Who watched 13 Reasons Why?
***

It is about 30 minutes later until the twins arrive. We are all talking and joking about when there's a loud chuckle from behind me, making me jump slightly in shock. I watch my Mom's smile grow as she stands up from her seat so I turn around to see what the fuss is all about.

Both of them has similar features to their Dad and defiantly stands out in crowd, catching the eyes of every girl in the restaurant. One of the twins has stunning blue eyes like myself while the other had hazelnut. They are tall and very muscular, dimples on the side of their cheeks as they walk towards us. Both of them wear dark suits like their father, one was wearing black and the other navy - the one in navy is the friendly looking one, a smile on his face unlike his brother, who doesn't express anything.

"Axel, Austin." Mom says, grinning as they kiss her cheek before taking a seat beside her and Bryan.

"Hey, Cali, Dad." The one with the blue eyes replies as he sits beside Mom, the other brother copying his actions.

"Axel, Austin, I want you to meet someone." She gestures towards me and I instantly tighten my grip on Jay's hand, panic spreading through me for some unknown reason. The twins look over to me, shock covering their face as realisation hits them. I give a meek smile and wave, hoping that they won't notice my tensed body and nervousness.

"Boys, meet your step-sister, Paris, and her boyfriend, Jay." Bryan announces with a stunning smile as he takes a sip from his wine glass, Mom sending him a warm look when he does. Jay is the first to react, leaning over the table, letting go of me hand, and holding his hand out.

"It's a pleasure to meet you guys." He shakes their hands, sending his million dollar smile and the one with the blue eyes sends one back while the other nods, emotionless.

"You too." The one with the hazelnut eyes say, the second twin repeating after him. Once Jay is back in his seat, the twins look over to me, eyes shimmering with fascination. The one in navy sends me a kilowatt smile that can make any girl swoon and feel like they've gone to heaven while the other clenches his jaw slightly and narrows his eyes at me, causing me to stiffen in fear, something I never do.

"Paris, it's so nice to meet you." The blue eyed twin says, fixing up his navy suit. "I'm Austin."

"And I'm Axel." The other one greets, gruffly and less soft than his brother.

"Paris." I croak out, my breath hitch in my throat. I swallow and exhale, trying to calm my breathing, Jay holds onto my hand and squeezes it reassuringly.

"We've heard so much about you." Austin grins, sipping on his wine.

"You have?" I whisper, quite surprised.

Austin gives me a small smile, nodding his head. I look over to Axel, his aura much more gloomy compare to his bubbly brother. Axel stares me down as if I'm not real and once he catches my eyes, he gives a small smile but it disappears as quickly as it came, pure shock in my eyes at the faint sign of kindness he's shown.

"We already order lobster, it should arrive soon." Bryan explains, texting on his phone, not bothering to look at his sons. Mom notices him being distracted and nudges him, sending a glare to which he sighs and places his phone on the table.

"Why lobster?" Austin frowns. "It's got a hard shell and you know I hate shells. Remember he I coated on it once?"

"You're not meant to eat hard shell, dumbass. That's why you choked." Axel scoffs.

Mum rolls her eyes and I let out a soft smile, glancing over at Jay as I do so. He grins at me before looking back at the family I've come to know. When the waiter comes over, holding a tray of lobster, my stomach involuntarily rumbles, making Jay chuckle as he pecks my cheek and sends me a smirk.

"Hungry?" He whispers into my ear, sending eclectic sparks through my body. "I can give you something else to eat."

I bite my lower lip and blush at his suggestively words, looking anywhere but him. Heat rises up my neck and I suddenly feel scared that it will show on my cheeks so I try as I hard as I can to fight down the blush.

"Shut up." I retort lamely, and Jay chuckles, kissing the side of my head before leaning away.

We all fill our plates with the food that we have order and begin to eat, the divine food filling my hunger on the first bite and makes my mouth water in hunger.

"So, Paris, are you still in high school?" Austin asks, taking a bite in the lobster after looking at it disapprovingly, another smile appearing on my face when he scowls at the food.

