"Golden Child, Lion boy, tell me what it's like to conquer."

************

Six months later...

Lilly's POV

I was close. So close.

Wind whipped through around me, hot and hard, the sun blazing down from over-head. I increased my grip on the throttle, ticking it back a little more as I eased into the endpoint of the trackway. The engine warbled deep as I set a cautious but still a fast pace.

An unstoppable smile crawled up my lips as I took a turn and halted the bike to a stop where everyone else was waiting for us. Adrenaline still pumped into my veins as I climbed off and took the helmet from over my head.

I leaned against the bike and crossed my arms over my chest as I waited for Louis, who a minute later arrived with his bike. My eyebrow raised when he went off and shot me a hard glare, "This didn't just happen!"

"You mean me beating you?" I questioned proudly, "Oh yeah, I think it did."

He looked around in frustration, "How in the hell-?" He rushed a hand over his face, "I can't believe this."

Christian chuckled, pretty much impressed as he walked closer to me, "That's my girl," He mumbled, pressing a kiss to my temple as his arm wrapped around my waist and pulled me closer.

I couldn't hide the excitement from being expressed all over my face and I leaned into him. Louis kicked his bike, "Unbelievable," He mumbled, being a sore loser as always.

Stacy laughed and pretended to soothe him, "It's okay, we won't tell anyone."

He shot her a glare before he looked back at me, "This isn't over, little one," He pointed his hand at me, "I will beat you next time."

I waved my hand, dismissing him and calling out his bluff, "I won, so as we agreed, you will be wearing the clown tie to work for the next two weeks," I added, my eyebrow raising, challenging and reminding him of our bet.

He let out a fake cry, "Oh, I am so screwed."

I chuckled, imagining him attending the business meetings with the clown tie, oh, the next weeks are gonna be so much fun. With his shoulders slumped down, he walked away in defeat and Stacy followed him, adding to his misery with her mockery.

Well, he deserved it, his ego didn't make him think for once that I am good enough to beat him.

I looked up at Christian, who was already staring back at me, pride and amusement danced in his beautiful eyes, "You were great out there," He commented and I shrugged, "Well, I had a good teacher."

His smile grew wider and his gaze flickered down to my jacket then back to my eyes, he gave me a knowing look and the side of his lip pulled up in a smirk, "You look so damn hot right now," He commented, casually addressing the motorcycle hoodie he had bought for me today.

I narrowed my eyes playfully at him before I tiptoed and pressed my lips to his in a quick kiss.

It was a black hoodie with armor, it had a white stripe over the sleeves, accompanied by blue lines, he knows it's my favorite color. The pattern of the jacket matched the ones on the helmet and the boots.

It's was a set, a one I had my eyes on from before and was going to buy since I've been riding down Christian's bike almost every week. But he beat me to it and gifted it to me today as my birthday present.

My birthday is not till Monday, but Christian will have a project submission that day, so as not to miss out, today he brought me to Motocross and everyone else was here for a little surprise gathering to celebrate my existence.

I wasn't expecting and it felt like such a thoughtful gesture from his side, but that's who Christian is, behind the playboy exterior and the strict professor he pulls at school, he is so thoughtful, about every single thing that includes me.

The past six months were great in a way, he made them so. He made me see a side of him I didn't think existed. He was caring, he was so sweet at times, and never once did we fight or even disagree on any matter. Just like I expected at the beginning, his mind and mine are the same, we have the same thoughts, same ideas, and the same fire is coursing through our veins.

He gave me exactly what I wanted, the reason I came here for. To feel free, independent, liberated, and to discover the parts of me I never knew existed. He helped in each and every one of them.

I zoned back in when he tucked my hair behind my ear, his thumb gently brushed my cheek, "I will park the motor and be back, okay?" He said and I nodded, the excitement today held still coursing through my veins. He leaned in and gave my lips another soft peck before he took off to park the bike in his assigned lot.

I headed back to where we were all sitting at the beginning of the day, but neither Louis nor Stacy were in sight. Sitting on the chair by the table was only Joe. I pulled into a deep breath before I sat down on the one far away from his, exhaustion pressing down at my muscles as the adrenaline slowly left my body. Joe's eyes flickered to me for a mere second before he looked back at his phone, totally not acknowledging my presence.

