"He's going to stay with us for a while. It's much better and saves a coin Daisy." Dad stated clearly. At a point, it felt like he really liked that Vince guy over Alex. Sure they had had their differences with dad thinking Alex was out of the way. That I deserved a much appropriate man that would secure my future and all that.
    So I guessed Vince was his option.

"But dad! Why so sudden?"
  "Dear, I'm the head of the house. I make the rules. And I'm sure you don't have a problem with this, do you?"
I shattered. "No, dad."

Quietly, I slipped out of the study room, meeting mom along the hallway with the senator and his wife.
    I faked a smile walking past them. And headed straight to my room... Vince could welcome himself in the guestroom. I didn't give a damn care.
As strange as it was, I could feel that things were about to turn around for me.
*               *                *

     The penetrating rays falling inside my room through the balcony doors woke me.
Also, the stubborn ringing of my phone.

A lazy hand went on the night table, searching for the device.
   "Hello?"
"Daisy? Gawd! Did it have to take you this long to pick up?"
"Alex? Damn! I'm still in bed."
A quiet laugh came from his end. Spreading a pleased feeling through my whole body, and the drowsiness washed away.
       "I didn't call last night cause of...you know why. And honestly, I'm sorry about yesterday babe."
Had he just!
   I sprang up to sit.
"Can...can you call me that again?"
"What? Babe?"
My eyes shut. I could feel the glad tears at their corners. Ooh, it sounded so perfect from his lips.
Why hadn't it taken long for him to ever call me that?
      It was stupid to fly to the clouds over such a little word. But damn it moved something inside me.

    "It sounds so... Gawd I miss you Alex."
"Call me boo!" A request came.
Ha! We were playing games like kindergarten kids.
The heat warming up my cheeks coincided with the flapping butterflies in my tummy.
      "Okay, I miss you, boo."
"Yes!" He rejoiced with a little chuckle that only spoke of excitement. "I know your blushing at the air right now."
"What? No!" I lied so obviously.

"You're terrible at lying, especially to me... Now get ready, I'm picking you up for school."
  "That's so thoughtful of you. What's with the sudden changes?"

He offered only an anticipated laugh that sounded so genuine.
   "Figured that I haven't been pampering my little supportive girlfriend."

"Ah! So I'm little now?"
Phone conversations with Alex always got out of hand. The topics seemed to flow from one to the other unplanned.
   "Okay, you're not little. You're way short."

      I giggled raking a hand through my hair before sliding to the floor.
Studying myself on the full-length mirror, I noted how happy I seemed. Anything that concerned Alex made me nervous and bold at the same time. Yes. He was mine now.
      From a silly crush, to something beautiful as a relationship.

"I'll get ready now. See you in a while." "Going so soon? Alright babe. I'm on my way."

All through the showering, the little grin that Alex's conversation left me with still remained... But it died immediately I walked out of the bathroom in my robe, and saw the male stretching outside the guestroom.
      His eyes fell on me. Then came the friendly smile.
"Daisy? Good morning?"

"Good morning to you Vince. Hope you slept well." Said walking towards him.
"Never slept better. I gotta admit, it's so cool here. Way better than my house."
     I popped a small smile. He seemed sincere about it. Though had my doubts. He was the senator's son, he probably had a large pool, a billion-dollar car and a TV screen worth my life.
No. My life was worth way much.

"But I'm sure you'd love to go back home."
"What!" He laughed ruffling his long dark hair that fell to his shoulders. It looked amazing, shinny and silky.
     
      "If I like something, I like it wholly. And your family is as amazing as the house."
My lips widened.
"Glad you feel that way... Anyway, I, gotta go dress. I need to leave early."
  Rushing for the room next to his, an unfamiliar hand grasped my arm.

      "I have my car. If you don't mind we can...ride together?"
"Vince..." Smiled facing him. Though still afraid that I had nothing beneath that robe.
   Even with the cloth on, I could still see my nipples poking out like needles after the cold bath.
Could Vince see that too?
     I quickly curled away.
"That's a kind offer. But someone's picking me up."

       "Your boyfriend?"
  "Yes."
My lips pressed against each other in the awkward moment.
"What's his name?"
Something dropped inside me.
Alex would never have appreciated me meddling with his personal issues.
      "Um...is it necessary?"
Vince suddenly retreated, hands up in surrender.
"Don't mind me Daisy. Sorry about that... Anyway, I'll also freshen up and leave."

    With no words to let out, a smile and a nod spoke on my behalf.

