"I don't get why Rhys is going," Taylor mumbles while carefully applying red lipstick to her lips. "Your father knew I was going. I would be able to stay with you all night."

I rub my lips together already annoyed by the feeling of the lipstick on my lips. "I have no idea. Besides it isn't like Rhys is so bad. . ."

"Well hopefully I'll get to know him better tonight," She caps her lipstick, sticking it back inside her clutch. While she fiddles with her hair I move to stand beside her feeling extremely uncomfortable. "It's not that I don't think he's a good person. Humans make mistakes and all. I just want to know whether he's good for you."

"Good for me?" I raise an eyebrow and she turns giving a soft smile.

"As in he won't involve you in the kind of stuff Derek did with Blair. I think that's the main reason we're both so protective of you," Her eyes flicker over my shoulder before she moves to the dress hanging on the top of the shower frame. "Well I'll be waiting downstairs for you to get ready. Don't take too long but just send me a text if you need help."

Nodding she lets go of the dress before heading downstairs with our parents. I lock the door behind her, resting my head against the wood with a sigh. I really hope tonight goes well because for some reason I have this feeling that something is going to go wrong, disastrously in fact.

Taylor's mother works as a lawyer and while she doesn't have much authority in the workplace, she does have the connections similarly to my father. It's by association that herself and her family were invited. Anything to kiss up to my father to stop him from leaving.

My father is good at his job and considering everything that's happened with Brian, his father would probably be groveling for him to stay. He isn't someone you would want to face up against in the court room.

I fiddle with the straps of the dress that loops around my neck circularly. Overall the dress we decided on was a purple that ended just above my knees. While I have stockings on with black heels I still manage to hold some level of my own style.

Even with Blair trying to get me into a pink dress or just something stereotyped to be girly. I refused and went with purple as a compromise. The shades on the darker side but the drapping of material makes it look girly.

I almost didn't want to get it because part of my chest is exposed - although it doesn't necessarily show that much cleavage - I'm hoping the material won't move. But Blair assured me that it won't as long as I don't tug on it excessively.

My phone vibrates on the counter jump starting the slow beat of my heart. I exhale and unlock it without picking it up, using the vanity to support myself. But when I read it I instantly look at my appearance to make sure I'm ready.

I rub my lips together again and bare my teeth to check there's no lipstick. Quickly I purse my lips as I readjust my dress, stopping with a shake of my head. There's no need to be nervous. Yet here I am acting like Rhys' arrival is a big deal when releastically it isn't.

Grabbing my phone I flick the light switch off while making a detour to my room. I grab my bag, sliding my phone inside and making my way to the living room where everyone is waiting. Not necessarily for me, they were waiting for Rhys and for the limousine to arrive.

Why we need a limousine is beyond me when we're perfectly capable of driving ourselves. I think that would be Taylor's parents doing, more so to prove that they're capable of spending money or something.

"He's actually the person who stopped Brian from tormenting her," My eyes widen as I stop in the door frame of the room. The sound of my heels altered everyone and I give a tight lipped smile to them. "I was just about to come and get you, you look gorgeous sweetie."

I nod awkwardly and glance to Rhys who steps to the side so he's leaning against the wall now. "Taylor never told us you had a boyfriend but then again she never tells us about relationships."

"Oh they aren't dating," My dad chuckles, eyes flickering between us. "I don't think they are at least. They're friends."

"What did you say your name was?" Henry asks and I feel my palms sweat slightly.

This shouldn't be an interrogation so why does it feel like one?

"Rhys Adams." His hands are clasped infront of him while he nods in acknowledgement.

That's when Henry frowns. "As in Oscar Adams boy?"

From beside me I notice Rhys tense in the slightest but he nods once. I look to dad and widen my eyes for help. "One of them."

The tone he speaks is calm but laced with slight aggression. I'm guessing his father is a touchy subject judging by that reaction. Henry nods and I don't miss the obvious once over, feeling my jaw clench at the obvious action. I look to Taylor who clears her throat and gains both of her parents attention.

"How long until the limousine is here?"

With a knock on the door I grab onto Rhys shoulder to get him to face me. "That must be the driver. Shall we?" Mary responds, walking as if she has a stick up her ass.

I wait until Taylor's parents leave the house and my dad is pulling on his coat. "Are you okay?"

"Don't take too long," Dad states and he glances to Rhys. "Everything okay Rhys?"

He nods once and Dad looks back to me while I give a slight smile. "We'll be out in a minute."

"I am so sorry," Taylor squeaks out her eyes wide in horror when Rhys moves away from the wall. "My parents are kind of mature and well righteous."

She words carefully with a false smile and I swallow. "Don't take it too personally, they don't like me either because I'm too promiscuous apparently."

"I wouldn't describe you as promiscuous," Rhys finally speaks and I relax a little at the amusement in his tone. He looked angry. He looked guarded and I was worried that he would stay that way for the rest of the night. "You do look gorgeous by the way."

