-Cara-

Cara ran, barefoot, with tears streaming down her cheeks. Every time her feet hit the dirt road, small stones and twigs pricked and slashed the undersides of her feet.

She was so shook by what had just happened at the tavern that her hands were shaking violently. She clenched them as hard as she could in an attempt to stop it. Her nails painfully dug into her palms when images of what had happened flashed in her mind.

She slowed her pace, closed her eyes and tried not to think about it. But the images came anyway, they flashed in front of her like frozen moments in time; how the creep had pinned her to the door, Keegan bolting through the room and punching the guy in a fit of pure rage. The merciless expression in his eyes as his fist came flying through the air. How he knocked the sense out of the creep he had called by the name Lochlan. The emerald green eyes had exuded an uncontrollable fury.

Cara shuddered from the memory but could not help to feel grateful for how the night had ended. It could have ended a lot worse... Although, she was still not too happy about Keegan ignoring her, or that Georg left her all alone. Or Miss Goldy Locks. She was not happy about her at all.

However, after having spent all night pretending she was not there, Keegan had finally come to her aid...

Cara stopped walking for a moment and took a deep breath. She needed to calm down. Her heart was still racing and she could feel her pulse throbbing in her ears. On top of it all, her thoughts were a complete mess.

Cara leaned her head back and stared up into the dark night sky. The clouds were dark but looked so soft that she wanted to just lay down right here so she could look at them whilst drifting off to sleep.

This summer 's night was cool and the wind was almost a bit chilly. An upcoming rainfall was hanging thickly in the air. It was just a matter of minutes before it would come pouring down on her. Cara turned her eyes towards the fields on her right and left side. Their grass swayed soothingly in the wind and it felt like it had all been just a nightmare. That something so unpleasant couldn't actually have taken place so close to this peaceful place.

Once again she felt the urge to just lay down and fall asleep, but this time in the softness of the fields.

Cara waited for a minute until her pulse had gone down and the sound of the grass swaying in the wind had temporarily eased her mind. Then she started walking back to the house again.

Despite the fact that Keegan is hammered, he threw a really good punch back there. But why? Why not help me from the start? Why not... Argh!! Why not admit that he had seen me and just admit that he either did not want me there or... that he just doesn't care.

He hadn't punched that guys face in if he hadn't cared, he had just let whatever was going to happen, happen. A voice in Cara's head concluded.

"Great... Now I am arguing with myself." She groaned to herself. "Peachy."

She continued down the dirt road, now she almost dragged her feet from feeling so exhausted after this night. A part of her couldn't wait to be under the protection of Miriam again. It almost felt like that woman would take on a bear for her sake if it would happen.

Unless Keegan beat her to it... The other part of her snickered.

Cara shook the thought right out of her mind, but it triggered more confusing thoughts about him. Soon she was spiraling in her own mind and she was back where she did not want to be; confused and worked up over a guy she couldn't have anymore.

She had been so disappointed to see Keegan spend all night sitting next to that girl. She was eventually going to have to admit that she might have feelings for him... but what good would it do? He was with someone else... obviously.

Or is he? To jump someone like he did is clearly not something you do for anyone. So... why did he do it?

"The real question is; Why would he defend me like that if he is with Miss Goldy Locks?" Cara muttered bitterly to herself.

No the real question is; why did he kiss me at all if he is with someone else?

"CARA!"

She stopped on the dirt road when she heard Keegan shouting her name in the distance. He was far behind her, but he was practically roaring out her name.

"What do you want?" She breathed out into the night air. Her chest instantly felt like it could not hold her emotions safe and sound on the inside. Her ribs almost ached as it felt like her organs wanted to leave her body.

Nausea violently introduced itself and she was glad when a cold gust of air brought her back to reality.

"Nope. I am not having this conversation out here." She muttered and continued walking.

"CARA!" Keegan repeated her name. She shut her eyes and decisively kept on walking.

A couple of seconds later, she heard his heavy footsteps hit the dirt as he ran. He slowed down as soon as he saw her.

