I arrived at school in good time, and was met by Audrey who was just parking her car in the parking lot.

"Hey girlfriend, what's up?", she bounced up to me a smile on her face. She was dressed in a short pink dress with white heel and had on pink lipstick which I found so shocking. My friend seems to be fading into a different person who I cannot recognize, and I'm not sure if I like it. However, I have really missed my bff, so I smile at her as she hugs me, and try to hide my wince as she touches my back.

"What's wrong with you?", she questions, and I know that she noticed me wincing.

"I fell, and hit my back on the...sidewalk", I lie smoothly. I always tell her something like this, and I think she suspects that I'm lying, but she never presses me too much about it.

"Soo... how are you and Mr Reyes doing these days", she asks with a knowing smile as we start walking beside each other to the school building. I am glad at the turn of events, and before I know it, I'm telling her all about Sunday lunch with him.

"No way, you got to lunch with Xavier Reyes? I am so jealous", she teases while pushing me.

"Well at least you get to hang out with people at your job. I feel so lonely at my place of work."

Audrey laughs. "Yeah, I guess I am really lucky. I get to hang out with the cheerleaders and it's so cool. I'm already one of their group now", she says and she begins to tell me how she and the cheerleaders had teased one of the ninth grade members of the chess club.

"It was so hilarious", she laughed. "The dude looked like he was going to pee his pants."

I don't laugh though, because I don't find it really funny. I am about to say so, when Audrey speaks again.

"OMG, I almost forgot. Your turning eighteen in two days' time", she practically squeals, and I smile. I almost thought that she had forgotten.

"So are we going to hang out at the arcade again this year?", I ask. Ever since Audrey and I met, which was when I transferred to this school in tenth grade, we've had a birthday tradition of visiting the arcade.

"Actually, I'm thinking of something different this year. I want us to..."

But at that moment, the cheerleaders come up, and Audrey practically pushes me in her haste to run over to them.

I am left standing alone in the hallway.

***

School was extremely stressful because our last year exams are coming up in a few months, and the teachers really want us to do well. I was glad when I the bell finally rang to signal the end of English Lit. Now I could get off to work to see Xavier.

Xavier

A pit suddenly appeared in my stomach as I recalled his words from Sunday.

Candace, you should steer clear of me. I'm not the man for you

I had never been rejected before, mainly because I have never been outgoing or tried to pursue anyone. Like ever. Xavier was the first guy that I really liked and his rejection hurt me more than the welts on my back.

I made my way to the parking lot where Jordan was waiting for me, and we rode on in silence till we reached Xavier's company – I mean what could we say to each other.

I made my way to my office without any incident, but just as I sat down, Linda burst in, and I could tell that she had been crying.

"Omg what's wrong Linda?", I asked in concern, though I had a sneaking suspicion about the cause of her tears, and I was proved right with her next words.

"I went to Jordan's place on Sunday night to surprise him and caught him having sex with some random guy who we met at the event on Saturday".

Even though I expected this, I still gagged a bit – this is often Jordan's pattern – he finds it so difficult to hang on to just one person and he has lost so many potential partners because of this, but I didn't expect him to do the same to Linda, who is really nice and sweet.

"I am so sorry that he did that to you Linda. Jordan's a nice guy but he has a bit of trouble when it comes to being faithful."

"Yeah I found that out the hard way", Linda sniffed, sarcastically. "I guess we both have bad luck with men huh?", she asked.

"What do you mean?", I asked, startled.

"Well I've got Jordan who apparently can't be faithful in a relationship, and you've got Mr Reyes".

I stare at her in shock.

"I saw you both kissing at the gala on Saturday", she goes on. "I don't know what's happening between you two, and when I asked Jordan, he said that it was 'complicated'".

I am still silent as she goes on. "Look, I don't know what is going on, and I won't ask if you don't want me to, but I feel like we're in the same boat here."

I smile at that. "Jordan really likes you", I say. "He has really bad habits and he needs to quit them. I'll have to have a serious one on one with that guy.", she laughs a bit as I ball up my fists.

"Thanks for being here for me Candy, you're a really good friend". She hugs me tight, and practically destroys my back, and I almost cry out in pain.

"It's no problem Linda", I croak.

I turn to go out, but she stops me.

"Oh Candy, I almost forgot. A magazine column wanted to write an article on Mr Reyes, so they left the questions so that his P.A could get the answers and send them over."

"Does that mean that..."

"Yes you have to interview him", she hands me a sheet of paper. "here are the questions. Good luck".

