My fingers fiddle with the hem of my dress feeling slightly anxious about getting out of the car. You always look like a princess in a dress, my beautiful princess. Mom would always make the same comment whenever I would wear a dress, it gave me confidence and made me feel good about myself. It's why I'm wearing one today.

I need to feel good when today is undoubtedly going to be difficult to get through. It's mom's birthday and this year I'm actually going rather than wallowing in self pity at home.

Taking a deep breathe I force myself out of the car only to crash into someone. "Sorry."

"It's fine. Kira, right?" I close the car door with furrowed eyebrows. "Oh. I'm Dominic but you can call me Dom. We had English together last year."

My eyes flicker across his face trying to remember him but I'm drawing a blank. I don't recognize him - in fact I've never seen him - but I guess last year was kind of blurred for me. It was more of go to school, endure it, come home, repeat. I didn't bother acknowledging anyone else but the girls.

"Sorry I don't remember you," I apologize, slipping my keys into my bag before putting it on my shoulder. "For future reference you might want to be careful when walking past parked cars."

Smiling softly he nods, running a hand through his dark hair. I stop for a moment as my eyes land on the tattoo peaking out from his neck of what looks like a dragon, specifically one I've seen before in a certain gallery exhibition. His dark eyes  meet mine and I notice his expression change within an instance.

"I'll be more careful next time." I try to keep a mask of innocence up but I'm not sure if he's convinced.

The words he spoke were cold to match his facial expression and almost soulless eyes. It's like he had a complete shift in moods. I feel my fingers itch knowing that I need to get into school - where there's more people - because the numbers are slowly dwindling.

I step around him and onto the pathway, stopping in my tracks as an idea comes to mind. This will either expose what I'm thinking or wash away the doubts of him being one of the people on the list. I spin around noticing the flicker in gazes from deadly back to inviting which sends a chill down my spine.

"Are you coming? School starts in five or so minutes." I smile as if I'm not mentally screaming at myself for being an idiot. Dom looks between me and the building, I gesture to it with a chuckle. "I don't know about you but my mathematics teacher doesn't like me being late so I kind of need to hurry."

Dom nods with a tight lipped smile. "Go ahead. I forgot my Chemistry textbook."

With that I walk away, trying to remain somewhat calm with one thought in my mind. I need to find Rhys. By the time I've stopped at my locker to get my things I've got a minute until class starts. I get my books and rush to first period, sending a text to Rhys in the process.

To Rhys 😘
Was Dominic one of the names you told me about? If so, did he have dark hair and eyes, dragon tattoo on his neck??

I send it just as the bell goes and I enter my classroom. As I approach my desk I notice Blair do a double take, eyes widening as well as her jaw dropping to the floor. I raise an eyebrow at her expression, tapping her chin as I slide into my seat.

"You're actually here," She whispers, eyes flickering to the dress I'm wearing. "In a dress as well- what is Rhys doing to you?"

I shake my head feeling my phone vibrate in my hand. "He isn't responsible for my actions. Rhys doesn't dictate what I do."

From Rhys 😘
How do you know that? Where are you?

To Rhys 😘
Next door to you... I just hit him with the car door and it was off how he was talking to me so I connected the dots...

From Rhys 😘
Wait for me after your class. I'm walking with you.

To Rhys 😘
I'm in the school, he can't get to me.

From Rhys 😘
It's for my peace of mind otherwise I'll just walk out now and wait outside your class. I can miss one lesson, or day. Whatever.

To Rhys 😘
Stay in class, I'll wait.. geez ... you're still coming tonight, right?

From Rhys 😘
And so is Nate and Lachlan. I only told them today would have been your mom's birthday and it's tough for you. I did mention anything else...hope that's okay...

To Rhys 😘
It's fine.... I hate math...help...

From Rhys 😘
Stop procrastinating by texting me and listen to the lesson. If you need help, I'll look at your work during lunch and see if I can explain it better. Sound good?

To Rhys 😘
I guess so 😩

Locking my phone I finally tune back into the lesson scrunching up my face at the notes on the board. I really hate this subject with a passion and it doesn't help the teacher is skeptical of me. He thinks I'm responsible for what happened to his desk but he has no proof because I was in class at the time.

"Why won't you tell me about this Dominic?" I fiddle with the pendant of my necklace as Rhys sits opposite me, scanning my homework. He looks up for a moment with a shake of his head. "Rhys, you promised you wouldn't keep things from me."

"He's a head drug dealer to high school seniors who then distribute it further," He whispers with a glance at the open bedroom door. "He makes sure they're eighteen so he wouldn't be responsible or throw it back saying they could be arrested as well. Dom is smart but he's not smart enough not to keep his supply in the boot of his car where the spare tire goes."

