Lennox awoke on the couch covered in a soft blanket. She pulled the blanket closer around her, glancing at the tv. A random show was playing. She remembered watching the movie with Donovan and her mom, and she remembered crashing on the couch. For a moment, everything seemed normal. For a moment, she could pretend nothing had happened.

Tossing off the covers, she stood and walked to the kitchen. After gulping down a glass of water, she realized it was already nine o'clock at night. They had started watching movies soon after she had awoken in the afternoon. Her mother and brother must've gone off to do their own things, so that left her to entertain herself. It left her time to think.

After time to heal with her family, she felt oddly better. She felt like the whole world wasn't against her. Her felt like she could grasp a sense a peace amongst the chaos. Yet, a mix of anger and disgust bubbled in her stomach when she thought of Chad, Isla, and Brandi.

She thought she could have something with Chad, but she was wrong. She wrapped her arms around herself and leaned back against the kitchen counter. Now that she could step back from her flurry of emotions, she could think of more specifics. She could think of how she took a shot at romance and almost got raped. She thought of how Isla kept haunting her until she almost got her killed. All because of hatred.

Another face popped into her head. She remembered the smell of coffee as he held her tight that night, reminding her everything would be okay. Her heart swelled when she thought of Levi. Suddenly, her own emotions seemed to make sense. She nearly smacked herself for being so clueless. Feelings had been growing within her for Levi, but she had been so blindsided by Chad, a choice she thought was safe.

So much for that.

Dropped her arms, she began drumming her fingers against her leg. She couldn't deny he had always been there for her. Even when Faith and Trey gave up on her, he didn't. He went with Maven to save her, and she could never repay him for that. However, a part of her yearned to tell him how she felt. A part of her wondered what it would feel like to feel his lips on hers. A part of her wanted to always have him by her side. She never truly felt that way with Chad. She never felt content and safe with him like she did Levi even before he betrayed her.

She knew he would still be working. He worked until closing at twelve. She rushed up the stairs and knocked on her parent's bedroom door. No answer. Not knowing where her mom could be, she walked to her room and grabbed her phone. Ignoring all the notifications, she pressed her mom's number and let it ring.

"Hey, Honey! Don and I ran to the store. You okay?"

"Yeah. I'm going out."

"Lennox, that isn't a good idea. I-"

"I need to visit the friend that helped save me. Besides, staying cooped up in the house wallowing in my own misery won't do anything for me. I'll be careful, okay?"

"Can you drive?"

She rolled her eyes. "I have a license, don't I?"

"Lennox!"

"Love you, Mom."

"Love you, too. Be safe, okay?"

"Okay." She hung up, grabbed her keys off the nightstand, and walked down the hall. She took a moment to pound on her sister's door and yell, "I'm going out!"

The door swung open a moment later. A slightly breathless and frazzled Nora opened the door. "No, you're not."

"Mom said it's okay. I'm going to see the one friend who hasn't messed up. Yet."

Nora raised an eyebrow, then smirked. "Oh, Levi, right? He's the one that helped Mav help you."

"Yes. Now I'm going, Mom."

"I can drive you."

Maven walked forward from within Nora's room. He wasn't wearing a shirt. It didn't bother Lennox in the slightest since he was dating her sister, but both of their embarrassment amused her to no end. Nora blushed a deep shade of red and turned to yell at her boyfriend.

"Oh, save it. I don't want to know what you were doing before I walked in. And you don't have to drive me, Maven. Thanks for the offer."

She turned and walked down the stairs, chuckling to herself as their voices carried downstairs. The thought of driving again really didn't scare her. After what she had experienced, she reasoned almost nothing should scare her anymore. At least, not anything mundane.

The drive didn't take her long. She didn't bother to play music. Her eyes stayed focused on the road, and her fingers drummed a beat on the steering wheel. Focusing on street lights, stop lights, and headlights felt better than acknowledging the anticipation in her heart. She had never been so nervous to talk to anyone. She just wanted him to feel the same way. She just wanted one thing to go right in her life.

Parking wasn't hard to find. Starbucks wasn't that crowded at that time of night, and there wasn't a line to order. So, she swallowed her fears, her worries, and her past before walking up to Levi. She couldn't fake a smile, and she wouldn't to him. He understood she was broken, but he didn't treat her like a cracked egg that could never be fixed.

"Lennox," he breathed.

She leaned against the counter, drumming against her leg. Tap. Tap. Tap. "Hey. Whip me up the specialist drink you've ever made."

He grinned. "Sure."

She reached into her pocket for money, and her face fell. How did she forget the money to pay for her coffee?

"It's on the house."

"No, it's okay. I forgot my money, but I keep emergency money in my car. Probably shouldn't tell you that, but..." she trailed off, laughing a bit to herself.

He waved a hand. "Seriously."

"No. You deserve to be paid."

"Your company is my payment."

