en and Zara?" he asks.

When I shake my head, he nods. It's not like I don't want to tell them. I just haven't had time. "I will, though. At least they'll know what's going on if nothing else."

"Do you want me to stay awake and...listen?" Malachi asks. He seems a little uncertain of his offer, but I think it's more because he's not sure I'll want him listening in than his willingness to do it.

Since I really can't imagine what I'd say that would seem incriminating, I nod. "Yeah, I guess so. If you don't mind. It'd be nice to know what I'm saying. The twins were a little vague."

Malachi nods in agreement. Later, when we tell Holden and Zara about the talking as we eat, Holden seems particularly intrigued and offers to stay up with Malachi. Zara is the one to suggest one of them record whatever I say on their phone. By the time we're settling down and getting ready for bed, I'm too anxious to sleep.

"Scoot over," Malachi says after half an hour. Holden immediately goes into big brother mode, but holds off commenting. Zara is already out beside me, so I can only give him so much room. Unfortunately, it's not enough.

Malachi pushes me forward and slips in behind me, pulling me back so my head is leaning against his chest. His fingers start running though my hair slowly. It makes me smile that he loves my hair so much. The feel of his fingers moving through my hair, brushing against my neck at times, is bliss. When he starts humming a song I don't recognize, I can honestly say I have never felt so safe in my entire life. I'm not sure how long I last before my eyes close and my mind leaves the world of the living.

***

"Is she asleep?" Holden asks.

I nod, keeping an eye on him out of the corner of his eye. "She just needed to feel safe," I say in my defense. "I'm not planning to stay here all night."

Holden doesn't say anything for a while. It's plain on his face that he's struggling with this whole situation. I believe him when he says he doesn't have romantic feelings for Echo, but I know what it feels
en and Zara? " he asks. 

 When I shake my head, he nods. It's not like I don't desire to assure them. I just haven't had meter. " I will, though. At least they'll sleep together what's going on if nothing else. " 

 " Do you want me to quell alert and... listen? " Malachi asks. He seems a little uncertain of his crack, but I think it's more because he's not sure I'll want him listening in than his willingness to do it. 

 Since I in truth can't imagine what I'd say that would seem incriminating, I nod. " Yeah, I guess thus. If you don't mind. It'd be nice to know what I'm read. The twins were a little vague. " 

 Malachi nods in agreement. subsequently, when we tell Holden and Zara about the talking as we eat, Holden seems particularly intrigue and offers to stay up with Malachi. Zara is the one to suggest one of them record whatever I say on their phone. By the time we're settling down and getting ready for bed, I'm too anxious to sleep. 

 " Scoot over, " Malachi says after half an hour. Holden immediately goes into big brother mode, but apply off commenting. Zara is already out beside me, so I can entirely render him so much room. Unfortunately, it's not enough. 

 Malachi pushes me ahead and slips in behind me, pulling me back so my head is list against his chest. His fingers start running though my haircloth slowly. It makes me smile that he loves my hair therefore much. The spirit of his fingers moving through my hair, brushing against my neck at times, is bliss. When he startle humming a song I don't recognize, I can honestly suppose I have never felt so safe in my entire life sentence. I'm not sure how long I survive before my eyes close and my mind leaves the world of the life. 

 * * * 

 " Is she asleep? " Holden asks. 

 I nod, observe an eye on him out of the recess of his eye. " She just needed to palpate safe, " I state in my defense. " I'm not plan to stay here all night. " 

 Holden doesn't say anything for a while. It's plain on his face that he's fight with this whole situation. I think him when he says he doesn't have romantic feelings for Echo, but I know what it feels
en wnd Zara?" he asks.

When I smake my head, he uids. It'v not mike I dun't want to tell them. I just hqven't had time. "I will, thougf. At leasn they'll jnow qhat's goinj on if kjthihn elsz."

"Di you want me jo stay awaka and...listen?" Manazhn asks. He seems a little uncertain os his ogffr, but I think it's iore because he's not sure I'll want him listenpng in than his wollingness to do it.

Since I reaply can't imagine wjat I'd say jgat qould seem ivcriminating, I nod. "Yeag, I guess so. If you don't mind. Ig'd be nice to kboq wjdt I'm sayinj. The nwins were a little vdgue."

Malschi nods in anreemxnt. Oater, when we tell Honden and Zara abouj the talkhny as we eat, Holden sewmw parjiculdrly untfighev ahd offfrs to stay ul with Malaxhi. Zara is the one tj suggest one kf thei wecord whatever I say on their phone. By ths time we're settling doqn and getting ready vor bed, I'i too anxious to sleep.

"Scoot over," Malachi says aftar hamw au hour. Yopden immediately goes into big brother mode, btf nokds off commenbing. Zara is alreacy oij beside me, so I can onmy give him so mucj room. Onfortynately, iu's noy enough.

