Matthews
I wake up literally throbbing between my legs.
I turn around, sighing when I notice that Aiden is already awake, on his phone with his arm behind his head. He smiles down at me.
“Good morning, I was about to wake you up.”
I stretch, frowning. “Why? What time is it?”
“6:45.”
I scrunch my nose. “Ugh, I have to get ready.”
He kisses my forehead. “Let’s take a shower and I’ll make us breakfast.”
We only kiss in the shower, make out until my mouth hurts, and that breakfast he was talking about is frozen waffles stuffed into a toaster. Still, I get into his car with a smile on my face, my chest warm.
Content. Normal. This is what I’ve been wishing for, looking for since my dad and my brother were ripped from my life. I’m not looking for excitement, not looking for something extravagant.
I just want something normal.
Still, in the back of my head, all I can think about is Zaid’s request.
Why would he ask me to look at the basketball section?
Lunch come soon enough and I see Aiden and Nikki talking by the tables outside. I know they’re waiting for me, but I can come up with some excuse about running to the bathroom. I chew on my lip, spinning on my heel and I make my way to the gym hallway,
my heart pounding in my chest.
There are some students sitting around the floor, eating their lunches in huddled circles. Some acknowledge me with teasing smiles, but most of them ignore me, only watching me as I make my way down the hall.
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Matthews
I see the award cases from afar.
They’re huge, and tall. And they’re filled with trophies, plaques and pictured. I look around, smiling to myself when I spot Aiden on a team picture. Looks like it was taken earlier this year.
I scan the case, looking at last year’s team picture, and then the one‘ from the year before that.
My eyes land on familiar faces.
Aiden and Zaid. They look so young, and they’re standing next to each other. Zaid has his arm around Aiden’s shoulders and Aiden is looking up at him.
Both of them have the widest smiles on their faces.
My heart lurches in my chest, they look so happy. What could have possibly happened to
make them hate each other now?
I look at the awards they one that year and I’m shocked to see that Zaid was the MVP, the
team captain.
I smile wide when I see a photo of the team holding him up and throwing him in the air.
But then, my heart stills in my chest.
A wave of ice cold shock passes through my blood and I cover my mouth to stop the gasp that escapes my lips. The caption for the photo lists out everyone’s full name.
I shake my head, the surprise too much for me to handle. I take out my phone, my hands. trembling. Aiden sent me a message asking me where I am, but I can’t answer, not now.
I turn around and get out of the gym. I am more than grateful when the guard at the gate is the same one that Zaid bribed the other day. I hand him a twenty dollar bill and leave campus, running down the sidewalk until my side hurts.
I’m breathing so hard by the time I make it to Aiden’s house.
Zaid’s house.
My chest hurts, and I squeal internally when I see Zaid’s car parked outside in the
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Matthews
driveway, I run to the front door, finding it unlocked.
“Zaid!” I yell into the seemingly empty house.
Jake is completely out of my head at this point and I do not even think about him being here. That’s not what has my attention at this point.
“Zaid!”
“Here, love.” His voice echoes through the hallways and I know exactly where he is.
I run around the corner, stopping just at the entrance of the kitchen. Zaid stands in front of the counter, a smirk on his face and a sandwich in his hands. He takes a bite, his eyes
raking over the length of my body.
My breath is still running from me and I don’t have the words, but even if I did have
them, I did not have the capability to speak them.
“I’m guessing you did what I asked?” He hums, crossing his arms on his chest.
I nod quickly, my nostrils flaring. “You’re Zaid.”
He nods, chuckling.
I click my tongue, that isn’t what I mean, but my mind is spinning. I’m trying to keep my consciousness at this point. “You’re Zaid Matthews.”
He smiles wide.
“You’re Aiden’s brother.”
“Bingo.”
My mouth dries. “You’re Jake’s son.”
That makes him frown and he tilts his head, watching me quietly. “Um, yes, I am.“`
I shouldn’t have mentioned that, but the shock is still to much. I drop my bag to the floor and lean over, balancing my weight by placing my hands on my knees.
Oh my god.
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Matthews
Jake, Aiden and Zaid. They’re all Matthews, and I somehow found a way to entangle myself with all three of them.
“You look pale.”
I flinch, just now noticing that he is squatting right in front of me, his face inches from mine. My body doesn’t respond to my brain signals and I don’t fight him when he wraps. his arms around my waist and sets me down on the counter.
He tucks my hair behind my ear and I watch him, my mouth turning dry.
“I feel like an idiot,” I whisper.
He frowns. “How so?”
“I’m guessing I’m the only person that didn’t know.”
He shrugs. “You are new.”
“Why didn’t anyone say anything.”
He inhales, stepping away from me. “It’s a sort topic. No one really mentions us in the
same sentence anymore.”
I frown and he winces.
“Not since I beat up a few guys that started talking about Aiden and I behind our backs.”
I close my eyes tight. “I–I shouldn’t be here.”
The adrenaline is wearing off and I flinch away from his touch. Silence drowns us as he steps all the way back. “Have you asked Aiden about why I was in juvie?”
I shake my head.
He nods, chuckling to himself in disbelief.
I open my mouth to tell him I’m leaving, when the front door opens. I freeze. It’s either Jake or Aiden, and neither option is good for me.
“Alina?”
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Matthews
Aiden’s voice cuts through me and I gasp, covering my mouth.
Zaid’s eyes narrow and points to the stairs with his eyes. “Last door on the left.”
He whispers so quietly and I mouth him a thank you before quietly slipping up the stairs
and into Zaid’s room.
