The kitchen was silent while everyone waited for my reaction.

I sat frozen, holding my fork just above my plate, like someone had hit the pause button on my brain.

Jackson.

The guy who freaking ruined me, was going to be moving in? With us?

I was finally able to let go of the fork, and it dropped to my plate with a loud clank.

"What?" I asked with a small, humorless laugh as I glanced at Jackson, but he was just staring at his plate — kind of reminding me of that day in the cafeteria.

My eyes flicked to Elliott, who was rubbing the side of his face as he looked at the back door, like he was waiting for the right moment to make a break for it.

My weak attempt at laughter slowed as I turned to Mom with wide eyes, but she was back to eating her pasta like it was just another normal night. Like she hadn't just completely turned my world upside down.

In reality, I guess she didn't know any different.

As far as my parents knew, I'd just gotten over my 'hanging around the boys' phase. I couldn't tell them my brother's best friend not only turned me down, but ruined me in ways that would break their hearts.

I guess I could, actually — I wasn't sure why I never did.

At first, I was too embarrassed to admit it.

Then as time went on, it became more and more difficult to talk about.

I didn't want my brother to lose his best friend because of me.

Elliott and Jackson were like conjoined twins.

There were way too many possible complications with that surgery. And if something went wrong, I, the surgeon, was the only one to blame.

They seemed to go through life just fine stuck together, so I learned to deal with it — for Elliott.

At least, that's what I said to make myself feel better.

I knew I was refraining from picking up the scalpel because I was too scared.

I'd had plenty of opportunities to come clean, but if I brought it up after all this time, they would wonder why I'd kept it to myself for so long.

If I made one wrong move, said one wrong thing, my secret would be out.

I couldn't tell them I purposely kept my wounds open to keep myself motivated.

Because even though no one had called me chubs since that day, I never got an apology — from anyone.

And I was still angry.

"I just — I mean..." I continued, placing my palms on the table as I leaned forward. "What? I don't...why?"

"He needs a place to stay," Mom said calmly as she shrugged.

"Here? For how long? Why?"

"I got kicked out," Jackson added, making me look at him again. He was facing me with his lips pressed together, but his eyes were looking to the side.

What? His dad kicked him out?

If he was in college I could understand, but he's still in high school.

What kind of parent does that?

No. Do not feel sorry for him.

Feeling sorry led to more dangerous emotions — I had to stay angry.

He's a heartless dick. He probably deserved it.

"Why can't Dad just get him a hotel room or something?" I asked desperately, turning back to Mom.

"Brylee," Mom said in an exasperated tone, like I just suggested we give him a tent to sleep on the streets in.

What's wrong with the hotel?

We'd be doing him a favor, honestly. Those beds are amazing.

"What?" I asked defensively, looking away from Mom's glare to see Elliott rubbing his forehead worriedly. "He's eighteen; he can legally get a hotel room, right?"

"Brylee," Mom repeated, smacking her hand on the table lightly.

"It's a genuine question!" I threw my arms up in exasperation as I scooted my chair back.

"We're not shoving him in some hotel room," Mom lifted her nose, like the thought disgusted her.

"So that's a terrible idea, but letting an eighteen year old boy sleep in the room next to your seventeen year old daughter isn't?" I asked incredulously.

"Don't act like he's a stranger," Mom argued, the small wrinkles at the corners of her eyes showing her aggravation. "He's a friend in need."

Why am I the only one seeing how messed up this is?

"I'm, uh, gonna let you guys talk," Jackson cut in before I could respond, his chair screeching against the tile as he stood.

Mom cleared her throat before giving him a small smile. "The closet's already cleared out if you wanted to start putting clothes up."

Fuck. This is really happening.

Jackson's eyebrows twitched downward before he smoothed them out with a small smile, nodding at Mom.

"I'll help," Elliott piped up and quickly hopped out of his chair to catch up to Jackson, throwing an arm over his shoulder.

Jackson wordlessly shrugged him off before he walked into the living room.

"Don't be like that, man," Elliott said as he followed him out. "You get to wake up to this every morning — this is a happy day!"

I rolled my eyes as Jackson mumbled an incoherent response before the front door shut.

"What's gotten into you?" Mom brought my attention back to her, making me pull the corner of my lip between my teeth.

Well that's a fucking loaded question.

"I know you stopped hanging out with the boys when you met Kallie, but he's still your friend," she continued with a small frown, and it took everything in me not to laugh.

"He's your brother's best friend," she said softly, but still with a hint of sternness. "Friends are family around here, and we help family when they need it — you know we'd do the same for Kallie."

I scowled as I crossed my arms; I knew she was right.