The endless minutes I spent in class only brought agony upon me.
    All I could think of was the invite Alex had presented to his house... A part of me was super excited, I'd have some private time with my guy. Then there was the cautious side that feared things would get out of control and I'd end up in his bed, naked.

        As soon as it was over, I grabbed my bag and rushed out. Straight to where I'd find Alex. And boom! He was in his class, seated with a brunette I'd never seen before.
    He grinned as I went closer, standing to receive me.

And right then, in front of her, and his classmates, the damned male indulged me in a deep kiss.
   I heard some murmurs, as well as encouraging shouts from the boys.
  "Kiss her damn good bro!"

       "That's it man."

     "Damn she's hot."

   "I want a replay please."

It was all embarrassing.
        "Looks like you're ready."
He tucked some strands behind my ear, before introducing me to the shocked female.
"Gray, this is Daisy, my girlfriend, my present, and my future. Daisy, Gray, my study mate."
      Argh... That name sounded so pathetic. I hate the mate at the end of it.

I was his mate. I owned Alex fully.
   We shook hands lightly.
"Nice to meet you Daisy. Have heard a lot about you really."
My eyes fell on Alex. What had he told her? How shy and coy I was? Or how easily I got annoyed?

    "I said nothing honey."
Gray laughed shutting the textbook on her desk.
       "He'd given me an alert. Immediately his gal walks right in, it's bye-bye studies."
Alex took my hand.
"Catch you tomorrow Gray."
      She gave a nod.
But I could feel it, she did like
Alex as most girls did.
*                 *                  *

The door behind us shut. It was so dark inside. The only thing that kept me from running back out was the powerful hand holding mine.
    "Alex?" I whispered squinting my eyes to catch anything.
   "Why is it  so dark in-"
"I'm not sure either. Get back at the door, I have a funny feeling about this."
Alex sounded tensed as much as I was. Or less. I was literally freaking out.
         My hand wound at the knob. But the door refused to give in. And when I tried tilting it harder, it broke. I yelped jumping. "It broke!"
  "Daisy?"
His voice was across the lounge. Close to the hallway door.
"Alex? I'm... I'm getting scared."
Loud heartbeats blocked the path inside my ears.
"Daisy! Run!" It wasn't Alex, no.
But running I did, right to where I had heard Alex lastly. Feeling lucky nothing had come in the way.
    
       "Alex! Alex! Where are you?" I cried hopelessly. Swaying arms around in the air... There were tears crowding my vision. Fear crowding my brain.
  A deep groan erupted from the hallway. It was full of pain. It was Alex's.
My legs shot to where my body needed to be. Caring less about the potential danger lurking in every space of the air.
        Suddenly, the lights blinked back... And he was there, lying in a pool of crimson liquid, a dagger buried inside his heart.

  "Alex?"
If the devil was there to get me, he had. I just iced on the ground
Too terrified to move a muscle. Too horrified to even think.
      He wasn't moving, Alex was just, still.

A wave of nausea hit, but I pushed it back in to drop beside the motionless body.
  "Alex? Alex wake up!" I yelled shaking him by the shoulders.
     Nothing moved.
"Alex! I said wake up. Oh gawd!"
       No! He couldn't be dead. Who'd love me now? Who'd tease me?

"He's never coming back, Daisy!" The deep voice came again. It sounded like a horror character from a movie.
    My throbbing eyes shot to the bathroom door... He just stood there, long black coat with a hood covering all of his face.
Looking down at his right hand, blood was dripping in drops.
At that point, all my fear seemed to drain. And the fierce anger of him hurting Alex reigned.

     I could feel the evil stabbing within me as I grabbed the hockey stick that was always propped against the wall at the doorway. "You're gonna pay for this you bastard!" I screamed dashing for his frame... But he started running. Why was such an animal running?
Ah! I had no time to piece anything together, I just swayed the rod, hitting him on the skull with all the energy I could master.
    
  
     "Who the hell are you? Why did you stab Ale-" The stick was caught mid air from behind.
"Daisy? Oh gawd!"
A fine laughter followed from whoever had stopped me from beating the daylight out of the male groaning on the floor.

    I was spun around.
"Alex!" My hand let go of the weapon.
  "But...but-"
"Happy fool's day babe," he whispered kissing my forehead.
   "Oh gawd! Alex! You scared the shit out of me. I hate you."

He laughed even proudly, showing me the fake dagger attached to his chest. The fake blood. And, Stew on the floor with a probably big lump on the back of his head.
     "Damn Daisy!" Stew groaned as we helped him up. "You could have killed me."

I laughed. Allowing my nerves to calm. Everything was fine. Alex was alright. That's all that mattered.