Reviews:

Written-Anonymously - that's okay! You've reviewed now and that's what counts to me xD glad I left you drooling for more! That was totally the intention. I'm not honestly sure what I'm going to do pairing wise yet. I'm just going to let his story go and see what happens. Thanks for reviewing! Average Everyday Sane Psycho - thanks doll! I try, I try. Thanks to you for continuing to read! Mgluvbl25 - Of course you can dream! I'd never take that away from you, xD but as I said I don't know what I'm doing with Dex in the love department yet, hahaha. And awesome! I was hoping at least someone would laugh at that, I know I did while writing it! I didn't mean to make you cry though... popcorn? *hands you some* xD BackBecky - Why thank you! I couldn't see her being anything but kind and caring, and their father... of course charming xD I'm glad you enjoyed the interaction all around! I was wondering if anything seemed out of character and I was nervous of that, but I'm very relieved you enjoyed that. Yes I was going for that exact tone with the ending, and lmao I know what you mean! It's refreshing to see a strong, built-up character. . . let their feelings go you know? Thanks for reading! :) hopelessromantic4life - I totally understand that you found it strange. I knew it would be with a category like Ever After High and having a genre like angst. However I would like to see you follow the story to see what happens - but if you feel uncomfortable, that I understand as well. Thank you for reading though! AnimePopCircle - thank you, thank you! I try, I try xD *bows* Guest - Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed. The mirror bit was not suicide, it was an outburst that he had. Because he had so many emotions going on. He found himself to be very sad, but unsure of why and so it made him angry and he lashed out by hitting the mirror. There will be a bit more of an explanation in this chapter. :) thanks for following along! I'm glad it's your favorite fic right now. That makes me all kinds of happy, xD PoisonElf - thank you for reviewing chapter one! I always enjoy your input and reviews!

Thank you everyone!

*hands out numerous counts of popcorn to all, xD*

~ Chapter Four: Shatter To Matter ~

My eyes felt so heavy, I didn't want to open them but at the same time - something told me to. So I did. "Dexter!" I recognized the voice, not the panic though. I didn't understand why anyone would feel panicked, I was just sleeping in my bed. "You're alright!"

"Glad you're awake, son." Father? Why was he in my room?

"Do you want something to drink? How about some water? Juice?" Now Mother was here too? I'm so confused.

I lightly shook my head and attempted to reach over to the nightstand. "Oh I know," I found my glasses being handed to me by Clara. Wait, she was here as well? What was going on? "there you go. Now you can see us." She giggled lightly, but no one else joined her.

"Why's everyone in my room?" I asked bluntly. Sorry, but I'm not a morning person. Was it even morning? What time was it?

"What do you mean why," Daring counter asked me, hands crossed over his chest. "you had them-"

Father cleared his throat and gave a knowing glance to my brother.

"-us, all of us. . . worried." He finished, for the first time since I could remember - I think I saw a hint of fear in his eyes.

"Worried, why?" I'm not a person of many words after waking.

Clara took my right hand, which was bandaged and held it. "This." She told me. "What happened?"

I shifted my tired eyes downward and they widened. "Oh. That. That's. . . a good question actually."

Darling was pacing back and forth nervously in front of the mantel in my room. "A good question? A good question?!" she repeated in a distressed manner. "Dexter, now's not the time to be smart or pull a fast one." She glared, I knew she was worried for my well being. She snapped under pressure and when it came to her family - she'd do anything she could. She was very noble and loyal in that sense.

"I'm not Darling," I didn't exactly enjoy how everyone was watching me carefully - but I guess I couldn't blame them. "I. . . don't remember."

"You truly don't remember?" She questioned me.

I shook my head, "I don't."

"Well," Father began. "the mirror's broken. Seven years bad luck goes to someone." It was his lame attempt at a joke, he didn't always tell lame jokes - only when he was uncomfortable or fearful in certain situations.

"I had to pull shards of glass from your hand," Clara informed me as she pat it gently. "are you afraid of getting into trouble admitting you broke it?"

Well gee Clara, if I was - they all knew about it now. But no, that wasn't the case either. "No, no. I did, I guess. . . but I don't remember doing it."

Mother nodded in an understanding manner, it seemed only she and Clara weren't the ones scared. Or maybe they were, they just hid it well? "Dexter, do you remember what happened before? What about after dinner? Your father and I spoke to you, and you left. What took place after that?"

My mind was fuzzy, but I did my best to clear it and think. "I left you and dad, walked up the stairs. . . and came to my room."

"Right, go on dear." She encouraged me, holding my other hand. The 'good' one I think I'll call it.

