How in the world did Trudy think that letting Zarek crash over at her house was a good idea, especially after he played her in her car and called her scarred, aka done for, aka crazy?

Trudy was feeling guilty over sending those guys after him and it was horrible, finally understanding the fuss Sandra and Eva made about the guilt, she was also feeling sorry for Zarek being homeless since his dad apparently disowned him for whatever reason - and those two feelings scared her. She was wicked, heartless, and a bad bitch, she should take advantage of the situation and humiliate Zarek for all those times he made her feel so worthless, not help him and rid him of his misery.

Trudy knew she was changing, she wasn't oblivious, but she wasn't quite ready for this fast rate.

It was too late to back out her offer since she just went through the gates of the Green mansion and parked her yellow Lamborghini. She hoped that her older sister was asleep at this late hour or else she would catch her with an unholy guest and the situation could only go down from there. Taking a deep breath, and right before she stepped out of the car, Trudy glared at Zarek, grabbing his arm and squeezing it tightly.

"Listen, here, Zarek," she threatened, "When we go inside, do not touch anything - those antics are so precious to my parents, and do not make a sound, because if anyone found out, I'll pretend you're a robber and allow my parents to call the police on you."

Zarek smirked and pushed her hand away, stepping out of the car into the airy night. Trudy did the same, keeping a wary eye on the blond devil. She knew that the sentimental and emotional Zarek a few minutes ago was long dead and buried, and the cruel devil was back in his soulless body. She knew she was already involved with her cursed 'feelings' - wherever they were - for him, and apparently she just dug herself deeper with her spontaneous and stupid, stupid offer.

What was I gonne do? she internally argued, Leave him all alone in the street with no home or food? Yes, that was exactly what old, selfish Trudy would've done. She might've even snapped a picture or two for future blackmail. Trudy did none of that, and she refused to believe that it was because she was stepping out of her shell, allowing chirpy, innocent, middle-school Trudy to peek.

The troubled teenagers stood before the gigantic door, Trudy's hand digging in her Calvin Klein wallet for the keys. Once they were inside, Trudy took care of closing the door while Zarek inspected around.

"You know," Zarek whispered, his electric green eyes piercing their way through Trudy's chest, "I've known you for so many years, yet this is the first time I enter your house."

"We weren't exactly the best of friends, Zarek." Trudy scoffed, locking the door and facing Zarek. "In fact, we were hard enemies, and that's putting it nicely."

Zarek and Trudy were neighbors, so they've known each other forever. Despite that, the two never shared a word, and Trudy going to Prich Middle School while Zarek went to a public school didn't help their relationship either. However, it was for the best since Zarek probably had no idea what troublesome past she had. Once Trudy went to Dessertville High because someone was teaching in Prich High, the two teenagers were united and it was safe to say that hate settled between them at first sight. Their personalities were so similar they crashed since they both wanted things to go their way and they both were too proud and stubborn to drop out of an argument, so their interactions were more of fights than they were conversations.

Under these circumstances, inviting Zarek over for 'a sleepover and gossip' was so out of the question.

"Yet here you are," Zarek smirked, smugness radiating off of him, "Opening your home for me to crash."

"Ugh, shut up, I'm already regretting it." Trudy rolled her eyes, heading for the elevator. "Follow me."

The trip in the elevator was painfully slow and silent, especially since Zarek stood behind her, making her extra self-conscious. Trudy could swear that Zarek was purposely breathing down her neck just to mess with her, or maybe Zarek was away from her and this was just her anxiety playing tricks on her? Either way, Trudy didn't have the courage or will to turn around and confirm anything.

Once they reached the desired floor, Trudy stepped out with Zarek following closely in her trail. The hallway was pretty dark, aside from the moonlight streaming through the window, but Trudy could make her way with ease. She opened her bedroom door, and entered, expecting Zarek to follow her inside. He didn't. Biting her lip in anger because Zarek didn't follow her, Trudy left her room to glare at Zarek.

He was still down the hall, specifically standing before The Scream. The oil painting was dark enough to match not only Trudy's soul, but Zarek's as well. Zarek analyzed it with wonder, his blond eyebrows up in the air. "Fuck, is this real?"

