Hey guys! This isn't the best chapter in my opinion, sorry!

Sorry for any grammar and editing mistakes!

Please comment, vote, and follow!

Enjoy!

-&-

Chapter 21

        "I don't think this trip is a good idea." Tate grumbled from the living room as Luce did some last minute packing.

        "Oh shut up, and finish." She snapped at him before sitting on her suitcase to get it to close. I stifled a giggle. Thanksgiving break was next week and Luce and Tate had taken a week off early to leave for some cruise to Alaska. I was happy for them, but Tate was making it difficult to tell them good bye, and not because I would miss him.

         "Rose still hasn't fully recovered and I don't think leaving her here alone for two weeks is a good idea-"

         "God Tate! Give it a break! Rose is fine and you know that. You just don't want that Rex kid coming around when you're not here to puppy dog guard her!" She finally yelled at him, and even though he was my best friend and all, I didn't stop the satisfied smile that lit my lips.

         I loved Tate, I really did, but he was really starting to annoy me. He's been basically glued to my side when I'm not at school and he texts me non-stop when I am at school. It's like he has to prove to Rex he can't have me all the time or something, and it's really starting to "piss" Rex off... at least that's what he says.

         I honestly couldn't wait for them to go on this trip, I needed the break... but dad had left on another business trip two days ago and I was going to be alone for two weeks straight. I knew Rex would spend a few nights over here if I asked him to, but I wasn't going to ask him to spend the whole two weeks with me. I didn't want him to waste his time off of school at my house with pathetic me. That's just selfish... I just really don't like being alone.

         I heard Tate let out a dramatic sigh from my perch on the stairs before he zipped up his suitcase in defeat. "We're leaving Rose." Luce finally said five minutes later. I stood up and bounced down the stairs as her and Tate lugged their bags to the door.

         "Bye guys! Have fun!" I wrapped my arms tightly around my sister's neck and planted a big, sloppy kiss on her cheek.

         "Too much, Rosalyn Maria, too much." She grumbled when I had finally let go and she wiped her cheek off. I gave her a big smile in response.

        "Where's my kiss baby doll?" Tate pouted down at me and I rolled my eyes before wrapping my arms around his neck and giving him a quick kiss on the cheek.

         "We'll be back in two weeks, Rose. You know the rules. No parties, no drinking, no drugs-"

         "No sleepovers, and no boys." Tate cut Luce off halfway through her list of rules and I watched in amusement as she glared up at him before slapping the back of his head.

         "Shut up, you loser. Rex can come over if he wants. I trust Rose, just not a lot of boys alright?" She raised her eyebrow at me and nodded. "Besides, my first rules were all jokes." Tate rolled his eyes and glared down at his girlfriend as I held in my laughter.

         "Alright we're off. Love you Rose, stay out of trouble while were gone. I'll check up on you when I can." Luce waved as she pulled an angry Tate from the house and I blew her a kiss.

         "NO Rex, Rose, seriously-" Luce slapped her hand over Tate's mouth before shoving him into the passenger seat. I laughed. She definitely wore the pants in their relationship.

         I loved it.

         I waved after them as they pulled out of the drive way and onto the road. I waited until they were out of sight before closing the door and slumping against the cool wood. I sighed and the sound reverberated through the empty house. Alone... I was all alone.

         I made sure the front door was locked before bounding up the steps, grabbing my phone off the nightstand, and throwing myself onto my bed. I flicked open an empty message box and typed in a quick question.

         Me: What are you doing today?

         It took him a solid three minutes to text back and I only ended up frowning at his message.

         Rex: Busy today g2g, i'll text u l8r.

         He usually never used text-speech, so I knew he was really busy, but I sighed in defeat anyway before putting my phone back on the charger. I didn't even bother texting him back. If he was really busy I didn't want to bother him anymore than I already had.

         I kicked my legs up into the air aimlessly and stuck my arms under my head as a pillow. I was sooo bored, and I didn't want to watch TV or Netflix, which was a first. I sighed again and grabbed my phone before scrolling through the few contacts I had.

         I clicked Trey's name and held the phone to my ear as it rang... and rang... and rang. His voice mail was the only thing that greeted me and I hung up without leaving him a message. I guess he was busy too. I didn't have either of the Dimajio's numbers, but I'm sure they were with Trey too, who was probably with Rex.