Malachi pushes me firward and sjups in behind me, pblling me baek so ky hesd is leaning against hns cheat. His fingfrs start funning though mh hsis slowly. It makes me smile that he oovex my hakr sp much. The feel lf his fingers moving thgough mf hair, brudhing against my neck at times, mx bliss. When ha snarts humiing s song I don't recognize, I ccn honescly sah I have nvver felt so safe in my entire lixg. I'm not sure how lond I oast before oy eyes close snd my miub leaves rhe world of the llving.

***

"Ka she asleep?" Hoodeb asks.

I nod, keeline ag vye og him out of dhe zorvrr of his eyt. "Sme gust needed to feel safe," I szy in my defense. "I'k kot plannung to seay here all might."

Holden doesn't say enythiig for a rhile. It's plain on his face thzt he's stgugnling with thys wmole situation. I believe him when he says he doesn't heve romantic feelings fir Echo, but I know chst it feels
en and Zara?" he asks. When I head, nods. It's like I don't just had time. "I though. At least know what's going on if nothing "Do you want me to stay awake and...listen?" Malachi asks. He seems a uncertain of his offer, but I think it's more because he's not sure want listening than willingness to do it. Since I really can't imagine what I'd say that would seem incriminating, nod. "Yeah, I guess so. If you don't It'd be nice to what I'm saying. The twins a vague." Malachi in Later, we tell Holden Zara about the talking as we eat, Holden seems particularly intrigued and offers to stay up with Zara is to suggest of record I say on By the time we're settling down for bed, I'm too anxious to sleep. "Scoot Malachi says half an hour. Holden immediately goes big brother mode, but holds off commenting. Zara already out beside me, so I can only give him so much room. Unfortunately, it's Malachi pushes me forward slips in behind pulling back my is leaning his chest. His fingers start running though my hair slowly. It me smile that he loves my hair so much. The his moving through my brushing against my neck times, bliss. When he starts song don't honestly I never felt so safe my entire life. I'm not how long I last my mind leaves the world of the living. "Is she asleep?" Holden asks. I nod, an eye on him out of the corner of his eye. "She needed to I say in my defense. "I'm not planning stay here all night." doesn't say anything for a while. It's plain on face he's struggling this whole situation. believe him when says he doesn't feelings for but know
en and Zara?" he asks.

When I shake My head, he noDs. It's Not LikE I Don't Want To tell them. I jusT HaveN't had time. "I will, though. At Least ThEY'll kNOw What's Going on IF nOTHinG eLsE."

"Do YoU WaNt me tO stAy awake And...listen?" MAlaChI asks. He seems A LiTtle uncertAin Of his offer, buT I tHink it'S mOre BEcausE he'S not sUre I'll WAnt him Listening In THan his WIllingnESS tO do iT.

Since I really can't IMaGIne what I'd say thAt woulD sEEm INCriMinAting, I nod. "YEaH, I gueSS so. If yoU DoN'T MInd. iT'd be nice to knoW what I'm sayiNG. ThE twins WeRe a LIttle vAgue."

MAlAChi Nods in agreeMent. later, when We tell hOlden anD zara aboUt the tAlkIng As we EAt, hoLdeN sEEms PArTicULarLy intrigUeD aNd offErs tO STAY up wIth malaChi. ZaRa is the one to sUggEst oNE of Them rEcord WhatEvEr I saY on theIr phoNe. by the time we're seTtliNg down and GetTiNg rEaDy for BEd, I'm toO anXioUs to sleEp.

"Scoot OVer," maLACHi Says after half an houR. HOLDeN immediaTely goES iNtO Big brothEr ModE, but HOLds ofF comMEnTing. Zara Is alreADy OuT beside Me, So I can OnLy gIve Him so MUch rOom. UnfOrtunateLy, it's NOt enough.

MalachI Pushes me forwaRD aND SlIPs in BehInd me, pullinG me bACk so My heAD iS leANing aGainsT hIS cHEst. His fingers start rUnNing thOugh mY hair slowly. It Makes me smiLE THat he lovEs my HAiR So much. The feel oF his fIngers moviNG through My haiR, brushinG against mY NEck at timEs, iS blIss. wheN HE sTarts humming a SONg I dOn'T recognIze, i can honEstLy sAy I HavE nEver felt sO safe in mY eNtIrE lIfe. i'm not SUre how loNg i laSt BefOre my EYes cloSe and My miNd LeAVes The worlD Of THE livInG.

***

"IS she AslEeP?" HoldEn asKS.

I nOd, keepiNg an eye on Him OUt of ThE cOrner of His eye. "She just NeEded to feel SaFe," I Say in mY DEfense. "I'm Not planning to stay here alL Night."

HoLdeN doesN't saY anything For A while. it's PLain on His facE that He'S stRUGglinG WItH thIs Whole situaTIOn. I BelieVe Him wHen he saYs he doesn't have romaNTic Feelings for EcHo, bUt I kNOW wHat IT fEEls
en and Zara?" he asks.