"No," Trudy shrugged, "But it cost millions of dollars, which is ridiculous for something unauthentic. My parents don't seem to mind such ridiculous price for the sake of art. Ugh, they're so old-fashioned."

Zarek poked his finger out to touch the masterpiece. Trudy slapped it away. "No touching." Trudy hissed, "Didn't I tell you that already?"

"Whatever." Zarek shrugged, leading the way to Trudy's room as if it was his own. He walked inside, his gaze wandering around her personal details. Her room was nothing special; a bed, a desk, a bathroom, and her walk-in closet. There was no 'it' factor in her room because she had zero hobbies and sucked at anything creative, let alone decorate an entire room. Trudy held her breath, waiting for Zarek's sharp insults about the lack of personality and factors in what was supposed to be her lair.

"You only have necessities in here," Zarek finally said, "This is weird, your room is too similar to my own."

Trudy wasn't expecting that. "Thanks?"

"Your house isn't that bad," Zarek trailed, taking slow steps toward Trudy as darkness hooded his eyes. He was standing right in her face now, his hand brushed a strand of loose hair away as he stared at her spacious, dreamy eyes. "And neither are you."

Trudy's face hardened at the supposed sweet words. She didn't give in to his touch because she would stand up to him, unlike the previous time in her car when he caught her in a moment of weakness. "Stay away," Trudy seethed, anger overtaking the dreaminess in her gaze, "I'm scarred, or did you forget?"

"I didn't," Zarek grunted. "But you see, we're alone, in your room, at night. It's the perfect conditions for something to happen."

Trudy was sickened at his logic. She pushed him away, marveling over the feel of his body against her hands for a second of shame before she snarled at him. "Take off your clothes."

"That fast?" Zarek chuckled, "I should've known you're not one for foreplay-"

"Ew, stop." Trudy crunched her nose, disgusted. "I meant give me your clothes for laundry, Zarek, not that."

"Fine, whatever." Zarek was about to pull his hoodie over his head when Trudy rushed to stop him.

"Not in here," Trudy huffed, patience going dry at Zarek's manners. She gestured at her walk-in closet. "Go in there."

Zarek rolled his eyes but stood up and went inside nevertheless, closing the closet's door behind him. A few moments later, the door opened halfway, and a naked arm reached out with the pile of clothes. Keeping her gaze away from the visible veins in his arms and the adorable little blond hairs on his skin, Trudy took the black clothes and sprinted out of her room, not sure how much self-control she still had.

On her way outside, her sister's bedroom door suddenly opened, and out came Sandra with all her glory.

Her turquoise blue eyes mocked her, making all of the previous excitement diminish. Sandra's gaze dropped at the pile of dirty clothes and she snickered. "How pathetic." There was no doubt she witnessed Trudy and Zarek enter the house due to her strategic window, and now she was putting two and two together on the mysterious clothes. "Tell me, little sis, would he do the same for you?"

Trudy knew the answer to that, but she refused to believe it or fall in her sister's traps. "It doesn't matter."

Sandra's neat eyebrow rose, looking like complete diva instead of a broken pregnant girl. "You love him," Sandra realized, the statement dizzying her for a second.

Trudy didn't know about love, it was a big word, but then again, she had absolutely no knowledge when it came to feelings. Trudy let that possibility sink in, and it didn't feel so bad. Maybe, just maybe, this could work.

Sandra shook her head, muttered a few words that Trudy swore were 'the more reason to be with him.' Trudy didn't know what that was about, nor did she care. She just contemplated the fact that she loved someone, and she wasn't scared or reluctant. However, Zarek was right, she was pretty scarred, so diving into 'this' might not be the wisest idea, but what mattered was that Trudy was actually open about it. That was a huge jump in Trudy's healing journey.

Trudy went into the laundry room, making sure to dump Zarek's belongings - after she shamefully sniffed the fancy cologne mixed with cigarettes of course - in her father's basket and not her own for no questions or suspicions on why male items were among her things. She also went through her father's clean laundry and chose some sweatpants and T-shirt that weren't worn in so long so that her father wouldn't notice them missing. Holding onto her findings and making her way back through the hallway, Trudy was shocked to hear her parents in the bathroom.

