There were bruises on his cheeks, his nose, his forehead. Cuts on his lip, dried blood all over his entire face. I was aghast, mortified. My jaw dropped to the floor.

        I first began to wonder how this could have happened before I even asked. Who knows what kind people he hangs out with, he could have gotten into a fight. Yes, that would make the most sense, unless he had gotten mugged or something. I really just need to ask him. Geez, stupid.

        I let out a breath I was holding. "Blake." I whispered, slowly walking closer. "What happened?"

        As he stared back at me, I wondered how in this bloody world he could keep up with the closed-off expression on his face.

        He didn't move at all, just grumbled in a low voice, "None of your business."

        Of course it isn't. It seems to never be these days.

        I frowned, heaving a sigh at his answer. "You really like to tell me that, don't you."

        I made my way over to the array of cabinets and started searching for some kind of first aid kit while I felt Blake's eyes on me from behind. Like, thanks so much for helping me. It really means a lot.

        I ended up just dealing with a rag I found in the bottom drawer. After soaking it with water and ringing it out a bit, I walked over to Blake. I hesitated for a split second, wondering if he was thinking I was crazy, or that he was mad, and that he was going to run away or something. But I ended up finding a spoonful of confidence and raised the rag to his cheek. It looked the worst to me, all cut up and covered in dried blood.

        He flinched and made a hissing sound with his teeth when the rag first made contact, and I thought he was going to pull away, but he didn't. He actually went and sat on a stool because it was extremely difficult for me to clean up his face when he was a foot taller than me.

        He actually let me clean up all of the dried blood from his face, which kind of surprised me. I thought he was going to freak out and run, saying that "he's got it" or something, but he didn't. It was quiet for those few moments, and still dark. It was like after one in the morning. I wondered what he'd did to stay out so late, and where Mason was. But we didn't speak.

        After I had rubbed off all of the blood, Blake took the rag from me, saying that he's "got it." I was just standing there then, and he was looking down at the floor with a cold expression.

        I really, really wanted to know what happened, but I already knew what he would have said again if I asked. 'It's none of your business.' That was really pissing me off.

        I started to walk out of the room since I was obviously no longer needed. But as soon as I reached the doorway, I heard Blake's gruff voice behind me,

        "Wait." I turned back, surprised. He was looking down at his hands, avoiding any eye contact with me. "Why are you doing this?"

        I walked a little bit closer, and furrowed my eyebrows. "What?"

        He looked up at me with an annoyed expression. "Why are you being nice to me when I've acted like a dick to you."

        I sighed. "Look, I honestly still don't understand why you stopped talking to me after you moved." I blew out a breath. "It tore me apart more than you would know, Blake. And...I don't know, I just couldn't take it anymore. I want to know why. I want answers. And you're not just going to scare me away."

        He looked up, into my eyes. Like he was searching them, and I couldn't comprehend what he was thinking.

        Finally, he sighed. "You don't understand."

        "I can try—"

        "No, Hadley, you can't!" His voice roared over mine. I flinched back. "It's not easy for me to just up and spill all the crap that's gone on. It really isn't."

        I started to think about what Aria told me, that I deserved an answer now. But then I thought again.

        "That's fine." I said, and he looked at me quizzically. "Just take your time."

        Nothing was said after that. He was looking at his hands again, and I was fiddling with my fingers. I didn't know what to do next. But he obviously did.

        He stood from his chair at the island and walked right past me, without glancing my way. I watched him head into the living room, pick up Sawyer from the couch as if she was a delicate rose, and walk into the hallway.

        And that was that.

~•~

        The next morning, I walked into the kitchen for some breakfast after I had woken up. Blake and Mason were both eating bowls of cereal, looking complete opposites. Blake looked freshly showered, all dressed up in a navy blue uniform and khaki shorts, while Mason looked like he hadn't slept or showered in days.

        I didn't question it though, just said, "Good morning." And made my way around them to find a bowl.

        Mason grunted in return, and whined, "My head feels like it's being stabbed." He then shoved a spoon of cereal In his mouth. Looking at Blake wearily he said, "Get me some more painkillers, will ya?"

        Blake scoffed. "Sorry bud, overdosing doesn't sound that great for you right now."

        After I sat opposite of them at the island, I took a look into Mason's eyes. Yep. I knew it. "Hangover?"

        Blake nodded, rolling his eyes.

        Mason grumbled. "I'd honestly rather be dead right now than deal with this." He abandoned his cereal, and went for a bottle of water whilst grumbling.

        During Mason's tantrum, I looked over at Blake and asked, "Why're you all dressed up?"

        He didn't look at me. "Work."

        I looked closer at his uniform. There was a small logo where his right-hand pocket was. It said "Valvoline," with his name above it.

        "Isn't Valvoline like an oil change place?" I asked, munching on my cereal.

        He nodded, and I didn't know what to say next, so I didn't.

        Baby steps.

