I woke up to noises and shadows in my room. I must've been screaming out in my sleep. "Hey, are you okay?" Ryder asked. "No, i'm scared." I said shaking. He came over and laid into bed next to me. "Hey it's okay." He said wrapping me up and kissing my head. "No what if those guys find me?" I asked. "Well they are in jail. And we cover our tracks really well. Nobody's getting in and Liam was upgrading the security panel out by the gate to a hand print password." He said. I breathed deep. That made me feel slightly better.

          "I'm also a huge failure." I said. "Why because you're afraid? So what i was afraid today. When that guy took you and i couldn't get away i thought you were gone for sure. Then when i saw you lying in that pool of blood. I was freaking out. We've all been scared it doesn't make you weak. And you are still a valid part of this team. You Liam and Caleb don't really have to go out there and do all the crazy things it just helps sometimes if you do. You guys handle the stuff we can't do. We all have our strengths." He said. "Thank you." I said snuggling closer to him. "I mean it for everything. For this, for saving me. For just...everything." I sighed. "You're welcome." He said.

          "You make me feel so safe." I said hugging him tight. "I'm glad i can help. See we all have our strengths." He said. I tried to get comfortable next to him. Abs like a rock i tell ya! "Sorry i'm not wearing a shirt i was kind of sleeping when i heard you." He said. "Oh no, I'm sorry i woke you. And furthermore. i don't mind at all. You're still cozy." I said. " It's okay. Are you going to school tomorrow?" He asked. "Maybe." I said. "Hey you're fine to miss you need to rest. At least one day." He said. "I guess, but only because i never showered and my hair is still red." I said pulling at it and frowning.

          "Hey i told you i'd help you." He said smirking. I shoved him. "Stop it." I said smiling. "I'm sorry were doing this." He said. "What? Maybe you should go i'll be alright." I said sadly. "Let me clarify. I like you and i like snuggling with you. But this is all so fast. If we had just met we wouldn't be doing this. We haven't even gone on a date yet." He said. "I just don't want to ruin this before we even really get started. So i'm not leaving but i just..." I stopped him.

           "Hey look we live together, nothing we can do about that. But instead of looking at this as a negative look at this as a positive. We'll really get a chance to know each other." I said. "Wait...is that why you didn't want to date me?" He asked. "What?" I asked innocently. "We live together and if i break your heart..." "I have to leave. And i don't know where i'd go. Home wasn't home i can't go back there especially now that I've stooped paying the bills."  I sniffled.

           "Hey, i'm not gonna break your heart. I'm not sure were dating. I mean it feels like were dating. I feel like your boyfriend. And i like the way it sounds and feel. But whatever...say were dating and we broke up it'll be clean. You stay here and i'll stay over there. We're friends now we'll be friends then. That's why i haven't kissed you yet. I don't want to rush this. Which let me tell you is hard because all the guys have been talking. I mean it. All of them." I felt him stiffen up a bit.

          "Maybe that's why i haven't kissed you yet either. It'll actually mean something this time and that is kind of scary and you are doing a very boyfriend thing right now. What exactly are we waiting on? A title sounds official and stupid. Who cares? Are we waiting on that first date and if it goes okay then we talk? The first kiss and if we don't gag great?" I asked. "I have no idea. I feel like i'm following a set of unspoken rules here. Like no you don't do any of this. you go on dates. First date ends in a hug. Second date kiss on the cheek third date a kiss on the lips. Fourth date longer kiss on the lips. Then were just dating because we made it to four dates?" He groaned.

          "Yea that's confusing and we live together so i know you way better than i would if it was our first date or even our fourth date. I mean we've spent a lot of time together and talking. And regular couples have to talk and text on the phone." I said. "See, there's no reason why you can't be my girlfriend. I mean you like me and i like you right?" "yep." I said. "Okay just clarifying." He held out his hand for me to shake it. I giggled. "Really? Get over here." I said pulling him to me. He was sure to be careful of my new scars. He leaned over me and gently leaned down pressing a slow and soft kiss to my lips.

