I felt the floor beneath me shake, as if a thousand soldiers had entered my home. Obviously not from that, but someone was eager to get inside. I could hear a loud commotion from the first floor, causing me to pull back the plush covers, pull on my baby blue slippers, and poke my head outside of my bedroom door.

"Just sit him here." I heard a female voice shout. I furrowed my brows, wondering what the hell could be going on. I took a quick glance at my bedside clock, sighing when it read three in the morning.

Taking a deep breath, I made my way down the stairs to where the source of loud voices came from. I could hear Namjoon's voice, seeming to be angry. Jimin's was more quiet but I caught "it's okay" and "don't worry" mixed in with everyone's blurred questions.

I found them all sat in our family's kitchen, surrounding Taehyung who's hands gleamed a dark red, his head pointed towards the ground as everyone blew up around him like a nuclear bomb.

"What's going on?" I asked, probably unheard since everyone was basically shouting.

Jimin though seemed to have heard me for he looked in my direction, everyone copying him and the room becoming more silent than a graveyard. I stepped a bit closer as my eyes stayed glued to Taehyung's bleeding hands, flesh torn on the tops of his knuckles and bruising forming along the stems of his fingers.

"Don't worry," Jimin got up to usher me out of the kitchen, smiling in a comforting way. "Taehyung's fine."

"Did he get in a fight?" I looked around his shoulder to see a random girl kneeling in front of Taehyung, dabbing at his torn hands. "Who's that?" I felt a twinge of something in my stomach as I watched her carefully wipe away the cherry red blood.

"We met her at the drag race," Jimin turned me away from the face of the kitchen to push me down on the couch in our spacious living room. I didn't say anything as he sat beside me, only staring at the crystal chandelier hanging from the high, church-like ceilings, the crystals turning from a slight breeze from the cracked window. "He's fine though."

"He didn't look fine." I mumbled.

"He's Taehyung," Jimin chuckled. "He's used to this life." Shrugging, Jimin patted my back, rubbing it a few times until Jin and Jungkook came into the living room, smiling a bit as they laid eyes on me.

"What happened?" If Jimin won't answer me, maybe these two will.

"He lashed out at...someone," Jungkook answered me. "I don't know why, but he just crushed him into the ground. He looked dead, but I don't know. I'm sure he's at the hospital though." The younger boy scratched the back of his head, feeling uncomfortable with the information.

"I just hope he doesn't get in trouble for this." Jin sighed.

I remember at one point Taehyung wasn't the fighting type. He would always be the one breaking it up or leave if things got too serious. Now, all I've heard is him fighting random people because either he was drunk or someone else was and decided to pick a fight with him. Honestly, a drastic change from the Taehyung I knew a while ago.

"Go back to sleep." Jimin said as he pulled me up, trying to drag me back to my room. But for once, I didn't want to stay caged up in there.

"No. I want to talk with him." I removed my hand from Jimin's.

"It's not important, Ona. Listen to me, now." Jimin sighed, the etches of needing to sleep on his face.

I completely ignored him as I barged into the large, Greek themed kitchen and saw that same girl wiping away the remaining splotches of blood on Taehyung's knuckles. Yoongi, Namjoon, and Hoseok were seated at the dark, oak dining table, watching her.

"I'll do the rest." I cut in, making everyone's faces turn to me. The girl, her silvery black hair falling straight against her back, turned to me.

"It's fine. I got it." She smiled. Most likely a genuine one, but I wasn't in the mood. I wasn't one for being short with someone or even confrontational. Right now though, I needed to speak with Taehyung.

"Sky," Namjoon called to the girl. "Let her." He smiled to me, tapping the other two guys to make them stand up. As the four left, I grabbed one of the wooden chairs to sit in front of Taehyung, his head falling back down to look at the stone floor.

I grabbed the cloth that Sky had used, blood soaked into the creases of the fabric. I grabbed Taehyung's hand, gently holding it since it seemed to look fragile at the moment.

