Something soft touches my forehead, surely waking me up. I feel someone get in under the covers and wrap an arm around me, pulling me close. Knowing that it's no one else but Wesley, my response to him is snuggling into his chest.

" I thought I was being careful to not wake you up." He whispers above my head.

I sigh, opening my eyes and tilting my head back, so I look up at him.

" I was wondering why you haven't snuck into my room yet, after....." I trail off, leaving the rest to hang in the air.

" I was waiting for the right moment."

" What made today the right time?"

" I don't know, maybe because I missed you a whole lot, and I just needed to be near you tonight."

I reach out my hand to touch his face, letting my thumb to gently rub his skin. We spend some time just staring at each other, letting ourselves to get lost into each other's eyes.

There is something about the way he's looking at me, that knocks me out of my thoughts. I've never seen his eyes be so expressive towards me, they are speaking to me right now and I'm feeding off the vibe, he's sending to my heart.

My heart has skipped a beat too many times already.

My face warms up when his thumb touches my lips. I break eye contact, looking down and trying to cool down my face.

" That night, I was trying to get to you. I had no other thought and didn't consider anything else, but to reach you at the hospital." I look up again. " I never thought the guy who literally troubled me at the beginning, is the same guy that I have learnt to trust so much, in such a short space of time."

" And I have never wanted someone, so desperately to trust me. When I finally felt it, gosh.....It was the most surreal thing to me."

" I don't regret kissing you first, I thought I did then, but now, I don't." I find myself admitting.

" Are we telling truths right now?"

" Maybe....." I shrug.

" I think I wanted to kiss you so bad too, when we were out in the rain before the hospital."

" Ooh, so romantic."

He chuckles, touching my face and claiming my lips. What I believe was meant to be a short and sweet kiss, turns into a full on make out session, where he rolls us over and now I lay on my back, him hovering over me and never once, breaking the kiss.

I don't know how he was able to do all of that, with him being so careful and watchful of my back, which is still so sensitive right now.

A moan slips out when his lips leave my lips, and he peppers kisses, along my face and down to my neck. When he starts to suck on my skin, my toes curl and tingles travel along my skin.

A groan of his own slips out, when I bury my fingers through his hair and tug on it. The feeling of his kisses along my skin is just doing something to me. My heart is racing too.

I feel his lips explore my skin but all too soon, I feel a touch on one of my scars and my body grows tense.

He is quick to stop and lean back to look at me, but I hide my face in the pillow, not wanting to see his reaction.

" Chloe?" I hear him breathe out.

I don't respond, still trying to calm down.

" I went too far, I'm sorry." I frown at his words.

I pull away from the pillow and turn to look at him. A look of regret shows on his face and his apologising eyes, cut deep into my heart.

" Wesley -----------" He sits up, now in a kneeling position, looking down at me.

" I told myself to go slow and be careful, I shouldn't ---------"

" Why are you treating me differently Wesley?" I ask in a small voice, feeling hurt.

He opens and closes his mouth, a frown now present on his forehead.

" I'm not fragile. I'm still Chloe....See me as you did before." I say.

" Chloe, I've never once seen you as some fragile doll, you are the strongest person I know. You are a survivor and the most stubborn, frustrating, beautiful soul, with eyes that make me grow weak to the knees, and....." He groans out with a look of frustration on his face.

He sighs, running his fingers through his hair. " You just don't get it, do you?" He mumbles, looking down at his lap.

" W-what don't I get?"

" I -------" He stops himself and looks up at me. " Don't you see how much I care for you?" He sounds upset right now.

I open and close my mouth, but words don't come out.

" I have to go." He suddenly says, surprising me.

I blink at him, seeing him lean towards me and kiss my forehead.

"Wesley......" I call him on a whisper, grabbing at his shirt.

" I don't want to fight with you." He says, resting his forehead against mine.

" What are you saying, we have no reason to....."

" The longer I stay, we won't understand each other."

" Don't say that." I say, with my heart racing.

I connect my lips to his and he is quick to respond. As I lean back, I pull him down with me by his shirt, refusing to let him go.

I'm afraid that if I let him go, he'll disconnect us and leave. I don't want him to leave.

