"Wow Gray, if this is how you get the ladies, I'm not surprised you've never had a girlfriend."

Blake spoke up from behind me and I had to stifle a groan. Now was really not the best time for her to meet my brothers. She'd probably already gotten the shit scared out of her by me, she didn't need others to come too.

"Shut up Blake, this really isn't any of your business." Unfortunately, my younger brother paid me no heed, instead taking a step closer to Maisee. I could see her tense up from here.

"So this is the girl who's been turning the house upside down. Hm, she's not what I expected her to look like." I went to yank him away from her, tell him to stop before he could in any way hurt her feelings, but my two other brothers beat me to it. It seemed like this was a meet-everyone-whilst-you-most-want-to-run-away fest. Hurray.

"Shut up Blake, you just have a bad taste in girls. I personally think she's gorgeous."

"I personally think so too." Alex and Marcus liked agreeing on things, and right now I really wished they didn't. Or that at least they'd agree on liking her sweater or her shoes rather than her. I was getting ready to tell them all to shut up when I noticed her inching her way towards me. Did that mean she trusted me? No, I couldn't let my feelings get the best of me again, I needed to help her out in fending off my brothers, I couldn't let them continue just to see how much she wanted to rely on me.

"Guys cut it out, she's had a long day-"

"Oh, yeah, I forgot, she's a savant. Does that mean she's off limits cause she has a soulfinder?" My whole body tensed up at Alex's casual use of the word. Couldn't he shut up for more than two minutes? I had to get her out of here, even if it was just to keep her away from that word.

"Which I wouldn't mind, rules are meant to be broken after all." The other twin's statement was quick to follow Alex's question, setting me even more on edge. Of course she was off limits, she was meant to be mine. Although ultimately the decision was up to her, I still didn't want her to end up with Alex or Marcus, they were both perverted assholes. And no, that opinion was in no way biased by his earlier statement.

"Um… What's a soulfinder?"

"Doesn't matter babe, I'll be anything you want me to be." He sent her a wink and by that point, I'd had more than enough.

"Look here Marcus you leave her alone alright?" I had gotten a little over excited at the idea of punching the crap out of my brother, somehow ending up chest to chest with him, my hand wrapped around the fabric of his t-shirt. That meant that I couldn't see what Alex was doing though, which apparently in his books meant he could go all out with Maisee. Even though she was sending out very clear hints of discomfort.

"So, what do you say?" At his words I turned around, finding Alex ridiculously close to Maisee, who looked like she was about to have a panic attack.

"No. No, please not again, no." She was basically quaking in her shoes as we all stopped what we were doing to stare at her in shock. The twins both took an automatic step back as if the tears gathering in her eyes could burn them. My hand went limp, letting go of Marcus' collar. I didn't have any more intention to punch him, instead, all of my attention focused on her. Had someone hurt her in that way before? Because I'd seen other girls reject my brothers before, and it had looked nothing like this.

Normally it was a lot of 'get away from me you creep' and 'you're a douchebag, that's why. Now get away from me. Dick' but never any crying. I supposed girls understood that they weren't really going after them, that they were just being stupid and pushing their boundaries. But Maisee looked legitimately scared, like she'd expected him to keep going even after she said no.

Unlike my brothers, when my mind shut off at the sight of her tears, I took a step forward, rather than back.

"Hey, don't worry, it's ok. They won't ever do anything like that to you, I promise."

"How can you lie so easily? How can you be so sure?" Her words broke my heart. Who had hurt this girl so badly that she didn't even have the ability to trust anyone? One day, I'd find that asshole and beat the crap out of him, even if it was the death of me.

"Look at me Maisee, please?" I waited a couple of beats as she dragged her eyes away from the soft carpet under her toes, to my saddened expression. It hurt me to have to do this, to have to explain to someone that the world wasn't all bad. That should be something that we all learnt from when we were little. You were supposed to discover the evil in the world as you grew up, not the other way around. "I promise you that no one in this house will ever, ever hurt you. And if they do, all you have to do is call out to me and I'll punch the living daylights out of them. Does that sound good?"

"I… don't know." I could see it in her eyes again, that lost expression she sometimes got. It reminded me of a little girl who wanted to trust others so much but didn't want to get hurt. She was scared, terrified of letting herself fall. Because no one had ever caught her before.

"I suppose that'll have to be enough for now. But just remember what I said, ok?" A nod was the only answer I got. "Do you wanna go to your room and away from those idiots?" I didn't even bother pointing at them. My brothers' IQ was no secret. Again, all I got in response was a quick nod. Smiling at her, I led the way, but not before shooting Marcus, Alex and Blake a hard glare.

You ever even look at her and I kill you, is that clear? A chorus of yeah's met my mind as I pointed to the door that had been assigned to her. I'd accompanied her up in case she didn't remember which one it was but now that she'd gotten there I didn't know what to do. I was sure she'd want to spend some time alone but every part of me was begging me to go into her room with her. I didn't want her to be alone with her feelings in that room - I wanted to be there for her. A shoulder to cry on, a friend to help her out needed it.

"Bye Gray, and… Thank you." She decided for me, quickly shutting the door to her bedroom. Sighing to myself, I shook my head, trying to get rid of my thoughts. They all revolved around her lately, and I couldn't even find it in me to care.

Hi :)

This early chapter's dedicated to FinchyBenedict and lissa, who've both been amazing, as well as all of my other reviewers. I love all of your supportive comments so much that I decided to speed up my writing a little to give you guys this early chapter :) I hope you liked it ^.^

Updating will probably go back to normal but meh, I dunno. Maybe I'll feel generous again if I get reviews *wink* *wink* *nudge* *nudge*

Bye bye :)