Too bothered to care about my hair right now, I hurriedly went through the clothes I have with me, mentally, as I pull on my undergarments for any piece that can help my cover this up without make up. Done with it, I get out of the bathroom with the towel thrown in the towel in my hair when the sound of someone shuffling in the closet alerts me.

My first instinct of fight makes me grab the nearest thing, which happens to be a long vase and walk to the closet in slow and steady steps.

And forget about my little state of undress.

I stop at the entrance of the closet, dropping the vase as I huff in exasperation, "Really Jay?" Hearing my voice, he turns to face me but his eyes drop from my face to my body, "ever heard of knocking or informing someone before entering their rooms?"

I cross my arms on my chest, but realise why his eyes drifted down. His blue eyes snap back to mine, both wide in a deer caught in headlight look. He gulps, looking away as he throws one of his shirts my way for cover. Catching it quickly, I put it on swiftly, the atmosphere tense.

I awkwardly clear my throat once I have buttoned up the shirt, making him look at me. Once again his eyes do a quick sweep over my being, eyes stopping at his marks that peep out of his large shirt, the blue orbs shining in a sense of pride and adoration.

The emotions in his eyes, and the ones that run through me are too much for me to handle. So I speak in a cold voice, seeming as in control as I can, "Want to answer?"

I did remember that I asked him something, but what, that I had forgotten with the wild emotions in me.

He raises an eyebrow, his husky voice sending a shiver down my spine, "Princess, a man needs clothes. Something you didn't think before claiming the room."

"Ah..." I nod, and proceed to force my legs to walk in towards my side of closet to take out a pair of light wash jeans.

"By the way," He speaks, coming close behind me and leaning a bit to bring his face near mine. I freeze, my heart thudding inside me as his lips graze my ear, "Black lace and my claim look nice on you Love."

Blood rushes to my face, as I take in a sharp breath in. His low, deep chuckle can be heard as he walks out.

Running my hand through my hair, I ruffle them up and take deep breathe, cursing myself and him for last night. My ringing phone snaps me out of the self-reprimanding and a hurriedly pull on my chosen jeans, wobbling my way to the device while doing so.

I answer it, buttoning up and picking it as I rush back to my clothes with the phone on speaker, "Hey Mason!"

"Ash, you sound cheery. Are you okay?"

I wince, another slip up, and tug out my turtle neck top, happy that at least the weather seems to support me. "Yeah... I am. Are you guys here?"

"Yes, we are in your building's parking."

"Oh," I put the phone on the clothes in the shelf and start unbuttoning Jayden's shirt, "Give me a sec. I am coming." I cut the call with one hand, and yank the shirt and put on my top, keeping my hair down. I grab my phone, slipping it in my pocket as I pick Jayden's shirt and stuff it in my side of closet.

I run out, take up my bag with my assignment and stuff, and continue to run out of the apartment.

"Hey."

Arms wrap themselves around me, muscular and protective, encasing me in warmth. I hug him back, smiling softly before pulling back, "What was that for?"

Hazel eyes soften when they look at me. He shrugs, "Can't I hug my best friend?"

As soon as Ryker says this, I am engulfed again.

Ace picks me up, making me laugh as he brings me back to stand on ground. I giggle, "What is wrong with you two? The two least loving friends, hugging me today!" I gasp dramatically, making the other two laugh as Ace and Ryker playfully glare at me.

"Hey! That's rude." Ace grumbles as Ryker reasons, "We thought you might need some cheerfulness considering you stayed with Big boss last night. Plus we all were too busy thinking technically that we forgot that you may need your friends, especially after the attack."

"Exactly," exclaims Mason before he pulls Kevin to tackle me in a hug, making all of us laugh like crazy.

"Alright..." I pull out and pat all of them on their chests affectionately. "All of you, scram. You guys have classes to attend, assignments to submit and people to follow. Let's have this love filled talk later, okay boys?"

They chuckle before we all go our separate ways. I smile, walking to my class as I remember the boys being goofy for my sake. With everything that I have experienced, with everything that I have lost and gained, I am truly grateful for these friends that I have. The boys, no matter how scary they seem or how emotionless they make themselves seem and Abby, however mad she maybe with us.

These people have warmed up their way into my life and now are more important for me than I thought they will be.

Sarah would have loved them.

I make my way into my class, sitting beside Nikki who turns to give me a cheery smile.

"What?" I ask her, giving her a questioning look.

"Guess what? I found a link to Professor Kane murder case."