"Cara." He called when he saw her. "Cara stop!"

She closed her eyes again. She loved the way he said her name. So darkly but yet so softly.

When she didn't answer him she heard how he started running again. He caught up with her and before she knew it he stood before her. Blocking her path.

"Did you not hear me calling?" He asked out of breath.

Blood was gushing from his busted lip. The area around his left eye had started to turn slightly dark. A sharp feeling of guilt washed over her but she ignored it. No part of this shit-show, that was her night, was her fault.

"I heard you." She answered coldly and walked around him.

"Hey, what- Cara!" He didn't get the words in order.

"What?" She snapped and turned quickly.

"What is wrong?" He asked. "Why are you... angry?"

"I..." She didn't finish her sentence. "Go back to your friends." Her tone dripped with venom.

When she was about to walk away from him, she felt his hand grab her gently by her arm. With ease he kept her in front of him and searched her eyes for a moment. She felt how careful he was not to hurt her since the drunk had been so rough with her. It melted her heart a little that he was so gentle, but she was still upset with him. Her thoughts started spiraling again.

Maybe you should chill... it is not like you claimed him, nor he you. She thought and studied the hand around her arm.

No, but who the hell kisses someone like he did, if he already has a girlfriend? She argued with herself. Why would he say my name like he does if he...

"Did I do something wrong?" He interrupted her thoughts, still searching her eyes for what was wrong.

The part of her which still upset scoffed out loud before she could stop herself.

Really? Wow.

"Go back." She said and wriggled herself free from him and felt her nose wrinkle in anger. "Go back to your girl, Keegan." She finished and turned around.

"My what?" He asked confused. "And no, I am walking you home."

"I don't want you to." She said sharply and left him where he stood.

She hadn't caught the first part of his answer, but she was not going to stick around to find out what it had been. She was only going to get more upset or say something really stupid.

When Cara finally stepped inside the house, Miriam wasn't home, neither was Orla.

"Great, now I'll have to deal with him." She muttered. "Or... I can do the easy and immature thing and hide in his room..." she mumbled and studied the door to her left.

-Keegan-

"Cara." He said her name as he entered the house. To his confusion she wasn't there. "Cara?" He asked out loud.

His eyes swept across the room and then they landed on the door to his room. It didn't lock but he was not going in there just so she could throw him out immediately.

"Of course you went in there..." he grunted. He blew his cheeks full with air and then let it out. He was in no mood of playing whatever game she had in mind.

Confused and still quite drunk he rubbed his palms against his face.

I want to go to sleep...

"Where's the girl?" Keegan flinched at the sound of his father's voice. He hadn't heard him come in behind him.

"She is in my room. Before you ask: I didn't do anything. I just followed her home. I think she is angry with me, but I don't know why." He moaned quietly.

His father raised an eyebrow and sucked his teeth.

He knows why.

"Can it be the fact that she helped you lie about where you were going tonight and in return she got to sit and watch you with your friends all night?"

"She could have-"

"No, you idiot. She couldn't have joined you. Especially not since you allowed a certain girl to drool and put her hands all over you." His father grunted.

Keegan shrugged his shoulders in confusion.

"Cara got to sit there, with your old fart of a father, seeing you with Kayleigh." The name seemed to taste bad in his father's mouth because he grimaced a bit.

Keegan froze. Is that the reason why she is acting so hostile? Does she think... Wait a minute. If she is cross because she thinks Kay and I are- That is what she meant when she told me to go back to my girl! Oh shit, she thinks me and...

"Are you listening, boy?" His father ripped him out of his thoughts.

"Nothing happened. Kay was just being annoying and clingy like always." Keegan said.

"Perhaps, but the girl doesn't know know that, does she now?" His father muttered. "And why would you even allow Kayleigh to touch you if you don't like it?"

"Because she is relentless. She never stops, father." Keegan groaned out loud. The ale was taking over his patience and his tone grew more and more rude.

"Maybe you should think of how it felt for Cara... to see the two of you like that."

