My Unknown Life

This Is Going To Be A Long Night

   Elijah pulled up to a clearing near where the bonfire was. Luckily, it wasn’t too far and as soon as we arrived girls were already swarming my brothers. Elijah and Everett were both over 6 foot and had a muscular build. They had my mom’s blonde hair and dad’s hazel eyes. Girls were always all over them, but they weren’t your typical players. They’ve had a few girlfriends over the years but nothing super serious.

    I didn’t want to leave their side, but I decided to go sit by the fire because I was getting a little chilly. Plus, I didn’t like all the jealous looks I was getting from girls not realizing they’re my brothers.

    I sit down on a bench near the fire by myself and try to warm up a little. I gaze into the fire as the flames dance. I am not paying attention to my surroundings when someone sits down beside me making me jump.

    “Sorry I didn’t mean to scary you, Adria.” I look up at the person who just scared me; confused as to how this person knows my name.

    I am staring into the most gorgeous green eyes I have ever seen and am immediately entranced by them. I force myself to look away and start blushing for how intensely I must have been staring.

    “I am sorry, but have we met before?” I ask trying to be as polite as I can.

    “You don’t remember me?” He asks holding his heart like I wounded him.

    “Elijah, Everett and I have been friends since we were in 3rd grade and your family started visiting Michigan. I haven’t been around the last few years when you guys have been up.”

    I look at him there is no way that this is the boy that Everett and Elijah would always play with when we were younger. He was always super nice to me the few times I played with them.

    I was drawing on a blank what his name was though, and it made me feel even more awkward than I already was. I awkwardly smile at him and am about to ask for his name because I forgot when Everett interrupts.

    “Aries, what’s up man!” said giving him a bro hug.

    Aries! That’s his name Aries Cameron. I took a second while they were talking to check him out. He was a little taller than my brother so maybe 6’3” with a muscular build. His muscles were straining against his shirt. He had wavy brown hair that was shorter on the sides and was gelled back, but a few strands had fell on his forehead. His lips were full and those emerald green eyes! I don’t remember his eyes being that color and I really don’t remember him being that good looking. The past few years have done him some good!

    Everett continues “Alec said you might show up, but he didn’t know for sure if you were coming or not.”

    I wonder who Alec is. I don’t remember my brothers talking about an Alec.

    “Yeah I had a few things I had to take care of but then I heard you guys were coming and I couldn’t miss seeing you guys again.”

    “I am super excited to see you and I know Elijah will be too. He is off with his girl right now.” I look at him quizzically because Elijah didn’t have a girlfriend that I knew about and we just got here today. He continued talking ignoring me and my confused look.

    “So, we might not see him the rest of the….”

    He trails off and his head snaps to something behind me. His eyes darken a little as he stares into the woods where about a dozen guys walk out. These guys were all well-built and well over 6 feet tall. They were in only shorts and all had six packs. I thought I might start drooling. What is up with these Michigan men? It had to be something in the water.

    They saunter over to where we are, but Aries and Everett don’t look happy that they are here, and I don’t know why. The guy that looked like the leader of the group spoke.

     “You decided to have a party and not invite us? Especially with a person as beautiful as her here?” He said winking at me. I hear someone growl beside me. Did someone actually just growl?

    “What do you think you are doing here Hayden?” Aries says as my brother protectively stands in between me and the newcomers. He effectively blocking me from them.

    Hayden chuckles and says, “You don’t own the place Aries it is public property and I heard there were some new people in town, so we came to check it out for ourselves.”

    I hear footsteps from behind me and Elijah came to stand next to Aries and Everett and he looked just as pissed as they did. I have no idea what is going on, but my brothers seem to. How can they know so much about these people when I have no clue who anyone is?

     “And we like a good party so why don’t you just let us stick around for a little bit and hangout?” Hayden said smirking.

    Aries seemed to contemplate it for a second before deciding.

    He finally responded, “If you so much as do one thing that I don’t like you guys are all leaving, or we will kick your asses.” My brothers seemed like they didn’t like the decision at all, but they nodded their heads.

    “Sure, you will just like last time right Aries?” Hayden snickered.

    Aries gritted his teeth and just glared at him as Hayden started to walk away. Before we was out of ear shot Everett yelled to him.

    “And stay away from my sister! Got it?”

    Hayden smirked while Everett glared at him waiting for him to answer him.

     “I can’t promise she won’t stay away from me.” He winked at me again and Elijah almost lunged for him before Aries held him back. At that Hayden and his friends walked away to another part of the party.

    I sat there confused and worried. Why did these guys hate each other so much and why do my brothers seem to know them too? My curiosity was getting the better of me and I was going to find out what all that was. My brothers would tell me, right?

    Elijah calmed down a little bit after the guys had walked away. I just stared at them as they all talked amongst each other and acted as if I wasn’t there.

    I couldn’t take it anymore and interrupted them.

    “Who and what was that?” I asked getting straight to the point.

