Wake Me Up Forgotten Faces

Emily emerged back from getting changed to find the whole gang ready and waiting to go - including Zach's dog; Ichabod, Matt and Val's Labrador; Bella and Brian's tiny ball of fluff; Pinkly.

"Jeez, how long was I up there?" She joked, straightening out her brightly coloured board shorts.

"Let's hit this sh---ortcake," Jimmy grinned, suddenly remembering there was a young pair of ears in the room.

"I know what you were gunna say Jimbo and I'm telling my dad," McKenna smiled, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

Jimmy's jaw dropped as McKenna quickly darted out of the back door, towards the beach "Hey! Come back!" He called, almost in a panic.

"Let's hit this shit," Brian smirked still in McKenna's ear shot, draping an arm across Emily's shoulders, she glanced up at him, eyebrows raised. "My sister hears a lot of swearing at home - she's just messing with Jimmy," He shrugged.

Emily chuckled, leaning slightly against his frame as they followed Jimmy and McKenna's path. She secretly enjoyed moments like those, where she let her guard down and allowed Brian to be close to her, but they were few and far between.

Brian was fastly becoming ranked along side Hannah in the best friends department, and there was no denying how amazingly good looking he was, but a relationship was far from what Emily was looking for...plus, Brian probably felt the same.

She was, also, yet to tell him the stories behind the injuries which brought her to them. He never pushed for answers and she never found the right time to bring the subject to attention.

"I wanna go in the sea!" McKenna announced once they were all settled on the sand "Come on Emily!" She added, knowing the older girl was more likely to join in on her idea.

"Sure," Emily smiled once McKenna had removed her hoodie and shorts to reveal a bathing suit "Guys?"

"I'm in," Zach and Matt said together, Val and Leana were already down to their bikinis.

"Me too," Brian smirked, peeling his shirt off.

Emily couldn't help but look at his incredibly toned chest - wondering what the 16 year old version of her would be doing right now.

"Come on then Kenna!" Brian suddenly exclaimed, picking up and throwing hos younger sister over his shoulder and running towards the water.

Before they knew it, a shirtless Jimmy sped past them - a squealing Leana over his shoulder and barking dogs following close behind.

Zach glanced to his girlfriend.

"Don't you dare," Gena warned, causing him to switch his gaze to his cousin-in-law.

Emily laughed "Get away from me Baker!"

He rolled his eyes "You guys are boring!" he laughed before sprinting after his friends, Johnny and Lacey close behind.

"So," Gena smiled, edging over to her cousin's side and linking their arms "You and Brian?"

"Are really good friends," Emily pushed, resisting the urge to roll her eyes at Gena's assumptions "Come on, you know what I've been through."

Gena smiled sympathetically "I do but I have a feeling Brian may like you."

This time the urge was overwhelming and Emily rolled her eyes "I highly doubt that."

As they'd got to the water's edge Emily wriggled out of Gena's grasp and waded in, not bothering to take her white tank top off.

"You're seriously gunna swim in this?" Johnny asked, picking at the material.

Emily shrugged "I'm just self concious about my stomach and I don't want to show it off."

This seemed to get Brian's attention and he glanced up with a frown, quickly averting his eyes when he noticed Emily looking.

A pair of arms circled her waist and pulled her down beneath the water, stopping her looking at Brian in confusion.

"Zachary!" She spluttered, wiping her eyes.

Her friend smirked "You weren't soaked enough," He added with an innocent shrug.

"You're dead Baker!" She exclaimed, swimming after him.

A guy in his early 20s stood on the beach behind Zacky's retreating figure caught her eye and panic welled up in her chest. Sandy hair, pasty complexion...the man was the spitting image of Alan.

She changed the direction of her swimming and made it to the beach in no time, her legs carrying her as fast as they could.

"Emily!" A voice from behind her panted, the sound of someone chasing her caused her to quicken in pace.

Suddenly another body came into contact with her own and they crashed to the ground - their arms clamped around her waist.

With her eyes clamped shut she screamed as loud as her throat allowed her to.

"Emily!" The voice repeated in a soothing tone "It's me Patches...you're okay..."

The scream stopped and her eyes fluttered open. She felt light and carefree once more as she stared into his hazel eyes.

Brian Haner.

She blushed as he picked her up and sat her on a rock. "You all right now?" He asked softly, kneeling down infront of her.

She nodded shyly.

"It's okay," He comforted her, gently moving the hair off her face.

"I want to tell you now," She found herself blurting out.

There was a sloght shocked reaction from him, though he tried to keep it hidden from her "Only if you're ready honey."

"Promise me you won't get mad?" She asked in a small nervous voice.

His hands grasped onto hers and his thumbs traced comforting circles on her palms "I could never be mad at you Patches."

"Promise me Brian!" She almost pleaded, knowing exactly what he was like. As soon as he knew her story he'd let his over-protective nature take over.

"Okay! I promise!" He exclaimed, not liking her being in a panicked state.

She sucked in a deep breath and let the words take over. Starting with the first time Alan ever laid a finger on her, her story flowed past her lips.

She paused, up to the bit where she was on her way to the hospital to be rescued by Gena and Zach, when she noticed the anger in his eyes - his fists balled up tightly "Brian," She whispered softly "You promised."

"I know," He replied with a sigh, nothing about the angry tenseness in his muscles relaxing "It's...hard to think that there's someone out there who'd hurt you princess."

She bit her bottom lip, finally allowing the tears that had been brimming her eyes to escape and roll down her cheek.

This seemed to relax his anger and he jumped into action, quickly wiping the tears away and pulling her into his chest "I'm sorry sweetie," He soothed as he softy stroked her hair "I didn't mean to get angry. I didn't want to scare you."

Her arms circled his waist and she slid onto his lap - the closest she'd ever allowed herself to be with him "You didn't scare me," She mumbled against his bare skin "You're just so...nice. It's amazing."

His chuckle sent vibrations through his body "Well, I'm here to make you happy and protect you and I fully intend to carry out my two jobs to the best of my ability!" He exclaimed, getting a giggle in reply "But, if that fucker ever comes near you again, I will kill him."

*

"Are you okay Emily?" McKenna gasped, rushing over and hugging the older girl's legs tightly.

"I'm fine honey," Emily smiled, ruffling McKenna's dark hair.

A camera flash brought Emily's attention to the group around her and Val grinned "It was the perfect photo op!" She giggled. As Emily took a second to look at how Brian's arm was still tightly circled around her waist and how McKenna's tiny hand had slipped into Emily's slightly larger one she couldn't help but agree.

"You'll get used to Val and her annoying camera," Brian smiled, ignoring the glare he was now receiving off Mrs. Sanders.

Emily chuckled, leaning against Brian's frame "I love taking pictures," She mused, dirupting the peace and causing all the men to groan in disappointment and the girls to cheer.

"Not another one," Zach sighed.

"We'll never escape!" Johnny added.

"At least she doesn't have her own camera," Brian said, trying to find a brightside to this disastrous discovery.

Gena raised her eyebrows "Yet!"

As the girls - including Emily - giggled the guys all glared at their guitarist.

He shrank back jokingly "Oops?"