Better in Boston

The boys had been living between L.A. and Boston for a couple of years now, but to us Boston would always be home, Sommerville was our little corner of the world that was ours and ours only, no matter who else lived there.

When they moved away for their career a little piece of my heart left with them so it goes without saying when they came home on visits I spent absolutely every single possible minute with them.

They had been asking me to fly out to L.A. for a summer with them but I couldn't leave charlie alone with dad, it wasn't safe for him and if I wasn't there to take his drunken blows then Charlie would suffer, as his older sister I could never let that happen. I picked up my phone and texted chris.

Chrissy/Chester <3

Nova: Hey chester, you guys busy today?

Chris: Hi stells, I told you to drop the fucking chester thing that video was months ago and the lighting did me so wrong ! and I think we're just gonna head to the mall and grab some stuff for the next vid, wanna come with?

Nova: you read my mind, Pick me up in 20... Chester xo

Chris: I fucking hate you bro...

Nova: shut the fuck up chrissy you love meeee <3

I stood up throwing my hair into a loose ponytail, two pieces fell to the side framing my face. "Fucking layers" I muttered as I gave up trying to fix it. I had on a pair of cycling shorts and a cropped fitted baby tee.

I looked in the mirror in pure disgust at the yellow and purple marks painted over my body, I winced as I ran my hand over the freshest mark on my arm, dad was particularly angry last night and was laying into Charlie, as always I stepped between them, Dad didn't like that.

I Grabbed a grey Ransom sweater and sweatpants I had no recollection of buying and pulled them on over my shorts in an attempt to mask the brutal marks left by my once loving father. Pulling on my white air forces I hurried out to the car.

Charlie had left for school and dad was at the bar so I made sure to get out of there while the house was empty. I opened the back door of the car and jumped into the seat next to Nick giving him a quick hug and I reached for the seat in front of me giving Chris a little squeeze on the shoulder.

My eyes instinctively glanced to the rear view mirror where they were met with Matt's deep blue eyes already staring at me. His cheeks flushed pink and he looked away clearly embarrassed he had been caught staring. This fucking kid and his mood swings.

We pulled up to the mall and all begin to climb out of the car, Chris turned to me "stell it's like 105 degrees why are you in sweats and a hoodie!?" I felt my heart sink at his innocent question and shrugged my shoulders. "No seriously your gonna like... die on us or some shit and if you die then who's gonna play chained together with me and who will..." his rambling was cut off by Nick yelling "SHUT THE FUCK UP CHRIS!" His lips press into a thin line and he stops talking.

I lingered by the car door for a second shaking the thoughts of my dads rage last night from my head, it's only then I turn to see Matt closing his car door, his eyes slowly make their way from my feet to my eyes and a small smirk paints itself across his face. "Nice sweater" he grinned and that's when it hit me. IT WAS HIS FUCKING SWEATER, a few years ago we had all travelled up to a cabin on the coast, an occasional tradition we had kept since we were kids.

Me being unprepared as always didn't pack enough warm clothes so Matt decided the gentleman like thing to do would be to give me his Ransom sweater. I never gave it back, I guess I forgot, but I hadn't worn it since then so the chances of me finding it today and throwing it on confirmed my suspicions, the universe hates me.