I nervously bit at my lower lip as I stared at him, debating whether I should just ask as to what the hell is his problem with me. He is always like this, whenever I am around, he doesn't even care to hide his annoyance, he barely speaks or directs a word toward me and if ever left alone, he just ignores my presence.

"Did I ever do something to you?" I couldn't stop the words from leaving my mouth, getting fed up with his unnecessary attitude, which only has got worse over the past weeks.

He looked up from his phone and his eyebrow raised, unsatisfied with my tone, "I can't help but notice that you don't like my presence." I added.

He straightened his body in his seat, that same look clouding his dark brown eyes and he nodded, "It's because I don't."

My eyes grew a bit wide, taken aback by his straightforwardness, I still thought that he would deny it and I am probably just reading too much into it, "Why?" I asked, shocked.

He shook his head and turned his attention back to his phone, "You won't get it."

My eyebrows pulled closer and I stood up, offended, "No, I need to know why, because I didn't do anything to you," I said, stepping forward, "From the first day I started to hang out with you guys, you've been treating me like this, I thought it was just the way you are, but apparently you have a problem with me and I want to know why."

My challenging tone had him getting up to his feet as well, "I do have a problem with you and with your presence in our lives, a big problem actually," He took a threatening step forward, "What are you gonna do about it?"

Something about the darkness in his eyes or the venom dripping in his tone had me take a step backward, "You should've stayed away, Lilly," There was a warning in his tone, or maybe a threat, I didn't get it.

My eyebrows pulled closer, and before I could comprehend his words, he added more, taking another step forward and crowding me, "You are just so damn naive," He added and my heart dropped into my stomach, from fear maybe, it's just everything about the energy radiating off him felt threatening.

Before I could talk to defend myself, a hand over Joe's shoulder pulled him away from me. Flustered, my gaze drifted to Christian's angry eyes as they held Joe with a smoldering stance, "Back off, Joe," He said, his words measured and the muscle of his jaw ticked.

Joe scoffed and shook his head, he took a step backward and that's when I noticed that both Louis and Stacy were back. Confusingly, Stacy's eyes fell on her boyfriend, feeling the tension building up around us, she asked, "What's wrong?"

Joe rushed a hand over his face, as if trying to control himself, while Christian said, his anger barely contained, "I don't know what the hell is his problem with Lilly," He threatened, "You stay away from her!"

Joe's jaw ticked and his eyes flickered to me for a full second, he gave me a look I didn't understand before he turned back to Christian, "You're gonna regret this," He said to him and I didn't understand a single thing, "And when you do, don't come back crying to me."

With that, he turned around, "Let's go," his hand curled around Stacy's wrist, pulling her away with him, making sure he said one more thing before he left, "I am done with this."

Louis's eyes flickered from Joe's retreating back to Christian, whose tensed back was to me now. Louis pointed at them, "I'll just...I'll go see what's wrong," He mumbled and scurried away.

I moved forward, my gaze on Christian, checking him. The look in his eyes felt so foreign and the muscles of his jaw worked, his whole being radiating with anger and his hands curled into a fist on the sides, his knuckles turning white. I've been through all of Christian's moods by now, but anger wasn't one of them.

My hand moved to his, trying to shake him back to me. His gaze immediately left where they all walked to and fell on my face. A low breath parted his lips and his eyes softened before a few lines etched his eyebrows in worry, "Did he say anything to you?" He asked, resting a hand over my face, "I don't get what his problem sometimes, I am sorry he had to ruin this day," He shook his head and his throat bobbed heavily, "I wanted to make it special in a way but..."

I shook my head, "It's not your fault, I just," I shrugged, "I still don't understand a thing he said."

I swallowed past the anxiety tightening my throat, "What did he mean when he said that you'll regret it?" It felt like he meant Christian will regret me, or meeting me or something, I just don't get why...what does he have against me?

Christian's gaze was as clueless as mine, "I didn't get it either," His hand moved down the length of my arm till it reached my hand, his warm big hand wrapped over mine and he brought to his lips and pressed a sweet kiss over my knuckles, "Nevermind him, I will talk with him later and figure out his problem," He pulled me closer, "Let's not make him ruin this day."

I nodded as Christian's arms wrapped around my body, pulling me closer, I wounded my arms around his back and rested my cheek over his chest feeling his heart beat so fast, and so hard before I felt him press a soft kiss over my head and he mumbled, all excitement gone, "Happy birthday, Lilly."