Two years ago, Kallie stayed with us almost the entire summer break — she didn't adjust to the news of her mom dating again very well.

They were on good terms now, though. And the whole situation actually brought our moms closer, since Mom had to keep Ms. Beverly updated all summer.

I should be thankful to have such kindhearted parents, but right now, I wished they were a little less compassionate.

"Why are you so against this?" Mom asked, eyebrows pinching together as she watched me intently. Like if she stared hard enough, my thoughts would form in little bubbles above my head.

"He got kicked out of his own house! Do you even know why?" I asked as I leaned closer to her, narrowing my eyes.

"I know enough," she said sternly, clenching her jaw like she was trying to keep herself composed.

"Enough to trust him living here?" I asked in bewilderment.

"Do you have a reason for me not to?" She lifted a thin brow at me.

Not one that I can say out loud.

Dammit.

"I'm just gonna go lay down," I mumbled as I pushed myself away from the table and stood.

"Nothing's going to change, Brylee," Mom called after me before I walked out, making me scoff.

"Yeah," I said sarcastically, breathing out another humorless laugh.

I couldn't stop pacing.

Every time I heard movement on the other side of the wall, my scowl deepened.

When I heard two pairs of footsteps fading down the stairs again, I pulled out my phone to check the time.

The mall just closed, so I called Kallie, hoping she had her phone on her.

She picked up after three rings. "What up, Buttercup?"

"Come get me," I pleaded.

"I — wait, hold on a second," she said before I heard muffled voices in the background.

"Sorry, these idiots don't know how to fold a shirt properly," she raised her voice slightly, so said 'idiots' could hear. "What's wrong? I should be leaving here in ten — hopefully."

"I'll tell you when you get here, I just...really need to get out of here for the weekend," I said in a defeated tone.

"Oh, and just text me when you get here, I'll come outside," I added after thinking for a second.

I was supposed to be grounded, but I didn't even care. I just needed to get out.

And I knew if I didn't specify, Kallie would march right on in and blow my escape plan.

"Alrighty," she agreed without question before ending the call.

I plopped down on the edge of my bed and took a deep breath, trying to fight off the panic squeezing my chest.

My wounds were wide open, bleeding profusely. Like the day they happened.

He humiliated me.

He could've just said 'sorry, I just want to be friends', and everything would've been fine.

But no. He had to go to the extreme.

He had to make sure I got the message loud and clear — along with everyone else.

He was the reason I hated myself.

He was the reason no one talked to me at school after that day.

Until Kallie, that is.

A tray smacking the table in front of me made me jump, almost throwing the book I was reading.

"What up, Buttercup?" The girl said, taking a seat. She blew a frizzy blonde curl out of her face before giving me a big, toothy smile.

"Uh," I stuttered, glancing around the cafeteria.

"I'm Kallie."

I looked down at the dainty moon ring on her thumb before gingerly shaking her outstretched hand.

"Brylee," I said cautiously. "What're you doing?"

"Eating," she said as if it was obvious, shoving a soggy fry in her mouth. "Why aren't you?"

"I'm not really hungry," I shrugged before continuing. "I meant what're you doing here?"

"Oh! My mom and I just moved here," she smiled, not understanding I meant what was she doing here, with me.

"I saw you sitting by yourself," she continued, as if reading my mind, "and I don't know anyone, so here we are."

"Well, okay," I gave her a small smile and pointed at her hand. "I like your ring."

"Here, take it," she slipped it off easily and slapped it on the table.

I laughed, thinking she was joking, but stopped when she continued to just smile at me.

What's with this girl?

"I literally just met you, I'm not taking your jewelry," I shook my head, still laughing softly.

She held up her other hand, pointing at the matching sun ring on her thumb. "I still have my sun. Take it," she pushed again. "It'll be our little reminder of how a great friendship started."

What? She doesn't even know me.

The bell rang before I could say anything.

"Crap!" She squeaked before shoving as much of her burger in her mouth as she could. She gave me an enthusiastic wave before mumbling, what I thought was, 'see you around', and scurried to the crowd of students putting up their trays.

I looked down at the small moon ring still sitting on the table. Chuckling softly, I picked it up and slipped it on my pinky.

It fit perfectly.

I looked down at the moon ring that now lived on my thumb and smiled.

Our little reminder of how a great friendship started.

I didn't believe her back then. I thought she would back off as soon as she made other friends, but she never strayed from my side.

She had no issue striking up a conversation with anyone, but she said I was her soulmate.

I wasn't sure if I believed in soulmates, but if I did, Kallie was definitely mine.

My phone dinged, so I quickly picked it up.

My Sun: I'm outside

I quickly typed a response as I stood up.

Then my eyes landed on the bathroom door, and I froze.