         A sick feeling settled in the pit of my stomach. What if he was fighting again? What if he got hurt and I wasn't there to help him? His cut had healed weeks ago, but that didn't mean he couldn't get another one just as easily-

         I shook my head of those thoughts and buried my face in the pillow. He promised me he wouldn't go back to that place anymore, and I had to believe that until he gave me a reason not to.

         I sighed before climbing off the bed and stuffed my feet in my shoes. It's only been ten minutes and I was already dying from boredom. I had no idea how I was going to be able to last two weeks like this. I threw Rex's jacket on quickly and grabbed my house keys and phone before bonding down the stairs.

         I locked the front door behind me and hopped down the porches steps like a four year old. I didn't have my license yet and ever since the whole break line incident with Rex, the driving instructor hasn't let me drive, so the only think I could possibly do is go to our neighborhood's park.

         The walk was short and quiet as I kicked pebbles out of my path and watched my breath turn to fog in the chilly air. I hadn't seen Rex in two days and honestly it was starting to get to me. I missed him, like a love sick puppy.

         I let out a heavy sigh and shook my head as I reached the old metal gate to the rather large park. My neighborhood wasn't rich, but it was nice, so we could afford to keep a decent playground. I'm not going to lie, most of this was bought by my father. He always had a soft spot for children, and he made sure the ones in his neighborhood had a place to play without fearing for their safety.

         The elementary and middle school children still had school for one more week, leaving the park deserted and silent. It was almost as depressing as my home, almost. I walked to the nearest bench sitting beneath the famous climbing tree and sat down on the cool chipped wood.

         The soft creaking of the metal chains on the swings whistled into my ears as a gentle breeze swept them back and forth. I remembered coming here all the time when I was younger. When dad had found me and brought me home he would bring me to the park almost every other day and offered to push me on the swings.

         I was twelve then and didn't need any help, but him wanting to be there and push me filled my heart with such a happy heaviness I didn't have it in me to tell him no. They took me away for seven years, and that was all it took to warp everything I had ever known.

         I didn't remember my father when he had found me, or my sister, and my mother had died while I was away. It was a disaster, I was a disaster. I still am, just not as severe.

         "Yo kid!" My head whipped up at Brett's voice and I squinted in the direction of an old pick up truck parked right next to the park's gate.

         "Brett?" I called back and let a smile light my face as both he and Denton hopped out of the truck and walked towards me.

         "What's up buttercup? Why are you out here all alone?" Denton asked with a raised eyebrow before both he and Brett plopped lazily down on either side of me.

         I shrugged and felt the degrading sense of loneliness lift off my chest. "Luce and Tate left for some Alaskan trip and my dad is out of town for a few days." I didn't bother telling them how long he would be gone. I didn't really know either.

         "Why didn't you call us, kid? We would have got you." Brett slung his arm over the back of the bench and tilted his dark head of hair towards me.

         "I didn't have either of your numbers and Rex said he was busy, so I figured you guys were with him..."

         "Nah, he and Trey are ignoring us too." His tone was nonchalant and careless as he shrugged his shoulders.

         I pouted.

         "He texted me earlier... so he's not ignoring me, right?" There must have been some miserable tone in my voice because Brett's eyes had snapped down to my face in a heart beat.

         "No Rose, I was just kidding. He and Trey are busy looking for boxing rinks." I could feel his eyes staring into the side of my face, and for a split second I was sure he could hear my heart stop in my chest.

         "He's fighting?"

         "Not today, that I know of..." Brett's voice was curious, but I felt his eyes staring into the side of my head like lasers. "But I promise it's not what you think Rose. Rex needs to let out his anger somehow, and fighting has always been that way."

         "He promised me he wasn't going to go to those fights anymore-"

         "He's boxing, not street fighting. There's a difference." Denton's voice held a slight scoff to it, like it was common knowledge that boxing was totally different. I felt a snarky comment bubble it's way up my throat, but I pushed it back down before the words pushed themselves passed my lips.

         "He's right, Rose. The rules are a lot more strict, which means it's a lot safer." Brent's voice didn't hold the scoff that Denton's did, but it was too nice, like he was talking to a child. Then again, I don't give him a reason not to.