***************

I stared at my reflection in the bathroom mirror as I brushed my wet hair, my mind lost over-analyzing today's event, still unable to understand anything. Joe's words to me, his words to Christian, his unexplained hatred toward me...why? What did he mean by me being naive, or by his threat that I should've stayed away?

Did I do something I am not aware of? Because even Christian didn't seem to understand Joe and his hostile attitude toward me.

From the mirror, I saw how Christian peeked his head inside the bathroom, his eyebrows pulled together before he walked inside, "Why didn't you wait for me?" He asked, with a fake pout, addressing how I took a shower alone.

A small smile curved my lips and I just shook my head, my thoughts too jumbled for me to have a decent conversation at the moment. His arms came from behind and wrapped around my waist before I felt him dip his head into my neck, his lips left a kiss here and a kiss there before he took a huge gulp of air, "Hmm, you smell so good," He commented, looking at me through the mirror.

My eyebrow raised, "Well, I used your body wash, mine was finished."

His chest vibrated with a low chuckle, "Remind me to buy one when I go out tomorrow," he said and I nodded.

Given the fact that Christian is very busy during the day with his lectures, projects, and university work, and I am also busy with my courses and exams, we rarely see each other during the day, sometimes a few glances in the corridor if my class is in his building and sometimes none at all. So, to compensate, I sleep half of the weekdays at his place, we spend the nights together and the weekends are only ours. So, by now, half of my belongings are here at his place; clothes, shampoos, makeup,...etc.

Sally gets so annoyed at the fact and I keep trying to balance between the part of my life that doesn't include Christian and the part that does.

I placed the brush down and my hand landed over Christian's arm around me, my fingers tracing the tattoo that I still don't get, "What is this word?" I asked, trying to understand the letters curved over his skin in cursive.

He pointed at the first letter, "This is L, and E, O, and N," He explained, "Leon," He rested his chin over my shoulder and he said, "It means lion."

My eyebrows pulled closer, confused at his usage of this specific word.

Christian's gaze met mine through the mirror, "My dad used to call me that," He explained, a very faint smile curled his lips, "He used to call me his little lion, or lion boy."

That alone had my heart warming in a weird way, it's like what dad calls me, his little bug.

From all the animals, he really chose bugs. I'll never understand why he calls me that, but it's something that's only ours, and just hearing it coming out of his mouth makes me feel safe.

The thought had my chest tightening, because Christian doesn't have that, not anymore.

I rubbed my hand over his arm, soothingly, "Do you miss them?" I asked, my voice low. It's been so long since they died, but I can imagine how much it would still hurt.

He gulped down and nodded, "Every day."

Hurt at his word and tone tightened my eyebrows and I turned my head around to meet his, "I am so sorry," I mumbled, feeling at a loss of words, "It feels so unfair," For me to have my parents while he lost his.

He gave me a light shrug, "That's life," His eyes looked deep into mine and he nodded, "It's very unfair."

*****************

After Christian took his shower, we went to bed, and almost immediately he fell asleep. He's been working really hard all over the past week, he was pulling on late hours at night to finish working on his project, even tomorrow which is Sunday, he will go to the university, to finish up a few things before his big presentation on Monday comes.

So, the moment he placed his head on the pillow, he was a gone case.

Me, on the other hand, I couldn't sleep at all. I kept thinking back to today's little incident, something just felt off, but for the love of me, I can't figure it out.

Minutes and minutes later and a low groan vibrated from my chest, annoyed at my tired body that won't just rest and sleep.

My back was to Christian, pressed right up against his chest and his arm was under me. I smiled again when I stared at his tattoo and finally understood the word written, but still on the inside of his arm and around the word laid different patterns, intertwined together and covering the real skin underneath.

I let my finger wander, curiously tracing the unknown complicated patterns. I started from the inside of his arm, where his elbow is and then I went down, midway through my little discovery, and I paused my finger's movement when I felt a small bump under my fingertips. It was barely noticeable and confusingly, I let my finger go back, running over it again, and trying to understand what it is.

My pulse took off a sprint when my finger went further down and more similar little bumps hit my fingertips, my breathing fastened as I reached his wrist and felt more of them there, much more. The familiar feeling of them had my eyes widening in pure shock and knocked all the oxygen from my lungs.

Oh my god.

