A. Queen

Aria, You're Safe Here.

After I finished the book I went to get up but Emily was holding me tight. I smiled and lied down with her thinking about Alex, he was the only one who could make me sleep peacefully. After a few minutes my eyes felt heavy. Then I fell asleep.

When I woke up, I saw Emily waking up as well. I got up and picked her up as she put her head on my shoulder. I walked around till I found the Kitchen. I saw Ken and James in there. They looked relieved to see us.

" Good morning, Emily. " Ken said, trying to take Emily away but she held on too tight. " I see you made a new friend, Emily. " Justin said, walking into the Kitchen. Emily nodded, rubbing her eyes.

" Did you go back to sleep, Aria? " James asked me, clearly worried. I nodded. Then Emily said " She read my The Little Mermaid. My new favorite book. " Emily's stomach growled. I put Emily down but she followed me as I looked for stuff for Pancakes.

" What are you doing? " Emily asked.

" Making Pancakes. " I said, quietly. My tone shocked everyone but Emily and I. I got the stuff and made the Pancakes. I served Emily first then the boys. " Aria, why don't you talk much? " Emily asked. I took a deep breath.

" I don't like attention. " I said, quietly. But this time all the boys were staring at me. As I began to wash the dishes.

After everyone was done eating and dishes were washed. We sat in the Living Room. Emily was sitting on my lap while I played with her hair.

" Aria, are you okay? " Ken asked, worriedly. I nodded, still played with Emily's hair.

" How are you so good with her? " Thomas asked. I shrugged my shoulders. " It took her a month to warm up to me. " Thomas said.

" She's better than you. " Emily said, as I smiled softly. I got up and picked Emily up and walked to her Room and put her down. The boys were watching and following us. Making me uncomfortable. I went to her desk and helped her with her homework.

" What comes after 2? " Emily asked.

" Three. " I said, quietly.

After an hour or 2. Emily fell asleep. They were still watching me, like they were waiting for me to burst. But I stared off into space. What would have happened to me if Alex and J didn’t show up? Would I be dead? Would she still be alive? What if my 'Father' stayed in my life? Would I be happy? Then suddenly someone's phone rang. I looked at mine, it was ringing. I looked at the caller I.D it's Will. I couldn't move. " Told you she was whoring around. " I remember Will said. I didn’t want to wake Emily up but I couldn't move. Ken came over and saw the I.D. and declined the call. " Thank you. " I said to Ken. Still unable to move.

" You're welcome, Aria. " Ken said, putting my phone in his pocket. And grabbing my hand, Ken expected for me to flinch. He was surprised when I didn't. Ken brought all of us to the Room, we were in last night.

" Aria, why are you so quiet? " James asked, concerned.

" He told me too. " I said, quietly, looking anyone in the eyes. But I felt their eyes on me. I shifted uncomfortably, making them stop.

" Aria, you're safe here. No one's gonna get hurt. " James said, trying to reason with me.

" That’s what Alex said… He died in the spot where he said I was safe. " I said, quietly.

After a few minutes my phone rang again this time it was Ace who called. Ken answered it, as I left the Room. I went into Emily's Room. I took a deep breath looking around the Room. Why can't I just forget about him? I thought as I closed my eyes and started to cry softly. I wished my 'Mother' never did Drugs. Why did she turn to Drugs? Why did my 'Father' not accept me? Then hand wrapped around me, I flinched then I relaxed.

" You really can’t do sudden movements. " James said.

" I can just not when it involves touching me. " I said, quietly to James. Then I felt little hands around my leg. I didn’t flinch, I knew she couldn't hurt me badly.

" Why are you sad? " Emily asked, I opened my eyes and looked at Emily.

" I'm sad because my parents don't understand my feelings. " I said, it's true. My 'Mother' was too high to feel anything.

" I'm sorry. " Emily said, sadly.

" It's not your fault it's theirs. " I said, wiping my tears. I wished when I was younger I was an older sister. Then my 'Mother' did Drugs and became abusive. I didn’t want my little siblings to go through that. I looked James in the eyes because she turned me around. At first I avoided his gaze. Then I looked him in the eyes. Then at the time it was 7:00am. In an hour we have school. I looked back at James. He looked happy that I wasn't scared of him. " C'mon we gotta get you some clothes to borrow. " James said, looking back making sure I was following. I wasn't, but he gently took my hand and got me leggings, a t-shirt and a Hoodie of his.