Chapter Thirteen.

"Alena can you get the door please?" Her mum called from the kitchen.

Alena was sat on the sofa with her hair up in a messy bun, glasses sat on the edge of her nose which had been buried in a book, and she didn't normally need glasses only when she was reading for a long time. She had stayed at school for the rest of her day after her break down with Lucy at her side constantly with Daniel and Dean being their whenever they could be, she felt better than when she had woken up this morning and when she had gotten home she had told her parents everything, how she was feeling and they had understood, it had brought them closer. It had also given Alena the chance to talk to her mum and dad about her grandparents, what had happened and what was going to happen know that they were back.

"Sure." She got up off the sofa and pulled up one of her fluffy socks that had fallen down, before placing her book on the arm of the sofa and making her way to the door. The person behind the door was tall and muscular as she looked through the glass as she switched on the light and opened the door. Alena's breath caught in her throat as she saw Samuel standing in front of her dressed in a suit, looking attractive as ever as he held his hands behind his back, his head tilted forward with a smouldering look on her face that had her knees going weak as she gripped the door for support.

"Hi Sam," She smiled shyly as she watched his eyes trail up the length of her small body, she then realised what she was wearing wasn't appropriate to be answering the door as she blushed whilst looking at the cotton shorts she wore that stopped mid-thigh and the oversized jumper that dwarfed her body, she had odd fluffy socks on with one of the pulled up.

"Alena," He breathed his voice lower than normal causing a shiver of pleasure to run up Alena's spin as she shakily pushed her glasses further up her nose while a light blush coated her cheeks.

"Hi." She squeaked, knowing how stupid she sounded and she resisted the urge to face palm herself.

"I heard that you had a rough day so I wanted to make sure you were okay." He asked as he coughed to clear his throat, his voice was still deeper than usual but Alena could hear the concern in his tone. She knew that Daniel had most likely to Samuel about her breakdown today before school and she was a little thankful that he did, she would get to spend a few minutes with Samuel. Alena knew that she was starting to sound like some crazy stalker obsessing over a boy, or rather man, she had just meet but she didn't feel that it was wrong, maybe it was just Samuel and how natural it was to be around him and the feelings he stirred within her.

"Oh it was nothing, I'm fine." She sent him a reassuring smile, she had meant that she was fine and she hoped that he believed her.

"That's good to hear." He smiled at her.

"Alena's who's at the door?" Her mum asked as she appeared behind Alena, a smile instantly gracing her face as she saw Samuel stood in the door way.

"Hi Mrs Brown." Samuel smiled.

"Hi Samuel. It's good to see you so soon. Would you like to come in a join us for dinner? It won't be long." Her mum said as Alena looked at Samuel, secretly praying that he would say yes and join them for tea. She felt safe when he was around and after the day she had had yesterday she needed the comfort that he provided just by being around.

"If it's not too much bother?" Samuel said sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his neck all the while keeping a hand behind his back.

"Nonsense, come on in and out of the cold. I'll call you kids when it ready." Alena's mum said as she turned on her heels and left. Alena stepped back and opened the door wider for him as he stepped in and took off his smart shoes.

"Have you just come from work?" Alena asked curiously as she led him into the living room and sat with her legs tucked under her as he sat next to her with her knees touching the side of her leg.

"Yes." He sighed tiredly as he loosen hi tie before undoing his top button.

"Bad day? You look tired." She asked with a small smile as he rested his hand on her bare thigh causing Alena's heart to beat rapidly against her chest before is slowly calmed down; Alena hesitantly placed both her hands over his and smiled widely when his fingers gripped hers.

"It was long and tiring." He smiled at happily at her.

"And its only Monday, you've got the rest of the week to go yet." She grinned while biting the inside of her cheek to stop herself from laughing when she noticed the dread on his face while he groaned and rested his head on the back of the sofa.

"Can I see you Wednesday?" He suddenly asked opening one eye to look down at her. Alena thought about it before shaking her head, no, she was going to tease him a little to lighten the mood that had darkness at the mention of it only being Monday.

"Why not?" He asked with a small frown.

"Because I'm seeing a friend." She bit her lower lip to stop herself from smiling or breaking out in to a fit of laughter as she watched his face darken and his eyes narrow into a glare when she had mentioned her friend, she had purposefully said it in a way that made it seem as if they were more than a friend. Alena was free on Wednesday, she didn't have training and both her parents would be out and she normally stayed at home, she couldn't see any reason why she would busy, well now that she had unofficially made plans with Samuel, she was busy.

"Who's you friend?" Samuel asked, his voice deadly calm as Alena burst into a fit of laughter as she let go of his hand and clutched either side of her stomach. She hadn't expected him to react so grumpily and she surprised at how possessive he sounded but she didn't care, it sent a shiver of pleasure up her spin as looked at his face to see that he was glaring at her, while his hands were now balled into tight fists.

"I'm not busy and there's no friend. I'm free on Wednesday and I was joking." She said around a fit of giggles as she noticed his tense posture visibly relaxed as he stopped glaring at her to pout, his lower lip jutted out as he starred at her.

"That was mean; I guess I won't give you this." He sulked as he brought out a letter from his other hand, this must have been what he was hiding behind his back when she had opened the door. Alena could see from where she sat that her name was written on the front in fancy print, it looked like a letter of some sort and she wondered if Samuel had written it himself.

"I'm sorry, can I have it please?" It was Alena's turn to pout like a child, as she stuck her bottom lip and folded her hands together on her lap, sulking like a child as she watched a grin spread across his face.

"Nope." He popped the p, while Alena narrowed her eyes at his answer.