Crap. Trudy completely forgot that her parents' attached bathroom was under renovation, so they had to use the closest bathroom to their bedroom which just happened to be right next to her room. She would've hurried her steps and went into her bedroom if she didn't hear her name in their conversation. Trudy slowed her pace, peaking through the ajar door.

"The maid told me that Trudy locked herself in her room for a week. I think she's depressed again." Louis spat the excess toothpaste mixed with his saliva before he continued talking. "Maybe we should consider taking her to a psychiatrist."

"I don't think that's necessary, she just needs a break." Paige rubbed her face with her natural olive soap. "Maybe we should send her over to your mom's, Rose, in the countryside. It seemed to work dor her last time."

What the hell were her parents plotting against her back? Could it be that what Sandra said was true; that they only cared about their reputation and the second she misbehaved they would get rid of her? Trudy refused to answer that question because it would only discourage her. With slumped shoulders and low spirits, she went into her bedroom and locked the door just in case.

The door to her walk-in closet was still half open. Trudy walked inside with the clean pyjamas still in hand, completely forgetting that Zarek was in his boxers only. He was giving her his back, providing her an HD view on his dimples that were at the bottom of his spine, right above his bum. He wasn't crazy athletic or anything, but something about him was so sexy and attractive. His lean body was sculpted by god with intense care and his pale skin made him look cold, which reflected how he was on the inside. Trudy had this intense urge of hugging the warmness into him.

However, she was too proud to do that.

Trudy turned around ane cleared her throat, refusing to look at Zarek any longer. "Here's the clothes," she muttered, extremely embarrassed and flushed. Trudy was so stupid since she forgot that her closet had mirrors as walls, so even though Zarek was giving her his back, he still caught her checking him out.

Zarek walked around her, naked chest in her face since Trudy wasn't wearing her heels. She hated how he towered over her and made her feel so small and fragile. "Don't be ashamed," Zarek sounded sincere, which made Trudy's head snap up to meet his intense gaze. "It's okay if you look, I don't mind."

Trudy really, really wanted to keep staring at Zarek's almost naked body, but she would never give him that on her. She wouldn't drool over him because he didn't deserve her attention. She couldn't believe her previous thoughts about her feelings and all that nonsense, especially for a dick like Zarek. Sandra was right yet again; she was so pathetic and had zero standards.

Sandra's question rang annoyingly in Trudy's ears - would he do the same for you?

What if she was the one on the side of the road, what if she was the one who was food deprived, what if she was the ons kicked out of her home with nowhere to go, would Zarek pick her up, feed her, and take her to his home?

"You wouldn't," Trudy whispered, sounding so weak and pathetic, "You wouldn't do the same for me, would you?"

Zarek frowned, still very much naked. "What do you mean?"

Trudy broke herself out of her stance and glared at the undressed devil. "Nothing," she hissed, stepping away and heading for a specific area in her racks. She picked out two random sheets and a pillow, and left the closet all together. She headed for her attached bathroom and made up Zarek's sleeping place in the bathtub. Trudy internally smirked, this should teach him not to mess with me again.

Trudy might've let him sleep in her king-sized bed since it was too big for the both of them, but he didn't deserve that, not after everything.

Once she finished placing the sheets and pillow, Trudy went back into her room and climbed into her king-sized bed. A few seconds later, Zarek came out of the closet. The black shirt was too wide but apparently very short, barely reaching his hips. The grey sweatpants were okay, but they stopped a little above his ankle. Even though he looked completely ridiculous, he still managed to pull it off somehow.

"You're sleeping in the tub," Trudy announced, smugness apparent in her statement.

Zarek ignored her and climbed in her bed.

"I said; you're sleeping in the tub." Trudy repeated, warning in her tone, "Don't make me kick you out like your dad did."

"Fine. Whatever," he grumbled and went into the bathroom.

As Trudy tried to sleep, she kept turning in her place. She wanted to share the same bed with him and possibly even cuddle - something she never done before - but one thought kept banging against her skull, bittering her aspirations - he wouldn't do the same to me.