"I think I'm the most responsible in this trio." Logan announces, smirking up at a glaring Ares. Conner face plants behind his brother as Ares literally shakes in anger. I watch safely front the counter, knowing that all the frustration is directed at the Reeds.

"You literally just caught my fucking kitchen on fire!" Ares roars, Blink stills in my arms at the noise, knowing he's not in trouble but that it's probably better to stay silent.

"And I'm taking responsibility for that!" Logan shoots back, squealing in fright as Ares steps forward and runs to hide behind his twin.

"Screw the dog, you're officially the dumb fucking blond." My poor husky, but at least Blink's not the number one dummy anymore and thankfully I've never been considered the dumb blonde. "Get out! Get out and go buy me new dish towels."

As the Reeds book it out of the apartment I know Ares's command won't go unnoticed, because they know what happens if it does.

Normally Ares wouldn't be so upset from a thing like them accidentally setting half of our kitchen towel on fire but they also threw the burning fabrics right at me like I knew what to do and nearly set curls on fire and stepped on Blink's tail while running around and accidentally smacked our cat, Monster, in the face with the good end of a towel and almost blinded our kitty.

Monster is a cool cat, her and Blink get along great.

She's a pastel calico with long hair, so she doesn't shed much and has really cool blue eyes.

Where Blink is Ares's dog Monster is my cat, and usually keeps to herself unless she wants food or one of us is sick.

I'm used to taking my depression medicine right after dinner so I give her a treat when I do, so even if I forget my meds she sure won't. This has never failed me and I haven't forgotten to take them since we got her as a kitten during our second year.

Spacing out is a issue for me so once again Ares has to knock me back into reality.

I squeak when I come to terms that he's right in front of me, gripping our counter so tight that the wood groans is protest and his knuckles turn white.

Blink squirms on my lap, I let him jump down to the ground and stand between Ares's legs, obviously wanting to be pet but Ares makes me squeak again by burying his face in my hair, nose and lips pressing into the sensitive skin on the side of my neck.

Shivering I lean into him, freaked out by his odd behavior but letting him calm down any way he seems fit.

Hands grab my hips, dragging me on the counter so my front is pressed into his.

Eventually Ares drops his hold on me and walks away to the couch like nothing even happened, shaking off the light feeling I got from being so close to him and start making dinner -which is just bacon and pancakes.

But then I ran out of flour, and the unopened bag is on the very top shelf and I'll be damned if I can reach that, even with a stool.

Plus that's a ten pound bag of flour so if I did climb onto the counter, I'd finally get it from it's spot then tip right over and die falling off the counter.

At least the mess wouldn't be my problem then.

No, screw that. I'm not dying for a bag of flour.

"Mars!" I yell, and hear the TV be muted.

"What?" He yells back.

"Come here, I can't reach something."

I start grumbling at my height, glaring right at the stupid bag of flour when a amused chuckle comes from behind me.

"Stop laughing and help me." I scold him, turning to face him.

That stupid sexy smirk is on his face, as well as a daring glint in his hazel eyes.

"And why should I?" Ares asks, making my jaw drop. "I think I'd be amusing watching you try and get that."

"Because this is your fault! You always put everything on the top shelf because that's pretty much eye level to you so you stupidly think that makes sense. But excuse me if you haven't notice you live with someone who's literally the size of a seventh grade child! I am 5'1 Ares! 5'1! So why are you putting things on the top shelf? It's been five years, you should know better. That's like a completely different atmosphere to me, can you breath up there okay? No wonder you're so air-headed. Gosh, you sentient tree you don't need all that-"

Ares must have gotten tired of my pathetic You're Too Tall speech because he grabbed my waist and lifted me right in the air, stopping when I can simply reach out and grab the bag.

Huffing I do just that, scowling the whole time Ares puts me back on my feet and spins me to face him.

"I hate you." I tell him, trying to appear intimidating only for him to laugh.

This jerk.

"If that were true you wouldn't willingly live with me for nearly five years." Ares ruffles my hair like I really am a child before putting his arm on my head just to point out the height difference.

"If you don't stop being such a salty walking tree I'm going elbow you in the crotch with no regrets." Ares freezes at my words before taking a hesitant step back. I nod, pleased with this change in pace. "That's what you get for being tall and such a asshole."

"You know Ev, you don't have to fake violence to be near my goods." Ares, unfazed, replies making me choke on air. "Just ask next time."

Then he turns on his heel and leaves yet again, letting me die all alone from embarrassment.

If only his mother heard the things he said.

Ares wants to drag me to yet another activity with Logan and Conner, going to the beach, which I immediately refused and tried to continue to sleep peacefully on the couch.

Key word tried.

Which it shouldn't be a problem, I didn't get any sleep last night due to homework and our shifts not ending until 9.

But then:

"Just get up, it's not that hard." Ares says, glaring down at me, I glare at the scar right below his lips -again, I suck at eye contact.

"No." I sulk. "I'm hibernating."

"What? It's not even cold out and you're not a wild animal."

"I don't care, I don't want to leave. I'm hibernating not in the sense to escape the weather but the people."

