I swear my shift lasted longer than normal today, dragging on with no end in sight.

Maybe it's just the thought of Zara and Georgia out shopping without me, not having to work every day of the week and able to enjoy their weekends.

As I climb the steps to the apartment I hug my arms to my chest, the weather having taken a sudden turn, a chilly wind causing me to shiver. I can't wait to throw on my pajamas and relax on the couch. The joys of doing nothing! All for two hours, after which I really must finish my school work.

One day, when I'm rich and famous, I'll be able to lounge around for as long as I want. I can't wait.

Slipping my key into the lock, I roughly shove the door open, my eyes widening as I look around in shock at the piles of duffel bags that cover the entrance way.

"Elle?" I call out, taking a tiny, reluctant step forward, "Els, what is all this stuff?"

"Ann! You're home!" She replies, her face popping into view.

"Yes I am..."

"Patrick is moving in." She clarifies, gesturing at the bags.

"What?" I splutter, disbelief spreading thorough me.

"He's moved in!" She repeats, crossing her arms as she shoots me a slight smile.

"Are you serious?"

"Yes of course!" She retorts, her smile slipping from her face.

"You've only been with him a few months!"

"I love him Anna." She says as I shake my head. "And he'll help us out with money and bills."

"We'll see." I snort and she scowls, "I'm going back out." I grab my coat from the wall and slam the door behind me.

Quickly wrapping the coat around me, I walk away from the building with no idea where I'm going, but I know that I need to stay away from the random greasy man moving into my home. Well, his home, now. For God sake, what is wrong with Elle?

I kick the stone beside me, watching as it rolls off the sidewalk and onto the road. I don't even know this man, and Elle has only known him six months whereas she is supposed to be my guardian, my protector. Fat lot of good she's doing right now! I know that she deserves to live her life and do whatever she wants to do, but I am absolutely not living in the same apartment as some creepy man. I'm not stupid.

A sudden drop of water lands on my nose and I grimace, looking up at the grey sky. Just my luck, of course I'm about to get soaked by Mother Nature, I wouldn't expect anything less. All I want is to be alone, have time to clear my head but now it looks like I'll get the flu whilst doing that.

And then I'll get stuck inside with Mr Creepy Patrick. What a nightmare.

The rain gets harder as I continue to stomp away from my apartment, desperate to find somewhere for shelter. The puddles in the road begin to splash up against me as the cars rush past, and I curl my arms around myself, trying to make myself as small as possible. I just need to stay out of the rain and not get sick. A car slows down beside me but I ignore it, hastily continuing down the street. I'd go anywhere to not go back home right now.

"Savannah?"

Anywhere but there.

"Leave me alone." I snap, continuing to walk as he drives alongside me, easily keeping up.

"I'm not going to do that." Brett calls out and I roll my eyes, stopping as I turn towards him. "Savannah please can we just talk?"

"No."

"I just..."

"I will never have anything to say to you ever again."

"It's raining."

"Good observation." I snort, continuing my walk, his car crawls along beside me.

"Just let me take you home." He calls out and I shake my head. He's got another thing coming if he thinks I'll get in his car again. "Think of the hospital bills if you get pneumonia!" The car behind sounds his horn and I grimace, looking up at the sky as the rain gets heavier.

"Are you serious?" I snap and he shrugs, opening the car door and stepping out.

"If you don't get in, you know I'll pick you up and put you in there myself." He gestures at me and I raise my eyebrows before he takes a step towards me.

I don't want the flu...

"Fine." I reach for the door and get into the car, him sliding in next to me, "Only so I don't get ill." He nods, accelerating down the street as I look out the window, "Don't take me home."

"Fine by me." He mutters and I involuntarily shiver. Looking over, his eyebrows furrow before he reaches behind the seat and pulls a jacket out, handing it to me.

"No thank you."

"Just take it. You're cold."

"I don't need..."

"Take it." Brett snaps and I grab it roughly, pulling it over my shoulders.

"Thanks." I mutter, looking out through the windshield as his wipers hastily clear the rain away.

"What's wrong?" His voice is softer now and I feel my heart flutter at the caring tone.

