***9 months earlier***

I thanked the nice lady behind the register, accepting my ice cream cone and continuing my journey of taking a walk. As I stepped outside the strong, chilly wind of London whipped my hair up, sending it flying straight into my ice cream. 

I know what you're thinking; Why the hell are you eating an ice cream cone in the middle of Winter?

I often ask myself this question, but I can't come up with any other answer other than the fact that Ice cream is the best thing anyone has ever created and it deserves to be eaten year-round.

"Way to go, Raleigh" I mumbled to myself, plucking my hair from the sticky sweet treat. I did, however, continue to lick it. My tongue swirled around the bottom as I tried to prevent it from dripping onto my hands. A shriek left my lips as I was suddenly lurched forwards, the ice cream sent flying to the ground from the impact.

My eyes narrowed to slits and I turned hastily, ready to scream at whoever made me drop my five Euro snack. My mouth snapped shut as I realized it was just my idiot of a brother and a few of his perverted friends.

"Whoops, sorry sis" He feigned innocence. "Didn't see you there"

I rolled my eyes, re-shouldering my duffel bag and stepping over my abandoned blob of Ice cream. I frowned when I realized I'd be going to dance class on an empty stomach. "What are you idiots doing over here anyways? Shouldn't you be, like robbing banks or something?"

Spencer knew I wasn't particularly fond of his friends, in fact, he often used it against me whenever he was forced to look after me. He'd always invite them over and have them annoy the shit out of me just because he's an ass.

"We're not criminals, shrimp" Spencer smirked, reaching out and shaking his hand through my hair, making it even more tangled than it already was. I cringed at the nickname; Ever since I was an infant in my mom's stomach I was small. Some doctor's thought I wouldn't make it while others thought my mother would just have a premature birth. I may have come out a month earlier than normal, but I was still a fighter. Although today I'm at a healthy height, Spencer still clung to the nickname I was given.

The wind nipped at my exposed arms, making me hold my arms around myself and shuffle closer to Spencer instinctively. He chuckled, wrapping his arms around me in a playful manner before stepping back and gesturing to his rusty, red truck. "Need a ride?"

"I don't want to be in a secluded area with your annoying friends" I quipped.

Spencer merely waved me off, taking hold of my wrist and throwing me into the passenger side. "Well, suck it up because I won't let you walk three blocks to your class in the freezing air"

Sighing, I rolled my eyes but buckled myself in and rested my head against the back of my seat, staring contently out of the window as I listened to his friends clamber into the car.

I blinked rapidly when I saw a dark figure emerge from the confines of an alley. A light Grey hoodie was pulled over a dark mop of curls, a pair of all black jeans sat smugly against his legs, and a pair of dark boots adorned his feet. He was the kind of man your parents would pull you away from as you passed him. The kind of person that sent chills up your spine (not the good kind) simply by a mere glance; The kind of man you were told to stay away from as a child.

I was sure we were making eye contact even through the tinted windows of Spencer's run down truck. And I was almost positive about the smirk that crossed his face for a split second before he plunged back into darkness.

~ * ~

"...And then he was like, 'we should so this again sometime', and I just giggled and gave him a flirty wink before grabbing my clothes and walking out. Do you know why I did that?"

I shrugged my shoulders, not really paying attention to whatever Katie was rambling on about now, and kept my focus on the current male who just waltzed into the dance studio. Ms. Layla said we'd be practicing with a different teacher for the next couple of months due to her very pregnant self. Apparently she was expecting twins within a few weeks.

"Because you have to always keep them wanting more, Rae. Guys like girls who are confident and...."

By now I had checked out of the one-sided conversation with Katie and had devoted my attention to the very attractive man who was now fiddling with the radio.

I hope he's the new teacher because he is possibly the most being I have ever seen. He couldn't have been that much older than myself; maybe twenty-five at the most. Of course, I was only nineteen, but I'd be twenty in some months. We we're only six years apart. That's okay, right? Maybe not.

He turned around and met my eyes, causing my entire face to turn the color of my shirt. "Um...hey" I hadn't even realized the close proximity between us; I was certain that I was gazing at him from afar. Guess I was wrong.

His face lifted into a bright grin, his features glowing as he extended his hand out. "I'm Christian. I think I'm supposed to be the new instructor of this class, but I kinda have no idea what I'm doing" He chuckled nervously and his face flushed in the tiniest bit.

"Well, I'm Raleigh....a student" I let my gaze fall down to our hands that were still connected, but we weren't shaking them anymore and I could tell this was a bit more than just a teacher/student greeting. Oh my god.

"You could probably start by calling role" I quickly tore my hand away. The warmth of his hand causing mine to sweat nervously.

"Right" He blinked, running a hand through his brown locks before scurrying off in the other direction.