"Taehyung," I called to him, pursing my lips as I scanned both bruised hands. The colors were darker than plums, transforming into a black currant shade. "Taehyung Oppa?" I raised an eyebrow at him.

He sighed before looking into my eyes, his brown iris' looking darker than an autumn leaf, his pupils slightly dilated to show the adrenaline of the fight coursed through him. His hair was slightly mussed, causing him to have a somewhat bedridden look.

"Ona." He said simply, giving me a small smile, the curve of his lips soft.

"Are you okay?" I asked him as I grabbed the gauze that someone had left on the table, unfolding the end to wrap around his hands.

"Better than ever." Taehyung said, emotionless. He watched as I carefully wrapped his hands in the white wrappings, gingerly touching to make sure he didn't grimace in pain.

"What happened? Who did you fight this time?" I looked into his eyes, but he avoided mine once again, glancing at the wall behind me before looking at the floor again. Silence passed between us for what seemed like a century. I finished with the gauze, tucking the end strand for each hand inside a tight space to make it stay.

"No one worth mentioning." He muttered, his voice deeper as if he was about to cry, but tears were absent. I pressed my lips together as I watched him. I wanted to know everything, to have him actually speak to me instead of stay silent as a monk. But as his mouth remained shut and his eyes were distracted with the golden flecks in the stone floor, I knew I wouldn't get an answer. I sighed, getting up to go to the sink, washing away the drenched cloth, the water turning a light pink as it rushed down the drain.

"Ona Noona," I turned to see Jungkook entering the kitchen, his hands in his pockets. "We'll take Taehyung home now." He smiled lightly, walking over to his Hyung who was still silent.

"O-okay." I nodded, trying to produce a decent smile. I followed the two out of the kitchen, watching each step that Taehyung took, which were slow and distracted.

I saw Sky, the girl they brought with them, walking alongside Yoongi and Namjoon, talking incoherently. Before I knew it though, she turned to me, smiling lightly to show off bright, white teeth. "Sorry we had to meet like this. It was nice to meet you though." She bowed her head to me respectably and waved before following the boys out. Jimin closed the door behind all of them, letting out a deep and heavy sigh.

He turned to look at me, the sound of their black truck rumbling down the street. "Sorry you had to see that." Jimin apologized when, truth be told, he didn't have to.

"Why? Taehyung's my friend too. I worry about him just as much as you do." Maybe even a little more, but still I do.

"I know," Jimin chuckled, guiding his arm around my shoulder as we walked up the stairs together. "Now, go to sleep or else you'll miss that test you've been so worried about because you slept in." Jimin yelled back goodnight as he walked down to his bedroom.

Hopefully, I will get sleep.

____________________________

"Okay class," My teacher, Mrs. Choi, yelled since the whole class acted like a loud group of chimpanzees. "This test is 40% of your grade. You may not see it as a big deal, but let me tell you that the universities you plan to go to will be checking up on this test. So, I advise you to do well."

Great, another worry to deal with. I sighed as the teacher began searching for the test papers and scantrons. She may be strict, but she was super disorganized when it came to our papers. I smoothed my hand down my uniform skirt, playing with the ends as I listened in to my classmates conversations. One in particular caught my attention.

"I heard he beat the shit out of him for no reason." A girl squealed, shock in her voice.

"He's trouble that one, but let's be honest, he's so hot." One of her friends added.

"You think any guy who gets in a fight is hot, Jihyun." I chuckled from the girl's comment. I've always liked the idea of talking about gossip with friends. All of us laughing until our stomachs hurt, sleepovers on the weekends as we watched stupid romantic movies and flung hot popcorn at each other.

I smiled at the girl that just walked in, her long black hair cascading down both sides of her small head like two dark waterfalls. She was my desk mate, Oh Hyorin. She was mainly quiet when she sat next to me. She would either look out the stained, glass windows or chew on the end of her pen. In a way, she was like me. If you could even say this, she was kind of my friend. We would talk whenever we could but it was, for the most part, quiet between us.