"I prepared for a shower, had it. . . got out, I just remember looking at the mirror and that's it. It just, went black. Everything. I don't remember anything after that." I refuse to admit that I cried to them, that part wasn't going to be revealed any time soon.

Everyone seemed to think about what I told them. Father was contemplating, Mother was thinking about it herself. Clara comforted me as she did well at. Daring was deep in thought - no cell phone in hand and Darling was still pacing.

"You're gonna wear out my carpet." I told Darling, feeling pretty amused.

"Dexter, I can't believe you're acting so aloofly about this!" She barked at me, she wanted answers and wanted them like yesterday. I get it but how could I give her answers to a question I was asking myself?

"What do you want from me, Darling?" I barked back sitting up a bit, "What do you think I should do? Apologize?"

"Yes, no! No. Dexter, I-"

I spoke before I should have, "I'm sorry about the mirror, okay? I didn't intend on breaking it since I don't remember doing it. Better?"

"That is not what I meant!" She growled in return.

"Enough!" Father spoke over the both of us, we never argued. We always talked about our issues - if we had any. I didn't really have an issue, I just didn't like the way I was being talked to by my own twin sister. He walked towards her, "Darling, you need to relax dear. Your brother's been through a lot in the last little while, the way you responded upset him."

Clara grasped my arm gently, "Dexter, lie down. Everything's fine. You need to relax."

"I'm sorry," I spoke suddenly, Darling looked right past Father and directly at me. "I didn't have to react such a way. I didn't mean to." I stated, just making sure she knew. Clara pat my pillow sternly and I sunk down, almost as if being scolded. You didn't mess with Clara.

"I brought apple juice," Clara said softly.

"But I'm not a fan of-" I tried to tell her, I'm not big on apple juice or anything. But she wouldn't have any of that.

"I know, but you have to drink some. When you lose blood, you have to drink something nice and naturally sugary like apple juice. It'll help replenish what was lost." I often wondered if she knew near everything. But that's almost impossible. Unless you're borderline genius I guess.

"Alright, fine." I agreed, taking the glass from her - with my bandaged hand. It didn't hurt as much as they were expecting it did. Or maybe they were surprised by my reaction.

"Dexter! Your hand." Clara had both hands on her hips. "I bandaged that well young man, not for you to unravel it."

"Relax, I'm fine. It's just a few cuts. It's not a big deal." I told her, for once - Clara was silenced. I didn't understand why. I mean really, so I cut up my hand by taking out a mirror - so what? I drank nearly half of the glass. I didn't realize how thirsty I was. I turned to put it back quickly when I was stopped by a dizzying. . . light-headed feeling.

I probably shouldn't have moved that fast.

Clara took the glass from me before I dropped it. I held onto my bed, I just needed a second or two for it to subside. "How many times must I tell you to lie down mister?" She asked me yet again.

This time I wasn't up for arguing back. "Okay, okay. I'm on it."

I sunk back down to the comfort of my pillows, the blanket being pulled up and soon I was tucked in. My mother kissed my forehead, Father pat my arm and they left together. Calling my siblings, but they were awfully reluctant. Darling rushed over and hugged me tightly, nearly squishing the life out of me.

"Please, rest well." She whispered, she looked pained almost to see me like this. I'm still not sure what the big deal is though, I just need a few hours of sleep and I'll be good. It's not like this is my death bed or anything.

I gave a weary nod.

She left the room after my parents, Clara wished me well and I turned over to snuggle into the warmth of my bed. At least I could enjoy this if nothing else.

I suddenly felt movement on my bed. . . and it didn't come from me. I turned over and opened my eyes slightly. I saw a figure but I couldn't make out exactly who it was, so I just closed my eyes again. "Psstt," seriously right now? "hey, are you awake?"

I really wanted some beauty rest here, I'm sure I needed it as well. And here some jerk was trying to wake me up. "No." I answered abruptly.

"Oh. Okay." Oh, they sounded sad. Damn it.

I opened my eyes and sat up a bit, even though there was some throbbing in my hand - I chose to ignore it. "Daring?" I gasped with surprise. I rubbed my eyes, with my good hand and blinked a few more times.

"You need your glasses?" He asked me, pointing at them on the nightstand.

"Not really, I can see well enough to know it's you." I chuckled, how blind did people think I was?

"Oh." Something was bothering him. I could tell it certainly by his body language. He fiddled with his fingers, he was unsure of what to say. He was illuminating an awkward feeling that he never usually did. He was normally much more suave than this. But then again, I'm his brother. Not some Princess drooling over him.