I groan as I walk out of my office and across the hall to Xavier's. I knock on the door. Maybe he isn't in, I hope.

Fat chance.

"Come in", I hear him say in his cool calm tone.

Shoot

I gently open the door and step in.

He looks up from his work and I see surprise cross his face when he sees me, so I rush to speak.

"Umm... I was supposed to interview you for a magazine but I can see that you're busy so..."

"Actually, I just finished landing a deal so I'm free for a while", his voice is cold and impersonal, like he's trying to hide any emotion possible.

"Sure", I say and sit down. There is silence in the office. Awkward.

"We both clear our throats at the same time. Even more awkward.

"What's the name of the magazine", Xavier asks suddenly.

"Huh?", I say. I have impressive vocabulary when I'm nervous.

"The magazine that you're interviewing me for.", he explains. "What's their name"

"Oh their called", I look at the paper, "top ten. You're to be featured in the top ten bachelors section"

Xavier sighs. "Let's get this over with quickly"

Is it just me or does he seem to want me out of his office as soon as possible?

"Ok", I say and look at the list of questions.

"What is your ideal date?", I ask.

"I don't date"

"Well we can't write that so try to come up with an idea for an ideal date."

"What's your ideal date?", he throws the question back at me.

I ponder for a while.

"Nothing fancy, maybe just a picnic or a trip to a non-fancy restaurant, where I can talk to a guy and get to know him."

Xavier thinks for a while. "Write that down. My ideal date is a picnic"

I roll my eyes at him for stealing my ideal date but write it down all the same.

"Next question", I say, "What is your favorite flower?"

"I don't like flowers. What's your favorite flower Miss Greene?"

"Daffodils", I respond before I can catch up and I glare at him, while he gives me a smile in return.

"Write that down. My favorite flower is a daffodil."

Fine. If he wants to do it that way, two can play at this game.

I move on to the next question.

"Describe your ideal woman. Well we already know you're into blondes so that's a no brainer."

He looks at me in surprise. "What do you mean?"

I scoff impatiently. "You always have some blond hanging around you. It's all over the internet."

Xavier doesn't say anything, so I move on to the next question.

"Have you ever been in love?"

"No", he answers sharply, too sharply.

"Come on", I press on, teasingly. "If you fell in love there's no shame in it. Its..."

"I said no. Shut up and drop it."

I flinch at his hard tone and the venom in his voice.

There is a long silence, before I finally break it.

"I'm sorry", I say. "I think I should go now."

I get up, and I'm about to leave when Xavier rushes up to me, and drags me back, so that I fall on him. He places his hand on my back to steady me, and I wince in pain.

"What's wrong?", Xavier asks, setting me back on my feet.

"I fell and hurt my back", I say quickly. Too quickly. Xavier's eyes narrow and I know that he knows that I am lying.

"Take off your sweater now Candy", he says in a stern voice.

"What?", I ask horrified. "You can't just ask me to..."

"I am not asking, I'm ordering. Take it off now.", he orders, voice stiff. He looks so annoyed so, to pacify him, I turn around so that my back faces him and take off my sweater. Underneath is a simple t- shirt and Xavier lifts up the hem of it. The moment he gasps I know that he has seen the scars.

"How long has it been going on", he asks, still examining my back.

"Not that long", I say edgily.

"You're supporting them? Why? This is so wrong. How dare anyone hit you instead of treating you like the princess that you are?"

I resist the urge to blush at the compliment.

"They would never hurt me badly", I defend. "They do it for my own good."

"Havre you ever told anyone about this, Candy?", Xavier asks, obviously annoyed.

"I've told Jordan but he..."

"He knows and he's never done anything?", Xavier almost yells. I have never seen him so uncontrolled. He is always so calm and proper but right now, he looks younger and I like that.

"I am not going to report this yet", Xavier says, regaining composure.

I breathe a sigh of relief, but Xavier is not done talking.

"I am not going to report this, but you are going to allow my driver to pick you up from school every day and drop you off every day too."

"Jordan already does that", I protest.

"I don't trust him with you. If he has known all this while and hasn't done anything, then I don't approve of him."

"I don't need your approval", I growl. "You have no right to try to control my life or my friends"

"You will do as I say, Candy. It's not open to discussion."

I glare at him.

"Fine."

I storm out of his office, and go to my own shutting the door hard behind me.

It's only after thirty minutes of sulking that I realize I didn't finish the interview. With a sigh, I start to fill in the answers on my own.