>>>NOELLE'S OUTFIT

NEW COVER ALERT!!! ALSO, CHANGED NICK JONAS TO SPENCER BOLDMAN!

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE SUDDEN LOVE FOR THE BOOK!

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It's safe to say that I was with a mob that had decided that they were going to get justice for me. How? Do share when you find out because storming into my old school doesn't sound like something that's reasonable.

But then again, do these people even know the definition of the word?

Everyone checked into the different rooms at the hotel, and with there being ten of us, it was quite suspicious to the receptionist, but she was ok once Six's payment for all of us went through. I don't blame her.

And I was apparently staying with Six.

I'm slowly but surely learning that everyone is on board with this, and that despite the fact that we don't know what's going on between us, and disregarding our stupid arguments, Six and I still prefer to be together than apart.

"You look tired," he commented. I was sitting on the bed while he put our bags down.

"I guess I am," I said, phasing into a yawn.

"I just said you're tired. I didn't ask for you to swallow me whole," he teased.

"Shut up," I mumbled.

"Do you want to take a nap?" he asked.

"Am I not ruining your schedule?" I mocked.

"Technically, this trip was my idea, so if I feel like changing up the schedule because of you, then so be it," he said with a shrug.

I rolled my eyes at him. "Don't you just say the sweetest things."

"Go to sleep grumpy pants. I don't like this side of you," he said, signalling to my face.

I smirked. "So there are sides of me that you like?"

"Cocky doesn't suit you blossom," he said before kissing my forehead and walking out of the room.

Screw him!

I was too tired to argue or even realize that he'd kissed my forehead, so I ended up napping, except my nap apparently turned into full on sleeping. By the time I woke up, the birds were chirping outside, except I was still alone on the bed. I sat up to find that Six had slept on the couch in the room.

This boy can be so adorable at times.

"Headed somewhere?" Five caught me just as I was leaving the room.

"Don't do that to a person," I scolded. I'd managed to make myself look presentable enough for the public eye.

He chuckled. "A person would think that you'd be used to being snuck up on. Where are you going?"

"I want to get Six some breakfast, something you can actually help me with since you know him better than I do," I replied as he fell in step with me.

He rolled his eyes. "I missed you too."

"Excuse you! I'm not the one who killed you," I joked.

He groaned. "I've already apologized Elle. The bottles look super identical. I didn't know I'd taken the wrong one until it was too late."

I giggled. "I've already forgiven you. I just enjoy making you pout."

"Yeah, yeah! Don't let Six hear you," he said with a smirk.

I rolled my eyes. "Oh whatever!"

He was about to say something when we were interrupted. "Elle?"

Despite it being a little over a month since I left, I would never forget that voice. I turned, and there he was with his best friend Irwin. They were both dressed in their football gear, and I found my voice caught in my throat.

One thing I noticed though, is that my heart didn't do anything at the sight of him. I didn't get any butterflies or anything of the sort. Instead, I was asking myself what I ever saw in him. I only looked like a deer caught in the headlights because I was caught off guard.

"Still acting like a meek bitch! We thought you'd done the world a favour and died," Irwin commented. I watched Five still beside me.

"Where have you been?" Oliver asked. I couldn't find it in me to speak.

And luckily I didn't have to.

Just from his touch, the zoo in my stomach took off. His scent wrapped itself around me, and I had never felt safer. His arms were locked around my waist from behind, and he leaned down and kissed my exposed shoulder.

I looked up at him and he was pouting. "You left without even waking me up."

I almost cooed at how adorable he looked, until I remembered the situation before us. "I wanted to surprise you with breakfast."

"What were you going to get?" he asked sceptically.

I giggled. "Whatever Five was going to tell me to get."

He was about to say something when Oliver beat him to it. "Elle, where have you been?"

That didn't sit well with Six.

He turned to Oliver with a murderous glare, but Five beat him to saying anything. "Is there a reason you're demanding answers from my best friend as though you're her father?"

"And who the hell are you?" Irwin was the one to ask.

"Your worst nightmare," Six mumbled lowly enough for me to hear. I laughed a little before smacking his chest.

Oliver shot me a weird look. "Elle, who are these people?"

