CHAPTER 10:

It's a hot summer day, February the 5th. I'm sitting on a rock in my forest, the trees are all in
a perfect line, well the section where I'm looking. The shadows of the trees are perfectly next
to each other, not one over lapses another. The trees seem to stay still, not an ounce of wind
blowing them or making this day any cooler. But I needed to come here to get my thoughts
together, it is my escape after all. The grass is turning brown from the hot sun, it hasn't
rained in weeks and it needs to rain desperately.
I haven't seen Jake, Max, Tyler and Ruby in 2 weeks. They disappeared suddenly and it's as
if they aren't coming back. School isn't that bad with mr Carter there, other than that it's
extremely boring and even though I didn't even hang out with them before... I feel even more
lonely than I did. Mr Carter wasn't at school for 2 days due to the bad cold that's going
around, I was even more alone and I was looking around like a lost puppy because I had no
idea what to do.
Ever since the party incident, people have steered clear of hurting me in any way. They saw
what Jake did and how angry he had gotten, so now they are afraid that if they ends with
me, he will teach them a 'lesson' in his own ways.
I don't know who that guy was that tried to rape me, my parents have no clue what
happened that night. Only my brother knows and he swore an oath not to tell them, I don't
need them worrying and most importantly... no one wants to deal with the wrath of my scary
father.
As days pass, we think of Brock and how close it is to the day he's coming home. Well, he's
coming home February the 6th. Tomorrow. I can't seem to contain my excitement at seeing
my younger brother in less than 24 hours away. It's been 2 months since we last saw him
due to summer camp, he finished summer camp three days ago but mum and dad sent him
to the hospital to do the normal checkups he needs once in a while. His cancer has stayed
the same so far, it hasn't gotten worse but nearly all cancers is life threatening and it scares
me to death that I could loose him soon. I've prayed every night for him and any other
person in the world who is going through what he is, or some other kind of diseases and
sicknesses. But to me, God hasn't been answering prayers lately. Or never.
We can only pray for a miracle now.
##
"Nick, leave me alone," I repeat for the hundredth time, keeping my eyes closed behind my
sunglasses as I suntan on a beach chair in our pool area.
"What is it with you girls and suntanning? First of all, it causes skin cancer which we really
don't need to deal with Faye. Secondly, it's f**king hot as and we have a pool so you might
as well swim in it. Thirdly.... I have no third point," he finishes, I open my eyes and roll them
at him.
"I don't feel like swimming at the moment," I shrug and close my eyes again. Suddenly, my
body is lifted off the chair, swung over Nick's shoulder as he runs to the pool then dunked
under the freezing cold water when he jumps in. I kick him and scratch at him until he
releases me, I push off the ground and take a deep breath as I resurface from the water.
"You're a w**ker! You know that?!" I screech at him, doggy paddling towards the edge of the
pool.
He smirks cockily, "well I do wa-" I cover my ears before I can hear him finish his dreadful
sentence that I for one do not need to hear. I see him laugh which makes me scowl at his
putrid face.
Mum and dad appear from the house suddenly, smiles on their faces as they look at each
other laughing and making jokes. I look away from them and back towards Nick, "you will
pay for this."
He sticks his tongue out at me, so I do the natural thing. Flip him off. "Well we do love
walking out on such sibling love," dad jokes, mum chuckles and they both stare at us.
"He pushed me in the pool," I snitch on him. Nick glares at me, Mum stands in the pool while
dad holds her hand and watches her.
"We don't care who did what, we just want to relax and swim," mum replies and surges
through the water. Dad jumps in like a kid, the water lands on mums face making her go
under. She resurfaces and glares at him, dad carelessly laughs and then grins brightly at
her.
"Ooohhh! I have an idea! Let's play Marco Polo!" Dad exclaims excitingly, grabbing onto
mum and pulling her into his body. He's such a kid sometimes, I swear.
"Seriously dad?" Nick slaps his forehead then shakes it in horror.
"What? It'll be fun," he smiles innocently.
"Yeah Nick, don't ruin the family fun," I fake smile at him and pat his shoulder, he raises his
eyebrows at me and sighs.
"Fine, lets play Marco Polo."
##
"Tell anyone that I played Marco Polo and you're dead, I mean it Faye. Don't tell anyone," I
roll my eyes and walk away from him but he grabs my wrist before I can venture off to my
room. "Faye," he growls.
"What is wrong with you?! Are you afraid that people will know that you can have fun with
your family? That you are just a teenager that played a couple of round of Marco Polo with
his family? What the f*ck is wrong with you, who cares? I'm starting to think that you're more
insecure than me," I exclaim.
He scoffs, "no. People just don't deserve to know what goes on in my life."
I pull my wrist from him, glaring harshly. "Oh shut up Nick, stop threatening me for once and
leave me alone," I spit menacingly and walk away to my room. After slamming my door shut,
I jump on my bed and stare up at the ceiling, my phone rings.
"Hello?" The person on the other line says. Ruby...
"Ruby?" I question.