I felt like we were close, but not as close as best friends per say. For example, she originally goes by Mickey. Why? I do not know, but I felt as thought I didn't have that privilege quite yet.

"Annyeong, Ona." She nodded, smiling a bit. I bowed my head back as I watched her sit down, placing her black book bag next to her desk and pull out her same pink and blue pen.

"Annyeong Hyorin. How was your weekend?" I leaned up in my seat once the teacher began passing out the pale green scantrons.

"I went to a party." She smiled a little, shrugging.

"Really?" Okay, maybe she wasn't really like me. I would never be caught dead at a party. I couldn't deal with that scene.

"It was okay. Not what I was expecting." She shrugged once again and closed her pearl-pink lips as the tests were handed out. I sighed as I glanced at the math equation before me, already dreading this whole thing.

I scribbled down some problems on the side so I could figure them out later, needing to get to the ones I already could understand. That's when the door the to classroom opened, causing every head in the room to look up.

My jaw felt like dropping as I spotted a familiar face. What was he doing here? He should be resting. Also, the fact he came to school is amazing.

"Kim Taehyung," The teacher gestured for him to walk over to his desk. His hands were still bandaged and I had no doubt still hurt. Its only been one night.

Whispers were coming from every corner of room as all the students stared at Taehyung, either glaring or scared that he might lash out at the nearest person. Mrs. Choi handed Taehyung a scantron and test, her dark brown eyes looking at him over her oval glasses. Taehyung turned around, walking down the aisle of the seats, closer to where I was. I looked up into his eyes as his connected with mine and he offered me a sly smirk, along with a nod to Hyorin who pulled her head down, a ripe color of cherry red painting her lightly tanned cheeks.

"What are you doing here?" I whispered, desperately hoping the teacher didn't hear me. I've never been in trouble because I've always stayed silent during lectures and I'm top of my class.

"You." He smiled, sitting in the vacant desk behind me and starting his test, leaving our conversation there. I whipped my head around, my breathing becoming raspier. I shook my head to clear any distracting thoughts so I could actually rid myself of this harsh test. These questions feel like a military general created them; complicated and life-risking.

Around thirty minutes later, the test was complete and I could release a content sigh. That test felt as if it would tear me apart. I couldn't understand most of it, but luckily, with just a few moments of deep concentration and hard thinking, I could pick out the small parts I remembered from my notes. As I stood up, I looked at the other students who were concentrating very hard, tongues poking from the corner of their mouths and ends of pencils chewed on. I was practically skipping as I handed Mrs. Choi my copy, bowing to her deeply before going back to collect my things to leave the class.

Just as I was about to exit the classroom, a hand grasped my shoulder. I jumped as I saw Taehyung smiling down at me, following me out the door.

"There's no way you finished that quick." I said, pulling my bag strap back on after he had accidently pulled it down.

"You're right, I didn't," He poked my nose, smiling big. I looked at him confused. Just last night he was dealing with his hands bleeding from a fight and non-talkative, now he was here being happy as if nothing happened and actually at school. He was at school. Something I've only seen once this year. "Once I saw you get up I decided to just leave. No point in me being there if you aren't." He told me and I knew my cheeks were just like Hyorin's.

"Why are you at school?" I asked him again. This was a mystery worth solving.

"Didn't you hear me, my quiet pabo? You," He laughed as he slung an arm around me. "We're having fun today."

"What?" I laughed in disbelief. "Taehyung, that was one class I had. I have four more!"

"You are the top student in each one. I'm sure they'll be okay if you took a little vacation down Taehyung lane. Come on, I want to hang out with you. Jebal." He stopped in front of me, pleading puppy eyes staring back at me and his hands clasped in front of his face, begging me.

"You didn't want to last night." I crossed my arms. All of a sudden he's being weird. I can't leave school just because he's suddenly here, making his eyes big and doe-like.

Taehyung sighed, dropping his hands. "There was a reason, Ona. But, please. I haven't seen you in almost a year besides these past two days. I miss you." My heart slightly fluttered from his confession, making me bite my lip as I tried to think if I should do this or not.