I tried to look closer, maybe I could see them, but no, the tattoo covered them all. I pressed my eyes shut almost immediately, realizing that the main reason for this tattoo is...to cover them up.

I couldn't wrap my mind about what I just found, for the second time in my life. I couldn't grasp the thought that both my father and Christian have similar scars over their wrists.

I couldn't understand why.

I carefully turned my head to look at Christian and found him still fast asleep, his face so relaxed and peaceful, unaware of what I just discovered. My fingers stayed over his wrist, still feeling the scars underneath my touch and for some unknown reason, as the incident brought in me a very familiar feeling, a lone tear escaped past my eye.

****************

Next day...

I paced around the living room, my steps anxious and nervous. My mind going on a loop of what to say and how to say it and if I am even supposed to say it.

I have to, I should talk about it, if I don't talk to him about this, I will explode.

I didn't sleep at all, I couldn't do anything all day long as I waited for him to get back. My thoughts occupied with the feeling of his scars underneath my fingertips.

I never talked to dad about this, and that left a bitter weird feeling in my chest, a one I can't rid myself of. I could never get myself to ask it, talk about it and hear his answer, I never will be able to.

But, I don't want to do that with Christain. If I don't talk, this won't leave my mind or heart ever.

I heard the apartment's door being opened and I immediately paused in my steps, nervousness multiplied against my chest and my knees felt so weak, they almost buckled. I pulled into a deep calming breath, and tried to clear my mind as Christian made his way to the living room.

Breath in, Lilly. Breath out.

When his eyes fell on me, a smile curved his lips, "Hey, baby," He said as he placed down the laptop's bag and stepped toward me.

I gulped down, my stomach tightened into a hundred million knots, and couldn't get myself to offer him even a smile as he leaned closer and gave me a small gentle kiss.

When he backed away, his eyebrows pulled closer, and confusion etched lines at his forehead, "Are you okay?" He asked, noticing my out-of-the-ordinary state, and rested his hand over my arm.

I gulped down, getting myself ready to just face it, I looked away for a second, gathering some courage before I settled my eyes back on his and seriously said, "We need to talk."

My tone or maybe my words had him dropping his hand away. He took a step backward, and something akin to fear flashed in his eyes as he mumbled, "You're breaking up with me, aren't you?"

"What?" I asked and shook my head, my tone assuring, "No, no, why would I do that?"

He let out a long breath, "Oh thank god, you scared me for a second."

I shook my head, shaking that thought away, and took his hand in mine, "Let's...let's sit down first," I lead his way and sat down, making him sit beside me. I kept my hand over his, taking reassurance from his touch as I explained, "I know that I probably don't have the right to talk about this or even interfere in something private but..." I licked my dry lips and added, "But if I don't, I know myself, I will just be making things worse for both you and me and I've seen...or been through something like this before, and not talking about it destroyed me, so-"

Christian stared back at me, his gaze pure clueless and very confused, "Lilly, what is it?" He asked, tightening his hold over my hand, "Just tell me, it's okay."

I swallowed hard and my gaze fell on his arm, "I felt them last night, the..." I looked back at his eyes, "The scars over your wrist and forearm."

My words were like a slap to his face. Shock and something else entirely flashed in his gaze, darkening the grey in his eyes, like it's the last thing he ever expected me to ask or even talk about. He hid them for a reason, so he wouldn't have to ever mention them again, but here I am, opening up old scars.

His throat bobbed heavily and he retreated his hand away from my touch, he opened his mouth to say something but he pressed it shut again and rubbed a hand over the back of his neck.

"I know that I am crossing a boundary and I am so sorry, Christian," I said, "But just answer one question," Worry pressed over my chest, "Do you...do you still do it?"

He immediately shook his head, "No, no," He rushed a hand over his face, "It was a long...a long time ago, I was young, I never did it again."

I rubbed a hand over my chest, trying to blunt the ache pressing there, "Why?" I asked, over a whisper.

He looked at me and for the first time, his eyes reflected a type of weakness I didn't know existed in him, "It was after..." he paused and raked his shaking hand in his hair, trying to contain himself, "It was after they died, I wasn't in a very great place mentally."

His words or the broken boy I saw in his eyes had me inching closer to him, I took his hand in mine and on a hoarse whisper, I talked, "I am so sorry," I shook my head and he stared back at me, "So sorry you had to go through that, I am so sorry I talked about it now even, and I just...I mean..."