Falling deep into the kiss, my hands make the mistake of releasing his shirt, and trailing up to his face. He catches my hands in time, letting out a groan after breaking the kiss.

" I have to go." He says once again.

" Why do I feel like you'll disappear on me, like the last time?"

He doesn't say anything but pulls back to look down at me. His eyes are so emotional right now, as they stare at me. I glance to his hand that wants to touch my face, but he stops mid air and his actions, make me really start to worry.

His eyes take in my whole face as if placing it into memory. He quickly connects our lips again, letting the contact to linger for a minute, before pulling back and getting off my bed.

I shut my eyes closed, refusing to watch him leave. My chest hurts, the longer I hear movement until there is silence. I release a shaky breath, opening my eyes again and glancing at the direction of the window.

He is gone again and now, all I'm left with, is an empty space.

" Don't go." I whisper out, as if he will hear me, but in honesty, I'm calling out to nothingness.

                         *******

" I haven't seen Wesley in a while." Aiden says and already, eyes are what I earn.

It's in the morning and already, he wants to touch a sensitive subject right now.

I resort to silence, refusing to look up from my bowl and continue eating.

" Did he go somewhere perhaps?"

Shut up Aiden.

" Aiden..." I hear the small warning tone from Ingrid.

He sighs, probably having received a look from Ingrid.

We hear the front door open and close, and when I glance at the doorway, I see Owen enter. I don't know how he does it, or how I am able to notice him pick up the slight tension in the room, but I do, and immediately, his eyes glance at each and every one of us. When he lingers his eyes on me, I drop my eyes back to my bowl, though I've lost my appetite now.

" Morning." He speaks up.

We all mumble ' morning ,' before Ingrid starts talking about tonight, practically reminding Aiden about him meeting her parents. I knew that for the past few days, he's been trying to avoid having this conversation. It literally made him so nervous, and if I didn't know any better, I'd say he's been counting down the days and getting more scared by each day that passed.

Aiden is a good guy, no, a great guy, and one of the best qualities about him, is how much he cares, how he values and respects females. He might have been like all the other guys who used their looks to get what they wanted, but he chose different, he chose to be different. He didn't allow himself to be defined by how he grew up, and I look up to him, for choosing a different path and being the greatest guy I know.

This will definetly be the first time he meets a girl's parents, and I know that he really wants to make a good impression. I have no worries, because his character will melt their hearts and see what me and Owen see, and why Ingrid chose him.

He just needs to trust in himself, just like we trust him and have confidence. His honesty and heart would lead him to present the kind of man, Ingrid's parents have always wanted for her. I'm sure of this.

" Can I stay at your place tonight?" I find myself asking, making the room to go silent.

I look up from my bowl to Owen, who is staring straight at me, almost as if he is unblinking. I know that he is surprised, like everyone else.

" Yes." He says in almost a whisper, now letting his surprise to show.

I nod, getting off my stool and taking my bowl to the sink. The whole time I'm cleaning my bowl, I'm doing it in their silence.

On my way out of the kitchen, I'm pulled to a stop by a sudden tingling on my back, right from where I was shot.

" Hey, hey, Are you alright?" Owen asks.

I quickly fix my expression and bring on a small smile on my face, before glancing over my shoulder at them.

" Hmm. I'm good." I quickly look away, not wanting any of them to read too much from my eyes.

I make my escape then, before they can say anymore. Reaching my room, I head on to the bathroom and pull up my shirt, glancing at the wound through the mirror.

I notice the slight swelling around the wound and it looking red. I bite on my bottom lip when I reach there to touch it, the tingling earns me some numbness when I touch it.

I pull down my shirt and cover myself again, before leaving the bathroom. I sigh when I see Aiden sitting on the edge of my bed, waiting for me.

I walk on to sit on the bed, facing the other way. We sit in silence for a little bit, before one of us decides to speak up, this being him ofcourse.

" Are you leaving because of me?"

" No, I just need some fresh air, a change of scenary for even just a night."

" I can understand that."

" But?"

" There's no but."

"There's always a but."

He lets out a breath. " I just feel like you're running."

