Morning comes and I’m so fucking tired. Our new friends had kept James and me up all night regaling us of their past adventures. It turned out Emmett had grown up with Brian and he was, more than a little, shocked to learn Brian had found me in the streets and taken me in. Apparently Brian was a complete asshole. Cold hearted, uncaring… So not like my Brian. I’d only nodded and ho’d and humm’d when the time came. So here I am, lain on the ground, limbs tangled in my brothers for warmth with my head on his chest, his fingers tangled in my hair as he mumbles incoherent words in his sleep. Everyone else is still asleep, Emmett looks like a little child, all snuggled under his long coat; Ethan’s snoring in a highly unattractive manner and Cody…well he looks like a corpse, his hands clasped over his gun on his chest. Burying my face in James’ chest I yawn, “You awake?” the sleepy voice causes me to jump but I nod, “I’m so used to being up at the crack of dawn to move out. I guess I’ll have to get used to having more than 5 hours sleep a night…” I whisper, my brother nodding as he stretches almost cat-like. I sit up, my side stiff, a groan escaping my lips as I stand up, shaking out my numb and sore limbs, “I’ll never get used to sleeping on the ground”, I complain, “You didn’t sleep on the ground little brother, you slept on me!” he teased me, cuffing me gently in the shoulder as I laughed. That must have woken Emmett, because soon he’s approaching us, a smile on his lips. “A word of advice, watch out for Ethan, I saw the looks he was giving you last night”, he whispered, throwing a sideways glance at the drooling Ethan, not noticing the grimace pass my features as Cody appeared on the other side, “Don’t worry kiddo, I’ll watch your back”, he grinned, nodding. I get the impression he’s wanted a reason to pop Ethan in the head for a while now. I like Cody, he’s cool. A little violent and intimidating, but he’s a nice bloke, “Then I’ll give you the honours of waking Chin Rat”, I smile, bowing jokingly. I watch in morbid amusement as Cody sends a well aimed kick to Ethan’s crotch, “Get the hell up, you have five minutes or we’re leaving you behind!” Well that threat was empty seeing as it’s been at least an hour since Ethan woke up. If he went any fucking slower, he’d be going backwards. Emmett’s leaning against his horse, admiring his nails; James is sitting on Fance humming to himself and Cody looks murderous as he watches Ethan. So, I take matters into my own hands. Stalking towards him, I whip out my gun and aim it at his face, “Look Ian”, “Ethan”, he corrects merrily, “Whateverthefuck! Either you hurry your godforsaken ass up, or I’ll tie your balls so tight, they’ll ache for a week!” I snarl, turning about and stalking back to my horse, leaving a rather scared looking Ethan behind. Emmett’s bent double from laughter, Cody looks amused and James is trying desperately hard not to fall off his horse. “Christ sweetie, you sounded so much like Brian there!” I grin proudly, I’d always idolised his no bullshit attitude and it would seem it was rubbing off on me without my knowing. Sweet. Needless to say, Ethan was on his horse ready to go a second later. Sneering at him, we started riding onto the plain. It was quiet, the only sounds being Emmett’s suppressed giggles and the horse hooves. I could feel Ethan’s hungry eyes on my back, I was managing to evade every attempt of his to ride beside me and to say it was unnerving would be the understatement of the year. No, it was damn right creepy. I rode up beside Cody, knowing if I was with him, Ethan wouldn’t try anything, “Hey, why does Chin Rat keep looking at me?” I whisper, shoot a glance backwards. Cody follows my gaze and glowers at Ethan, “Cause he’s a cock sucker who can’t accept that he’s so fat and ugly that no-one would want him!” he grins and I laugh, “Christ, that sounded like something my friend would have said…” I whisper, my thoughts flowing to Michael. I never thought I’d say it but shit I miss him, all of them. I wonder what Brian’s up to?