"I don't know, Tae. School is really important to me." I brushed a piece of my brown hair behind my ear as I looked everywhere but him, wanting to avoid his eyes. Anything. The red lockers. The grey and aqua floor. Anything besides his big eyes.

"More important than me?" He questioned, making my heart feel guilty. The way he said that made it seem like I dampened his mood. I knew how persuasive this man was, no doubt since I've known him forever, but I couldn't help the need to want to please him come out.

"Fine." I breathed out and that caused him to jump around happily, creating a huge grin on my face.

"Thank you!" He hugged me tight to him, my face pressed against the wool of his coat. At least it could hide my face because who knows how many times he's seen my face pink from his doing. He pulled me back, his hands still on my shoulders as he leaned in, pressing a delicate, soft kiss against my cheek. What is he doing?

I didn't sign up for a kiss from Kim Taehyung. He has no right to steal my first cheek kiss, but did I complain, not one bit.

"I'm going to regret this, aren't I?" I chuckled nervously, being ushered out as if he was my royal escort. Outside the weather was kind of cold, almost as if Jack Frost was trying to tease me with his cold breath.

He giggled like a little kid as my eyes opened at the thing Taehyung was leading me to. Oh, no. Not this.

"Taehyung! Aniyo! I am not getting on that thing!" I tried to retreat to the safety of the school building, needing the small comfort of a desk and chair that didn't move.

"Yah!" He pulled back my arm as I tried to escape, but he was definitely quicker. "You said you would hang out with me." He grabbed one of the helmets that hung off the black motorcyle, placing it on my head with a smile as he clasped the strap around my head.

"That was before I knew our transportation." I felt weak in the knees. I have never ridden on one of these before. I have always heard of accidents happening because of motorcyclists getting in the way or how dangerously fast they were. The appeal this machine had didn't work on me. I was having a small panic attack in my head and I already knew I wouldn't last long on this thing.

"Well, there's no going back. Live a little." Taehyung grabbed my hand as he helped me on the back of the motorcycle, my whole body was already shaking as he stripped his school uniform jacket to grab a leather one that was stuffed inside a black bag on the side.

He swung his leg over the machine, kicking back the side brake. He turned the engine on, revving it to make a monstrous sound that could easily scare a giant. The school parking lot made the sound echo, no doubt filling the rooms of my classmates. Taehyung slipped on his black helmet, flipping down the iridescent clear visor.

"Wait. I'm not ready." I called over it. How was I ever going to be ready for this thing?

"Just hold on." He called over his shoulder. He revved the engine again, causing a few birds in a tree near us to fly into the blue.

I screamed as Taehyung pulled away, circling my arms around his waist and burying my face into his back. I could tell he was laughing as I felt his shoulders move and his stomach tighten. Ugh, this asshole.

The wind blew through my hair, flurrying around me like long soft tentacles. I could hear honks from cars near us, letting me know Taehyung was cutting some people off as he powered down the street. I built up the courage to remove my face from his back to lean on him instead, my cheek against the leather. I saw shops and people pass by us with a flash, colors moving too quick to determine what they were. I smiled a bit as I felt the rush of adrenaline run through my veins from going so fast; never have I felt such a thing.

Taehyung made a quick turn, almost like Jin did with his truck. Instead, Taehyung went so quick, his knee was almost touching the ground, making me clasp onto him even tighter.

I felt like passing out from all the close calls Taehyung made until finally he pulled up to what looked like a park, green hills and a small pond in the middle. Taehyung pulled off his helmet, ruffling his straight brown locks before smiling down at me.

"How was that?" He asked, helping me off, removing my helmet for me and flattening down my wild hair.

"I felt like I was going to die." I said, my voice small and quiet as if I was exhausted. I definitely felt better when my feet was against the soft gravel of the parking way. I didn't want to ride another motorcycle again because I knew I would throw up. Sure, the experience was exhilarating but the after effect made you feel like oh were trampled by angry bulls.