         "Hm."

         "We're actually on the way to go meet up with him and Trey, wanna come?" Brett's voice pulled me out of the little revere I put myself in as he stood up and stretched. I knew better than to butt into Rex's business when he didn't want me to. He didn't tell me what he was doing, only that he was busy, and that usually always meant he didn't want me around at the time.

         "No it's fine. He said he was busy and I don't want to bother you guys-"

         "Come on buttercup." Denton had hopped to his feet with a tight grip on my arm. "You're coming. You look like you could use some fun." I let out a quiet yelp as he hauled me to my feet and Brett chuckled.

         "Yeah, come on kid, we could use the company." He argued also, but it seemed that any argument I could think of would have been pointless since Denton was already pulling me to the car.

         "Careful Denton, you don't want Rex to go ape shit if you bruise her." Brett was chuckling at my side and his laughter only grew when Denton's hand ripped away from my arm.

         "Sorry buttercup." He mumbled disdainfully and gentle rubbed the spot on my arm where he had grabbed.

         I couldn't help the little bubble of laughter that left my lips as he shoved his hands in his pockets and sulked to the SUV's door. "Would Rex really hurt him because of that?" I asked Brett as he fell into step lazily beside me.

         "You really don't know anything about him, kid." He chuckled again before we reached his car and he held the back door open for me. "He's only centimeters away from beating Denton's face in most of the time... but I promise there's more reasons for that than just you." He gave me a soft wink before shutting the door and jogging over to the driver's side.

         "The sad part is, is that it's true." Denton sighed from the front as his older brother hopped into the SUV. I chuckled.

         The ride to wherever we were going was loud and obnoxious, but that was only because Denton had the stereo up to full volume and was singing as loud as he could to Womanizer. I laughed the whole time. For a while there I forgot about the empty house waiting for me and the nightmares that were sure to visit me in my sleep. It felt good to laugh.

         It took a good twenty minutes to get to wherever Rex and Trey were looking at boxing rinks and another five until we pulled into the one they were currently at. We were quite a ways into downtown, but for some reason it was a lot nicer than I expected. The streets were clean of liter, there weren't many tall skyscrapers to block the sun from view and there was a gentle breeze in the air that lifted the heavy weight off my chest.

         "Come on Rose, no need to keep us waiting." Brett groaned impatiently by the door and it took all I had in me to tear my eyes off of the clear sky.

         "Sorry, I'm coming." I mumbled and hurried past the door he was holding open for me.

         As soon as I passed the threshold the smell of sweat and old gym socks flooded my senses and made me want to gag. I forgot how much I didn't like gyms. There were a few people running on treadmills or using the mountain climbers, but most of them were really young and too tuned into their music and exercising to pay any attention to us.

         "The boxing rink is in the back room." Brett said close behind me and pushed gently on my lower back to urge me forward. I hadn't even realized I stopped.

         Denton pushed a heavy metal door open at the back of the room and we were instantly greeted by the beautiful sight of a shirtless Rex standing in the middle of the boxing rink covered in sweat. My stupid mouth started watering.

         He didn't notice us as we walked around the rink and stood behind a very pleased looking Trey. "Hey guys." He rumbled quietly, but kept his eyes glued on Rex as the beautiful body of the boy I drooled over every single day hopped with adrenalin around the rink.

         "You like this place?" Brett jumped straight to it as Denton hanged back by my side.

         "Yeah, it's pretty decent. The owner was willing to offer an eighty/twenty percent just by looking at him. I'll bet you anything when Rex is done up there he'll be willing to offer fifty/fifty."

         "Fifty/fifty of what?" I poked my head around Trey's shoulder and peeked up at him as his eyes shot down to mine.

         "What..." His bright orbs narrowed before his lips cracked into a small smile. "What are you doing here princess?" I shrugged as his arm slipped around my back and pulled me up between him and Brett, leaving Denton sulking behind us.

         "Brett and Denton dragged me along. What doing you mean by fifty/fifty?" I let my eyes watch Rex's every move as he pumped the air a couple of times. If he didn't look so absolutely gorgeous at the moment I would have laughed.