I felt at a loss for words. His eyebrows pulled closer and he wiped at my cheek, "Why are you crying?" He asked in a breathless whisper and that's when I felt them, dripping down on my cheek.

I shook my head, "I don't know," I mumbled and more tears fell. It was a weakness, this topic made me feel so weak, it left me bewildered at how someone as outgoing and free as Christian and as my...my dad would ever do something like this.

I wasn't crying just for Christian, I was crying for whatever made my dad do it. For realizing that I'll never know why. That I don't want to even think that inside my dad lays a broken boy like this, that a little dark side of him existed.

I felt Christian's arms around my body, pulling me to him, "Lilly, don't cry," He mumbled in my hair, "It's okay," He said and cupped my face in his hand, "I am fine," He offered me a small somber smile, and brushed the tears from over my skin away.

"You said that..." Confusion tightened his brows, "You said that you've seen something like this before," He questioned, "Who?"

My heart beat a thousand emotions against my chest, "My dad."

He looked a bit taken aback by my answer, "And did you know why?"

I shook my head, "I don't want to know."

Christian nodded in understatement and his head tilted a bit to the side, "You know, you give everyone that hard exterior at first," A smile lifted his lips, "Like the girl who called me jackass when she first met me," His eyebrow raised, "But inside, you are so very soft."

It is something in me that I don't like. It just proves that this inside is easily breakable.

"You're soft for those who you really care about, which makes you pretty amazing, Lilly," He added, contradicting some of my thoughts. I don't feel amazing, because deep down, the guilt in my chest makes me feel that I've built my current happiness, this happiness over someone else's heartbreak.

He pulled me closer, shaking those thoughts out of my head, "You're everything I was looking for," He said before he pressed his lips over mine, "I am so glad I found you," He mumbled into my lips and I wrapped my arms around his neck, kissing him back with the same intensity to rid myself of the bruise over my chest, the one these scars have left years and years ago.

The little kiss turned into more, with me tugging on his clothes and him taking off mine. His arms wrapped around me and took us to his bedroom, our bodies still being pulled to each other with a feverish attraction, just like day one.

It wasn't till very recently that I noticed it wasn't just a matter of physical attraction any more. A small place in my heart had started beating for Christian, and as small as that place is, it terrified me.

The night took over fast and midnight came, Christian was laying over his back, with me pressed to his side, laying over my stomach as my fingers fluttered over his chest, drawing random patterns.

He brought his hand to my hair, removing it away from my face, "Lilly," He said, his voice low and a bit intense.

My gaze flickered to his face, his beautiful face, and his breathtaking eyes. I loved how their color changed, flickered between light blue and grey. Now, they were pure grey, and they adoringly stared back at me. Everything about him was so perfect. Inside out. It's like he always knew the right thing to say, and the right thing to do.

He didn't for once disappoint me, with a hurtful word or even a hurtful action.

He tucked my hair behind my ear and his next whispered words, though not hurtful, they hurt me, "I think I am falling in love with you."

I froze, but before I could express my shock all over my face, his hand went to my neck, pulling me closer till his lips pressed over mine, silencing any words I was going to say or the words that I wasn't.

*****************

Monday

"I should head out now," I said as I took the last sip of my martini and placed it down.

"Oh come on, it's your birthday, stay a bit late," Sally whined, and I only shook my head in return. I checked the time and calculated the time difference between us and LA, "I should head back home, I've got a pretty important call to make."

"It's Mr. boyfriend, isn't it?" Sally asked, purposely not mentioning his name in front of our other friends, "I mean you were with him all over the past week," She scoffed, very annoyed, "You already celebrated together, today is supposed to be only ours!"

Since I've already celebrated my birthday with Christian, tonight I agreed to Sally's proposition to go out and have some fun, with some of our other girl-friends from class, who also brought their boyfriends. I also asked Noah to join us, so we were not a very little group at the moment.

I shook my head, gathering my things into my purse, "It's not Christian," I hissed at her, so no one else would hear, "It's a much more important person."

"And I've been with you all day long," I remarked, calling off her over-dramatic attitude, "And I'll see you back at home, you stupid."

I thanked everyone else for this sweet night and gave Sally a big kiss on the cheek, for being the amazing friend who arranged this gathering before I bid my goodbye.

