I woke up to cool caresses on my cheek and I surprised myself by leaning into the touch and only then did I open my eyes to the darkness of my room. The curtains were drawn shut, the door closed, and the lights off. It was dark and I could not see clearly at first, actually even though my eyes were adjusting, I still could not make out much- only the pale light coming from underneath the door.

I gasped as I was suddenly awake enough to realize something was draped across my hoodie-clad stomach. I jerked away only to be stopped and pulled down, a weight settling on top of me.

"Shhh…."

A shush, a hiss, what? It sounded like a gentle reassuring sound, but I was startled my mouth about to open to scream until a hand covered my mouth and a cool cheek pressed against mine, a cooler nose pressing against the side of my neck. My heart was pounding, my body beginning to shake as the whole situation barreled down on me. I began to whimper until I felt that nose placed near mine, my eyes (which I did not realize I had closed) opened, but I could not see anything… just to feel and assume.

A sense started to make me believe that eyes were staring down into my own and studying me, but I still could not make them out. The mouth pressed against my cheek now and I could feel a smile, my skin was not used to the cool temperature of the bare skin against mine so I noticed the difference immediately.

The next thing I knew the hand and coolness were gone- replaced by the weight on my stomach and I could feel and hear the purring of Jinx. I sat up, Jinx shifting to sit up as I rested my back against the headboard of my bed. I was still trembling- trying to figure out if I was dreaming- trying to figure out reality from dream or wishful thinking.

Prodding was felt against my chest through the fabric of my shirt and Anthony's hoodie as I looked down. Jinx was pawing at me for attention and who was I to deny him that as his purrs calmed by shaking? My right hand came up to brush his head, his own bumping into my hand and thoroughly enjoying my attention. I giggled and pulled away, Jinx's cold nose pressed against my hand as if trying to delay the end of the attention.

A sighed and got up, making Jinx jump off my bed as I moved towards the door. Jinx however was making that difficult since he kept passing in between and rubbing around my legs. Somehow I managed to open the door and shut it behind me without stepping or letting him out.

I still did not know what time it was as I moved down towards the staircase and headed downstairs. I walked down slowly, my hand gliding over the railing. It sounded awfully quiet downstairs and I did not know if that was a good thing or not. I peeked around the kitchen to see Layla busy at the stove and moved toward the family area where two couches were set up in front of a TV.

Brandon and Wyatt were asleep on one couch (how they both fit on there I do not know) and Anthony was lounging in the other, taking up the whole couch- rather he was asleep or not I did not know since he did not have his arm wrapped around one of his brothers…. Well, odd way of putting it, but if you understand it then… yeah.

I smiled as I made my way over to the couch, Anthony's hoodie still keeping me warm. I moved to sit on the bottom portion of his legs, adjusting my weight so it would not hurt him. He still did not move. Maybe he was asleep, then again… I glanced towards Layla who was still in front of the stove. I looked back down at Anthony and adjusted my weight and position so my legs rested on top of his and carefully laid myself down on his chest, my arms reaching up past his head and to rest barely on the arm. He was either a heavy sleeper, out of it (really tired), or pretending.

I sighed and rested my cheek against his chest- facing the back of the couch and closed my eyes. He was warm and so was his hoodie- his scent reaching my nose and lulling me into an almost sleep again. I just laid there, resting my eyes and enjoying the warmth and… sense of security that seemed to seep into my being.

I must have drifted off for a few minutes since my ears finally heard things and my brain registered them, but my eyes did not open yet. I assessed my surroundings in a drowsy state, feeling warmth on my torso and up. A weight –arm I should start saying now- was rested against my back. I 'hmed' and my arms moved slightly or twitched from the place they found themselves in, rested on the couch cushions against his sides. Wait… his?

I lifted my head from his chest and looked at Anthony's face. His eyes were open and a small smile greeted my sight. I set my head back town and completely let my weight sag on him from being tense earlier when I discovered I was still laying on him- a sign of defeat, but from what he probably did not know. For some reason I was apparently tired today and felt really lazy… and warm.

I might be testing my limits with Anthony's new open personality, but so far things seemed to be all right. I shifted my weight again towards the back of the couch, slightly moving off of him and suddenly pushed against the back of the couch, moving Anthony's body almost off the couch… Until he caught himself and grabbed my waist, but he ended up rolling on the floor and I braced the fall with my feet as did he and we landed rather softly. However I was staring up at him, amazed the back of head did not hurt from the impact. That is, until I realized one of his hands was cradling it and another held him up and he was on his knees above my stretched out body.

Whoa.

"Uh… thanks."

It came out in one breath in slight relief I had not hurt myself.

"Yeah."

Was my response as he slowly took his hand from under my head and moved off of me. I still laid there until he stood over me and offered his hand to help me up. I grunted and reached up to take his hand. My legs pushed up as he pulled the rest up. The world spun for a bit as colorful rainbow pieces appeared when I closed my eyes from the pressure in my head. I took my hands and rubbed my eyes.

"What time is it?"

I had asked him and rubbed my eyes in the process, a yawn ended up breaking the sentence near the end. Once the world calmed down I ended up opening my eyes to see nothing in front of me. I glanced towards the stove at the other end of the rooms to see Layla still cooking. I must have not been out for that long then. Still, Anthony was now missing.

Something came up behind me and placed arms around my waist, a chin resting on my right shoulder.

"Anthony?"

I questioned, a bit shocked before turning my head to see him. His eyes were closed, but he pushed his nose under my chin, lifting my head a bit. Whatever he was doing did not really fit Anthony as I knew him so far. Warmth of a large hand flatted itself against the bare skin of my stomach and my breath caught in my throat. From what I could get a glance of since my head was tilted up, his hand had obviously snuck under his hoodie and the fabric of my shirt.

"Anthony!"

I hissed in a whisper this time when his hand moved further up to just below the wire of my bra. A low, suggestive growl answered me this time as his right arm that was around my waist tightened, pulling my back flush against his chest. What was happening?

Besides panic taking over, warmth shot through my body at his actions. I whimpered and the growling stopped. Suddenly I felt him grow tense behind me. He backed up and that is when I heard footsteps entering the kitchen.

Layla had apparently left from the last time I saw her since she was now moving towards us with Jake, John, Luke, and Wyatt now leading Brandon downstairs to what I assumed was a half-finished basement perhaps. Uh-oh… this did not look good. I wanted to grab Anthony's hand and hold him close, but I could not as Layla stepped forward and took my hand, leading me away and to my room.

We stopped outside of my door.

"Child, I'll bring 'yer dinner later, now, but please child stay in 'yer room."

I simply nodded as she left and quickly went inside, seeing Jinx on the bed. I pushed the door closed and staggered to the bed, laying my head on the pillow I clutched onto, my stomach growing cold against the previously un-used fabric before slowly warming. I was worried and tired, not feeling well. I heard Jinx begin to purr as he nudged my hand with his head. I began to stroke his soft furry head, hearing only muffled yells from downstairs.

Thank you all so much for all the reviews and hits even if it takes a while to get these chapters up. I'm in an honors/advanced placement English class this year so that sometimes takes my writing creativity away and I get writer's block. Also, to see if you all read these notes too, I have a question for you that if you don't answer it in your reviews, then you lose out. I need at least.... 7 reviews with the answer in them.

Question: As a little 'extra' in the story, should I do a short insert in Anthony's point of view for this chapter?

Answer with 'YES', 'NO', and any little extra thing you would like to say.

All comments/reviews are appreciated! Thank you!

P.S. I'm glad you all like the little devil, Jinx.