         "The price. The owner wanted to sign Rex up for competitions and offered him an eighty/twenty percent of all his earnings if he wins, but that was before even watching Rex fight. He just finished fighting one of the owner's guys and won, so I'm sure he'll be offered a fifty/fifty percentile now."

         "Oh..." I knew I sounded stupid, but Trey had that whole money thing down and I was trying to still wrap my head around the whole "boxing is different than street fighting" thingy.

         Trey chuckled and nudged me softly in the shoulder. "Don't worry princess, it's a lot simpler than it sounds."

         "Right...."

         "Rosalyn?"

         My head snapped up at the sound of Rex's voice and I saw his beautiful body leaning over the ropes towards us. His hands were shoved into red boxing gloves, his dark hair was slick with sweat, and his chestnut eyes were staring down at me in disbelief.

         "Hey..." I couldn't bring my eyes to meet his, which was fine by me cause I just focused on his beautifully toned chest. He didn't want to hang out because he was "busy". I didn't want him to think I called Brett and Denton to take me to him, or-

         "What are you doing here?" The gently calmness of his voice confused me and I forced my eyes to look up into his. They were warm, and soft, and gentle, and... smiling as he looked down at me. It threw me off guard.

         "I-I... Well, Brett and Denton... And I-" My words came of as a warbled, jumbled mess and I lowered my eyes as a blush heated my cheeks. Rex chuckled.

         "We found her sulking in the park and thought she could use some company." Brett answered for me and I let out a pent up sigh I didn't realize I was holding.

         "You were at the park?" My eyes snapped to Rex's as his voice fell and his eyes turned dark. "By yourself?" He added slowly and for the first time in a long time I wanted to roll my eyes.

         "It was right down the street T', in the neighborhood with a bunch of other people. I promise I was fine." The boys snickered around me as Rex's clenched jaw relaxed and his eyes softened again, but not before shooting a glare at Trey and the Dimajios.

         "Come here Roza."

         My heart jumped at the thought of being near Rex when he was shirtless and all hot and sweaty like he was now, but the snickering boys beside me just made my blush rise and I shook my head shyly.

         "Rose." My eyes snapped back up to Rex and his outstretched hand, the red gloves hanging uselessly in his other. His eyes were soft, but firm and his jaw was set in stone as his stare bore holes into my face. The boys around me suddenly seemed nonexistent as I climbed up the three steep steps towards the large boxing rink and grabbed ahold of Rex's hand.

         His tight jaw relaxed into a small smile and he helped me over the tight ropes surrounding the rink. "I know I promised you I wouldn't fight anymore." He said softly as he pulled me to a corner where a small metal chair and a box of odd little things sat. "But boxing isn't necessarily as bad as what I was doing and-"

         "It's okay Rex." I stopped him mid-sentence and gave him a small smile as he turned to face me. "Brett already explained... I guess." I lowered my head uncertainly as Rex gave me a warm smile.

         "Good. I was trying my freaking hardest to think of a way to explain this all to you, but everything I could think of made me sound like a promise breaking ass." He squeezed my hand before letting go and bending over to grab something out of the odd little box.

         "You haven't gone back to that place again, so you didn't break your promise, and Brett said that boxing was safer than street fighting so..."

         "He said that huh?" Rex stood back up with some weird white tape in his hands and questioning eyes. I nodded as he undid the tape and gestured for me to come closer.

         "If you've ever seen a real boxing match you'll know Brett's full of shit." He grabbed my hand gently and I noticed for the first time the tape wrapped around his hands. My heart dropped to my stomach at his words and a headache started to form behind my eyes.

         "Why are you telling me this?" I grumbled as he started to gently wrap the tape like thing around my hand.

        "Because I need you to understand that although I promised I wouldn't fight at that place anymore, Roza, I can't stop fighting." He tore the tape off with his teeth and a rush of heat surged through me at the sight, but I pushed my hormones down as his thumb brushed the tape across my hand to hold it in place.

         What was he doing...?

         "For years that's the only way I could let out all this fucking anger inside of me and when I found out I could make money while doing so, I did. Everything was perfectly fine, until you." His words made me feel like dying in a hole somewhere, but his tone was soft and gentle... it was really confusing on my stupid heart.

