You sure as hell have a lot of explaining to do, Jamie Roosevelt Becker," I said with a seriousness in my tone that would hopefully make him quiver.

"Oh, shit! I know I'm in trouble when you take my full name," he said.

"Threatening guys to stay away from me, really?"

"I can explain but I really don't want to. Look, those losers were never going to be good enough for you anyway. I did you a favor, so if you're expecting me to apologize, don't."

"You're fucking with me right now. There's a difference between looking out for me and controlling my life. You don't know how it felt all these years feeling undesirable. I was a bystander when my best friends fell in love. When you had your random hookups, I was alone. All I wanted was for someone to look at me like I put the stars in the sky for them at night, for someone to ignite a fire within me, for someone to care, and you took away my chance to have that," I said with a shaky breath and tears formed in my eyes.

"You know what? You did have someone who cared, dammit! Me, and I saved you from a heartbreak."

"I'd rather have loved and lost than have never loved at all."

I hung up the call. Jamie knew better than to bombard me when I'm upset. I sat down on my bedroom floor against my bed. Sure I might be overreacting a bit but I had my reasons to. I was always left craving for love and attention, probably because I never received any from the one person I should have.

I wonder if she was like a regular Mum, what she would have done now to comfort me? What advice would she have given to me? But that's all I could do - wonder.

"Layton, doll, are you alright? Can I come in?" I heard Joyce ask from outside my door. She most likely heard how I went off on Jamie

"Come in," I said.

As soon as she came in, she embraced me, "Do you need me to call your father?"

She wasn't sure if she was pushing her boundaries by asking me what was wrong, but this woman was a part of my family. I guess I needed to remind her more of that.

"No, you being here is more than enough."

My phone beeped and once I saw who had messaged me, a smile gleamed across my face.

"I'll leave you to it," Joyce smiled and exited the room.

It was Kiandre. Somehow he had gotten my number and beaten me to the first text. I wasn't complaining. My world seemed better because he was in it. I never thought I'd be saying that about someone I knew for a few days

"I just wanted to check up on you, Bellissima. Hope you don't mind that I got your number from Cass."

And just like that, we started talking about anything and everything. There's so much depth to Kiandre. He was not some hooligan from the South. His intellectual ability was evident throughout the conversation.

His kind, passionate and protective side came through when he spoke about his siblings, and dare I say, his light side when he subtly flirted.

The next morning at school and on successive days, Nigel, Jeremy and Kiandre started to join us. It was a nice change because our little family was expanding. Everyone was bringing their own unique brand of comforting weirdness.

Rose decided it was best we have the back to school party on Friday evening, so we wouldn't have to deal with in-school hangovers. Friday came and I was equally nervous and excited. Kiandre and I had been spending almost every moment together, if not in person then via texts or phone calls.

He was still a hated outcast to the majority of the school. I swear it had become his signature look, his leather jacket was some sort of shield, because every insult thrown at him slid right off, like water off a duck's back. He still kept his bad boy persona and dangerous vibe. Some feared him. Others looked down upon him, and I admired him.