Noah got to his feet as well and followed me, "You had a couple of drinks, I didn't, so let me drive you back home," He said, pulling on a strict personality that so much reminds me of my over-protective dad.

I shook my head, "I am not drunk, but I am not going to drive anyway," I said, "I will just take a Taxi, you stay here, you don't have to leave when I leave."

He nodded, "Yes, I do, now, let's go."

I shook my head, "No, stay." I ordered, "Look, it's a chance in a lifetime for you now," I added, wiggling my eyebrows and sending him an indirect message.

His eyebrows pulled closer, "What do you mean?"

I rolled my eyes, "Oh come on," I pointed back at the crowd, specifically at Sally, "I am not blind, I know you like her, so go sit beside her, make a move, do something!"

He looked a bit taken aback by my observation, but over the past months, I noticed his not-so-obvious looks toward her, and the way she makes him so very nervous. The three of us hang out together quite a lot, and if I am not with Christian, I am usually with them.

I am not sure if Sally looks at him as just a friend or more, I am gonna have to check on that sometime later but I like Noah quite a lot. He and Sally are the closest friends I have over here. I know I can trust and depend on them in everything.

I noticed Noah's hard swallow and he shook his head, "No, it doesn't matter anyway," He mumbled and nodded toward outside, "Let's go."

I narrowed my eyes at him, "If you don't go and sit with her, I am gonna go right now and tell her how much you like her," I threatened, making his eyes widen a bit.

"Lilly," He stressed out.

My eyebrow raised, "Noah," I stressed out as well.

He sighed and I pushed at his arm, "Go and sit with them, I am a big girl, I can take myself home."

Without waiting to hear him object more, I turned around and made my way out of the bar. I pulled into a deep breath when the cool air hit my skin. I looked up at the night sky, and my thoughts couldn't help but drift back to last night, to Christian's specific little but not so little confession.

We didn't say a thing after that and in the morning, I went to my classes early and he went to get his work done as well. Then, I went back to my place and Sally dragged me here, so we didn't get much of a chance to...discuss that yet.

I shook my head and turned around, heading to the other side, so I can stop a Taxi and just go back home. I was a bit lost in my thoughts that the moment I turned around the street, I came crashing against someone, "Sorry," I mumbled, the scent of alcohol and cigarettes hit me with a bang and I cringed, moving away and deciding to continue my way.

But, whoever that man was, apparently he had a different plan. My eyes widened when his hand grabbed my wrist, stopping me, "Hold on there, pretty girl."

The words slurred out of his mouth and my jaw tightened, "Let go," I grated out and I pulled my hand out of his grip, before I walked past him, not ready for this type of bullshit at the moment.

"I said, hold the fuck on," He said again, a bit angry now and I felt his harsh grip over my shoulder, stopping me again. Anger clouded my chest and I whirled around, ready to kick him where the sun doesn't shine, but even with his drunk state, he was a bigger man, a stronger one, and I felt his hand press over my mouth, his other sneaking down to my hip and pushing me backward.

Before I could register what was happening or how to get myself out of such a situation, a hand landed on the man's shoulder and pulled him away from me, faster than my mind could grasp.

I stood frozen in my spot as the stranger man threw a punch after another, beating the drunk guy senseless. My eyes widened when his fingers curled over the man's hair and slammed his head against the concrete, totally knocking him down. My wide hazed gaze drifted from my attacker's lifeless body to whoever just saved me.

The darkness around us made it hard to make out any of his features, the black coat he was wearing and the hat covering his hair made it the more impossible, so I stepped closer to the street light, hoping I could catch a glimpse. But, he was faster than me as he immediately turned around and started to walk away.

"Wait!" I said, more like screamed as I jogged forward.

At my word, he paused in his steps, his back facing me now as a few miles separated us. His head turned just a bit, exposing only the side of his face, still, it was too dark for me to make anything out.

"Thank you," I said, grateful to whoever this stranger is.

The moonlight reflected off his defined jaw and I caught the small smile that curved the side of his lips, he tipped down the side of his hat, "No need to thank me," He said, his voice smooth and a bit hard, not recognizable at all, "Consider it your birthday gift," His last words knocked the breath from my lungs and he walked away, disappearing into the darkness of the night.

I shook myself out of the haze and stepped forward, "Wait!" I screamed again, but he kept walking forward, gaining many steps on me.

