It's really pathetic, but, I've had writers block since the first chapter. I started this story on a whim, and I'm not particularly sure where I'm going to take it. Oh well, here we are!

"Tegan?" I felt large hands gently wrapped around my shoulders, rocking me, "Come on, wake up, Tay." I heard Cooper sigh softly as he sat at the edge of my bed.

"Go away," I muttered, burying my face in my pillow. He patted my back, urging me to wake up. Damnit, I'm trying to sleep. I crushed the feather-stuffed pillow between my hands as I turned onto my back, facing my brother. "What?" I stared coldly.

"I was just wondering how last night was," He folded his hands in his lap awkwardly and turned his brown-eyed gaze to the ground. I let out a sigh of annoyance - like he really needed to ask.

"Oh it was amazing, we all sat around and got along like a couple of girlfriends!" I rolled my eyes. I didn't need his constant sympathy at the moment, he chose to leave me unguarded. I threw the covers off me, to prove my frustration further, and pulled open my closet. As I rummaged through the array of fabrics, I decided on a blue tank top and white skinny jeans. I turned back around to walk to my bathroom, eyeing my brother as I made my way past him. He sat in the same position, only now wearing a face that looked more guilty than usual. Good.

I peeled off my pajamas carefully, my limbs were a little sore - being kicked around doesn't exactly feel great the next day. I pulled my legs through my jeans, bringing them up slowly. I put on my tank top - it brushed the back of my forearm, sending a dull pain through my body. I ignored it and walked out, dirty clothes at hand. Tossing them into the hamper, I stared at my brother, sitting beside him.

I put my arm around him - seeing Cooper this guilty was starting to make me feel guilty. That's not fair right? Maybe that's just me. "Hey, it's not your fault, Coop. I'm dealing with it on my own," I playfully punched his shoulder and sat up, grabbing my white pumps.

"T-Tegan..." I could hear worry in his voice, I turned to face him once I pulled my shoes on. "C-Cooper..." I mocked him a little. His eyebrows came together - apparently it was the wrong time for jokes.

"Tegan Marie, what happened?" He pulled me to stand in front of my mirror, and lifted my left arm. I grimaced a little, finally seeing what he saw. I had a bruise - my first in years - a bruise in shape of my father's fist. Of course, to any other person it would just look like an odd-shaped oval, but I had seen that image too much and too vividly not to know.

"I... I wouldn't be able to tell you," I replied timidly, not because I didn't want to - because I couldn't. I was beaten to the point where I was unconscious in my own bed. Never to the point where I bled - he's sober enough to know that would be considered bad parenting.

"Shit, Tegan, this is too much. You know how rare it is for you to bruise - you know." I traced my fingers over the mark. I nodded my head - Cooper was right, I did know. But I could deal with this. I only had two more years at home - maybe less if I could figure out a way...

My brother brushed past me, before I caught his arm. "Cooper no, I can handle this, just... just let me for a while, okay?" I looked up at him, desperation I'm sure was obvious in my eyes.

"Just let you what, Tegan? Just let you what? What am I supposed to wait for - until your beaten to death? Until he moves on to Emily?" I shook my head, shuddering a little. He'd never move onto Emily, she resembled my mother too much. I couldn't let my dad's entire life go down the drain. Maybe he needs to take out his anger sometimes, and he doesn't know how. He's provided so much for my brother and sister, and mom - when she was alive. What's wrong with paying for everyone else's debts?

"Just wait, Cooper. Just wait," I pleaded with him, before he pulled his arm away, disgusted.

"I'm taking you to work," he said through gritted teeth, before walking out the door. Tears were stinging at my eyes, and I wasn't going to let them fall out. Tears meant weakness, and weak I was not. I grabbed a white blazer from my closet before following close behind my brother, reading the time on the analog clock at the end of my hall as 11:11.

Make a wish.

--

"Carrie!" I sang out happily, putting on my bubbly personality. After the silence that seemed to last four hundred times longer than fifteen minutes with my brother, I knew that I couldn't show any signs of fatigue - I needed to stay sharp. She cocked her head at me, confused.

"What...?" She stretched out, before glancing quickly at her watch, then back to me.

"Nothing, sheesh. Can't a girl be glad to be at work?" I pouted at her, before settling my purse next to my receptionists' desk and sat.

"Yeah, but you've never been that girl," she smirked at me and turned to her computer. I glared at the back of her head. Screw you, Carrie - you could at least play along for ten seconds. I turned to face my Mac computer, reading through my emails. Wow, really? Nothing to file, no phone calls to make - damn, I'm going to be bored. I clicked on my dashboard and played a game of snake for what seemed like hours. High score 78. Woohoo.