I feel myself still, paling a little. Nicky Waine has been my friend long enough for me to know that this girl is sharp. Adding on the fact that her mother is the sheriff, she is well equipped with sources as well as well guided by her mother.

If she found a link, I hardly think it will take her a lot of time to trace it back to me.

"Really? That's amazing... But... uh what is it?" I ask after swallowing the lump that is settled in my throat.

She gives me an excited smile, leaning forward, "Despite his very remarkable reputation around the town, it seems as if he has had links with some underground network."

I nod and proceed to take my notebook and pen out of my bag, asking her how she is so sure about it.

"Well, while using the network of double agents that are in contact with my mom, we gathered that the low lying goons were not that willing to get in contact with anyone regarding this case. We had to go over the next towns around us for this problem because why would those street men totally avoid the topic of murder even if they don't know who did it? Because let's be honest, men like those try to get law immunity in exchange of even a grain of information."

She breaks herself to let this information sink in as she takes out a piece of paper, sliding it towards me. I take it to see two symbols, one of which I am too familiar with. An inverted triangle with a 'V' shadowing in the inside of the triangle, another tilted 'V' shadowing the right edge of it, all in an intricate and tribal pattern. Carter's Gang symbol.

I trace it once before taking in the other one, which I am assuming is the other gang's official symbol. A snake like structure, winding down as a set of lines non uniformly outline it, red and green with black shades.

"What is this?" Knowing the patterns yet seeming unknown makes me feel guilty of lying to yet another friend, but I knew I cannot afford to slip, not yet anyway.

"These are the symbols of the two gangs Kane was involved in... apparently he has been dealing with them for quite some time. Chances are the gangs may be the one to get to him... or they may help in finding the murderer because Mom is quite sure that there was some evidence that has gone missing."

I knew it had... after all that evidence led to the gangs to know about me, but I don't know what it is.

"Ohhh... How are you planning to move forward now?"

Nicky shrugs as she leans back, taking the paper back and keeping it with her securely. "Honestly? Not sure. Mom is trying to get some upper class members of the two gangs to get her some information in turn of Law Immunity though I don't think they will take it... it's not like they need it anyway."

"True that."

And that's where we turn quite. Soon enough the class is done and we are filtering out. I wave Nicky and turn to the hallway leading to Professors' offices. I am planning on taking a leave for the next week, when I am supposed to turn the assignment in, so I will submit it in today and leave to meet Chris.

With all this going on, I desperately need some normality.

I nod at Ace, who I pass in the hallway. Taking the stairs up for Psychology Dept., I hurry to Professor Moore's office. I knock on it, but hear no reply.

Frowning I knock again, still not receiving any reply, I push the door in and peeking in slightly. Not finding him there, I look around confusion and curiosity making me slid in again. The class has ended a few minutes ago and with all the students littering the hallway, I had managed to get here on time.

But how is he still not here.

I decide to sit and wait in, because I cannot afford to lose some grades over the drama these Gangs has thrust me in again. High school was hard enough, I won't mess with my college degree on this.

Ten minutes turned to twenty and Professor is still not here. I send Ry a message about me being late and keep my phone back in my pocket when the door I had come from opens and the blonde man I was searching for enters the office.

He looks up at me through his glasses, his brown eyes widening slightly before his face sports a knowing smile. But something feels off in his smile.

Regardless I plaster my practised smile on my face and stand up, "Hello sir."

"Ms Ashlyn Greene. To what do I owe this pleasure?" He walks to his own chair, opposite to where I was sitting a while ago and takes off his glasses.

"Sir, the assignment that is due next week," I take it out of my bag, a little confusion and apprehension settling in my gut. "I have a family emergency because of which I will not be attending the classes for a week or so. And I do not want to lose my grades."

As I say this, I notice how his attention remains on me rather than the stack of papers in front of him. Fighting back the urge to question him out on this, I keep my face simple and 'accidently' knock some papers of his desk while keeping mine on it.

The pile of papers fall on the tiled floor, making his attention go from me to the paper. Trusting my instinct, I keep my eyes on his face, noting how his eyes flashed in anger, jaw clenching and tips of his ears turning red as I stutter an apology as innocently as I can.

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A/N: Hello there readers!

Another late update, I know but guess what I was busy doing painting on a dupatta I wanted to wear on Raksha Bandhan. It took me and my mom three days together to paint a totally plain white one into this.

So, is my reason justified? Anyway, Happy  belated Raksha Bandhan to you all.  

And moving to the story, how do you feel about it?

Vote, Comment and Share.

Love, Rupanshi.