Oh my God. The bathroom.

Not only was Jackson going to be sleeping on the other side of my wall, but I had to share my bathroom with him?

Not to mention, it only locked from the inside.

He basically had a personal doorway to my room.

Scurrying to the bathroom, I grabbed my notebook from the top drawer, glaring at the door that led to the guest room — Jackson's room.

I scowled as I turned the lock on the knob before going back to my room, dropping the notebook in my underwear drawer.

Then I tiptoed to my bedroom door and locked it, trying my best to be quiet. I didn't know why I felt like I would get caught if Mom heard me doing something as simple as walking around my room.

I'd never snuck out of the house before — I'd never felt the need to.

Another reason why I'd never snuck out struck me as I climbed out of my window, stepping onto the roof.

I was fucking terrified of heights.

Sitting on the roof was fine, but walking?

That was a whole 'nother ball game. And I missed all the freaking practices.

Even though I was pretty sure I was steady, it felt like my whole body was swaying as I made it to the edge.

Before I could talk myself out of it, I carefully placed one foot on the trellis that climbed up the side of the house, pushing down to test it.

Once I had convinced myself it could hold me, I made my way down at the speed of a sloth.

I smiled triumphantly when I was a couple feet from the ground — until I gripped a rough spot on the trellis, and it pierced my palm.

Hissing in pain, I quickly pulled my hand back, making me lose my balance.

Trying to catch myself only resulted in my hoodie sleeve snagging the rough wood, tearing as I fell into Mom's hydrangea bush.

Great. One more thing for Mom to be pissed about.

I groaned in pain, not moving from the awkward position I landed in, until I heard a noise to my left.

I whipped my head up to see Elliott peaking around the corner of the house, and we both let out a breath of relief.

"I thought you were a rabid dog!" Elliott put a hand to his chest.

"I thought you were Mom!" I whisper-yelled before struggling to get up.

"Wait, a rabid dog?" I wrinkled my nose as I straightened my shirt. Then I noticed the small orange glow next to his side. "And is that a cigarette?"

I knew I smelled something.

Mom is a respiratory therapist. She's going to kill him.

"No," he said quickly, throwing his hand behind his back. "What was I supposed to think with the noises you were making?"

I glared at him before putting on a sweet smile. "I'll keep your secret, if you help me keep mine?"

"Deal," he nodded without hesitation, and I almost laughed at how easy that was.

"Kallie's waiting for me, so..." I trailed off, pointing my thumb behind me as I took a step back.

"I'm sorry for not telling you," Elliott blurted out, making me stop and cross my arms.

"You should be," I said flatly while he took a long drag from his cigarette.

He turned his head to the side to blow out smoke before shrugging. "Mom wanted to tell you."

"Well I still don't understand why," I frowned.

"Why did he get kicked out?" I asked when Elliott stayed quiet as he threw the cigarette on the ground, stepping on it.

"I don't know the whole story," he said, scratching his jaw — he'd been doing that a lot today.

I squinted my eyes as I pulled my head back in confusion. "What do you know?"

"He got kicked out," he shrugged again and dropped his hand to his side, making me scoff.

There's no way he's serious.

He's Jackson's best friend. He should know something like this.

"Look, I know you guys don't talk anymore. And I'm not asking you to be best buds or anything like that, but just...try to be nice?"

I scoffed again and put a hand to my chest. "You're telling me to be nice? Why don't you tell him that?"

"I have — many times," he added before chuckling softly, like he was laughing at a joke I couldn't hear. Then he shook his head. "Both of you just need to grow the fuck up."

"Says the one who almost had a heart attack because he thought there was a little puppy coming for him," I retaliated with a snort.

He scowled and pointed a finger at me. "Rabid. Dog."

"Sure," I dragged out with a nod and pointed behind me again. "I should go before Kallie starts honking or something — keep Mom out of my room. Please."

"Fine. Go," he shooed me away with a wave of his hand.

It wasn't until I got to Kallie's car that I realized he wouldn't have to keep Mom out of my room, unless she planned on climbing through the window.

"Dammit," I hissed under my breath as I sat down in the passenger seat.

I wasn't thinking about how I'd get back in I was just thinking about keeping Mom and Jackson out.

"What?" Kallie asked as she turned the radio down.

Another thing to add to the list of reasons why I don't sneak out.

I'm an idiot.

"Nothing," I mumbled as I pulled the seatbelt across me, wincing when my palm started to sting.

"Why the hell are you so dirty?" She pinched her eyebrows together, looking me up and down.

"I was doing some late night gardening," I said sarcastically, frowning as I messed with the frayed tear in my sleeve.

Kallie laughed as she put the car in drive.

"I can't wait to hear about it."