The Threat Of Fear

chapter 19

         A knock on my door woke me up.

I sat up, stretching and yawning.

How did I get in my room? The last thing I remember is heading home with Shade. Did he carry me to my room or something?

I stood up and opened my door.

"Tiffany?" I hummed. "What's up? Is something wrong?"

"I'm sorry to wake you," she mumbled, looking down at the carpet nervously. "I just couldn't sleep."

"That's understandable. I know how hard it is to get used to a new place away from the ones you're used to." I smiled, stepping out of the way of the door and motioning for her to come in. "Do you wanna talk?"

"Sure." Tiffany smiled, walking in.

"I'm going to go make some tea real quick. You can sit on the couch if you want. Do you want some tea too?" I asked. "Chamomile is great for sleepless nights. That and coffee for allnighters."

"Sure." she giggled, sitting on the couch.

I nodded and started walking to the kitchen.

        "So, how long has everyone here known each other?" Tiffany asked.

"Well, Shade and Nick have known each other since birth seeing as they're twins. In elementary school, I lived in a different state than them and we became penpals." I giggled. "When I moved the summer before fourth grade I somehow managed to move right next to them. We met Alec freshman year of high school."

"So a long time then?" she murmured.

"Yeah." I nodded. "A long time. We're a band of misfits who had the opportunity to become a family."

"That sounds nice." she smiled softly.

"Do you have any friends at school?" I asked.

"Not really," she sighed quietly. "I recently came to this area, and due to the foster system, I never really stayed in one spot for any longer than a year."

Aww. Poor thing.

"Just give it time." I encouraged. "Soon, you'll have lots of friends."

"You think so?" she yawned.

"I know so," I replied softly. "Who wouldn't want to be friends with a sweet girl like you?"

        "Hello, my love." Shade greeted, kissing my cheek as I entered the kitchen area.

"Good morning, Darling." I giggled.

"How is the little one doing?" he asked, wrapping an arm around my waist and leading me to the dining room table.

"As far as I know, they're doing just fine." I smiled, sitting down.

"That's good to know." Shade grinned.

"Hey, Shade?" I murmured, bringing his face close to mine by his shirt.

"Yes, Rach?" he hummed.

"I love you," I whispered.

"I love you too," he responded, gently pressing his lips to mine.

"Get a room you two," Alec groaned from the doorway.

"Technically," I drew out with a smirk on my face. "This is considered a room."

Alec huffed and rolled his eyes in response.

I noticed that Tiffany walked into the room as well.

"Men," I sighed, winking at her. "They can be such drama queens. How I've been able to live with three of them and survive, I'll never know."