That night Nina opened up to her father about everything. 

What her nightmares depicted, which was often people hurting her or others she was close to. The alarming fact that she was falling asleep in more places than just her bed and the feelings she was having towards those she dreamed about. 

She had also noted that she felt as if someone had been following in since the first day of school.

He took her admissions seriously and she ended up in Dr. Larson's office for another evaluation that determined she needed to be on a very specific medication that would calm her current anxiety and make the dreams she was having, feel less real.

Because in her current state, she might be seeing and feeling things that weren't really there. 

The family was reassured, once again, that the medication would help. 

But for Nina, it only made her feel sluggish and boring. Life was no longer bright, conversation seemed pointless and no matter how much she wanted to, she didn't care to do much of anything.

She felt as if she were back tracking, back to the months after her mother had passed. She no longer wanted to live that way.

So, after just a few weeks on the medication, that very much improved in the areas it was supposed to, Nina stopped taking it. She did not want to sacrifice her experiences because she could not get a grip on her dreams. 

She was determined to fix her mind on her own, without the use of drugs.

This was a secret she planned to keep from her father, knowing he would be angry with her for trying to take her own diagnosis into her own hands and against her doctors wishes. Not even Trish knew, nor Carter and she would keep it that way. 

Everyone was becoming more overbearing than supportive when it came to her situation. 

However, life outside her own struggles was blossoming, with Jax really fitting into the group quite well since he moved to town. Even Carter and Drew were warming up, never showing any distaste after the pair bonded over football. 

Ronnie though, kept his distance. Having a bad taste in his mouth since the bonfire. Jax seemed to respect his dislike and avoided him when he could. 

Tonight the group gathered at Carters home.

It wasn't something that happened often, so for that reason it was special occasion. Carters father was headed to Miami for his usual business trip, which usually initialed hookers. 

Ellis, wouldn't ever win the father of the year award. The pair always fought to the point of things getting physical. Nina always promised herself that she would put her best foot forward and try to see the best in Carter's dad, but it was difficult.

After his mom left them when he was just 10 years old, Ellis took all of his anger out on his only child.

About 6 months into Nina and Carter's relationship, Gavin and Ellis had dinner with with them. A chance for the two dads to meet. That night the subject turned to sports, where Ellis scolded Carter on a baseball game he had just lost hours prior. 

He strolled over to his many glass cases of memorable, pulled a autographed ball from its perch and launched it at Carter. The sound of the stitched leather hitting his chest filled the room in a finale act to humiliate his son. 

Nina could still remember the large black and blue mark that formed right below his collar bone. She watched it fade in the weeks that followed until only a small scar remained. A mark that reminded her of the life Carter went home to every night, with compliment. 

He never wanted anyone to feel bad for him. He knew no one would after taking one look at all the money his father had and labeling him as a cry baby, who took his means for granted. 

But Nina knew the truth, that his life was not as grand as it looked and he missed the warm love of his mother just as much as she did her own. It was trauma they bonded well over, without any words at all. 

Smiling to herself as she looked into the reflection of Carters front door, she craved his closeness while reminiscing on the low points in his life. The air from behind her trickled into the gap between her jeans, like the breath of someone close. 

She shuttered, turning towards the dark front yard. Only the faded sound of music from inside and crickets on the out, crept into the blackness behind her. It might have been a mistake to stop taking the medicine she was given, but even while taking it she felt uncomfortable being alone. 

It still felt like someone was watching her. 

This time, waiting. 

"Do you normally just stare into the dark like that?" Jax asked, assumed.

She turned to see that him standing at the now open front door, waiting for her to step inside. Surprised that he was already there, Nina brushed past him with a smirk.

"Does that freak you out?" Nina joked backed as he closed the door and followed her through the house to the rest of the group.

"Not at all, maybe I do the same thing," he retorted, winking in her direction as he moved into the kitchen to grab another drinking, leaving her to shake her head at his attempt to flirt. 

Nina looked around the living room.

Trish sat between Ronnie's legs as she threw mini marshmallows into the air for him to catch with his mouth. Drew and Taylor played Xbox on the far side of the couch and Jax was till busy in the kitchen. 

Someone was missing.

"Where's Carter?"

"He didn't call you?" Trish asked, settling her back into the couch, "He got into it with his dad before he left. His face took the worst of it," she spoke softly.

"Jesus," Nina expelled under her breath. She had been around long enough to see a pattern in his beatings. Unusually starting when Carter does something or says something his father doesn't like. 

It started out as small nudges or fingers in the chest. Then quickly escalated to objects and punches being thrown. She figured tonight was the same, an argument that lead to a fist to the face.

Carter usually took it, not wanting to show signs of weakness. But on nights like this, when heavy liquor was involved, he binged until he no longer remembered the pain of an absent father. 

It was a person she hated to see. Someone who felt like they needed to internalize their problems, because Nina was raised in a home that was so opposite. 

Making her way to his bedroom upstairs and away from the gathering Carter organized, Nina approached the cracked bedroom door. Carefully, she pushed it open to see him sitting in his computer chair, staring at a black computer screen as he pressed a bottle of tequila to his lips. 