"Yes! I haven't seen you in forever girl! I've been so sick for the past two weeks, Max was
looking after me and eventually he got sick too," her excuse makes me suspicious.
"What's your excuse for Tyler and Jake then?" The line goes silent, she clears her throat.
"They went away."
"Where?" I fire back.
"It doesn't matter where, what's most important is that we are talking now! Hey, I was
wondering if you wanted to come sleepover at my house tonight? Bring togs," she says. Well
I have nothing better to do, so I might as well go.
"Okay, text me your address."
She squeals in excitement. "We are going to have so much fun! I'll see you soon," she hangs
up and I throw my phone on the bed. Togs... well since I'm wearing my swimmers now I'll just
keep wearing them and throw some clothes on over the top. I decide on just a summer dress
for this hot day. I pack my over night bag, including all my toiletries. I tell mum and dad
where I'm going and that I'll be home before Brock arrives tomorrow.
I open my car door and throw my bag in the backseat, I shut my door and start up the car
before driving off to the address Ruby had sent me after our call ended. The address leads
me to a massive house, similar to my parents; a mansion but white, people in suits
everywhere, a massive tennis court, a pool and other cool things. Is this Ruby's house?! It
doesn't really phase me that much due to my parents being rich and us living in a huge
home, but I'm shocked that someone has an equal wealth to my parents. It's exiting.
I drive up the driveway, looking to the sides briefly. Ruby comes running out as I park the car
and open the door, she hugs me tightly. "I've missed you so much!" She doesn't release me
until I start coughing because of the lack of oxygen I'm receiving. She releases me and I
grab my bag and close the door then lock the car.
"How have you been?" I ask softly.
She smiles at me,"not too good because I've been so sick but I feel much better now!" She
links her arm with mine and drags me inside. I look around, scowling my pace slightly as I
observe the mansion. Cream walls, plush leather black couches, massive televisions, marble
counter in the kitchen. Everything is so beautiful. She leads me upstairs to her room, I place
my stuff down and look around. It surprises me because it's not even girly at all like I thought
it would be. The walls are a plain white, the bed sheets are a browny colour and there's two
bedside tables, one has male stuff on it and the other has female stuff. I notice boxers on the
ground and I grimace, I don't really wanna sleep in a bed where she's most likely had sex
with Max over and over again. "This is my room, but you can sleep in a different room if you
want," I nod too eagerly which makes her laugh.
She leads me to another room, the walls are grey, the bed sheets are black and it smells like
male. I shrug off the feeling that I'm feeling and dump my bag on the ground, "I'm sleeping in
here tonight?"
"Yup," she says too eagerly for my liking. I narrow my eyes, feeling suspicious and she
laughs at me.
"Let's go for a swim before the boys get here," she says skipping off.
"Boys!?" I shriek.
##
"So tell me," she begins, making a jellyfish in the water. "Do you like anyone?" She wiggles
her eyebrows. My eyes widen slightly and I choke on absolutely nothing.
"N-no, Of c-course not," I stammer.
She scoffs and raises her brows, "you have to like somebody."
"I don't really talk to boys," I say quietly, feeling utterly embarrassed. She moves closer with
a small smile, I glare at her playfully. "Stop," I whine.
"Fine, you don't like anyone. Well, do you think any boy is hot?"
"Well obviously," I roll my eyes at her, she leans forward, intrigued.
"Who?" She demands, staring at me and waiting for an instant reply. I shrug at her, not sure
who to say. There's many hot guys, does that mean I need to say who all of them are? "Tell
me!" She pleads.
"I don't know," I say honestly.
She's about to open her mouth and say something but we are interrupted as the boys jump
into the pool, splashing loads of water on us and screaming like banshees but more manlier.
"Faye!" Tyler exclaims excitedly and swims over to me, squashing me in a bear hug. For
some reason, Jake growls but then clears his throat and shakes his head.
I grin, "hey guys."
"Wait, so it's your stuff that is in my room," Jake says in realisation. I gasp and my eyes
widen, I'm so glad I can't physically blush because I would be beet red right now. I can't
believe Ruby! I scowl at her while she looks at us innocently.
"That's your room?!" I exclaim, he nods. We both look towards Ruby, she looks at us
innocently which she is anything but innocent.
"You guys don't mind sharing a room do you? We are all out," She 'sadly' says.
"No we a-" Ruby slaps her hand over Max's mouth, shutting him up effectively. I see him
wince, she smiles at us.
"Well why can't I share a room with you, and Max can share a room with Jake?" I ask.
"Yeah, that's a good idea," Max says. "Like if it makes you feel comfortable, Faye," Max
quickly says when he sees the deadly look Ruby gives him. No it doesn't make me feel
comfortable knowing they've had heated sessions in there. I'm making Ruby change the
sheets.
"No it isn't!" Ruby says a little too loudly. "We're doing that thing tonight," she says.
"The thing?" Jake questions.
"Yes, the thing!" Ruby exclaims.
"What thing?" Tyler asks for all of us, what is Ruby on about and why does she wants me to
sleep with Jake so bad. I'll take the couch if I need to.
