A loud crash woke me from a fitful sleep hours later. The glowing numbers on my clock read 1:18 A.M. I stifled a groan as I climbed out of bed and pulled on a robe before leaving my room. The house was silent, save for the tick-tick-tick of the clock in the living room.

I was just about to head back upstairs when I heard it: a heavy exhale. Then a voice, the familiarity of it sending chills up and down my spine.

"I don't think she's here, Ross. Maybe we should go." Zach.

Another voice answered him, anger flowing through me like lava as I recognised it. "No. She's here; I know it. Check upstairs." My eyes widened as I heard footsteps, growing closer and closer with every breath I took. I ran back upstairs and dove into the closet, barely breathing as I heard my door creak open.

My breathing was near-silent as footsteps reached my ears. "C'mon, Bella. You can't hide forever. You wouldn't want to end up like Dani, would you?" The mention of Mom had me biting back a scream as the air became suffocating.

I squeezed my eyes shut as I realised what was happening. No. Not here. Please, please, please! My lungs strained as I struggled for air, trying and failing to calm my racing heart.

Then I heard another familiar voice, the worry in it bringing tears to my eyes. "Bella? What's going on?"

Another voice answered him. "Hello, Drake. Long time no see."

Dad's voice was emotionless as he replied. "What are you doing here, Ross?"

A chill ran through me as I realised why he was here: he knew. I clamped my hand over my mouth to stifle the cry building inside me. "What, I'm not allowed to visit my friends once in a while?"

Dad's voice was cold as he spoke. "Get out. While you still can." To my immense relief, Ross's footsteps faded until silence hung in the air, heavy and tense.

"Bella? It's okay, honey. You can come out now." I sobbed as I opened the closet door and ran into his arms. My body shook as I cried.

I'm not sure how long we stayed like that. My tears eventually dried as the terror was replaced by immense exhaustion. He gripped my hand and led me to the couch in the living room.

"What happened, Bella?" Dad asked, his forehead creased in concern. I shook my head, struggling to focus on his voice. All I could think about was Ross. I hadn't realised I'd opened my mouth until the words poured out of me.

An hour later, I slumped back onto the pillows, exhaustion coating every bone in my body. I dimly noticed Dad helping me upstairs and into bed before I fell back asleep, mercifully not waking up until my alarm went off the next morning.

I struggled out of bed the following morning, the fear and exhaustion from last night weighing me down. School was a blur; I hardly remembered raising my hand or speaking at all.

As I walked home, my mind kept drifting back to last night and the reason for Ross's visit. One question remained on my mind that night as I sleepwalked through dinner and laid in bed hours later: How long has Ross known?

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