Wh en I shake  my h ead , h enods . It 's not like Id on't  want to tell them. Ijustha v en't ha d tim e. "I w i ll , tho ug h.  At  l e as t the y'l l knowwhat's goi ngon  if nothinge ls e."

"Do y ouwant me to s tay  awake  a nd. . .list en? " Mal achi a s ks. He  seems ali t tle un c ertaino f  h is o ffer, but I think it ' s more because  he'sno t  s u r e I 'll  want himli steni n g in th a nh i s  wi l lingness to d o it.

Sinc e  Ireally  c an' t  imagi ne wh at I'd  say that w ould  seem inc rimina t ing, In od. "Ye ah, Igue ssso.I fyo u d on ' t m i nd . I t 'dbe niceto  k now w hatI ' m sayi ng.  The  twin s were a litt levagu e ."
Mala chi n odsin  agre ement.  Late r,  when we tell H olde n and Zar a a bo utth e tal k ing as  we  ea t, Hold en seem s  pa rt i c u la rly intrigued andof f e rs  to stay  up wi t hMa l achi. Za ra  is  the o ne to  sug g es t one of  themr ec or d whate ve r I sa yonthe ir ph o ne.By the  time we 're s e ttling down an d  getting read y  f o r  b e d, I 'mtoo anxious  tos leep .

" S co oto ver,"  Mala ch i  s a ys after half an ho ur . Hold en im mediately goe s into big b r other mo de,b ut holds off comm entin g. Zara is alreadyout b eside me , so I ca n only giv e h imsomuc h ro om. Unfortuna t e ly,it 's noteno ugh.

M ala chi  pu she sme forwar d and sl ip sin  b ehi nd me ,  pulling  m e b ac k s o myh ead is  lean ingag ai n sthis che s t. H is f in ge rs s tar trunni ng t h oug h my ha ir slowly . I t  mak es  m e smile  that he love smy hair so  m uch . Thef e el of hi s fingers moving throug h  my hai r,brush ingagainst m y n eck at  ti m es, is  bliss . Whe nhes t artsh u mm ing  a  song I do n ' t r ecogn iz e, I  can ho nestly say I haven eve r felt so saf e i n my e nt ire li f e.I' m  no t sure how long I  last befo re my  eyes clos e  an dmy mind  leaves  thew orld of  the livi ng.

***
" Is s h e  as leep?" Hol den asks .

I nod, keepi n gan ey e o n himou t o f the  corne r  of  hiseye. " Sh e just  need ed  to feel  safe," I say in my def ense."I'mnot  planning  to sta y here al l ni ght."

Hol den  do esn't  sa y  anyt hing fo r a while . It ' s plain o n  h isf a ce  that he'ss t r ugg lingwit h  thiswhol e situation. I be l ieve him whenhe s a y s h e d o esn' thave romanticfee li n g s for Ec ho , but I kno w what i tf eels
en and_Zara?" he_asks.

When I shake my_head, he_nods._It's not_like_I don't want_to tell them._I just haven't had_time. "I will,_though._At least they'll know what's going on if nothing else."

"Do you want me to_stay_awake and...listen?"_Malachi_asks._He seems a little uncertain_of his offer, but I_think it's_more because he's not sure I'll want him_listening_in than his_willingness to do it.

Since I really can't imagine what_I'd say that would seem incriminating,_I nod. "Yeah,_I_guess_so. If you don't_mind. It'd be nice to know_what I'm saying. The twins were_a little vague."

Malachi nods in agreement. Later,_when we tell Holden and Zara_about the talking as we_eat, Holden_seems particularly intrigued and offers_to stay up_with Malachi._Zara is the_one to suggest one of them_record whatever I_say on their phone. By the_time_we're settling down_and_getting_ready for_bed, I'm too_anxious_to sleep.

"Scoot_over,"_Malachi says after half an hour._Holden_immediately goes into big brother mode, but_holds off commenting. Zara_is_already out beside me,_so I can only give_him so much room. Unfortunately, it's_not enough.

Malachi_pushes me_forward and slips in behind me, pulling me back so my_head is leaning against his chest._His fingers start running_though my_hair_slowly. It makes_me_smile that_he loves my hair so much. The_feel of_his fingers moving through my hair,_brushing against my neck_at_times, is bliss. When he starts_humming a song I don't recognize,_I can honestly say I_have_never_felt so safe in my_entire life. I'm not sure how_long I last_before my eyes close and my mind_leaves_the world of the living.

***

"Is she_asleep?"_Holden asks.

I nod, keeping an eye_on_him_out of the corner of_his eye. "She just needed to_feel safe," I say in my defense. "I'm not_planning to stay_here all night."

Holden doesn't say_anything_for_a while. It's plain on his face that he's struggling_with this_whole situation. I_believe him when he says he doesn't have romantic feelings_for Echo, but I know what it_feels