"If you felt like that, that means you got a small taste of my life." Taehyung laughed before grabbing my hand, leading me across the seas of emerald green grass, the trees swaying to the cold wind as if in a rhythmic dance.

"What are we doing here?" I asked him. He brought me to a park yet he still hasn't told me the fascinating part about it and I was getting anxious. Taehyung was always one for surprises, me not so much. I liked being in control of my surroundings, but letting Taehyung take the reins of this mysterious ride created a nervous bubble to create in my mind.

"Nothing big, for your first time on Taehyung lane," He chuckled at his little joke. "Something easy."

As we went up a hill, I saw what he had meant. Before us lay a simple skate park, cement tunnels and ramps were built everywhere. Skaters rimmed the rails, as others took turns on the half pipe. He wasn't serious.

"Are you being serious?" I turned to him, scoffing a little. I've never stepped foot on a skateboard, let alone a skating park.

"I'm dead serious," Taehyung said, smiling at the scene in front of him. "I'll teach you and soon you'll be begging me to bring you here."

"I highly doubt that." I muttered. Taehyung rolled his eyes playfully before hooking his arm with mine and dragging me to the park, a groan leaving my mouth as I trudged alongside with him.

Most of the people here were guys, some looking like just regular teenage boys others taking the picturesque look of a Kpop Idol. I had to stop myself from staring at some of them because coming off as weird wasn't my number one thing to do.

"You ready?" Taehyung asked, stopping us near a blue park bench.

"You don't have a board." I crossed my arms, feeling satisfied. That was until Taehyung raised a finger, rushed over to a nearby tree and from behind it he pulled out a skateboard, the color a solid, mossy green underneath. He smiled while biting his lower lip, watching me as I sighed in defeat while glaring at the death board.

"I already prepared," He placed it in front of me, the wheels moving slightly. "Now, step on."

"Are you insane? I might fall." I stated, stepping away.

"That's why I'm here, pabo," Taehyung moved around so he was behind me. "I'll catch you." I heard him whisper in my ear, causing me to stop breathing for about a split second until I realized I actually needed air.

"That's reassuring." I huffed at him. I was already here, might as well go through with this boy's ridiculous plan of turning me into a skating champ. I placed my left foot on the not-so-sturdy board, praying to God to give me the strength to not fall.

"Now, you don't need both feet on until you start pushing with your right," He nodded. I kept my hand holding onto his shoulder, scared I would fall face first onto the concrete. Luckily, I had shorts underneath my skirt because if not, I'd be in one huge embarrassing mess. "So, push."

"You're out of your mind." I laughed nervously.

"I have you, so don't worry," He said. Sighing, I started to push slowly with my right foot straightforward. "You got speed so put your other foot on." He told me, causing my foot to automatically get on. I felt fine once I started moving, actually believing I had it all down.

After an hour of teaching me the simple basics of skateboarding, Taehyung sat on the bench as he watched me on my own. I felt freer without his help as I went back and forth on my own, smiling to myself as I made my way down the sidewalk. I kept my hands out to help balance myself, sometimes struggling to keep myself straight on the board.

It was definitely more relaxing than the motorcycle, I didn't have to worry about cars or  a large vehicle crash. The small board beneath me carried on the grey cement, like a boat on cool waves. I'll admit, I was having fun.

What I didn't think I would encounter was a rouge pebble laying on the side walk sliding under my wheel and causing me to fly forward and hit the cement.

"Ona!" I could hear Taehyung's heavy footfalls come near me as I sat up, brushing back loose strands of dark chestnut hair out of my brown eyes. "Gwaenchanha?" He crouched down next to me, pushing away some of the other of wisps hair away from my face.

"I think so," I told him. But that was until I felt the sharp sting on my knee and looked to see blood trailing down my leg from an open gash. "Oh no." I winced as I moved my leg a bit, the pain sending harsh strings of spasms to hit me.