"Oh." Ares hums. "So...you're practicing being a social outcast."

I don't respond, only snuggle deeper into my mountain of blankets only to have them ripped away from me. "I can be what I want to be." I groan. "Leave me be."

"Just get up."

"No!"

Ares grumbles under his breath before saying, "That's it." Then this giant picks me up like a bride, stupid giant strength, making me squeal lightly.

"P-put me down." I stutter, but contradict myself as I lean into him so I don't feel like I'm falling.

"No." He grunts, carrying me all the way to the bathroom when he sets me on the counter, next to what I recognize as a bathing suit then gets to the door and leans against it so I can't leave. "I will change you myself if I have to, seeing as I've seen it all before and don't plan and trying to molest you or something. It will be easier for both of us if you just compromise."

I gape at him but he only ignores me and raises a eyebrow as if asking what I'm going to do about it.

Nothing, but I am very disappointing.

Jumping off the counter I motion for him to look up, which he does so respectfully.

Changing as quick as possible I throw my pile of clothes at Ares as my way of telling him I'm done and snicker as my bra gets hung over his head and closes off half his vision.

"Uncivilized beast." Ares grumbles, I let it slide only because he opens the door, puts a towel on my shoulder and lets me pass.

It doesn't fully comprehend that Ares bought and got me to wear a grey bikini that showed off every curve until he made me slip on matching cover when we pulled up to the Reeds' place.

"You tricked me!" I gasp, leaning away to face Ares, who frowns at me.

"How so?"

I motion to myself, but the conversation is cut off as Conner throws open the door and climbs into the backseat. Ares climbs out with a single warning look to the Reed twin.

"Hey Peyton." Conner greets me.

"Hi." I say, smiling weakly at him as I turn to watch Ares and Logan's interaction.

"You don't see it, do you?" He asks as I keep my eyes trained on my roommate, despite how confused I am.

"See what?" I reply, albeit absentmindedly.

"The way Ares looks at you."

Frowning I turn to face the deranged man in the backseat. "Looks at me?"

"Seriously? You don't see it? The look he gets, the one I've never seen before but around you."

"What are you talking about?" I ask, glancing back to Ares.

"He looks at you like he-" Conner is cut off when Logan climbs in and slams the door shut.

I face forward, seeing instantly how Conner looks like he was caught saying something he shouldn't have, but my frown stays in place.

"Hey," Ares grabs my jaw lightly, and I know he's only frowning because I'm frowning. "You okay? What did you do?"

The giant instantly turns to his best friends, glaring at the Reeds with such intensity I'm surprised they don't burst into flames, though they look like they want to right about now.

"I'm fine." I roll my eyes, smiling slightly. "You need to work on this whole overprotective friend thing Mars, especially when it comes to your two more important other friends."

"No I don't." He replies stubbornly, still glaring but this time specifically at Conner. "They stole my dog."

"Our dog," I correct him. "Is perfectly fine."

"He's traumatized, I swear. Every time Blink smells vodka now he goes in my room, you know, the room furthest away from the door." Ares deadpans, making me giggle.

"Or, Blink just doesn't like the smell and goes to your room, you know, the spot he sleeps."

"Okay you know what? You have to be at least 5'5 to get a say, I'm sick of you midget's running the world."

Not caring that he's the driver I smack Ares roughly in the side of the head, making him wince and glare at the road.

A few hours later me and Logan are sitting on one towel while Conner is on the other. Ares has his own towel, but as the only person we trusted the foot with he and Conner set out to get us a beach dinner.

"Hey Peyton?" Logan asks smirking, I narrow my eyes at him but raise a eyebrow anyway.

I don't know why they insist on using my last name when they know damn well my actual name is Everly.

"You got a pretty nice face there." He says, leaning closer to me so I lean back. "And some pretty nice lips."

Oh yuck.

"Uh...thanks?" I say, trying not to grimace.

"It would look amazing sucking this-"

"Popsicle!" Conner, appearing next to me out of nowhere, shouts and shoved a lime Popsicle in my hands. "You want a Popsicle Peyton, you got one."

"But I didn't-"

"That's right, you got you're Popsicle to suck on and nothing else." The brunette glares at his twin, while confusion clouds my mind.

I'm more than thankful that's when Ares makes an appearance, but upon hearing Conner's words glares at Logan worse than he did when he set out kitchen on fire.

He looks like a giant, angry snarling wolf at the moment.

"What did I tell you about-"

"She's right there!" Logan squeaks, making Ares freeze in action of lunging to strangle his best friend.

"What the heck just happened?" I ask, throwing my hands up. "None of this makes sense."

"Doesn't fucking matter because it's not happening again. Ev, come and sit on my towel with me."

Seeing as Ares is already in a bad mood and that was more of a command than a suggestion I decide to just roll with it anyway.

Sitting on his towel we both notice at the same time I got the green Popsicle and he got the blue Popsicle, silently trade them I'm happy until I take the first bite.

"Gross!" I yelp, holding it like a old rag. "It's not blueberry."