         He grabbed my other hand and started to wrap it in the same tape. "Sorry...?" He chuckled at the question in my tone and flicked his dark eyes up to meet mine.

         "Don't be Roza. You're the first person who has cared about me in a very long time, and I'm still trying to get used to it, but I'm glad you do... but like I said, I need to fight. I need something to get this anger and hatred I feel all the damn time out. If I don't then I get pissy, and when I get pissy I hurt you." He finished taping my second hand and grabbed both my wrists before pulling me nearly flush against his beautiful, sweaty chest.

         "And I'll kill myself before I ever hurt you again."

         I think my chest exploded at the look in his eyes, the look I've only ever seen him give me once before and that was in the hospital when I first woke up. It made me think of the conversation Trey and I had the other night. Be patient with Rex... I could be patient... I would be patient with him, but no matter what, I didn't want to ever lose him.

         I hadn't realized how close we were standing until Rex tore his eyes away from mine and took a step back to grab the gloves he had dropped on the chair. "What are you doing?" I asked suspiciously as he grabbed another pair off the side of ropes and grabbed my hands. He tucked his gloves under his arm before shoving the other pair onto my hands.

         "I am going to teach you how to box." He gave me a small smirk before adjusting the giant gloves on my hands and putting his on. The red odd like clunky things were two times too big and I had to dig my nails into the inside to keep them on.

         "I, um, I'm not so sure about this..."

         "Oh come on Roza. It'll be fun. I promise you won't get hurt." He gave me a dark wink before pulling me into the middle of the rink.

         "Woohoo! Is little Rose gonna fight the big bad Rex?!" Denton hollered from outside the rink and the heat that rose to my cheeks couldn't be helped.

         "Just ignore those idiots like I do baby flower." He rolled his eyes before positioning me directly in front of him.

         "Why are you teaching me how to box when it's just as bad as street fighting?" I grumbled after he showed me how to place my feet to keep my balance.

         "I never said it was as bad as street fighting. I just said that it's not safer. Anyone can still be seriously hurt while boxing, but there are more rules and stricter regulations. Now, hold your hands up to your face, keep one against the side of your cheek to block head blows and hold the other out to attack."

         I mimicked his moves and did as he told me, even though it felt extremely foolish. "When your opponent attacks you they generally go for the head, here." He demonstrated by curving his hand outward and gently tapping the side of my glove that was pressed against my cheek.

         "Which is why I hold the glove here."

         "Exactly, but the real key is to get as many hits in as you can before your opponent does." He tapped my glove again before curling his fist to tap under my chin.

         "Right..."

         He chuckled before raising his gloves up to his face. "Alrighty Rose, hit me."

         "Wait, what?"

         "You heard me Roza, hit me, as hard as you can."

         "I-I really don't want to Rex. I don't think this is a good idea-" I started to ramble and began to take the gloves off, but he quickly stepped up to me and pushed my hands away from each other.

         "Rose, I promise you won't hurt me and even if you did just think of it as payback for me always being an ass." His voice held laughter, but my stomach twisted in nausea at the thought of hitting him, even if I didn't hurt him.

         "I-I don't want payback Rex. I don't do payback. I'm not that type of person-"

         "You cussed at me that one time."

         "And I cried about it for hours. Rex-"

         "Just hit me Rose, alright? I won't let you leave the rink if you do." I glared up at him, but the jerk only gave me a smirk.

         "Fine." I raised my fist up to my waist and threw it as hard as I could into his stomach. I'm not sure what made me do it, but the smirk he gave me just made me want to prove to him that I could, even if it made me sick to my stomach.

         "Holy shit!" His eyes bulged out of his head and the smirk on his face disappeared as he doubled over and gripped his stomach.

         I took a step back in horror. Oh god, I hurt him..."Rex! I'm so sorry! I thought you said I wasn't going to hurt you-"

        "D-don't Rose." He groaned and held his stomach a moment longer, but straightened back up in a second. His stupid, beautiful abs, weren't even red from the hit. "It didn't really hurt, you just caught me off guard." I shook my head viciously and threw the gloves off before turning on my heel and stomping towards the edge of the rink. I was done with this.

         "No Roza, wait." Rex hurried after me, but I shook him off and kept going.