" I'm not running, I have no reason to run anymore, remember?"

I glance over my shoulder at him, seeing him already looking at me.

" You know what I mean."

" I know, but I'm not running anymore. I just need to breathe and I can't do it here, right now."

His eyes stay on mine for a little longer, before he says, " okay."

He gets off the bed and comes over to me, kissing the top of my head.

" I'm glad it's at Owens."

I watch him walk towards the door and I call him on his way out. " Aiden?"

" Yeah." He glances at me.

" Whatever happens tonight, just be your amazing self. "

A smirk appears on his face.

" I am amazing, aren't I?"

I roll my eyes, not being able to suppress my smile. " Get out of here before I punch your face."

"Oh how I missed your violence, little sister." He says in a sing song tone as he heads out.

I chuckle, shaking my head.

I close my overnight bag later on, looking around my room and checking for anything that I might miss along the way. A knock on my bedroom door earns my attention.

" Can I come in?" I nod.

" I'm already done now." I say, patting my bag.

I watch as he frowns a little when he looks at my bag.

"What?"

" It doesnt look like you have anything in there."

" Really?"

He nods.

" Owen, I'm only sleeping over, not going to a camping trip." I chuckle, picking up my bag.

He is quick to take the bag from me and I don't comment about it.

" Well even if you're staying the night, don't you want to bring your make -up and stuff?"

" Why would I need make -up, when I'm only going to sleep?"

" I don't know, just taking a guess at what you girls do for a sleep over."

" Have you ever seen me being all girly and stuff?" I ask amused.

" Not exactly....."

I give him a knowing look and he rolls his eyes.

" Did you just roll your eyes at me?" I gasp dramatically, blinking at him.

" Stop joking around, lets go.....Oh and don't forget your medicine." He says on his way out.

" I didn't." I say, following him.

As we are heading downstairs, we hear a knock on the front door.

" Expecting someone?"

Wesley...

Noticing my silence but my eyes trained on the door, he goes ahead to answer. With my slow pace, he goes ahead of me and I catch up, right when he's already opened the door.

" Chloe?"

" Here."

Owen steps aside, creating space for me to stand beside him. The first person I take notice of, is Wesley's dad, before my eyes glance to the beautiful lady standing next to him.

Everything in me screams one thing, that this is Wesley's mom.

" Hello Chloe." Mr Adams says.

I nod, still under shock that both Wesley's parents are standing on my doorstep.

" We're Wesley's parents, we wanted a chance to talk to Chloe, if you don't mind." Mr Adams explains to Owen.

He glances at me and I take a step back, showing him that I don't mind talking to them.

" Please come in." Owen says, gesturing for them to come in.

I lead them to the living room and once we are all seated, with Owen right next to me, I speak up.

" Would you like something to drink?"

" No, we are okay." Mr Adams says.

" Is Wesley okay?" I can't help but to ask, glancing between them both.

I notice a smile take over Mrs Adams face, making her all the more beautiful. Her smile is similar to Wesley's, it reflects from within.

" Wesley is okay dear, though I must say, he misses you alot." She says with a soft voice.

I drop my eyes to my lap, my chest hurting when I think about the last night I saw him.

" Um, could I have a moment with Chloe please?" My head shoots up in surprise.

" Sure, it'll give me some time to finally chat with Chloe's dad." Mr Adams randomly says, as Owen leads him out of the living room.

When we are finally alone, I turn to her and she just stares at me, making me all the more nervous.

It's like she's looking through my soul.

" Don't worry dear, I only came to talk."

" It's kind of hard not to, I mean, you're his mom."

And that is the time ladies and gentleman, that I want to jump into a hole and never come out. My tongue seems to not hold back sometimes.

Seeing her smile makes me frown a little. I mean, she should not be impressed with me right now.

" I came to meet the girl who my son is head over hills for."

" He said that?"

" He didn't have to. It's kind of hard to miss. " I nod slowly, trying to wrap my head around the thought of Wesley making no secret, to show how much I mean to him.

" I'm sure that you also know that we aren't really talking right now." I say, avoiding eye contact.

" Maybe, but I've been paying more attention on how much his heart has been mended, and that, I see so much positivity from him. He met the right one, at his lowest."