    Elijah and Everett sigh knowing that I was going to ask but don’t answer me. Aries glances towards Hayden and then back to me furrowing his brow like he was contemplating what to say. I waited for him to say something when he looks back at my brothers. They all look at each other like they are silently communicating and at this point I am getting annoyed that they are ignoring my question.

    I stand up and narrowing my eyes at them, “I am going for a swim if you guys ever decide to tell me you know where to find me.” I say to them stomping off down to the beach.

    It was about a 5-minute walk to the water. I could still see the light from the fire, so I wasn’t too far away and there wasn’t anyone down here at the moment. Just how I liked it so I could be alone with my thoughts. I sat on a rock bringing my knees up to my chest and stared at the night sky.

    How could my brothers not tell me what the hell that was and why they were acting that way? Why do they know so much about this place and people that I don’t? Why do I feel like I am the last person to know what’s going on? My head was swimming with so many unanswered questions.

    Looking out at the clear water with the calm waves quietly crashing on the beach. I hop off the rock and decide to get in the water. I stripped down to my bathing suit and waded out in the water just to my thighs. The water was cold, but I adjusted to the temperature pretty quickly. I was about to start swimming when suddenly I hear something in the water behind me.

    I whip around to see what it is, but I turn around too quickly and start to fall. I close my eyes and prepare myself to fall in the cold rocky water but to my surprise I crash into someone’s warm chiseled chest. I look up at who just caught me and find Hayden staring back at me. My eyes wander his body that is holding me, and I take in all of his features. He has curly black hair that hangs just above his eyebrows. His eyes are an amber color that almost glow in the moonlight. His nose is slightly crooked and full lips. Wow he is gorgeous!

    I didn’t realize I was staring until I hear him chuckle.

    “I can take a picture it would last longer.” He teased me.

    Effectively breaking me out of my trance I blush realizing that I am still touching him. I step back making sure that I have my balance.

     “Thank you for catching me” I said not meeting his gaze.

    “I couldn’t have a beautiful girl like you falling and hurting yourself,” he said with a smile.

     “I am sorry for interrupting earlier, but we didn’t get to officially meet my name is Hayden Miller.”

    “It’s Ok and I am Adira, Adira Collins.”

    I was still upset with my brothers and even though they wanted Hayden to stay away from me I didn’t care at that moment. If they wouldn’t talk to me maybe Hayden would. I know I am being spiteful for their silence but if they don’t want to give me answers then I will find a way to get them myself.

    “Adira that’s really pretty name for a pretty girl.” He said making me blush again. I don’t get compliments much so when I do, I can’t help but blush.

    “Well Adira what are you doing out here all by yourself away from the party?”

    I consider telling him I was mad at my brothers, but I decide against it until I figure out more about the situation earlier.

    “I don’t go to parties much and I just wanted to be alone for a little bit, so I came down here. I thought about going for a swim and then you startled me.”

    "Sorry for scaring you I just wanted to come introduce myself and didn't want you to think that I was a bad person from my interaction with your brothers." Hayden said.

     "It's ok. I don't know what has gotten into them lately. Sometimes it seems like I am purposely being left out of the loop on certain things recently." I said gazing off towards the party wondering what my brothers were doing. 

    They obviously didn't care what I was doing even after warning Hayden. At this point I just wanted to go home and try to get my thoughts in order. I was so lost in thought I completely forgot that Hayden was standing in front of me. I look back to see him analyzing my face and trying to figure out what I am thinking. 

    "I have run into your brothers a few times and we just don't like each other." Hayden stated not giving me any clues I could use. 

    I start shivering because the wind started to pick up and I had no towel just my clothes that I had to wear home. What was I thinking by getting in the water and not having a towel. Hayden notices and wraps his arms around me trying to warm me up.

    "Th-Th- Thank y- y- you" I stutter.

    "Lets get your clothes and get you back to the fire to get warmed up" He says.

    I shake my head. I don't want to go back up to where my brothers are.

    "I just want to go back home. My brothers are being assholes right now and I don't want the lecture to stay away from you."

    "I can take you home. Just give me a second and I will be right back." He said.

I shake my head and watch as he jogs off towards his friends. I start to put my clothes on because I need a little warmth. 

Hayden jogs back to me with one of the men from earlier. 

"Adira, this is my brother Holden. I rode with him and he doesn't let anyone drive his car. So we will be riding with him to drop you off." He said.

I greeted Holden and we took off towards his car. Luckily, he had towels in his car so I could use them as a blanket to keep me warm. I didn't want my brothers to worry so I sent a quick text to let them know I had a ride home. Hayden climbed in back with me and Holden asked from the address.

Once we got to the house Hayden walked me to the front door.

   "Thanks for getting me home and for being nice to me" I said honestly.

He didn't seem like a bad guy and I don't know why my brothers had a problem with him.

"You're welcome hopefully I see you around Adira." He said winking jogging off to his car.

I run up to my room and take a warm shower then snuggle in bed. My eyelids start to get heavy but I am determined that tomorrow I will find out what is going on one way or another.