Stretching tiredly I opened my door. My body ached like hell and sleep is the only cure. I slowly made my way to my sanctuary: my bed and looked at it lovingly. If the bed were a person, we would be married, like seriously, I have the best relationship with it...

I didn't bother switching on the light, my eyes would get accustomed to it soon anyway

Turning my back to it I sighed in contentment and just let myself fall back on it... Only, that didn't go quite as planned...

Instead of hitting a soft mattress, I instead hit a hard bump. I gasped quietly as the bump moved...

Okay, It's not a pillow...

Taking deep breaths, I stayed in my place until the creature stopped moving.

Ok, it can't possibly be anything that I can't take on right?

I slowly stood up and looked back inspecting the bump. I couldn't see much in the dim light, But I could make out enough. What could it possibly be? I walked around the bed inspecting it. The creature was however covered by the blanket completely. Pulling up a baseball bat, I exhaled out.

'Please be dobby, here to welcome me into Hogwarts, please, please', I chanted in my mind '..or Santa' I shrugged as a second thought. Now or never. I put the bat under the bedsheet and yanked it up with force.

Soft ruffled up hair was what I saw first.

I sighed in disappointment, a girl could dream..

Wait..

Hold on a second...

Woah, Ok, rewind!

What in the name of spicy chicken popcorn was this guy doing on my bed?!

And then I saw it, a sight that made my blood boil, wrapped up in his arms with absolutely no care in the world was Rico! My teddy bear! Mine!

Oh, he just crossed the line. The thin line

Hell. To. The. No!

The guy suddenly stirred awake. he was just about to turn over when I released a war cry. Jumping on top of him, I pulled Rico out of his hand. 

"What the.." he said in a groggy voice.

"AAAAAAAH! You will pay!" I screamed interrupting him as I pulled at his hair.

"OW, wait, just.." I didn't let him say anything as I jumped on him. I stood up as the guy groaned. He was just about to turn around when I pulled off the mattress he was on, rolling him off the bed. He fell down, hopefully on his face.

Letting out a breath, I wiped the sweat off of my forehead.

Okay then...

Picking up Rico, I hugged him close. "Don't worry, I'm here to save you," I whispered. "I'll be right back," I said as I jumped off the bed to see the guy still groaning.

"Hah, Take that!" I said proudly. Aaron would be proud of me.

"Now, I'm gonna call 911," I reported gleefully. I did a mental hair flip. My first ever criminal experience. The people at school better watch out.

I was just about to reach the phone when My leg was suddenly yanked.

I swear to god!!

I fell down with a thud. If bums had bones, mine would have been fractured and dislocated beyond belief, I tell you!

The guy who pulled me down panted out a "Wait," 

Oh, like hell I would wait.

For all the ninjas out there, I stand proof!   

Before I could do anything, He yanked my leg further making me completely fall flat on the ground with him hovering above me on one elbow. With the shadow still on his face, I couldn't make out his features, which he should seriously thank his stars for!

Once I see his face, he'll regret the day he was born.

Adrenaline kicked into my nerves as I pulled my hand back to punch him. Catching on quickly he held my hand and pinned it down on the floor beside me. My other hand was already trapped under him 

Ugh!! Someone kill this guy already!

I hated this! Not being in control! A memory suddenly gushed into my head and I closed my eyes tightly.

No Avey, don't go there! Just don't!

The guy was still panting. He was trying to say something but he wasn't done catching his breath. I just turned my head to the side and tried in vain to pull my hands the hell away from him.

"Oh God!" he breathed out. With difficulty he took the other hand he was resting on and switched on the table lamp beside the bed. Turning my head I took in his features as relief flooded through me.

"Just me," He said as I tried steadying my breathing.

"Aaron," I breathed out. Taking in the panic in my eyes he caught on quickly as he released my hands.

"Relax." he said in a hoarse voice.

Under normal circumstances, I would have made use of him getting off of me to lift up my knee and kick him in his family jewels. Trust me. He deserved that.

But immediately, I knew something was wrong.. I took in his bloodshot eyes and pale face. His hoarse voice just confirmed that something horrible had happened. I still remembered the last time I had seen him like this when his parents got divorced and we were 7.

"Aaron," I whispered out shakily, half getting up as I searched his eyes. He lifted his eyes to look at me. Empty. Broken. Right there my heart broke. Without thought, I put my arms around his neck, pulling him close. He buried his face into my neck and wrapped his arms around my waist.

