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“You pick where we sit,” he says.

I curl up on one corner of the couch and spread the blanket out over me. In between Alex and me is the large bucket of popcorn.

“Is there something you want to watch?” he asks.

“No, whatever you want is fine with me.”

“I’m in the mood for a classic. How about The Exorcist? Have you seen it?”

“Yeah, several times. Great movie, even if it is kinda freaky.”

As the movie plays, a flash of a demon pops up on the screen, and I cover my eyes.

“I hate this part,” I say.

I look over at Alex, expecting him to laugh at me, but instead, he puts his arm up on the back of the couch and gestures for me to come closer.

Grabbing my blanket, I slide over and into the nook of his arm. As the movie plays, I nestle against him more as I feel exhaustion hit me. His arm comes down around my shoulders, comforting me.

For the first time all night my mind grows quiet, all my anxiety melts away, and I feel as if I can finally relax.

Once the movie ends, Alex uncrosses his legs to get up, but I reach for his sleeve.

“No, don’t move. This is so nice,” I say with a yawn. “Please?”

Alex sits back down, reaches for the blanket, and pulls it over us both. With his arm around me, I feel safe and secure. Like how I imagine having a big brother would feel like.

“Good night, my princess,” he whispers before kissing the top of my head.

Three Months Later

CHAPTER 17

Carina

The doorbell wakes me with its nonstop buzzing. I reach for my phone to check the time because it's still dark out. My phone says at 6 AM. Who would be here at this hour?

In the morning fog, I sadly begin to worry that maybe something happened. There's no other reason for anyone to ring my doorbell like that unless it's an emergency.

I quickly put on some sweats and get to the door just as the doorbell finally stops. I pull the door open too quickly, and it slips from my hand and slams against the wall. I hope that between that and the doorbell, no one else in the apartment building is being awakened, but I doubt that.

I reach the exterior door and see my mother standing on the stoop. My stomach drops, and my hands tremble, thinking that something happened to Grandma.

I unlock the door, and she rushes in quickly.

"Is he here? I didn't see his car, so I'm guessing he's not here." She storms past me and into the apartment. I get a pungent stench of whiskey from her like vapor trails. I follow close behind her, unsure what she is talking about and annoyed.

"Mom, it's 6 AM. Why are you here? Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, everything's fine. Unless you count that I'm broke."

“I'm sorry to hear that. Have you been out all night?"

“No, I just got up a few hours ago. I need to talk to you, and now is as good a time as any."

I clear off the mail from the kitchen table, and put down a couple of placemats.

She sits down at the table, and I open the refrigerator.

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