I furrow my eyebrows. "So you're going to rat him out to the police?"

"I'm going to warn him off of you first just to make sure he doesn't ever come in a fifty  feet radius of you again," He holds the page out to me before flopping down onto his side. "If he doesn't listen then I will rat him out also inform his grandmother of his illicit acts. She used to be a cop and she's his only family left, she'll disown him if he doesn't go to jail."

"That seems a bit excessive. . ." I take the sheet with equations on it, tempted to just scrunch it up and throw it in the bin.

"Kira we've been through this," Rhys sighs and nudges my knee with his hand to get my attention. "These people are bad guys. They lack morals and humanity, you could say they're sociopaths."

"You used to be one of them."

I raise an eyebrow and he drops his head, shaking it. "Past tense and I'm only protecting those I care about," I drop the paper having him flash me a sad smile. "I want to protect you from everything because you're too delicate to be crushed by monsters like us."

"You aren't a monster," My hand moves up to push back his hair in an attempt to remove the messy look. "I refuse to believe you are because not once have you scared me and hopefully, you never will."

His eyes soften and for a moment he smiles genuinely. I retract my hand as he sits up, moving closer to me than before. One hand props himself up while the other grasps onto my neck sending a shoot of electricity through me.

"I really want to kiss you now," His eyes meet mine and I lick my lips on instinct. "I want to give you a reason not to fear or hate this day for the rest of your life. Can I?"

Nodding I feel my heart pound and resist the urge to pull back. I can't let fear over run my life. Rhys moves closer and hesitantly his lips connect with mine. I squeeze my eyes shut half expecting him to be revolted or for some disaster to strike but it doesn't.

His lips are warm and slightly chapped against mine creating a warmth through my body. My hand moves to his knee to lean into the kiss a bit more despite him cradling my head. I pull back in the slightest only for him to chase my lips, capturing them again in a slow kiss.

Within a few seconds Rhys pulls back and he bites down on his bottom lip. "How was that?" My lips are throbbing for some reason and I have no idea why, all I know is I liked the feeling and want more of it. "I was trying to be soft, not crush you to death. But your lips are slightly red which makes me think otherwise. Are you okay? You aren't respond-"

"It was perfect," I smile, biting the corner of my lip. "Why are you so nervous?"

Rhys lets out a nervous chuckle. "Because I didn't want to screw this up. You deserve the best. . ."

"You're a suck up," I pop the 'p' and he raises an eyebrow playfully. "Don't give me that look. I swear you say that like this on purpose just to mess with my head."

"Well if it works," I grab my pillow from behind me and swat him in the head with it. He catches it with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Oh, it's on."

I squeal when he practically tackles me back onto the bed. Trying to hit him with the pillow, he discards it to the floor while swinging his leg over me. He grabs another pillow and starts hitting me while I try to pull it from his grasp.

"Rhys!" I laugh, finally managing to get the pillow and tuck it underneath my head. However I wasn't expecting his hands to still be attached to the pillow and for him to practically hover over me. "Um. You can get off."

"If I don't?" He teases and I pout.

For a split second I see hesitancy in his eyes but it quickly vanishes as he leans down. I just wasn't expecting him to gently bite on my bottom lip. When I stop pouting my mouth gapes at his actions and he shrugs as if didn't just do something intimate.

"Why did you do that?"

"Because I don't like you pouting even if you look adorable," He leans back down, pressing a kiss to my forehead. "You know. I don't think I'm going to be able to stop kissing you now."

"Well you better try hard,"

Rhys rolls off me and I sit up as I look at Blair with wide eyes. She leans both arms on the door frame with a glare etched into her face in his direction. They still don't like each but I know Blair is just trying to protect me. Not so much over the whole ex boyfriend fiasco.

"Because I'm not the one you should be intimidated by. Although I do have your permission to interrogate you because you're clearly dating now."

"It's always lovely to see you," Rhys replies sarcastically while leaning over to pull his shoes back on. "But I don't think today is the day were you attempt to interrogate me. "

"Does your dad know?" She looks to me while I stand up to slip my heels on with a hesitant shake of my head. "Is there any reason he doesn't know? Because I have a feeling there is."

"Now just isn't the right time," I deadpan, glancing to Rhys who seems confused. "But I think he knows already. I'm just avoiding another awkward conversation like the one he asked me whether or not we were having sex. I don't function socially, how do you think that went?"

Blair sucks her lips in and glances to Rhys, pointing a finger. "Treat her fantastically and we won't have a problem. You don't, I won't hesitate to come after you with a crowbar. Understand?"

