The sound of skin slapping against skin rang throughout the small one story house. The dark haired teen crawled away from her abuser but she was soon dragged back to him by her ankle.

"Where the hell do you think you're going," his voice dripped with venom.

Kicking her feet against him, she tried to escape but only to fail. "We aren't finished yet. Your poor excuse of a brother will have to wait." Looking into his jet black eyes she knew this night would never be over.

Rian's POV

"Thank you so much Chicago! We'll see you next year," Alex Gaskarth screamed into the microphone. Alex walked off stage followed by Jack, Rian and then Zach. The boys of All Time Low walked back to their tour bus ready to relax after the concert.

Rian looked at his phone and noticed his sister never called him. They were supposed to meet up tonight before the concert. He hasn't seen his sister, Lucinda, since she was 4 and after finding each other once again he was hoping to see her again.

"Hey Rian, weren't we supposed to meet your sister tonight?" Rian looked at Jack and nodded.

"Yeah but she never called."

"Maybe she didn't want to see you," Alex said. Rian just gave him a look and tired calling Lucinda.

Lucinda's POV

This beating wasn't the same. Her foster father never stopped. Making sure he was passed out on the couch, she crawled to her room and grabbed her phone and noticed her brother, Rian, called.

Rian was her older brother and her best friend. Well that was until their parents died and they were forced to live in a foster home. Rian moved in with a different family than Lucinda and she never heard of him again. Until about a month ago when she found out Rian was in a band. All Time Low. She tired everything she could to get a hold of Rian and soon it all paid off. All Time Low had a concert tonight in Chicago and Lucinda was supposed to go so she could reunite with Rian but once her foster father found out, well lets just say he wasn't very pleased.

Lucinda lived with her foster father since she was 5 and every single night for 14 years he would beat her until he or she passed out. She tried to escape but honestly where would she go? She has no family or friends here. Groaning at the pain coming from her stomach, she sent a text to Rian.

'Hey Rian. I am soo sorry I couldn't make it tonight! but can we meet up somewhere tomorrow? I really want to see you and meet your band!-Lucinda

'Hey Lucinda. Of course we can meet up tomorrow. We're in Chicago for another day and were staying in the Hilton. Room 508. Stop by whenever! -Rian

She replied a quick okay with a smile and shut her phone. But in all honesty, she couldn't even muster up a smile. She was ecstatic to finally see her brother again but not like this. Not with these bruises covering her face, arms, and stomach. He probably thought she was in college by now for either a nurse, cop, or something. Anything. But no, she was stuck living in this hell hole taking care of that piece of shit sleeping on the couch. She knew that as soon as the sun was up, he would be gone until midnight. She carefully got into her bed, wishing and hoping tomorrow would be better than the past 14 years.

The Next Morning

Lucinda finished covering all the visible bruises on her face and looked herself in the mirror. Her jet black skinny jeans cover all of the bruises on her legs, and her Norma Jean hoodie covered the bruises on her stomach and arms. She silently thank God that it was snowing outside. Grabbing her phone, she made sure the bastard was gone and started walking to the hotel. On her way she texted Rian saying she was on her way.

Her stomach was in knots, not just from last nights beating but for seeing her brother for the first time in 14 years. All she knew about him was that he grew up to be successful. Married and the drummer for the famous All Time Low. And what had she become? A 19 year old who still lives with her piece of shit foster father who beats her every night.

Whipping a tear away, she walked to the front entrance. Rian said the lady at the front desk would let her in. And sure enough after telling the lady who she was, Lucinda walked to the elevator and waited for it to take her to the fifth floor. The nervous feeling in her stomach would never leave. Not until she knew Rian would except her for who she is. The doors opened and as soon as she stepped out of the elevator she was facing the door she needed to go through to see her brother after 14 years. Taking a deep breath she raised her hand and lightly knocked. She heard someone curse, fall to the floor, curse again, then heard a 'coming'. She quietly giggled and soon was staring into the most beautiful brown eyes ever.

Alex's POV

Even with the pillow over his head, Alex still heard the quiet knock on the hotel room door. Looking at the clock, he noticed it was 12:00. Rian was saying something important right before he walked out of the hotel room but Alex couldn't remember what. Suddenly he smacked his forehead and remembered. Rains' sister was here. He cursed, then tripped over the bed sheets and fell to the floor. Cursing once more, he stood up and walked to the door. Once he opened it, he felt his heart stopped. Standing in front of him was a spitting image of Rian. Except only younger and so much more beautiful. Her long black hair, her lip piercing, and those stunning grey eyes. He had a feeling those eyes would haunt his dreams every night.

