We returned home from the lake house the day after Christmas, stuffed with enough food to make me want to go into hibernation. Christmas Day was quiet, just the McCormacks and I spending the day inside watching Christmas movies together by the fire. Jaz and Dallas had promised to spend the day with their own families, so they'd left together early Christmas morning.

The day after Christmas marked exactly three weeks that I'd been here, and only three more weeks until the filming of season five of Scandalous commenced. School returned in a few days, and there was no doubt in my mind that I would be going back to school with everybody else my age. My mom had made it very clear that she would let me know when I could return to LA and, with her freezing the only bank account I had access to, it wasn't like I could make my own way back.

"Savannah," Mia yelled out through a mouthful of food, "a letter came for you."

I heaved myself up from the sofa with a sigh and made my way through the house towards the kitchen. Mia was sat at a barstool, sorting through the onslaught of mail the McCormacks had received whilst we'd been away.

"Wow you must be really bored to be organizing mail." I stated, reaching out to pluck my letter from the counter.

Mia groaned, resting her chin delicately on her palm, her ruby red fingernails a stark contrast against her fair skin. "Yeah well there's not much else for me to do. Mom and dad took my phone and I've basically been banned from leaving the house until I'm thirty." She shot me a tortured look. "Can you believe that I'm actually looking forward to going back to school? School, of all places!"

I wrinkled my nose and offered her a pat on the back. "They'll come around once they realize that you have nothing to do with him anymore, Mia. Give it time."

Mia made a noncommittal sound and turned back to her mail sorting, leaving me to head back to the sofa to open my letter. I scanned over the front of the envelope, where nothing but my name was scribed in black pen.

I peeled the envelope open, tearing a seam in the process. A bundle of squares, at least fifty of them, tumbled out onto me, some flittering onto the ground. I stared in disbelief, my heart pounding in my chest.

Not again.

I carefully reached down and picked up the ones that had fallen to the ground, placing them into a stack. I tried my hardest not to look too closely, but eventually my curiosity overpowered my will and I let my eyes rest on each photo.

Me collecting kindling with Brooks.

Me eating dinner with the McCormacks.

Me getting ready for bed in my room.

Me and Mia laughing.

Jazmin talking to me as we washed the dishes.

Sarah and I sat on the swings at home.

Me opening my locker at school.

Brooks, Dallas, Mia and I at Paulo's Pizzeria.

Me sitting in the den, watching tv. Taken through a window.

Brooks and I dancing on the beach on Christmas Eve.

There were dozens more similar photos, some taken at school, others at home and others at the lake house. However Luke was doing this, he was good at it. He was everywhere.

I glanced around uncomfortably and walked over to the windows, quickly shoving the curtains closed. What was I supposed to do? Go to the cops? But then what? As soon as I went to the police the press would find out and the story would blow up. I'd be on the cover of every newspaper and magazine in the nation and I could kiss my chances of going back to work goodbye.

A wave of fear coursed through me as I realized that I had no choice— if I wanted this madness to stop then I had to go and confront Luke. Tell him that his game was over, he'd been caught, and to never mess with me or the McCormacks again.

I grabbed my jacket from the hook by the door and yelled out to Mia that I would be back soon, before heading out into the chilly morning air. It was gloomy outside, the sky a murky grey-white, and I shoved my hands a little deeper into my pockets.

I had no clue where Luke lived, but I did know that his hang out spot was the lookout at the waterfront park, where he went whenever he skipped class and had invited me to multiple times. So that's where I was going to try. It was over a twenty minute walk from the house, but I didn't mind. Maybe the fresh air would do me some good.

There weren't many people out and about at this time of year, most people either doing some sale shopping at the malls or at home recovering from the chaos of Christmas Day. When I reached the Henry Chambers park, where the lookout onto the water was, it was just as deserted as the surrounding streets.

The water was the colour of smoke, a reflection of the ashy clouds overhead. I trailed along the boardwalk, following the path around until I heard a chorus of laughs that unmistakably told me I had found my target.

I marched in the direction of the voices, ignoring the sign to keep off the grass. The voices led me to a small corner of cement behind one of the restaurants, where a group of guys clad in leather and denim were sat in a circle smoking. Luke was situated right in the middle, lounging back in his chair with his legs spread out in front of him. His eyes- still surrounded by bluish purple bruises from his fight with Brooks—flickered towards me as he sensed my presence, a smirk toying on his lips.

