sad smile wondering where this was going and whether I was going to be able to make it through without sobbing.

"They were going on a school trip to the BUTTERFLY FARM and my parents were in the middle of their divorce and both of them were too stubborn to take responsibility for them. So they were the only kids that didn't take an adult with them. They don't know what happened exactly but the coach went head first into some oncoming traffic"

I gasp at the horror gripping tightly to Ethan who pulls me even further into his body.

"So the two teddy bears, they were for Ally and E" Ethan explains "on my heart because that's where they'll always be you know"

A tear escapes his eye and rolls down his cheek and I wipe it away with the pan of my thumb.

I bring my lips to his forehead and he grasps me into a tight hug which I happily embrace.

The warmth of his body against mine makes me sleepy and I fall asleep in his arms wondering whether I even finished the homework I had set out to do.