Sister protection program

3 • his room

I turn over to avoid the sunlight in my eyes, I feel another pair of legs and shoot up.
I look around in panic at my unfamiliar surroundings and look down at Calum laying the opposite way on the couch that I'm on.
Oh no.
No no no no no
No fucking way.

He wakes up at my movement, sits up and stretches. "Calum?! what the hell!" I say looking around. "Did we..?" I start to ask before he frantically waves his arms in front of him
"no, no!"
"Why did you guys kidnap me and where am I?!" I look down "and what am I wearing!?" I ask getting upset breathing heavy.
I stand up, frantic.
"WHAT THE FUCK!"! I feel hyperventilating coming on and the next thing I know is I am being pulled into a tight hug and a hard chest.
"Lillian, relax! relax!"

"Morning sleeping beauty" Luke comes around the corner shirtless, ignoring the hug that I am still trapped in.

It's a very open living room that has a large glass wall overlooking the ocean.
The living room faces the kitchen and behind the living room couch is the stairs to the second floor.

Not going to lie it was a very nice beach front house, but somebody better start explaining.
Kidnapping, that's way too far. I don't care what my brother supposedly told them.

"We made breakfast!" Micheal gleams coming from the kitchen in an apron. "Oh hey Lillian" Ashton says coming from behind Micheal.
Calum lets me go.

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!" I yell.
The boys look to each other.
"Well what all do you remember?" Calum asks concerned tilting his head.
"I was-" I rub my head. "Me and my suitemate went to the club I think- and THEN YOU GUYS KIDNAPPED ME!"

"Some douche in the club tried to take you away and rape you" Luke casually says jumping over another couch and sitting spread out.
"We were there and took you away from him" Micheal explains taking off his apron.
"You were uh roofied" Ashton confesses sadly.
"We took you back here" Ashton adds.

I sit down on the couch in silence. I was trying to put it all together. "Wait why were you guys there?"
"In case you got roofied. Which you did." Luke adds the last part as a matter-of-fact voice.
"We didn't know how the roofie would affect you, and didn't want you to wake up confused. so I figured it would be best to sleep down here with you." Calum says awkwardly scratching his neck. "We also gave you a shirt because it seemed more comfortable than the..uh..top and ripped jeans that you had on." Luke adds, referring to the little laced bra my roommate called a top.
I look down and notice the loose shirt now on me.

I take a deep breath, closing my eyes, trying to stay calm.
"But how did you know I was going to be there?"
None of the boys say anything. I open my eyes and look around to see the boys looking to each other, begging someone to speak.
"We made a promise to Sam. We intend to keep it." Is all Calum said.
They love to avoid questions.
So, they stalked me.

Without anything further, we sit in the kitchen eating the breakfast Michael cooked.
"That's all we mean by watching out for you" Ashton explains over breakfast.
"We can go to the club with you so you won't get roofied again" Micheal says grabbing another pancake. "And you know, just watching out and making sure you're ok" Calum adds. "Whenever you were upset, you called Sam. Whenever you needed boy advice, you called Sam. Whenever a boy broke your heart he drove to your dorm. You can have that again but times four." Luke says leaning over the table.
"You guys aren't Sam." I snap offended. They pause for a moment. "No, we aren't. But Sam didn't want to leave you alone when he wouldn't be around anymore." Ashton breathed.
"Just let us do what we promised." Luke pleads rubbing his forehead.

"You know, I never would've moved away from Sam and switched schools if it wasn't for you guys making my life hell." I confess sitting back. I couldn't help but blame them for me separating from my twin.

"I'm sorry. I am" Calum looks at me genuinely.
"We all are. But I swear we've changed" Ashton adds. Part of me wants to believe them. Part of me wants to have this life that they talk so casually about. To have a form of Sam again. But deep down I know it's just too good to be true. I know they couldn't have actually changed, and they can never replace my brother.

"Whatever. Thanks and all but this is never going to work. Guys, you all live over an hour away and go to a different college. It won't ever work." I say laying my fork down.

The boys look at each other.
"Well" Micheal hesitantly starts. "Maybe you could move in with us this summer" he finishes.
"The school year ends in a month" Ashton adds hopefully.

I sit back in my chair. "No fucking way." I shake my head.
They have gone too far this time.
Finding me at my dorm and across campus was weird. Following me and finding me at the club was uncalled for. But moving in??
I didn't realize how serious these boys were about this. I'm afraid I won't get them to leave me alone so easily.

"Common Lillian, what else are you going to do? Go back to your father's house and be alone all summer or go to your alcoholic mom?" Micheal asks crossing his arms.

I sit still. Now, they crossed a line.

"I'm sorry-" he starts realizing he crossed a line mentioning my mother.

Mom always struggled with alcohol and I suspect that's why my parents split. When our parents split, It got worse. The only reason Sam stayed with her was to stay close to his friends. Lilian hated the boys for that. Lilian couldn't stay with her mom and Sam because of her bullies, and Sam couldn't go with Lilian for those same boys.

Sam would never tell me the extent of mom's abuse because he didn't want to worry me. Sam's friends on the other hand were very aware of how bad mom got. Sam would spend most nights at Luke's house when she wouldn't come home. Of course, sam never told me this. I still knew.

I knew It broke Sam's heart, really. I would want to come visit but he would have to come up with an excuse because he couldn't tell his little sister that he hadn't been home in a week and was practically living with the Hemmings.

"I want my clothes." I mumble pushing my chair out cutting him off. "Of course, third door on the right- I'll go show you" Ashton awkwardly gets up from the table with me but I take off up the stairs.

Ashton makes it up the stairs to find me frozen staring through an open door.
"Lillian-" He runs to me knowing what I found.

"Sam's room?" I quietly ask, knowing the answer.

The room was filled with many of his things. I saw a picture on the nightstand of the two of us from last summer when he visited me.

"Yeah." Ashton breaths out now beside me. "Your dad came and got some personal things. We haven't touched anything else." He says quietly with caution.

Tears uncontrollably fall down my face.
He reaches and hugs me tight.
I hated these boys, but I embrace the hug.
I break away and run up the hall turn into the bathroom, shut the door, slid down to the floor and cried.

I can't take all of this.