His voice drops in the slightest almost as if he doesn't want Taylor to hear. Raising an eyebrow I do an obvious once over to see he's wearing the same clothes he did to the art gallery, except he has a tie on underneath a darker black jacket.

"So you figured something out then?" I gesture to his outfit and he grins pulling his jacket back a bit to show off.

He does a spin and it takes all I have not to laugh at him. "It's not a tux but I think I look good enough for a gala."

"I think you look handsome," The words fall before I can stop them and my lips part in shock. Rhys lets go of his jacket while a smug smile pulls onto his lips. "I mean. Um-"

"We should probably go now," Taylor raises her voice slightly, gesturing to the door. Rhys looks between us but nods and heads to walk out. I slouch slightly having Taylor link our arms together and slowly pull us outside. "Just breathe. You were doing so well until you realized what you were doing."

I take the jacket she forces into my chest as she pulls the door shut. "What the hell was I doing?" I hiss.

She doesn't answer me as we rush to the limousine where Rhys is standing. I avoid eye contact with him while Taylor climbs in first. Before I can Rhys' hand grabs onto my upper arm before leaning down to my ear.

"You were flirting with me," His lips brush against my ear sending chills down my spine. "But its good to know it's reciprocated."

He pulls back barely enough for me to turn my head. I feel my heart pound at the close proximity and I notice the subtle flicker in his eyes. Stop it. His hand slips from my arm and I climb inside with Rhys following shortly.

I hate this place. Everything seems so big yet so claustrophobic by the number of people filling it. It's been about an hour since I've seen my father, Taylor is on the hunt for food and Rhys went to the bathroom about five minutes ago. In all honesty my anxiety is spiking to a high level.

Especially considering I can see Brian from here. I told Rhys that I would wait for him exactly here but every passing second feels like it's going to give me a heart attack. I continue the scroll through my Facebook feed as a distraction hoping to god one of them comes back soon.

"You know I don't think I've ever heard my father yell so much at me," I exit the Facebook app and subtly go into the messenger app. "I know you can hear me and you don't need to contact either one of your guards. It won't take long."

I can feel my palms sweat in the slightest and fingers tighten on my phone. "What do you want Brian?"

"Nothing really. I just wanted to know what the hell possessed you to throw me under the bus with my father," I lock my phone and brave eye contact although I feel like I could be sick. "You know the saying about snitches don't you?"

I feel the saliva in my mouth dry up. "My intention wasn't to rat you out. It slipped out of my mouth before I could stop it."

"I don't care whether you meant to or not," He snaps, jaw clenching out of anger. "I want to know how the hell you're going to make it up to me."

Looking around he clicks his fingers in my face, the motion sends me back into the wall out of fear of being hit. "What do you want?"

Brian's lips curl into a smirk and I can tell that's what he wanted to hear. You never make a deal with the devil. I try not to let the fear overcome me although that wouldn't necessarily be the right word to describe how I feel. I'm nervous because I don't know what he would do. He's unpredictable.

"What's going on with you and Rhys?" I furrow my eyebrows and relax slightly. "From what I've heard he's become rather attached to your side - I don't know whether that's because you know the truth about his brother's sexuality or if the rumours are true."

"What rumours?"

He snorts back a laugh while a smirk remains in place. "I'm surprised you haven't heard any of them yet. But I'll fill you in - apparently Rhys has ulterior motives - most people think you two are dating, why else would he suddenly be around you?"

"We aren't dating," I snap, my annoyance quickly overcoming the anxiety I was feeling. "I don't why everyone just seems to think that we are. I didn't realize that we couldn't just be friends."

Brian rolls his eyes. "Whatever it is I want it to stop," He chuckles slowly and I know he isn't joking from the look on his face. "Those rumours are circulating rather quickly and I'm just waiting for someone to jump at the opportunity to hurt Rhys by hurting you. As someone who used to be a friend of yours, I don't want to see you in tears or in a hospital bed over him."

"Why do you care all of a sudden?"

"Because of your parents," He states and I know the meaning behind it. When his weren't caring or loving towards him mine always were and for a moment I see the younger version of Brian in his words. "I'm not a complete dick, especially when I know how worried your father is with you being around someone with a criminal record."

I blink furiously. "Rhys hasn't got a criminal record."

"Kira I know you aren't that stupid,"He scoffs in disbelief. "He would have one because of a certain incident in sophomore year. Or did you forget him beating someone to a pulp escape your mind?"

Swallowing I fiddle with my ring. "Is that it or is there something else?"

"I think it's in your best interest to stay away," He takes a step back. "Rhys has a lot of enemies from the things he's done over the years and guys like him don't have any weaknesses. His brother is one thing but a possible girlfriend is another. . ."

