As I sit waiting for Raven to return from dropping off Viri, I think about everything she told us.  But, although we all have a sorry back story, losing our parents, we always had each other and we always knew we were loved by our god parents. 

That made us secure and confident in dealing with the outside world and we all thrived in it, but I wonder just how much freedom she'd had growing up, the families she was linked to were all in the public eye and as I though about what I had heard about them in the press I knew I had never heard mention of her. Never heard the two families linked together...

I almost reached for my phone and googled her and the families but stopped myself, I wanted to hear about them from her directly.

"Jett?" Raven stood at the door, shit, I was so lost in my thoughts about Viri I hadn't heard him return.

"She got back safe?" I ask, knowing what a stupid question that was, of course she did or Raven wouldn't be standing there.

"What's up?" he drops down into his armchair and watches me.

"I'm jealous" I say without thinking, dropping my gaze as I realise just how true my words are. "Shit" I hiss.

"Understandable, you saw her first, but I'm not going to say sorry" he tells me and I raise my gaze to his.

"I know" I say reluctantly and he grins back at me "and I know you are the best one to be by her side, they won't mess with you but god I wish it was me"

"Jett, think about what Grey suggested, I know its something we've never considered before, but Viri is open to being friends with all of us and seeing where this goes"

"You asked her?" I ask him surprised.

"No. She brought it up" he sighed "She told me... When she first started school after being homeschooled, she had a boyfriend and friend who set her up, she said all she lost was her first kiss, but it knocked her Trust, and her confidence, that's one of the reasons she was keeping us out, but now we are in and she wants to see how things develop"

"Tell me they were dealt with" I growl at him and he nods with a dark grin.

"Her cousins on the scary side dealt with them, the friend ended up in jail for drug possession, while the boyfriend was mugged, badly"

"How did she feel about that?" I muse and he laughs.

"She is glad they didn't kill them, I think more for her families sake that theirs" he says.

"Do you think they will step in, if they find out about us?" I worry and Ravens brows raise in surprise, he hadn't though of that.

"I think as long as she is happy and safe we will be okay, just don't screw up" he replies sending me a look that indicates I might.

"I'll try" I tell him with a grin, getting up and grabbing his outstretched arm to pull him up.

"I'm going to pick her up from her dorm in the morning, and walk her to class, want to come with me?" he offers and I nod, pulling him into a bro hug before pushing him away.

"Thanks" I mutter with a grin before heading up to bed, knowing my dreams would be full of Viri again.

The next morning was cold and clear, and I ignored the ragging from my brothers as I was up and ready before all of them, not the usual start to my day, I had even started breakfast and had coffee made by the time they had come downstairs. 

Raven had laughed at me and shook his head as he had helped himself, Grey and Ash had muttered under their breath that it was unfair they hadn't been invited along too. But Ravens 'Maybe next time' had satisfied them.

"Ready?" He had finally said and we were on our way, I could feel the anticipation building, the nearer we got to her dorm.

Raven parked his truck in the dorm parking area and we grabbed our bags, he had told me he was planning on leaving his truck here and walking to classes, so we were heading for the reception area, when his arm coming out to stop me as he stopped "Look" he hissed.

Jamison was stood in the foyer, at the bottom of the staircase, with Viri three steps up from him, he was blocking her way.  We could see the strain on her face, her eyes darting around but no one was helping her, even though other students were aware and watching. Jamison's back was to us but his stance was aggressive and when she stepped to the side he did too, again intentionally blocking her way.

"Fuck him" Raven growled and started forward silently, I saw relief briefly cross Viri's face when she caught sight of our approach but I noticed she didn't let Jamison know. She knew however and I could see how it helped her relax with us there.
"Move please" we heard her ask him and he just laughed at her.
Jamison still didn't know we were there when we were only a step behind him.  However, The rest of the students who had been watching without stepping in had started whispering behind their hands and I noticed one or two phones raising to record the potential fall out.

I turned and glared at each one of them, making a mental note of who they were so I could follow it up if necessary, but most took the hint and hurried away. I turned back just as Raven stepped up next to Jamison and dropped his arm around the slightly shorter guy's  shoulders...
Oh Shit! I watched as Ravens arm constricted around his neck and he had Jamison locked in place.

Viri grinned at me as I rushed forward to her side "You okay?" I asked, reaching to take her bag from her and Raven pulled Jamison to the side, clearing the way for Viri to pass him, his grip around Jamison's neck now making him turn red and raise his arms to get free.

"This is assault!" he was threatening but Raven just laughed, raising his voice slightly so everyone could hear him.

"Why are you blocking my girls way" he asked.

We watched as Jamison's face paled slightly before he chocked out a reply. "She's with you?"

"Who the fuck did you think she was with?" Raven growls and Jamison eyes dart to me."Well who?" his arm tightened.

"Jett" Jamison spat out, his hands trying to free himself from Ravens hold.

"She's mine and even if she was with Jett, how does that give you any rights to block her way" Raven challenged, "Apologise" he orders.

I stand a step behind Viri as Raven pulls him round to face us, Jamison's eyes flashing hatred but he can't get free.

"Now!" Raven growls again.

"I'm sorry" Jamison spits out, avoiding looking at Viri, then he gasps as Raven tightens his hold again, giving Jamison a shake. The silent threat making him try again.
"I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable" he repeats, looking at Viri this time.

She gives Raven a small nod and with a hard shove Raven lets him go, Jamison ending up falling at Viri's feet, I hide my grin, fitting place for him. She takes a step back, her gaze focused on Raven and ignoring Jamison, but I watch him and see the fury on his face, as Viri steps past him and into Raven's arms and he guides her out of the foyer, I follow after a final glance at the rest of the people watching, most look shocked, some intrigued and a few hiding smiles as they watch Jamison pull himself up off the floor

I hope he is not stupid enough to try anything else after that but I know he's mad enough to want revenge for the humiliation he just received. I hurry out after Viri and Raven, finding them waiting for me outside.

"You okay?" I ask her again and she nods.

"Thank you, both of you, he just appeared and wouldn't let me pass, kept trying to take my hand and tell me how stupid I was to be dating a Steele" she explains, before scowling "No one stepped up to help and I wanted to stay where at least there would be witnesses, if I had gone back up the stairs he could have cornered me"

"Do you want to report him to the office?" Raven asked, tucking her into a side hug.

"No, after that I am sure he got the message, its fine" she told him and I caught Ravens glance over her head, I could see on his face that he also wasn't convinced it was over with Jamison.

"Come on lets get to class" I say to distract her and she nods, letting Raven hold her hand as we walk towards the Physics Hall.

"See you at lunch, be good for Jett" Raven says dropping a kiss onto her upturned lips before heading off to the library and I grin as I guide a slightly bemused Viri towards the classroom.

I'm aware of the covert looks and whispers behind hands, even though no-one said anything loud enough to reach us, but I didn't think she was, not until she touched my arm light. "Ignore them, I am" she whispers and I grin back at her, following her into the classroom.

"You're amazing" I say, earning a blush from her, as I place her bag on her desk.

"And I thing that you are biased, but why?" she questions, her head tilted as she looks at me. I grin again knowing she is unaware of how beautiful she truly is and how cute she looks with her head like that.

"Most girls would have freaked out over what Jamison did, but you just rolled with it and moved on, most girls would have played the victim for sympathy or to be the centre of attention" I tell her honestly.

"You really need to expand your female friend group if that's what you are used to" she tells me, as she shakes her head at me.

"You're probably right" I laugh back.  The arrival of the professor stopping further conversation.