"What are you trying to say?" Keegan played dumb. He knew what his father was saying. Well, he thought he did. And a part of him hoped that he wasn't mistaken.

"I am saying that maybe you should open your eyes, you stupid prick." His father's words were unusually harsh, meaning that he was very agitated. "Go in there and apologize."

"Am I supposed to apologize for-"

"Apologize, or you can sleep in the rain." His father snarled.

"It couldn't be worse than sleeping on the floor." Keegan retaliated, like a child, before he turned to the door.

He raised his fist and knocked gently on the door. He listened for an answer. His father's gaze burned in his back as he made sure his son did as he had been told.

He knocked impatiently again.

Cara did not answer.

"Cara. I am coming in." He said just so she would hear, but not his father.

He opened the door and she was standing in the window.

"What are you- Leave!" She exclaimed quietly when she saw that it was him. She dried her cheeks quickly.

"I will not." He answered calmly and held his hands out to let her know he didn't mean hurt any harm. "Are you alright?"

Her eyes looked like two thunderclouds, ready to strike him with lightning where he stood, but when she heard what he said they calmed down. The blue eyes almost turned soft.

"Yes." She answered in a short reply. Her arms crossed over her chest, making it clear that he still wasn't welcome in his own room.

I should tell her about Kay... He thought. Maybe you should tell her how you feel instead? He thought as well but buried that thought deep down.

"About what you saw at the tavern..." He began. One of Cara's hands flew up immediately with her palm towards him. Instantly silencing him.

"Don't." She breathed and he heard how her voice turned thick. Was she crying?

"No, listen-" He began but was interrupted once more.

"Leave Keegan." She whispered airily and turned around. He swallowed nervously. A part of him wanted her to turn around so badly. He wanted her to give him what he had been given so many nights ago. He needed to feel her in his arms... but that felt like to ask for a miracle.

Another part of him was confused, and truthfully a little annoyed, over how she was acting. He hadn't meant for Cara to feel left out, and he absolutely did not want her to think that he and Kay were... well something. Why would she think that? Besides Kay's behavior... But why didn't she just ask him then? Why would she...

There is no use thinking about it... He stated to himself. Just explain it to her now... Maybe father is right, maybe I should just apologize. Perhaps I should tell her that I... No. Suddenly his chest felt tight. The mere thought of even slightly admitting to her that he adored her, scared the life out of him. Adore wasn't enough... he was infatuated by her and he needed her.

Am I really doing this? He wondered as his feet carried him closer to her. How do I apologize for something I did not intend to do? How do you apologize to someone who wants you to leave and refuses to listen?

Soundlessly he walked up behind her. Either she ignored him or she didn't hear him. The essence of her scent hit him like the softest breeze when he was close enough.

"Cara..." He said her name quietly but still managed to startle her. She gasped and turned around. "I... uhm..."

How am I even going to say it? "I am sorry that Kay sat next to me all night?" No, that is dumb. It will only sound like I...

Cara waited with an expression in her eyes which revealed her agitation and puzzlement. The blue eyes were slightly narrowed, the ample lips in a strict line, making her look so hard and closed up.

"I know you saw me at the tavern." He began and she inhaled sharply. "Let me finish." He cautioned her and made sure that she stayed put by puffing his chest a little, when in fact he had never felt smaller.

"Yes, and?" She snapped back.

"You didn't let me finish." He remarked darkly. Cara locked eyes with him, and hers urged him to speak before she would snap again. "I know you saw me, and her." He continued.

"I do not want to hear it." She breathed in her own language. "It is none of my fucking business who you date..." she continued.

"I will muzzle you if you do not let me finish, Cara." He warned her and licked his upper lip in frustration. Her eyes glowed in a fiery anger. She had definitely caught the meaning of the threat, but she hadn't understood all of the words.

"Muzzle?" She repeated through gritted teeth.

Keegan placed his palm over his mouth to demonstrate the meaning of the word. Cara's eyes narrowed once more and he hadn't thought someone so beautiful could look so cross like she did, but here she was; almost spitting flames.

