Fight By My Side

Trying to open my eyes and wake up was a chore. The three boys were all curled around me. I had somehow turned to face Jack with my face buried into his shoulder. Vic and Mike were snuggled behind me. If I opened my eye, I could see Mike's foot in Vic's face. Yet, they seemed content.

"Wynter, Wyynnnteeerr..." Jack murmured in my ear. I turned to face his smiling face and wide grin.

"Jack, what is it?" I asked him. He stroked a stray piece of hair back behind my ear. He leaned back on the bean bag again, closing his eyes.

"I just wanted to see if you were awake." He whispered. Vic and Mike stirred behind him. My limbs ached. A sudden urge to go outside overcame me. I started to get up when Jack wrapped his arms around my waist and held me pressed against his chest. I stared at him as the intense movement caught me off guard.

"Jack what are you doing?" I asked him suddenly.

"Shhh...you'll wake the Fuentes." He told me. His arms were uncomfortably tight around me. Unlike Vic, who when he did this to 'win' the battle we were constantly fighting, Jack was holding me like I would disappear.

"What are you doing?" I asked him again. Jack looked over to Vic and Mike.

"Keeping you from escaping." He answered me. I sighed and rested my chin on his chest, staring up at him.

"You're a protective older brother, aren't you?" I asked him. Jack murmured his agreement.

"Look, I'm not going to run off. I just want a little fresh air." I complained. Vic and Mike were starting to awake. Mike shrieked as he dropped Vic's foot that he was caressing. His younger brother sat up suddenly.

"WHY ARE YOU KISSING MY FOOT?!" Vic screamed and stood up suddenly. Mike held up his hands, stuttering his response.

"I wasn't kissing your foot!"

"Yes, you were!"

"Well maybe that's what you get for calling me a girl!" Mike stuck out his tongue. Jack and I held still while we watched the process. Vic blushed red as he tried to argue it wasn't for him, but failed.

"BUT I CALLED YOU A PRETTY GIRL!" Vic screamed out at last. The younger brother stormed off, claiming he was checking on the ginger cat. Vic watched him leave and then turned to Jack and I, a shock expression on his face. I was afraid it was about to get ugly.

"But she's my sister!" Vic whined. Jack stuck out his tongue, hugging me tighter to him. Vic pouted and turned away. I sighed and let go of Jack, who began to whine for me. When Vic's back was turned, I hopped on, getting a free piggy back ride.

"And you're both my brothers!" I argued, trying to clear the memory of what Vic said last night. No one, not even Jack, Vic, or Mike had told me I was beautiful; At least, not in a serious sense. We had joked about who was prettier, but it was all play.

Vic spun me around as I clung to his neck. Jack, on the other hand, moved behind us to the kitchen area and started to make coffee. I requested a mug to help get my senses back after a heavy sleep. While the coffee machine started to brew the beans, Vic set me down, staring down to me with a happy grin. I wrapped my arms around his neck as Jack made some cooing sound. With Vic's distraction, I threw him to the floor, pinning him down.

"Jokes on you Vic, because this is revenge for last night!" I cheered happily. Vic groaned and accepted his defeat.

"Fliiiirrrttt...." Mike's voice echoed from the hallway. I got off Vic and went to grab my mug of coffee, sipping the hot drink cautiously. Vic came in and sat in a chair beside me, taking his own cup.

"I'm going outside." I announced as soon as I was finished with the warm drink. It slid down my throat and rested in my stomach, warming all my veins. Vic and Jack looked up as I started to slide out of my seat and reach for the door.

"Um, Wynter, are you sure?" Jack asked me. I nodded, happy to be out.

"I'll go with you." Vic stated. I turned on my heel to face him, shaking my head.

"No, you won't. Don't worry about me. I'm not going out after Austin." I told him. It was true. All I wanted was a little fresh air and to look at the early morning sun. The outdoors would help clear my head. It always did. Jack and Vic looked at each other, expectantly.

"Okay, we'll be up to check on you in ten minutes. If you're not there, you are in big trouble." Jack told me seriously, but I had to grin.

"I'm just going out on the front porch." I explained. The two over protective boys let me go and I walked up the stairs and through the old hallways to the door. Closing it behind me, I froze on the front porch steps.

I wasn't alone.

The familiar scent of cologne and pine seemed to radiate from him and alerted me to his presence. Austin stood two feet away from the steps, on the little path that wound its way to the porch and was so faded it seemed non-existent.

We faced each other, neither of us moving. He looked the same-just like my father with the painful memories to back it up. The dark circles under his eyes had seemed to deepen from the day before. The loss of his mother and the loss of sleep had gotten to him.

Yet his eyes held the gleam of recognition and of the knowledge of a forbidden secret.

The silence hung by a single thread. Even a breath would tear it.

"I'm Austin Carlile, but you might already know that." His devilish smile gleamed. I couldn't help but be engulfed in the spark his eyes held. I held my tongue and didn't speak a word. Maybe it was my emotions that drove me forward, or me just being an idiot, but I eventually spoke.

"Wynter." I answered back. His eyes brightened.

"Wynter, I just wanted to let you know I'm not here to call the Guardians." He explained before I could lunge out at him.

Round one: Austin-1 Me-0

"Sure. And my brother is a Mexican." I scoffed, hopping he would believe my bluff. It was a truth and a lie. I was so pale no one would believe I had a blood related brother. But both Vic and Mike were basically my older siblings.

"I'm serious. I don't want trouble, I don't want anything like that. I just want to see my cat." He stated. His smooth voice cracked at the thought. I softened up a slight bit, thinking to the injured cat.

"He's fine." I responded curtly. I guess this was the guy that had shot me as well. Just thinking about it made the wound ache and itch at the same time. It was a devastating combination. Austin's eyes wandered automatically to the bandage, only slightly obscured by my shirt.

"Please, can I see him?" He begged. I shook my head firmly. He took a step towards me, and I hunched my shoulder, clenching my muscles and ready to spring.

"Let me see him." Austin frowned. I shook my head.

"Later. Your cat is still sleeping, and his leg is injured. I was told not to move him." I explained. Austin back off a little.

"Who explained?" He questioned. I hesitated.

"Jack. He lives with me." I decided not release any more information. Austin raised an eyebrow but didn't question otherwise.

"And I suppose you have a pet wolf with you as well?" He questioned. I had to use all my willpower to show him who the pet wolf was now.

"Yes, actually, we do." I spat. Austin came and sat down on the front porch. I backed up in case he decided to move any further. He wore a black shirt with jeans. Aviator sunglasses were hooked on the edge of his shirt, exposing more of his tattooed chest.

"Well, when can I see Ashton, my cat?" He asked. I thought for a moment, wanting to edge back into the room and hide.

No! I'll wait him out or kick him off the step!

"In a few days." I answered quickly, hoping he could suddenly just disappear.

"Okay. Just take good care of him for me." He told me, standing up. He came towards me and I fought the longing to jump into the shadows for safety and security. Austin extended his long hand for a handshake. I took his hand, knowing he would be back. I still didn't want to see him.

"Oh by the way, you're wolf is really pretty. I hope I get to see her self-proclaimed owner soon." He added in slyly before turning away and walking down the hill. I was taken aback by his comment.

He knew. Oh, he knew.

As soon as he was gone, I sprinted back inside with my nerves frazzled. Nothing seemed peaceful anymore, now that I had Austin to worry about.

Notes