The hand landing over my arm almost made me scream, "What the hell happened?" I heard Noah's worried voice before his wild eyes drifted from the knocked-out man to the direction of that who saved me walked into.

"Who was that?" He asked, his eyebrows pulling closer in pure confusion and I just shook my head, "I have no idea."

He looked around and his jaw tightened, "Come on, I am taking you home, this would've not happened if you let me come with you!"

I rolled my eyes at his tone and sarcastically mumbled, "You don't have to always act like my bodyguard, Jesus!"

He just dragged me to the other side, where my car is, but he couldn't help but still sneak a look back, "You sure you didn't see who that was?" He asked and I shook my head, "No, but I think...I think he knew me."

Noah opened my door, but his lost gaze still there, "What?" I asked, unable to understand his over-worried expression.

He shook his head, "Nothing," His eyebrow raised, lightening the mood a bit as he added, "I think you have a guardian angel, huh?"

I shot him a glare but still couldn't understand; who the hell was that?

The moment I reached home, just as I was unlocking the door, my phone rang and I pulled it to see dad's name. An immediate smile crawled up my face, my important call for the night. I pressed answer and placed the phone between my shoulder and ear as I unlocked the door, "Hey, dad," I said, stepping inside.

"Hey, little bug," His voice didn't come through the phone, no it came right from ahead of me. My eyes widened when my eyes fell on him, right there, inside my house. I gasped, throwing my purse and keys to the ground as I rushed forward and crashed in between his arms. They protectively wrapped around me and he chuckled as I held into him with dear life.

"I missed you so much," I mumbled into his shoulder and pressed my eyes shut, I've been thinking about him non-stop since the night I saw Christian's scars.

"I missed you too," He mumbled, cradling the back of my head and pressing a kiss over the top of my hair.

When I pulled away, he stared down at me with adoration, "Happy birthday," He said and my smile grew wider, "When did you get here?" I asked, totally taken aback by his little surprise.

"Like half an hour ago," He said and his eyebrow raised, "You didn't think I am gonna miss your birthday, did you?"

I shook my head, my smile so big, just happy at the fact that he's here. My happiness had me throwing myself back into his embrace and he didn't mind it at all, "How did mom let you?" I asked with a chuckle.

"Oh, if she asks, I just happened to have some work here on the same day as your birthday," He clarified, raising an eyebrow, "You better support me in that!"

I chuckled and nodded, "Yeah, sure," I mumbled, tightening my hold over his waist, "I am just so glad you're here."

"Me too, little bug," He said, rubbing a hand over my arm, "It sucks that you're always far away, can't wait for this to be over."

I gulped down at his words, but I didn't let myself think about it, it's a conversation for some other time. I pulled away and looked up at him with a big smile, "Come on, let's call mom, I was rushing back home to talk with you guys."

He nodded and pulled his phone out, "Come on," He sat on the couch and I sat by his side as we video-dialed mom. When her face popped up, my smile only widened, "Happy birthday, baby!" She said, enthusiastically.

"Thank you, mom," I said, and dad wrapped an arm over my shoulder, pulling me closer, "I wish I am there as well," She mumbled, sadly, "You're coming soon, right?"

I nodded my head, "I finish my finals in around ten days, if everything goes well, I will come back right away."

Her eyes lightened at the news and I saw Max squeezing himself beside her, "Happy birthday you ugly thing," He said with a smile and I narrowed my eyes at him, "Why do I feel like I miss you, I shouldn't miss you!" He added with disgust.

I chuckled, "It's because deep down you love me so much," I said, my eyebrow raised and he pressed a hand to his chest, "Oh shit, I think I do, I don't like this," He said, wincing at the thought.

Mom playfully slapped his arm and I added, "I miss you too, so much."

Our conversation went on and on, and I couldn't be any happier that dad was here, it's been so long since I last saw him. When we hung up, dad and I talked about anything and everything, catching up on what I was missing on there, I asked him about aunt Katherine and Ashton and what they're doing, I really miss them a lot.

"Chase also came back," Dad added, the topic had me shifting in my seat.

"Did he start working?" I asked in a hesitant tone. I knew that he must've graduated this month or the previous one.

Dad nodded, "Yeah, he is starting right away."

My chest squeezed and I nodded, "Cool," I knew he always had it in him.

"Anyway, uh," I desperately changed the subject, "You look kind of tired."

He nodded and rubbed at his eyes, "The flight here isn't a piece of cake."

