Chelsea's p.o.v.

I woke up and I felt so confused. I didn't know where I was at but I did know my eyes were burning. Then I realized I must have passed out with my contacts in, but where was I .I sat up and looked around, the room was very plain with one twin bed which I was on with black sheets. Then I looked at the closet laying open with bolt cutters by it. I looked next to me and saw a small desk and a chair. On the desk sat a photo and I gasped.

 It was me and Vaughn when we were younger. I'd gotten cold and he insisted I take his jacket. I was still feeling disoriented so I looked at the clock and saw it was nine. Oh boy was I behind on my chores. I thought a moment and then I remembered being shoved in the closet, I must have passed out but how did I get out, I couldn't remember. I hoped I didn't say anything I shouldn't of. I knew I needed to get up and get home so I could take care of my farm.

 I exited what I'd figured was Vaughn's room and peeked in Julia's finding my rucksack by the door.I whisper a prayer of thanks that I don't have to climb over the other girls and grab my bag. I then head over to her bathroom and shut the door. I begin to change back into my farmer clothes and notice my wigs very messy from sleeping in it and my chestnut colored hair is peeking out. So I unpin it and stick it in my rucksack and fix my brown hair so that its pinned up in a bun that I can easily hide under my bandana.

Then I check over my face and notice the nasty scratch I must have given my self when I had my waking dream.I clean it quickly, and get out the foundation to cover it up, and lastly my eyes, so red from the contacts. I take out my contact case and begin to clean them and put drops in my eyes to ease my discomfort. After I check myself to make sure the real me is completely hid and all my stuff is in the rucksack, I exit the bathroom and slip out the door and notice thankfully it's a lovely day. I feel a little tired and icky but I assume I'm just hungry and I'll get something after I get the animals fed.When I reach my ranch I run into my barn only to smack into of all people, Vaughn.

"Um hi Vaughn what are you doing here?", I ask. He pulls his hat over his face

"You sounded like you had a rough night last night so I thought I'd check on the animals for you this morning before I left the island.", he said and I smiled a little,

"Thank you, I was about to fix myself something to eat. Would you like to join me.", I asked.

 " I guess ain't ate yet and got nothing better to do.", he replied. I led him into my home and went to my kitchen and proceeded to make cheese omelets and porridge with berries. He sat down at the kitchen table while I worked silently."Where's you family?", he finally said catching my attention from the cooking. "There dead.", I said knowing he couldn't glean too much from that.

"Sorry.", he mumbled looking down.

"Don't be.", I said "some things can't be fixed. My grandparents were old and my parents sowed what they reaped." I said placing two plates with omelet's down and then two bowls of porridge on the table. I then went to the drawer to get some flatware and a few cups. "Can I get you a drink, water, milk, tea?", I asked as I reached in the fridge betting he was gonna say milk.

"Milk.", he said gruffly as I came to the table jug in hand and began to pour.He gave me a funny look and I winked back at him and sat down to eat. I bowed my head a moment to say thanks over my food and when I looked up it appeared he'd done the same. He took a little nibble of each at first ,

"Its safe to eat trust me." I said, taking a bite of ooey gooey cheesy goodness on my plate. "I'm surprised you can cook.", he said.

"Well I did stay in Castinet awhile and when you eat at the inn or the bar all the time you get used to good food so I asked Yolanda to teach me how to cook and she agreed.", I said with a smile taking another bite of yummyness and smiling inside as I watched Vaughn enjoy his food.

 I could feel my heart pounding as part of me felt he belonged at the other side of my table. But my head kept reminding me that I should avoid him, so he doesn't find me out or get hurt if I get found.I caught him eyeing me again, with that look on his face like he was trying to figure me out. I cocked my head and gave him a smile as I returned to my food.

Vaughn's P.O.V.

I sat across the table from her, and I still couldn't figure her out and I wasn't sure how to bring up last night. I took another big spoonful of porridge. It's almost like unconsciously the girl knew me well enough to know porridge was my favorite, although her omelet's were amazing. It was a wonder she didn't have a boyfriend already, with cooking like that.

 Although looks wise her eyes and purple hair were no match for his Chelsea's deep blue eyes and soft brown hair. But she still had a lovely face and a friendly personality. I was surprised none of the other victims Julia set up with Chelsea didn't fall for her.Did I just think that. Man why was she getting to me. I wondered.