I felt my sleeve getting wet but I didn't care. I slowly glided my thumb down his hair trying to soothe him.

Aaron never cried. I for one had never seen him cry. Aaron was the strong one. He was my rock through everything and it broke my heart to see my best friend cry. Without even realizing it, at one point I started crying too. I felt the tears trickle down my cheeks. We sat there for what felt like hours just hugging each other. I don't know when it happened but both of us finally fell asleep. 

*****

I twisted and turned not able to find a comfortable position. I couldn't figure out why the bed was so hard. Somebody gently lifted up my head and I felt something soft placed under it. Sighing in contentment I snuggled closer to the pillows. I heard a small sigh as the person moved away hair sticking to my face. A hand then came around my waist.

I could feel the sunlight on my eyelids as I struggled to keep it out. Yawning, I finally opened my eyes. The pillow I was lying on was black.

Huh.

Blinking twice, my vision cleared up at last. The first thing I realized was that the bed was next to me. Slowly memories of the previous night drifted into my head.

Aaron.

Looking down I saw that what I was lying down on wasn't a pillow but somebody's hand, more like a shoulder. I tried turning around but I was restricted by the hand that was still on my waist. I squirmed a little and the hold was loosened. I slowly turned around to see Aaron looking at me with tired eyes. I moved closer to him as he hugged me.

"Aaron?" I said quietly with my head still in his chest. After a long pause, he replied.

"Hmm?" he hummed. I gently pulled my head up to look at him to see him glancing off into space. Gently pulling his face, I brought his eyes down to look at mine. 

"What's wrong?" I whispered as he shook his head slightly. "Aaron?" I asked again as he finally looked at me.

"She's not going to make it." he said, his voice cracking at the end.

"Who?" I asked hesitantly

"Grandma," he whispered out tiredly.

My heart just broke further. Aaron loved his grandmother more than anybody else in the whole world. She was a widow, very young in life, a few years after having Aaron's mother. She always smiled and loved baking. Aaron was never close to his parents, what with his father only caring about his public image and his mom about her career, he was alone.

Aaron and I clicked so well because, deep down, I related to him, to his life, I was, however thankful to be blessed with a wonderful family. I couldn't ask for a better one. But I knew the feeling of loneliness all too well because as much as my parents loved me they tried more to give me the best of everything when the only thing I really wanted was just their time.

Aaron's grandma or nana as he fondly called her practically raised him. she protected him from the constant fights his parents had from the divorce as well as the kids who bullied him at school. She was the only person Aaron considered family.

"Aaron.." I said, not knowing how to continue the sentence.

"The doctor said that she's counting her last days... more like, last hours," he said in a broken tone. I gasped quietly processing the news.

"Mom didn't even come, Avey." he sobbed out still looking in shock "And dad is picking out a location for her funeral," he said bitterly, shaking his head.

I slowly entwined our fingers and gave his hand a reassuring squeeze.

"She doesn't deserve it," he said as a tear glided down his cheek. "She just doesn't," he whispered out brokenly as his fingers tightened around mine.

"I know." I said softly, "Where is she now?" I asked looking at him.

"A hospital, just two miles away from here," he said as I nodded.

We then sat in silence, both of us wrapped up in our own thoughts. Him thinking about his grandma and me about him.

 "What am I going to do without her Avey?" he asked as I looked up to face him again. "She's the only family I have," he said quietly. "She's the only one who cares," he said staring off into space.

Oh, no he didn't. 

Raising myself up on one elbow, I looked at him sternly. "Don't you dare say that!" I scolded. "What do you think I'm sitting here for, huh?" I asked. I puffed out a breath of air

"I care, Aaron," I said slowly so he understood every word. "I always will, okay?" I asked looking into his eyes seriously. He simply looked at me as I calmed down, "I love you, you know that right?" I asked as he sighed before pulling me closer and resting his chin on my head.

"Seriously, though, you'll never leave?" he asked a few seconds later.

"Yeah, Don't worry, You won't get that lucky," I mumbled into his shirt finally making him chuckle.

"Oh, lord! Joy!" he said sarcastically and I smiled into his shirt, shaking my head. Suddenly, a thought struck me and I pulled away from. He looked back at me slightly.

"You said your grandma has only a few hours right?" I said. He nodded catching a drift of what I was asking him.

"Yeah... She wanted me to stay... but, I just, I- couldn't," he said frustratedly. "I, I can't watch her die, Avey," he said brokenly.