"What is it?" Ares asks, turning my wrist over so I can hold it in a way that lets him lick up the side. "Mmm, black berry."

"Switch back?" I ask, giggling slightly when Ares rolls his eyes but switches back with me.

Lime will have to do.

Seeing as I just read and sun tanned the entire time previously Ares had to pick me up and sling me over his shoulder to get me anywhere close to the water but then he let me climb on his shoulders and sit down while he walked deeper into the ocean -the water reaches his collar bones when he decides to stop so I know I would have drowned long ago.

I curse myself for being so short.

Logan tried to play chicken with us when he first say me being carried around but almost drowned his twin in the process, so that was canceled.

"Do you like the water Ev?" Ares asks, hands trailing almost absentmindedly along my calf. I know he's not trying to distract me or affect me in any way, but my body doesn't.

"I don't really know, I know how to swim I was just never taken to go swimming as a kid. More of a survival thing than something fun."

"Hmm, do you like the sunset?"

"Yeah, I love sunsets." I say, tilting over so I can look in his eyes. "Why?"

"I don't know, I just want to know more about you." Ares shrugs.

Now that's doubtful, I snort slightly in disbelief. "Why?"

"Won't say."

"Seriously," I gasp. "Why not?"

The giant shrugs again refusing to say more, so we just take to watching Logan and Conner arguing in the water over a massive, randomly placed boulder that three times taller than me.

They're fighting over King of the Rock.

"Ev, do you want to be Queen of the Rock?" Ares asks mischievously, closing the distance between him and the rock. "I'll be your king."

"Not that that's what made me say this, but yes. It's a pretty big rock though how am I gonna-"

I'm cut off by Ares maneuvering me so I'm pressed between his front and the boulder, instantly silencing me due to him forcing my legs around his waist.

His smirk says all I need to know : This won't end well.

"Just hang on," He commands, lifting himself out of the water. "And you'll be fine."

I squeal, clutching to his shoulders tightly as I lock my ankles behind his back, doing everything to get closer to Ares and stay there.

Finally Ares sits on the edge, panting slightly from the exertion his body just took but is otherwise fine.

I'm willing to be is Logan or Conner actually make it up here, seeing as it's completely flat on top, Ares would just throw them off.

"That could have gone way worse." Ares not so helpfully says, holding onto my hips as I only tighten my hold on him as images of us falling onto the sharper pieces of rock he was climbing over flashed through my mind.

That's why he made me switch off of his back, because he knew if he'd fall that's what would take the damage.

Idiot, he's a complete idiot.

"I am the human embodiment of 'that could have gone worse.'" I say when I manage to find my voice.

Ares laughs, the vibrations through my body making me realize that I'm sitting on his lap, my legs around his waist as our chests are pressed together.

It's looks like we're about to...

Okay Everly, stay calm, control your blush and body's natural reactions to this sort of thing.

"Put me down!" I say, realizing my grip when slack but his arms are still around my waist.

"As you wish." He replies, and in a split second he's holding me off the edge.

"Wait! Not like that." I attack him a koala hug again, making him fall flat on his back as I straddle him once again, my arms snaking around his neck. "And stop quoting the Princess Bride at me."

The giant watches that once a weak and I think it's become an obsession at this point, but seeing as I force us to binge watch all eight Harry Potter movies once every six months and can recite them word for word up until Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince I can't complain.

"I would say you're a kill joy, but seeing as you just willingly climbed on me in a overly sexual opinion that would be a lie."

My blush is real as I realize just how much of a lie it would be as Ares props himself up on his elbows, smirking at me.

"Oh bite me." I snap, being defensive through embarrassment.

"Okay."

I don't have time to comprehend his moment before Ares's hand is clutching my jaw and he twists our bodies around. Now he's laying between my legs, stopping all movement as he somehow managed to swipe both my wrists into one of his hands and is holding them above my head.

I'm completely under his control as he buries his teeth into my shoulder.

Despite the pleasure that came with it pain in pain, so I yelp loudly before groaning as he only bites me harder, squirming under his iron grip.

"Ares," I gasp, his name more of a breath than a word. "Stop."

So he does, pulling away to look at the bite mark he left on my skin. I squirm under him, making his grip on my wrist tighten and his hand to transfer to my hip instead of my chin.

"I didn't mean for you to actually, to actually bite me. You're such a asshole."

The asshole only laughs before detaching himself and standing, helping me to do so a second later.

"King of the Rock!" A familiar idiot with the last name of Reed screams before the blond charges at the unexpected Ares's back.

Unfortunately for Logan Ares is literally a solid wall of muscle and running into a brick wall hurts less, so he just bounces right off and splashes back into the water a second later.

But that's before I'm tackled off and the Reeds get the verbal and physical ass beating of the century.

And I know he got this from his mom, she's even scarier when mad.

Being half Mexican and half black Ares grew up with a really diverse group of people but his Puerto-Rican mother's punishment qualities.

That being said he's also quite possible the most handsome man alive.

And also an asshole that just bit me.

There's ups and downs, nothing we can't work out.