I slowly look up to her, not believing that she just said that.

" I heard everything when I was in a coma. I woke up and the first thing he said was that he loves me...." She glances to the floor for a moment when her eyes turn glossy. " I thought I had lost my son when his sister passed, but what I didn't know, was that there was light at the end of the tunnel."

She brings her eyes back to me again.

" He might be well known around school, but he is a private person, I'm sure you've noticed."

I nod.

" Even so, he shares things with me and when he doesn't, I know that he has more to say than when he does speak. He told me of your story and I wanted to meet you right away, but he stopped me a few times, because of you being in hospital and all that."

" You were also in the hospital, you needed to recover too. I get that he was looking out for you."

" You're doing what he said you'd do."

" What's that?"

" Try shift the focus and care for you, to someone else."

What?

" Chloe, sweetheart, I get the sense that it's easier and normal for attention to be on someone else, rather than yourself. "

I open my mouth to speak but she continues. " You're independant in every way and asking for help, would be the last thing on your mind. And that's where, Wesley struggles to find middle ground with you. You see, Wesley is a gentle soul, and he's used to being the giver, in helping, supporting, love......" She trails off.

" I think he was frustrated by me."

" And I think that has to do with him mostly."

Now I frown in confusion.

" You two talk, that's what he told me. I believe that he'll tell you what he believes, you need to know, in his own time. As for me, I wanted to finally meet you, even though both him and his father delayed me, with bedrest and so forth." She playfully rolls her eyes, making me smile.

" I understand it all too well."

" Good, then that means we can share our frustrations over lunch soon."

" You want to see me again?" I ask, surprised.

" Ofcourse. Why wouldn't I want to meet the amazing Chloe James?"

" Please tell me he didn't say that to you." I facepalm myself.

" Oh he did and more, like how you punched him when he screwed up."

My jaw literally drops.

He did not?!!!

" Oh don't worry, I did the same with his dad, when he stole my first kiss. Gosh, he was so smug about it."

I can imagine.

I laugh, shaking my head.

A soft smile lifts on her face.

" Chloe dear, in actual fact, I really just wanted to meet and thank the girl who taught him how to find himself again, more over to learn how to survive again. And I hope that you too, can be open and let him be that wall of strength for you, to allow him to give you all the parts of him that he specially reserved, for the girl he adores."

 
                            *******

Meeting Mrs Adams and hearing what she had to say, made me realize that I still needed to work on being more open, to the people who care about me. I've been holding on strongly, on the walls around me, always expecting just an ounce of hurt, to determine my drawing away from people.

I know that there is still much to learn, and that's being vulnerable and leaning on someone's offered shoulder. In this revelation, I have an understanding of where Wesley and me fell short, in finding middle ground.

I witheld from him while he wanted all of me, bad or good. I found it not necessary to be hovered over and fussed over, because I have learnt to get over stuff growing up. I learnt to toughen up and move on, but it's different for Wesley. He wants to fuss over me and shower me with affection.

I know that we need to talk and have this conversation, I am willing to take steps into this found comfort and experience, for being someone's special person.

No, for being Wesley's girl.

Gosh, if he heard me say this, he would have taken advantage of the situation.

I miss him honestly and that's why I send those words to him. I'm learning to be more expressive and I'm taking the first step, because Wesley Adams, is worth all of this.

A bite on my lip, holding myself back and telling myself to have patience and not call him now, the text was the first step, and if this doesn't earn me his response, I'll take the next step, which then will result to me calling him.

I sigh, being satisfied with where my thoughts are, somewhere to give my full attention and determination. I place my phone aside before looking around the room.

Well Owen had said that this is my room and I can say, that it is really big and very beautiful. I can already feel the effects of being in another place and what I had been looking for, when I was back home, is what I am receiving now.

When we had arrived at first, we both had hesitated in the car, waiting for one of us to make the first move. I knew that we were both thinking of that night, trying to detect how we were both feeling.

That night was the hardest night of our lives, and I wouldn't want to live through all that, again. I had made the first move and got out, and he had followed. The rest was us almost walking on egg shells as we entered the house, doing small talks and such, but after some time, we are now both okay.