The seriousness in his expression caused her breath to catch. Instead of arguing, she just nodded. He got to work, his grumpy coworker casting him a glance and a wink from her place by the drive through window. Lennox wondered what that meant, but she could only focus on the thumping of her heart and the passion within it. She had never known she wanted something more than right then.

Soon, Levi stepped out from behind the counter clutching a hot tea and what must've been her drink. She wordlessly followed him to a table while his coworker took his place at the register to take a newcomer's order. She didn't seem too grumpy about it.

They sat towards the back. The only other people there were a young couple and an older man sipping a coffee. It felt oddly quiet, yet as soon as she sat down, Levi was all the noise and all the silence she would ever need.

He placed her drink in front of her. It was colorful. She took a sip and smiled at the fruitiness.

"What if I didn't like fruity drinks? You took a risk."

"Ahh, but I tested you when I snuck that strawberry into your chocolate drink," he teased.

She couldn't help it; she smiled. After taking another sip, she tried to think of how to approach the topic. She'd never really done this before. Heck, she could barely tell Faith she liked her company at the beginning of this mess.

"You know what? I'm just going to go for it."

It wasn't her that spoke.

She raised an eyebrow, heart pounding as she leaned back in her chair. When had acting nonchalant become so difficult? Hadn't she been an expert at it a few weeks ago?

"Hate to steal your thunder, but I have something to say, too," Lennox said.

He bit his lip. "Same time?"

"Nah, I have to get all sappy and shit," Lennox responded. "So, basically, I suck at emotions, but God knows I can't just ignore this. You've been an amazing friend and supporter. You've become so special to me."

His face seemed to fall, and she understood. They both sucked at this.

"But I want to be more than friends, you idiot," she said, shaking her head as his face lit up. "I'd write you a sappy poem, but I'm more of a short story person."

Levi's grin was so wide Lennox couldn't help but smile herself. She stood. She held out her hand, and he took it. They walked out of the building, and she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close.

"I think I'm falling in love with you, Lennox," he whispered.

"Me too. Not with myself, but-"

He laughed. "I understand." His eyes flicked down to her lips. "Since I'm such a gentleman, I have to ask: can I kiss you?"

"Can I tell you a secret?"

He nodded, furrowing his eyebrows.

"You didn't have to ask."

She connected their lips. The kiss started slowly. It was full of longing full of pure intentions and a longing to fix their broken souls, but together. Lennox didn't need a boyfriend to complete herself; she just needed someone who was willing to be there while she picked up the pieces of her soul, and he just happened to feel the same romantic feelings she did.

They pulled away, a bit breathless. She stared into his light blue eyes. She stared at the millions of emotions floated within them, and her heart swelled.

"So, I'm not going to ask you to be my girlfriend. I'm going to take it as slow as you want."

She shook her head. "I'm tired so taking it slow and cautious."

"So-"

"Yes, I'll be your girlfriend," she grinned.

His whole face lit up. She felt like a grinning fool, but she didn't care when she was around him.

She wrapped her arms around him, inhaling the scent of coffee. "Thank you for helping to save me."

"I'd do it again it again in a heartbeat," he whispered. "I was so worried."

She buried her head in his chest. She didn't want to remember. "I'm okay. Health wise."

"I'll always be here."

"I know. Because I trust you."

They pulled away.

"I'm not going to ask if you're okay. I know the answer, but it gets better."

"It better, because this sucks."

He shook his head at her, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "How can you still be so sarcastic."

"It's a talent."

"Never lose it."

She glanced behind her at Starbucks. "My poor coffee is melting."

Levi chuckled, and they walked back in. Lennox took her seat and sipped her melted drink. She felt over the moon. Levi couldn't stop smiling at her, and vice versa. She glanced over at Levi's coworker at the same time he did. She gave him a thumbs up. He gave her one back.

"Wow, even she was in on this."

"Of course."

They kept drinking until they had to throw their containers away. Everything almost felt too good to be true, and then something not too good to be true happened; Faith and Trey walked through the door. She frozen in her spot next to the trash can. Her heart couldn't decide whether to feel angry or hurt. Maybe both.

"You don't have to acknowledge them. I can take off for the night. My coworker will cover."

She shook her head. "I'm not going to run from them. I didn't do anything wrong." She gulped. "Well, maybe I pushed them away for Chad."

"You didn't know."

She sighed, then began walking towards them.

"You really don't have to."

She stopped in front of them. They had stepped away from the cash register and were probably going to wait for their drinks. Lennox stood in their path, her gaze hard. Meeting Faith's wide eyes, she didn't want to feel angry. She missed Faith. She didn't feel completely ready to forgive her, yet she didn't want to hate her forever. She just needed to know what Chad did.

Oh my gosh. Faith signed

Trey stared at her; hard.

"What did he do? What did you make you think about me?"

Faith bit her lip, pulled out her phone, and shoved it in Lennox's direction. Levi peaked over her shoulder. The messages all seemed to come from her phone number. They said how horrible and Trey-obsessed Faith had become.

Go to Chad's contact.

She did.

