Chapter 1

Emma

As the hours passed, the house emptied, and people started to leave, some alone, some in company. During the evening I had completely lost sight of Megan, I had lost her the moment she had dragged behind Axel who, like a little dog, had followed her.

I spent my time wandering around the house, I knew Uncle Nate had closed the office, so I couldn’t even go through his cases. I had talked to someone I knew, and I had a game of beer pong, and I got the number of the guy I beat. Maybe I could call him to get laid, most likely it would distract me for a while

I sighed and turned off the water from the sink with my elbow, and I flicked my hands a couple of times as I looked in the mirror.

My blond hair was a mess and my green eyes were tired, I hadn’t even had time to rest since I had returned and I immediately found myself thrown into a stupid party.

I sighed and wiped my hands, and then I picked up my phone. It was almost four in the morning and I wanted to go home, to sleep. Maybe it was time to find my twin brother and go home, the party was over.

I noticed Dad texted me. That day when I was back Dad was not home, Mom had said that he had a very long shift in the hospital and had not been able to free himself, but that the next day he would spend it with me all day and I couldn’t wait. I had always been Dad’s girl and I loved mine so much, I loved him when he only had eyes for me, even though I was 22.

Babygirl, I just got off work, I can’t wait to see you again.

My father said, my heart broke, there was no other man in the world I could love more than my father.

The message was a few minutes ago and I hurried to reply.

I look forward to it.

Are you still awake?

Party at Axel’s house.

It’s late Emma. I could hear the reprimand in Dad’s message.

I’m looking for Liam.

I’m still in the car, just say the word, and I’ll pick you up.

I’ll let you know!

I came out of the bathroom and I went downstairs, looking for my brother. Now there were few people, most of them were making out somewhere.

I walked into the living room where I found, almost stunned, Liam on the sofa. He had completely red eyes and dilated pupils as he watched a girl in front of him kissing another boy. He held a hand on the girl’s side, while she had her hand tucked into his pants and massaged him.

Liam took his cigarette to his lips and inhaled deeply, his eyes lost in the void, his shirt completely unbuttoned, and his chest full of scratches. I didn’t like seeing him like that, not at all. What’s going on with you, Liam?

"God that sucks," I heard behind my back.

I turned around and found Axel and Megan walking into the living room and looking disgusted at the scene.

"Who is she?" Megan asked without taking her eyes off Liam.

"Someone he’s been seeing lately," Axel replied, looking away from Liam to me.

Tears came to my eyes, I didn’t want to see my brother in that state, I felt like something was breaking inside me, he was my other half and if he was hurting he was hurting too.

I took a deep sigh and blinked several times to stop the tears from flowing, picked up the phone and texted Dad.

Is Liam asleep, can you come to get us?

I’ll be right there, Baby.

"Emma, he can’t drive like this," Megan said.

"Dad’s coming for us," I said.

"Hey, dickheads, get off my couch," I heard Axel say, and then a thud.

I turned around and found the girl with dark hair on the ground. The angry gaze pointed at Axel while my brother did not even make a crease, he just looked at the apathetic ceiling.

I approached him and moved his blond hair from his forehead.

"Hey! How dare you!" he heard the girl say as she got up.

"It’s my house, I don’t like to see this crap on my couch. Come on, out," Axel’s gloomy voice said.

"Hey big brother, why don’t you get some sleep?" I said to Liam and bent over to leave a kiss on his cheek.

"Hey little sis, when did you get back?" he said mumbling.

"Liam come," the girl said.

"I’ll take care of my cousin," Axel said.

I looked up and I saw Axel with his arms crossed across his chest while he was looking at the girl who was tying her hair in a high tail.

"You know where the door is," he continued, waving his hand at the exit. 

She rolled her eyes annoyed and turned around and left. I looked back at Liam who had closed his eyes in the meantime.

"God she's hateful," Megan commented.

"Axel" I called "He’s got something, he’s got the skin on fire," I said, feeling my brother with my hand.

Axel approached and pulled up Liam, who complained as he stood, an arm around Axel’s shoulders and eyes still closed as his head hung from side to side.

"I throw him in the cold shower and then put him to bed, do you know how to get home?" Axel asked, looking at me seriously.

He had ruffled blond hair and a worry wrinkle on his forehead. I nodded with a sigh and followed him as he dragged Liam up the stairs.

The house had emptied and we were left alone, fortunately, I dare say.

"Dad's off work right now and he’s picking us up, but he can’t see him like this," I said as we entered the hallway.

I preceded him and went to the bathroom, opened the door wide, and immediately turned on the shower water. Without adding a word I moved to the side as Axel dragged Liam and threw him in the shower. The water hit him hard and Liam groaned before leaning on the tiles and letting himself slide down to the ground, the blond hair that fell on his forehead, and the white shirt had stuck on him creating a second skin. 

Liam pulled up his knees and put his forearms on them as he bowed his head and let the water flow over him, without mentioning the slightest movement, without opposing him in the slightest.