"Perfectly." He gives a tight lipped smile and I can tell he's holding something back.

"Now that that's done. Your friends are also here and I left Taylor with them to so we better hurry." Blair leaves and Rhys holds his hands out to me.

"I'm sorry about that."

He shrugs with a smile. "Releastically, I knew I had that coming."

"But you shouldn't," I fire back, frowning that she still treats him like a criminal. "She needs to build a bridge and get over it because quite frankly I'm getting sick of it when her boyfriend is definitely not a saint."

Rhys stops in the hallway with a small smile. "That's adorable that you're protective of me," He pulls me closer, tucking my arm around his back. "It doesn't matter what others think of me. Your opinion is the one I care about, possibly your dad's."

"It's a good thing he likes you then," I stand up slightly and press a kiss to the corner of his mouth. Except he reacts quickly, as I pull back he pecks my lips. "But not enough to witness you kiss me, okay?"

I warn him briefly to avoid the reaction of him putting a distance between us. "Well can I have a kiss before we go down?"

"You just got one." I smile and start to walk downstairs while he huffs in response.

When we enter the living room I instantly get pulled into a hug. It startles me but I recognize it to be Jamie. "Hey. How are you?"

As she pulls back my eyes flicker around the room that's filled with everyone that I care about. Usually on her birthday I've always felt isolated and alone, like nobody would care if I vanished from the face of the earth. It hurt but now it's more like a faint sting.

"Better than I thought," Her eyes fall on Rhys and she raises her eyebrows. "Um this is Rhys, meet Jamie."

Jamie doesn't hold back the obvious check out and I notice him look to me. I shrug, knowing she's just absorbing the fact he's my boyfriend. "I've heard about you. Don't worry, nothing bad and for your sake I hope I never do."

"How do you know Kira?" He asks, dropping his hand from mine when he hears the sound of my father's shoes on the floor. "You don't go to our school-"

"Jamie?" Dad stops for a moment, eyes going wide until he smiles. "How are you? I haven't seen you in a while."

"I'm good," She answers sweetly and he nods moving off towards the staircase. "We met at a support group for those who were affected by mental illness, from experience or second hand. I guess I was the only one who made it a little easier for her."

Rhys glances to me then back to her. "So you've been through. . ." He trails off and she gives a tight lipped smile.

"Yeah but there's no need to discuss an unnecessary sob story," Jamie diverts the subject before jiggling the bag on her shoulder. "I brought the Wii so we can play Mario Cart or some game. Help me set it up?"

Rhys glances to me and I give a nod as he follows her over to the TV. That invitation was so she could talk to him personally and it's most likely layong out ground rukes when it comes to me. She did the same with the girls, more so to keep me from having a mental breakdown.

"You and Rhys are cute," Taylor whispers as she stands beside me. "I heard from Blair that you two were about to kiss up there."

"We did," I mumble and notice her do a doubel take at me with a growing grin. "Why do you look so happy?"

"Because you've finally kissed a boy," I suck my lips in as my cheeks flare with embarrassment. "Just to clarify - he is your boyfriend, right?"

I nod once and shift awkwardly when Rhys glances over at me. "Yeah he is."

Rhys smiles in return before accidentally being hit by the capables by Jamie. "That's good. I want to see you happy now," She cherishes chuckles lightly and I notice a look wash over her face.  "You deserve to have someone that would do anything for you."

"You do as well," I cut in, knowing her change of mood is because of her current situation. "It shouldn't matter what your parents think of your sexuality, they can't control your life forever. I'd like to see you happy, confident in your own skin as who you really are. No matter what happens I'll be here for you, so will Blair and probably even Nate."

She bites into her red lips with a stiff nod. "I wish it was that easy. I'd like to have a relationship of my own choosing,"  Blinking a few times she shrugs off the negatively and gesturss to the stairs. "I need to use the bathroom, excuse me."

Watching her leave I frown at her predicament. I want Taylor to be happy but I have no idea how to help her when she won't help herself. As difficult as it may be, she needs to tell her family so she won't have to hide in the closet forever. I don't want to see her married to a guy with a  baby on the way when she's thirty.

She deserves more than that. Just like Blair can do better than the scumbag called Derek. You're being a hypocrite. There's a difference between Rhys and Derek; one is trying to change while the other is hell bent on being an asshole for the rest of his life.

"Alright, who's up first?" Jamie exclaims with three wheels in her hands. 

I reach out for one while Lachlan takes one and by default Jamie joins us. The living room is a bit cramped but it's manageable. On the one seated Blair has her legs dangling while the beanbag infront of her is empty probably from Taylor.