Hey, I don't mean to be a bother, but I'm tired of hearing Lennox talk about you and Trey like you're nothing to her. You deserve better. She acts like she hates Isla, but you don't understand her scheme.

She wanted to scream. Levi gently squeezed her shoulder as she handed Faith back her phone.

"You didn't bother to confront me."

Trey said he would.

She laughed bitterly. "He did such a great job."

"Those messages are still from you," Trey spat.

"Brandi is a hacker. She probably did that. But still, you shouldn't have screamed at me like that."

"You shouldn't have screamed at me about Chad."

"Didn't something not add up to you? I defended Chad and he bad mouthed me," Lennox pointed out. She crossed her arms over her chest.

I'm sorry about what happened.

Someone clicked. "How do you know?"

"Everyone knows," Trey deadpanned. "It's on the news, it's on social media."

"And yet that's how you treat her?" Levi interjected.

A tear trickled down Faith's cheek. I never wanted it to come to this. Maybe I knew I was drifting away from you and spending more time with Trey, and I felt guilty. I'm sorry. Trey told me what happened when he confronted you, and I believed it. I didn't think you'd send me texts like that, but things got blown out of proportion.

"But you relied on Trey? You couldn't even ask her yourself," Levi said calmly. He had dropped his hand from Lennox's shoulder and had crossed both his arms over his chest.

"You're probably defending her because she's sucking your-"

Lennox shot forward, and blood pooled from his nose as soon as she heard the crack.

"Don't. You. Fucking. Dare," she seethed.

Faith gawked at her.

Lennox thought someone would kick her out, but Levi's coworker clapped. Glancing around,she realized only the older man remained in the corner, and he didn't seem to care. He was more engrossed in his book and cup of coffee in his hand.

Trey, stop! Why are you so mean? Faith asked. Lennox, you didn't have to break his nose!

She shrugged. "He didn't have to suggest I suck things that I don't."

Faith glanced between the three people around her. Lennox thought she would turn on her, but she was wrong. Why have you been such a jerk lately, Trey? You've pushed everyone away from me! My cousins, Lennox, everyone. What is your problem?

He clutched his nose. "Why trust her?" He sounded very nasally. "All you need is me, Faith."

She shook her head. My friends meant everything to me. They still do, but you've made them hate me. I thought all I needed was you, but I was wrong. Everything was better before you became so controlling. Tears streamed freely down her face. Before, I felt butterflies with you. Where are they now?

He glared down at her. "You can't do this. No one else will date a mute bitch like you."

She went to deliver a punch to his solar plexus, but he grabbed her arm and twisted. She was swiftly reminded of the bandages under her shirt and when Chad pinned her against the door. She didn't feel like pain of the twist. She went to kick, but he shifted out of the way. She went to punch him in the head, but her caught her other hand.

They both breathed heavily. Trey had blood running down his face and onto his white shirt. Lennox lifted a leg to kick him. He shifted to protect his privates, which she used to her advantage. She swivelled around and, using the support of him holding her arms, she kicked him in the stomach. He let go of her and stumbled back. She would've fallen if Levi hadn't caught her. Sound came rushing back. Her chest faintly hurt, and so did her twisted arm.

"You okay?" Levi whispered.

She nodded. Trey moved towards them and she actually hit him in the solar plexus this time, which was a sweet spot below the chest and above the stomach. He stumbled back against the counter as the air was knocked out of his lungs.

She suddenly saw Chad's face. She wanted to finish him. She lunged forward, ready to do serious damage. Then, she realized what she was doing. She saw Trey hunched over and once again clutching his bloody nose. She was so tired of violence.

"Come -on. Is- that -all - you- got?" Trey panted.

"No, but I'm done."

She turned away. Levi and Faith stared at her. She swiftly exited the Starbucks, breathing heavy.

Faith began to rapidly sign. I let that monster near you. I'm so sorry. I know you hate me.

Lennox shook her head and gathered her friend in her arms. "No, Faith, I don't hate you. We both just made stupid mistakes."

When they released each other, they both had tears streaming down their faces.

"Did he try to hurt you, Faith? Ever?" Levi whispered.

She shook her head, swiping at her eyes.

"Len-"

"I'm fine."

"No, you're not."

She didn't even bother to wipe away her tears. "I have the two most important people in my life right here. Well, non-related anyways. I couldn't be happier."

They all gathered for a group hug.

Trey stumbled out of the door, interrupting them. He didn't even spare them a glance. He just pressed his phone to his ear.

"Yeah, 911, I just got attacked."

"And that's my cue to leave."

Lennox headed to her car. "I'll see you guys tomorrow."

____

ARE YOU HAPPY NOW @_brebabe_? 2900 words just for you lol. I hope it sort of lived up to the expectations. The rest of the 'traitors' come later.... There's probably one chapter left, or two.

Thoughts? On Trey? On Levi and Lennox? I know you guys ship it and so do I. I was writing this like yasssss.

Predictions?

-Sarah