The only light in the room was from a small bedside lamp, dimming the mood even further. Tip toping in, she shut the door behind her and carefully moved to his side. She place a gentle hand on his shoulder, feeling him startle slightly from the touch.

The faint black and blue mark just above cheekbone shinned right at her, presenting itself as a humiliating  hello.

"Hate to see what the other guy looks like," she tried to joke lightly. 

Carter didn't look her way he continued blanking staring at the computer, taking another sip of the bottle, which was half empty. 

Nina reached for it and to her surprise, Carter let his fingers release from the glass, "I've only had a few sips, Ronnie handed it to me after finishing most of it."

Nodding, she set it on his desk and sat down on his lap. His hands immediately  wrapped around her waist, gripping her thighs not with sexual intent, but with comfort. 

"Do you want to talk about it?" she asked quietly, grazing the flushed skin near his eye. 

For the first time since she entered the room, he looked to her. His eyes glazed with sadness and disappointment as he shook his head. Nina knew he wouldn't want to, but it never deterred her from asking anyway.

She hoped, one day he might open up and let himself break. It might feel better than walking around with cracks, pressured by others to shatter.

"I'm tired," he admitted flatly, his words slightly horse. 

Standing, Nina grabbed his hand and guided him to his own bed, letting him lay flat, over the covers, still clothed. Within seconds, she did the same. Cuddling to his chest, feeling his heart beat slow to a relaxing rhythm. 

And after what seemed like hours, she opened her eyes, not even realizing she had closed them. Looking up slightly, she glanced at Carters sleeping face, he hadn't from the position he first laid in. Carefully, she unhooked herself from his side and planted her feet on the cold floor.

Checking her phone, hours had indeed past since they had fallen asleep. Well after 1am, she opened the text from Trish with a picture attached of Nina and Carter sleeping. With it was a message letting Nina know that she and everyone else would let themselves out. 

For safe measure, Nina quietly made her way out of the bedroom and down the stairs to be sure that the doors were locked. The large house was not secluded like Nina's it always made her uneasy. A year prior, the same neighborhood had a string of break ins and the person was never caught.

The story still creeped her out.

Checking the front door and the back for good measure, she looked out the side glass windows to see that only her and Carters cars remained in the driveway before making her way back upstairs to him.

Walking past Elli's darkened study, she stopped, noticing something.

It was open.

Checking to see that Carters door was still slightly ajar, just as she left it, she made her way into his dads office. It wasn't that she meant to pry, but in all the times she had visited his home, she had never been in this particular room. 

Because the door had always been shut, whether Ellis was in it or not.

Curiosity had gotten the best of her as her eyes scanned the walls. More glass cases, this time filled with war material filled the space. 

Knives, guns, spears.

It was odd and the complete opposite aesthetic to the rest of the house, it was no wonder that it was always closed. Gliding her fingers along the desk, her eyes squint to see the picture of Carter when he was a child nestled in the corner, next to a cordless house phone.

She smirked, sitting down in the oversizer leather chair.

The floor creaked near the doorway and she looked up to see Carters shadow resting on it. It was dark, only a small stream of moonlight penetrated the window. Slightly embarrassed that she was caught where she knew she wasn't supposed to be, Nina stood from the chair.

"Okay, you caught me. I'm sorry I didn't mean to wake you," she admitted, taking a step around the desk. But Carter didn't respond and Nina still couldn't see him from where she stood, "Am I in trouble?" She joked, knowing the flirtatious questions would gain his attention. 

But when he still didn't answer, a chill ran up Nina's spine. 

"Okay, very funny. Jokes over now, can you turn on the light?" She urged, still with the hopes that he was just taking this a little too far, "Carter, I said turn on the fucking lights!" The statement was loud and stern, but it dripped with fear. 

Suddenly a high pitched ringing filled her ears and the air in the room shifted, as if it was sliced through. A warm wet liquid trickled down her neck as she reached up, her fingers grazing the top of her ear.

Blood.

Looking over her shoulder, her gaze caught the shine of a hunting knife lodged in the wood behind her. And before she could process her situation, Nina snatched the phone off the desk and ran to the open bathroom just feet from her, the figure lunging after her. 

Shutting the door and locking it just as the person on the other side slammed their body into it, in hopes to break through. 

Small sobs came from Nina's throat, as she was unable to contain them. Her chest was tight and it was becoming difficult to catch her breath. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, she calmed herself, wondering if this might be another dream. 

Slowing opening her wet eyes, she watched as the blood dripped at her feet in small round splatters. 

The crimson liquid reminded her this was very real as her fingers dialed on the phone glued to her trembling hand. 

"911, what's your emergency?"

Before she could speak, a hurried knocking came from the other side of the door. Nina stayed silent, afraid of what might happen if whoever it was beyond the door, knew she dialed the police.

"Nina?" A worried voice broke the thickness around her.

Carter.

"Nina, there's blood out here baby. I need you to tell me if you're okay," the door handle jiggled again and Carters voice rose, "Nina, open the door you're scaring me!"

Just then, he attempted to bust through the door, causing Nina to jump back, nearly dropping the phone from her grip. She watched as the wood shuttered from his weight as he continued to try to reach her.

Nina slowly lifted the phone back to her ear as she backed against a wall, "Please," she started in a whisper, "I think he's trying to kill me"