Chapter: 1
Chloe Kidd
This morning has been the worst of my life. I am seventeen almost eighteen and everyone in my family is gone, except one person, my brother. Austin is not here right now though. I need him though. I just watched the coroner remove my grandmother's body.
I am still in shock as I stare at her bed. She was not feeling good and when she came in, she told me she was going to lay down, wake her up in two hours. I did that. She was cold and lifeless. A sob breaks free again as I sit down on the bed and pull out my phone. I dial the one number of the one person I need right now. My brother.
He did not answer after me calling several times. He might be doing a show or something, it is hard to keep up with his schedule. I end up dialing Andrea, his girlfriend. She answered immediately.
"Hey Chlo Bug." She said cheerfully into the phone.
"Hey D." I said softly, trying to not sob. "I n-need Austin." I finally could not hold it anymore. The sobs were racking me.
I heard her talking but could not process it. Finally, the one voice the broke me out of this was my brother. "Chlo, tell me what is wrong?" Austin sounded worried sick about me right now.
I sniffled then took a deep breath to tell him this news. "Grandma I found her dead a bit ago."
I heard his choked sound through the phone. Was he crying or trying to not cry. "Tell me what happened?" His voice was still thick, but he had cleared some of the emotion to talk to me. He was always good at this.
I did the same thing and pushed it out of my mind for a bit and spoke, "She came in from her yarn club or whatever." I laughed that woman and her clubs. "She did not feel very good, so she said she was laying down. Wanted me to wake her up in two hours or so. I went in there and she was cold and starting to get stiff. I called 911, and it has been a blur. The coroner said they believe based off of her state of her body she died the moment she went to lay down." By the end of the story, I was crying again.
I heard his deep inhale. "I am on my way. It's going to be a few hours, but you are to not be alone. Daisy and Ron or one of them will be over shortly to get you. Stay at D's and Hunter's until I get there." He ordered. He must have had Andrea calling she is his girlfriend and their assistant.
"Okay. I will go pack a bag." I knew to not argue with my brother. Sighing I got up and started to my room.
"Be there in a few hours. I love you." He said.
"I love you too bubba. Thank you." I said softly.
I ended up packing up at least a change of clothes and some night ones. I knew Daisy or Ron or both of them would be here soon. They live across the road.
I grew up from the age of about seven to now here in this house. My dad and mom were druggies. Dad died that a year before we came here. I do not remember much, I was so young. Mom got hurt bad and has been vacant since then. I cannot be certain, but I think she does talk to my brother. She had sent me a postcard and Grandma gave it to me, but I threw it out.
My mother is dead to me, she might not be actually gone, but she has never been a part of my life. My grandmother and brother were the only people I gave a shit about.
Now with her gone, it is just my brother. He is a big rockstar though and he is busy. The guys are all 24-25 range now and they have been on tour several times now. I believe they are currently preparing for another tour within a few months or so. Like I said, hard to keep up with them.
There was a knock on the door causing me to break out of my thoughts. I went over to the door to see Mrs. Daisy. She and Andrea were a spitting image of one another minus the hair. Andrea's is dark while their mothers is dirty blonde similar to mine and Austin's hair. Their hair color comes from their dad.
She gathered me into her arms and held me. "Oh honey, we had no idea anything happened. Andrea called us. We literally just got home. I had been to see my in laws. "
I let her hold me as I sobbed. I had not realized that Mr. Ron was in a vehicle in front of the house until he got out and grabbed my bag and loaded it up for me. She released me and urged me to the car. I ended up going into the vehicle the whole time, not even processing anything.
Once we arrived across the road they helped me inside the house and allowed me to go to Andrea's room to lay down. At some point I was brought some food that I nibbled on, but not much. I do not know how much time passed but I just remember the door opening and the clanking of heavy boots on the floor. I felt the bed dip and then saw the worried face of my handsome brother.
His eyes darker than mine shined with sadness. His golden hair tousled and disheveled on top of his head. I sat up and my eyes started to water. He reached out and wrapped me in them strong arms. My brother, my protector. Being in his arms again, I cannot tell you how amazing that felt. I missed him and I needed him.
He held me for I do not know how long, but I ended up waking up snuggled against his side. I ended up falling asleep. When did that happen?
He groaned and moved some. His eyes opened and he looked down at me. "Hey baby sis." He said softly. He was not in the best sleeping position and Andrea's old bed is small.
I glanced up and him and said, "You guys got down here quickly."
He ran his hand over my hair and smiled down at me. "Of course I did. My baby sister needed me. I will always be there for you."
The tears threatened to fall again, but I held them back. "Thank you, bubba." I said softly.
"Anytime." He said as he started to sit up, so I got up to. He yawned and ruffled his hands over his hair. "You go get a shower, and I will go to Hunter's room to shower." He said.
I perked up at the mention of Hunter. He may be 7 years older than me, but when you see a hot guy, you just know it. "Did they all come with you?" I questioned trying to see if Colt, Trey, Hunter, and Andrea were all here too. I know their schedule is very busy and all.
He got all the way up and dug around in a bag he had on the floor. He must have sat that in here last night. After he got what he needed he stood back up. "Yeah. Hunter, Trey, Colt, and Andrea are here." He said softly.
I nodded and he went out of the room to shower. I pulled myself up and dug around my bag and got my stuff. My shower was long and relaxing. I did not know how bad I needed that hot water on my sore muscles until I got inside that steamy shower.
After the water started getting cold, I made my way out and got dressed. I left my hair little damp and made my way downstairs. All I could see when I made it to the kitchen was the shirtless, tattooed, dark haired, hunk that was grabbing out a bowl from the cabinet. He worked out and you so could tell. Hunter Drake is the epitome of sexy rockstar.
He turned around and I tried to mask my face, so he did not know I was ogling his body. He raised one eyebrow up at me, because my mask was so showing through. I now had a view of the vast number of muscles and tattoos on his chest. "Chloe." He said with an amused chuckle.
"Shit." I muttered and sat down at the barstool. "Hey Hunter. How are you?"
"I am good." He paused and shook a cereal box in front of his face, as if to ask if I wanted any. "Are you okay?"
"I will be." I sighed and continued on, "I am starving." In that exact moment my stomach growled.
I looked down embarrassed, but he just laughed at me. "I will fix you a bowl." He said softly as he turned around and reach for another bowl.
I really have to stop ogling his ass. It is quite sad I cannot look away. I sighed and stretched out my neck as he fixed me some frosted flakes.
"Still like some sugar on the top?" He asked. I looked up and he pointed to the cereal. I just smiled and nodded my answer. Cannot believe he remembered that.
He busied himself around the kitchen to finish my food. I just sat there and watched. Nothing sexier than a man in the kitchen. Okay Chloe, stop.
He sat it in front of me and sat a spoon beside it. "There ya go."
"Thank you." I said as I smiled up at him.
I took my first bite and my stomach clenched at the thought of finally getting food. As I continued to scarf it down, I heard talking coming of a few voices as they came into the kitchen.
Andrea and my brother were the first, then Ron and Daisy were next. Andrea made her way to me and hugged me from behind. "Hey honey. Are you okay?"
I was trying to chew my mouth full before I spoke. "I am okay." I mumbled out best I could.
She pulled back to look at me. "Oh man.. I am sorry. You are eating."
I shook my head trying to not laugh. Man am I glad to have this bunch back. This is going to be tough, but I have my family here. Some not by blood, but they were family.