Nate and Lachlan occupy two thirds of the lounge, as I sit down my eyes go wide while Rhys sits down between my legs. "What are you doing?"

"Sitting?" He drops his head back and I feel thankful my dress has stockings on under it. "Don't worry, I won't distract you."

"But you're sitting on the floor," I push his head forward and stand up, moving I gesture the the seat with the control. "I'll go get dad's desk chair."

Rhys hauls himself back and I barely get three steps before he pulls me back onto his lap. "Or you could just sit here."

"Guys please don't," Lachlan whines, moving over and crushing Nate against the other armrest. "Couples are infectious. I don't feel the need to be in a relationship now."

"Because you're such a great catch," Jamie responds sarcastically, crossing her legs over one another while Lachlan looks at her with shock. "It's more you can't get into a relationship than that you don't want to be in one. No respectable girl would want to be with a guy who thinks so highly of himself."

Lachlan blinks a few times before returning to his usual self. "I'm pretty sure you don't go to our school so that makes me wonder how the hell you know that."

"You dated my ex-best friend," She explains with a slow nod. "For probably a week before you dumped her and she turned into an absolutely pyscho, thanks for that by the way. But she ranted about how you wouldn't toss away some girls number, she was jealous etc etc. Ringing any bells?"

Jamie acts casual and I try not to laugh at how baffled Lachlan looks. She's a lot to take in considering her lack of a filter but she hasn't got one for when it comes to things apart from her personal life. There's a reason why she jokes the way she does and why she chooses to be optimistic, that way nobody will ever know the truth.

"Bellamy," He clucks his tongue and shifts uncomfortable. "So you're the girl she-"

"Bullied. Harassed. Tortured. Egged my house. You betcha," She nods once. "But that's behind me because she's no longer my problem, she's Delaware's problem. I'm being Luigi."

Like I said before, she deflects quite easily and Bellamy is one of the people she doesn't want to talk about. Her step-mother coming in a close second on that list considering both have played a big part in why she was at that support group. I admire that ability because she is persistent in keeping it a secret, she only told me the truth at the end of last year.

"Who are you playing as?" Rhys whispers, head resting on my shoulder while his arms wrap around me. I turn my head in the slightest while I press the button to confirm. "Seriously, a dragon?"

"There's nothing wrong with Yoshi," I fire back, knowing that he's just teasing by the small grin on his face. "To correct you, he's a lizard thanks."

"I thought you'd play as Peach-"

"Nope because I refuse to be a princess who can't save herself," I look back to the screen as the music starts, showing angles of the track. "I'd rather be a lizard."

He presses a soft kiss to the spot along my jaw line where my jaw and neck meet. "I know you don't need saving but I'm going to protect you regardless."

"Then who's going to protect you?" I whisper, turning the slightest despite the race about to start. Rhys seems stunned, probably clueless to what I mean. "You constantly have to be strong and it's draining, I can tell because you just want to give into the accusations. I won't let you because I know that you're better than the scary jerk everyone thinks you are."

His eyes flicker as I keep my voice soft and quiet so nobody else hears. The way they soften causes my heart to skip a beat and seemingly careless he gently presses a kiss to my lips. It's more than a peck and reminds me of the kiss we had in the bedroom. Soft, gentle and slow which has me feeling like mush.

"Alright I'm putting some music on," Nate states loudly and I take that as a hint to pull away. When I see the screen paused and everyones eyes on us I feel myself flush with heat. "Oh. I'm glad you're back now. I think you two should separate for a little bit because as much as I love you both, it's making me jealous so move your butt over here."

Reluctantly Rhys releases me and I move along to sit down between Nate's legs, using a pillow as support on the floor. He grabs a few strands of my hair and starts playing with it while the game starts. From the corner of my eye I can see Rhys watching and with a smile I feel content.

I have people that I care about around me and although my life is chaotic, I can get through it if I gave them. That's the difference when my mom died, I was lost and confused with how to accept it. I was angry at dad and holding him responsible, then I treated her depression like it was a disease that needed to a cure and lastly I held myself responsible because I couldn't save her.

Loosing her was enough for me to know that I don't want to lose someone else ever again. I don't think I would handle it. Instead of worrying about the potential danger in my life I'm going to focus on the good things at the moment, otherwise I'll go insane.

💚❤💚❤Merry Christmas 💚❤💚❤

Okay. So this chapter isn't edited at all because I'm exhausted as it gets  so sorry about that. But still a good one right?

Question: favorite part of this chapter?

Thoughts? Feelings? Predictions?

-inspiredrlh 💕