She wasn't hard to spot as she stomped along the long drive in front of Kingsley Summit Prep. Tuto opened the passenger side window down as he pulled up to her.

"Get in Bel, I'll drive you wherever you need to go."

"Go to hell Tuto, I'd rather walk."

"Bel! Get in. I'm sorry about what Desiree did but if you're going home it's too far to walk. Please, just get in and let me take you."

Belicia stopped and peered into the window.

He could see her indecision. He leaned over and opened the door. She looked back at the school, and he was shocked to see her climb in.

He drove off as she pulled the door shut.

She sat there in silence as he entered the main road and headed toward the suburb where she lived. He figured she was going home.

He felt a slight twinge of guilt, knowing he had caused this but he shook it off pretty fast as she looked at him with those penetrating amber eyes.

"Ava told me you are the cause of all this Tuto. So how much of it did you-,"

"None of it, Bel. Desiree told me last night she broke up with me because she wants to date other people. I had nothing to do with her little show in the cafeteria."

"I'd love to believe that, Tuto. Because it won't bother me as much when I destroy her. And trust me. I'm going to make her life hell for doing that to me."

Tuto inwardly cringed, wondering if he should warn Desi, but in the blink of an eye decided not to. Let the chips fall where they will. Nothing was fair in love and war."

"I don't blame you Bel. She deserves whatever she gets," he told her. It was an outright lie. He still had feelings for Desiree. Even though he knew they could never be together. Belicia was his fated. And all that mattered was getting rid of Koya.

"Want me to take you home then?" He asked quietly.

"Yes, I need time alone."

"Are you sure because I could stay with you," he added hopefully.

"No Tuto. I'm not particularly happy with you right now or anyone else for that matter. I'm just glad my parents are out of town right now."

Tuto looked over at her with that little piece of information.

"Oh? Where are they?"

She sighed. "They've gone to Japan. My dad had a business engagement and my mom decided to join him."

"No freaking way, Japan?" Tuto had no idea. His thoughts exploded with the implications of what this could mean.

"Wow, Bel. And they left you at home?"

"Well Ava is staying with me. And we can go to her house if we want. No big deal. I just never imagined any of this happening while they were gone."

"You know you can depend on me if you need anything," he suggested but she didn't acknowledge the offer.

They pulled into her driveway and Tuto killed the engine and turned to her. He pulled her close and gave her a hug. "I'm sorry Bel."

"For what," she said, pushing away from him. "If you weren't involved there is nothing for you to apologize for, right?"

"I mean yeah, I just mean I'm sorry, I know the hurt."

He stared into her eyes which were now solemn with unshed tears. "Bel-," he whispered huskily.

Belicia looked into his dark eyes and they were like liquid molasses. She felt the tension surrounding them. When he pulled her close again she didn't reject his comfort.

"Bel."

She looked up and their lips were almost touching. He felt her relax in his arms and he bent his head and kissed her. It was like fireworks exploding when his lips touched hers and she carefully kissed him back. With that Tuto pulled her flush to his chest deepening his kiss.

Her body responded with a moan of desire. She had no idea why. Maybe it was because her emotions were in a turmoil but when Tuto's lips caressed hers a flame lit within her.

Tuto slipped his tongue over her lips and she opened her mouth giving him access to her very soul it felt. His mouth ravished her, patiently showing her how to respond to his ardor. He playfully nipped her bottom lip and her passion ignited. She felt his breath on her ear and shivers rushed up and down her spine. He kissed her again and again until he felt her heartbeat pound against him. He looked down at her heaving chest, and his eyes were heavy with desire.

The next time he drew away he told her in a rush of emotion that he had to leave before he did something they would both regret. He kissed one last time and told her as he did so to go inside.

"Call me if you need anything Bel and I'll be right here," he promised her.

She nodded and went to the front door and unlocked it, letting herself inside. Her phone buzzed in her back pocket and she took it out expecting to see Ava's avatar but instead it was an unknown caller. She rejected the call and went upstairs.

She had so much to think about.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Tuto thought about returning to school but decided to just go home. He'd never been particularly attracted to Belicia, mostly because of her disposition. She wasn't the least bit flashy, just matter of fact and nerdy.
She had always been more interested in good grades than him.

Now, he was being pulled into Bel's world and though he might feel bad about the way it was happening, he couldn't go against the truth of what happened to him in the hall the other morning, and he planned to push Koya completely out of the picture.

And not only that but he felt Koya was sent here primarily to out him and his family and he was not about to allow that to happen.

There was so much more to Belicia Brooks than he'd ever imagined and he decided he had to find out all he could.