Chapter Six

N ow that I don't have to worry so much about the bullying at school, the months fly by. I no longer have to duck my head and slip past people, hoping the bullies don't notice me. Ever since Jaxon stood up for me, everybody steers clear.

"What are you doing?" I ask Jaxon. I linger outside his bedroom door, curious about why he's putting on his boots when it's nine in the evening.

He looks up from his spot on the bed, bent in the middle as he fixes his bootstraps. "Going out."

My eyebrows rise up my forehead, and I timidly step forward, hesitant to go any closer. "Where are you going?"

"Out." He stands and pulls on the black jacket lying on the mattress. I notice a black object that was under his jacket, out of sight until he grabs it.

I tilt my head, scrunching my face as I try to get a closer look by leaning just past his doorway. Jaxon notices my curiosity and snatches the thing from his bed, then stuffs it into his pocket.

"What was that?" I ask, unable to help myself. Jaxon's been a lot more patient with me, and for that, I'm grateful. Had I asked that question earlier this year, he would've already been yelling at me.

He eats the space between us with long strides and pinches my chin between his fingers. "Stop asking questions, Dahlia."

His eyebrows slash down in a glare that holds no heat. I stand a little taller than him, thanks to the growth spurt and how girls mature faster than boys.

I jerk my chin out of his hold, only for him to catch it again. "Is Dad taking you out again?"

"Dahlia," he warns.

He pulls me inside his bedroom, then shoves me against the wall. I grunt from the force, but it doesn't hurt. It only shocks me and steals my breath for a moment. Jaxon leans in closer, his fingers tightening their grip on my chin.

"Stay inside and make sure all the lights are off."

I blink, then wrack my mind, trying to figure out what he means by that. Halloween happens in three weeks, so it can't be about trick-or-treaters. "Why?"

Jaxon's eyes harden, and I know I'm pushing his buttons. "Just do as I say, little sister."

"But—"

He slaps his hand over my mouth and rests his forehead against mine. "Do you trust me?"

I nod, because of course I do. He's been by my side since the beginning of the year. He's the only one who got me a birthday present, and he even made my favorite type of cake. Not even my mom knows that I prefer strawberry cake over chocolate. Jaxon learned so much about me and shows repeatedly that he listens to me, unlike everyone else.

"Then you'll have the lights turned off, doors locked, and you'll stay here in my bedroom. Got it?" he says.

I mumble a question, and Jaxon lowers his hand .

"I'm sorry, flower," he whispers. "Say that again. I'm listening."

My lips tremble, and my heart fumbles a few beats. He called me flower ? I swallow hard. "When will you be back?"

He shrugs. "I don't know, but don't wait up for me."

I bite my bottom lip, holding back everything else I want to ask. He already looks stretched thin, and if I keep asking questions, he'll eventually lose his cool on me.

Jaxon cocks his head, and tendrils of inky-black hair fall over his eyes. His face softens the longer he looks at me, and his gaze dips down to my lips. His tongue pokes out, wetting his bottom lip. My stomach flips and butterflies fly around, and I don't understand why .

"You won't get in trouble, will you?" I ask, wanting to distract myself from where my thoughts are headed with him looking at me like that.

Jaxon flicks his gaze upward, and the corner of his lip curls. He settles his palm on the wall above my shoulder, blocking me in like a caged, frightened bunny. "What if I do?" he teases.

I blink back the shock, because Jaxon never teases me. This is a new side to him, and after a moment of digesting it, I smile. "Well, then you don't get your surprise."

"Surprise?" he murmurs with a wicked smile. "What surprise is that?"

"It's not a surprise if I tell you." I poke his stomach and freeze when I realize what I just did. My eyes round, and I stop breathing, watching Jaxon's face as he too realizes I touched him. His pupils expand, and I cower back, wishing I could melt into the wall.

"What's the surprise, Dahlia?" he says, his voice deep and rough.

I gulp and tuck my hands behind my back. He catches my wrist in a firm grip and places my hand on his chest, right above his pounding heart.

"Jaxon?" I whisper.

He leans in, as though he's about to tell me a secret. "It's all right, sis. I won't hurt you."

My cheeks warm with a blush, and I turn my head to look at him. Our noses brush, and tingles shoot from my neck to my toes. A voice in the back of my head screams that this is wrong and not something siblings do.

"I was going to..." I stumble over my words and can't think straight with him this close to me.

His warm breath fans against my cheek and lips. "You were going to what?"

"I was going to..." I gather my courage and throw caution to the wind. I lunge forward, smashing my lips to his in a quick kiss before I push him aside.

In his startled state, he stumbles back, and I run past him.

"Dahlia!" he yells.

"Be safe, big brother!" I call over my shoulder.

My cheeks are on fire, and my heart won't stop hammering against my ribs. I slam my door shut and lock it. It still isn't enough to make me feel safe from whatever repercussions that kiss brought to me, so I run into my enormous bathroom and lock that door too.

I listen for Jaxon calling my name or even pounding on my door, but that never happens. Some time passes, and when I creep out of my bathroom, I look at the clock. Two hours have gone by.

Two hours ? It only felt like five minutes.

I leave my bedroom and check Jaxon's bedroom for him, finding it empty. When I go downstairs, no one is there either. Mom must be in bed already, once again forgetting about me.

I remember what Jaxon said, and I check the locks on the doors, finding them latched. Heading toward the staircase, I stop when I notice boards over the windows. Why are there boards on the windows?

Chalking it up to it being close to Halloween, I shrug and go to my bedroom. I climb into bed and leave my bathroom light on with the door cracked. I have too many nightmares and see weird things at night, forcing me to resort to something as childish as a nightlight. But it helps me sleep, and I don't care if that makes me a baby.

The last thing I think about before I fall asleep is Jaxon and the kiss. He didn't shove me away—not that I left much time for him to do so. I swear I felt him kiss me back, but that has to be wishful thinking.