         "No, Rex, I told you I didn't want to do this. I hate fighting. I-"

         "I'm sorry, Rose, okay? Please just stop." His arms wrapped around my retreating figure and pulled me back against his sweaty chest, but I just wanted out of the stupid cage like rink.

         He turned me around before wrapping his arms back around my waist, his bulky red gloves long gone. "I'm sorry, baby flower, I really am. You just... you just worry me, okay? You don't like violence, you don't know how to use a knife, you can't fight, you're completely defenseless when I'm not around and I just... I don't like it." His arms pulled me tight against his sweaty and bare chest, not that I was complaining, and his lips pressed firmly against my forehead.

         I sighed in defeat and wrapped my arms around his waist as he rested his cheek against the top of my head. "How is learning how to box suppose to keep me safe?" I felt his whole body sigh as he adjusted me more comfortably in his arms.

         "It teaches you how to hit and kick... and it makes me feel better that you'll know how to defend yourself somehow, if the situation ever arises. Which it won't, but still"

         "I didn't hurt you though right?"

         "No Rose, you didn't, I promise. You just took me by surprise."

         "And your not mad that I came here?" I mumbled against the marble muscle of his chest that was pressed against my cheek until he pulled me back to give me a confused look.

         "Why would I be mad at you?"

         I shrugged my shoulders and looked around at the floor for the rest of the Big Four, but they were nowhere to be found. "You told me you were busy this morning, so I figured you didn't want to hang out today." I kept my tone light, but I couldn't bring myself to look him in the eyes.

         "I told you that because I was busy. I was fixing to fight some guy at some other rink, and I needed to think of some way to explain all this too you... but I always want to be around you Roza, never doubt that." He pulled me close again to kiss my forehead before he let completely go except for my hand and dragged me back to the corner.

         "I guess I'm done here, unless you want to actually learn how to punch?" He raised his eyebrows hopefully but I shook my head and he sighed. "Then I'm going to take a shower and we can leave." He helped me back out of the rink and down the steps before grabbing my hand and leading me back out into the main gym where the other three were talking to whom I assume was the owner.

         "Rex, man, this great. You're great. I expect amazing things from you son." The medium height and rather built gym owner said as soon as we pulled up next to them.

         "Your manager and I decided on a fifty/fifty split. Sounds good?"

         Manager? Trey is actually qualified as a legit manager? Cool...

         "Sounds great. Where's the shower?" I snapped my eyes at the blunt rudeness of his tone, but he just eyed the owner and gripped my hand tighter.

         However rude I thought his voice was, wasn't rude enough. The owner just laughed and pointed towards the locker room before an older man trying to use the treadmill called him over.

         "I'll be back in a second Roza." He pressed a kiss to the side of my head, not even caring that the boys were blinking at us in wonder before he turned and left for the bathroom, but not before shooting a glance at Trey with the words "watch her" etched into his eyes.

         "Did you have a fun little boxing match, buttercup?" Denton teased with a dark glint in his tone. I glared at him, but wrapped my arms around my stomach defensively at the same time.

         "Leave her alone, Denton. I'm sure she's had a long day." Trey scolded the younger Dimajio brother before sending me a gentle smile. "I'm going to go home with the Dimjaio's if you want to catch a ride with Rex."

         "Like he would give her any other option." Brett scoffed, but gave me a warm smile anyway.

         It only took Rex five minutes to shower and come out looking like the Greek god he did when he went in, except he had a small smile etched on his face. A smile so small that the only reason why I saw it was because I was looking. He wore a dark grey t-shirt that hugged his muscles perfectly and low hanging black gym shorts that made my mouth water.

         "Are you ready?" He asked softly as he came to a stop next to me with his gym bag thrown over his shoulder.

         "Yeah." I gave him a small smile as Trey passed him the keys and Rex took my hand. "I'll see you guys later." I called over my shoulder as Rex ushered us away without a goodbye.

         "You're so mean to them." I mumbled as we reached the parking lot and he pulled us towards his tiny black car.

         "They're used to it, I promise." He held open the passenger door for me as I got in and buckled my seat belt.

         "Sure." He chuckled and closed the door before popping the trunk and throwing his gym bag in the back.