"I got in your car. Don't push it." I retort, turning towards him as his mouth lifts up into a slight smile.

"Alright then." He carries on driving and I turn back to the window, leaning my head against the door as I watch the trees pass by, the town flying past, my eyes barely registering where we are until he turns onto a familiar road. I shoot upright, turning to him with a glare.

"What are we doing here?"

"You didn't want to speak to me, I didn't have anywhere to go. So I came home." He shrugs, pulling into his driveway.

"You are unbelievable." I snap as he opens the door. "Now I have to walk home."

"That's not true." He shakes his head, "Come inside."

"Are you mad?" I laugh, crossing my arms and staying put.

"No-one's home." He continues and my eyes nearly burst out of my head.

"How dare y.."

"Fuck I didn't mean that!" He cuts me off, his own eyes wide as he holds his arms up in a surrender. "I didn't mean that at all."

"Then why would..."

"A distraction." He cuts me off, shrugging, "Something is clearly bothering you." He continues and I look down at my hands, biting my lip slightly. "Forget about it for a while," He finishes softly gesturing towards his house. I don't trust myself to speak, instead opening the door and stepping out, following him to the front door. My eyes automatically glance over the magnificent house, my breath catching in my throat as it does every time that I'm here. Following him inside I take in the familiar sparkling decor as he makes his way through the house.

"Do you want something to eat?" Brett calls over his shoulder.

"No I'm fine."

"Suit yourself." He grins, opening the cupboard and grabbing a packet of chips.

"Your house really is..." I start, my eyes marveling at the white worktops, the glistening chandelier hanging from the ceiling.

"My parents house you mean." He scoffs, cutting me off.

"Same thing."

"Not at all." He counters, leaning onto the worktop as he continues to eat. I take a step towards the back of the house, my lips lifting into a smile as I look out of the huge windows onto their enormous backyard. It's beautiful.

"Why were you sad?" His questions pulls me out of my awestruck world I turn, him watching me as he eats.

"I'm still not talking to you."

"I'm sorry Savannah." He replies, hanging his head and running his hand across his face, "My mouth runs away with me when I'm drunk."

"It's fine." I reply in a monotone, looking back out the window.

"I know it's not."

"What's the point of arguing anymore." I shrug, not moving.

"I didn't realize we were." Brett replies, "Does that mean you'll talk to me now?"

"No." I reply. The sun begins to break through the cloud, the rain long gone, and I can't help but smile as I reach out, opening the door and stepping out into the crisp, fresh air.

"You're really annoying you know that." He calls out as I walk away, around the pool and down towards the trees.

"I didn't ask you to bring me here." I reply over my shoulder, him following close behind. Reaching the trees I grin, looking up at them as they rustle in the wind. It's so peaceful.

"But I did." He steps in front of me, stopping me in my tracks, "I know you don't want to hear but please let me say something."

"Go ahead." I cross my arms as he sighs.

"Nothing I can ever say will make up for what I did."

"You got that right." I scoff, shifting on my feet.

"But, I want you to know that I have regretted it ever since. It's the worst thing I've ever done."

"I don't understand why you did it." I mutter, looking down at my feet.

"Me neither." He replies, sounding defeated, "I stand here and tell you I hate being popular, but then I feed the popular people with venom." He scoffs, running his hand through his hair. "I give them the ammunition they need." He looks at me and I'm shocked to see the regret shining through his features. "Ammunition that hurt you."

"I'm okay." I shrug, tearing my eyes away from his.

"I hear what they do at school." His voice is cautious, as though he's scared to admit that he's caused me pain.

"I'm a big girl Brett, I can deal with it."

"You can only deal with so much." He point out and I purse my lips.

"Maybe."

"I keep saying it, but I truly am sorry Savannah." He says, taking another step towards me, "I don't blame you for not believing me."

"I've lost a huge part of my income."

"Savannah you're worth more than that place." He argues, frustration clear in his voice.

"I..."

"I don't want to upset you. I'm sorry." He cuts me off. "But I'm telling the truth. Some girls probably like working there, that's what they want to do." He continues, "Good for them." He throws his hands up, gesturing towards me. "But I know that you don't like it and you didn't want to be there. Hell, you won't even look up at anyone."