He walks away and I look down at the ring on my finger. That was extremely weird but for some reason I can feel his words eating away at my mind. I don't know the extent of what Rhys has done over the years but he's got a reputation for a reason.

Although I don't necessarily believe in rumors, I don't want to find out the hard way that they're true. I need to know what the hell Rhys has done because if what Brian said is true - I could very well be a target - depending on whether or not I actually mean anything to Rhys.

He barely knows you, why would you mean anything to him?

Cold hands cover my eyes and I would have screamed if I didn't recognize the chuckle and voice. "Did you miss me?"

"Your hands are cold," I remove his hands and spin to face him. I clasp his hands in mine although it doesn't necessarily work because his are bigger than mine. "Why are they so cold?"

"Maybe because I just washed them?" He smiles and I can't help but smile back. "But at least your hands can keep mine warm -if they weren't so small."

I scoff and scratch the back of his hands lightly. "It's not my fault yours are so big." My smile slips as the thoughts nag their way into my mind.

"What's wrong?" I blink a few times and force a smile. Rhys however rolls his eyes, switching our hands over so he pulls me closer. "No you don't. What's wrong?"

The movement makes my heart beat faster. I don't think this is what you do with your guy friend. Flashes of us being rather closer come to mind, all the touches that we've shared or contact that wasn't really necessary - that doesn't seem normal to me.

"Do you care about me?" I ask, avoiding looking in his eyes as I continue. "It sounds stupid but I have a feeling that you do when you probably shouldn't. . ."

This time I look up to gauge a reaction but there's none. He remains neutral and it irks me he does. "Why shouldn't I care about you? We've been through this before I'm pretty sure."

"Because you said you didn't before," I state and he exhales. "And I think that was an instinct to pretend you don't care so nobody thinks you have a weakness. If someone thinks you do they'll target that or am I completely off?"

Slowly he nods. "You're right but I have a feeling those aren't your words," I try to pull my hands out of his but he doesn't let me. "I have a feeling that someone has told you - most likely Brian because I can see him talking to your dad - that you could get hurt which isn't a lie. But I'm not going to let you get hurt."

"So you've got enemies that would resort to that?" Rhys clucks his tongue and I can see him trying to think of a way to put it so it doesn't sound so bad. "What have you done that would make someone resort to hurting another person?"

He removes his hands from mine runnjng a hand through his hair. "It doesn't matter-"

"That's code for I don't want to tell you," I raise an eyebrow and cross my arms. "You're talking to someone who knows how to keep secrets. I think I should know whether or not I should be worried about something happening to me like it did to Nate."

Rhys shakes his head. "Nothing like that will happen to you. I'll make sure of it, trust me Kira."

"But is it a possibility?" I ask and when he doesn't answer I shake my head. "One secret a week. I want to know if it's possible for something like that to happen to me. . ."

He nods once and I exhale feeling as if my nerves are getting the better of me. "It is possible if certain people find out that we're friends because they'll jump to conclusions like most people have about us dating."

"But we aren't dating." I hiss and try to keep myself calm although my irritation levels are almost at maximum capacity. "Is it so absurd that we're friends?"

"Would it be so absurd if we did date?"

I go to yell at him but my lips quickly close. Did he just. . . My mouth gapes like a fish and I don't miss the flicker of emotions in his eyes. Okay, I need to say something because if I don't then this could get very awkward.

"I don't think it would be," I make weird hand gestures, blinking multiple times to try to think of a coherent response. "It wouldn't be weird but would you - I don't think you would -  because that would be weird and a bit awkward?"

A smile tugs on his lips while I try not to die of embarrassment. "I think you make things more awkward then they have to be."

"Who? Kira?" Taylor walks back holding a tray filled with bite size food. She offers it to us and I tilt my head slightly. "She has a natural talent for making things awkward. Quiche?"

I take one and then look back to her. "How did you get a tray full of food?"

"I have my ways," She glances between us before furrowing her eyebrows. "So what were you making awkward?"

Before I can speak Rhys does. "We were just talking about dating experiences."

"Oh, you told him about the popcorn bucket?"

I give Rhys a look of disbelief who just grins and turns his attention to me. "I've heard that story, quite amusing in all honesty."

"Well I can tell you about the time she almost had her first kiss."

"Oh my god no!" I widen my eyes, cheeks burning out of embarrassment.

Rhys chuckles and glances at me. "Does that mean you haven't had your first kiss?"

"Nope," I admit with burning cheeks and wanting to knock the tray of food onto my best friend. "And before she embarrasses me further I want to tell you - just so you get a good context - that I've always wanted it to be perfect and the fact this was almost it makes me want to crawl into a hole and never come out."

Rhys raises an eyebrow and turns his attention back to Taylor. "Okay so I'm curious. What happened?"

Found this mildly adorable to write.

Question: why/how do you think Rhys has enemies?

Thoughts? Feelings? Predictions?

-inspiredrlh 💕