"Okay come on," I got to my feet, "You can sleep in my room, and I will sleep in Sally's, she texted me that she'll be staying at our other's friend's house."

I smiled, "Tomorrow, we can go visit uncle Roman and then, sail around a bit."

He returned my smile and nodded, and I couldn't stop myself from hugging him again, "I am so glad you came here," I mumbled, realizing how much I needed to see him, desperately needing the distraction from Christian and his little confession.

That can be tomorrow's problem.

*************

You know the feeling of being shaken awake, like you can sense something is about to happen, a big disaster about to occur. Yeah, that's how I woke up and shot up from the bed today.

The main door opened and I rushed out of Sally's room so fast when I heard Christian's voice, "Lilly, baby are you awake?" He called for me, "I brought things for breakf-"

I landed in the living room, but too late. My wide eyes drifted from a stunned Christian, who was holding the market's bags in his hands to dad, who was standing by the kitchen's door, his confused eyes on Christian.

Oh, fuck, oh shit...this was not supposed to happen like this.

Dad's eyes flickered to me, the anger building up behind them was pretty much evident as he raised an eyebrow, "Lilly, why there is a stranger in your house calling you...that?"

I gulped down and ran a hand through my hair, trying to fix it, "Uh, dad, this is-" I cleared my throat and looked back at Christian, asking for help, who just seemed to understand that this my father.

He placed the bags down and walked forward toward dad. My eyes widened, no, shit, no, I wanted to scream at him to keep a safe social distance, or else...

"Mr. Dolan," Christian pushed his hand forward, a nervous smile crawling up his lips, "It's nice to finally meet you, Lilly told me so much about you."

Dad stared at Christian's extended hand with pure disgust before he looked at me, "Why in the hell do you talk about me to strangers?" He asked, totally ignoring Christian's extended hand.

I gulped down and moved forward, coming in between them, just in case, "Dad, Christian isn't a stranger," Oh, I am so dead, "He is my..." I cleared my throat, "He is my boyfriend."

Dad's eyes widened, "He is your what...what the fuck?" He looked back at Christian and took a threatening step forward, "How old are you for god's sake?"

Christian's confused gaze went from him to me then back to dad, "Twenty-eight, sir."

Dad's eyes grew wide, "And you didn't find any girls your age to date?!" He exclaimed.

He looked back at me, "How in hell did you two meet?"

"Uh, what...what do you mean?" I asked, pulling the clueless act.

"Lilly!" He stressed out.

There was no point of lying, if dad wants to know something, he'll know it, "University," I mumbled.

His eyebrows pulled together, thinking my word through, before he rubbed a hand over his chest, his words measured, "Lilly, please tell me he is not your professor."

Oh my god, someone is going to die today.

"Well, I am not anymore," Christian decided to talk and I elbowed him in the stomach, shutting him up before he makes this worse.

"Dad," I said, carefully, "Why don't we just you know sit down and then talk about this, calmly," I mumbled, stressing on the word calmly.

His angry eyes shot me, "Oh, there is nothing to be calm about," His jaw tightened and he stepped forward toward Christian, I immediately got in between them, trying to protect him from whatever dad is planning, "Lilly move away, because someone is gonna die on my hands today!" He grated out before I felt his hand wrap over my arm, pushing me out of his way.

Before I could interfere again, my eyes widened and a gasp parted my mouth when I saw dad's fist collide with Christian's jaw, the impact pushing him backward, "That gotta teach you to not go after your students!"

"Dad!" I screamed and marched forward, unable to comprehend how fastly he reacted.

He pointed at Christian, "You, you better stay the hell away from my daughter," Then he turned to me, "And you, don't think yourself better, I am gonna have my talk with you!"

*************************************

Do you notice how fast I update this book while compared to the death of me. Okay, let me shut up before I jinx myself!

Btw, this chapter has so many important points, if you could read in between the lines, you will figure out the WHOLE plot of the story *winks*

ANYWAYS, Chase was a special case, as to not to be punched by Alex for dating his daughter, but anyone else must face Alex's overprotectiveness, especially if he is her professor and older than her, Alex would either have a heart attack or kill Christian, there isn't in between xD

So, what's your thoughts on the chapter, on Joe's attitude toward Lilly? Christian's scars? Mystery-someone saving Lilly? Alex punching christian? xD

See ya next chapter, love ya all!