        Sawyer came in a few minutes later, begging for a bowl of fruit loops, to which Blake attended to. He had to pick her up to set her on the chair, because she was so small.

        "So what's on the agenda for today?" Little Sawyer piped up beside me.

        "Whoa. Big words, Saw. Where'd that come from?" Blake said, looking at her with a bit of amusement and confusion.

        Her look deadpanned him. "I'm a big girl, and big girls use big words." She flipped her hair to the side. "I'm not five, ya know."

        "Yeah you are, Saw."

        She rolled her eyes. "Just answer my question."

        I still haven't gotten the freaking adoption papers.

        Come on, man.

        Blake widened his eyes as I began to chuckle. "Geez, Uh, I don't know. It'll just be you three around here I guess."

        I looked at Mason, sprawled out against the counter. I had almost forgotten he was still here.

        Sawyer suddenly gasped really loud. "We could go to the park!" She looked at me frantically. "Could we? Could we please?"

        I smiled, and shrugged my shoulders. "I don't see why not."

        "Yes!" She exclaimed, sporting a wide smile.

        Mason piped up. "Hey, can I come too?"

        Sawyer immediately responded. "No."

        "Why not?"

        "Because you're grumpy and I don't like you when you're grumpy."

        Blake grinned. "Ooo, she got you man."

        Sawyer smiled in victory.

        "Well geez, booger. You're extra feisty today." Mason said.

        "Well geez, Dickwad. You're extra grumpy today." Sawyer mocked.

        Blake froze, and looked at Sawyer with wide eyes. "Saw, where did you hear that word?"

        She grinned. "You."

        "Ooo, she got you man." Mason laughed.

        They could seriously entertain me for hours.

~•~

        Sawyer and I headed out to the park a couple hours later. I honestly had no earthly idea where I was going, but thank God Sawyer knew. I would've gotten myself and a five year old lost.

        It wasn't anything spectacular. Just a swing-set, a couple of slides, and a sandbox. But Sawyer obviously loved it, given how giddy and excited she got on the way here. Or it could just be the fact that she's such a hyper little girl.

        The only thing I wasn't feeling secure about was the neighborhood. It was a little bit more run down than the apartments that Blake lives in, which was giving me a weird vibe. It was probably why Blake sternly told me to keep an eye out for her before he left for work. But I guess the flip side was that this place was literally no less than a mile over here. But still, I'm seeing sketchy people and it's not settling well with me.

        I still kept a good eye out. I pushed Sawyer on the swings for a bit, and helped her build some sandcastles. After a while I took a seat on a bench close by and just watched her.

        I had noticed a group of boys, perhaps a bit older than me, over in the distance and it was making me nervous. Especially since one of them kept staring at me. I gripped hold of my mace extremely tight when he started to make his way over towards me.

        He looked...fairly attractive. I'd give him that. He was tall, lean, with an olive tan that complimented his milky brown hair.

        Looks can be deceiving, you idiot. He could be an axe murderer.

        Oh god that's so true. I'm going to die. No, I can't die. They might take Sawyer, or kill her too. Oh god oh god oh god oh god—

        "Hey there."

        Wait, what?

        I broke out of my thinking, and looked at the stranger. He was sitting next to me, a reasonable distance away.

        "Uh, Hey."

        Oh god, I'm so embarrassing. Is he even flirting with me yet? I am so not good at this kind of game. Someone shoot me now.

        He was looking out over at Sawyer, watching her.

        Oh god, get the mace.

        "I'm guessing you're with the munchkin over there?"

        I looked over at him, and nodded, but then remembered he wasn't looking at me. "Yeah."

        He grinned. "Sawyer's a feisty thing, yeah?"

        My eyes widened at this.

        Oh god, he is like a stalker or something. Just get your mace and spray him before he kidnaps her or something.

        He must've seen my shocked expression, because he chuckled. "Sorry, I'm probably freaking you out. I'm a friend of Blake's."

        Oh.

        He stuck a hand out. "Jason."

        I hesitantly shook it. "I'm Hadley."

        He smiled, and usually girls would most probably swoon, but it was a very wide smile.

        After he laid back again, he said, "You're a girlfriend of Blake's?"

        My eyes widened. "No. No no. Just a—friend. We're just old friends."

        He chuckled, and looked over at me, grinning. "Cute."

        I blushed, and didn't know how to respond to that.

        Wow, nice going. He's flirting and you're just sitting there like a freaking ripe tomato.

        After a while, I noticed his group of buddies yelling something, and Jason must have heard them. He stood from the bench and looked at me.

        "I'll see you around, Hadley." He said, starting to leave, but slowly turned back around. Skeptical. "Tell that boy Blake I said hello." He smiled wide again, and left.

        Well...that went better than planned. I thought, letting go of my mace.
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A/N: hey you guys!! Sorry it's been so long since I've updated..does a long chapter make up for it lol? What do you think of Jason??

Please vote, comment, and share you guys! It'd mean the world to me!!

Chapter 6 will be here soon!!

-EllaRose