Chapter 5~We're Going Where?

~Denver's p.o.v~

It's been a couple of days since the mall incident, and I'm getting better. I know that I have my brothers to protect me, so when I'm with them, I feel fine. It's not having them around that bothers me. They haven't really left my side since it all happened, but sometimes being alone is enviable. Like when I'm lying in bed at night, sometimes I still feel him. I haven't told them about it, but I'm sure they can sense I'm not the same. They have been super overprotective recently, but I secretly love the constant attention, something I hated until this.

"Denver come down here" I here Jack yell from downstairs.

Jack? What does Jack want? He is never the one to call me; it's usually Ryan or Andrew.

"Coming," I say, pausing the tv and getting up.

Walking down the stairs, I see all of my brothers standing in the middle of the living room. Well, shit. What have I done now? Too caught up in racking my brain for something I have done to get me in trouble, I trip. I luckily catch myself on the couch arm, hoping no one seen it.

"Oh my gosh," Ryan says, laughing. Andrew is just shaking his head with his fingers grabbing his forehead, and Jack is about to cry from laughing so hard.

I guess they did see my trip over air. I feel my cheeks start to heat up. Embarrassed, I ask, "What have I done now?"

"Oh, you haven't done anything. We have a surprise," Andrew says, smiling at my clumsiness.

"A surprise?" I ask in a dull questioning tone, thinking it's something stupid, like surprise we are going to the grocery store and forcing you to go.

"yep," Ryan cheerfully answers. Their excitement is rubbing off on me now; maybe it's not a trip to the grocery store.

I hope they got me a puppy. After the week I've had, I think I deserve a puppy.

"We are going to the Bahamas for two weeks," Andrew says in a cliche announcer voice.

"What!?!" I yell, already running to hug them.

A beach trip is exactly what I need—a chance to get away from this town and the sleazy men in it.

"Yep! We have all had an eventful last couple of days, to say the least, so I booked a vacation," Andrew says, smiling the entire time.

That's just the kind of person he is; he finds happiness in making other people happy.

"Wait, what about school?" I ask my smile, dropping. We can't go to the beach, not when I'm days away from starting my freshman year.

"Don't worry, I have filled out educational field trip days," he says.

Oh, thank God, the longer I stay away from the school, the better.

"Already? I haven't even gone one day yet! Not complaining, just wondering how you do the principal to say yes," I ask, trying to understand how my brother pulled this off.

"Well, I did have to do a bit of sweet-talking, but I got him to sign for all three of you, and he got me a sub," Andrew says, smirking. Ah, the perks of working in the school system.

"Thank you so much," I tell practically throwing myself at them.

"Buddy, I think we all need a vacation," Andrew says, his smile faltering for a second.

"Excitement aside, what do you weirdos want for lunch?" Ryan asks.

It's usually him or Andrew that cooks around here because Jack and I could figure out how to burn water.

Not answering, I start to head back to my room to grab my phone that I left while rushing out the door.

"Denver, I asked a question," Ryan says in his "dad voice."

They all three have what I like to call a "dad voice." It's a tone of voice that they use when you are about to get in trouble. Raised eyebrows usually accompany this voice. Between the expression and tone, they are basically daring you not to listen.

" pizza rolls," I say, not necessarily wanting to get in trouble without looking up from the tv.

Ryan goes into the kitchen to get started on lunch, while the other two and I chill in the living room.

4 days later

"Denver come on, we're going to be late," Andrew yells from the bottom of the stairs.

"Hold on," I yell back, tearing my room apart for a book to take on the plane.

"You have enough books, and if not, there's a book store down there."

"How do you know that that is that I'm doing?" I ask slightly freaked out by the fact that my brother is a mind reader.

"Because I know you, now come on." He replies.

Rolling my eyes, I stuff the two books that are in my hands into my backpack. Finally ready, I run down the stairs in my black joggers and blue Adidas hoodie.

"Come on, we're going to be late," Andrew says, holding the small of my back.

Nodding, I follow the rest of my dysfunctional family outside to Drew's truck. Side note, I loathe flying, I hate everything about it. I hate that a stranger could sit me, hate that it could crash, hate that I could get lost (yes, I could I'm very easy to lose because "I don't pay attention"), etc. When I am stressed, I automatically gravitate towards my brothers. They make me feel safe.

"I've already put the suitcases in the back, does everyone have their carry on?" Andrew asks.

"yeah," we all say in unison.

"Okay, let's go to the Bahamas!!"

~Ryan P.O.V~

Today is the day that we get onto a plane and go to the Bahamas. Now I'm fine with flying, but Denver.... he, well, just say, he's going to be very clingy today. If he stopped overthinking everything, he would realize that everything will be fine, but that's just Denver. I don't mind; I actually love it because it means he will be super cuddly and cute all day. The drive to the airport wasn't bad, Denver fell asleep as soon as we got in the truck as per usual. Somehow his head ended up on Jack's shoulder, much to Jack's dismay. Jack is probably the least protective over Denver. He always says that Denver "should live a little," but that's just not Denver. Honestly, I would be worried if he started to go to parties and do regular teenage things rather than having his nose in a book.

"Ryan" Jack whispers

"What"

"My arm is asleep."

"What do you want me to do about it? I'm in the front seat."

" I don't know. It's so numb; it hurts." He wines.

Knowing it's unfair to make Jack uncomfortable for Denver's comfort, I decide to let him wake Denver up.

"Just wake him up. We're almost there anyway,"

"Den, wake up," Jack says in a soothing voice. Jack has been more overprotective over Denver than usual since the mall thing, and I love their cute bonding moments.

"We are here," Andrew yells, making Denver jump.

Finally, I get to stretch my legs.

~Denver P.O.V~

"Den wake up," I hear someone say. Groaning, I sit up and start to rub my eyes.

"Ah, thank goodness," Jack yells, shaking his arm.

I wonder what's wrong with him.

"We are here," Andrew yells, making me jump a little, not expecting to be yelled at.

Once I realize where "here" is, my stomach drops. We are at the airport. Fear and anxiety creep their way in the back of my mind. Stepping out of the truck, I start moving towards the closest brother, not caring who it is, just wanting comfort.

"Denver, come here and get your suitcase," Andrew yells from the back.

Andrew just made my decision easier and called me towards him himself.

"Coming," I yell back.

Grabbing my suitcase from Andrew, I set it on the ground and look around. I don't leave his side, though. I think he notices my discomfort because he puts his hand on the small of my back and guides me through the parking lot. They only thing getting in the way of me and a beach is a stupid plane.

Edited A/N~I changed some things in this chapter, not as many as the last one though lol. Slowly getting this book edited! Until next time💜