"Yeah. It's my last year." I reply back, taking a timid bite into my lobster.

"I hope you're not spreading too much time partying." Mum warns, her eyes narrowed, a small jilt of happiness shots through me at her motherly tone, a tone I've been missing for so long.

Jay chuckles and shakes his head, answering my Mom's question with such pride it makes me feel loved and cared for. "Ma'am, Paris may hold the biggest parties but she is the top student at school."

"Oh, don't call me Ma'am, Jay. It's makes me feel old." Mum chuckles and shakes her head in disapproval. "Call me Cali, we are family now." He smiles at her with a nod, his posture relaxing as he understand that he has my Mom's approval.

"I'm proud that you are looking after your grades." Axel slips in, his voice low, so I look over to him, his face still emotionless.

"So am I." Austin chides in with a softer smile than his twin. Axel scowls at Austin and rolls his eyes before focusing his attention on me, making me wonder what has happened to him.

"So, how old are you guys?" I ask, curiously. Austin looks over to Axel, who just shrugs in reply and stuffs a piece of lobster in his mouth, causing Austin to wrinkle his nose up like a bunny rabbit in disgust.

Austin sighs sorrowfully at his brother's action and looks at me, smiling widely again as if whatever happened with Austin didn't happen.

"23. Axel is only 5 minutes older than me."

"Really?" I blurt, surprised that they are actually that young.

"Why do you look surprised?" Austin asks, frowning slightly again, that happy smile of his disappearing but there's still a faint glitter of amusement in his blue eyes, a trait we both share.

I shrug. "I thought you guys are older."

Austin gasp, feigning hurt, as he clutches onto his chest, above where his heart is. "I'm hurt. We are not that old."

He pauses, thoughtfully. "Well, maybe Axel is." He leans closer to me, a mischievous glint shimmering in his eyes and I smile at it, relaxing in his playfulness. "Between you and me, I saw a couple of grey hair."

I giggle along with Mum, Bryan and Jay, even Axel cracks a smile but still rolls his eyes in annoyance.

As I take another bite into my food, I ask. "What do you guys work as?"

"I'm an engineer, Dad owns his own business and Axel is heir to the company." Austin explains, finishing up all his food even though he complained about it.

"Seriously? What's your business, Bryan?"

He looks up from his meal, eyes lit up with excitement at the sound of his company, causing Mom to roll her eyes and scowl. "I own 3 major oil factories across the US and UK. I also own hotels in America."

"That sounds like a handful. I bet the meetings are awful." I state in matter factly.

"Boring as fuck." Axel mutters and I giggle while Mum scowls at him, flinching at his explicit language.

"Axel, language." She scolds and he sends her a unamused look to which she returns back.

"How do you know?" Bryan asks, smiling at me as if his son hasn't said anything rude.

"Dad took me to them when I was a little girl." I look down, unhappy memories coming into my mind. "I was having problems at school." I glance at Jay, who sends me an assuring smile. This gesture doesn't go unnoticed by my Mom but I take no notice of it.

"So Dad took me to most of the meetings, allowing me to avoid everything there since I didn't want him to deal it anyway else."

"Probably didn't understand what was going on?" Austin jokes, trying to break the tension that I have brought. I shake my head, smiling meekly, trying to act as if everything is fine but it isn't and it will never be.

"Not one word." I stand up from my seat and place the napkin on top of my empty plate. "Excuse me, please."

I walk away, my nerves buildings up, my hands shaking. I walk towards the hallway that leads down to the bathroom and when I do, it's quiet and desolate. I feel so tug on my wrist and I turn around, jumping at the contact but relaxing when I see who it is. He pulls me into his chest and I sniff, clutching on his shirt as he murmurs soothing words into my ear. My cheeks begin to stain with wet tears and I know that I'm ruining his shirt too.

"It's okay, babe. It's okay now." Jay  says in a hushed tone. "Let's go somewhere. Let's get away for a while."

I look up, my eyes all blotchy and red, I'm pretty sure my makeup is ruined too. "Where to?"

He kisses my lips, murmuring softly. "Anywhere."