"So Vaughn how about your family, I know you have Mirabella and Julia, but what about your parents.", she said. She looked into my eyes with her chocolate ones, and it bugged me, because her eyes seemed so unnatural.

"Well my mom died when I was young, and then my dad, he remarried a bunch of times but none that last long.", I said as she looked at me intentlyI looked up at the clock and realized I had to go if I wanted to catch my boat. "Um I got to go. Thanks for the grub.", I said wondering why I felt so inclined to be nice to her.She gave me a big smile that lit up her face.

"No problem, thanks for handling my animals." she said as she put the empty dishes in the sink before walking me to the door. I suddenly wished I had time to talk about last night. I tipped my hat to her as I left and she blushed again. As I left I could feel her eyes boring themselves into the back of my neck.Eventually I was at the dock and aboard the ferry. I began to think about our date last night and the way sometimes she'd go off in a daze like she was somewhere else. Or how much of our conversations are focused on me, and any answers about her were kind of short.

Chelsea's P.O.V.

I'd watched the cowboy until he was out of sight before I finished cleaning up my kitchen and went out to water my crops and pull weeds. I was glad I was just wearing the bandana, it was way to hot for the wig. I couldn't help thinking how much I'd missed that cowboy all those years. I looked up towards the road again to see Mirabella and Julia coming up the road. I leaned onto my hoe as they came up to me while I pulled a water bottle out of my back pocket to take a big drink. I was feeling really tired today, but I figured it had to be the heat.

"Chelsea, we need to talk about last night.", said Mirabella as she pushed a stray blond hair out of her face.

"I was wondering when someone was gonna bring that up.", I said wiping the sweat off my face with a sleeved elbow.

"Well we might as well go inside out of the sun." I replied as I led them into my small home. I pulled up a dining room chair since my couch was still rather small so that the mother and daughter could have the more comfortable seats.

"Want a drink?" I offered as I got some fresh water bottles out of the fridge. They politely accepted the bottles I offered as they made themselves comfortable on the couch while I sat on that dining room chair and took another big drink.

"Ok Chels talk, why did last night have to happen, for me to find out about you having post traumatic stress disorder.", my friend Julia said glaring at me angrily. I took another big drink and took a deep breath.

"It's not something you just bring up, and it's not something I wanna think about. Its not like when it happens its something I can help.", I said as I put my hands together in my lap as I look down a moment.

"Chelsea, sweety you know you can tell us anything. Can you tell us what happened to you to cause the trauma your going through.", Mirabella said sweetly as she leaned forward with her hand on my knee. And again it still takes everything in me not to cringe when people touch me.

"Honestly ladies at this juncture, I have a little trouble believing it myself. It's really hard to talk about.", I say as I take a deep breath. I felt like the color was leaving my face. I knew I could tell Mirabella and she'd keep it a secret, as would Julia, but talking about my imprisonment was not something easily talked about it. Just thinking about it gave me the shakes, and I could see my hand start to shake so I set my water bottle down.I was shaking so much I hadn't noticed Julia had grabbed a dining chair and pulled closer until I jumped up when she put an arm over my shoulder.

"Oops sorry I said.",As I sat back down. "This does not leave this room.", I say again after a few more moments of silence. "About eight years ago some men came to my family's apartment. I'd been planning to sneak out so I could hitchhike to my grandparents so I'd be able to make a date. I was gonna do the fire escape but I needed to get to the hallway window first. When I came out of my room one of the men was waiting by my door and grabbed me. I found out I'd been traded. My parents wanted more drugs so they traded me to the men for a shopping bag full of drugs.", I said looking up and catching the horror in my audience's eyes. Well they had me for 6 years, and for that time they used me and abused me how they saw fit, until there was a drug raid.", they said they found me tied to a bed in a room the size of a closet.", I said feeling a little red in the eyes. "They sent me to Castinet first so I could recover and rehabilitate first, after all by the time I was found me my family was dead. My parents an overdose of that crap they sold me for and my grandparents a broken heart because I was gone.", I could feel the tears welling in my eyes, but I didn't let them fall.

 Before I knew it Mirabella and Julia had their arms around me and were hugging me.It seemed like awhile before they returned to their seats. Being hugged was still a new sensation. The last time anyone had hugged me and I liked it had been Vaughn but that was a long time ago. Julia's eyes suddenly bugged like she just had a big question.