"But the money..."

"Doesn't make it worth it." He says softly and I bite my lip, looking down at my feet.

"It..."

"Savannah you are the smartest, most caring person I know. You can get through life without working somewhere you don't want to." He declares, my eyes widening at his words. Is he serious?

"You think?"

"Yes." He smiles, reaching up and brushing my cheek with his finger. "You're beautiful too."

"Shut up!" I pull my face away, dropping my head and letting my hair cover my blushing cheeks.

"Can't take a compliment can you?" He teases, placing a finger under my chin and lifting my head back up.

"My sister moved her boyfriend in." I blurt out, pulling away from his electric touch. Why did you just tell him that? No really, what is wrong with you Savannah? He doesn't even care, just look what happened last time...

"What?" Brett questions, cutting me off mid thought.

"That's why I was upset." I explain, grabbing hold of the sleeve on my black top and fiddling with it. "She didn't ask me what I thought or how I felt."

"You don't like him?"

"Not at all." I scoff, shaking my head at the thought of dirty, grinning Patrick.

"So you ran away?"

"I was getting some air." I snap and he holds up his hands in surrender.

"I'm sure she'll ask you what you think eventually."

"I thought so too." I agree as I shake my head. "But she doesn't normally do anything without asking me first, so I have no idea what's going through her head."

"Families are so confusing." He breathes out.

"Definitely." I nod in agreement. "I just wish I had more of one."

"Is it just you and Elle?"

"My Grandparents are dead." I confirm, "We have an Aunt, Lara. She moved to Europe to be with her boyfriend."

"I'm sorry..." He starts, his eyes filling with sympathy.

"Don't be." I shrug, "She's horrible." I smirk, "She told us off when we asked her for money and said we shouldn't have spent all our parents money so fast." I laugh sarcastically at the memory. "We used it for their funerals and the bills."

"What a bitch." He retorts and I can't help the smile that graces my lips as I look at him.

"Yep."

We descend into silence, the wind swirling around us as I think over how strange this situation is. I'm stood here, in Brett Winters' backyard, talking to him about my family problems and the strangest part is, I want him to know, I want him to care and I want to know more about him.

I bite my lip as I look at him through the curtain of hair covering my face. He's leaning against a tree, his face angled upwards as he looks up at the sky, his lips parted slightly and it's times like these I remember why he's the most popular guy in school. I've never seen anyone more attractive than Brett, anyone with a better killer smile, anyone that makes me shiver with anticipation as soon as they look at me, making me melt inside. He's perfect.

"Are you going to college?" The question slips out.

"I think so."

"What do you want to major in?"

"I don't know." He shrugs and I fight the urge to roll my eyes.

"Why am I not surprised?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" He questions, his eyes flashing at me as I shoot him a glare. "You really don't like me do you?" He questions, a small smile playing on his lips as he pushes himself away from the tree, striding towards me.

"Not really." I agree, smirking at him until he stops, the space left between us minimal.

"Are you sure?" He asks, his voice soft as he looks down into my eyes.

"Y...Yes."

"You don't know me." Brett whispers, his face only inches from mine.

"I know enough."

"Are you sure about that?" He hums, his arm brushing lightly against my side.

"Yes." I whisper in response, not daring to tear my eyes away from his as he leans closer to my face.

"Really?" He responds. His head is angled slightly to the side as his lips come even closer to mine, my heart racing faster than I ever knew was possible. My lips involuntarily part as he draws close, and before I know it, his lips are pressed against mine. The kiss starts slowly, his hand resting under my chin, his thumb caressing my cheek as I moan into his mouth, reaching around and running my fingers down his spine to pull him closer until there is no space left between us and I can feel the beating of his heart against my chest.

What are you doing, Savannah?

I quickly lift my arms, shoving against his chest, our lips disconnecting as he stumbles backwards. He regains his balance and smiles at me, reaching out to cup my face.

"I should go." I blurt out quickly, stepping back and turning away.

"Sav..."

"Don't," I snap. He stops in his tracks, not following me as I walk back towards his house as fast as I can.

Get me away from here.

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