Just when he was about to continue his explanation she shoved him. Her palms pressed against his chest but he didn't budge. When her attack failed she raised her right and in an attempt to slap him. By pure instinct Keegan grabbed her wrists before she managed to slap him. He exhaled heavily.

"Will you just listen?" He growled and let her go as soon as he remembered that he was doing almost the same thing as Lochlan had done.

"Why you kiss me?"

The question echoed in his head for a couple of seconds. He almost didn't notice the lack of the word 'did' in ger question because it caught him totally by surprise.

"What?" He asked quietly.

"Why you kiss me if you..." Cara turned quiet as she searches for the words. "... if you... I saw her." She finally said.

Keegan understood that the real question, which she couldn't construct, was 'Why did you kiss me if you are taken?'. 'Why did you kiss me if you're with her?'.

"Me and Kay? We're not- I am not with her." He answered slowly even though he stumbled somewhat along the way. "I know it looked like it... but she does that to everyone."

Cara's brows furrowed slightly. Confusion played in her eyes, as it often did.

"It is true." He assured her. "Ask Jared, he-"

Cara held up a hand, signaling that she didn't need further explanations concerning Kay. And especially not from Jared it seemed.

"I am sorry." Keegan forced the words out. It wasn't that he did not mean them. He just... it was so hard talking to her when she was so angry with him. He did not want to anger her even more.

Cara pressed her lips together and sighed.

"I am sorry I try to hit you." She mumbled and looked away. Keegan suppressed a smirk from spreading over his aching lip. It did not feel like she would appreciate being smirked at right now.

A long silent moment passed, neither of them said anything, but he could feel her anger disappearing with every second.

"Are you sure you are alright?" He asked when she looked to the side and the marks after Lochlan's hands screamed at him. Cara placed her hand against her throat to hide the marks. She cleared her throat uncomfortably.

"Yes..."

-Cara-

"Do not lie, Cara." Keegan warned her darkly. "I can see the marks."

Then why do you ask? She spat defensively in her mind.

Keegan towered over her and one of his large hands cupped her cheek. She stood completely still as he studied her closely.

"I'll kill him for this..." He mumbled to himself as his eyes flew over her neck again.

Cara noticed that his lip was still bleeding, a lot. Keegan's shirt was stained with the blood drops that had spilled from his face and his right sleeve was also bloody. Probably from wiping the blood from his face.

She hadn't learned enough of their language to ask him about it but he noticed that she was looking at his busted lip and his somewhat swollen eye. It hadn't turned completely black yet, but that was probably just a question of time.

"Do not worry about it." He told her with a faint smirk on his lips, it didn't reach his eyes and she figures it was because it physically hurt him to smile.

"Does it hurt?" She asked quietly and raised her hand towards his eye. When her fingertips grazed his eyebrow he flinched a little.

"Yes..." he admitted and cleared his throat. She met his green eyes for a second. There was something else. He wasn't finished talking, she could see it in his eyes.

And she was right. After what felt like an eternity he stepped even closer. The right hand appeared under her chin and he lifted her chin upwards a bit with his index finger. Cara felt her breathing become heavier due to of how close he was standing.

"Are you sure you are alright?" He asked with a husky voice.

Cara nodded in answer, even if she didn't understand all of it. She parted her lips uncontrollably, breathing him in as her heart started racing.

"I can't get you out of mind." Keegan suddenly sighed as he lowered his face to hers. Cara stopped breathing just as his lips grazed hers. "No matter how hard I try, and no matter how many times my mother slaps me." He whispered close to her lips. "I couldn't even drink you out of my god damned mind." He chuckled quietly.

Is he saying what I think he is...?

Cara could smell the blood on his lip. However, it didn't bother her. She was too busy focusing on his closeness and how it set her whole body on fire.

"Why... uhm... what-" Cara's words didn't want to come out so she swallowed and stopped talking.

"I would kiss you if my lip didn't hurt and bleed so fucking much..." he breathed heavily against her lips.

-------------------------

I hope you liked this chapter!

Stay safe!

Much love,

Jenny