Autumn gets into my car and shuts the door softly behind her. Her cheeks are red, like she was rubbing them and her eyes are puffy.

“What happened? Where’s Sidney’s cousin? Are you okay?” I ask her.

Something was wrong. She wasn’t looking at me. She was barely breathing. I see her bottom lip quiver before she bites it to stop it.

“Autumn…” I say, softer, reaching for her.

She pulls away, “Just take me home, please.” She whispers, her voice cracking.

“Okay.” I say, anger, fear, and worry boiling inside me. She’s never pulled away from me before.

Worst case scenarios rush through my mind as we drive through the dark town. Did he force himself on her, force himself in her? I shudder and feel sick to my stomach. My knuckles turn white as I clench the steering wheel. I would hunt him down if he touched a single hair on her head without her consent.

We pull into the driveway and I get out, jogging over to Autumn’s side and opening the door. She steps out and breaths in the air, her eyes searching for mine. I meet hers and smile reassuringly even though I’m freaking out inside.

“It’s okay. Nothing bad happened. Nothing like…that.” She whispers, somehow reading my mind. “He didn’t…”

I let out a small sigh of relief and run my hand through my hair, knowing what she’s saying. I still don’t ask her anything, knowing she’ll tell me as she can. The wind picks up, moving our hair, and I notice hers isn’t as nice as it was when she left and the shirt over her dress is slightly askew.

“He…he…” She pauses, looking down, embarrassed. “He touched me.” She breathes.

Ice fills my veins and I clench my fists. If this man was here and I had my wand, I would kill him. Hell, I wouldn’t need my wand; I would kill him with my bare hands.

“Not…not like that.” She rushes out, seeing me stiffen. “He just…it was over my clothes.” She pulled her arms up around her. “I got away before…” Her lips tremble and she pulls in a tight breath, her small frame beginning to shake.

I pull her to me and press my lips to her forehead before wrapping my arms around her. I just want to keep her here forever so no one else can hurt her.

“It’s okay. You’re safe now. I’ve got you. I won’t let it happen again.” I whisper into her ear.

She lets a warm breath out and suddenly her body is shaking against me. At first, I’m not sure what’s happening, but when I feel my shirt get wet on my shoulder I realize she’s crying. I’ve never seen her cry. Some nights, when she first moved in with us, I thought I heard her crying in her room. But when I would go to check on her she would be asleep. I wrap my arms tighter around her, wishing that was all it would take to make this go away.

“It’s okay.” I repeat. The chill wind picks up, causing me to shiver with the cold. “Here, let me take you inside. You can sleep in my bed with me tonight, okay?”

She nods as I bend down and slid my arm under her knees, lifting her up and holding her against my chest. She leans into me, her hand clutching my shirt.

“I love you.” She whispers, almost too quiet for me to hear.

My heart clenches, remembering back to when I said her name earlier. I think I know why it slipped out, and the thought scares me. I make my way up the stairs and into the house.

“Love ya too.” I say.

The night of her birthday out on my playground plays through my head.

“Let’s be best friends forever.”