I was about to reply when I realized something. He was twitching his fingers. Oliver only does that when he's feeling nervous or afraid. Knowing that he's afraid of my friends was enough to give me the confidence I needed.

"I don't recall you having the right to knowing that information," I replied.

"Come on Elle. You can't just disappear and then reappear with these dodgy looking people and expect us to not be suspicious about it. We all know that you were headed to your doom, but we didn't think you'd turn into a rebel," Oliver said softly, like he was trying to console me.

The fucking nerve!

"Blossom, you're cutting off my blood circulation."

I was surprised to look down at Six's arms to find that my hands were doing exactly that. I had tightened my grip around them so much that his skin was turning blue. I have never been so angry in my life. I couldn't even speak.

"Why does my sister look ready to kill someone?" I heard Nick say. He'd just arrived with Sunny and Bridgette.

Six managed to free his arms from my grip and settled for holding on to my hands. The faint feeling of butterflies settled itself in my stomach when he entwined our fingers, but I was still too furious to say anything.

"That's probably because she wants to," Six replied.

"The only person she would want to kill in this place is that stupid ex-boyfriend of hers," Sunny commented.

The said stupid ex-boyfriend didn't look one bit touched. "Elle doesn't have a brother."

"Because you totally know everything about her," Nick said while rolling his eyes.

"As a matter of fact, I do," Oliver said proudly, earning a strange look from Irwin.

"Dude, Jess is waiting for us," Irwin told him.

That seemed to do the trick.

Oliver surprised us all by shrugging. "She can wait."

"What the hell is going on with you?" Irwin asked the question we were all thinking.

"I want to know where Elle has been," Oliver replied, looking directly at me.

I was dragged away before I could react. Six was intent on getting me away from that situation, taking us back to our room. I didn't even care about the situation we left behind. As soon as the door was closed, my back was against it, with Six's hands trapping me on either side of my head as he looked down at me.

I was about to speak when he grabbed my injured hand. It wasn't wrapped up anymore, and the scar was starting to form. "He's an idiot."

"I take it I shouldn't bother asking you how you know about him," I sighed.

"He should've protected you blossom," he instead said.

I sent him a small smile as I cupped his cheek with the hand he wasn't holding. "How could I expect a weak person to protect me?"

He took my hand and kissed my forming scar softly (lucky hand). "No one will ever hurt you while I'm alive."

"That's a big promise Six," I said lowly, looking to the ground.

He tipped my head back up. "It's not only how much you mean to me, but the amount of faith I have in myself."

Oh my ovaries.

There was a knock behind me before I could say anything. I moved and opened the door to reveal my brother and my best friends. "Can we come in?"

"Sure," I said, opening the door so that they can come in.

"I'll go get us that breakfast," Six winked before kissing my forehead and leaving.

"It's like I'm looking at a completely different person," Sunny commented in awe.

I smiled. "I believe I have you guys to thank for that."

"I didn't think he'd listen to us honestly. I mean, this is Six we're talking about. No one tells him to do anything. He only does something when he wants to," Bridgette replied.

Which means he wants to be this way.

"Are you ok? You know after seeing Oliver and all?" my brother asked.

I raised an eyebrow. "I take it you're the one who told everyone everything?"

"Six was already curious since he found out how you injured your hand and all, so I told him. We just happened to be all together when it happened. I'm sorry if you're mad at me," Nick apologized.

"I'm not mad. I'm actually relieved since I don't have to sit through an uncomfortable discussion over that. I'm doing ok now that Six managed to get me away from that situation. I've never really dealt with my emotions regarding Oliver and how he just left me for my ex-best friend. I've always just kept it bottled up. In fact, for most of the time, I believed that I deserved what he did to me. I believed that because of my mother's death, and who it made me change into, I deserved to have everyone turn on me. Hell, I started believing that I would end up all alone," I explained.

"Not on my watch."

I looked up to see Six standing at the door. I will never get over how hot he looks. "I thought you'd left."

"I had. I forgot my wallet," he said as he walked in to get it. He left straight after.

"Six is right. You'll never be alone again. We're here for you ok?" Sunny said, holding me hand.