Without a second thought she launched herself across his lap with her arms out stretched her eye zeroing in on the letter that Samuel held in his hand. He must have anticipated her move as he moved it out of her reach, holding it at arm's length away from her and she landed with a huff on his lap, her glasses falling off of her face and landing on the sofa as she turned her head so that she could glare at Samuel who was shaking with laughter, her own body shook. Alena blushed a deep red as she took in the position she had gotten herself in with Samuel.

"That was mean." She noted as she reached forward trying to grab the letter but once again he moved it out of her reach and high above his head.

"What you did was mean sweetheart." Alena's heart fluttered at his term of endearment as she swallowed the lump that had suddenly formed in her throat. She was shocked at his casual use of the word. Her mum and dad often used it towards each other as well as her and she knew it was because they loved her, did that mean that Samuel liked her? Alena didn't know but the thought of someone like Samuel, perfect human being Samuel with godly looks and charming personality that was enough to have any girl swooning over him and going weak at the knees.

"I was teasing you to make you laugh and it worked, so I think you owe me." She muttered as she pulled herself off his lap and back onto the sofa with her knees tucked under her, she once again stuck her bottom lip out and looked at him through her lashed, she often pulled this face on her parents or Lucy when she wanted something and nine times out of ten it worked. She watched as Samuel groaned and held the letter out to her, instantly she broke out into a grin as she took the letter from him and inspected the front where he name was written.

"Is it bad?" She asked after a moment of silence suddenly regretting begging for the letter, what if it was bad?

"No," Samuel chuckled grabbing her glasses from the sofa and gently placing them on her face with ease while Alena blushed at the gesture. "Just open it."

"If you say so." She said as she raised an eyebrow at the encouraging smile on his face before taking a deep breathed and gently opening the envelop and pulling out the piece of paper to see that it wasn't a letter rather and invitation as she read the small yet elegant print. It was charity event in the form of a masked ball; she noticed that it was being held by Samuel's and Daniel's dad, Frank.

"A masquerade ball? You want me to go? Isn't that fancy dresses and beautiful masks?" She asked and read the invitation once again to realise that the ball was this Saturday meaning she only had a few day to find a dress, and that was if she didn't go.

"I'd like you to go and I'd love for you to be my date for the evening. And yes its fancy dresses and beautiful masks." He smiled cheekily at her when he repeated what she had said.

"Your date?" Alena asked, her heart pounded at the very thoughts while butterflies gathered in her stomach.

"No, I meant the girl behind you." Samuel said as Alena looked over her shoulder to see that there was no girl behind her, she had a small frown on her face while her face scrunched up in confusion, if he wasn't asking her to be his date and there was no girl behind her had he just been teasing her? Was Samuel getting some sick twisted kick out of leading her on like a lost puppy? The questions were endless as Alena felt her heart shattered into a million tiny pieces.

"Oh." She whispered as she looked down at the letter in her lap. She wasn't about to cry in front of him and it wasn't like they were even dating, he had spent a few days with her and taken her out a few times but that didn't mean her liked her in the way she liked him.

"I'm joking Alena," Samuel said taking her chin gently in his hand and he forced her to look at him, she noticed him frown when he took in the guarded look in her eyes. "I want you to be my date for the ball, no other girl but you, so will you please do me the honour of being my date?" He sounded so sincere that Alena could only nod her head to answer him.

"But I don't know what to wear?" She suddenly blushed realising how stupid she sounded.

"I'm sure whatever you wear will look beautiful." He said honestly causing heat to rush to Alena's cheeks.

"If you're done sweet talking my daughter dinners ready." Her dad teased from behind them as they both looked up to his standing in the doorway with a grin on his face before he turned and headed in the kitchen. Alena felt Samuel get up before her gently took her hands in his and helped her up. Alena lead the way to the kitchen and to their seats as they both sat down to see that both her parents were grinning causing Alena to blush a little.

"I'll pick you up from school on Wednesday." Samuel said with smile as he stood on the front porch. Dinner had finished long ago and Samuel had decided that it was late and that he needed his beauty sleep, it had just gone past ten in the evening and Alena was normally in bed by now.

"Where are we going?" She asked curiously as she wrapped her arms around her middle as the cold air blew around them.

"It's a surprise, but where something nice." He smiled as Alena nodded her head, she was excited for Wednesday and she was also excited for Saturday at the thought of going to a fancy masked ball as Samuel's date. She had only ever dressed up fancy for her year eleven prom, the thought of dressing up again was exciting.

"I'll try." She smiled as she noticed Samuel stepping forward so that there body were almost flush against each other as he gently took her face between his hands.

"Goodnight sweetheart." He whispered as he leant down so that their lips where almost touched, her body seemed to hum in anticipation for what was coming as her heart fluttered along with the butterflies in her stomach. A cough behind them had Samuel kissing the tip of her nose instead of her lips as she felt slightly disappointed but the blush on her face of being caught by one of her parents in an almost kiss with Samuel.

"Goodnight Sam." She whispered as he released her face with a smirk before he stepped away.

"Good night Mrs Brown, dinner was lovely, thank you." Samuel smiled at her mum who she guessed was still behind her before turning and walked away towards his car that was parked next to her dads.

"Bye Samuel dear." Her mum called as he sent them both one last smiled and wave before climbing in and driving off, only when Alena couldn't see his car anymore did she close the door and turned to face her mum who was grinning at her.

"What?" Alena asked, suspiciously as her mum slowly showed the invitation that Samuel had given her earlier.

"What is this?" Her mum asked excitedly while Alena groaned, she wouldn't be going to sleep any time soon.