"Something on your mind?" I asked him outwardly. I didn't mean to seem snappy, I was just getting tired all over again - almost as if I hadn't slept. Meanwhile I'm sure I did.

"Yeah." He answered, but left it at that. The blond hair fell in front of his face, he was picking at a loose thread on my blanket. "I just, uh. . ." he rubbed the back of his neck nervously.

Anyone who knows Daring would understand how bizarre this behavior is from him. He's usually so on-point and, well - perfect and 'Charming'. "What?"

"I'm sorry, I'm keeping you up. I just wanted... to know," he really seemed to have a hard time getting his words out. This was so weird. Was I dreaming? "if you're okay. Are you okay?"

I shrugged my shoulders, "I'm alright. Just real tired." I admitted, but I just could not do it anymore. I couldn't hold myself up - I felt so weakened. So I lie down, I watch Daring scoot closer to me. Why?

"I know you said you don't remember breaking the mirror," He began.

"I don't." I re-confirmed, cutting him off in the midst of his sentence. I didn't mean to, it just happened.

"I know. I just, want to know how uh... you're doing after that. I mean, how were you feeling when you hit the mirror? Do you feel better after you did?"

I hadn't thought about it in all honesty. I let my eyes sink closed. I needed a moment or three to think about what it was I wanted to say. "I don't remember physically hitting the mirror, all I remember is waking up. My hand felt kinda numb. It hurts now though. Not like really paining hurt, but just - throbbing sort of pain."

Daring seemed to have been listening to what I was saying. "I could get Clara." He concluded, and was near going to.

"No!" He stopped, raising an eyebrow. "No, she slightly scares me."

He grinned, "She scares me too sometimes."

We both chuckled, it was nice to have a moment of bonding between us. We didn't get to sit down and talk much really. Aside from interaction at school, we didn't really associate much at home. All summer thus far Daring's spent it on his cellular phone. Not every single second - but I would say most of his time has been dedicated to that phone.

"But other than that, you've been alright?" He asked suddenly, scooting a bit closer.

"Yeah, mostly. I kinda want school to start." I told him abruptly. It was the truth, I hated sitting home during summer - even school breaks I didn't want to leave campus. I enjoyed it, sometimes not everything that went on but for the most part. . . I wanted to be away from here. Not because I have a bad home life or anything, I have it pretty great in all reality. I just like being separate from all the family functions and honestly - school is something I excel in most areas and so I like it a lot.

"Me too." Wait, what? Daring wasn't huge on school. He did alright, brought home decent grades but he surely didn't love it. So for someone who doesn't love school, it doesn't make sense why he'd want to go back so soon.

"You of all people want school to start?" I asked him, feeling astonished. I now lay on my side, facing Daring, who sat on the side of my bed still as I shifted to gain some comfort.

He nodded. "Yeah. See, there's this g- uh, person-"

"I'm stopping you right there Daring," I wanted to make a hand gesture or two, as I sometimes did when I talked - I couldn't because it pained too badly. "I knew there was more going on that you would admit. Let me guess, there's a girl."

His eyes widened and I chuckled. "How'd you know?!" He asked quickly, near frantic almost.

I held a smirk of my own, "I taunted you briefly about how no one looked down at their unmentionables and smiled. Remember?"

His cheeks flushed red, "Oh, right."

I chuckled, "I'm sorry if it embarrassed you, I thought it to be humorous. Anyways, I figured that you were talking to someone. Your fingers were moving like lightening and you were hardly paying attention, if that's not distracted by a cell phone, I don't know what is."

I watched him closely, he smiled - not the big arrogant smile as he often annoyed me with at school. This one was different. It was. . . genuine. "I suppose you're right. She makes me feel, humble. I-in a good way." He started to confide in me, but I stopped him.

"Daring, you don't have to say anything if you're not ready. I'll be right here when you are ready." He gave a curt nod. He didn't seem ready to tell me everything and who was I to push him into doing so?

"Mother and Father would make me spill all." He was right, they certainly would.

I shrugged, attempting for the third time now to fluff up my pillow properly. "They mean well, even if it seems like they're all up in our, business. You know what I want to know?"

Daring raised an eyebrow.

"Darling's love interest."

"Ooh, you're devious Dexter."

I laughed a bit, but it was the most real I'd laughed in a long time. "Well, before Clara flips tables I should get to sleep."

Daring gave a regal nod, "Right. I almost forgot you weren't well." He stood. "Uh, see you around?"

I gave a nod as well. "Yep."

He soon left after that - but I felt like in a strange way, we connected for a moment there. Even if it was brief, it still accounted for something. With my thoughts finally slowing down, I had the opportunity to sleep. And I seized it.