When I cleaned myself up in the bathroom, we went back to the table to find the bill paid for and everyone packing up. Austin notices me first and murmurs something Mom, causing her to look up with a sad look on her face. I know she wishes she was there for me but she wasn't and in someways I don't mind that because if she was there, I wouldn't be the girl I am today.

"Are you okay, sweetheart?" Mum asks, worriedly, as she walks over to me and hugs me, her motherly aura embracing me like a blanket.

"I'm okay. I just need to go now." I reply, pulling away so I don't break down again.

"Okay, if you wish. It has been a wonderful day. I'm so happy that I met you. That I met my beautiful baby Paris. I love you, sweetheart." Mum kisses my forehead, my eyes closing as I take in the caring gesture that I've missed for so long.

"Love you too, Mum." When we pull away, Austin pulls me into an embrace, his arms wrapping around me tightly as he rests his chin on top of my head.

"Bye, Paris. It has been amazing to meet you." He mumbles and I nod, wordless. After Bryan hugs me but it is sweet and short, no words are exchanged between us and there's no need for it to be. While Austin and Bryan talk to Jay, I walk over to Axel, who has been quiet all lunch and silently leaning against a pillar, watching everything that is happening.

"Hey." I whisper and he looks at me, hazelnut eyes filled with emotions that aren't on his face.

"Hey."

"It was great to meet you." I blurt, hating the silence between us.

It becomes quiet but he breaks it after a minutes or two. "It's been great to meet you too."

I send him a smile and about to turn away when he pulls me into a hug, his arms holding me tightly like Austin did as if he doesn't want to let go. I relax into my older step-brother's arms, warm and safe, smiling as I return the hug back. My arms curl around his waist and his around mine, my head resting on his chest, his heart thumping in a rhythmic way like a drum.

"I'm so happy to have a younger sister." Axel murmurs more to himself than me. Axel is like me, I notice as he holds me tightly against his chest. He locks himself away and builds up walls so he will not get hurt, I see it in his hazelnut eyes and I see the pain, it's as if the memory of what pained him hasn't left him. And I understand.

So I whisper back softy so only he can hear. "Don't be sad, Axel. It will get you no where. Trust me, I know."

He stiffens but nods nevertheless, a silently understanding forming between us. When we let go, he gives me a soft smile before sending a hard look to the person behind me.

"You hurt her man, and I will break your bones." Axel threatens and Jay smirks, confidently, sends a wink at me, making me blush and look away.

"Why would I ever hurt her if it's just going to hurt me?"

I entwine our fingers together, my other hand clutching onto his arm. Axel sends him a firm and respected nod before looking at me with a soft yet small smile, one that has his eyes shinning like a million stars.

"Because pain comes from those who hate what you have." Axel replies and for some reason his words stuck with me, engraved into my mind.

"It was wonderful to meet you." I say, happily and they all reply back, making my happiness grow bigger. As Jay and I exit the restaurant, a wave of relief rushes over me and I sigh in happiness, clutching onto his arm in order to help me stay up since I am feeling a bit light headed.

"See that was easy?" Jay says as we enter his car and strap our belts on.

"Did you mean what you said?" I blurt out once we are on the road.

Jay looks at me before back on the road, a small smile playing on his lips. "Why wouldn't I?"

I roll my eyes and hold onto his free hand, looking out the scenic view, my shoulder feel light and not heavy. "So where are we going next?"

He looks at me, eyes slightly less happy, as we break at a red light on the traffic light. My breath hitches and I have a strong urge to hug him and comfort him, in order for the sadness to disappear from his eyes because I don't like it there, it hurts me and makes my heart clench. Instead of leaning over, I squeeze his hands in reassurance like he does with me and give him a soft smile but nothing prepares me for what he says next.

"It's time for my story."

••••
Edited | 12.4.17
I quite like this chapter and proud of it. What do you guys think?

I've been so busy, writing up drafts for my other stories, I forgot that I'm editing this. No fear, I'll soon be back on track and hopefully find in this edit by Mid-May or better yet before my birthday.

LMB