"Well would you look at this." Luke spoke and immediately everyone around him hushed, intent on listening to what he had to say. "The little actress is here. Did you finally see the error of your ways and leave your pathetic excuse for a boyfriend?" His eyes twinkled as he taunted me, obviously finding the whole situation gleefully satisfying. "I knew it wouldn't be long before you realized you couldn't resist me."

I rolled my eyes and let out an unattractive snort. If only his brain was half as big as his ego.

"Hardly. But I do need to talk to you." I folded my arms over my chest and lifted an eyebrow, hoping to give him my best don't mess with me look. I glanced at his hooligan friends, who were swapping smirks and jabbing each other with their elbows. I cleared my throat. "Alone."

Luke sighed heavily and reluctantly rose from his seat, hiking his pants up as he did so. Despite the cool air he wore no jacket, his tattoo sleeves on full display. My eyes trailed down his arms, picking up random words like 'brothers' and 'united', as well as some Chinese symbols.

I led the way back out to the waterfront, far enough away that his friends couldn't hear us but close enough to the road that we were still in the public eye. Once we reached the boardwalk I stopped, turning around to face him.

He looked at me expectantly, his piercing blue eyes boring into me. "Sweet cheeks if you wanted to hook up with me there are easier ways to go about it than walking all the way—"

"Shut up." I interrupted, lifting my hand to signal that he could stop talking now. "I'm here to tell you to cut it out. I know what you're doing and it's not funny. You need to leave Mia, Brooks and my whole family the fuck alone."

Luke's eyes widened for a split second before he regained his composure and fixed his bad-boy demeanour. He took a long drag of cigarette, watching me closely. He blew the puff of smoke right in my face, but I pretended not to let it bother me. Parties in LA were smokier than a chimney, I was used to it.

"I don't know what you're talking about darling." He shrugged nonchalantly.

I gritted my teeth together and fought the urge to smack him. "Don't play games with me Luke. I know you're the one sending me those photos. They need to stop."

Luke suddenly let out a laugh, surprising me. I stared at him distastefully— of course he thought this was funny. "Laugh all you want but it's pathetic. Following me around and taking pictures of me while I'm—"

"Pictures?" Luke cut me off incredulously, chucking his cigarette onto the ground and snubbing it out with the toe of his boot. "You think I've been taking pictures of you?"

"I know you have. It's part of your whole revenge scheme on Brooks right? Because of Demi? He won't let you get to Mia so you're gonna try and scare me instead? It's not going to work." I reached into my back pocket for the polaroids, but I came back empty handed. Crap, must have left them at home.

At the mention of his younger sister, Luke's face fell into a scowl. He took a step towards me until we were chest to chest, and I faltered for the slightest of moments. He was a head taller than me and a heck of a lot wider, but I kept my chin high. His breath fanned down onto my face and from this proximity I could easily make out the deep blue ring that outlined his iris. Had he not been so awful, I would have found him attractive.

"What do you know about Demi?" He growled, his voice so low and menacing that I wanted to take a step back. But if I moved any further I'd end up in the water.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "I know what happened between her and Brooks, and I know why you hate him so much. But I think you should ask Demi about their relationship, Luke. She's not being honest with you."

Luke's vibrant eyes narrowed as he inched closer, towering over me and forcing me to lean back. "So quick to defend your boyfriend and call my sister a liar, aren't you?"

I didn't say anything, not sure that there was anything I could say.

"Did he tell you he cheated on her? Lied to her? Sent her nudes around the whole school? Your perfect little angel boy ruined her life, Savannah, but I bet he didn't tell you that." Luke sneered, inching even closer to me.

I shook my head and straightened up, feeling a shot of sympathy course through me. Nothing excused Luke's behaviour, but I could see how much he cared for his sister and how protective he was over her. I couldn't knock that.

"I'm sorry that that happened to Demi and to your family, Luke. I really am." I said sincerely, "But Brooks didn't do what you think he did. And I understand that you want to help your sister, but stalking me isn't going to achieve anything."

Luke's gaze dropped to my mouth, lingering there a moment before returning to my eyes. "Please, you think I'd have to stalk you to gain your attention?" He murmured, his signature smirk finding its way back onto his face. "If I really wanted you I'd having you begging on your knees for me. Taking photos of innocent girls is beneath me." He sneered, and then he turned on his heel and stalked away, leaving me to piece together the pieces of the puzzle by myself.