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

"You dirty whore" Aubrey shrieked, falling back to the bed in laughter. Rosie gasped, clamping her hand over her mouth to silence her but it was no use, Aubrey was calling me a bunch of vulgar names at the top of her lungs, uncaring that my parents were home.

"It's not my fault!" I giggled. "You should have seen him, Aubrey he was so cute I couldn't help it"

I knew it was a bad idea to tell my two best friends about my new teacher. I knew I should have kept my thoughts to myself. "I bet you want to fuck him don't you?" Aubrey accused.

"Guys" Rosie whined, pale skin reddening by the second. Rosie was the shy, quiet girl that often had her nose in a book. A clear contrast to Aubrey who was always sneaking out of her house and going to parties. Then there was me: A mixture between the two with a sprinkle of curiosity. I met Aubrey about three years ago in high school.

Apparently her boyfriend was also my boyfriend at the time. You'd think that that would make us hate each others guts, but really, it was the start of a crazy friendship. Together we mocked him and talked about how stupid he was and how naive we both were. The two of us had been friends for a year when we met Rosie at a party. She was being dragged upstairs by a guy who obviously had one thing in mind. And it was clear that Rosie was against this.

Ever since that day the three of us became best friends and now, fresh out of high school, we're closer than ever.

None of us really know what we want to do now, what we do know is that we all want to go to the same University together. We all also agreed to wait about a year or so to get our shit together before actually applying to Uni.

"I don't!" I argued, covering my heated cheeks as Aubrey made a laughing stock of me.

"Alright, alright!" Rosie waved her hand dismissively, abruptly ending the torment for me. I thanked her silently, but my mouth parted in shock at her next words.

"Are you guys going to that party tonight?"

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

I struggled to breathe in this cramped up frat house. How the hell did Rosie find out about a frat party? We aren't even in college.

"Hey, beautiful" A voice spoke up from behind me. I ignored them, continuing to shove my way through the mass of sweaty bodies. I mumbled my apologies to a girl I accidentally elbowed in the gut, offering her a quipped smile before continuing my seemingly endless journey.

I wasn't sure how, but I made it to the kitchen/bar where a highly intoxicated Aubrey sat, her dress bunched up to the top of her thighs as she lazily swayed to the beat.

"Aubrey" I muttered in disappointment, snatching the glass from her hands before she could down its contents. "Gimme it back" She pouted, pawing at the vodka before giggling.

"Alright, that's enough for you" I laughed quietly, placing the glass on the counter and slinging an arm around my friends back. "Up we go" I mumbled, supporting both hers and my own weight as I basically dragged her out of the kitchen.

Boys whistled at us, and Aubrey didn't help the situation any as she continuously sent them winks and blew kisses. "Whoa what the hell are you doing here?" I cringed, leaning Aubrey against the wall and slowly pivoting on my foot to find my very angry older brother.

"Spencer" I voiced happily, opening my arms in a welcoming gesture as I put on my biggest smile. "What's up big bro? Good to see you! Well, gotta go bye!"

I turned quickly, grabbing Aubrey and walking at a much quicker pace than before. The fact that Spencer could be here completely slipped my mind and now that he's spotted me, there's no telling what he'll do. Oh god, if mom found out she'd kill me. I doubt my father would care.

My father was a doctor; a spinal surgeon to be exact. It was rare he was ever home. He worked from early mornings to late at night and often times he was called in even when he wasn't working. His job often jeopardized his relationship with our family, but at the end of the day he was the one bringing in the most income and for that we had no other choice but to be grateful, even if we didn't have the best relationship with him.

My mother was the one I was worried about in situations like these. Often, Spencer was by my side and usually he backed me up whenever trouble was sent our way, but I wasn't so sure about this time. I was fresh out of high school, sneaking out, and attending a frat house party. My mom, being the lovely cop that she was, was bound to have a fit.

It kinda sucked you know, having a father who was never home, busy working on saving peoples lives. Then you had my mom, who was always busy not only saving peoples lives, but protecting the law as well. My parents were't always around to give us a proper childhood, but we were thankful none the less.

"Not so fast, Raleigh" Spencer grabbed my arm, forcing both me and Aubrey to follow him out back. It's times like these when I enjoy the nickname he'd labeled me. "What the hell?" He growled, motioning to me, then to Aubrey, and then back to the house.

"Please don't tell mom" I pleaded, hands releasing Aubrey and cringing when she fell into the wall. "Are you out of your mind?!" He practically screeched. I gave him time to address the situation and weigh his options, hoping to god that he would go easy on me.

"This isn't some lame high school party, Raleigh! This is college and the boys here love to prey on innocent little girls who are fresh out of high school, and you fit perfectly into that category. How could you be so stupid?"