Lucinda's POV

"Um, hi. I'm Lucinda, Rian's sister. I have the right room, don't I?" She looked at the room number and silently nodded to herself.

"Yeah you do. I'm Alex, one of his band members. And nah he's not here but he told me to let you in when you got here so come in," The dark haired man said moving to the side to let her in.

She gave him a small smile and walked into the hotel room. Turing around to face Alex, she just noticed how he looked and giggled. He just gave her a weird look then looked down at himself and mentally smacked himself. He was standing in front of her in his boxers and just that.

"Well this is a great first impression. I'm just going to go jump in the shower. Rian and the other guys went to pick up some breakfast and should be back soon so just make yourself comfortable," Alex said then disappeared into the bathroom.

Smiling at herself, she walked to the balcony and leaned on the railing. Even if it was winter, Chicago was still beautiful. Her mind wandered to the man in the shower. He was so beautiful. Those eyes staring into hers and also her soul. Corny, but that's how she felt. Rian said Alex was the lead singer, which made her heart do another flip. Lucinda always found the lead singer of bands so amazing. She just wish she could have a talent like that.

"Fuck it's cold out. Who would want to live in Chicago?"

Lucinda turned around and walked into the room and looked at who said that. He kind of looked like Alex. "Um, I do thank you very much," she said sarcastically with a smile.

"Holy shit, Rian clone. Minus the long black hair, lip piercing, and make up but damn Rian, she looks a lot like you," said a guy with short curly hair.

Lucinda didn't need to guess who Rian was. Once they saw each other, she walked into his arms for a very long over due hug. It could have been weird after 14 years of not seeing someone and hugging them right away but not for Lucinda and Rian. They were like twins except not really.

"Man, you've changed Lucinda," Rian said after they pulled apart.

"Well it's been 14 years dummy." Rian laughed at her and introduced her to the other two standing there.

"Well this is Zach and Jack. I'm sure you met Alex." She nodded and soon the bathroom door opened. Alex stepped out looking cuter than ever. He nodded at the guys and sent a smile to her. She smiled back at him and noticed food on the little counter.

"Thank god, food!" She exclaimed while smiling. Everyone laughed at her and Rian handed out food to everyone. While everyone ate, they all talked. Rian and Lucinda caught up with each other and she got along pretty well with the other guys.

"So Lucinda, where do you live," Rian asked. She looked down at her hands and didn't really want to answer the question but she knew if she didn't she would have to answer a lot more.

"Still with my foster father." As soon as she said that, her phone vibrated in her pocket. She pulled it out from her pocket and nearly passed out. Why was he calling? He never called her. Excusing herself, she walked out to the balcony and answered her phone.

"Hello?"

"Where the fuck are you?"

She knew she couldn't lie to him. He always found out the truth. "I'm visiting Rian." All she heard on the other line was deep heavy breathing.

"You're fucking dead." Then the line went dead.

She looked at the phone and silently prayed he was kidding. But she knew he wasn't. He always meant what he said. Suddenly she started shaking not from the cold but from the fear of going home. She couldn't help herself, she collapsed onto the balcony and let the tears escape from her eyes. She heard Rian call her name and soon she felt arms around her.

"Lucinda what happened?"

She tried to talk but she choked on her sobs. Rian understood and let her sit there for a couple minutes to let it all out. After a couple minutes, she calmed down and eventually told Rian everything.

Alex's POV

The words that escaped her sweet mouth rang around in his mind. 'Beat me every single night for 14 years.' Who could do something like that to a poor innocent girl like Lucinda? Alex looked at Rian comforting her. How much he wished he could be in his place. Having his arms around the young beauty, comforting her. You could say he kind of started to fall for her.

Lucinda's POV

After she told Rian everything it was silent for a long time. She noticed her and Rian were still sitting outside on the balcony and saw that the other guys were looking at her with sympathetic looks in their eyes. She wasn't mad that they stay and heard, just embarrassed.

Rian helped Lucinda up and they walked back into the room. She just stood there looking at her feet while Rian moved to the other side of the room to talk with the rest of the guys. She looked up and noticed Alex staring at her and he never looked away. He just held her gaze and nodded with what Rian was saying. Lucinda never looked away either no matter how hard she tried. His eyes were forcing her to look at him. He had a feeling he was her savior in this mess she called a life.