"Well, we meet again," a familiar voice commented, ruining my focus. "Mm..." I kept my gaze on the computer screen - come on, I'm about to break a record.

"Hello?" A fair hand waved in front of my face. I let out an exasperated sigh, quitting my game and finally looking up into a full head of curls - yet again.

"Hey there, Curly," I smiled at him.

I watched his eyebrows raise at me, "What was my name?" His eyes smiled at me. Oh, shit. I forgot that was a personal nickname.

"Um, what?" I bit my lip. "I didn't say anything," I looked back to my computer, pretending to be distracted.

He laughed now, "Alright, well, Tegan, I was wondering if you could point me in the direction of the bathrooms? My brother's a little anxious, if you know what I mean." He cocked his head toward the waiting area, where a little boy no older than eight or nine sat, squirming in the chair. I smiled at him - so cute. A sudden thought hit me; Curly was as blind as he was handsome.

"Well, Nick, apparently you didn't notice the 'Mens' sign about ten feet away from where your brother's sitting... right now." I grinned at him, a blush creeping over his face. After a few seconds his face flushed back to it's original fair color and a smirk appeared.

"Yeah, I noticed - I just felt like starting a conversation with you," he winked, before turning and leaving me bewildered. I sat staring as he escorted his brother to the bathroom. As far as I'd known about the Jonas Brothers, Nick was the shy, timid one - what an illusory boy.

"What was that about?" Carrie asked, envy yet at the same time amusement was clear in her throat.

"No... no idea," I kept my eye on the men's bathroom - a little creepy, I know.

A minute or so passed before the two walked back through the door, Nick's eyes on me, wearing the same smirk, while his little brother had a face of relief. I laughed - I wore that same expression often. His brother took his exact same seat, now playing with some sort of electronic, while the older strutted in my direction, picking up the coffee cup that sat on the table. I quickly looked down, pretending to be caught up in something work-related.

"Saw that," he had a look as though he was solely the meaning of life. I glared.

"Awesome," I said, meeting his gaze. He was slightly taken aback by my response, before returning to his 'I am Omega' attitude.

"So, I actually came over here to ask you something," I rolled my eyes. Do you want me to get you some iced tea, your highness?

"Want some coffee?" He stretched his hand out at me, a smile on his face. What was he, sixteen, and he drank his coffee black? Ew...

"No thanks," I held my hands up as though surrendering, before feeling hot coffee on my left shoulder. "Damnit!" I screamed, the scalding liquid burning through the fabric of my blazer leaving an obvious stain. I put my hands to unbutton, before realizing it was my cover. I winced, before sitting back down as though I was not in pain.

"Crap, oh God. Oh my God. I am so sorry, I thought you were taking the coffee. Crap, crap, crap..." Nick babbled for a few seconds before giving me an odd expression. "Isn't that burning you?" I shook my head no, heavily focusing on appearing okay.

"Yes it is, I can see it in your face," Damnit. "Take off your blazer, I'll get you something else," He walked around the desk, now standing right next to me, arms crossed.

"It-it's cold, if I take it off I'll freeze to death," I sighed, the pain in my shoulder now drifting to my entire body.

He rolled his eyes, looking at my face, "Riiight. Just take it off, I'll give you my sweater if you're really that cold." I stared at him angrily, before realizing he wasn't backing down. Sighing - which I'd done an awful lot today - I slipped off the blazer and handed it to him.

"Holy shit! Your entire shoulder's red, hang on," He power-walked to the men's bathroom, then walked back out just as quick, damp paper towels at hand. What's that gonna do, clean the coffee off my skin?

"Carrie, can you get some ice?" Nick looked at her, pleading, before kneeling down next to me. I heard Carrie grumbling before returning with a cup. "Thanks," he said, laying the damp cloth out and pouring a few ice blocks on it. Pressing the now wrapped ice gently to my shoulder, he looked back at me. I inhaled sharply, pained. "Sorry," he mumbled, before lifting the cold-press and blowing kindly on my shoulder. He smiled at me, "So I'm taking it you don't like coffee," I laughed a little. "No, I don't." He pressed the towel back to my skin for a minute or so, before stopping.

"What's this from?" He asked, concerned. I stared at him, my mouth in awe, unsure of how to respond.

"I bumped into the door as I walked in?" I answered him timidly, and looked down at the floor.

"Tegan, you don't get a bruise like this from walking into a door," his eyes were hard, but filled with worry.

What was I supposed to tell him?

Wow, I hate the way I'm executing my idea. It sounded really good in my head. To all two of you that actually read this and the first chapter, I'm unsure if I want to continue this. But I'm very indecisive so you never know.

Review anyway. (: