Chapter 1

I jolted up. "Shit! Not again!" I sit up quickly. I was half naked in only boxers and drenched in sweat."Why can't I forget?" I yell. I hear cries of terror. Shit, I thought. I quickly put on a pair of pants and run out of my room to my sister's. I push open the door to her baby blue and pastel pink room. I find her trembling under her blankets. "Hailey," I say pulling at the blankets. I hear her mumble something. "What was that?" I ask.

A girl with long dirty blonde hair peeked her head through the blankets. "Big brother," she said, her dark orange eyes still filled with unshed tears, looking up at me. She jumps into my outstretched arms. "Big brother!"

I cuddled her until her sobs turned into stifled sniffs. When she finally stopped crying, I pulled away from her. She grabbed my wrist and shook her head. I chuckled at her. "It's okay. You're safe forever and always."

She looked up at me and smiled. "Okay, big brother," she said cheerfully. She started to bounce on my lap, singing a song:

Love's Just a Feeling (feat. Rooty)

Lindsey Stirling

Lyrics

I wonder what I'm running from

Stay inside and barricade the doors

Miss the sun to avoid the storm

Would do anything to feel the warmth

I wonder where I'm going wrong

'Cause love's just a feeling

Some kind of emotion

When you need the healing

When you're all broken

Don't over think it

But for the moment live slowly

'Cause love's just a feeling

And right now I'm open, I'm open

I wanna fall like I won't hit the ground

I wanna dance like nobody's around

Walk on the edge and not look down

Follow my heart and lose my head into the clouds

It took a while but I'm here now

'Cause love's just a feeling

Some kind of emotion

When you need the healing

When you're all broken

Don't over think it

But for the moment live slowly

'Cause love's just a feeling

And right now I'm open, I'm open

I hold my hands up

Afraid of so much

It's time I let it all go

Maybe I've lost touch

In all the blind love

I'm gonna let it all go

'Cause love's just a feeling

Don't over think it

'Cause love's just a feeling

Some kind of emotion

Don't over think it

But for the moment live slowly

When she finished singing and I gave her a curious look. Which her only response was "what it's a nice song. I like it."

"I know you do, I like it too. The question I want to ask is what do you know about love?" I asked quizzically.

"Well, I know that you and your girlfriend struggle with love sometimes. Big brother don't look at me like that. You know it's true."

I glared daggers at Hailey, my cheeks flushed bright red. She knows I hate when she talks about my complicated relationship with Candy. Candy is my pale green eyed, redheaded girlfriend. "I thought I told you not to mention her or our relationship without her here."

She pouted. "Okay."

I petted her head. "I'm sorry that I woke you but you need to go back to sleep." She mumbled a "yes brother," then crawled back under her blankets and drifted off to sleep.

I go back to my room and get in my bed. But I didn't go back to sleep. I never do.

~~

"Hailey," I call, "it's time for breakfast!" I got early so I could make breakfast for the two of us. We both have school, Hailey is in the fifth grade and I'm in the tenth.

Hailey came downstairs with her newly dyed French braids. "What's for breakfast?" She queries as she sits in her usual place.

"Pancakes, eggs, bacon, and sausage," I said setting a plate at both of our places at the table.

"All my favorites!" Hailey said as she dug in.

I chuckled and ate my own food. When we were both finished eating and getting dressed, we went to go to get Candy.