"I understand that..." I started feeling horrible for him "But Aaron, your mom and dad aren't going to be there.. either," I said.

It would be so horrible to spend your last hours alone. Nobody deserved that. I could understand how  Aaron felt as well but she was going to leave, She deserves to have someone holding her hand before she passed away. 

"I'm scared," Aaron admitted with a shaky voice. 

Holding his hand, I lightly pressed it "Don't be. You don't have to do it alone. I'll be standing right there with you," I assured him gently and he nodded his head, letting out a breath.

Leaning forward, he gently kissed my forehead before hugging me again.

"Thank you..." He breathed out into my hair.

"Anytime." I said truthfully.

******

My phone rang and I picked it up to see 'Daddy' flashing on the screen. I immediately picked it up and placed it to my ears.

"Hey pumpkin," my dad's voice greeted me as I mentally rolled my eyes at the nickname.

"Hey daddy," I said with a sigh.

"I was just wondering if you heard from Aaron? I heard he wasn't home last night." My dad said worriedly.

"Yeah, he was here," I said laying back on the bed.

"Oh, thank god!" Dad said in relief. "How is he coping, though?" my dad asked again. "his dad was saying his grandma is seriously ill." he continued.

"Not too well..." I answered honestly. "Really bad actually," I said with a sigh. "We're going to the hospital now," I added.

"Aww, muffin! It's going to be okay." my dad said worriedly.

"I don't know dad.." I said shutting my eyes.

"Just be there for him okay? You know he's a fighter. He'll come out of it stronger," my dad said soothingly.

"You think so?" I asked hesitantly

"I know so." My dad assured me. "Just take the day off today, okay? He needs you more than we do right now," he said.

"Thanks, daddy." I said with a smile.

"Anything for you apple pudding! Love you honey!" he said lovingly.

"Love you too dad." I said with a smile. hanging up, I pushed the phone into my pocket just as Aaron came out of the bathroom, fully clothed.

"Ready?" I asked him and he nodded slowly.

***

The drive to the hospital was short. We didn't say anything the whole ride. I figured he needed some time and he was completely occupied in his thoughts.

We didn't need to stop at the reception as Aaron knew his way around. We finally reached the room. Aaron stopped there just staring at the door looking very hesitant. I slowly put my hand in his making him turn and look at me. I gave him a reassuring look before reaching forward and pushing the door open.

There on a bed was Aaron's grandma. She looked paler than usual yet completely rested. Her eyes had a soft radiant glow about them as she looked at both of us. An elderly doctor next to her turned to look at us as well. He gave Aaron a small smile on recognizing him.

"I'll leave you to say your goodbyes then," he said sympathetically, patting Aaron's back as he passed by us. Aaron simply nodded.

Once the doctor left, we both made our way next to her bed. Aaron sat on one of the stools there and with shaky hands, took her hands in his. "I'm here for you," he whispered out gently. The old woman smiled fondly at him.

"I love you Aaron, remember that okay? I'll always be watching over you." She said and Aaron nodded with a down cast look. Leaning forward, he kissed her forehead gently.

"I love you too nana." He whispered out brokenly, squeezing get hand lightly. She smiled back at him.

She looked at me and reached out her other hand to me. I wordlessly took it and moved closer to her "We're here for you" I said as his grandma finally smiled peacefully. looking at both of us, a sigh escapes her and she takes her last breath.

Aaron kisses her hand before taking his hand out of hers. taking my hand out of hers I placed it by her side.

Going over to the other side of the bed, I hugged Aaron tight and he did the same back to me.

"She's gone." Aaron said finally.

All I could do was nod.

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AN: TOO sleepy to say anything *yawns*

Avalon: I just wanna say thank you so much to @TasneemiBunny for this beautiful cover. We all love it.

Author: I just finished reading 3 stepbrothers. I cried so much like.. That is downright the best book I've read n wattpad. I cannot believe it's finally over *weeps* Please, read if you haven't already! You won't regret it!

Avalon: *sighs* There, there.

Author: Where are the rest of them?

Avalon: Asleep, like most decent people are at this hour. *rolls eyes*

Author: Woah, 2:30! *yawns and closes her eyes*

Avalon: And, she's out! Oh wait, I'm the only one! Woohoo! Okay, here goes. Vote! Comment! and Share!. *dances around in joy* Love you guys!! Till next time! Bye!!

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