"Ok Chels just one more question, why did you say Vaughn's name yesterday in your waking dream.", she asked and I grew white again.

"He was my date.", I said quietly. "Wow, do you know what this means Chels, you guys must be destined to run into each other again after all this time.", she said and again I felt the color drain.

"Julia, I can't be with Vaughn, he can't know about me. If the men came to find me and something happened to Vaughn as a result I'd never forgive myself.", I said firmly.

"Ok Chels, but something tells me you belong with him, you're the only one I've met who can keep up a conversation with him and isn't fazed by his antisocial behavior.", she said. Eventually Mirabella excused her and Julia, and I was glad.

I was feeling emotionally drained.It's not that I didn't want to tell Vaughn, it's just he's a good cowboy, and I knew he'd try to protect me like when we were younger. I could still remember the feel of his lips on mine when he first kissed me.

Flashback**********

His dad had invited everyone in the area over for a barbeque and I'd been at my grandparents recovering from another injury. It hurt like heck but I was glad it was all hidden by my t-shirt. Vaughn was always asking questions these days about my injuries.With that same questioning look, he didn't buy my excuse about being klutzy these days, and I didn't want to tell him the truth.We were hanging out by horse corral when one of the mares came rubbing up on my back. I managed not to react when she rubbed where the bruises were hiding.

"Hey girl.", I said turning around to stroke her snout.

"That's Jade, she's a newbie here.", Vaughn said smiling as he rubbed her side a little.

When he smiled his eyes sparkled in a way that made my heart melt, but I kept my focus on the mare. She was a pretty thing all black with a white star on her fore head. I turned toward him and our eyes met and I felt frozen by his amethyst orbs until I saw his cheeks turn pink and he pulled that hat over his eyes again to hide the pink."Hey I got an idea, how about I show you the new foal.", he said knowing I'd love to.

 He led me into the stables where a pretty roan foal peeked her head over as he brought me up.

 "Awe she's so sweet .", I said crouching lower so I could stroke her head as she came as close as she could. "What are you going to call her.", I asked.

"We were still thinking about a name for her do you have any ideas.", he asked. I chewed my lip a moment while I thought.

"How about Belle.", I said as he smirked.

"You and your Disney names.", he smirked.

"You asked and what's it to ya?", I said grinning back as I stood up, I was caught off guard when one of the horses pushed me with their heads from behind and I stumbled forward to be caught by Vaughn. "See what'd I tell you. I'm such a klutz.", I said with a grin looking up, he grinned a second but then looked really serious.

"Chels we both know your anything but a klutz." he said as he kept his hand firmly on me staring into my eyes.A brief second I noticed what were his perfect lips, And I realized I was thinking about kissing him. And I could feel a little pink rise in my cheeks. He pulled me into him closer and I realized he was thinking the same thing when he leaned down and before I knew it my best friend, the guy I'd had a crush on was stealing my first kiss. And I could feel my heart melt. When he pulled away his lips I'd wrapped my arms around his waist. And we were looking into each others eyes again.

"Where'd that come from?", I said smiling somewhat breathlessly. He grinned with a blush.

"I've been thinking about that for quite a while Chels.", he said and we both blushed.

"Me too.", I said and he grinned again leaning down and stealing another kiss. "Um Vaughn, won't your dad be bothered if you completely ditch the barbeque.", I said.He grinned and we slowly made our way out of the stables and he held onto my hand.

"Hey Chels. " he said after a couple of minutes.

 "Ya?" ,I said as we made our way to one of the tables.

"I have this dance at school in a few weeks, I could borrow my dad's truck and come pick you up, um if your interested.", he said. I thought a few minutes knowing I'd be back home in the city but I knew I could sneak out, I did it a lot.

"Sure sounds like fun.," I said "I'll call you closer to the day and we'll meet up half way." He smiled so big when he picked me up and spun me around in a tight hug. I winced a little and let out a yelp, his excitement hurt. And then his eyes clouded in concern as he set me down.

"You're hurt again aren't you.", he said searching my eyes.

"Its nothing just fell down a few steps again.", I said looking down.

"Why won't you tell me so I can protect you?", he said and a little hurt filled his eyes. I took his arm and looked into his eyes.

"Because I'm protecting you." I said.End of flash back*********************************************************