Little did he know, I was no longer innocent. I gave my innocence to my boyfriend in high school. Did I regret it? Slightly, but I there was nothing I could do about it. What's done is done.

"I don't know" I sighed, eyes no longer able to meet his.

"Get Aubrey home. I won't tell mom, but....don't expect me to like you for the rest of this week, or month for that matter."

Slowly, a grin overcame my face and I lurched forwards tackling my older brother in a hug. "Thank you thank you thank you" I gushed, squeezing him for a good few seconds before releasing him and walking back towards my drunk friend.

"I mean it, shrimp. If I catch you doing something like this again I'll tell mom and you'll have to deal with her"

"Thanks, Spence. Love you!" I gleefully called, walking towards the back gate of the yard. I couldn't handle walking through that thick crowd alone, let alone support another person.

"Yeah, yeah whatever! Mom's out working tonight so look out for any police. You know if they see you they'll contact her in a heartbeat, and remember to avoid alley's!"

I laughed, turning halfway to shoot him an incredulous look.

"What's the worst that can happen, Spence? It's not like I'm gonna get kidnapped"

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

"I'm so sorry Mrs. Washington. We were hanging out with our friends and someone must have spiked the lemonade. Aubrey and I were working on our homework when someone came in and offered us the drink. I didn't have any but Aubrey had four glasses"

Aubrey's mother placed fragile hand over her heart, instantly believing my lie. I absolutely loathed lying to this sweet and incredibly caring woman. Aubrey's mom was one of the nicest people I've ever come across, often she acted like my second mother. She was the one who helped me when I first got my period, claiming that I had just taken the first step into adulthood.

My mom was working when that happened; Shocker.

"Oh my" Her coffee mug was placed onto the small table adjacent to the door before she reached forwards and supported a now unconscious Aubrey as I had once done. "I'm happy you brought her home, though I do wish you would have called me instead of walking alone in the dark" She opened the door, welcoming me in.

"Oh no, I have to be getting home. My mom should be waiting for me" Another lie. "I'm sorry about Aubrey if I had known the drinks were spiked I would have stopped her immediately"

"I know you would have, dear" She gave me a warm smile, before it turned into a frown and she peered over my shoulder cautiously. "Are you sure you can get home by yourself? It's really late and we don't exactly live in the best part of town" She chuckled softly.

"Let me lay Aubrey down and I'll give you a ride home?" I could tell she wanted to demand that I waited for her, but she was too well-mannered.

"No! It's fine I promise; My house isn't far from here, you know that" I smiled, slowly backing away from the door to get my point across.

"Alright stay safe, honey. And thank you for bringing Aubrey home"

I gave her a small nod before walking down the steps and out of the apartment complex, into the chilly London air. I thanked god that one of my friends loved down the street and was gracious enough to lend Aubrey and I an extra change of clothes so her mother wouldn't question my story.

Aubrey better worship the fucking ground I walk on tomorrow for going through so much to save her ass.

My feet carried me down the dark sidewalk, my only line of vision being the flickering street lamps. Spencer was probably right and I probably should avoid alley ways, but I needed to get home and the alley that I was currently standing in front of led straight to my house.

It's a twenty minute walk from here to my house, but if I took the shortcut it would only be about five.

No.

I finally decided, pivoting on my foot and continuing my safe journey down the sidewalk. A cough sounded behind me and I quickly turned, but found nobody behind me. Weird.

I hugged my arms close to my chest as I approached another alley, this one seeming darker than the last. A tingling shiver ran from my neck down to my spine as I checked my surroundings.

There was nobody here, but I could feel somebody's eyes on me. I hesitantly turned in a circle, my eyes desperately seeking out anything out of the ordinary, but finding nothing.

You're going crazy

Rolling my eyes, I picked my pace up a fraction hoping to shake the creepy feeling tugging in my spine. And then there were footsteps; slow and heavy. For a minute I was convinced that they were mine so I stopped in place, expecting the footsteps to cease as well, but they didn't. And when I turned around, nobody was there and the footsteps suddenly halted.

Somebody was here; Somebody was watching me.

I turned again, prepared to start running home. What I didn't expect was to come in contact with another body.

And what made my breath catch was when he wrapped his hands around my mouth, deep green eyes finding mine. "Don't scream unless you want a reason to" Was muttered in my ear before he pulled a pillow case from his pocket, and my vision disappeared.

My body was paralyzed as fear took over and the only thought that seemed to cross my mind was "why wasn't I fighting back?"

But before I could move a muscle something hard came in contact with my forehead through the thin material of the pillow case, and I blacked out.

The last thing I felt was a strong pair of arms wrap around my frame, preventing me from falling to the ground before darkness swallowed me whole.