I smiled at them. "I know. At the time, I didn't have any hope, but now that I've got you guys, I'm happy. I know you'll never treat me the way that the people here treated me."

"Good! So, there's a party happening tonight around here," Bridgette informed me.

"Where?" I asked.

"A certain brunette's house," she replied.

My eyes widened. "Jessie's house?"

Nick nodded. "The very one."

"We're not going!" I refused.

"Come on chica. This is your chance to show her and everyone else who treated you badly that you don't need them," Sunny pleaded.

"And, we all know that Six is way hotter than Oliver. You get to show them that you are everything they never thought you were," my brother added.

I scowled. "Why does it sound like a makeover is a part of the grand plan here?"

"Probably because you know us so well," Bridgette giggled.

"Do you guys really think that this is a good idea? I mean, it could go all sorts of wrong," I pointed out.

"Would you have faith in us? Everyone has brought their A-Game for this trip," Sunny scolded.

"What do you mean by A-Game exactly?" I asked.

"Oh, you'll see."

The looks on their faces were creeping me out without a doubt. I felt like there was more to this trip than I was being made aware of. A big part of me was excited though, since truth be told, I have the utmost faith in my friends, but a small part of me was worried that whatever they were planning wouldn't work.

Six walked in as he pushed a tray. "Seeing as the only people who could possibly know the answer to this question of what breakfast you like are in this room, and the guys are useless, I just took a guess and got you-"

"Eggs, bacon, waffles, fruit salad and either a cup of hot chocolate or a glass of tropical flavoured juice," my brother informed.

"So I was right then?" Six smirked as he lifted the lids to reveal exactly what Nick had just listed.

"How? How do you even know that?" Bridgette asked him.

Six shrugged. "I thought it was pretty obvious that I'm observant."

"You also have a great memory," I giggled.

He scowled. "What are you talking about?"

"I asked for the exact same thing from One the weekend you were shot. He clearly didn't remember my order, but you did," I reminded.

He rubbed his face, actually looking relieved. "That actually makes better sense. I was beginning to think of myself as a bit of creep."

That had us laughing for a good while. He handed me my food and my brother and best friends left, leaving us together. I found out that he was eating with me, and we had our breakfast in a comfortable silence, stealing glances at each other.

"So Nick, Sunny and Bridge want to take you shopping," he commented when we were both finished. He was sitting against the headboard with his legs spread and he tapped the space between them.

I smiled and went over to sit there with my back against him. He wrapped his arms around me, and I didn't say anything for a while. "They already told me."

"You don't sound enthusiastic about it," he commented.

I sighed. "It's not the shopping that I'm not excited about."

"It's the party," he said knowingly.

"I really changed after my mum died. I mean, I went from being Captain of the Cheerleading Team, dating the most popular guy at school, and being the most popular girl at school, to being the most hated person at school. It was a horrible year, and to have to face everyone again is what's got me so unenthusiastic," I explained.

"But I don't understand why they would hate you when you're the one who lost someone important to them," he pointed out.

"My mother was a History teacher at my school, and everyone loved her. She was with Jessie's mum on the night she died. They were on their way to fetch me from my aunt's house when they were involved in the accident. My mum died instantly, while Jessie's mum was told she'd never be able to walk again. I'd been in a fight with Jessie that weekend, which is how I ended up at my aunt's house. She's hated me since that day. She got everyone to believe that it's my fault that they lost their beloved history teacher, and that her mother could never walk again. That's how I went from being the most popular girl to being a social pariah."

When I was done telling him, he turned me around so that I could cry onto his chest. It was hard having to recall everything, but it was made easier by who I was telling the events to. He didn't say anything but instead comforted me until my crying eventually died down.

"You have to forgive yourself blossom," he said lowly.

I looked up at him in confusion. "Forgive myself for what?"

"Your mother's death and Jessie's mother's condition were not your fault. I know what it's like to blame yourself for something that wasn't your fault. Luckily for me, I had One and Five to talk me out of everything. I'm here for you, but you need to forgive yourself," he explained.

I honestly didn't think that it was that obvious. Since my mother's death, I have believed that it's my fault that she died. Had I not fought with Jessie that day, I would've still been at her house and Oliver would've fetched me from there to take me home.