I'm still in the room, while he said that he would prepare dinner and even came with the idea of us, just lighting up the fire and we can have some smores and just talk.

I seriously didn't mind that.

Making my way downstairs, wanting to offer my help and not lazy around, I find him already busy in the kitchen. I stop at the kitchen doorway, watching him concentrating so much on what he is doing. He's even wearing an apron.

I don't know what it is about watching him, that makes all sorts of thoughts to run through my mind. Watching him makes me think about all the times as a little girl, that I'd wish to experience the daughter/father moments.

Moments of sitting on my father's lap without being afraid that I'd be called a crybaby, being tucked into bed and being read a bedtime story, creating a tent at the backyard and having smores, being taught how to dance and many other things.

I never really experinced most of this with Luis, because he wasn't capable of keeping the face on long enough, of being a good dad. He showed his true self and all thoughts of having a dad, quickly ran out of the window.

But as I watch Owen now, my eyes don't see the Owen as I know Owen. I see the man who right now, is being a perfectionist and making the salad how I like it. He's the man who taught me how to defend myself, when I was still a little kid, he's the man who never got bored with listening to my stories, he's the same man who knows my favourite food, music, movies, and basically knows my favourites.

He is the man, who took me to the funfair on my 12th birthday, when I was crying over not celebrating it. He is the same man, who's told me time and time again, when Aiden and me would relocate to a new place when we ran, that he'll always be here for me.

Though I'd see him a few times a year, whenever we really needed him, he's been there. He's been there for me more than Luis ever did, Owen Shelton has been there.

He's been more of a father figure to me, more than Luis ever did, because he is.....

                          ~ flashback.~

' You might not be aware of this , but you mean so much to him. You are the most important person to him, and to have you not talk to him, it hurts him deeply.....he might not say much but his eyes and actions speak for him.'

I take in his words and let them soak my heart in deep emotions. I feel bad, really bad on how we left things.

'He's gone now and I might not get the chance soon.' I say.

'When you need him, he'll always be near. This, he has never failed to do.'

                    ~ End of flashback.~

I remember my conversation with Aiden and they mean more to me now, than ever before.

I watch him silently as he moves around the kitchen, being oblivious of me doing so. My lips part in a silent gasp, my eyes growing wide when I notice something I believe I was not meant to see. He is wearing a tank top right now, and with his back facing me, I see burn scars at the back of his arms and parts of his body, that is exposed.

They are similar to mine but much more vivid and scary.

                        ~ flashback~

' You don't realise it, do you, that I hate every minute that I have to leave, but it's for your safety.'

' I know.' I mumble, laying back down on my side and pulling the covers until they reach my neck.

He sighs. ' I have to leave soon. '

' I already know that, I'm used to it, remember?' I tease him.

Not hearing a response from him has me glancing at him, to see him staring at the wall.

' Owen?' He turns to me. ' I'm joking.' He gives me a small smile, patting my leg.

' I should let you sleep. But before that, I want you to know one thing, that I never want you to forget.'

' What?' I ask, sleepily.

' I've always told you of how important you are to me, but I don't think you fully understand - to me, you are more than important, you are my life.'

             
                       ~ End of flashback~

Well now I know, this is what I want to say out loud. My heart and every fibre of my being screams this out loud. A tear slips out as I look at him, and my mouth opens then, everything in me, pushing for me to call him.

Not his name, but who he is to me.

" Dad?" I release.

An immediate reaction I earn from him, that he swiftly turns around, shock evident on his features.

He proves it once again, that he heard my call.

Meaning to call him yet again, because I have a great need to do it again, it feels surreal to say this and that's why I push for my mouth to release it again, but I'm interrurpted by the heavy feeling on my back.

I touch the spot before holding my hand out, in infront of me, that's when I see blood.

" Dad...." I call him again, just as I collapse to the floor.

He is right there, to catch me when I fall and being that shield, that he's always been for me. I rest my head against his chest, feeling so safe and secured in his arms.

The arms of my father.

**********************************

She called Owen dad.....

Alot happened on this chapter, Wesley was upset. What do you think is his main reason for being upset?

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