Chapter 6 That night , I couldn't sleep . ] Just laid there staring at the ceiling after putting my bed back together . [ ] Kept thinking about the past eighteen years , like watching some old home movie . ] ] Dylan and I really did grow up together . Our families lived on the same street , just a fence between our backyards . [ ] When we were kids , he'd always hop over to hang out . [ ] Once he totally ate it jumping the fence - scraped his knee up real bad - but just laughed like it was no big deal . [ ] I'll never forget when I was six . ] My parents got killed in a car accident while I was at after - school care . ] Mrs. Johnson had been crying and didn't know how to tell a six - year - old that her mom and dad weren't coming home . ] ] Dylan burst through that door and hugged me while I was having a complete meltdown . [ ] " It's okay , Avery . I've got you . " ] ] He was only six too , maybe an inch taller than me . [ ] But that hug ? It basically saved my life . ] After that , I went to live with my grandma . ] ] Dylan's mom felt bad for me and always invited me over for dinner . [ ] " Avery's like my own daughter , " she'd say . At their table , she'd pile food on my plate nonstop . [ ] " Eat more , sweetie . You're skin and bones . " [ ] Dylan took care of me too . Walking to school , he'd always hold my hand . His hands were always warm , mine were always freezing . " How are your hands always so cold ? " " I don't know . " ] Chapter F " Here , I'll hold them longer till they warm up . "[] When it rained , he'd tilt the umbrella completely over me . By the time we got to school , his right shoulder would be soaked . [ ] I'd feel guilty . " You're totally drenched . " ] He'd just shrug . " I'm tough . A little rain won't kill me . " ] Then he'd catch a cold the next day and his mom would totally lose it on him . [ ] In middle school , some jerks started picking on me , calling me a worthless orphan . ] Dylan went ballistic - just launched himself at them without thinking . ] He fought like a maniac . Like he'd rather die than let them hurt me . ] Everyone ended up with black eyes and split lips . The principal called home . Dylan's mom had to pay for doctor visits and write a bunch of apology notes . [ ] I felt awful . " Why'd you do that ? " ] ] He looked at me like I was crazy . " They were being assholes to you . What else was I gonna do ? " ] " But you're all beat up too . " [ ] " Who cares ? " He messed up my hair . " Nobody picks on Avery . That's the rule . " [ ] Back then , he was everything to me . [ ] The only person I could count on for anything . ] Eighth grade , Grandma had a heart attack . ] Happened out of nowhere - totally fine at breakfast , dead by noon . [ ] I sat at her funeral completely alone , sobbing my guts out . [ ] The last person who gave a damn about me was gone . [ ] I was officially all alone in the world . [ ] Dylan stayed with me the whole time - didn't sleep for three straight days . ] He sucked at saying the right things , so he just sat there . ] Got me water when I needed it . Grabbed food when I was hungry . ] ] Let me pass out on his shoulder when I couldn't stay awake anymore . [ ] Chapter 6 " Hey , you're not alone . I'm here . " [ ] In the middle of the night when everything was quiet , he'd hold me and whisper stuff like that . ] " I'm your family now . " ] " You've got me . " ] " I'll never let anyone hurt you . " ] ] I just cried all over his hoodie , getting it completely gross . [ ] That black Nike sweatshirt was totally ruined by the time I was done . [ ] But I believed every word . [ ] Actually thought he meant it . ] That he'd never leave . [ ] That he'd always have my back . [ ] That we'd be like this forever . [ ] So when Dylan's mom offered to help pay for college , I didn't know what to do . ] " Mrs. Carter , I can get student loans . And I'll work part - time . " [ ] I didn't want to owe them even more . " Sweetie , I've watched you grow up . Of course I'm gonna help . " ]] She touched my cheek , looking at me like I was her own " Besides , you and Dylan are probably gonna … " [ ] kid . She didn't finish , but it was obvious what she meant . That we'd end up together . ] ] Finally she talked me into taking some help . But I wrote down every penny , swearing I'd pay it all back someday . [ ] I thought things would always be like this . Dylan was my family , my safety net , my whole world . ] ] But then Madison showed up . [ ] Then that stupid nickname started . [ ] Then I finally realized eighteen years of friendship wasn't even worth defending against a stupid " joke . " [ ] Frum Cliney Orphan to Unibothered Queen : The Block Button is My Best Revenge Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!