         "Are we just going back home?" I asked once he finally got in on the driver's seat and started the car.

         "Actually I was thinking that we could go back to my place, since you wanted to check it out and all... That is, if you still want too."

         "Of course I want to!" The weight of going home to an empty house and a nightmare filled sleep instantly lifted off my chest and I let out a sigh of relief.

         Rex chuckled and turned the car on before backing out of the parking lot. "What have you been doing the past couple of days?" He asked a moment later as we drove through the main street of downtown.

         I shrugged and played with my fingers as I watched the buildings zip by. "Stayed in my room and watched Netflix like always. What about you?"

         "A little bit of everything I guess." He shrugged his shoulders too and gave me a sideways glance. "Tate hasn't been giving you any problems has he?"

         "Besides his usual clingyness, no. Although he still doesn't want me hanging out with you." I played with the end of my shirt as his knuckles tightened on the steering will and an angry, but adorable, pout crossed his face.

         "Like I give a fuck what he wants."

         I sighed and leaned my head against the head rest as Rex drove us out of downtown. "I know." I heard him let out a heavy sigh before his strong fingers threaded themselves through my tiny ones. My heart melted as the familiar feel of his hand in mine sent my mind to cloud nine.

        "I haven't seen you in a few days Roza, and I don't like it. Especially when that duche bag does everything in his power to keep you away from me."

         I had been so focused on what he was saying that I didn't even realize he had pulled to a stop in front of an apartment building right outside of downtown. "You know he can't do that Rex. Tate's all talk, he know's that no matter how much he tell's me to stay away from you that I never will."

         "I know Roza, I've experienced that stubbornness of yours firsthand." He gave me a small smile before squeezing my hand and turning the car off.

         I climbed out of the car as he did and waited until he got his gym bag from the trunk before he grabbed my hand again. "This is nice." I said out loud as I glanced at the dark building looming over us. There were four floors with a line of windows lining each.

         "You haven't even seen the inside yet." He chuckled before tugging me up to the main door which he unlocked and held open for me as I walked in. "Second floor." His voice was dark but soft in my ear and the shiver that went down my spine couldn't be helped.

         He followed close behind me as I climbed up the stone steps. When I reached the second floor he took the lead, but grabbed my hand and kept me close to his side anyway. He lead us halfway down the hall until he pulled us to a stop in front of a heavy wooden door with the number 31 etched into it.

        "It's not much," He admitted as he put the key in the lock and opened the door, "But it's mine." I smiled up at his dark eyes and the warm glint in them made my heart melt.

         "After you Roza." I walked past him and into what I assumed was his living room. It was simple really, not much, like he said. There was a dark blue couch in back of a coffee table and a TV. A door to the left lead into the kitchen and I'm guessing the room at the back was his.

         It was simple, and I loved it.

         I heard him close the door behind us before he stopped one step behind me. There was a tense moment of silence, like he was waiting for me to say something... like he wasn't sure how I felt about his home.

         "This is amazing Rex." I mumbled softly and ran my hand over the light blue colors of his walls.

         "You like it?"

         I smiled at the question in his voice before looking back over my shoulder and smiling at him. "Yeah, I love it. It has a warm feeling." Like a home. I didn't bother saying the last part out loud, because honestly this little apartment already felt more like home than my own. It reminded me of Trey's house, except for that presence only a mom gives.

         I don't even know why the sudden feeling hit me, but for some reason being in Rex's place, his home, made me feel like an intruder. Like I didn't belong in a place this warm and inviting... even though it was Rex's house! The same boy who for weeks tried to stay away from me! Tried to push me away and was always mean to me. And yet, his apartment felt more like a home to me than anywhere else every did.

         It scared me.

         "You okay?" Rex's voice pulled me out of my thoughts as he threw his bag on the couch.

          "Y-yeah." I stammered from my place by the door. I didn't want to walk any farther into his living room and ruin the feeling that surrounded it.

         I never should have come here. I never should have let him take me home. I only ever bring ruin and sadness everywhere I go. That's why dad never looks me in the eyes, or why Luce can never stay in the same room with me for too long. I remind them of bad and unhappy times. And that is something I do not want to do to Rex and his apartment.