Unfortunately that's the day I found out that Oliver had been cheating on me with Jessie for seven months already.

"What time does the party start?" I asked. The time was currently nine fifteen.

"Eight, why?" he replied.

"I want to go somewhere before I go shopping," I replied as I got up.

"Do you want me to take you?" he asked.

I turned and smiled. "Please and thank you."

"Alright! Get showered and we can go," he smirked.

This hotel room has two bathrooms, so there was no awkwardness involved with us getting ready. By the time I stepped out of the bathroom, he was fully dressed in his signature black clothing, texting away on his phone with one hand, while the other ran through his hair.

I will never get over this.

"I'm good to go," I announced.

He turned and his eyes widened a little, making me blush heavily since I wasn't all that dressed up. I was dressed in blue skinny jeans, a beige tank top, a dark red cardigan, a scarf that matched my top and cardigan and brown suede boots. I accessorized with red and gold jewellery, while I had my red handbag with me.

"Aren't you going to get cold?" was the genius question I was asked.

I raised an eyebrow. "Weren't you the one teasing me about baking just yesterday?"

"Well yeah, but this outfit is a bit too much," he mumbled.

Making me realize the problem.

"Are you feeling jealous?" I giggled.

He shot me a glare. "I told you that I don't feel any emotions but anger."

I walked up to him and wrapped my arms around his waist, loving the pout on his face. "And I'm guessing it angers you thinking about how other guys will see me like this?"

"Damn straight," he said seriously.

I stepped away from him. "Well, you're going to have to deal with it."

I giggled when he started mumbling incoherent things to himself. It took me a while to realize that he was actually speaking another language altogether. I'll have to ask him what languages he can speak.

We went down to the lobby together, and by the looks of things, he was still pouting. "Are you guys heading somewhere?"

It was Wes who had just asked. Everyone was standing in the lobby. "Yep, but we'll be back in an hour," I replied.

"Well Six might as well drop you off at the mall," my brother said.

I nodded. "Ok, cool."

"What's with him anyway?" Five asked me when Six headed outside.

"He's upset about my outfit," I told them.

"He does realize that even if you went out in a trash bag he'd complain about how short it is," Cash deadpanned.

One chuckled. "And you do realize that this is Six we're talking about?"

"He'll just have to learn to get over it, just like Ellie has to learn to deal with him," my brother commented.

"True that!" everyone agreed.

I giggled. "I'll see you guys later."

I headed out and Six was already standing at the passenger side of the car. He opened my side for me and I got in before he closed the door and headed to his side. We were on the road soon enough.

"Where are we headed?" he asked.

"I want to go to my mother's grave," I replied. I saw him twitch slightly.

"And you want me there?" he asked, sounding extremely unsure.

I took his free hand in mine. "Do you not want to?"

"It's not that. I just, I feel like I'm undeserving of that much trust," he explained.

I scowled. "Weren't you the one who told me to trust you?"

"Yeah, with protecting you. Not something this big," he argued.

"You also said I could open up to you," I countered.

"I said you could talk to me," he corrected.

I let go of his hand, feeling slightly hurt. "Are you saying you don't want to come with me?"

He sighed and grabbed my hand while we were at a red light. "I'm not saying that blossom. You just need to look at this from where I'm coming from. I'm not a good person, despite what you'd like to believe, and I know you see the good in me, but I am yet to see it in myself. I feel like by doing something this intimate with you is disrespecting to both you and your mum. I don't even know how I feel about her daughter, and yet her daughter is dragging me along with her to see her grave."

I could only watch him in amazement. The vulnerability was back on his face, and I was convinced that he believed every single one of the words he was telling me. He truly believes that he's a bad person and that he's undeserving of any good.

"Do you think you're undeserving of me?" I whispered.

"Every time I look at you," he replied before there was a honk behind us.

I couldn't say anything after that. I was speechless. I could only look at him as he drove. He'd only looked away from the road to check the system, which I'd only noticed then was out. He stopped the car, and I looked outside since it wasn't the cemetery. Instead, we were outside a florist.

"We can't go to the cemetery without flowers," he said before stepping out of the car.