"Yeah, what thing Ruby," Max narrows his eyes in suspicion at his girlfriend.
"Um.... SEX! That's the thing! I promised you that new position, remember?" We all make
noises of discomfort, I grimace after she says this. My poor virgin ears.
"Seriously Ruby? In front of us?" Tyler shakes his head at her, feeling disgusted.
"I don't remember you promising that. I remember asking you if we could try a new position
but you got scared and-" she pinches his arm, cutting off his speech as she blushes
furiously. "Oh, right yeah we are trying that new position," he says too dramatically, nodding
strongly.
"Fine, I'll take the couch," I shrug.
"No! The dog peed all over it," Ruby waves her hand in front of her nose and makes a face.
"Then I'll sleep on another one," I offer.
"The dog peed on all of them, that naughty rascal. He just loves claiming them couches,"
she clicks her fingers. I sigh, slowly accepting defeat. "Let's play a game!" Ruby breaks the
tension that she caused in the first place, Tyler claps his hands excitedly.
"What game!?" He exclaims.
"7 minutes in heaven," Ruby smirks. "I get first pick who gets chosen," she says.
"That's not how it works Ruby," I trail off, she simply waves me off and gives the boys a hard
glare to not disagree with her.
"It's my rules tonight!" I sigh, I know what she's going to do. I have a bad feeling about this,
I've kissed guys before but never made out with one. The last time I kissed a guy was a year
ago and that was only because we literally ran into each other and he fell back and I landed
on him. Our noses clashed which caused a bleeding nose from me and a broken nose to
him. It was not good at all, it was so embarrassing. Plus, when I do kiss guys it's a small light
peck. To say my heart was racing only a little would be an understatement.
"Ruby," Jake growls in warning, knowing where this is going. We aren't dumb or oblivious to
the fact that she's going to make Jake and I kiss.
"I choose Jake and Faye!" She claps her hands together excitedly and waits for us to be
excited too. When we aren't, she frowns.
"No," Jake says, I look away too embarrassed to say a thing. I don't want to kiss anyone. But
I can't help but think if there's something wrong with me. Why would someone as hot as him
want to kiss somebody like me?
"Fine, then Faye and Tyler," my eyes widen and I stare at her, what is her game? What is
she trying to succeed in all of this? I should get a choice, so should he.
"No," Jake growls, shocking us all except Ruby. She knew this would happen, it's as if she's
psychic.
"No?" She says, gazing at him with curious eyes. Max grabs her hand and gives her a
warning look, she shrugs it off and ignores whatever he says. "Why can't she make out with
Tyler, Jake?" He clenches his jaw, this isn't only affecting him but it's affecting me too.
"Ruby," I say sternly. "Stop it," I plead, she ignores my plea and stares at Jake.
"Okay I change my mind, Jake and Faye then," Ruby grins like a sadist. She pulls us up and
points to the house, "the timer will be on when when you walk through that door."
Jake, having had enough of Ruby pulls me out of the pool and drags me inside. "Jake, we
aren't actually doing this right?" I ask feeling uncomfortable as I look around the house, I
look at his hand that is still grabbing my wrist and he pulls me closer to him.
"You secretly want to," he whispers in my ear. I look at his face, dark brown eyes, squared
jaw, his usual curly hair is damp but yet the curls still seem to appear. He's so tall and
serious most of the time, he's handsome and sexy. Wait, why did I just think all of that? I'm
also staring at him.
"You don't know what I want," I whisper.
"Hm, I think I do princess. I can tell because you just spent forever staring at me," he winks
playfully.
"You hate me," I say, he releases my wrist and instead puts his hand on my hip and grips it
slightly. But not hard so it isn't painful.
He frowns at me, "I don't hate you Faye. How can I hate you of all people?" He tucks a
strand of hair behind my ear and leans closer slightly.
"What do you mean by that?" I whisper almost breathlessly.
His eyes are sparkling, "You're kind, you don't have a bad bone in your body, you're
beautiful. You don't realise who wants you." My breath hitches and I move impossibly closer
to him.
"Who wants me?" I close my eyes, I feel him moving closer. This moment is perfect, not a
distraction that will happen. But his body heat disappears and he releases my body quickly, I
feel myself turning cold. He had crumbled down one of my walls and I already regret giving
him that power because I'm left disappointed. I open my eyes and look at him, I hear
shouting outside- mostly Ruby cussing him out and I know they were watching. He's gone
tense and cold, he's stopped showing me the sensitive part of him. I know he's afraid, but so
am I.
I feel hurt and rejected, but I don't say anything. I let my insecurities eat at me, how could I
think that he actually wanted to kiss me? Why am I so foolish? He looks at me, I try to hide
my hurt face but I must be bad at hiding emotions as his eyes widen and he moves closer to
me. "Don't touch me...." I say quickly. "Please," I add.
He lets me walk away from him, why am I feeling so hurt? I shouldn't care, I told myself that I
would stop caring. But I always seem to care too much. I hate caring, it sucks. He can hide
his emotions so easily, how can he do that? I can't. Hi