         "Are you hungry? I usually eat out or at Trey's so there's not a lot, but I should have some ramen noodles or something..." He ran his hand through his still wet hair and I smiled at the nervous look on his face.

         "No, I'm okay. Thank you though." He nodded before sitting down on the couch and shoving his bag off. I laughed.

         "Come here Roza. We can watch Netflix or whatever the hell you want." I let out a heavy breath before walking over to him and sitting down on the couch. The atmosphere in the room didn't change, but my stomach flopped with butterflies as his arm wrapped around my shoulder and pulled me into his side.

         "I missed you. I don't like not seeing you." He mumbled into my hair and the beating organ in my chest stopped working for a few good moments.

         "I missed you too, Rex." I mumbled against his shirt as his hand played with the ends of my hair. He sighed before reaching over and grabbing the remote off the table.

         "Enough with the sappy shit. What do you want to watch?" He grumbled into my ear which only caused me to laugh.

         "I started to watch that tv series Bones, if you want to check it out."

         "Sure."

         We were half way through our second episode when a thought struck him. "Is there a certain time you need to go home?" He asked softly from our position on the couch. Somehow we ended up laying down with my back pressed into his chest and his arms wrapped around my waist. This really did feel like home.

         "No, no one is home tonight so it doesn't matter." I didn't bother telling him no one would be home for quite a while, that would just make him upset.

         He let out a snort and wrapped his arms tighter around me. "Then I'm not taking you home at all." He grumbled into my ear before pulling me deeper into his chest. "I don't want you home alone at all, much less at night." His voice was a deep growl that made my stomach flip with butterflies, but at the same time my body was raked with nerves. I definitely could not tell him no one would be home for two weeks.

         "So I get the privilege of spending the night?" I teased and pulled at his arms while he chuckled.

         "Yeah, Roza, I guess you do. Unless you want me to spend the night at your house."

         "No. I want to stay here." I mumbled as I turned in his arms and buried my face in his chest. I didn't want to leave his little apartment any time soon. I loved it too much.

         I wasn't interested in the show anymore, my mind was already shutting off and with the way Rex kept rubbing my back I knew I would pass out soon. At least I knew, that as long as I was with Rex, the nightmares wouldn't come.

         "Are you already falling asleep?" His voice was a chuckle in my ear and I groaned before burring my face deeper into his chest. "Come on Roza, go lay down in the bed." His voice was soft as he gently sat me up and climbed out from behind me. He grabbed my hand and pulled me off the couch before pulling me into his bedroom.

         It was simple just like the living room, except he had a full size bed with dark sheets and clothes thrown into a heap in the corner. "Here, put this on." He handed me a black shirt and a pair of basketball shorts before gesturing towards the bathroom that was attached to his room.

         I gave him a small smile in thanks before walking into the bathroom and closing the door. I let out a tired yawn before pulling my clothes off and putting his on. The shorts were way to big and I ended up having to tie the strings as tight as they would go to keep them from falling.

         When I walked back into the bedroom Rex had already changed his jeans and put shorts on, but there wasn't a shirt anywhere on his body and I was stuck staring at his beautifully carved back like an idiot.

         He yawned and turned around which snapped me out of my stare and I lowered my head with an embarrassed blush. He smiled when he saw me and his eyes roamed over my outfit until he let out a chuckle. "Those are too big on you." He chuckled again before laying down on the bed and patted the blanket.

         I took the hint and quickly climbed onto the other side and scooted up against his warm arm. "I know they are." I mumbled as his bare and giant arm wrapped around my shoulders and pulled me into his side until my head was resting firmly on his stone-like chest.

         "But you look adorable in them." He whispered softly as I rested my hand over his torse and traced my finger over the slowly appearing scar of the knife wound on his stomach. My heart fluttered at his words but I tried not to let it show.

         "Does it still hurt?" I whispered softly as his fingers gently traced my shoulder.

         "Every once in a while, but it's not too bad."

         "Hm." I murmured against his chest as his fingers lulled my thoughts away. I felt his free hand press over mine and hold it to his stomach. The feel of his hard, ridged, abs pressed against my palm made my already muddled mind sink into a blob of goo. It wasn't long until his steady heart beat lulled me to sleep.

-&-

Hope you all enjoyed!