Happiness filled me as he came around to open the door for me. He took my hand in his after locking the car. We walked into the florist together, and we were engulfed by the smell of all the flowers. I immediately noticed the owner, Ruth, my aunt's best friend.

"Elle?" she asked, surprised.

I've never liked the lady, but I ignored that and smiled. "Hey Ruth."

"What are you doing here? I haven't seen you in forever child!" she said as she came over to hug me.

"Didn't Aunt Karen tell you that I left?" I asked in confusion.

"She told me that she sent you away to your father, but she didn't say you'd be back so soon," she commented.

I scowled. "I actually don't think she knows that I'm here. My friends and I are on a road trip."

"Oh, that's nice. Who's this?" she asked, turning to Six.

I was about to introduce when Six stretched his hand. "Xander."

"X," I gasped, to which he sent a wink at me.

Now I know his second name.

"It's lovely to meet you Xander. You're quite a big boy aren't you?" Ruth said, sounding intimidated.

He shrugged. "Football."

"You just have a thing for football stars don't you Elle?" Ruth said, winking at me.

I wanted to die on the spot.

"We'd like some daisies please," Six requested, sounding quite annoyed.

You didn't expect me to suddenly start calling him Xander now did you?

I don't intend to, simply because I'm afraid that I'll get used to calling him that, and I know that he only told me because he trusts that I wont tell anyone else. Calling him Xander will ruin the trust he has in me.

Besides, it's not his first name, which is the one I'm truly curious about.

"Daisies? Why daisies?" Ruth asked in confusion.

Six raised an eyebrow. "Do you normally ask people why they want the flowers that they do?"

"Well no," she murmured with a blush.

"Let's not start now," Six patronized.

"I'll get you those daisies," she said before walking away.

I giggled. "You're so mean."

He wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me into him. "I guess I should add that no one is going to disrespect you while I'm alive."

I blushed. "You're so cheesy."

"No, I'm not cheesy blossom. Things like this piss me off. There's nothing I cannot stand like people disrespecting people close to me or endangering them," he said.

"And I'm close to you?" I asked with a smile.

"You're literally in my arms," he smirked.

I rolled my eyes. "Oh, you don't say."

"Here you go," Ruth returned with the flowers.

"Thank you," I said.

Six took his card out and paid her before we headed to the car. We were on our way to the cemetery soon after. I think we were both nervous because the ride was in silence. I only noticed then that he'd revealed the system because it has a GPS system, and he'd figured out that there's only one cemetery around here.

We arrived and he parked the car before coming to let me out. With the daisies in hand, we walked, looking for my mother's grave. When we found it, he put the flowers on the grave before giving me space to do whatever I needed to.

I wont lie and say that I didn't miss my mother, because I did. Her death however is what allowed me to be as happy as I am right now. When I started crying, Six came over to hold me, and we stayed like that for the longest time. He'd wiped away my tears and even given me a wet wipe so that I didn't look half that bad.

"Noelle?" I turned to find my aunt there.

"Aunt Karen," I barely said with my scratchy voice.

"I thought Ruth was pulling my leg when she said she'd seen you. What are you doing here? Why didn't you say you were coming?" she asked.

"I didn't plan to. I was surprised into coming here. My friends believe that I need closure," I lied.

"And who is this?" she asked.

"Xander," Six introduced once more.

My aunt just looked at his outstretched hand before turning back to me. "You don't find it disrespectful to bring a guy you've barely known here with you?"

My eyes shot to my eyebrows. "Excuse me?"

"Oliver mentioned that you wanted to take your life, but this is just another level of crying out for help," she spat.

Am I living another life here?

"We're leaving," Six announced, picking me up bridal style.

"You need help Noelle," my aunt shouted after us.

I could only stare back at her in disbelief. I mean, I know my aunt hasn't always been a fan of mine, but I didn't know she could be cruel. I'm beginning to think that she sent me away because she felt that I was no longer her problem.

"If she didn't hate you, I wouldn't have you."

I looked up, surprised. What he was saying was exactly what I was thinking. He reads me better than anyone else in my life. The fact that he knows exactly what to say and when to say it is a testament to that.

How he can believe that he has no good in him amazes me.