          Okay yea this kiss meant way more to me than all of the other kisses. And he was also the best kisser but i wouldn't admit that to any of the guys. He pulled back. "This outfit...it's part of the Kitty Jones collection?" He asked gazing down. "No?" I said confused hold on let me take inventory. His left hand was high up on my left thigh. Short shorts. His Right hand was on the ride side of my bare stomach. Okay bare midriff. And maybe the top had gotten a little stretched out over the years but i didn't buy pjs when we went shopping. The straps were falling down. But i was going for comfort not style.

         "Well i like it either way." He said. He rolled over laying next to me again. "Get some rest beautiful girlfriend of mine. It's been a long day." He said. I yawned. "Alright buy i'm not even that tired." He laughed wrapping me up and pulling my covers over both of us.

          The next morning i woke up to the bright sun hitting me in the face. I was glad to not have to get up early. I found a bag of something. I peared inside. Donuts. There was a note. "Feel better, i figured you were staying home since you looked so cozy ;) so i left for school but i brought you some breakfast to say thanks for all you do." I picked up my phone and typed out a message to Caleb. "Thanks for the donuts." "So are you and Ryder like a thing now?" He asked.

          "Yea....shouldn't you be doing school work?" I asked. "Hahaha you're funny." He sent back. "About last night i was having a nightmare." I felt the need to clarify. "Hey whatever happened or happens. I don't want to know about it. Just keep the door closed." I turned bright red. "Caleb!!" I said. "What?" He asked back. "I'm gonna enjoy my donuts now. Have a good day at school." "I will and just remember if that's not all you enjoy i don't want to know about it." He shot back. "Bye." I said setting my phone down.

          I untangled from Ryder making him wake up. "Sorry, i needed some medicine i'm kinda hurting." I said reaching on the table. "Sorry, hey do i smell donuts?" He asked. "Yea Caleb got them for me." I dug one out of the bag and took a bite. Learned years ago never to take medicine on an empty stomach. "You want a bite they're delicious." I said holding it out. "No, but thank you. So, how are you feeling since last night?" He asked. "Better thanks for staying with me." "Anytime." He said. "I'm just trying to figure out how to keep things normal. It's tough. I mean if we were dating we'd be together two years at least before we moved in together. But we already live together so i don't know." He said.

           "No you're right I've only been here a short while and it seems like you've been here more than your own bed." I said. "And trust me i'm not complaining but if were taking it slow like you and i both know we should this isn't helping." He said. "Why?" I asked. I was so naive to all of this stuff. Maybe it's why kissing the guys in the house didn't seem like a big deal but it kind of was. I probably gave over a million mixed signals.

          "Because you look sexy sitting there just eating a donut." He bit his lip. "And so? You look sexy there shirtless...oh i see." I said. "Do you?" He asked grinning. "Cause it kind of seems like you don't." "Okay well..kind of..." I said. "I want to push you backwards. get rid of that silly donut and do things to you. That's the opposite of taking it slow." He said. My eyebrows shot up. "Oh!" I said. "See, that's what i'm saying two years in. We're doing all the physical stuff in this bed and it's not a big deal. We can also sleep here you know just sleep." He said. "Okay you've gotta stop talking about it because now i want to touch you. Maybe go put a shirt on." I said. "How about maybe you more clothes on." He said fire in his eyes.

          "I don't like that look. Look if we know were not ready to do that yet let's just not talk about it. And maybe no more kissing in this bed." I suggested. "I like that idea. It's hard to not get ahead of yourself if you don't set clear boundaries." He said rolling out of my bed. "So on that note, I'm going to go eat something, work out and hit the shower. Let me know if you need help with anything." He said. That was good. Because going to fast would be something as simple as him and i cuddling in the bed all day.

            "Thanks." I said taking another bite of the donut and cracking open the orange juice. Once i had finished one i could down the medicine. I was achy but i needed to get up and clean myself. So after i ate the second donut i pushed myself out of the bed. Sounding like a hurt dog, i slowly made it into the bathroom. I turned on the faucet to the tub and leaned my head over washing all of the red from my hair. Once it was dried i eased my way out of my room. Looked like everybody was at school. Except Jake who was sitting at the table looking and some of his books for the academy.