I look between my brothers, noting the tension on all their faces.  Raven however looked set to take on the world and that was never a good thing.

"Raven?" I question and he growls at me before striding forward and throwing himself onto the sofa. 

"Tell me and I'll tell you" he says looking at Jett. "You first" he demands.

Jett and Ash tell us what Jack had told them, but I kept my eye on Raven, who sat in silence listening till finally he sighed.

"She knows people are talking about her but she doesn't know about this" he says quietly before groaning and running his hands through his hair.  "I've been studying with her, each evening, I didn't even think about the comments she would get, I saw her sitting there and wanted to see her closer"

"And?" Jett asked bluntly.

"She wasn't scared of me, she challenged why I wanted to sit with her but accepted me there, till tonight... she didn't show up and I was worried, so I went to her dorm"

Ash growled "That won't make it any better"

"And?" Jet prompted.

"She was upset about overhearing a conversation from some girls, taking about her and us, she hadn't realised till then we were brothers, I think it spooked her.  She was trying to distance herself from me to make the rumours go away" he pauses, "I told her it won't work, if she tries to move seats from partnering with you" Both Ash and Jett hiss at that suggestion "I told her it would make her more noticeable not less and... and I offered a solution" he says tensing as he looks away from us.

"What did you offer?" I leant forward, my eyes on him and was surprised to see the expressions chase across his face, determination, want, guilt.  His eyes finally came up to meet mine.

"I told her to be my girlfriend, that way your closeness to her can be taken as you looking after her for me" he says and waits... Jett explodes first, his voice just seconds ahead of Ash's as they accuse him of taking advantage of the situation.

I lean back and listen them yell at him, but its Raven I watch, he's not sorry he suggested this, he wants it. "You want her to go out with you" I state, shutting our brothers up with my comment as a little curiosity enters their glares. None of us had considered Raven would be interested as well.

"I do" he agrees "I think out of all of us, it is better if it's me, others would be less likely to mess with her. 

"What did she say?" Ash demands and Raven laughs.

"She said No, that she was here to study not date, I told her to think about it over the weekend and asked for her number"

"You got her number... give!" Jett leans forward but Raven shakes his head, a small grin showing as he looks at us.

"She doesn't have a phone, says she doesn't need one" he tells us and laughs at the surprised looks on our faces. "Yep, that's what I thought too" he adds.

"She needs a phone" I muse worriedly.  "If Jamison try something or even Sigma Beta, she may need help, we should get her one"

"I don't think she will take it" Raven tells me "She is determined to be self sufficient and stay away from us, but I do agree with you, it would be safe if she has one.  How do we get her to accept?"

I lean back and study my brothers, we are all interested in Viridian but its unusual, for us and her.  Raven was right, if she's linked to one of us it would stop some of the rumours and protect her a little but deciding was going to be a challenge. I wanted it to be me, but I recognised Raven's claim that he would be best, he was right.  Of all of us he was the one people went out of their way to avoid upsetting, and he was the 'nerd' of our family, his brains way ahead of the rest of us, even if we were no slouches either, Raven was genius level smart.

"Fuck, I hate I'm agreeing but Raven is right" I tell my brothers, shutting up the raised voices with a glare. "And you both know it". I sit down and groan. "We've brought this on her, with our interest, but how far would you go for her?" I ask them all, my gaze snagging Ravens.

"What are you suggesting?" he asks carefully.

"Lets tell her the truth about what's happening, she needs to know, even if it's just to be aware of what's happening around her, what the risks could be, and" I look between my brothers, seeing I had their attention. "Let be there for her, all of us" I say.

Jett laughs darkly "What are you saying, bloody share her!" he's on his feet glaring at me.

"No" Ash growls as Raven murmurs "its an idea"

I grin to myself, my brothers had instantly leapt to the solution I could see working for all of us, but hadn't voiced. I hold up my hands "I didn't say anything about sharing her, I think Raven's right, it would have to be him" I tell them.

I look at Raven and find him looking at me, his gaze calculating as he assesses me, then the others. "We tell her the truth and protect her from those fuckers, if she agree's, she's mine... in everyones view for her safety but I think we can all be her friend and if that leads to more, then I would be open to that solution, with you all"

"Your serious!" Jett says shocked looking between us.

"Yes" I agree.

"Can you think of a better way and keep her safe?" Raven asks him.

"They're right" Ash mutters with a hiss "If either Jamison or Sigma Beta try anything..." he tails off and we can hear the concern in his voice.

"So how do we do this" I ask Raven.

"Lets find out everything we can about who's talking about her, then on Monday we can let her know what's going on and what the risks are..." he grinned "and our solution"

"And if she accepts?" Jett asks.

"Then we give her a phone and make sure she's protected at all times" Raven replies, settling back into the chair.

"And if she doesn't accept?" Ash asks.

"Then we watch from a distance and do what we can, until she needs us" and a worried look crosses his face, we don't ever want it to get that far.

"Agreed" I tell them all.

"I don't like it but I agree to keep her safe" Ash growls and we all look at Jett, waiting fro his response.

"Okay" he bites out before leaving the room, slamming the door behind him.

"That went well" Raven chuckles and we both glare at him.