Taehyung looked at my knee, lightly touching around the open flesh with his own bandaged hands, accidentally getting some of my blood on the white gauze. "It doesn't look too bad." He said.

"Hurts though." I sighed.

Taehyung leaned forward and kissed the top of my knee with his soft lips, a little ways away of where the actual mark was. My eyes widened from the touch, causing me to turn away and hide that blush that keeps reappearing.

Before I knew it, Taehyung's arms went under my legs and back, lifting me up and carrying me bridal style through the park. I wrapped my arms around his neck, trying to repress the agonizing tickles in my stomach. He's just being a good friend, Ona. That's all.

Taehyung made it all the way up the emerald hill, my weight not seeming to bother him as the hill was steep.

"Your board." I reminded him, but at the moment, it didn't seem like he cared at all about the death contraption.

"It was cheap." He shrugged, setting me down on a surface. I looked around to see we were in a playground as I was now on a red, plastic swing. Taehyung then kneeled down again in front of me, bringing his hands forward to grab my leg and sit my foot on his knee, observing the cut. I sucked in a breath as he smoothed his finger near the cut, not in a flirty way but more caring and sincere.

Blood still trickled down the pale surface of my leg, forming a river of ruby red to my ankle and staining a small part of my white sock. Taehyung removed his leather jacket, placing it on the sand of the playground before lifting the school jumper he wore to reveal and loose fitting white shirt. He used the sweater to collect the ribbon of blood, lighting dabbing to make it go away.

It was like what I did to him last night with his hands. I watched him as he did this small thing. His light, brown eyes were concentrating on the job of ridding my flesh of the blood, his slender fingers pinching the cotton fabric of the sweater, his teeth puncturing his bottom lip as he worked. A breeze rolled in bringing the smell of distant food and tree sap to smother the air around us. I shivered from the abrupt wind, feeling as if I was trapped in a glacier.

"There, all clean," Taehyung smiled, not caring that his school sweater was basically riddled with red. "You cold?" He asked, watching as I tried to ignore the bitter chill.

"Only a bit." I nodded. He moved up, grabbing his leather jacket, dusting it of any grains of the sand it was on. Taehyung moved behind me as he wrapped his heavy jacket around me, the smell of his sandalwood cologne and sweet sugar engulfing me in a euphoric hug.

"Better?" He asked. I nodded, thanking him because it was the warmest thing I have felt. "I was hoping this day would be longer. But now that you're hurt we can't do anything else." Taehyung sat in the swing beside me, lightly swaying as he watched me.

"What else did you have in mind?" I asked, curious yet scared for the answer to be revealed.

Taehyung chuckled. "Going to an amusement park, swimming in the ocean, cliff diving if you were feeling frisky." I rolled my eyes as Taehyung grinned at me.

"Obviously things I don't really want to do." I moved my swing to look at him, the pain in my knee duller than before.

"Yeah, but like I said: we'll take baby steps. I want to ease you into my life." He told me. Why is everyone so keen on making me want to deny my comfortable room and supple blankets. I liked the idea of Taehyung teaching me how to be more open-minded but then again the nervous thoughts inside me began swimming back to the surface. I didn't want to leave my comfort zone. I practically lived in it.

"Your life is too crazy for me." I laughed, kicking some sand up to hit his black boots.

"My life is or I am?" He asked. I looked at him, straight in the eyes. There was a long silence, just the chirping of the locusts and faint yells of the skaters over the hill in the air as our eyes communicated a silent message. "We should get going. Don't want Jimin to kill me." He joked.

I noticed the sky was turning darker, the cerulean colored sky entering a nightmare blue; color of a sapphire being dipped into ink.

Taehyung had to help me back to the motorcycle, his arm wrapped around my waist and mine around his neck. His jacket was still on me and my insides told me to never take it off but I knew I would have to soon since it was pretty much one of his favorites. I remember how he would always wear it when he came over; the memories making me softly smile.

"Let's go home." He said to me before putting his black helmet on and rushing away, causing me to cling onto him again.