I crouched in front of the shower and looked at my brother, my twin, the other half of my soul, and I wondered what had happened to him in this last year to shrink like that.

"Liam," I said softly.

"I’m fine, Em," Liam replied without raising his head, his voice was hoarse, almost croaking.

"You're not fine if you find yourself in a shower dressed," I answered.

"I didn’t put myself there," Liam replied, shrugging his shoulders, but still staring at his hands.

"But why were we forced to put you here? What is happening to you, big brother?" I asked again.

Liam looked up, his green eyes were still reddened and empty, meaning that whatever he took hadn’t completely vanished yet.

"Nothing, little sis, I just let myself go too far," Liam said, looking at me.

"Let it go? Liam, you’re totally stoned and I don’t even know what you’re on! I don’t like you taking drugs," I said shaking my head.

"It’s not that I spend every day taking drugs, Em, it was bullshit I’m sorry, it won’t happen again," he said, rolling his eyes and trying to get up.

I also got up "It didn’t have to happen this time" I answered with a sigh as my cell phone began to ring, I looked at the screen, it was dad "Listen for tonight stay here at Ali and Axel, dad is downstairs waiting for me, pick up and come home tomorrow," I told him.

Liam sighed and turned off the shower. I stretched out to leave a kiss on his cheek. Despite the cold shower, Liam still had hot skin. I sighed and tried to hide the worry that my bowels were disintegrating.

"Rest," I said, looking seriously into his eyes.

Liam sighed as he nodded his head, and began to undress, and I turned to find Axel standing with his side to the door, his arms crossed against his chest and his gaze fixed on me.

"Will you promise to take care of him?" I asked him and I could feel the tears on the sides of my eyes but I didn’t give in, I didn’t want to be sad, I didn’t want to show weakness.

Axel looked at me carefully and then sighed, pulling away from the door and approach.

"Don’t worry, I’ll take care of him. You go, don’t keep Uncle Andrew waiting," Axel said gently stroking my cheek.

I closed my eyes and leaned to his touch with a sigh, managing to calm all my senses, managing to relax every fiber of mine agitated and worried about my twin. Quickly, too quickly, Axel moved his hand and passed me, going towards Liam. I turned the body towards them and saw Axel helping my brother undress, as he staggered and his eyes closed.

"See you tomorrow," I said and sighed.

I came out of the bathroom and I quickly went down to the ground floor, in front of the door Megan was waiting for me, with the jacket in her hand and the cell phone in the other, as she pressed fast on the screen.

"Dad’s here," I said as I walked down the stairs.

Megan looked up and looked behind me, her forehead frowning with concern "Liam?" she asked.

"In the shower," I said as I walked down the last steps.

"And leave him here?" she asked, almost shocked.

"I can’t let him go home like that, Meg, my mom would have a fit if she saw him like that. I’d better stay here, Axel’s watching him," I said as I put on my jacket.

She heard Megan sigh, "Have you heard from Miles? I haven’t heard from him since he came to the party," she said worriedly.

"I think I saw him asleep in Adam’s room," I shook my shoulders.

It wasn’t true, I knew very well where Miles was, or rather with whom he was, between the legs of those who spent most of his nights and in the bed of those who ended every time he disappeared into thin air.

I wasn’t meddling, it wasn’t my business, I was just hoping that Ali wouldn’t destroy that relationship, too, like she was destroying everything in her hands.

"I should wake him up," Megan said.

"Axel’s got it," I said nodding as I opened the door.

On the way I could already see Dad’s car standing still and turned on waiting for us and I couldn’t stop a smile from popping up on my lips and immediately I turned to Dad, completely forgetting everything.

Dad got out of the car, his blond hair was ruffled and his eyes were slightly red with fatigue, despite this a giant smile had formed on his lips and I ran to meet him, throwing myself in his arms. I clung to him like a koala, like I’ve been doing since I was little, and I squeezed him so hard, I knew I was choking him.

"Dad!" I said cheerfully.

"That’s my woman," he replied cheerfully as he stroked my hair, "Don’t tell your mother though," he added more seriously and I laughed.

I held Dad for a few minutes and then he put me back on the ground, looked over at me.

"Hi Megan," Dad said, looking at her as he surrounded my shoulders with one arm.

"Hello Mr. Spring," Megan said politely.

"Shall we go?" I asked.

"Your brother?" Dad asked, looking at me.

I looked up and met Dad’s clear eyes, "He had too much partying and passed out on the couch. Axel said he took care of him," I lied shamelessly.

I hated lying to Dad, but I certainly couldn’t tell him that Liam had taken some drugs and he was completely knocked out.

Dad sighed and kissed me on the forehead. 

"Come on," he said, leaving me.

Jolly I reached for the passenger seat and entered, letting myself be enveloped by the sweet perfume of Dad. I rested my head on the seat and closed my eyes, letting myself cradle while thinking about my brother, and what I could do to help him.